“Time is the most precious resource for cultivators. A difference of one or two years could result in missing a major breakthrough.”

“Such situations have occurred quite often within the Immortal Gate. Therefore, the third principal of our Taoist Academy set a rule that if a teacher believes a student is exceptionally talented, they can recommend the student to enter the Cave of Myriad Treasures even if they haven’t accumulated 100 credits.”

“Zhong Li Tianyu perfectly fits this criterion. However, his mentor made him wait for two years before submitting the recommendation.”

After hearing Che Yucheng’s explanation, Chen Mobai clapped his hands together.

“Master, you’ve been training me in the Taoist Academy for nearly four years. I think it’s time for you to recommend me to enter the Cave of Myriad Treasures.”

However, Chen Mobai’s words made Che Yucheng roll his eyes. He waved his hand and shook his head, indicating that he couldn’t do it.

“I’m your teacher, not your mentor.”

“Is there a difference?”

“There’s no real difference. However, to prevent this privilege from being abused, each teacher can only recommend one student to enter the Cave of Myriad Treasures every ten years. I used my recommendation on your senior brother eight years ago. If you wait for my recommendation, you’ll probably have accumulated 100 credits by then.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai thought quickly and immediately thought of two other teachers who held him in high regard.

“Then I’ll go find Master Lin Wenkang and Master Xu Xiu. They probably haven’t used their recommendations yet. After all, students like me who reach the Foundation Establishment stage in their fourth year are few and far between.”

“Only teachers at the Golden Core stage can make recommendations. Both of them are only at the Foundation Establishment stage, so they can’t recommend you.”

Upon hearing this, even if Chen Mobai was slow, he understood why Che Yucheng specifically mentioned the word “mentor.”

“Has Taoist Master Shaoyang come out of seclusion?”

This mentor assigned by the Taoist Academy, Chen Mobai had been studying for four years and had never met him once.

“Not yet, but he doesn’t need to be in complete seclusion to cultivate his Pure Yang Body. I still have some influence, so I can send the message to him.”

As Che Yucheng spoke, he opened the puppet box that Chen Mobai had placed on the table.

“Master, when can I go to the Cave of Myriad Treasures?”

“What’s the rush? Although I’ve sent the news of your successful Foundation Establishment, he won’t see it until he finishes his cultivation session. Don’t worry, Shaoyang was also my student. You should prepare to enter the Cave of Myriad Treasures.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai calmed his slightly fluctuating emotions.

“Master, this Formless Puppet is too precious. And it would be a waste for me to use it. Why don’t you take it back?”

After receiving the puppet, Chen Mobai used it according to his understanding.

However, he could only use it as a spellcasting puppet. And because he hadn’t exchanged the Foundation Establishment scroll of the Eternal Life Sutra at the Divine Wood Sect, he could only deduce the cultivation process of the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages from the Pure Yang scroll.

“I’ve made quite a few of these. In a few decades, my time will be up. If I don’t give it to you, it will be left to the Taoist Academy.”

Although he said this, when Che Yucheng touched the Formless Puppet folded inside the puppet box, his aged face still showed a hint of reluctance.

“The Formless Puppet, although initially based on the spellcasting puppet, has actually transcended the monotonous function of spellcasting when it finally takes shape. Do you know why it is hailed as the pinnacle of the Immortal Gate’s puppetry?”

“It’s comprehensive. The Formless Puppet can almost perfectly simulate a real cultivator.”

Chen Mobai was a genius in puppetry. He had truly put in a lot of effort in this main course. When Che Yucheng asked, he immediately gave the answer from the textbook without hesitation.

“You little rascal, using my own words to answer my question.”

The compiler of the Taoist Academy’s puppetry textbook was Che Yucheng. Chen Mobai had taken a shortcut.

“The Formless Puppet can deduce a cultivator’s cultivation and simulate the breakthrough of realms. Can it also be used as a vessel for the soul, that is, a second body?”

Upon hearing this question, Chen Mobai couldn’t help but frown. After thinking for a while, he broke out in a cold sweat.

“This is the next step for the Formless Puppet, which is the key to advancing to the fourth rank. Unfortunately, Master Xinji, who proposed this idea, has already passed away. I’m too old and can only pass this question on to the next generation.”

After saying this, Che Yucheng closed the puppet box and handed it back to Chen Mobai, who accepted it solemnly.

At this moment, what he received was no longer just the Formless Puppet.

It was Che Yucheng’s puppetry inheritance!

“In the history of the Immortal Gate, fourth-rank puppets have been made without sparing precious materials.”

“However, that’s not the puppetry suitable for the Immortal Gate. What we need to create is a path of infinite evolution, using renewable materials, but can start from the first rank and advance to the fourth or even fifth rank.”

“The Formless Puppet carries this idea of mine and Xinji’s. If you have the chance in the future, walk this path.”

When he said this, Che Yucheng’s expression was gentle, not forcefully demanding that Chen Mobai must complete this path.

“Don’t worry, teacher, even if I can’t complete it, I will pass on your puppetry inheritance.”

Upon hearing this, Che Yucheng nodded and smiled.

Then he detailed the control method and various functions of the Formless Puppet to Chen Mobai.

“Because of its high grade, it requires a medium-grade spirit stone to activate, which is its only drawback.”

“However, the simulation is its simplest function. In fact, a low-grade spirit stone can simulate the entire process of Qi Refining. Only when it involves Foundation Establishment does it require a medium-grade spirit stone. The Formless Puppet is mainly created for simulating human cultivation and infinite evolution.”

“Since it can cultivate, it can naturally fight as well. But it still has the same drawback, a medium-grade spirit stone is needed to bring out the power of the ninth level of Qi Refining.”

“I once applied for a high-grade spirit stone for an experiment, which allowed the Formless Puppet to simulate up to the stage of Golden Core formation. It could also bring out the strength of Foundation Establishment in combat. However, under various conditions, it could only bring out the power of the third level of Foundation Establishment at most.”

“The energy problem is also a key factor hindering the advancement of the Formless Puppet. Unfortunately, the top-grade spirit stones in the Immortal Gate are in the hands of the Deification ancestor. With my qualifications, I can’t apply for them. Otherwise, I could try to see if I could make further progress.”

Chen Mobai was digesting all the functions of the Formless Puppet that Che Yucheng had explained, comparing them with the puppetry book he had given him.

The more he listened, the more he realized how powerful his teacher was.

The materials of the Formless Puppet, compared to heavenly treasures, are just biomimetic materials close to the human body. Although they are also extremely precious, they are renewable resources on the side of the Immortal Gate, only requiring the most cutting-edge technology and science for synthesis.

But if this puppetry path can be successfully pursued, then the Immortal Gate could add another fourth-order top-tier skill.

“Alright, after you go back, find a way to get a medium-grade spirit stone. The ones I have are resources from the Dao Institute, I can’t give them to you.”

Although Che Yucheng had given him the Formless Puppet, he couldn’t provide the medium-grade spirit stone needed to activate it.