Little Sorcerer, Divine Doctor-Chapter 1045 - 197: Corpse Puppetry vs. Heart Crystal
Corpse Puppetry is a witchcraft technique from the Sky Fox Clan that Yun Sheng learned after entering the Heavenly Fox Tomb. It was the technique most mastered by the Sky Fox Clan Leader, Hu Yan, at that time.
At first glance, Corpse Puppetry doesn’t sound very powerful; it’s neither magic nor a combat skill.
But only those who have learned Corpse Puppetry understand just how terrifying this witchcraft technique can be.
Corpse Puppetry is divided into three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced, which correspond to understanding, proficiency, and mastery.
Those who understand can manipulate ordinary people, typically requiring one to five years of study.
Proficient practitioners can control those weaker than themselves or demonic beasts, which usually takes about five to twenty years.
Only those who have mastered it can transcend levels to control those with strength equal to or greater than their own, which takes at least over twenty years of cultivation.
According to the stone tablet in the Heavenly Fox Tomb, Hu Yan had already mastered Corpse Puppetry and had even used it to instantly kill a Martial Emperor-level human.
Yun Sheng had been learning Corpse Puppetry for less than five years, yet during her cultivation, she unexpectedly discovered that Corpse Puppetry resonated surprisingly well with the Yan Family’s Inheritance of Shennong’s Eyes. Combining the two brought twice the results with half the effort.
So despite Yun Sheng’s less than five years of learning Corpse Puppetry, her skills had reached proficiency.
Even though she had achieved proficiency, Yun Sheng could only use Corpse Puppetry to control martial artists or mages weaker than herself, and the duration of its effects couldn’t exceed six hours.
Previously, Yun Sheng had indeed used it a few times with significant effect, but those targets were usually ordinary martial artists or mages.
But this time, the target Yun Sheng was going to use Corpse Puppetry on was her own mother.
As the Ninth Summoner of the Summoning Court, Hu Jiusheng’s strength was much higher than those whom Yun Sheng had previously faced, like the Seventh Summoner and others. Her cultivation was slightly higher than Yun Sheng’s.
Yun Sheng didn’t know how effective Corpse Puppetry would be on her.
Yun Sheng’s voice, ethereal and floating, fell into Hu Jiusheng’s ears, making her feel as if she were lost in the clouds.
"Mother, it’s me, Yun Sheng. Father and I have come to find you. Let’s go home together," Yun Sheng murmured softly, as if coaxing a child.
"Home... no, my home is at the Summoning Court," Hu Jiusheng shook her head, looking like a lost child.
"The Summoning Court is not your home; the Red-cloaked Summoner controlled you with the Heart Crystal," Yun Sheng was not discouraged and continued to gently persuade.
Beside her, Yun Canghai was also worried, watching his wife intently.
He wanted to step forward but feared scaring Hu Jiusheng, so he could only worry quietly on the side.
"Jiusheng, what are you hesitating for? Kill these people!" Just as Yun Sheng’s Corpse Puppetry was reaching its peak, the Red-cloaked Summoner suddenly appeared in the dungeon.
Seeing Hu Jiusheng’s appearance, the Red-cloaked Summoner was terrified and took out a Heart Crystal.
Upon seeing that Heart Crystal, Hu Jiusheng’s originally docile eyes suddenly turned red.
"Mother! Look at me, ignore the Heart Crystal, I know you recognize me and Father. Wake up, for the past ten years, Father and I have dreamed of your return. We’ve been waiting for you!" Yun Sheng suddenly grabbed Hu Jiusheng’s arms, her black pupils turning gold.
Hu Jiusheng stared into those golden eyes, feeling as if needles were piercing her brain, causing immense pain.
"No—don’t force me," Hu Jiusheng painfully clutched her head.
Seeing Hu Jiusheng’s pained expression, both Yun Canghai and the Red-cloaked Summoner instinctively stepped forward.
"Mother! Come back!" Yun Sheng’s pupils contracted, and she tightened her grip on Hu Jiusheng’s hands, channeling the power of the Marrow Jade Technique into her mother’s body.
Almost simultaneously, with a "bang," the Heart Crystal in the Red-cloaked Summoner’s hand exploded.
The sharp shards of the Crystal caused the Summoner’s hand to bleed profusely.
What is this?!
The Red-cloaked Summoner was incredulous; the Heart Crystal had exploded.
Deprived of the Heart Crystal’s power, Hu Jiusheng lost consciousness and collapsed into Yun Sheng’s arms.
"Jiusheng!"
"Jiusheng!"
Seeing Hu Jiusheng faint, the faces of the two men who loved her deeply showed worry, and they both took notice of each other.
"Yun Canghai, you’re still alive? If I had known, I would have personally killed you eighteen years ago!" The Red-cloaked Summoner regretted that he didn’t personally eliminate Yun Canghai and his bastard child.
If he hadn’t been concerned about his identity as the Summon Emperor or overly trusted in the effects of the Beast Blood Curse, today’s situation might not have arisen.
"Red-cloaked Summoner, you despicable cur! You first cursed me with the Beast Blood Curse and then controlled Jiusheng with the Heart Crystal. Even if it costs my life today, I will have my revenge," Yun Canghai declared. The man before him was the root cause of his family’s suffering for years!
"Ha, Yun Canghai, what makes you think you can challenge me? In terms of character, appearance, strength, and power, how do you compare? The only thing I lost to you was being Jiusheng’s mentor. If Jiusheng hadn’t been concerned about our master-disciple relationship, she would never have married you!" The Red-cloaked Summoner retorted with disdain.
He was convinced that Hu Jiusheng had only chosen Yun Canghai because she was deceived.
Back then, when he confessed his feelings for Hu Jiusheng, she had rejected him, citing master-disciple romance as morally unacceptable.
"You’re wrong; my mother never liked you. Red-cloaked Summoner, stop deluding yourself. If my mother had any affection for you, you wouldn’t have needed a Heart Crystal to control her," scoffed the girl nearby.
Yun Sheng’s words hit the Red-cloaked Summoner hard.
Yun Sheng was right. Back then, the Red-cloaked Summoner had gone through great lengths to bring Hu Jiusheng back to the Summoning Court, thinking she would accept him eventually.
But she didn’t even want to speak a word to him.
Her feelings toward the Summoning Court and the Red-cloaked Summoner were filled with "hate."
She hated the Summoning Court and the Summoner for killing so many Blood Cloud Beasts and for having henchmen who murdered her adoptive parents.
"You’re that bastard!" The Red-cloaked Summoner glared at Yun Sheng.
"And you’re that shameless Summon Emperor!" Yun Sheng raised an eyebrow.
Spit!
The old pretender — though well-preserved — Yun Sheng had heard all too well that the Red-cloaked Summoner was of the same generation as the First Main Summoner and Chang Siming.
Given that, the Summoner was at least sixty or seventy years old, easily old enough to be her mother’s father, yet he dared covet her beautiful mother.
"How dare you insult this Emperor!" Whether in the Summoning Court or on the Wuji Continent, the Red-cloaked Summoner was one of the most powerful figures, and never before had someone dared to humiliate him so!
"What about it? You tore families apart and stole another man’s wife, you shameless old crook, an Emperor in name only!" Yun Sheng retorted swiftly, causing the Red-cloaked Summoner’s face to turn alternately green and white in anger.
