Chapter 1293 Puppet Method
[AN: I apologize in advance. This chapter was supposed to be short and brief about the puppet method, but I just went on a tangent and could not stop writing. Things should speed up from now on.]
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"Come with me," w.a.n.g Wei said to the Puppet Demon, an act which made the former demonic leader excited. Meanwhile, the other looked at him with envy. Simultaneously, they felt a sense of urgency. Their boss did not hide his high regard for Mongke and a few group members. However, after today, they realized that there was an inner group among their team, and the requirement to enter was to be valuable.
Zhou Bo, the former leader of the Grandmist Gang, clenched his hands as he watched the Puppet Demon walk away to another room with the leader and the others. His eyes s.h.i.+fted to the corner to glance at the Bloodline Gang Leader, and the killing intent in his eyes almost leaked.
"If I can pa.s.s that tribulation and become an Everlasting Empyrean, I"ll not only be able to kill that b.a.s.t.a.r.d, but I"ll also be like the Puppet Demon." A resolute look flashed in his eyes. Zhou Bo was not the only one thinking about how to enter the "inner circle." After what the Puppet Demon did, everyone had the same thought — the same ambition.
w.a.n.g Wei sensed the changes in these people"s moods with his divine sense. He seldom does anything randomly, so his actions of leaving Mongke and his group behind were done purposely to motivate these people; he needed to establish a hierarchy and force these people to compete for better resources and his approval. Such a tactic was Management 101, and he used it brilliantly.
The Puppet Demon"s action was unexpected, but it helped his actions. After all, these people saw how the Puppet Demon made an outstanding achievement and was invited into the "inner circle." What better way to light a fire under these people than seeing someone who was once on the same level as them rise to the top and acquire privileges they could only dream of?"
w.a.n.g Wei found a quiet room, and everybody sat opposite each other. He did not serve tea or anything like this and went directly to the business: "Tell me more about your idea."
The Puppet Demon exhaled. He came up with his idea on the spot, and he took significant risks by presenting it to w.a.n.g Wei. However, he was now a fired arrow, and there was no turning back. During the short walk from the throne room, he refined his idea but did not think it was enough.
"f.u.c.k it. Let"s just wing it," Puppet Demon said before using the energy between Heaven and Earth to draw a diagram. "It"s like this." He explained his thoughts while designing this new kind of puppet. Luckily for him, the Flame Blacksmith was interested in his idea, and he had some accomplishments in puppetry, so they discussed and refined this idea.
The Puppet Demon"s idea was the cultivation world"s version of an a.s.sembly line. He divided the puppets into five parts: head, torso, upper limbs, lower limbs, and core. All the parts will have a standard of refinements, allowing them to be a.s.sembled to create the finished product. This method drastically reduced the refining process since the Puppet Master does not need to refine the entire thing, just a part.
The Puppet Demon"s idea was great but also encountered a few problems. Two primary ways for professionals to refine their products were direct baptism or rune resonance. Direct baptism requires the professional to deeply understand whatever Dao they will infuse in their creation. For example, if a refiner had to refine a fire sword and had a deep enough comprehension of Fire Grand Dao Source, they could directly nourish the refined artifact with Fire Grand Dao Source.
Rune resonance, the more universal approach, allowed professionals to use Daos with whom they have no understanding or relations.h.i.+p. However, the study of runes is no less complex than directly comprehending a Grand Dao Source.
The Puppet Demon"s method cannot use direct baptism to make the puppets, as that would require utilizing professionals who have comprehended the same Dao. However, there were also problems with using rune resonance.
Soul power/spiritual power is used to engrave runes. However, refining is deeply personal, meaning every professional is different, making their soul power different. They have different compositions, strengths, weaknesses, frequencies, and even ideals and goals that will affect the nature of a person"s soul power.
Due to the difference in soul power, the inscribed runes on the puppet parts will also differ, resulting in their incompatibility and conflict. This made putting them together in the final stages impossible. However, Flame Blacksmith easily solved this problem, suggesting using arrays to purify the refiners" soul power and ensure they had the same soul frequency.
This problem was solved without an issue, but another arose, and it was in the same area of compatibility. Refiners have different skills regarding rune engravement. If the rune in the puppet"s arm is way better than the one in its arm, the final fusion will also fall apart. w.a.n.g Wei did not waste time and pointed out the crux of this idea: standardization.
Everything must be of the same standard: the puppet"s body parts, the soul power used to engrave the runes, and the skill of the refiner. Only with this approach will they achieve their objectives of manufacturing these puppets at a record speed.
Flame Blacksmith frowned after seeing the final result: "This method can indeed drastically increase the speed of manufacturing puppets, but their strength will be average." The standards they"ve created cannot be too high, and most puppet masters or refiners will not meet the standards.
"Additionally, most refiners are prideful and would disdain doing such soulless work."
w.a.n.g Wei heard his words but did not immediately comment. " What do you guys think?"
"I think speed is the key to this idea," Mongke commented. "Sacrificing power for speed and a large quant.i.ty." He realized the value of such a method — especially for top lineages with many professionals. This was a method to increase the war prowess of any faction. As for the blacksmith"s comment about professional pride and soulless work? Mongke and the others do not care. They understood that professionals value wealth as much as everyone else, so most will do this kind of work as long as they are paid sufficiently.
"The question is how much should we invest in this new method?" Jia Ping added. "From what I understand, we have just acquired a bunch of talented puppet masters. One puppet they make might be worth hundreds, maybe a thousand of these fastly produced puppets — albeit it takes much longer to make. So, should we focus on making elite or ordinary puppets?"
"That is a fair point," Mongke nodded. Although he supported this idea and cannot wait to integrate it into the Barbarian Clan"s foundation, that"s something for the future. In the current situation, the cost-effectiveness of this method is worth discussing.
After hearing this, the Puppet Demon was instantly worried. The value of his idea will determine his future in this group, meaning it would be a significant blow to his future if the leader decided this idea was not currently applicable.
"The answer to our problem is right in our face," w.a.n.g Wei finally spoke. "The puppets are ordinary, meaning the skill requirements to create them are also ordinary. We can take ordinary Emperors or Empyreans with above-average souls and refining talents and teach them this method. They only need to remember how to refine less than a dozen ores and memorize a few hundred runes before they can make these puppets."
Most of the people in the room were smart, so they understood the implications behind these words.
"Better yet," Dulgun added. "We can hire the refiners with low apt.i.tude." Many professionals in the world can only refine a few products, which takes too long, and their success rate is abysmal.
"They have the foundation, and will only need minimal training," Dulgun continued.
"Exactly," w.a.n.g Wei nodded.
"In the past, these lesser professionals could still make a livelihood through the Skill Dao a.s.sociation, but now…."The Flame Blacksmith shook his head.
"That only means hiring them at a lower price will be easier," Jia Ping added. Everyone agreed.
"I have a question," w.a.n.g Wei continued, looking at the Puppet Demon and the Flame Blacksmith. "The final a.s.sembly of the puppet parts requires an Emperor, correct?"
"If you"re making a Tier 10 puppet, yes," Blacksmith replied.
"Is it possible for someone in Tier 9 and lower to do it? I mean, with training and a.s.sistance from arrays and so?"
The non-professionals" eyes lit up. The cost of these puppets would further decrease if that were possible.
"It"s possible," the Flame Blacksmith responded. The last a.s.sembly does not require much skill, so depending on the cultivation systems, a Quasi-Emperor should be able to handle it after the necessary training and a.s.sistance from arrays.
"That"s good news," w.a.n.g Wei said with a smile. He then looked at the Puppet Demon.