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Chapter 414

After swallowing the medicine, Li Fan felt a little more energized.

Using the medicinal effect as a springboard, he activated a trace of hidden power within his body.

“Pu!”

He coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, which startled his master, Guang Yangzi.

At the same time, the Creation Forge Art began to circulate.

Guang yangzi hurriedly went back to prepare more medicinal herbs for Li Fan.

Li Fan, taking advantage of this opportunity, carefully examined his physical condition.

Recalling the relevant case records in the Heavenly Doctor’s Immortal Scripture, he pondered countermeasures.

His body was incredibly weak, and after only a short while, he felt dizzy and lightheaded.

He had no choice but to clear his mind and rest.

Once he regained a bit of strength, he continued to contemplate.

This went on for three days.

Li Fan, drawing on the Heavenly Doctor’s Immortal Scripture, modified the prescription he had taken during the second stage of his “擬化” (Imitation).

After much persuasion, he finally convinced Guang yangzi to change the medicine.

The new prescription proved to be exceptionally effective.

Coupled with the Creation Forge Art continuously improving his physique, within two months, Li Fan was able to walk with difficulty.

“Little Junior Brother, you are truly amazing! The prescription actually worked! How did you know about it?” His second senior brother, Lingxiao, asked as he helped Li Fan to his feet.

“It just appeared in my mind!” Li Fan said with wide eyes, filled with innocence.

“Little Junior Brother is extraordinary! Perhaps he is the hope for the revival of our Body Transformation Dao!” Their third senior brother, Lian chang, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Li Fan chuckled foolishly.

“The first step has been successful.

The key now is to become stronger than Senior Brother Si Xing within the next six years, before the arrival of the Summoning Immortal Order.

To replace him in the war and prevent him from witnessing the tragic sight of the Body Transformation Dao disciples dying one after another.

This is the obsession of Tian Yang.” Li Fan thought to himself.

“Senior Brother Si Xing is at the Golden Core stage. To surpass him within six years, relying on conventional cultivation would be a fool’s dream.

I have to find another way.” Li Fan’s eyes flickered.

One day, he privately approached his master, Guang Yangzi.

“Self Body Transformation?” Guang Yangzi’s expression changed drastically when confronted with his junior disciple’s question.

“Where did you hear that? Did Lingxiao, that little rascal, start spreading rumors again?” Guang Yangzi fumed, his beard bristling and his eyes narrowed.

“Master, I came up with it myself,” Li Fan said earnestly.

“The Body Transformation Dao’s cultivation technique, “Transforming into Others at Will,” is extraordinary in its ability to utilize external objects.

But I suddenly wondered, what exactly constitutes an external object?

Senior Brother’s sword, Second Senior Brother’s brush, Third Senior Brother’s bell, these are all external objects.

So, can this frail body of mine be considered an external object?

Through continuous refinement with the technique, the “Transformed Objects” of my senior brothers become increasingly powerful. If I can treat my own body as a “Transformed Object,” wouldn’t that mean I can change my physique?

I won’t be as weak as I am now.” Li Fan stated each word clearly.

Guang Yangzi’s expression also shifted continuously.

After a long silence, he sighed.

“Tian Yang, you are truly a genius! At such a young age, you have such insight. You are truly…”

Guang Yangzi stroked Tian Yang’s head, his voice filled with a hint of relief. “Having a disciple like you, our Body Transformation Dao will surely prosper!”

“Indeed, cultivating the “Transforming into Others at Will” technique can achieve “Self Body Transformation.”

But…” Guang Yangzi’s expression suddenly turned serious as he looked at Li Fan, his voice heavy. “However, my disciple, you must never try it.”

Li Fan tilted his head up to look at his master, his young face filled with confusion. “Why, Master?”

Guang Yangzi’s expression seemed to wander, as if lost in thought for a moment. Then, he explained to Li Fan, “The most important aspect of “Transforming into Others at Will” is “Unification of Self and Object.”

