Chapter 39

From the time of acquiring Huang’s Puppet Handbook to completing the design of Truth Exterminator One, more than ten years have gone by in the game.

Enhancing Truth Exterminator One by five times and actually refining it took yet another four months.

On average, it would require 25 days for Lu Qingfeng to refine one Truth Exterminator One.

Due to the lack of proficiency, failures were inevitable in the refining of every puppet.

Under the circumstances where there were no mistakes from beginning to end, the material cost for refining a Truth Exterminator One was 30 Spirit Stone Fragments, which was equivalent to the cost of a Level 1 puppet.

After all, Truth Exterminator One was a model that Lu Qingfeng had enhanced from Level 1 to Level 2. The required raw materials were intact. They were still the materials used to refine Level 1 puppets.

On the other hand, the price of Level 2 puppets was between five to 40 Spirit Stones.

Level 1 and Level 2 puppets were rarely large in size and were generally controlled via sensing. After all, for one’s physical body to enter a puppet, the puppet would need to be enlarged, which would lead to an increase in costs. Spending such a hefty amount to refine Level 2 puppets with combat powers equivalent to the Genuine Chi Stage was undoubtedly not cost-effective.

Except for people who didn’t mind squandering their resources, nobody would ever do this.

Hence, Level 1 and Level 2 puppets were mostly of two types: remote-controlled (not requiring physical entry, controlled remotely via long-distance) and autonomous (operates according to instructions).

According to the type (remote-controlled, autonomous), sensing range, and difference in combat power, the prices of puppets would vary.

A few years ago, Lu Qingfeng had requested that Mu Yuanyi acquire two Level 2 puppets from the Courtyard of Destiny.

One of them was the remote-controlled type with a sensing range of 100 yards and combat power of Level 2 of the Genuine Chi Phase. It cost seven Spirit Stones.

The other one was also a remote-controlled type with a sensing range of 100 yards and combat power of Level 6 of the Genuine Chi Phase. It cost 20 Spirit Stones.

Reportedly, the price of autonomous puppets would increase on this basis.

On the other hand, the price increase that corresponded to the improvement in sensing range was average.

A remote-controlled type, 1,000-yard sensing range, and Level 2 of the Genuine Chi Phase was worth only about 12 Spirit Stones.

For cultivators, there wasn’t much difference between a control range of 100 yards and 1,000 yards. In the Genuine Chi level, both ranges were adequate.

“Theoretically, the cost of the Truth Exterminator One was 30 Spirit Stone Fragments. Considering its many failures due to the lack of proficiency in the earlier phases, the cost of a Truth Exterminator One that is successfully refined will be at least doubled to about one Spirit Stone.

“The price of the most basic remote-controlled type, 100-yard, Level 2 of the Genuine Chi Phase is seven Spirit Stones.

“A seven times profit!”

Lu Qingfeng’s breathing halted for a moment.

This profit was much higher than what he made from the pills. Although the refining of one Truth Exterminator One would require nearly a month, the profit it would generate was way beyond that of his pills.

The pills would only earn him one+ Spirit Stones annually.

While for the Truth Exterminator One, in less than a month, he could earn at least six Spirit Stones of profit.

This difference was a multiple in the dozens!

“The price of a normal Level 1 puppet is around 80 Spirit Stone Fragments. After I become proficient at it, I can almost double my profit. I am selling puppets at the cost of Level 1 puppets at the price of Level 2 puppets…

“So much money!”

Lu Qingfeng’s eye’s brightened.

And this calculation was only based on the simplest model.

If he were to sell the Truth Exterminator One of the autonomous type, 1,000-yard, Level 2 of the Genuine Chi Phase at seven Spirit Stones, he could yet again triple the profit by selling it at no less than 20 Spirit Stones.

“This profit is so massive!”

After being excited for a moment, Lu Qingfeng quickly regained his calm.

If he wished to mass-produce the Truth Exterminator One and improve its proficiency, he would have to purchase all kinds of materials in bulk. If he were to do so through Singularity, the costs could be easily calculated.

However…

Even if Mu Yuanyi, Zhang Zong, and the other guild veterans would not envy him, in Singularity, where people were now abundant, as the saying goes, the more people, the more talk. If gossip about this were to spread, it was possible that the entire Singularity guild would be involved.

“In that case…”

Lu Qingfeng knit his brows.

Benefits are what strike a chord in people.

In fact, he had been very comfortable in Singularity all these years. Whether it was Pill Refining or Tool Refining tools, he never had to worry about raw materials and sales.

