Rise of The Demon General Chapter 811. The Best Puppet Maker

"I’m not certain I can place my complete trust in you, friend," Amon responded.

"Come now, friend. Must you be so hesitant?" Bo Wu pleaded. "Have we not endured significant trials together? You must realize that the outbursts of anger and the curses exchanged previously were not from my true self, but from that vile entity that attached itself to me against my will."

"I remain unconvinced, friend. You were already bound to that wretch when we first encountered each other. For all I know, you might be more of a wretch than he is."

"Could we perhaps refrain from using the terms 'friend' and 'wretch' so frequently?" Dao Su interjected. "To be fair, I find Bo Wu to be rather amiable. We've had many conversations, and I believe you ought to give him a chance."

"Did you not state yourself that a hellish beast possesses an inherently unstable psyche?" Amon inquired. "It's entirely possible he's merely manipulating you to secure your confidence."

"Bo Wu is distinct. My discernment of character is exceptional. You may rely on my word."

"I place no faith in anyone's word," Amon declared. He then retrieved the jewel containing Bo Wu's soul. "I shall ascertain your value myself. We will engage in extensive discussions, and you will divulge all you know regarding Hai Di. My encounter with him is scheduled for a month hence, and I require knowledge of my adversary."

"With pleasure, friend. I harbor no affection for that scoundrel," Bo Wu assented. "However, a word of caution: my knowledge is limited. I was apprehended by that individual only shortly before he extracted my soul and merged it with a fragment of his demonic pet's consciousness. It was this fragment that possessed knowledge of him, but alas, our esteemed Dao Su has since purged it."

Amon turned his gaze to Dao Su. "Is there no way to sever this fragmented soul and confine it elsewhere for interrogation?"

"That is not how soul imprints function, my companion. I can only preserve the primary soul, which is Bo Wu himself."

"Hm, perhaps you should have attempted to obliterate Bo Wu's soul first, to ascertain if the other could be retained instead."

"Hey! I distinctly heard that!" Bo Wu protested indignantly.

Amon carefully placed Bo Wu's jewel within his spatial ring. He then addressed Dao Su, "I shall permit you to return to your amusement. However, do not forget to summon me when it is time to initiate the trial run."

"Certainly," Dao Su replied agreeably.

Leaving Dao Su's workshop, Amon proceeded to the chambers of Zee Whang. Upon entering, he observed Zee Whang positioned within a colossal battle puppet, significantly larger than his prior supreme model. This new construct boasted an array of mechanical appendages, capable of extending and equipped with diverse tools. One limb terminated in a pair of pliers, while others featured a drill, a welding torch, a grinder, a hammer, and numerous other implements. These sophisticated limbs enabled him to execute various tasks autonomously.

"I observe you have reverted to your characteristic proclivities," Amon commented.

"And what precisely is that supposed to signify?" Zee Whang retorted sharply.

"Never mind that. Is this your latest Supreme Puppet?"

"Indeed, I have christened it my Neo Supreme Puppet," Zee Whang declared with palpable pride.

"Very well... And what of my own construct? Has its completion been achieved? I supplied all the necessary materials you requested. Pray tell, you haven't utilized them all for your Neo Supreme Puppet, have you?"

One of the Neo Supreme Puppet's articulated arms gestured towards a corner of the room. Amon followed the direction of the gesture and beheld a large object concealed beneath a thick drape. Upon approaching and removing the covering, he discovered his own Titan Battle Puppet. However, it appeared distinct. Its external plating was more robust and exuded an aura of exceptional sturdiness. The primary coloration was a deep metallic black, distinguished by a striking golden stripe that extended vertically from its neck down to its lower torso. Amon noticed a finely delineated seam running along the center of this golden stripe.

"What purpose does this seam serve? Will it not constitute a critical vulnerability?" Amon inquired, a note of concern in his voice.

"Concealed behind that chest plate lies its ultimate armament. It represents one of my most significant accomplishments, a testament to my ingenuity. You will find no other puppet artisan capable of fabricating such formidable weaponry with the same resource constraints I navigated."

"If you have concluded your self-congratulatory remarks, perhaps you could proceed with its activation for me?"

"Its activation is voice-controlled. Simply issue the command. It still recognizes you as its primary master; I made no alterations to its control interface."

"Activate!" Amon commanded.

The vacant eyes of the Titan Battle Puppet suddenly ignited, emitting a brilliant azure luminescence. It articulated its limbs and rose to its full imposing stature, now appearing slightly larger than before. Amon instructed it to follow and proceeded to walk back towards Zee Whang. Although the Titan Battle Puppet was substantial, Zee Whang's Neo Supreme Puppet remained twice its size.

"What grade has my Titan Battle Puppet attained?" Amon asked Zee Whang.

"High-tier Ancient grade," Zee Whang responded matter-of-factly.

"Truly?" Amon expressed his surprise, glancing back at the towering Titan Battle Puppet. If this assessment were accurate, this construct possessed a power level significantly exceeding his own.

"Indeed. Do you recall the salvaged debris from that dimension from which escape proved impossible, many years ago?"

"Are you referring to the ancient battleground?"

"I cannot recall its designation. In any event, you requested that I repair the damaged weaponry, but not all the recovered materials were armaments. Among them were numerous tools and even fragments of ancient battle puppets."