“Self Body Transformation, in theory, is indeed feasible. It’s the most perfect choice of the technique.

But…”

Guang Yangzi sighed.

“It’s too difficult! Too difficult!”

“Compared to ordinary objects, the human body is incredibly complex.

Objects can be continuously experimented with to achieve a higher degree of compatibility with the self. If mistakes occur during cultivation, only the transformed object is damaged.

But with Self Body Transformation, you must constantly use your own physical body as the experimental ground.

The slightest error will result in serious injury.

Physical damage is one thing. The most terrifying aspect is the damage to the spirit.

Guang Yangzi’s eyes flashed with a hint of sadness. “Once, I had a brilliant senior brother. His talent was unmatched, the highest I had ever seen.

He was considered the “First Person of the Body Transformation Dao in a Thousand Years,” with great expectations placed on him by our master.

However, he was arrogant and believed he could succeed in cultivating “Self Body Transformation.”

He ignored everyone’s advice and forcefully cultivated.

The result…”

Guang Yangzi paused.

“Initially, he was just a bit erratic, and everyone was trying to heal him.

But later, his madness worsened. He couldn’t distinguish between reality and fantasy.

One night, he went on a rampage.

The number of casualties was countless.

From that day forward, our Body Transformation Dao declined…”

Speaking of this, Guang Yangzi shook his head slightly.

“So, my dear disciple, remember this. You must never try it!” Guang Yangzi warned with utmost seriousness.

Li Fan nodded repeatedly. “Yes! I understand, Master!”

After bidding farewell to Guang Yangzi, Li Fan returned to his room.

After much deliberation, Li Fan abandoned his plan to forcibly cultivate Self Body Transformation.

Just like “Self-Foundation Establishment,” this Self Body Transformation was not something ordinary people could achieve.

Judging from Master Tian Yang’s later situation, he also did not choose this path.

“Puppet…”

Recalling the Nascent Soul puppet from years later, Li Fan gradually formed a plan in his mind.

The next day, Li Fan approached his senior brothers and told them he wanted a puppet.

“Don’t worry, Little Junior Brother. Leave it to me! Lately, I’ve been overflowing with inspiration, my penmanship is superb, and I’ve written several books. They are the pinnacle of my career!” Second Senior Brother Lingxiao assured him, thumping his chest. “I’ll go to the market and sell them, then choose the most handsome puppet for you!”

A few days later, Li Fan got his wish and obtained a mechanical puppet.

Lingxiao beamed with pride. “Little Junior Brother, this puppet is said to be at the Golden Core level. It took me a lot of effort to buy it from someone!”

“Senior Brother, you are amazing! Thank you, Senior Brother!” Li Fan complimented him before grabbing the puppet and dashing off without a trace.

“Little Junior Brother’s body seems to be recovering better and better!” Lingxiao remarked with a sigh.

Inside his private chamber, Li Fan placed the puppet in front of him and cut a wound on his hand.

He dripped his fresh blood onto the puppet.

Simultaneously, he activated the “Transforming into Others at Will” technique, refining the puppet while sensing the subtle changes occurring within it.

Li Fan had abandoned the idea of Self Body Transformation.

But he hadn’t given up entirely.

His plan could be seen as a form of Self Body Transformation under special circumstances.

It was even more extreme.

That is, to abandon this physical body and completely transform himself into a puppet.

Just like the real Master Tian Yang did in history.

However, Tian Yang later chose to absorb earthfire to refine and enhance the puppet.

Li Fan’s solution, however, was to become a puppet and then achieve Self Body Transformation.

Undoubtedly, this was a self-destructive approach.

The gap between a Golden Core puppet and the human body’s limit was immeasurable.

But for Li Fan, who desperately wanted to increase his combat strength, it was the best option.

Cultivating “Self Body Transformation” with a puppet body significantly reduced the difficulty.

First, the precision of a puppet was far less than that of the human body, making it easier to achieve “Unification of Self and Object.”

Second, there was no need to worry about self-injury.

Repairing a puppet was much easier, as long as materials were plentiful.

