Chapter 82: Borrowed Power
Gazing at the Spirit Puppet before him, Lin Langtian's eyes sparkled with excitement. A puppet with the strength of a Nirvana-level master was a gift from the heavens—a powerful trump card at his disposal! But his joy was tempered with caution; the real challenge lay in finding a way to subdue the Spirit Puppet. If he wasn't careful, he could easily be overwhelmed by it.
Just then, a noble, elegant voice echoed in his mind. "Little one, did you forget about the Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror? By sealing this puppet into it, you'll eventually bring it under your control."
Surprised, Lin Langtian stopped, realizing something. "Aunt Ling, you've awakened!"
"Don't get too excited," Aunt Ling replied gently, her soft voice calming him like a breeze over still water. "I've just had more time to recover. Now, focus on the task at hand. This puppet may be limited, but it's a decent ally for you at this stage."
Encouraged, Lin Langtian tightened his grip on his spear and struck at the chains binding the Spirit Puppet. Aunt Ling's guidance gave him a newfound confidence, making him feel assured as he acted.
As Lin Langtian's spear struck the chains, the intricate symbols etched along the iron links began to dim. The once-vibrant light within the chains faded until thin cracks spread along their surface.
Watching intently, Lin Langtian's gaze remained fixed on the massive figure within. Then, to his shock, the creature shuddered and lifted its head slightly. A chillingly savage aura, like a beast awakening from a long slumber, slowly emanated from its body.
The sound of rattling chains filled the dark cave as the bound figure lifted its head, revealing a pair of cold, red eyes. There was no trace of emotion—only a ruthless, bloodthirsty gaze.
"The Spirit Puppet has awakened…" Lin Langtian whispered, feeling the puppet's cold, heartless gaze on him. He immediately surged his Yuan Power, preparing for the inevitable.
Suddenly, the Spirit Puppet's form shifted, moving with ghostly speed to appear above him. Swinging its chained arms, it launched an attack with terrifying force, the iron links slicing through the air with a menacing howl.
Lin Langtian felt the crushing power behind the attack and swiftly dodged back, knowing he couldn't afford to block it directly.
The chains smashed into the ground, shaking the entire cavern and leaving a deep fissure nearly a hundred meters long.
"If that had hit me, I'd have been obliterated," Lin Langtian thought, eyes narrowed. He had to act quickly; the puppet was growing more aggressive with each passing moment, and its movements were becoming more precise.
Realizing the Spirit Puppet was slowly shaking off the effects of its long confinement, he understood that if he allowed it to fully awaken, his chance of subduing it would drop significantly. Steeling himself, Lin Langtian quickly formed a series of hand seals, summoning a golden, rune-covered mirror from his mouth.
The Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror expanded, growing to several meters in size as it floated in the air.
"Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror, seal!"
With a shout, a golden light shot out from the mirror and hovered over the stone cavern. Instantly, countless strands of energy cascaded down from the light, forming a web that wrapped tightly around the Spirit Puppet.
But even as the golden web tightened, the puppet's aura became more ferocious, and it began to thrash, attempting to break free from the binding threads.
"Let me lend you a hand," Aunt Ling said softly. "Focus your mind, Lin Langtian—I'll temporarily channel my power through you."
Lin Langtian's eyes widened with surprise and then joy as he nodded in agreement. He had expected Aunt Ling to intervene directly, but he hadn't anticipated that she would lend him her power. His heart swelled with a fierce determination.
Closing his eyes, Lin Langtian let Aunt Ling's energy flow through him, and when he reopened them, a fearsome wave of Yuan Power burst from him, spreading across the room. His eyes now burned with dark flames, exuding an even stronger aura than the puppet's.
Clenching his fists, Lin Langtian reveled in the immense power coursing through him. Though he wasn't sure just how powerful he had become, he could tell that he was now at least as strong as the Spirit Puppet before him.
"Don't waste time. Seal the puppet quickly," Aunt Ling's voice urged. "Even with the bloodline link, my power is beyond what your body can handle. Prolonged exposure could leave permanent damage."
Snapped out of his awe, Lin Langtian nodded. Even though he felt empowered, he could sense the strain her strength was putting on his body. If he pushed himself too long, it could be fatal.
Heeding her advice, Lin Langtian directed his augmented power into the Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror, releasing hundreds of concentrated beams of golden light onto the Spirit Puppet. The light enveloped the puppet in a protective bubble covered with countless ancient runes.
Inside the bubble, the puppet continued its fierce assault, but despite its desperate attempts, the golden sphere held firm. Slowly, the bubble floated upwards, eventually merging into the mirror's surface under Lin Langtian's intense gaze.
The light faded, and the mirror returned to its usual size, landing softly in Lin Langtian's hand.
"It worked!"
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