After a pause, Luo Ying tentatively explained,
"As for the solution… I think... First, we must rescue the Spirit Vein Dragon and treat it well. Perhaps after a few hundred or even a thousand years, the resentment will be resolved, and the dark energy will naturally dissipate..."
"Of course, this method would take a very long time, possibly even ten thousand years..."
"Besides this, if we can set up some formations to dissolve resentment and shield the will of the world, and keep the Spirit Vein Dragon within them for years, it might help the resentment dissipate more quickly!"
Su Xing nodded slightly after hearing this.
Dissolving resentment and shielding the will of the world… This sounded like even this method would not be fast enough?
So Su Xing, unwilling to give up, asked,
"Master, is there any other method to dissolve this dark energy more quickly?"
After a moment of hesitation, Luo Ying replied,
"In the fifth level of the Scripture Pavilion, there is a secret method... called Transplanting Flowers and Trees. It can transfer the positive and negative effects of all things onto oneself... If you are willing, you can transfer this dark energy onto yourself..."
"However, this might damage your cultivation, and it requires a very high state of mind to reduce this impact. You should also use the Heart Cleansing Art and Heart Cleansing Pill to quickly dissolve the resentment within yourself..."
After hearing Luo Ying's words, Su Xing's eyes brightened.
Transferring the dark energy onto himself and then dissolving it on his own, this method seemed feasible?
But Su Xing still asked,
"Master, will this transfer method have any side effects?"
Luo Ying smiled and said,
"The Spirit Vein Dragon is different from cultivators. Its resentment is extremely difficult to dissolve..."
"However, ordinary cultivators, even if they ascend, inevitably experience seven emotions and six desires. The resentment and joy would just cause some emotional changes... If resolved in time, there should be no major issues..."
Su Xing was completely reassured after Luo Ying's explanation.
Having passed the five gates of Divinity Transformation, Su Xing's mind state was transcendent, and he believed he could bear this bit of resentment without issue.
He decided to try it later.
Then Su Xing asked another question.
"Master, I have recently been researching the Dao of Puppets. Do you have any insights on this?"
Luo Ying thought for a moment before responding,
"I am not very skilled in the Dao of Puppets…"
"However, in the Scripture Pavilion, Ghost Grandma has quite extensive research in this area. Although her temper is eccentric... perhaps you can ask her?"
Su Xing nodded upon hearing this. Surprised that Ghost Grandma was also proficient in the Dao of Puppets, he thought he might be able to learn a puppet method from her!
With this in mind, Su Xing quickly left the hall.
Shortly after, Su Xing brought Senior Brother Shennong to the hall, completed the task process, and eagerly hurried to the Luo Tian Sect's Scripture Pavilion.
In the Scripture Pavilion, Su Xing went to the fifth level and found a book titled "Detailed Explanation of the Dao of Puppets," which he read with great interest.
While reading, Su Xing also secretly observed his surroundings.
According to previous experience, Ghost Grandma would soon come looking for Su Xing.
Sure enough, after reading for an hour or two, Su Xing heard Ghost Grandma's voice beside his ear.
"You are looking for me?"
Su Xing's heart shook at the sound, and he immediately turned around to bow, saying,
"Yes, Ghost Grandma... I have a matter to inquire about regarding the Dao of Puppets... I heard that you have extensive research in this area?"
Ghost Grandma, hearing Su Xing, asked with great interest,
"Oh? Nowadays, few young cultivators are willing to learn the Dao of Puppets... It is mostly regarded as the practice of evil cultivators..."
"However, the Dao of Puppets, too, has its distinction between right and evil. Which one do you wish to learn?"
Su Xing raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, thinking that Ghost Grandma was willing to give guidance. He immediately said, "Please guide me, Grandma!"
Ghost Grandma nodded slightly and said slowly,
"The Dao of Puppets is considered an aberrant path within the Hundred Arts of Cultivation…"
"And the reason for this is the existence of the human puppet method!"
"The Dao of Puppets is generally divided into two categories: the human puppet method and the artifact puppet method!"
"The so-called human puppet method involves refining a living person into a living dead, eventually transforming them into a puppet..."
"Compared to the artifact puppet method, the human puppet method has many advantages... For example, it saves puppet-refining materials, the puppet's strength is formidable, retaining most of the cultivator's strength and skills from their previous life..."
"But the human puppet method is despised by righteous cultivators... Because it is easy to refine, many puppet masters step into the path of evil!"
After a pause, Ghost Grandma continued to explain,
"In contrast, the artifact puppet method involves using rare metals and celestial treasures... driven by Spirit Stones. The puppet is trained, and fixed talismans are inscribed into its core, enabling it to perform specific tasks…"
"Therefore, masters of the artifact puppet method are often also masters of artifact refining!"
Ghost Grandma said much, and Su Xing listened attentively, gaining a general understanding of her meaning.
The so-called Dao of Puppets is actually a combination of artifact refining, talismans, formations, and divine soul methods!
Of course, this does not mean that to refine a puppet, one must excel in all four methods.
Often, a puppet master would refine the puppet's body, the talisman master would inscribe the core talismans, the array master would assemble and install the Spirit Gathering Array and Spirit Stones... The puppet master then drives it with their divine soul.
The integration of these four methods forms the Dao of Puppets!
After hearing Ghost Grandma's words, Su Xing's face turned somewhat grim.
In the cultivation world, ordinary puppet masters could indeed collaborate in this manner...