Chapter 710 - 98: Unfathomable Depths

The Six True Tier Three Puppets of the Jinhua Commerce Association are their prideful capital.

All these years, Wu Yishan has endured significant pressure for them, even lost some market share while competing with the Si Shui Commerce Association.

Originally, after assembling the six True Tier Three Puppets, they were planning to counterattack Si Shui Commerce Association and reclaim the lost market.

That’s precisely why Wu Yehua deliberately provoked Guo Wanzhi.

A single True Tier Three Puppet, confronting an ordinary early-stage Core Formation True Man, apart from having a more resilient puppet body, has little advantage.

Let alone compared to a mid-stage Core Formation True Man.

However, these six True Tier Three Puppets, combined with the puppet army array from the Thousand Mechanism Sect, can rival six mid-stage Core Formation True Men joined forces, aside from lacking in mobility.

This is their confidence.

"Swish swish swish~"

Yet at this moment, the fourth tributor, initially full of pride, saw Li Ji’an summon eighteen puppets with a casual wave, and his expression changed instantly.

Upon further sensing, among them were two Tier Three Mid-Stage Puppets, two Tier Three Early Stage Puppets, five near Tier Three Puppets, and the rest were high-level Second Tier Puppets.

"How is this possible? The Nine Tripods Commerce Association actually traded for mid-stage Second Tier Puppets? How come there’s no news at all?"

"Attack!"

Just as he was shocked, Li Ji’an had already controlled the puppets to launch an attack.

The four Tier Three Puppets are the utmost limit of what he can finely control with the Soul Splitting Secret Technique.

The rest of the puppets he allowed to attack freely.

"Oh? Not forming a puppet army array?" Upon realizing, the Jinhua Commerce Association’s tributor’s expression slightly changed.

Seeing the opponent’s puppets, though numerous, most attacked chaotically.

Compared to his six puppets, already implanted with the puppet army array, it wasn’t even the same level.

"Hahaha, the Thousand Mechanism Sect’s envoy indeed held back, not imparting the army array to the Nine Tripods Commerce Association." In a moment, his confidence surged again.

Thump thump thump~

Li Ji’an carefully observed the magical combat between the puppets.

Watching as fourteen unmanaged puppets were beaten to pieces by six puppets, he raised an eyebrow, quite curious.

Upon closely sensing the tributor’s Divine Sense, there was no split soul control.

Clearly, the opponent’s six puppets formed some kind of army array!

"Retreat!" Seeing the disorderly puppets suffering heavy losses, Li Ji’an didn’t hesitate any longer, retrieving them immediately.

Subsequently, he retreated several feet, his Divine Sense splitting out, controlling four Tier Three Puppets to charge again.

After several attempts, even with his split soul finely controlling, two Tier Three Early Stage Puppets among the four still couldn’t gain any advantage, frequently repelled by the opposing army array.

Only two Tier Three Mid-Stage Puppets could barely resist.

"The puppet army array indeed is extraordinary." Li Ji’an was quite envious of this puppet army array.

However, he also tested the actual situation of the True Tier Three Puppets sold to the Jinhua Commerce Association by the Thousand Mechanism Sect.

Indeed possessing Tier Three might, but due to subpar materials, their strength and durability were lacking.

Compared to his two Tier Three Puppets, in solo combat, they were inferior.

After determining this, he hesitated no longer, unleashed the bloodthirsty linkage, connecting the four puppets with blood threads, instantly boosting their prowess.

"Boom~"

With the bloodthirsty linkage, the attack and defense of the four puppets could be swiftly transferred.

The combined might of the four puppets was concentrated onto one, upon contact, one of the opponent’s puppets instantly disintegrated, exploded into a pile of material fragments.

"What kind of army array is this?" The fourth tributor’s mind was greatly shaken, staring incredulously at Li Ji’an’s four puppets.

"No way, you... you can finely control four puppets simultaneously?" In the next moment, he was even more shocked.

"Whoosh~"

At that instant, his puppet army array collapsed upon losing one, reverting to scattered troops.

He didn’t hesitate, swiftly fled away.

"Hmm? Destroy one and the rest collapse?" Li Ji’an didn’t focus on him but thoughtfully eyed the remaining five puppets of the collapsed army array.

If such was the army array, he’d be quite disappointed.

Without the army array support, the five Tier Three Early Stage Puppets, lacking finely controlled split soul, couldn’t withstand the bloodthirsty linked four puppets of Li Ji’an.

Seeing another puppet crumble soon, Li Ji’an reached out and forcefully restrained one puppet with magical power.

With a motion of Divine Sense, intending to erase the soul seal within.

"Boom!" However, the moment his Divine Sense approached the puppet’s soul core, it self-destructed instantly.

The massive explosion shockwave pushed Li Ji’an back several feet.

Nonetheless, merely being a Tier Three Early Stage Puppet, with ordinary materials, it had little effect on Li Ji’an’s body-protecting Dharma Shield.

"The Thousand Mechanism Sect truly deserved the ancient puppet heritage, these means are indeed diverse and astoundingly peculiar." Li Ji’an sighed helplessly, swiftly commanding four puppets to eliminate the remaining ones.

Meanwhile, the fleeing fourth tributor’s expression drastically changed as he watched a golden crescent light piercing through his Dantian.

"Tier Three... Great Demon! Superior Magical Treasure! The foundation of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association... unfathomable!"

Until Li Ji’an arrived, he had completely lost all signs of life.

Li Ji’an properly collected his residual soul into the Faceless Mask, hoping to uncover the puppet army array technique regarding the Thousand Mechanism Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Chang’an calm your anger, this old man admits defeat! Please be lenient."

At that moment, a figure flew in from the direction of the fifth checkpoint.

His expression stiffened seeing the corpse of his colleague on the ground, quickly cupped his hands towards Li Ji’an.

Earlier, he received a request for help from his colleague at the fourth checkpoint, hurriedly rushing over, yet still came a step too late.

The last transmission was the shocking exclamation uttered before death.