This puppet-human far surpassed the ordinary puppets that only followed commands. The divine trees fused together with Duantian’s blood essence, along with several unmentionable special materials. The puppet-human became a celestial artifact—one with his own thoughts, who was no different from a common man. This celestial artifact bore the same looks as Duantian, and Duantian called him his son.
Shidi’s jaw nearly dropped. Divine tree? Blood essence? A puppet son? This was insane—and, indeed, something that only that madman Duantian would do.
“However, a puppet is still a puppet. I couldn’t possess a real flesh-and-blood body, nor would I be able to cultivate normally…” As Mo Tianliao spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and held out his hand. The entire limb slowly transformed into wood, its veins now visibly green. “So my father crafted a divine artifact for my sake.”
Legend had it that when a divine artifact was complete, it would bring the surrounding inanimate objects to life. By that logic, it could also enlighten a divine artifact puppet, turning it into a real cultivator.
“As you can see, it’s been three hundred years, but I’m still at the foundation establishment stage. It’s because I still lack enlightenment from the divine artifact,” Mo Tianliao said with a bitter smile.
Shidi crouched before Mo Tianliao in disbelief and touched the wooden arm, marveling just how exquisite this puppet was. If he’d known about this back then, he would have had Duantian make one for him, no matter how much it cost him. He retracted his hand and lowered his eyes, thinking quickly.
This puppet son claimed that only the enlightenment sparked by the completion of a divine artifact could give him a real body, the one he needed to continue his cultivation. His purpose in coming here, then, was clear—he wanted Shidi’s help obtaining the divine artifact.
Shidi stood up, dusting off his robe, and smiled. “Duantian is dead. Even if you get your hands on the divine artifact, no one can help you with the enlightenment.”
“My father crafted me with his blood essence, so I inherited his legacy. As long as I have sufficient spiritual power, I can finish refining the divine artifact.” Mo Tianliao stood up too, his eyes brimming with the confidence and dauntless attitude of the young. “You just need to bring the divine artifact back and let me complete it. The divine artifact is all yours once I’m enlightened. I hope you won’t find it beneath you.”
Shidi’s eyes lit up. Beneath him? Not at all! This was a divine artifact they were talking about! Duantian had been hunted down by both the orthodox and unorthodox sects because of that divine artifact’s immense power, and with Mo Tianliao’s mercurial temperament, he could have killed anyone he pleased. If he, Shidi, were to possess such a weapon, he would be fearless no matter who he faced—be it those demon lords on his level or the number one venerable lord of the unorthodox sects. It would only be a matter of time before he dominated the lands of Taixuan!
He wiped his hand across his face to catch the drool nearly spilling out of his mouth and scoffed with feigned reservation. “Ignorant youth, do you expect me to believe you based on words alone?”
Mo Tianliao smiled. “The spiritual treasure bound to you is the Skycleaver Axe, and its ultimate move can only be used once per fight. To use it again after that, you need to wait for a month.”
Demon Lord Shidi’s gaze suddenly sharpened. He had two spiritual treasures bound to him for life. His Skycleaver Axe had immense power, but it would crack after one use and needed to be restored in his energy core for a month before it could be used again. He had always kept this as his trump card. He and Duantian were the only people who had ever known its weakness.
Legend had it that the Skycleaver Axe could kill anyone standing in its way, gods and Buddhas alike. However, it was rarely seen in action. Everyone assumed that Demon Lord Shidi found it beneath someone of his status to use his ultimate move on the average person. No one but him knew the bitter truth.
Who wouldn’t want to unleash their ultimate move whenever they dealt a blow?! But this move could only be used once. What was he going to do if his opponent had a counter up their sleeve?
“Actually, the axe only cracks because it gets too hot.” Mo Tianliao idly played with the cat’s paw. “Just spit some spiritual wine on it, and you’ll be able to use it two more times.”
“What?!” Shidi sprang to his feet. Why had Duantian never told him, if it was that easy?!
Mo Tianliao flashed him an innocent smile. “My father thought that spraying wine on one’s blade was the kind of thing an executioner would do. He felt it would be unseemly for you to do something like that, so he couldn’t bring himself to tell you.”
Fuming, Shidi paced in circles three times and cursed Duantian a hundred times. He was now convinced this puppet son had inherited Mo Tianliao’s legacy. He waved his hand. “Since you’re the son of an old friend, you’re like my own son. Don’t worry. This uncle of yours will get that divine artifact back for you!”
This uncle of his?! Mo Tianliao inwardly cursed Shidi, although he still cupped his hands and said his thanks.
Demon Lord Shidi immediately sent his men to find the divine artifact’s whereabouts, then had the maidservants take Mo Tianliao to a room to rest. As Mo Tianliao stepped out of the hall, Shidi suddenly said, “My dear nephew, you still haven’t told me your name.”
Mo Tianliao quirked a smile. “Mo Yunqi,” he replied without looking back. Lord Shidi picked up his wine cup again, the last of his doubt now dispelled. He was the only one who knew Lord Duantian’s surname was Mo—everyone else who knew of this was dead.
Seeing the cat being carried away, the lion sauntered out of hiding and put on a show of shaking his mane and letting loose a majestic roar, as if this wasn’t the same lion who’d been cowering behind his master with flattened ears just moments ago.
✦ ✦ ✦
MINI EXTRA
Ending Theme: What You Don’t Know
Lion: You don’t know why he didn’t tell you~ Rawr~
Pawpaw: I said we can’t just let you huff air on your axe~ Mreow~
Woodworker: There is just~ so much~ you don’t know~
Shidi: QAQ Blast you to hell and back, Duantian! I’m not done with you!