Immortality begins with meditation puppets

The Great Mighty Emperor Armor is a dark gold suit of armor that clings tightly to the body. The chest is painted with a majestic dragon hidden among the clouds and mountains of the nine heavens. The dragon's majestic head is clearly visible in every detail, and its invisible dragon might emanates, possessing the effect of suppressing demons and exorcising evil.

Two coiled unicorns appeared on the protrusions on their shoulders. As soon as the thought arose, one could see the unicorns open their mouths and swallow five-colored clouds of smoke, which were quite beautiful.

What's most satisfying is the armor's excellent defensive capabilities; even a tiger egg wielding a sword would find it difficult to leave a white mark on it.

"When our lord dons this armor, he truly appears as if a celestial being has descended to earth, a god descending upon the world. In a daze, I even thought that the ancient Heavenly Emperor had been resurrected, summoning his old generals and leading celestial soldiers, intending to restore the old land!"

Tiger Egg's praise was so blatant that Su Qing knew immediately it was up to no good.

Sure enough, the next sentence is:
"Master has made himself look so majestic, while I, Tiger Egg, have devoted myself to you until now, and all my clothes together are not even worth as much as your armor. I don't feel wronged, I just feel that as you soar higher and higher, I wonder if old generals like me can no longer keep up with you, and if I can no longer help you in battle."

Tiger Egg became more and more aggrieved as he spoke, his huge tiger head displaying a sorrowful and pitiful expression, which made Tong Chang, who was standing to the side, feel a little sorry for him.

It is the puppets that can understand each other. As the creations of the puppeteer, it is fine if they have no feelings. Once they develop self-awareness, they will always be in fear of being eliminated by their master. Like Su Qing now, the main puppets in the future will all be fourth-order puppets, and he will even try to refine fifth-order puppets.

It's normal for Tiger Egg, who was originally in the first tier of its puppets, to feel the pressure.

Tong Chang rose to power by flattering the Celestial Master, which allowed him to stand out from the puppets created by the Celestial Master. In the end, he even managed to obtain the Celestial Master's Daoist runes through flattery.

The only one to blame is Su Qing for not being as generous as the Celestial Master, who squandered all 20 million merit points on himself and didn't give a single penny to Hu Dan or Xiong Erhua.

Tiger Egg's aggrieved eyes and Tong Chang's hesitant expression made Su Qing feel a wave of pressure.

If making puppets is difficult, does that mean being a puppeteer is easy?

Twenty million merit points, if converted to cultivation techniques or body cultivation, wouldn't they all be spent on elixirs, precious materials, cultivation methods, and secret treasures?
Unlike him, he mostly used the money to buy puppet materials and rune inheritance. He only spent a little money to buy a piece of armor that he liked, as if he had committed a huge crime!
Although I don't think I went too far, since Tiger Egg is upset, I should still try to comfort him.

"Tiger Egg, there's no need for that. We've fought side by side for many years, and among all the puppets, you're the one I admire the most. I'll forget everyone else, but I'll never forget you."

"I bought some fifth-tier treasure materials in the Heavenly Talisman Palace, specifically for you. And those rune inheritances, who are they for?"

"Could it be that all those precious materials and rune inheritances were prepared for Little Tiger? Master treats me like a national hero, how dare Tiger Egg not serve with his life? Tiger Egg was just in the storage bag when he heard from the Heavenly Rune Treasure Hall that runes can be exchanged for merit points and good items. That old bastard Tong Chang has a Heavenly Master rune on him, so Tiger Egg will fetch it for Master right away!"

Tiger Egg was deeply moved, while Tong Chang was greatly shocked. Normally, a puppeteer would understand puppeteers, but he never expected that the puppet Su Qing brought out would be so difficult to understand. He had just been empathizing with this vicious and black-hearted tiger!
"Alas, Fellow Daoist Tong is my good brother. For now, no, we absolutely cannot mess with his Dao patterns. There are countless evil spirits in the Western Sea. With our abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for us, master and servant, to gain some merit. I still have more than five million merit points left. Once I've gathered ten million, I will definitely choose the treasure materials tailored to you when we go to the Heavenly Talisman Palace next time. After all, you are the puppet I value most!"

