"It can actually directly raise one's cultivation realm—such a treasure exists!"
Lin Xuan's eyes flashed with ecstasy. He hadn't expected to gain something like this within the puppet secret realm. That single puppet crystal from earlier had already boosted his cultivation by a sliver. It might seem insignificant, but in truth, it was anything but.
Now at the Opening Spirit Realm, his talent, martial arts, and other factors meant his cultivation resources far exceeded those of his peers—an immense demand. That sliver of progress would have required at least dozens of low-grade spirit stones to achieve through normal means. That alone spoke volumes.
Lin Xuan was overjoyed. With treasures like puppet crystals, perhaps this trip to the secret realm could elevate his cultivation by several layers. As for potential drawbacks, he had already sensed none—none at all. The crystal contained spiritual energy so pure and refined, surpassing anything he had ever encountered, that it directly converted into spiritual power upon entering his body, boosting his cultivation.
"Likely, the first layer outside was just a trial. With enough strength, one can start reaping rewards in this second layer. No wonder it's a legendary secret realm—full of treasures indeed," Lin Xuan murmured to himself, nodding with a faint smile.
After a thorough search that yielded no more similar puppet crystals, he transformed into a blur and continued forward.
...
Several hours later, in a desolate valley.
Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted, unleashing a terrifying shockwave that swept up endless dust and spread in all directions, engulfing an area hundreds of meters wide. Then, a gust of wind swept through, clearing the haze to reveal the scene within.
Two figures stood there: a handsome youth, poised like a mountain, and hundreds of meters away, a bronze-colored puppet lay in a deep crater dozens of meters wide. Countless cracks radiated outward. The puppet's chest was a mangled mess, blasted apart almost in two, utterly still.
The handsome youth let out a long breath and chuckled wryly: "Looks like I have to unleash my true strength to take down a peak Opening Spirit Realm bronze puppet."
This youth was Lin Xuan. After learning that defeating bronze puppets yielded crystals that directly boosted cultivation, he had been hunting them relentlessly. Each bronze puppet rivaled a late-stage Opening Spirit Realm cultivator, a challenge for many at that level, but not for him.
With a terrifying strength of three million jin—the power of three oxen—a single punch could make even an early Spirit Element Realm expert retreat rather than face it head-on. Dealing with bronze puppets at the late Opening Spirit Realm was effortless; one punch, one kill, all instant. Over these hours, he had amassed many puppet crystals, and his cultivation had risen slightly.
This was his first encounter with a bronze puppet rivaling the peak of the Opening Spirit Realm. He had noticed that stronger puppets yielded higher-quality crystals that boosted cultivation more. This peak-level puppet promised the best crystals, so he couldn't pass it up. But after several attempts, Lin Xuan realized he had underestimated its strength. Losing patience, he unleashed the fearsome power of the *Golden Scale Wild Elephant Art*.
The result was decisive: not only did he obliterate the puppet, but he also blew apart its upper body. The sheer force exceeded his expectations.
"Still, going all out to crush a peak Opening Spirit Realm opponent is a bit too strong. I should hold back. I'll use sword techniques as a cover and just add the strength boost," Lin Xuan mused, making a decision.
With a flicker, he appeared beside the puppet, now lifeless. Reaching out, he grabbed a crystal the size of a pinky finger. "Not bad, this one's big—much larger than the others. This should be enough for a breakthrough."
His eyes gleamed. He applied slight pressure.
Crack!
The crystal shattered. A cool stream flowed into him, and his aura began to rise steadily. After a few breaths, it settled, but the change was unmistakable.
"Opening Spirit Realm, second layer." Feeling the richer, surging spiritual power in his dantian, Lin Xuan nodded with satisfaction. This was far faster than closed-door cultivation outside.
"Time to move on." He activated his movement technique and sped away.
Not long after, a team of late-stage Opening Spirit Realm cultivators passed through the valley. Lin Xuan had discovered the secret of the puppet crystals, and others weren't foolish either. But bronze puppets, all at the Opening Spirit Realm and as hard as steel, were tough for many late-stage cultivators to handle alone. So, teams formed to take them down together—not everyone had Lin Xuan's monstrous strength.
This team was no exception. Spotting the massive destruction in the valley, they lingered to search. Soon, they found the lifeless bronze puppet in the crater. Its gruesome state left them stunned, gasping in shock.
"Brother Wu, look—this puppet is the one we encountered before, the top-tier bronze puppet rivaling the peak of the Opening Spirit Realm!"
"Yeah, I can't believe someone took it down here, and its upper body is shattered."
"Who could have done this?"
"To defeat a top-tier bronze puppet like this, and by sheer force—even Chen Hanshuang, Sun Yuwen, Liu Qianyu, and the other top ten potentials might not manage it, right?"
"Exactly. I know them, and with their strength, it's impossible. The power needed for this is too immense—it's not something an Opening Spirit Realm cultivator can achieve!"
"But isn't the puppet secret realm limited to Opening Spirit Realm entrants?"
"..."
The team murmured among themselves, exclaiming in shock and disbelief. This bronze puppet, rivaling the peak of the Opening Spirit Realm, they had spotted earlier. But they had fled after seeing it kill a ninth-layer Opening Spirit Realm cultivator from afar. Now, just hours later, it was already defeated. The gap in strength left them awestruck. And the puppet's mangled upper body, destroyed by brute force, only deepened their horror.