Demonic Demoness Training Project

Upon seeing Lu Li's gaze, the ape trembled in fright and immediately knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly.

If these mechanical monkeys weren't lacking sound-producing mechanisms, they would probably be begging for mercy right now.

"How strange! This monkey actually begged me for mercy."

"Most low-level artifact spirits act solely on instinct, but there are exceptions. They can awaken a higher level of intelligence, like the one you see now—"

Before he finished speaking, the mechanical monkey suddenly sprang up and pounced on Lu Li with bared teeth and claws. Compared to its begging appearance a second ago, it was like two completely different monkeys.

Lu Li flicked his finger, unleashing a burst of energy that pierced through the ape's chest.

"First, feign surrender, and then seize the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. Hmm, it is indeed much smarter than other apes. It's a pity that the timing of the attack was a bit too early. If I had taken a few more steps forward before it launched the attack, it might have actually succeeded."

Lu Li analyzed it this way. He felt that he was like a glass cannon. The Qi-Cooking Cauldron gave him extremely powerful attack methods, but his own weak body was there. When fighting with others, he needed to be extra careful. The slightest mistake would lead to annihilation.

Lu Li remembered the Azure Netherworld Skin that Elder Duan had mentioned. This thing was said to enhance physical defense, which was perfect for his situation.

Having benefited from the Aikido, Lu Li's attitude towards loans has changed somewhat, and he is no longer as resistant as he was at the beginning.

The rule for the loan is that once the previous loan is repaid, the next mechanical artifact can be borrowed. If he waits until he refines the Qi-Mixing Cauldron, he might consider the Azure Netherworld Painted Skin.

However, Lu Li recalled Duan Lao's description of the substance, saying that after implantation, "the skin would be as smooth as cream and the face as red as cinnabar." Damn it, it made her look like a young lady.

Thinking of this, Lu Li felt his skin crawl all over his body.

Lu Li cleaned up the battlefield and found a cloth bag on the Monkey King's body. Inside were thirty spirit stones and a few coins. As a bandit who collected protection money, the Monkey King was not as wealthy as Lu Li had imagined.

That makes sense. To assemble so many monkeys and refine and maintain their mechanical arms would cost at least several hundred or even thousands of spirit stones.

Although the mountain ape arm and the mechanical ape were both damaged, Lu Li estimated that even if they were sold as junk, they could still fetch several dozen spirit stones.

However, Lu Li still faced an even more serious problem: how to move all these things. With his strength, he would have a hard time moving even a monkey, let alone all this mess.

"Sigh, if only there were a bag or ring that could store things."

Lu Li clearly remembered that in the fantasy novels of his previous life, everyone had a magical artifact like a storage ring or storage bag. This was clearly the world of cultivation, so why had he never seen one?

"You mean storage artifacts? Yes, of course they exist. Not only can they store things, but they can also store living people, and they can even create heaven and earth. That thing is called the [Taiyin Palace]. Hehehe, this thing requires you, my brother, as collateral..."

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! What did you just say?"

"brother."

The two words were uttered with perfect clarity and articulation from Old Duan. Upon hearing them, Lu Li felt a chill run down his spine. Exchanging his manhood for storage space was clearly a losing proposition.

Besides, his brother is such a masculine person, it doesn't seem normal to replace him with some kind of Yin Palace, the name itself sounds sinister.

"So? Should we exchange it or not?"

"No, I won't trade it even if you kill me. You don't accept everything, do you?"

"The five internal organs, blood, bones, skin, and flesh—there's nothing I won't accept if you don't have them. Well, to tell you the truth, the lowest quality Taiyin Palace artifact is a third-level cyborg, with a one-year term. Anyway, even if I lend it to you, you still can't forge it."

That's right, Lu Li hasn't even successfully crafted a first-tier puppet yet, let alone a third-tier one.

The most urgent task is to figure out how to refine the Qi-Gathering Vessel first, so as to save his life.

Putting the storage space aside for now, Lu Li continued cleaning up the battlefield. He couldn't move the mechanical monkey, but he could take away its most valuable spiritual core.

Lu Li disassembled the chest cavity of a mechanical ape and found a dusty core inside. The stamping workshop where he used to work was mainly responsible for producing the outer shell of the spirit core, so he was very familiar with this thing.

The outer shell is also engraved with a line of tiny characters in clerical script: "[Water Spirit Core - One Transformation, One Type]".

Below the smaller characters, there is an even smaller line of text: [Built by Baiyue Palace Yushui Academy, June of the year Yiwei, 137 Wuyi]

"Wait, you said you wanted to refine a Qi-Harmony Cauldron, what kind of spirit core did you need?"

"That one requires a Gold Spirit Core of type four or higher after one transformation."

Chapter 25 Maple City

"Of course, if you have the ability, you can get a Golden Spirit Core of type four or higher after one transformation. From type four to type nine, and then to the true version of type nine. You don't need to get the type nine Taixu, because you can't control it right now. You can get it later if you have the chance. Well, do you understand what I'm saying?"