"Reporting to Master, I think the Crimson Sky Sword is quite good. Of course, I can't let Master pay for it. Tiger Egg will earn the money by slaying evil spirits!"

With a few words, Su Qing transformed Tiger Egg's grievances into motivation to slay the evil spirits, boosting the enthusiasm of Fan's puppets. After coaxing the child away, Su Qing pondered inwardly.

"Tiger Egg's runes really need to be updated. At least the five major life-type runes should be given to him. As for precious materials such as Sky Speed ​​Star Tempering and Azure Lotus Creation Gold, he can forget about having them before he breaks through to the fifth rank."

Puppets that have developed self-awareness are no different from living beings. If they want to break through their limits, they still need to work hard on their own. For example, Tiger Egg must be thoroughly explored to extract the Lu Wu bloodline from its body and be given a large number of rare and precious materials to nurture its internal essence. Only when it opens up its own internal world can it advance to the fifth-order puppet.

During this process, Su Qing, as the master, provided very limited help to him. At most, he could only add more runes to improve his current combat power and help him improve his comprehension a little.

The five major runes of the Life System are lower-level runes of the first-grade runes, the Five Elements Runes, and the Life and Death Runes. If they are all imprinted on the Tiger Egg, they will be of some help to its enlightenment and breakthrough. However, the Void Speed ​​Star Tempering and Azure Lotus Creation Gold are meant to be used on fifth-order puppets. Using them on the Tiger Egg now would be a waste.

Just as they finished dealing with Tiger Egg, Xiong Er, who had already finished carving out the mountain and mining, also came looking for them.

“Master, I, along with my brothers, have moved all the valuable items from this giant corpse island to the Bixi Island on Dragon Island. According to Qinghe’s preliminary estimate, the island’s revenue is about two to three million spirit stones. I just finished the task assigned by you, Master, and was unable to follow you into the Heavenly Talisman Palace.”

But Xiong Er wasn't worried at all, because he knew that even if he didn't go, his master would never forget his hard work. He wondered what kind of treasure his master had prepared for him!

Tong Chang's heart softened again as he watched Xiong Er's expectant black and white eyes darting around.

Tong Chang has witnessed firsthand how hard Xiong Er has worked.

From setting up a stall in Baiyun Immortal City to opening a money exchange in Wanghai Immortal City, and then fishing and hunting along the way, to humming and puffing as he chiseled mountains and pumped water on Langya Immortal Island, if Tiger Egg was Su Qing's right-hand man in battle, then Bear Two was Su Qing's loyal old minister on his road to success.

Buying it something is really not excessive!
"I can forget anyone but you, Xiong Er. You are my most valued puppet. Don't worry, I have prepared some rune inheritances and corresponding precious materials for you in the Heavenly Talisman Palace. When the time is right, I will definitely reshape your body. Even making a golden Arhat body is not a problem."

"Right now, Xiong Er, you still have to lead the brothers to work hard. Don't be fooled by our current large savings of spirit stones; we're going to the far west to reclaim wasteland and establish a business. This amount of spirit stones is just a drop in the ocean. The task is arduous and the road is long. Who can I rely on? I have to rely on you, Xiong Er!"

Su Qing used the same rhetoric she used to coax Hu Dan, which excited Xiong Er so much that he patted his chest and assured her:
"Don't worry, Master. Xiong Er is not a fool like Hu Dan who only knows how to spend money and not how to make it. He is very considerate of Master's hard work!"

After Xiong Er finished speaking, he took out a long stack of bills that reached the ground, walked up to Tong Chang, and started urging him to pay the bill. However, Su Qing was not thick-skinned enough and was unwilling to mention the bill for the Langya rescue operation to Tong Chang for the sake of his brother and sister-in-law.

