Ling Luo Yi was sent flying by the fireball, rolling several times on the ground before coming to a stop, panting heavily.
"Saintess of War, you cannot escape this time." The former Asura King took out a short sword and advanced towards Ling Luo Yi with a laugh, but Ling Luo Yi's reaction puzzled him.
"There's no need to escape anymore." Ling Luo Yi, who was no longer able to fight back, said these words and watched him approach step by step. Instead of the panic he expected, she smiled relaxedly. Seeing Ling Luo Yi's smile, the former Asura King felt an inexplicable unease.
Unable to bear the atmosphere, the former Asura King asked, "What are you laughing at? You have no power to fight back now, could it be that you have some trump card?"
"Former Asura King, if you want to kill me, you should do your homework. I am the Saintess of War of the human race." Ling Luo Yi replied with a smile.
"So what? I haven't killed one before." The former Asura King had killed Saintesses of War of the human race before, so there was nothing for him to worry about.
Ling Luo Yi did not answer further, but placed her hand on her bracelet and then shouted, "Come out, my trump card!"
The former Asura King was completely bewildered by Ling Luo Yi's words, but there was no reaction from the surroundings.
Just as the former Asura King thought Ling Luo Yi was bluffing, he suddenly saw a black pillar of light illuminate behind Ling Luo Yi. Two thin lines of light extended from the top of the pillar. Following them, he saw a pure white and a purple-black pillar, similar to the black pillar, with two thin lines extending from each, connecting to another pillar.
The former Asura King looked at them one by one. There were a total of thirteen pillars of light, connected by thin lines, forming a fighting arena. The pillars of light lit up exactly where Ling Luo Yi had just run and stopped for a moment. He had thought Ling Luo Yi was gathering strength for her escape, but it turned out to be this!
When the former Asura King finished looking around and shifted his gaze back to Ling Luo Yi, he suddenly noticed a young woman appear beside Ling Luo Yi, who looked almost identical to her. Unlike Ling Luo Yi, this young woman had a cold expression and no sound of breathing, heartbeat, or blood flow.
The former Asura King examined her carefully several times and finally confirmed what this suddenly appearing young woman was.
"A puppet!" The former Asura King uttered these two words in disbelief.
Upon hearing these words, Ling Luo Yi could not help but praise, "As expected of the former Asura King, your insight is indeed extraordinary."
Puppets originated from another type of professional called a puppeteer. In ancient times, puppeteers held a status comparable to alchemists and artifact refiners. However, as time went on, more and more people feared and resisted puppets, and the status of puppeteers gradually declined. Until now, the human race regards puppeteers with shame, and no puppeteer has appeared for over two thousand years, nor have there been any puppets.
Nowadays, puppeteers are generally more common in the demon and devil realms, though they are not entirely absent elsewhere. For example, the first Saintess of War of the human race, Ling Luo Yi's master, was also a puppeteer, but only Ling Luo Yi and she herself knew about it.
The Saintess master also taught Ling Luo Yi the method of making puppets. However, the puppet that looked exactly like Ling Luo Yi now was not made by Ling Luo Yi, nor was it given to her by Gu Yun Cheng. It was a gift from the Saintess master to Ling Luo Yi when she became her disciple.
This puppet possessed the cultivation of the Divine Attendant realm, but how much of its strength could ultimately be displayed depended on Ling Luo Yi.
"Former Asura King, it's not that easy to kill me." Ling Luo Yi provocatively glanced at the former Asura King, then said to the puppet beside her, "Go, kill him!"
Upon hearing Ling Luo Yi's words, the former Asura King let out a mocking laugh. He was about to say something, but the puppet instantly approached him, leaving him no time to react. He raised his hand to block, but in the next moment, he was sent flying.
The puppet did not let him go and instantly closed in again. The former Asura King was completely suppressed, and the previous scene was a complete reversal. The one who was previously pursuing was now unable to fight back.
Seeing the former Asura King's expression, Ling Luo Yi knew what he wanted to say, so she 'kindly' asked, "Former Asura King, you must be thinking that all living beings are subject to the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao, right?"
The battle between the former Asura King and this puppet was at its decisive moment every second. Therefore, the former Asura King's senses were fully open, and he could hear Ling Luo Yi's words clearly.
Before the former Asura King could answer, Ling Luo Yi continued on her own, "But, former Asura King, she is a puppet."
These simple four words made the former Asura King understand the answer. Puppets do not belong to the category of living beings, and the Heavenly Dao will not suppress her. Therefore, the strength that the puppet can display depends on her master, which is Ling Luo Yi!
Having realized this, the former Asura King wanted to deal with Ling Luo Yi directly. However, not only could he not distance himself from the puppet, but Ling Luo Yi had also retreated outside the black pillar of light at some unknown time, and he was completely unable to leave the pillar's range. If this continued, he would surely die!
The former Asura King's mind raced. His only threat now was this puppet. The puppet's weakness lay in her master, but he could not harm Ling Luo Yi at the moment, so he could only confront the puppet head-on.
Ling Luo Yi watched the former Asura King's actions quietly. Seeing him wanting to confront the puppet head-on, she could not help but let out a scoff. The former Asura King's current strength was probably at the early stage of the Half-God realm, while the puppet's strength was at the early stage of the Immortal Emperor realm, a difference of a full realm.
However, the former Asura King was restricted by the Heavenly Dao. Even if he broke through the Heavenly Dao's restrictions, he would never reach his optimal state. This puppet, on the other hand, was made by the Saintess master, who was a true God realm powerhouse. How could the materials she used to make puppets be ordinary?
As expected, the former Asura King gathered spiritual energy, and the resulting spiritual energy storm broke through the Heavenly Dao's restrictions, with a power that could reach the mid-Immortal Emperor realm, striking directly at the puppet.
As this impact hit the puppet, Ling Luo Yi felt a familiar sensation on her back. Blood instantly stained her back. However, Ling Luo Yi was not worried about the puppet, because...
The area within the pillar circle was filled with dust kicked up by the impact. A muffled groan and the sound of something falling came from within. Ling Luo Yi had not activated her Divine Eye, but she knew who had won this life-and-death battle.
Footsteps could be heard from within the dusty battlefield, and a graceful figure was faintly visible. In just a moment, a face identical to Ling Luo Yi's appeared within Ling Luo Yi's sight. In her hand, she held a long sword stained with fresh blood. Seeing this, the victor was clear.
However, the puppet was also not lightly injured. Her left arm was gone, her torso was covered in large scars, one ear was severed, and the other was half-severed. Her neck was also pierced, allowing a view of what was behind the puppet. If she were a living person, she would have died by now.
Ling Luo Yi was not frightened by the puppet's appearance; she had seen more terrifying things before.
The puppet's emotionless eyes found Ling Luo Yi's position, and she spoke coldly, "Mission complete."
Upon hearing this, Ling Luo Yi just managed to shout, "Wait..."