Lu Li nodded; he did know the model number of the spirit core.

Take the Golden Spirit Core with one transformation and four types as an example. The first "one transformation" means that the number of transformations is one, which is to put it bluntly, the grade. The second "four types" means that the model is four, that is, the fourth generation product. "Gold" represents the lineage to which the spirit core belongs.

Spirit cores with the same rotation speed use almost identical materials, but there are significant differences in their pyramid design and manufacturing process.

Besides these model differences, there are also some special suffixes. The suffix "真传" (True Inheritance) indicates that it was forged by a master craftsman, with more exquisite workmanship and a longer service life.

The suffix 【太虚】 translates to "specially enhanced version" in layman's terms. Its performance is even comparable to some second-tier spirit cores, and its price is naturally sky-high.

"What's the highest rank you've reached so far?"

"In downstream sects, a fourth-rank spirit core is enough to be a treasure of the sect. The highest level of the Yan Tu in Qingyang Palace is only a third-rank spirit core, but there is a fourth-rank, third-type wood spirit core, which is a treasure bestowed by the Lingxi Sect of the upper family."

"That's amazing."

Lu Li weighed the Type 1 Water Spirit Core in his hand. It was obvious that the one in his hand was a second-hand item, as the paint had almost completely peeled off. It might even be a third-hand item.

However, this did not stop him from yearning for that high-level spiritual core.

"Are there any higher ones?"

"There may be powerful figures in the upstream sects who can refine spirit cores of the fifth rank and nine types, but they almost never enter the market. Don't be too ambitious now; this is not something you can get your hands on."

Lu Li silently finished collecting the spirit cores. Excluding those damaged in the battle, he had obtained a total of nine complete first-stage, first-type water spirit cores, as well as a pair of broken mountain ape arms.

Lu Li put a Bigu Pill into his mouth, packed the spirit core and tied it to his chest, and then carried the mountain ape arm on his back. The two tattered arms were quite heavy, especially since Lu Li had been bitten on the shoulder by the ape and was still bleeding.

"What a pity, my ship is gone, and so is the ore on board. Now I have no choice but to walk back."

Lu Li sighed deeply. If he sold all the mines on his ship, they would be worth at least twelve or thirteen spirit stones.

He applied some medicine to the wound to temporarily stop the bleeding. It was still midnight. Lu Li walked upstream along the riverbank and saw several boats coming from behind against the current.

"Ok?"

Seeing the few fishing lights approaching, Lu Li narrowed his eyes, his heart filled with alarm, suspecting that the band of river pirates had launched a surprise attack.

It was still night, and a thin mist hung in the air, reducing visibility to very low. Lu Li couldn't see who was approaching, but he heard someone shouting:

"Boss, boss, wait for me! Don't go! We're back, and we even got that kid's boat."

Upon hearing this, Lu Li glanced at the lever behind his back, made up his mind, removed it, tucked it under his arm, pretended it was his hand, and waved it at the people in the thin mist.

The other party, unaware of the problem, excitedly rushed towards Lu Li.

The two were getting closer and closer until they could see each other's faces. The man glanced at Lu Li and his eyes met Lu Li's pale and indifferent face.

"scare!"

Old Liu was so frightened that he fell to the ground with a thud. His face changed rapidly, from fear and shock to bewilderment and disbelief.

"How could you still be alive!"

Lu Li disarmed the mountain ape and casually tossed it onto the sand. He slowly walked towards Old Liu and the others without saying a word, and the fate of the Monkey King was self-evident.

"Ah, my lord, my lord, spare my life! This humble subject was blind and did not recognize your greatness, I have offended Master Yan!"

Pfft!

Before the three could finish speaking, a flash of cold light appeared, and the three heads fell to the ground with a thud.

Not long ago, the mechanical monkey begged for mercy from him, and Lu Li almost fell for its trick. Now that he has encountered a living person, he is naturally more vigilant.

Lu Li searched the three corpses and found some silver coins, a total of five spirit stones. He suddenly felt that breaking the mechanical monkey and killing a person seemed to be no different.

Following the footprints of the three people, Lu Li soon found his small boat, which was tied to the shore, and all the spirit ore on board was still there.

They're all back now!

Lu Li was overjoyed, only regretting that he was too ignorant to compose a poem to express his joy.

Including what he had earned before, and after selling the spirit mine and spoils, Lu Li now had more than two hundred spirit stones. There were still twenty-four days left until the agreed deadline, which was earlier than Lu Li had originally expected.

……

The following evening, in Maple City.

The boy got off the carriage, took out a string of copper coins from his pocket, handed them to the coachman, and then began to organize his belongings.

The coachman immediately knelt down with a thud, trembling with fear.

"Young Master Duan, hey hey hey, what are you doing? You've made this commoner suffer!"

"What's wrong with that? What's yours is yours. Besides, I've eaten noodles at your place a few times, and I've never seen you so reserved before."

"It's just a few bowls of noodles. If you had told me earlier, and you had such ability, how could I have dared to take your money?"