Seeing the outrageous list, which included even the travel expenses and food costs for their trip to Langya Immortal Island, Tong Chang felt as if a debt had fallen from the sky. Just as he was about to renege on the debt, Xiong Er grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up. "Trying to renege? Don't you even know who I, Xiong Er, am? I've been lending money in Wanghai Immortal City for decades; I'm a professional debt collector. I have plenty of ways to deal with deadbeats like you. Don't blame me for being harsh; this debt has been transferred to my Xiong Er Money House. According to the rules, it's nine parts payable and thirteen parts return. If you don't pay in a day, the interest will snowball! If you dare to renege, believe me, I'll bring my brothers and wipe out your Langya Immortal Island!"

damned!
Why did I feel sorry for that rogue, violent bear?

Tong Chang, who was being dragged around like a chick by Xiong Er, was on the verge of tears. He really dared not accept this heartless and deadly debt. He couldn't even pay the debt without interest, and if the interest accrued, he would have to sell his fairy island and his wife!
"Alas, Xiong Er, you mustn't be rude. Fellow Daoist Tong is, after all, my sworn brother. How about this, I just borrowed over 800,000 merit points from Fellow Daoist Tong, so let's call it even and call it even!"

Su Qing knew that the old Taoist priest had a hard time, and said this with great understanding.

"Master, you're too kind-hearted. This is a debt of over two million spirit stones, and you've just offset it with a little over eight hundred thousand merit points? Fine, you've gotten off easy, old Taoist. Aren't you going to thank my master yet!"

Tong Chang owed a huge debt, and Xiong Er had long regarded him as a fat sheep, intending to scrape some Vajra Talismans from him to nourish his body. If he could not repay the debt, it was not impossible to even exchange him for a sister-in-law or wife. However, since the master had let the old Taoist go, it could only regretfully and gently put Tong Chang down.

"Let's go, this place is of no value anymore!" Su Qing waved his hand and leaped towards the Bixi on Dragon Island.

With tears still on his face, Tong Chang looked back and saw that the island was practically dug up by Xiong Er. It seemed that it would be difficult for anyone to live there in the future. It was a calamity that was destined to befall the island, just like how he, Tong Chang, had inexplicably boarded Su Qing's pirate ship!
After getting into his brother's Land Rover, the Dragon Island Bixi, Tong Chang suddenly asked:

“Fellow Daoist Su, this treasure ship is named Bixi, and you have also classified it as the Nine-Son Dragon Ship. However, as far as I know, this ship was made based on the Yunshan Treasure Palace. It is a puppet creation of yours, and it is completely different from the treasure ships formed by Dao patterns such as Yazi. How can it be considered the Nine-Son Dragon Ship!”

As a contemporary Celestial Master, Tong Chang possessed exceptional insight. He knew that Su Qing had transformed the pirate king ships, including Yazi and Taotie, into Dao patterns. He also knew the legend of the Nine Sons Returning to One revealing the true dragon. He surmised that Su Qing's journey to the Land of Despair, ostensibly to rescue his brothers, might also include the Qiuniu Treasure Ship and the remnant soul of the true dragon as his targets.

He already possessed eight of the nine dragon boats, but the name "Bixi" was not apt, as he did not possess the Bixi Daoist markings of the Five Elders. Just because he named it Bixi did not mean it was actually Bixi!
"You old Taoist are so rude! Just because I am not a manifestation of evil Dao patterns doesn't mean I can't condense Bixi Dao patterns on my own!"

A deep, slow sound came from the belly of the enormous creature beneath his feet. Tong Chang was startled at first, then turned to look at Su Qing, who gave him an unfathomable smile, and he immediately understood.

He was indeed the chosen one, the one destined by Heaven, as Tong Chang believed.