And once the puppet completed its “Self Body Transformation” cultivation, the combat power it could unleash in the state of unification would be several times stronger than simply using the puppet as a “Transformed Object.”

“The first step is to shed my physical body and merge with the puppet.”

Li Fan’s execution of this technique from “Transforming into Others at Will” was exceptionally smooth.

“It must be because Tian Yang’s body was a premature birth, and his soul and body were not very harmonious,” Li Fan mused.

Thus, Li Fan began his personal cultivation plan, concealing it from the other Body Transformation Dao disciples.

This plan was too bizarre, even Guang Yangzi did not notice the changes happening to his junior disciple.

He simply thought Li Fan was incredibly fond of the puppet Lingxiao had bought for him, to the point of never leaving it behind.

Time flew by.

Six years passed in the blink of an eye.

The Summoning Immortal Bell rang, and the Summoning Immortal Order arrived.

The three Body Transformation Dao disciples argued about who should go to answer the call.

At that moment, Li Fan, along with his puppet, suddenly appeared before them.

“Senior Brother Si Xing, Senior Brother Lingxiao, Senior Brother Lianchang.

I think I should go.”

Lingxiao, Lianchang, and Si Xing were utterly dumbfounded as they looked at Li Fan with his serious expression.

“Little Junior Brother, what are you saying? This isn’t a game…” Lingxiao began, but then he froze.

Because the puppet standing behind Li Fan had spoken those words.

“Bang! Bang!”

The puppet took a step forward, approaching the three senior brothers.

“Going to war is a matter of life and death. If someone has to go, it should be the strongest among us!

Senior Brothers, what do you think?”

Li Fan looked at Senior Brother Si Xing, Lingxiao, and Lianchang, asking softly.

“Tian Yang! You! You’re being reckless!” Guang Yangzi was the first to see the changes that had occurred to Li Fan.

His face turned pale, and he wanted to step forward, but he stopped as if he had thought of something.

His slightly trembling hands betrayed the turmoil within him.

“You… you knew this day would come?”

Guang Yangzi asked in a stammer.

Li Fan smiled but did not answer.

He looked at his senior brothers. “Please, Senior Brothers, enlighten me!”

The three senior brothers gradually recovered from their shock.

Looking at their junior brother’s transformed puppet body, their eyes were filled with regret and sorrow.

For a moment, they stood there speechless.

It was Senior Brother Si Xing who finally took action.

He summoned his own blade, thin as a cicada’s wing and emerald green, and pointed it at Li Fan.

“Junior Brother, this matter is best left to me.

How can a senior brother let his junior brother go to his death?!”

Li Fan’s figure flickered, and he punched, landing beside his senior brother.

“Senior Brother, don’t underestimate me!”

Sensing the immense force of the blow, Si Xing’s face changed slightly.

His green blade danced, attempting to block Li Fan.

But the blade, which was usually invincible, left no mark whatsoever on Li Fan’s body.

This puppet’s body was not only extremely hard.

It was also several times faster than an ordinary Golden Core cultivator.

His movements were large and open, and various strange and unusual mechanisms shot out from different parts of his body.

For a while, Si Xing could only dodge clumsily.

“Junior Brother Tian Yang, it seems you’ve put in a lot of effort. But even so, I cannot let you go in my place!”

“Be careful!”

Si Xing eyebrows rose, and his figure turned into a stream of light, merging with the green blade.

“Zheng!”

The blade trembled slightly, emitting a clear chime.

Then, the blade’s body, like flowing water, extended forward and backward.

“Sword Water Heavenly Heart!”

Senior Brother Si Xing’s voice rang out from within the blade.

The water-like sword energy arrived instantly.

Upon striking Li Fan’s puppet body, it did not dissipate like before.

Instead, it reflected back like light.

It flowed in the air for a moment, then instantly changed direction, attacking Li Fan from the other side.

It was still deflected by Li Fan’s hard body.

It arched and returned in an instant.