After returning to the ferry, Lu Li rested for a while to recharge his energy.

In the middle of the night, he dreamed that he had become a woman. In the dream, he became Lu Ling. At that time, he was taking a bath. He looked down and could not see the Demon Orb. Instead, he saw two small white steamed buns soaking in the water.

Then, Lu Li woke up in fright, thankful that it was just a dream, and dreams are always the opposite of reality.

Lu Li originally intended to leave quietly, but little did he know that what happened to him last night had already been spread far and wide by the escaped bandits. Just then, the noodle stall owner was going back to the city to buy goods, so he hitched a ride with him.

In the past, those people looked at him with envy and greed in their eyes. From then on, they didn't even dare to look Lu Li in the eye, for fear of being targeted by him.

He could hide the spirit stones and spirit cores, but the pair of enormous mountain ape arms couldn't be hidden at all. They were just placed openly on the vehicle, scaring the people around him into trembling.

Some people even speculated that the riverbed was about to change hands and that protection fees would have to be paid to him from now on.

Fengxiang City is much more prosperous than Nanyang Town. There are no fewer than twenty stamping workshops and welding workshops in the city. The streets are crowded with pedestrians and crows fly everywhere.

Upon seeing the wooden crows, Lu Li couldn't help but shrink back. He felt guilty and was afraid that these wooden crows would discover his identity, after all, he still owed money to Qingyang Palace and had killed their disciples.

"Don't panic. Fengxiang City is under the jurisdiction of Baiyue Palace, and these wooden crows are also controlled by Baiyue Palace. Just be careful not to be recognized by the disciples of Qingyang Palace on the way."

"I see."

Chapter 26 The Will of Heaven

Lu Li asked the noodle stall owner for directions to the clinic, went there first to get some medicine, and treated his wounds.

The wound, which had been sealed with a plaster, had developed a small-scale infection; the edges of the wound were raised, and pus was oozing out.

Therefore, the wound needed to be cut open and then medicine applied. It was originally intended to be stitched up for Lu Li, but Lu Li chose to have a zipper installed on his chest instead, which cost Lu Li a total of twenty spirit stones.

The zipper that Elder Duan mentioned to Lu Li before is called the "Bone and Flesh Link". It is a type of mortal mechanism. Low-level cultivators often choose this mechanism because their divine sense is insufficient to perform internal vision, but they want to facilitate the future modification of their organs and avoid repeated disembowelment.

After installation, the zipper will avoid blood vessels and meridians, and with the help of pills and medicinal baths, it will gradually grow together with the flesh and blood. It can be opened at any time in the future to observe the condition inside the body.

Lu Li installed this bone and flesh chain so that he could easily observe the Qi-Mixing Cauldron later and refine it by following the same method.

The installation process was not complicated. Lu Li felt that he was capable enough with his hands and did not want the doctor to see his Qi-gathering vessel, so he found an inn to stay in and installed it himself in his room.

The saying goes, "Self-reliance leads to abundance." In this world, doctors and puppeteers are practically inseparable. Performing brain surgery on oneself is a basic skill.

It took two hours to complete the bone-and-flesh chain installation. Lu Li then pulled the zipper down.

babble~

The zipper was pulled all the way down, and the two gently trembling vessels could be seen at a glance. When it was pulled, there was a slight stinging sensation in my chest, which was caused by the failure of the bone and flesh chain to fully fuse with the blood and flesh.

"The art of mechanical manipulation is truly amazing."

"Once you receive the ice muscle implant I provide, there will be no need for such trouble, having to be cut open anytime, anywhere."

"Stop, stop, stop trying to sell me your Southern Liang armory. I'm sick of hearing about it."

The Southern Liang Armory—this was the nickname Lu Li gave to Duan Lao's mechanical weapons. He always felt that the mechanical weapons Duan Lao spoke of were not only sinister but also effeminate.

Unexpectedly, when Elder Duan heard Lu Li's version of the slander, he was not angry at all. Instead, he chuckled and said:

"Hehehe, Southern Liang? Not Southern Liang."

"What else could it be but Nanliang? Let me tell you, I won't let you manipulate me."

Old Duan smiled meaningfully, as if this moment were just like that moment before.

On the other side, Lu Li stood up from the medicinal bath. He straightened his back, fiddled with the small zipper on his chest, then put his hands on his hips, took a deep breath, and made the Qi-Gathering Cauldron run at full speed, making a gurgling sound, like the legendary emperor's engine.

At this moment, Lu Li felt that he was full of youthful vigor and had the true nature of a man.

Suddenly glancing out the window, he saw that it was already late, so he decided to rest for the night and let his wounds heal before going to Wanbaoge to buy and sell spiritual materials the next day.

That night, Lu Li dreamed again that she had become her younger sister.

It's strange, I keep having these kinds of dreams lately, is it some kind of omen?

Lu Li was puzzled. He touched the large zipper and thankfully it was still there, so he continued to sleep peacefully.