It was astonishing that while Tiger Egg and Bear Two were developing self-awareness, the Bixi of Dragon Island was also developing self-awareness without anyone noticing. It even condensed Bixi Dao patterns, and with its ship name, in the confrontation with the Pirate King's ship and the Penglai army, the various forces in the Western Sea recognized its name as Bixi, and the Dao patterns were completely manifested on its body!

"It is I, an old Daoist, who have troubled myself unnecessarily. I was unaware of Fellow Daoist Su's abilities. Fellow Daoist Su has already gathered eight of the Nine Dragon Boats. If that Prisoner Ox Treasure Ship had any sense, it should have joined Fellow Daoist Su. Perhaps it could have allowed me to witness the magnificence and power of the Four Imperial Dao Patterns True Dragon Dao Patterns!"

The old Taoist priest clicked his tongue in praise, secretly using the crystal ball to speculate on the fortunes of the journey to the Land of No Breath. He originally thought that with Su Qing's current strength, going to the Land of No Breath would be a smooth and easy road.

Unexpectedly, after he used his Celestial Master powers to divine the secrets of heaven, the originally transparent and flawless crystal ball instantly turned into a blood-red ball. The entire crystal ball, like a drop of blood, exuded a fierce and resentful aura, which made people shudder.

"Lives were ravaged, and the situation was one of near-death experiences!"

Fellow Daoist Su, why don't we turn back?
Those 17th and 260th brothers are manifestations of the Daoist patterns that seek advantage and avoid harm. Good people are naturally protected by Heaven; they don't necessarily need us to save them!

Tong Chang was startled by the celestial divination he had performed. He didn't know where he had gone wrong. Before they came to the Giant Corpse Island, he had performed divinations several times. Although they were not extremely auspicious, they all ended without serious danger. But none of them were as ominous as this one.

Upon hearing that he had chickened out and wanted to turn back, Liang Haishun immediately became unhappy.

Yes, his old brother Helian Xian is old, weak, and useless. He has no money, no power, and no friends. Whether or not he is saved, he will soon die of old age. It seems there is no need to consider him.

But who isn't someone else's precious old friend?
In Liang Haishun's heart, Helian Xian had to be saved! Not just for him, but also for Yunshoubu!
"A-Su, do you still want to go? Don't worry about my opinion. If you don't go, I, Lao Liang, definitely won't go either!"

Liang Haishun asked Su Qing sincerely. He really wanted to save Helian Xian, but he was powerless to do so. If it weren't for Su Qing as his leader, he could only offer incense to Helian Xian.

“Go! The path of cultivation is fraught with danger, and we have overcome countless formidable obstacles. How can we shrink back just because of a single divination of heavenly secrets!”

Su Qing made a decisive move, releasing all eight Nine-Dragon Ships, which sped towards the Land of No Return.

He was fully aware of the risks of the Land of Despair, even without the old Taoist priest's divination.

If such a treasure land containing the secrets of true dragons were not dangerous, why would they have the chance to explore it? Wouldn't it have been looted clean by the Penglai and Thousand Islands factions long ago?

Knowing full well that there are tigers in the mountains, yet still venturing into them; one cannot catch a wolf without risking one's cubs. Even if it weren't for saving Helian Xian, the Prisoner Ox Dao Pattern of the Land of Despair, the remnant soul of the True Dragon, as well as the 17th Brother of the Treasure-Seeking Radar and the 260th Brother of the Disaster-Avoiding Immortal, were all treasures that Su Qing couldn't bear to part with.

With his fifth-tier battle armor protecting him and his substitute puppet keeping him alive, Su Qing wouldn't die even if he were to!
Just as Su Qing, full of ambition, rushed towards the perilous Land of Death in the Western Sea...

To things he did not know.

At this very moment, another group of people, traversing mountains and rivers, is also heading into the Land of Despair, their goals and intentions exactly the same as Su Qing's! (End of Chapter)