The flowing sword energy became increasingly faster, appearing like a massive water net slowly enveloping the bulky puppet in its center.

Currently, Li Fan was only a puppet body, and most of his divine powers were unusable.

Under Si Xing’s relentless attack, Li Fan gradually fell into a disadvantage.

“Ancient cultivators are truly formidable.” Li Fan thought to himself, his expression turning serious.

The puppet let out a roar that shook the heavens, its body emitting a crimson glow.

It vibrated and transformed, instantly changing from a humanoid form to a giant hand.

It skillfully bypassed the sword energy blockade of the Sword Water Heavenly Heart, reaching above the water net.

It expanded further.

The shadow it cast enveloped all the water swords, then pressed down on them.

This was the “Overturning Heaven Palm” he had comprehended.

Executed with the puppet’s massive body, it had a sense of overwhelming power.

“Such divine power!”

Senior Brother Si Xing exclaimed in excitement.

“I have a move as well. Please enlighten me, Junior Brother!”

“Heavenly Will Like Water, Formless and Supreme!”

“Sword Name: Heavenly Form!”

The water swords flowing beneath the Overturning Heaven Palm instantly vanished.

But Li Fan felt a strange sense of danger.

“Swoosh!”

Invisible sword energy flashed.

Before the giant hand could press down, a thin cut appeared on its back.

Li Fan fixed his gaze on the surrounding space.

But he couldn’t find Si Xing’ trace.

Another sword cut emerged.

Li Fan channeled his spiritual energy, attempting to heal his injury.

However, he discovered that the sword cut seemed to have invisible sword energy attached to it, preventing the wound from healing.

The sword cuts appeared faster and faster.

In an instant, Li Fan’s body was covered in wounds.

“Little Junior Brother, surrender!”

Senior Brother Si Xing’s voice echoed from all directions.

But he remained invisible.

“Senior Brother’s divine powers are truly amazing!”

Li Fan sincerely praised him.

“But…”

Li Fan suddenly raised his voice.

“I have one more move. If Senior Brother can block it, I’ll surrender immediately!”

“Good! I’ll be waiting!” Si Xing replied.

Li Fan suppressed his momentum.

After a moment, he said to his second senior brother, Lingxiao, “Senior Brother Lingxiao, please lend me your brush!”

“Ah?” Lingxiao was initially stunned.

“Oh, alright!” Then, a brush flew towards him, which Li Fan grasped.

He poured his spiritual energy into it, and with a single stroke, he wrote in the air.

It was…

The character “乱” (Chaos).

The moment the character descended, terrifying cracks suddenly appeared on Li Fan’s body.

He could no longer maintain the form of a giant hand and reverted back to his humanoid puppet form, falling to the ground.

“This kind of consumption…”

Li Fan was slightly horrified.

The hard body made of special stones was disintegrating.

Many parts were shattering directly.

This was the divine power Li Fan had comprehended from the “Chaos Stone” in the Maze. Its power far exceeded his expectations.

The caster was suffering such terrible side effects.

Not to mention Senior Brother Si Xing, who was directly facing the “Chaos” character.

His Heavenly Form state retreated, and he emerged clumsily.

But in the face of “Chaos,” he was unable to move.

His spiritual energy went berserk, beyond his control.

His transformed object, the green blade, was also flying around like a headless chicken.

“Pu!”

Si Xing’s arm bent in an unnatural direction, and a look of horror flashed in his eyes.

Because he realized that this change was about to happen all over his body.

“Enough!”

At that critical moment, Guang Yangzi finally intervened.

His transformed object was a willow tree.

The green willow stood in front of Si XIng, its branches wildly whipping around.

After a long time, everything gradually calmed down.

The willow tree disappeared, and the back of Guang Yangzi’s hand, which was hidden behind his back, trembled slightly.

Si Xing looked at Li Fan, who was also severely injured and lying on the ground, his eyes filled with a mixture of emotions.

“You won, Junior Brother,” he said softly.

Li Fan breathed a sigh of relief.