But once it came to a sevenfold or even 20-fold profit…

“I better not attempt it.”

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

As he had realized before, even if Mu Yuanyi and the others who knew him weren’t envious of him, the affair could attract prying eyes from outside Singularity, which could ultimately bring disaster to the guild.

“My current net worth is no more than five Spirit Stones. I can refine about five Truth Exterminator Ones, considering the failure rate. But it wouldn’t work out if I wanted to equip Truth Exterminator One with offensive and defensive Runic Equipment.”

Lu Qingfeng pondered for a long time, trying to find a way satisfactorily around both aspects.

After a long while, he finally thought of a way to muddle through for the time being…

“When I’m buying materials, I’ll mix the materials for Level 1 puppets and Level 2 puppets on the same list, and, at the same time, stock up on a huge amount of them to hoodwink the public.

“The material costs to refine a Level 2 puppet with powers at Level 2 of the Genuine Chi Phase are only around one Spirit Stone, which is completely within the affordable range.

“Stocking up on these materials until I can refine more advanced puppets in the future isn’t a waste…

“Besides, my goal is just to improve my proficiency. I can totally wait until the materials are fully stocked before I stop selling puppets to outsiders.”

Lu Qingfeng stopped frowning.

After Truth Exterminator One was refined, it had an innate ability to prevent others from dismantling, researching, and copying its refining technique. If one wished to find out the materials used to craft Truth Exterminator One, it would by no means be an easy task.

Although this method wouldn’t keep him undercover forever, at least it could help him muddle through these early stages.

After Lu Qingfeng had accumulated enough materials, he could block off external orders. In this way, the possibility of exposure became extremely small.

He made up his mind.

Lu Qingfeng initialized the weakening procedure of Truth Exterminator One (E).

Truth Exterminator One’s combat capability wasn’t outstanding, but its sensing range was extremely astounding. Also it doesn’t require a Twin Stone that’s too high in quality.

The weakening would only target these two aspects:

Weakening the Twin Stone to the degree that, after it had been enhanced once, leaving the sensing range of the puppet at more than 300 yards.

Weakening the Spirit Control Array to the degree that, after its two-time enhancement, at 80 Runic Arrays, it would set the sensing range at 1,000 yards.

And so, the sale-model of Truth Exterminator One was set.

For distinguishing purposes, Lu Qingfeng named it Truth Exterminator Two.

[Puppet: Truth Exterminator Two (basic)]

[Type: Remote-controlled]

[Level: 2]

[Sensing Range: 1,000 yards]

[Combat Power: Level 2 of Genuine Chi Phase]

While the model that Lu Qingfeng was himself using was still the strongest version of the Truth Exterminator One.

[Puppet: Truth Exterminator One (basic)]

[Type: Autonomous]

[Level: 2]

[Sensing Range: 4,000 miles]

[Combat Power: Level 2 of Genuine Chi Phase]

The combat prowess of the two weren’t too different. But their type and sensing range were poles apart.

“All right!

“Time to go see Yuanyi!”

25 days later, Lu Qingfeng refined the first Truth Exterminator Two.

Putting away the six Truth Exterminator Ones that were for experimental purposes, he controlled only the Truth Exterminator Two, walked out of the Emery Tool Refining Chamber, and ventured straight toward the back of Singularity Mountain.

…

Emery Pill Refining Chamber.

Lu Qingfeng, Mu Yuanyi, and Zhang Zong stood side by side.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

In the open space, Lu Hongwen’s fists and feet recklessly collided with Truth Exterminator Two.

Lu Hongwen had ascended into the Foundation Building Stage a few years ago, and his strength was impressive

Naturally, he was suppressing his strength when he was fighting Truth Exterminator Two.

Under Lu Hongwen’s attacks, however, Truth Exterminator Two was fully fired up. Spirit Energy circulated amid its Spirit Core Runic Arrays, infusing energy to its right arm and activating the Power Runic Arrays. A punch with its fist was comparable to that of a cultivator in Level 2 of the Genuine Chi Phase.

However, Truth Exterminator Two’s combat methods were lacking.

It was only capable of punching and kicking. Lu Hongwen suppressed his strength to Level 1 of the Genuine Chi Phase and proceeded with melee combat. However, he was still able to fight Truth Exterminator Two with ease. If he hadn’t deliberately lowered his power level to test the puppet, Truth Exterminator Two wouldn’t have even been able to touch Lu Hongwen.

“Enough!”

Lu Hongwen called out and jumped out of the circle. Truth Exterminator Two was still trying to pursue him. Lu Qingfeng prompted his mind and stopped it immediately.