Of course, for He Song.
It was best to handle truly troublesome matters himself if possible.
If others noticed something amiss because of it, He Song would likely have to expend considerable effort to suppress the matter.
That wouldn't be ideal.
However, for matters that could be resolved simply by talking, He Song was naturally happy to remain at leisure.
Whether in the cultivation world.
Or in the mortal world.
Things like social etiquette and connections didn't actually change much.
It's just that in the mortal world, what mostly mattered were gold, silver, and worldly possessions.
While in the cultivation world, what mattered was one's own strength and cultivation level.
Coincidentally.
He Song, currently in this Fallen Phoenix Prefecture, whether in terms of strength, cultivation, or personal status, was someone not easily provoked.
And precisely because of this, the Foundation Establishment True Persons surrounding him always maintained a rather polite attitude towards He Song.
Even though these Foundation Establishment True Persons each represented a Golden Core faction.
They showed no disrespect towards He Song, a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The peak Foundation Establishment cultivation and Talisman Master identity that He Song displayed were enough to earn their respect.
Like that True Person Green Edge, whom He Song happened to encounter, it was just like that.
Speaking of this True Person Green Edge, after He Song returned to his residence, he did confirm with True Person Cold Edge, whom he had met earlier.
He learned that True Person Green Edge was indeed True Person Cold Edge's junior brother.
If He Song hadn't been in seclusion for several years prior, True Person Cold Edge would likely have introduced him to He Song long ago.
After receiving confirmation from True Person Cold Edge, He Song had a clear understanding of True Person Green Edge's identity.
Although True Person Green Edge's cultivation posed no threat to He Song in his view.
For safety's sake, He Song still needed to understand his background and specific situation.
Otherwise, if a situation like the previous one with True Person White Crane occurred again.
He Song would likely be endlessly annoyed.
Although True Person White Crane and his two accomplices were already dead at the hands of that Golden Core Puppet.
And this matter also brought great benefits to He Song.
Even so, He Song didn't want his peaceful life disrupted like that.
From now on, it was better to have fewer such incidents.
With this thought.
He Song entertained the visiting Foundation Establishment True Persons in his residence.
While also heading to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
He took note of all the information regarding these Foundation Establishment True Persons.
During this period, whenever He Song encountered a Foundation Establishment True Person who might potentially involve him, he would gradually reduce contact with them.
As for those who showed no abnormalities and wouldn't implicate He Song even if something happened.
He Song naturally wouldn't have any other thoughts about them.
The reason he did this.
Was simply to ensure that no one around him intended to harm him or drag him into some major affair.
However.
Just as He Song's life gradually returned to its former peace.
Even the visiting Foundation Establishment True Persons only came occasionally.
He Song, within his own residence, began to ponder the matter of modifying the formation.
Back then, beneath that treasure land, after He Song had completely mastered that Puppet Refining Grand Formation, he had thoughts of improving it.
That Puppet Refining Grand Formation, although capable of refining Golden Core Puppets and having some other practical functions.
But for He Song.
Other functions could be disregarded.
But the puppet refining effect of that Puppet Refining Formation absolutely had to start working immediately.
He Song's current cultivation had reached mid-stage Golden Core.
If he didn't start refining puppets soon, perhaps by the time his cultivation reached peak Golden Core, the Golden Core Puppets he subsequently refined would still be in the process of being created.
And once He Song's cultivation reached peak Golden Core.
What help would these Golden Core Puppets, whose strength was merely comparable to a newly broken-through Golden Core cultivator, be to him?
Although a puppet's strength wouldn't necessarily remain stagnant at this stage.
But wanting to raise its strength to a level capable of contending with ordinary early-stage, or even mid-stage Golden Core cultivators, would likely be quite difficult.
Moreover, it might also take a long time.
Under such circumstances, it was naturally better to start this puppet refining method as early as possible.
If He Song could start refining puppets soon, perhaps after several decades, he could possess several of his own Golden Core Puppets.
And precisely because he had such thoughts.
He Song prioritized the modification of the Puppet Refining Grand Formation he had previously obtained.
When the number of visiting Foundation Establishment True Persons decreased and his life became peaceful again.
He Song naturally immediately began modifying the Puppet Refining Grand Formation he had acquired.
This was a demonic grand formation.
It differed from the many formations He Song had previously studied.
But, mastering one method makes all methods accessible; He Song's comprehension of the Formation Dao was genuine.
Therefore, He Song was able to fully comprehend this formation in just a few short years back then.
Now that He Song wanted to start modifying this demonic formation, his comprehension of the Formation Dao naturally came into play.
Modifying a formation was not simple.
Wanting to completely modify a Golden Core grand formation would likely require a great deal of time and effort.
Moreover, if one's comprehension of the Formation Dao wasn't deep, such modification might even fail.
But for He Song, whose comprehension of the Formation Dao was extremely deep.