“Tian Yang, that move you just…” Guang Yangzi looked at his junior disciple, unable to finish his sentence.

After a moment, he sighed and gave up asking.

“Never mind. I can see that you have a big secret.

But you’re willing to join our Body Transformation Dao, which is a blessing for our declining sect.”

Guang Yangzi, disheartened, waved his hand and left.

Si Xing, for a while, didn’t know what to say.

Only Second Senior Brother Lingxiao was shouting and fussing, hurriedly treating Li Fan’s wounds.

A puppet body, as long as there were enough materials, could easily heal from even the most serious injuries.

Lingxiao went back to the market and returned shortly after, and Li Fan was healed.

Under the gaze of Master Guang Yangzi and his three senior brothers, Li Fan, accompanied by the Summoning Immortal Envoy who had come to urge him on, left the Body Transformation Dao.

He set off for the battlefield.

The surrounding scenery suddenly froze.

Then, like shattered glass, it exploded.

Turning into specks of light, they all poured into Li Fan’s mind.

Thousands of years ago, Tian Yang True Man’s memories, clear and vivid, surfaced.

Including the “Transforming into Others at Will” technique, the puppet-making methods, and even the “Earthfire Ascending Yuan Formation” for refining and upgrading puppet levels, all of them were as if he had experienced them personally, firmly imprinted in his memory.

But Li Fan had no time to examine these things at the moment.

Because his mind was completely captured by the prompt from “Truth.”

“Though dead, still alive, true spirit undying.”

“Transforming into Objects, traversing the ages.”

“The “Overhaul” function has been unlocked.”

Next Chapter

Comments 18

  1. Offline
    + 10 -
    Holyyyyyyyyy, now the skull has to be absorbed
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  2. Offline
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    Please like or thank Crisp009's comment that’s below

    Tian Yang's soul… not weaker than man
    ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
    Read more
  3. Offline
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    New function lets go
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  4. Offline
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    Tian Yangs.... Soul.... Not.... WEAKER THAN MAN! crying_kitten
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  5. Offline
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    **Chapter 414 – Fulfilling Tianyang’s Wish**

    After swallowing the medicine, Li Fan felt slightly better.

    Using its medicinal effect as leverage, he stirred a hidden current of power within his body.

    “Pfft!”

    He spat out a mouthful of blood, startling his master Guangyangzi.

    At the same time, the *Creation Furnace Technique* began to circulate on its own.

    Guangyangzi rushed off again to prepare another round of medicinal herbs.

    Taking advantage of the moment, Li Fan carefully examined his physical condition, recalling the relevant medical records from the *Heavenly Physician Scripture* as he contemplated countermeasures.

    His body was too frail. Within moments, dizziness struck again, forcing him to quiet his mind and rest.

    He gathered strength, thought, rested, and repeated the cycle.

    After three days, Li Fan combined the insights from the *Heavenly Physician Scripture* and modified the prescription he had once used during the second *Simulation*.

    After much persuasion, he finally convinced Guangyangzi to change his medicine.

    The new formula worked wonders.

    With the *Creation Furnace Technique* continually refining his body, Li Fan was able to walk again within two months.

    “Junior Brother, you’re amazing! I can’t believe the new prescription actually worked! How did you know that?” Second Senior Brother Lingxiao supported him as he spoke.

    “It just appeared in my mind!” Li Fan widened his eyes innocently.

    “Our little junior brother is truly exceptional! He may well be the hope for the revival of our *Path of Bodily Transformation*!” Third Senior Brother Lian Chang exclaimed.

    Li Fan only laughed foolishly.

    “The first step is done.”

    “The next is crucial: within six years—before the Immortal Summoning Order arrives—I must become stronger than Senior Brother Sixing.”

    “I must take his place in that war and spare the disciples of the Path of Bodily Transformation from dying one by one before my eyes.”

    “That was Tianyang Zhenren’s lifelong obsession.”

    Li Fan pondered silently.

