Starting From A Son In Law To Build An Long Lasting Family Chapter 2029: 535: The Might of a Tier-4 Puppet! (3)
Previously on Starting From A Son In Law To Build An Long Lasting Family...
Shen Yiren’s hair was a tangled mess, her complexion deathly pale. With the support of the arm securely wrapped around her slender waist and the infusion of verdant Magic Power, she managed to steady herself, inhaling a faint, soothing scent of medicinal herbs.
Almost instantly, a warm, emerald glow radiating like the morning sun flowed from that embrace deep into her core, mending her battered and exhausted form.
Such closeness, the reassuring grip of those arms, and the way the mana nurtured her like a protective womb left her feeling uncharacteristically bashful. Her trust and reliance on Lu Changsheng deepened in that moment.
"Third Palace Master, are you holding up alright?"
Lu Changsheng’s gaze remained fixed on Shen Yiren, filled with genuine concern as he caught the subtle fragrance clinging to her.
"Daoist Xuanmu, it appears the reinforcements from Penglai Island are tied down by other skirmishes; we absolutely must retreat!"
In the distance, the clash of Nascent Soul experts raged on without any intervention from the Penglai Island forces or the peak Cultivation practitioners of the Goddess Palace. Shen Yiren realized that the others were incapacitated and unable to provide immediate support.
Under these conditions, persistence in battle was not only futile, it was a death sentence against such adversaries.
"Third Palace Master, can you endure for just a while longer? Once the Great Palace Master arrives, this crisis will surely be resolved."
Lu Changsheng didn't object to fleeing, yet the current chaos provided a perfect stage to reveal his true prowess.
"My sister is currently refining a forbidden Divine Ability. Even if she is alerted, it will take time to reach us. These attackers came fully prepared, enough to deploy a Nascent Soul cultivator to strike at us!"
Observing Lu Changsheng as he firmly supported her and channeled energy to heal her, Shen Yiren felt a sudden bloom of warmth in her chest.
As an Honorary Elder of the Goddess Palace, his dedication to protecting her made her affection burn all the brighter.
Still, understanding why he had been so diligent, she did not want to push him into unnecessary danger.
"Very well."
Hearing her assent, Lu Changsheng chose not to force the issue, shifting his stance to a purely defensive position to facilitate their escape.
"Hmph, you think you can simply walk away!?"
Witnessing their retreat, the Desert Sea Crocodile God bellows, his Qi and Blood Magical Power rising like a tidal wave as he surged forward, his visage monstrously twisted into that of a crocodile-dragon.
At the same moment, the ghostly silhouette from earlier materialized beside three nearby Nascent Soul Cultivators. A diamond-shaped blade flashed, skewering one’s chest and sending crimson rain through the air!
"Sister Huang!"
The two Nascent Soul companions beside her screamed in fury, casting Divine Skills and flickering Talismans to shield her. But her pale face had already turned ashen black, a clear sign that the strike carried a lethal venom.
"Nephew Huang!"
Despair gripped Shen Yiren, and she activated a Third Rank Top-Level Talisman, desperately trying to intervene.
However, the Desert Sea Crocodile God and the True Man of the Ghost Ship banked on this distraction, hoping to shatter her concentration and exploit a weakness to renew their assault upon her.
"Third Palace Master, go stabilize Daoist Huang; leave these two to me."
Lu Changsheng observed the critical state of Sister Huang; without immediate care, she would perish within heartbeats.
He knew that if Shen Yiren later learned he held the power to save her but stood idle, it would breed deep resentment. Thus, he stepped up.
Furthermore, he viewed this as an ideal moment to display his excellence—perhaps, as the divination suggested, a path to win her heart and invite romance!
"Daoist Xuanmu, are you certain?"
Shen Yiren was both stunned and bewildered by his sudden assertion.
She was aware from intelligence reports that Lu Changsheng possessed a Third Rank Peng Bird spirit beast.
Yet, even with a beast at his side, how could he possibly face these two titans?
However, the very next second, the answer arrived.
"Swish!"
A massive Puppet, gleaming with cold, metallic light and resembling a juggernaut of war, slammed onto the battlefield.
Zhuyan, equipped with a Fourth Rank Puppet frame, while not a match for a fully realized Nascent Soul True Lord, possessed more than enough force to hold off a Nascent Soul assailant!
"Boom!"
He did not even need the Puppet Battle Array.
With a single swing of its heavy arm, the Gang Wind Force, infused with chilling Ghost Energy, tore through the enemy’s offense, smashing into the Desert Sea Crocodile God’s barrier until it cracked and his mana faltered.
"This is... a Fourth Rank Puppet!"
The sight left all cultivators present paralyzed with shock, as if they had looked upon a phantom.
The divide between Third-tier and Fourth-tier skills is not just a stepping stone; it is an impassable chasm between heaven and earth!
Mastery requires not only godlike talent but staggering wealth to refine and maintain!
Since Fourth Rank resources are exceptionally scarce and priceless, even a Nascent Soul True Lord often lacks the funds to invest in such luxury.
Thus, any Fourth Rank Elixirs, Talismans, or Puppets are treasures beyond measure.
Even Shen Yiren’s own Third Rank Top-Level Puppet had been a custom commission by Shen Jianjia himself.
For Lu Changsheng to produce a Fourth Rank Puppet was simply inconceivable.
"Please, keep your heart at ease, Third Palace Master."
Lu Changsheng gently released her waist, offering a warm smile before tossing out a flurry of Talismans, his fingers dancing in patterns to set them into place.
His public persona was Xuanmu Zhenren, a man dedicated to the Nourishing Life Technique, considered a poor combatant but a brilliant Talisman Master; his actions now seemed entirely consistent with that role.
Lu Changsheng intended to further solidify this identity through the use of Talisman Formations and his superior Puppet, proving himself worthy of competing for Shen Yiren’s favor.
He hoped the Goddess Palace would see his boundless potential, facilitate a union, and provide him with the precious Infant Transformation Elixir.
"End this quickly!"
Realizing the shift, the True Man of the Ghost Ship steered his vessel toward Lu Changsheng, while the shadow vanished into the void, flanking his approach.
"Hehe."
Lu Changsheng remained poised, channeling his Talisman Formation to swirl around him like an impenetrable wall, while signaling Zhuyan to strike down the Desert Sea Crocodile God.
"Whoosh!!!"
Though perhaps unrefined in certain movements, Zhuyan’s Fourth Rank body, augmented by Lu Changsheng’s mastery and packed with high-end Magical Treasures, performed with terrifying efficiency.
As it pressured the Desert Sea Crocodile God, a Breaking Magic Arrow fired from beneath its arm, obliterating the enemy’s barrier in one clean blow.
Simultaneously, a Talisman from the wall surrounding Lu Changsheng whistled toward the opponent.
The Third Rank Soul Shaking Talisman!
Designed to petrify the soul and freeze consciousness.
Even if the Desert Sea Crocodile God didn't collapse, he staggered, his mind reeling for a critical second.
Seizing the gap, Zhuyan Unleashed a strike of such intensity that it dwarfed that of a normal Nascent Soul cultivator, sending the Desert Sea Crocodile God spewing blood as he was blasted across the firmament.
"Whoosh!"
Before the foe could flee, a harpoon-like arrow shot from the Puppet’s arm, pinning the robust body of the Desert Sea Crocodile God and binding him fast.
"Retreat!"
The True Man of the Ghost Ship and his shadowy associate saw the outcome and realized they were hopelessly outclassed by the Fourth Rank construct.
Besides, their directive had only been to delay, not to sacrifice themselves.
Against such overwhelming power, lingering any longer would surely spell their own demise!