Eternal Life by Daily Divination

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: That’s Not Fire Nan Wood

“This young master of the Cao Family is really rich, willing to build so many Puppets.”

Li Chang’an mused as he looked at the Puppet fragments littering the floor.

In fact, with his current wealth, he could also afford to build this many Puppets.

But having too many Puppets was useless—a sheer waste of resources—unless he could obtain the legendary Puppet Battle Array technique.

According to legend, there was a special type of battle array technique designed specifically for Puppets.

It could merge the power of all the Puppets within the array, concentrating it into a single force.

The Five Elements Array used by Cao Shaolin’s five Puppets today had a faint resemblance to a Puppet Battle Array, but it was a far cry from the legendary effect.

It wasn’t even close!

If they had truly formed a battle array, the combined power of the Five Elements Puppets would have made them impossible to defeat so easily.

They might have even been able to suppress Zheng Qingqing.

’They say that if you have enough Tier One Peak Puppets in a battle array, they can even hold off a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.’

Li Chang’an recalled a rumor he had once heard.

Of course, such rumors were often exaggerated.

No one knew what “enough” actually meant in concrete numbers.

While Li Chang’an was lost in thought, Zheng Qingqing had already finished off the remaining dozen or so Puppets.

Just before the last Puppet shattered, Cao Shaolin’s furious voice echoed from it.

“Zheng Qingqing, today was nothing more than a test! Just you wait. We will meet again!”

BOOM!

The moment he finished speaking, the Puppet exploded completely.

The entire Treasure Division Tower fell silent.

As far as the eye could see, the floor was littered with wrecked Puppet components and materials.

“Phew…”

Zheng Songfeng and the others all breathed a collective sigh of relief, their worries finally easing.

They had all believed this would be a life-or-death battle and had even been prepared to die here.

But Zheng Qingqing’s sudden explosion of strength had taken everyone completely by surprise.

“Qingqing, you… Are you about to attempt Foundation Establishment?”

Zheng Songfeng hesitated for a moment before he couldn’t help but ask.

Zheng Qingqing nodded slightly.

“Yes, very soon.”

Hearing this, Zheng Songfeng and the others were overjoyed.

For some time now, the state of Zheng Yuandao’s health had been weighing on the mind of every Zheng Family cultivator.

Although they publicly insisted that Zheng Yuandao was fine and had decades left to live, they all understood the truth deep down. The Ancestor’s health had most likely taken a serious turn for the worse.

If they couldn’t produce a new Foundation Establishment Ancestor soon, the Zheng Family’s decline was inevitable.

But now, Zheng Qingqing’s strength gave them hope.

“However, reaching Foundation Establishment is difficult. Whether I can succeed or not is another question entirely.”

Zheng Qingqing’s expression was placid.

Before her, several members of the Zheng Family with talent equal to her own had already attempted to reach Foundation Establishment.

But they had all failed.

“Qingqing, you’re different from them. You’ll definitely succeed!”

“That’s right, Young Miss! If even you can’t do it, who in this world can?”

The others all chimed in, their words meant to both encourage Zheng Qingqing and bolster their own wavering confidence.

Hearing their words, a smile touched Zheng Qingqing’s lips, but she said nothing more.

But in her downcast eyes, an imperceptible flicker of exhaustion could be seen.

Then, she looked up at the churning black clouds overhead.

Since all the Puppets controlled by Cao Shaolin had been destroyed, there was no one left to command the array. It was now running on its own, its power greatly diminished.

“Break!”

Zheng Qingqing took out several Array-Breaking Treasures.

A dozen breaths later.

The Black Cloud Sealing Heaven Formation that had enveloped the Treasure Division Tower was shattered.

She moved like a blur, swiftly plucking the Array Flags from the air around them. In moments, the array had completely dissipated.

A moment later, Zheng Qingqing walked over to Li Chang’an.

Recalling Cao Shaolin’s earlier words, she gave him an odd look.

“Daoist Li, this whole affair was due to the struggle between the Zheng and Cao Families. You were unfortunately dragged into it. Are you injured?”

“It’s nothing serious.”

Li Chang’an smiled, his tone light.

From start to finish, the Puppets controlled by Cao Shaolin hadn’t even touched him.

“By the way, Young Miss, the Treasure Division Tower is vital to the Zheng Family. There’s no way the Cao Family could have set up this Grand Array undetected. I suspect someone in the Zheng Family is colluding with them.”

“Yes, there must be an insider.”

The two exchanged a look.

Both guessed it was probably that fool, Zheng Lingfeng.

Unfortunately, they had no concrete proof.

“Young Miss, when do you plan to attempt Foundation Establishment?”

Li Chang’an asked bluntly.

Judging by the strength Zheng Qingqing had just displayed, if she truly wanted to contend with Zheng Lingfeng, there was no way she would have lost control over the Marketplace.

Therefore, she had likely relinquished her authority voluntarily, setting aside worldly distractions to focus solely on her plans for Foundation Establishment.

“Very soon. I plan to attempt my Foundation Establishment in Yellow Crane Immortal City.”

Zheng Qingqing explained her reasoning.

Attempting it within the Zheng Family estate or even in Qinghe Marketplace wouldn’t be safe.

At the most critical moment, a hidden mole could interfere.

That was why she planned to go to Yellow Crane Immortal City.

After all, a Golden Core Master presided over the city. Neither the Cao Family nor the Wu Family would dare cause trouble within the walls of an Immortal City.

“Daoist Li, if you also aspire to reach Foundation Establishment, you should go to Yellow Crane Immortal City sooner rather than later to acquire the necessary Foundation Establishment Resources.”

“I understand.”

After their conversation ended, Zheng Qingqing ordered her people to clean up the Puppet fragments littering the floor.

During the cleanup, Li Chang’an claimed his own Puppet had been damaged and picked up a few valuable Puppet Materials, saying he needed them for repairs.

Once everything was settled, he found Zheng Qingqing again and bought the valuable Withered Profound Crystal from her for the price of a Gray Marrow Crystal.

’Another great find.’

Feeling satisfied, Li Chang’an was about to leave.

Just then, Zheng Qingqing suddenly called out to him.

“Daoist Li, I’ve been thinking for the past few days. That piece of Treasure Wood you bought… it wasn’t Fire Nan Wood. It was Phoenix Blood Wood, wasn’t it?”

“This…”

Li Chang’an froze.

He paused, wondering how to respond.

Just then, he heard Zheng Qingqing speak again. “Perhaps I’m overthinking things. Please don’t mind me, Daoist Li.”

“Of course.”

Li Chang’an smiled, turned, and took his leave.

After he left, Zheng Songfeng, who was standing nearby, frowned deeply.

He racked his brain, recalling the details of the Fire Nan Wood and mulling it over for a long time.

Suddenly, a jolt went through him. His eyes widened as he stared in the direction Li Chang’an had gone.

“Damn it! That kid made out like a bandit!”

Feeling indignant, he was about to give chase.

But Zheng Qingqing called out to him with a smile, stopping him in his tracks.

“Grandmaster Songfeng, what would you do if you chased him down, and he simply handed you a genuine piece of Fire Nan Wood?”

“I…”

Zheng Songfeng froze.

She was right.

Li Chang’an had paid for Fire Nan Wood. There was no proof it was ever Phoenix Blood Wood.

It was all because he, Zheng Songfeng, had made a mistake in his initial assessment.

He couldn’t help but feel a surge of regret, mixed with a hint of embarrassment as he recalled how he had been lecturing Li Chang’an for the past few days.

“Sigh… My old eyes must be failing me. To think my judgment is worse than some young pup’s.”