"I understand," Amon stated, who never bothered sifting through the wreckage from the ancient battlegrounds. He had Lin Li and the battle puppets gather all items that appeared valuable. His instructions were for them to deliver everything to Zee Whang, tasking him with salvageable components.

"There's an abundance of rare materials, even ancient Zilliums, sufficient to power high-grade battle puppets," Zee Whang explained, his voice laced with pride. "Combined with the materials you procured for me, I managed to construct a battle puppet of that caliber. Does this accomplishment finally convince you of my exceptional skill as a puppet maker?"

"It certainly does," Amon responded.

"Tch! Your tone suggests otherwise," Zee Whang grumbled.

"What I'm truly curious about is, why didn't you equip it for yourself?" Amon inquired.

"And why do you assume I haven't?" Zee Whang countered.

Amon's gaze fell upon the Neo Supreme Puppet Zee Whang was currently piloting. "Is that also of High-tier Ancient grade?"

A smug grin spread across Zee Whang's face, though he offered no verbal reply.

"Why not seize this moment to overpower me and seize control?" Amon pressed.

"For what purpose?" Zee Whang shot back. "I would have to manage on my own out there if I did. Unless I could guarantee I'd be the supreme leader, I have no desire to risk it. Furthermore, I quite enjoy the tranquility here."

"Understood. Have you completed the current batch over there?" Amon asked, gesturing towards a line of neatly arrayed battle puppets along one wall. Counting them, there were precisely one hundred.

"Indeed. I succeeded in upgrading ten to high-tier runic, while the remainder are mid-tier runic."

"Excellent." Amon approached the assembled battle puppets and stored them within his black spatial ring. He then replenished the cleared space with another group of battle puppets.

"This marks the eleventh batch. How many more do you intend to have upgraded?" Zee Whang inquired.

"Every single battle puppet within my puppet army."

"You mean the royal puppet army you pilfered from me?" Zee Whang remarked with a touch of sarcasm.

"You lost the war. The victor claims the spoils. If you feel slighted, you are welcome to challenge me at any time." Amon's eyes briefly flickered towards the Titan Puppet before he added, "Are you perhaps regretting entrusting this puppet to me now?"

"Tch! As I've stated, I no longer possess any interest in power struggles. As long as you allow me solitude, shield me from those detestable humans, permit me to pursue my own interests, and continue providing the necessary resources, I am content to maintain our partnership."

"Splendid. Then it appears we are in complete accord regarding this arrangement."

"You realize, high-tier runic battle puppets possess strength comparable to cultivators at the Lord Stage. With such a formidable number at your disposal, you could easily subjugate Aetheria should you choose to return," Zee Whang observed.

"That is accurate, but my ambitions are set on a far grander objective now."

"Of course, you do. A greedy individual like yourself can never achieve true satisfaction, regardless of the magnitude of your gains."

"I'm pleased you comprehend my position," Amon replied.

"That was intended as an insult, you motherfucker," Zee Whang spat.

"I shall return next week with the twelfth batch."

"Fuck off. I complete one batch every two weeks."

"You no longer dedicate your time to this Titan Battle Puppet. Surely, that additional time could be allocated to expediting these upgrades. I find it hard to believe this task presents a challenge for the world's foremost puppet maker, or am I mistaken?"

"Tch!" Zee Whang grunted, offering no further rebuttal.

Amon then placed the Titan Battle Puppet into his black spatial ring and departed the workshop. He emerged from the prison dimension to find Lin Li and several battle puppets standing guard. They were situated within an abandoned warehouse, not far from the darkness-element ley node he had recently depleted. Amon sealed the portal and secured the prison box.

"Brother, should we head back to the Mercy Domain? It has been nearly two years since we began traversing the lands to gather ley nodes. You intend to participate in the Domain Lord's meeting with Yao Ai, do you not?"

"Indeed. To advance my plans, it is imperative that I gain a deeper understanding of the other domain lords. While I have amassed considerable knowledge through intelligence gathering in this Commitment Domain over the past few months, it is still insufficient. Direct interaction with the domain lords offers the most effective means to ascertain their true dispositions. It is unfortunate we lack the time to journey to the Devotion Domain; we shall address that after the meeting."

"Shall we depart for the Mercy Domain then?" Lin Li inquired.

"No. I will dispatch a message to Yao Ai, proposing a rendezvous at the border between the Mercy Domain and Mo Wang's territory. This approach negates the need for extensive travel. We will arrive well in advance of the scheduled meeting time."

"Is there anything further requiring our attention here?"

"I have reached the current limit of my infernal cultivation. My intention is to achieve a breakthrough before we proceed to the meeting. I require your protection while I attempt this."

"Understood. I will maintain vigilance from the exterior." Lin Li departed the warehouse, ascending into the heavens. Her elevated position granted her a comprehensive view of the surroundings, and she extended her senses, diligently monitoring for any approaching threats.

Within the warehouse, Amon directed the battle puppets to strategically position themselves, securing all access points. He also summoned the Sun Ray Hawk, which remained at his side, a silent guardian.

With preparations complete, Amon assumed a cross-legged posture and began to consume the Mammoth Pill.