Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

Chapter 156 Puppet Mechanism
This year’s Sunset Peak Lecture Platform began as Zhao Huaian’s one-man show.

The young cultivator from the Outer Domain, who had entered the Inner Sect of the Cloud Sun faction due to a major human hunting case, displayed an incomparably brilliant radiance on the Lecture Platform.

Not only did he defeat Chief Disciple Lu Hong with overwhelming force, seizing one of the top ten spots of Sunset Peak, but he also successively knocked three dissatisfied challengers off the Lecture Platform.

All battles were resolved within a single move!

After that, no one else went on stage to humiliate themselves, allowing Zhao Huaian to firmly occupy the leading position among the Sunset Peak disciples.

Because his momentum was so strong and his victories so dazzling,

the subsequent disciples’ debates became somewhat dull—although they were lively with various spells being cast, compared to Zhao Huaian’s astonishing performance, they seemed lacking.

By the end, Wang Chen really felt like cracking some more sunflower seeds.

Honestly, if he went on stage, let alone one-on-one duels, even if there were several more opponents, he could fight and win.

It’s no wonder Sunset Peak is seen as the bottom-rung stepping stone.

The real elite disciples wouldn’t stay here and waste away!

Fortunately, Pang Zitong, whom he had just met, was fairly interesting, preventing Wang Chen from getting too bored while watching the spectacle.

Pang Zitong hailed from the Purple Mansion Pang Family.

Because he was born out of wedlock and his Root Bone talent wasn’t very high, he had always been mingling in Sunset Peak.

But Pang Zitong mingled quite happily.

He had no great ambition when it came to cultivating his path, and even lacked interest in breaking through to form his own Mansion.

He usually liked researching Puppet Mechanisms.

Like Mechanism Beasts, puppet figures, and so on.

Puppet Mechanism is one of the hundred arts of immortal cultivation, and Pang Zitong’s greatest wish was to become a grand puppet master!

In fact, the Purple Mansion Pang Family had a unique branch in the field of Puppet Mechanism.

He could be said to be a scion of his family’s expertise.

Wang Chen immediately became interested, “Senior Brother Pang, do you have any Puppet Mechanisms that can cultivate Spirit Fields?”

Pang Zitong answered without hesitation, “Of course!”

But using Puppet Mechanisms for cultivating Spirit Fields is not cost-effective.

First of all, they are very expensive to construct.

A humanoid Puppet Mechanism capable of weeding, fertilizing, watering, and pest controlling Spirit Fields requires valuable materials such as century-old ironwood, Mysterious Copper, refined silver, and beast tendons.

Secondly, daily use consumes Spirit Stones and, like Magic Artifacts, frequent use means they must be regularly maintained.

It is precisely because of the high costs,

that aside from a very few maverick Spiritual Plant Farmers, no one uses Puppet Mechanisms for farming work.

Why spend so many Spirit Stones when a few Innate Masters could be hired as servants?

After explaining, Pang Zitong curiously asked, “Junior Brother Wang, are you a Spiritual Plant Farmer?”

“Yes.”

Wang Chen answered candidly, “I have an estate beneath Sunset Peak.”

Many Inner Sect disciples from Noble Clans consider Spiritual Plant Farmers to be country bumpkins and disdain interacting with farming cultivators.

Wang Chen had been in Sunset Peak re-establishing his Immortal Register for some time now, but had never been approached for recruitment.

The reason was his identity.

But Wang Chen didn’t feel that being a Spiritual Plant Farmer was any less honorable.

Farming is a noble endeavor!

“Impressive!”

Pang Zitong gave Wang Chen a thumbs up and said, “Junior Brother Wang, if you want a Puppet Mechanism, I can customize one for you.”

His suggestion was interesting—that is, to minimize manufacturing costs while ensuring basic functionality.

Essentially, to create a low-end, monkey version of the Spiritual Plant Puppet for Wang Chen.

