The puppet spoke mournfully, "Have I harmed him for a lifetime? Therefore, in any event, I must save him!"
Lu Li remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Why bother?"
The red snowflakes fluttered, conveying a deep sense of despair as they landed in the pile of flames. The flames flickered, emitting an inciting vapor, and grew even darker. The puppet regained her composure and hurriedly made her way to the spot where the Corpse Demon had died. With her small wooden hand, she collected the liquid-soaked soil left behind by the Corpse Demon. Pouring it onto the towering firewood, the flames soared higher, as if fueled by oil.
"Fire symbolizes life here!" the puppet explained. "As long as the flames continue to burn, these evil spirits cannot approach!"
"These monsters make the best fuel, but there is another matter I request the young master to handle," the puppet said with a mournful smile, gazing at the seemingly immeasurable darkness ahead. She seemed lost in thought, contemplating something unknown. "I will act as bait to attract these ghosts. As long as the young master can wield the flare and burn down the ghosts I strike down, their remnants will provide something that can burn!"
"That should not be a problem," Lu Li nodded. He approached the towering firewood, took a burning branch, tore a strip from the bottom of his pants, and tied it to a wooden staff, creating a simple flare. Following behind the puppet, the flame from the flare illuminated Lu Li's face, reflecting an expression filled with excitement.
Holding the flare, Lu Li walked, gradually leaving the illuminated area of the towering firewood. The visibility quickly diminished, and the puppet's form became somewhat blurred. Lu Li couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as if something in the darkness was watching, eager to consume him entirely. The threat was palpable.
An unusual panic gripped Lu Li's heart, but he knew it wasn't fear. Ever since the incident, he had lost the capacity for fear. If it weren't for external forces disturbing him, he could only describe these negative emotions as deep boredom.
"This is the real sensation," Lu Li carefully savored the emotions surging within him—the panic, the anger he had cast away, and the regrets of decisions he shouldn't have made. He even felt a strange attachment to the puppet's beautiful appearance.
"But these emotions are only meant to be remembered. Do you truly believe they can affect me?" Lu Li's complexion turned cold. He swiftly dispelled these emotions, his powerful mental control eradicating any trace of negativity. Lu Li possessed an extraordinary level of control over his mind, which made it difficult for negativity to sway him.
As the negativity dissipated, Lu Li's field of vision changed. He heard the sound of battle, and upon closer inspection, he saw the puppet engaged in a fierce fight with a giant Headless Buddha. In the corner of his eye, the prompt frame updated with new information:
[Monster Discovered. Updating Data]
[Headless Buddha]
[Physical Evaluation: 2.58; Vitality: 0.0 (Possesses a massive stone body that provides immense strength, but lacks flexibility)]
[Soul Evaluation: 1.88; Spiritual Energy: 1.1 (Belief is truly a marvelous thing!)]
[Category: Spiritual Attachment Type]
[Spawn Method: Born from the spirit body of a Buddha image, created by the accumulation of countless devout followers' beliefs.]
[Special Abilities:
(1) Chaos of the Buddha's Heart: The Buddha's heart is the most refined part of its image, but someone stole its head
, causing its heart to be in chaos. Within a ten-meter radius around the Buddha image, it is subjected to attacks converted from the belief of negativity, enhancing illusionary techniques!
(2) Vajra Blessing: Being a diamond-like body, it is unbreakable and fears no attacks. Consuming psychic energy, it activates the full body's defense, greatly enhancing strength and defense!]
[Weakness: Its massive body lacks flexibility, and without its head, its spiritual wisdom is diminished.]
[Monster Appraisal: They say, as long as it has its head, it can take on ten of you!]
The Headless Buddha possessed terrifying strength. Its every movement exuded an immense force, sending debris and soil flying with each step. However, its lack of flexibility became its weakness. The puppet gleefully danced around it, her silk threads twining, weakening its movements. Although the silk threads broke against the Buddha's diamond-like body, they slowed its motions.
The puppet's joints rotated, her tiny wooden fists pummeling the Headless Buddha. Pebbles flew as she struck, but it seemed only superficial against the massive Buddha image. On the other hand, the Headless Buddha appeared as if it were being toyed with, ready to deliver a devastating blow with a single punch.
Seeing this, Lu Li didn't hesitate any longer. He raised the flare and approached. Sensing the proximity of the flame, the Headless Buddha became increasingly agitated. It chanted softly, emitting a sharp, grating cry. As the sound reverberated, golden Sanskrit characters appeared on its surface, enhancing its power and presence.
The silk threads that bound the Buddha snapped, but Lu Li freed his muscles to their limits and rushed forward. The flame illuminated the body of the Headless Buddha, leaving behind faint black scorch marks and cracks.
The puppet, seeing the opportunity, released more silk threads, tightly entwining the Headless Buddha to impede its movements. The wooden body strained under the pressure, emitting creaking sounds as cracks began to appear. However, the Headless Buddha managed to hold on. Under the flickering flame, it slowly transformed into crumbling black stone...