    “Senior Brother Sixing’s cultivation was at the Golden Core Realm. To surpass him in six years through normal cultivation is pure fantasy.”

    “I must take another path.”

    His gaze sharpened.

    That day, he secretly went to his master, Guangyangzi.

    “Self-Transformation?” Guangyangzi’s expression changed instantly upon hearing his question.

    “Where did you hear that? Was it that brat Lingxiao running his mouth again?” Guangyangzi’s beard trembled with fury.

    “Master, I thought of it myself,” Li Fan said earnestly.

    “Our *Path of Bodily Transformation* cultivates the art of *Transforming the Self into the Other*, allowing one to merge with external things.”

    “But I suddenly wondered—what exactly counts as ‘external’?”

    “Senior Brother Sixing’s sword, Second Brother Lingxiao’s brush, Third Brother Lian Chang’s bell—these are all external things.”

    “Then couldn’t my own frail body also be considered an external object?”

    “If I treat my body as my *Transformed Object* and temper it through the technique, wouldn’t that mean I can change my very constitution?”

    “I would no longer be this weak.”

    Li Fan spoke each word with conviction.

    Guangyangzi’s expression shifted repeatedly. After a long silence, he sighed deeply.

    “Tianyang, you are truly a peerless genius. To have such insight at your age… with a disciple like you, the Path of Bodily Transformation may yet rise again!”

    “Yes, in theory, one can achieve *Self-Transformation* through the *Transforming the Self into the Other* technique.”

    But his face soon darkened. “However, you must never attempt it.”

    Li Fan looked up in confusion. “Why, Master?”

    Guangyangzi hesitated, then explained, “The essence of this path lies in the unity of self and object. In theory, *Self-Transformation* is the ultimate perfection of the art.”

    “But…”

    He sighed again.

    “It’s too difficult.”

    “Compared to external objects, the human body is immeasurably more complex.”

    “With ordinary items, mistakes can be corrected. If the process fails, you only damage the transformed object.”

    “But in *Self-Transformation*, your flesh itself becomes the testing ground. Any error will wound your body—and worse, damage your spirit.”

    His eyes dimmed with sorrow. “I once had a senior brother, a man of extraordinary brilliance, the most gifted I have ever met. He was hailed as the ‘First Genius of the Path of Bodily Transformation in a thousand years’ and carried our master’s hopes.”

    “But he was too proud. He believed he could succeed in *Self-Transformation* despite our warnings.”

    “The result…”

    “At first, he merely acted erratically, and we thought to heal him.”

    “But then his madness grew. He could no longer distinguish reality from illusion.”

    “One night, he went berserk and slaughtered indiscriminately.”

    “The dead were beyond counting.”

    “From that day, our Path fell into decline.”

    Guangyangzi shook his head. “So, my dear disciple, promise me—never attempt it.”

    Li Fan nodded heavily. “Yes, Master.”

    After leaving Guangyangzi, he returned to his quarters.

    He thought for a long time before giving up on forcibly practicing *Self-Transformation*.

    Like *Foundation Building with the Self*, this path was beyond ordinary capability.

    Even from Tianyang Zhenren’s later fate, it was clear he never walked that road.

    “Puppets…”

    Recalling the Nascent Soul puppet from the future, Li Fan began forming a new plan.

    The next day, he approached his senior brothers. “I want to acquire a puppet,” he said.

    “Leave it to me!” Lingxiao thumped his chest proudly. “I’ve been overflowing with inspiration lately—written several masterpieces already! I’ll sell them and get you the finest puppet available!”



    A few days later, Li Fan received the puppet he desired.

    Lingxiao grinned with pride. “Junior Brother, this one supposedly possesses the strength of a Golden Core cultivator. Took me quite some effort to get it!”

    “You’re amazing, Senior Brother! Thank you!” Li Fan praised, then dashed off with the puppet.

    “Little junior brother’s recovery is remarkable,” Lingxiao said, sighing.

    In a sealed chamber, Li Fan placed the puppet before him and slit his palm.

