Chapter 1410: Sunset Desert

"A top-grade fourth-tier puppet beast blocking our path? Even if the three of us team up, we might not be able to defeat it!" Wang Qingshan said with a frown. Considering the materials used to craft such a puppet, a top-grade fourth-tier puppet beast was even stronger than a late Nascent Soul cultivator. If Wu Chang and Li Ling'er expected him to hold off a top-grade fourth-tier puppet beast, he couldn't do it. This was no laughing matter; a single misstep could lead to his demise.

"Of course," Wu Chang said sincerely, his gaze fixed on Wang Qingshan, fearing his refusal. "We've arranged to meet another fellow Daoist, who will also invite two friends. With six Nascent Soul cultivators working together, it shouldn't be a problem to hold off that top-grade fourth-tier puppet beast for a while. Afterwards, we can grant you access to our family's treasure vault to choose two items. What do you say, Daoist Wang?"

Wang Qingshan remained silent. The Qianyang Immortal Couple were quite renowned in the Northern Barren cultivation world. Didn't they have other friends? Why specifically invite him for help?

Li Ling'er seemed to sense Wang Qingshan's doubts and explained, "We had originally invited two friends, but they had an urgent matter and couldn't make it. The Myriad Puppets Palace doesn't wait for anyone; if we don't go in and retrieve the treasure this time, we'll have to wait another five hundred years."

"May I be so bold as to ask, Daoist Wu, Lady Wu, what treasure are you seeking?" Wang Qingshan asked, a curious expression on his face. The Myriad Puppets Palace was even more dangerous than the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda, not only because of its guardian puppet beasts but also due to various powerful restrictions. Otherwise, its treasures would have been plundered long ago. Throughout history, countless individuals had coveted the Myriad Puppets Palace, and it was a well-established fact, not just a rumor, that numerous Nascent Soul cultivators had perished within it. Unlike the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda, where one could leave after clearing the trials, entering the Myriad Puppets Palace meant one had to leave the same way they entered.

The Myriad Puppets Palace was situated within a forbidden area, requiring passage through many perilous locations to reach it. After a moment of hesitation, Wu Chang said, "We are seeking the Puppet Emperor's remains. Strictly speaking, it's a fourth-tier puppet beast."

"What do you mean?" Wang Qingshan was completely confused. The Puppet Emperor's remains were a fourth-tier puppet beast?

"According to our extensive investigations, the Puppet Emperor was a Spirit Body possessor with two souls in one body. The one remaining in the Myriad Puppets Palace is the Puppet Emperor's auxiliary soul, while the main soul is unaccounted for. Of course, this is merely our conjecture; we don't have absolute certainty." Wu Chang was definitely not telling the whole truth. That puppet beast was certainly not an ordinary one, or perhaps the puppet beast was just a pretense, and there were other treasures, such as a Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasure. It was rumored that the Puppet Emperor was a Soul Transformation cultivator, so it made sense for the Myriad Puppets Palace to contain a Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasure.

"How about this, Daoist Wang? If you're willing to help, we will never refuse you should you need our assistance in the future," Wu Chang promised. With their two friends unable to come, their chances of retrieving the treasure would significantly decrease if Wang Qingshan didn't assist.

"Alright then! I'll accompany you on this trip," Wang Qingshan agreed after a moment of consideration. With six Nascent Soul cultivators working together, even if they couldn't destroy the top-grade fourth-tier puppet beast, holding it off for a period shouldn't be an issue.

Upon hearing his reply, both Wu Chang and Li Ling'er simultaneously showed expressions of delight. "Excellent, Daoist Wang! Please stay at Phoenix Cry Villa for now; we'll depart the day after tomorrow." After chatting for over an hour, Wu Chang sent someone to escort Wang Qingshan to his rest chambers.

"With Daoist Wang's help, I hope our important matter won't be delayed. It's all because of the Nine Nether Sect; if it weren't for them, Daoist Sun and the others wouldn't be tied up," Wu Chang sighed. "If I had known this, we would have invited the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple to help. If they agreed, our chances would be much greater."

"Zhou Sihong's appearance in the South Sea could potentially open a passage to the Demonic Realm. The Azure Lotus Immortal Couple cannot leave the South Sea unless they are indifferent to the lives of their clan members. They have tens of thousands of clan members; it's impossible to evacuate all of them from the South Sea, and the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea wouldn't allow them to do so. I heard Zhou Sihong acquired a Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasure. I wonder if the Myriad Puppets Palace contains one as well," Wu Chang said, his eyes gleaming at the end. The explanation they gave Wang Qingshan was also something they had heard from others, unconfirmed.

"Even having one spirit treasure would be good enough. If it's truly a Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasure, that might not be a good thing," Li Ling'er sighed. If it were a Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasure, the six Nascent Soul cultivators would definitely fight amongst themselves.

Two days later, a red flying boat, over ten zhang long, soared out of Phoenix Cry Villa and vanished into the sky after a few flashes.

The Sunset Desert was located in the northwest of the Northern Barren cultivation world. The renowned Myriad Puppets Palace was deep within the Sunset Desert, heavily guarded by restrictions. Core Formation cultivators who ventured into the Sunset Desert faced near-certain death, and while Nascent Soul cultivators had a higher survival rate, they still risked perishing. Strictly speaking, the Sunset Desert was where the Puppet Emperor's immortal's cave was located. Every five hundred years, the restrictions in the Sunset Desert would weaken, and many high-level cultivators would seize this opportunity to enter and retrieve treasures.

As the sun set, a fierce gale swept through, kicking up vast amounts of yellow sand, accompanied by loud whooshing sounds. A yellow streak of light appeared on the horizon, rapidly flying towards them. Before long, the yellow light stopped outside the Sunset Desert and faded, revealing a pockmarked man in yellow robes. The man had a pot belly and a rather lewd appearance.

"Who's hiding down there? Come out now!" The yellow-robed man frowned, looking down at a certain void below, and shouted. As he spoke, he conjured a glittering yellow shield that spun erratically around him.

A flash of red light revealed a young woman in a red dress with exquisite features. Her expression was tense.

"Hmph, you, a mere Core Formation cultivator, hiding there, trying to ambush me? Trying to kill me for my treasures?" The yellow-robed man's face hardened as he shouted.

"What? Huang Fugui, are you trying to discipline my disciple?" A somewhat indifferent male voice came from the sky. No sooner had the words faded than a golden streak of light appeared on the distant horizon. In less than three breaths, the golden light stopped, and with a flash, an old man with a majestic face, clad in a golden robe, appeared. The golden-robed old man was tall, and his Daoist robe was embroidered with three golden crescent moon patterns, seemingly representing something.

Upon seeing the golden-robed old man, Huang Fugui gave an awkward smile and said ingratiatingly, "Misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! I was just teasing her! I was just commenting on how this young friend, despite her youth, has reached the seventh level of Core Formation cultivation. So she's Daoist Zhao's disciple—truly, a famous master produces an excellent pupil."

Seeing Huang Fugui's demeanor, the golden-robed old man couldn't be bothered to argue with him. Huang Fugui was famously known for bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Most importantly, his escape speed was incredibly fast; even mid-Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't catch him. Individuals like Huang Fugui were those whom major powers tried their best to avoid offending.

The young woman in the red dress breathed a sigh of relief and flew towards the golden-robed old man, relaying the situation via spiritual voice transmission. "Alright, I understand, my disciple. You may return now!" The golden-robed old man waved his hand dismissively, and the young woman in the red dress repeatedly assented before flying away.