71: Daily life in Jade Void Grotto

March, Year 11 of the lunar calendar.

As the first ray of morning light simulated by the Grotto-Heaven's Formation pierced through the sea of clouds, Embracing Star opened its red-gold eyes.

"Ga-gu~"

Its massive wings, spanning over ten zhang, stretched out fully in the nest. Every golden feather reflected the rising glimmer, radiant and magnificent.

Beside it, three little ones had long since woken up, frolicking and fighting at the edge of the nest, their sharp cyan iron talons leaving shallow scratches on the rim.

It had been over a year since they were born.

Although they had yet to reach the strength of true Rank One Yao Beasts, one only had to look at their cold-glinting cyan claws and the faint Aura of demonic power to know they were far stronger than wild beasts.

"Lì~"

Embracing Star gave a low warning cry, its red serrated teeth flashing with a bloody light in the dawn.

They immediately stopped their playing. Three pairs of red-gold eyes looked over in unison, filled with anticipation.

They knew it was time to eat.

Embracing Star leapt from the nest on the mountainside and took flight, a gale howling beneath its golden wings.

The entire Yuxu Grotto-Heaven was revealed beneath its wings.

There was a Spirit Medicine garden spanning a thousand mu, filled with countless fragrances, and a Spirit Beast park divided into different areas by layers of Formation light.

There were also dense clusters of palaces situated in various directions.

Some were dilapidated like ruins.

Others were brand new and imposing, glowing with a soft luster in the morning light of the Grotto-Heaven.

White jade for steps, glazed glass for tiles, and green stone for walls.

However, those palaces were uninhabited. Not a single human figure could be seen in the entire Grotto-Heaven; only a few Puppets shuttled between them, performing various chores.

Whether it was feeding Yao Beasts, planting Spirit Medicine, harvesting spirit fruits, or tilling spirit fields.

During Embracing Star's flight, a familiar golden figure entered its field of vision.

It was a female Wind-Chasing Golden Eagle with a nine-zhang wingspan.

It was Soaring.

She was seen weaving rapidly through the high altitude, her sharp demonic power transforming into an overwhelming barrage of golden flying blades that let out sharp, air-tearing whistles.

She was imitating the Human Race again.

Those flying blades were arranged in complex Formations, sometimes pouring down like a rainstorm, sometimes circling like a swimming dragon.

Embracing Star couldn't understand why its mate loved imitating that thing the Human Race called a "sword" so much.

It slowed down, circling to watch quietly for a moment, then continued flying toward the beast park in the western part of the Grotto-Heaven.

As it approached the beast park, it could clearly see the various colored Formation barriers covering each area, like inverted glazed bowls.

These were all Formations that Yu Xuzi had rearranged himself.

Embracing Star circled in the sky for a moment, its intelligent pupils showing a human-like hesitation.

Finally, Embracing Star locked its gaze on a grassland about five or six li in size on the north side of the beast park.

Dozens of Yao Beasts—Iron-Horned Oxs—were being raised there.

Each was massive and muscular; even the smallest was three zhang long, with black curved horns on their heads shimmering with a metallic luster.

Although they only had Early Stage Rank One demonic power and were herbivores, their tempers were extremely violent, and their strength was great.

However, the meat of the Iron-Horned Ox was indeed delicious.

Not only did Embracing Star's three chicks love to eat it, but even Yu Xuzi would occasionally use them to satisfy his cravings for meat.

"Lì————!!!"

Embracing Star let out a long cry, and the passage token around its neck grew slightly warm. The Formation barrier rippled like water to open an entrance.

It dove down instantly like a bolt of golden lightning, moving so fast that the air let out a series of sonic booms.

The herd of Iron-Horned Oxs scattered in panic, but it was already too late.

Cyan iron talons accurately grabbed a four-zhang-long adult Iron-Horned Ox, the sharp claws sinking deep into its shoulders, tearing two massive bloody holes.