    Blood dripped onto the puppet as he circulated the *Transforming the Self into the Other* technique, sensing the faint changes occurring within it.

    He had abandoned direct *Self-Transformation*, but not the idea itself.

    His plan was, in truth, a variation of it—perhaps even more extreme.

    He would abandon his mortal body entirely and merge his soul into the puppet—just as the real Tianyang Zhenren once did.

    Only, where Tianyang had later used earthfire to temper and evolve his puppet body, Li Fan intended to go further—
    to *Self-Transform* again after becoming a puppet.

    Undeniably, it was a path of self-destruction.

    The potential of a Golden Core puppet could never match that of the human form.

    But for Li Fan, desperate for rapid strength, it was the only path forward.

    Cultivating *Self-Transformation* within a puppet body drastically reduced the difficulty.

    First, a puppet was far simpler than a human body—easier to achieve unity of self and object.
    Second, injuries posed no concern.

    Repairs were merely a matter of materials.

    And once perfected, a puppet in the state of unity could unleash power several times greater than a standard transformed object.

    “The first step is to abandon the body and merge with the puppet.”

    The technique from *Transforming the Self into the Other* activated smoothly.

    “It must be because Tianyang’s body was premature—his soul and body never fully aligned,” Li Fan reflected.

    Thus, without alerting the others, Li Fan began his secret cultivation.

    His plan was too outrageous—so much so that even Guangyangzi failed to notice the changes.

    He merely thought his little disciple had grown overly fond of the puppet, carrying it everywhere.

    Time passed swiftly.

    Six years later.

    The *Summoning Bell* tolled. The *Immortal Summoning Order* had arrived.

    Li Fan’s three senior brothers argued bitterly over who should go.

    Just then, Li Fan appeared before them with his puppet.

    “Senior Brothers Sixing, Lingxiao, Lian Chang,” he said calmly. “Let me go.”

    The three looked at him in shock.

    “Junior Brother, what are you saying? This isn’t a—” Lingxiao froze mid-sentence.

    Because the voice had come not from Li Fan—but from the puppet behind him.

    *Thud. Thud.*

    The puppet stepped forward.

    “This mission is nine deaths and one life. The one who goes must be the strongest among us.”

    “What do you say, Senior Brothers?”

    Guangyangzi suddenly appeared, face pale. “Tianyang! You… you fool!”

    He wanted to step forward but hesitated. His trembling hands betrayed his turmoil.

    “You foresaw this day, didn’t you?” he murmured.

    Li Fan only smiled.

    Looking at his brothers, he said, “Please, grant me your instruction.”

    The three hesitated, their eyes filled with regret and sorrow.

    At last, Sixing moved.

    He summoned a jade-green sword thin as cicada wings.

    “Junior Brother, this task should be mine. What kind of brother lets his junior go to die?”

    Li Fan’s figure blurred. With a single punch, he met Sixing’s sword strike head-on.

    “Don’t underestimate me, Senior Brother!”

    The sword rang sharply against his metal body, leaving not a mark.

    The puppet was both swift and immensely strong, launching mechanisms and hidden weapons from every angle.

    Sixing was forced to dodge, barely holding on.

    “Impressive, Junior Brother. But that only means I cannot let you go!”

    “Be careful!”

    Sixing merged with his sword in a flash of green light.

    “*Swordflow, Heart of Water!*”

    Streams of swordlight rippled like flowing water, surrounding Li Fan’s puppet form.

    The swordlight struck him repeatedly, reflecting and bending back, weaving an immense watery net that trapped him at its center.

    Deprived of human techniques, the puppet body soon fell at a disadvantage.

    “As expected of the ancients…” Li Fan muttered.

    He roared. The puppet’s eyes flared red, its form shifting.

    The humanoid body transformed into a massive hand.

    It bypassed the watery net, expanding to cover the entire swordlight field before slamming downward.

    It was the *Heaven-Flipping Palm*.

    Used through the puppet’s massive form, it exuded the aura of absolute suppression.

    “Magnificent divine art!” Sixing shouted.