This type of downgraded Puppet Mechanism wouldn’t be able to sustain lengthy labor.

However, he could take care of his Spirit Fields for him during Wang Chen’s closed-door cultivation or when he was out on missions.

This way, the harvest wouldn’t be affected by any unforeseen circumstances.

Since it would only be used as a contingency, the cost of operation and maintenance would undoubtedly be significantly reduced, making it quite a cost-effective solution.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chen became extremely interested, “Brother Pang, how many Spirit Stones would a Puppet Mechanism like this require?”

This brother’s suggestion was very much in line with his needs!

Pang Zitong asked, “How many mu of Spirit Fields do you have?”

After clarifying the details, he did some calculations and finally clenched his teeth, “Junior Brother Wang, I won’t take advantage of your Spirit Peaches for nothing. One thousand Low Spirit Stones, and I’ll make the best one within the cost for you!”

Of course, he meant the best one could get within that cost.

Although Wang Chen didn’t know much about Puppet Mechanisms, he was aware that these gadgets were even more expensive than many Magic Artifacts.

Pang Zitong’s offer must be an incredibly fair price!

Pang Zitong continued, “Junior Brother Wang, if you can’t come up with so many Spirit Stones right away, it’s okay, you can pay in installments with Yellow Millet Rice or Black Sesame Rice.”

“You don’t have to pay extra in interest, just add some Spirit Fruit as a bonus.”

He joked about himself, “I have a big appetite, I like to eat, and I eat more than others.”

Since things had come to this point, what objections could Wang Chen have? He nodded immediately, “Then thank you, Brother!”

In one season, his manor could produce ten thousand jin of Spiritual Rice. Even if he kept some for food, he would have leftovers even when including Yuanyuan.

Trading a portion away for a Spiritual Plant Puppet was undoubtedly a very cost-effective deal!

“Hehe.”

Pang Zitong rubbed his belly, laughing, “Don’t mention it, we each get what we need.”

Helping Wang Chen build a Spiritual Plant Puppet, even if he only took the cost price, he had plenty of ways to make a good profit.

For instance, he could use his own quota on many materials and withdraw them from his family.

Most importantly, craftsmanship is honed through experience. Without making hundreds or thousands of Puppet Mechanisms, how could he achieve the title of a master?

The two parties had reached a satisfactory agreement, and both were overjoyed!

Today’s Sunset Peak Lecture Platform was also drawing to a close.

The Purple Mansion Elder hosting the lecture announced the end of the session and told everyone to return the next day.

Under normal circumstances, the peak’s contest would last for three days, and after a series of competitions, the top ten disciples would be determined to represent Sunset Peak at the Nine Peaks Lecture.

However, everyone felt that this year’s contest would likely end quite quickly.

An obvious fact was that Zhao Huaian had completely dominated the true inheritors of Sunset Peak.

His meteoric rise had turned the scions of Noble Clans into mere foils!

Indeed, the next morning when Wang Chen returned to the Lecture Platform, he barely had time to snack on a few melon seeds before the lecture hastily began.

And then quickly concluded.

As the biggest winner, Zhao Huaian not only secured a spot among the top ten disciples.

But he also took over the position of the top true inheritor that originally belonged to Lu Hong.

With unmatched limelight, he stood unrivaled for the moment!

This caused countless Sunset Peak disciples to itch with frustration, yet they were powerless to do anything.

The truth be told, Wang Chen couldn’t see through Zhao Huaian anymore.

In just a few short months, not only had Zhao Huaian’s cultivation realm advanced by leaps and bounds to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation.

But his combat abilities had also overwhelmed his peers.

Pang Zitong quietly said to Wang Chen, “Such a person will either soar to the heavens or fall like a shooting star!”

Wang Chen deeply agreed.

But whether Zhao Huaian soared or plummeted, it had nothing to do with him!

———–

The first update is hereby delivered.