"Moo~ Moo!!!"

The Iron-Horned Ox let out a shrill scream, struggling frantically.

Its black curved horns stabbed upward fiercely, but Embracing Star's cyan claws were harder than refined steel. With a "clang," the horns were directly deflected.

"Whoosh whoosh~"

Embracing Star took flight again, crimson blood falling like raindrops.

It had specifically chosen the strongest one.

Because the young birds were in the critical stage of growing their golden feathers, and their growth required the best flesh... An hour later.

Embracing Star flew to the peak of Yuxu Mountain.

In its cyan claws, it held the most delicious tenderloin from the Iron-Horned Ox. This was brought for Yu Xuzi, and it still wafted with the scent of fresh meat.

At this time, Yu Xuzi was dressed in a cyan brocade robe, his long hair simply tied up with a wooden hairpin. Before him lay the carcass of a seven-zhang-tall Yao Ape.

Various spirit metal components were neatly arranged on the ground:

Skeletal joints forged from Sinking Water Cold Iron, runic armor plates smelted from Red Gold Sand, Puppet meridians woven from Profound Green Copper wire... "You're here?"

Yu Xuzi did not look up. With a flick of his finger, the Yao Ape's carcass slowly floated. "Be quiet; today's refining allows for no errors."

What he wanted to refine was a type of combat Puppet recorded in the True Explanation of a Thousand Mechanisms and Ten Thousand Puppets: the [Mountain-Collapsing Mad Ape].

It used the carcass or skeleton of a Rank One ape-type Yao Beast as raw material. The strength of the refined Puppet was related to the beast's strength when alive and the refining skill.

The giant ape before Yu Xuzi had the strength of a Late Stage Rank One when alive. If everything went smoothly, the successfully refined Mountain-Collapsing Mad Ape Puppet would also have Late Stage Rank One strength.

He would then officially become a High Grade Rank One Puppet Master.

"Lì~"

Embracing Star gave a soft cry in response and lay down at the edge of the clearing, its red-gold eyes watching him without blinking.

Yu Xuzi's hands formed a seal, and a green spirit fire surged from his palm, instantly enveloping the entire carcass.

This technique was called the "Green Spirit Flame," a spirit fire Spell he had found in the Pill Cauldron Sect Legacy from the Qingyuan Realm.

Not only was its temperature exceptionally high and scorching, making it useful for killing enemies on the battlefield, but it was also gentle and controllable, making it very suitable for Alchemy and Artifact Refining.

"Sizzle sizzle~"

The Yao Ape's fur and flesh gradually vanished in the flames, their essence seeping into the bones. The massive body began to slowly shrink and condense, while the residual Demonic Qi continuously dissipated as green smoke.

At the same time, Yu Xuzi also set aside a tiny bit of Green Spirit Flame to roast the beef... This was the daily routine of the Yuxu Grotto-Heaven.

Cultivating Qi, studying Formations, Alchemy, Artifact Refining, making Puppets, drawing Talismans, and so on.

Since obtaining many legacies in the Qingyuan Realm, Yu Xuzi suddenly found that he had many new Daos and Spells to learn. Every day now was so fulfilling.

Furthermore, he once again gained a new understanding of his own terrifying talent and Comprehension Ability.

No matter which of the hundred arts of cultivation it was, he felt he picked it up extremely quickly, his mind clear and enlightened.

Now, after only half a year, he had simultaneously become a Low Grade Rank Two Alchemist, a High Grade Rank One Artifact Refiner, a High Grade Rank One Formation Master, and a Low Grade Rank Two Talisman Maker... Truly terrifying!

An hour later.

As the ape-shaped Puppet, over five zhang tall, slowly stood up and let out an eerie, low beastly roar, the High Grade Rank One Mountain-Collapsing Mad Ape was completed.

Now, Yu Xuzi had another title:

High Grade Rank One Puppet Master.