    “I too have a technique—receive it if you can!”

    “*Heaven’s Will is as Water, Formless Above!*”

    “*Sword Art—Heavenly Form!*”

    The watery swordlight vanished.

    An invisible blade cut across space.

    Before Li Fan could react, a thin wound appeared on the puppet’s hand.

    He scanned the surroundings but could not see Sixing.

    More cuts followed. Each carried invisible sword qi that prevented repair.

    Soon the puppet was covered in scars.

    “Yield, Junior Brother!” Sixing’s voice echoed from all directions.

    “A marvelous art indeed,” Li Fan said sincerely. “But…”

    “I have one last technique. If you can block it, I concede!”

    “Very well,” Sixing replied.

    Li Fan steadied his aura. “Senior Brother Lingxiao, lend me your brush.”

    “Huh? Oh—sure!” The ink brush flew to him.

    Channeling spiritual power, Li Fan wrote in the air—

    The character **“Chaos” (亂)**.

    The instant the word appeared, cracks spread across his puppet body.

    The giant form shattered, collapsing into its humanoid shape.

    “This cost…” Li Fan thought grimly.

    The puppet’s hardened body was disintegrating, exploding in places.

    It was a divine art born from his comprehension of the *Chaos Glyph Stone* in the Labyrinth Domain. Its power far exceeded expectations.

    If the caster himself suffered this much backlash, the target’s fate was obvious.

    Sixing’s fusion dissolved, and he stumbled into view—immobilized.

    His spiritual power raged uncontrollably.

    His green sword, his *Transformed Object*, flew wildly like a maddened beast.

    “Pfft!”

    His arm twisted backward, breaking at an unnatural angle. Terror flickered in his eyes as he felt the same change spreading through his body.

    “Enough!”

    At last, Guangyangzi intervened.

    His *Transformed Object*—a willow tree—manifested behind him, its branches whipping madly to suppress the chaos.

    After a long struggle, the power subsided.

    The willow vanished. Guangyangzi’s trembling hands revealed his exhaustion.

    Sixing looked at Li Fan, who lay battered on the ground.

    “You win, Junior Brother,” he said softly.

    Li Fan let out a slow breath.

    “Tianyang, that technique just now…” Guangyangzi began, then stopped.

    After a moment, he sighed. “Forget it. I can tell you hold deep secrets.”

    “But that you chose to remain with our declining Path is our fortune.”

    He waved his hand and turned away.

    Sixing said nothing. Lingxiao hurried to treat Li Fan’s injuries.



    A puppet’s body, once damaged, could be easily repaired with enough materials.

    After another trip to the market, Lingxiao returned, and soon Li Fan was whole again.

    Under the watchful eyes of Guangyangzi and his three senior brothers, Li Fan departed the Path of Bodily Transformation with the Immortal Summoning Envoy.

    He stepped onto the battlefield.

    The scenery froze.

    Then it shattered like glass, scattering into countless lights that rushed into Li Fan’s mind.

    The memories of Tianyang Zhenren from thousands of years past surfaced vividly—
    the *Transforming the Self into the Other* technique, the puppet-refining arts, the *Earthfire Ascension Array* that tempered puppets with subterranean flames—
    all of it imprinted in his soul.

    But Li Fan had no time to inspect them.

    His attention was seized entirely by a message from *True Return*:

    > “Though the body dies, the true spirit endures.”
    >
    > “By transforming the self into matter, one may cross the ages.”
    >
    > “*Avatar* function unlocked.”

    *(End of Chapter)*
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  6. Offline
    Nas
    + 220 -
    Tian….. Yangs….. Soul….. Not….. Weaker….. Than….. Man….. clap
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  7. Offline
    + 270 -
    Tian yangs soul is stronger than man
    peepo071
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  8. Offline
    + 40 -
    WHAT TRUTH UPGRADES!?
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  9. Offline
    + 41 -
    New function yay hype
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  10. Offline
    + 60 -
    Finally, a new function joy
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