Modifying a Golden Core grand formation, while time-consuming, was not entirely impossible.
Furthermore, He Song's modification of this Puppet Refining Grand Formation this time wasn't intended to completely overhaul it.
Instead, he only wanted to remove the parts of the Puppet Refining Grand Formation related to absorbing blood qi, changing it to absorb external spiritual qi to nourish the puppets within the formation.
Such a modification was essentially just replacing the original function of absorbing blood qi with the function of absorbing spiritual qi.
Other parts of the Puppet Refining Grand Formation remained unchanged.
Only the function of absorbing blood qi from the outside became absorbing spiritual qi from the outside.
This modification wasn't major.
It could even be said that there wasn't much modification at all.
It was merely replacing a certain component within it.
Under such circumstances, given He Song's comprehension of the Formation Dao, it was quite simple.
It also didn't take He Song too long.
Soon, He Song re-refined a formation plate and several formation flags, and successfully deployed this formation outside Fallen Phoenix Prefecture.
After some brief testing, he confirmed that this modified formation still possessed the puppet refining effect.
Furthermore, due to the continuous influx of vast spiritual qi, its puppet refining effect had even been greatly enhanced.
He Song was also quite satisfied, having completed the modification of this Puppet Refining Grand Formation.
Previously, this Puppet Refining Grand Formation primarily absorbed blood qi and yin qi to nourish the puppets within.
But now, after He Song's modification, the power absorbed by this Puppet Refining Grand Formation had changed accordingly.
Now, this Puppet Refining Grand Formation primarily absorbed spiritual qi and yin qi to nourish the puppets within.
Moreover, because it no longer absorbed occasionally obtained blood qi from the outside, but continuously absorbed rich spiritual qi.
Therefore, the effect of this formation was also greatly strengthened.
If the previous demonic grand formation required a full hundred years to refine one Golden Core Puppet.
Then now, after He Song's modification.
This new Puppet Refining Grand Formation only needed several decades to refine one Golden Core Puppet.
Furthermore, if the spiritual qi concentration of the location increased, or if the yin qi concentration was sufficiently high, this time could be even shorter.
Under these circumstances, the formation modified by He Song could naturally save him a significant amount of time.
However, although the puppet refining time was shortened this way.
Correspondingly.
Without the nourishment of blood qi, relying solely on vast amounts of spiritual qi, the puppet's ferocity couldn't be stimulated.
Without the enhancement of ferocity.
The strength of the Golden Core Puppets refined by this formation would be slightly weaker compared to the previous Golden Core Puppet.
But for He Song.
The loss of a bit of ferocity, in exchange for greatly shortening the refining time of these Golden Core Puppets, was still worthwhile.
After completely transforming this demonic grand formation into his own Puppet Refining Grand Formation.
He Song pondered briefly and quickly gave this formation a name.
"Since it can be used for puppet refining, healing, and even rapidly charging Talisman Treasures."
"And it uses yin qi and spiritual qi as its source."
"Let's call it the Yin Yang Creation Formation."
"This name suitably reflects the wonders of this formation."
After naming the Yin Yang Creation Formation, He Song immediately put away the formation and quickly returned to Fallen Phoenix Prefecture.
Currently.
Several months had already passed since He Song returned from the treasure land.
During these months, He Song not only announced his emergence from seclusion but also received many familiar Foundation Establishment True Persons.
Subsequently, he even successfully modified the Yin Yang Creation Formation.
Right now.
He Song's idea of refining puppets had become increasingly mature.
Since the Yin Yang Creation Formation used for puppet refining was complete, the next step was naturally to find a Golden Core puppet refining technique.
After returning to his residence in Fallen Phoenix Prefecture, He Song quickly packed his things, informed the surrounding Foundation Establishment True Persons, and then directly left the city.
This departure.
Wasn't because He Song wanted to abandon his foundation here and start anew elsewhere.
It was because.
Months ago, right after he returned, he had already disguised himself and gone to the main Treasure Gathering Pavilion in Fallen Phoenix Prefecture to inquire about Golden Core puppet refining techniques.
During that inquiry, He Song obtained definite news from the main Treasure Gathering Pavilion in Fallen Phoenix Prefecture.
In the Smoke Cloud Prefecture, adjacent to Fallen Phoenix Prefecture, there would be a large-scale auction in one year.
This large-scale auction was the grand auction held once every ten years by the main Treasure Gathering Pavilion in Smoke Cloud Prefecture.
At this auction, Golden Core level puppet refining techniques would naturally be sold.
One year later, as mentioned months ago.
By now, it was only a few months away.
He Song had already successfully modified the Yin Yang Creation Formation, possessing the ability to deploy formations outside and refine puppets at any time.
Under these circumstances, He Song naturally needed to travel around a bit, looking for several places suitable for deploying the formation.
Deploying the Yin Yang Creation Formation required vast amounts of yin qi underground, sufficient for the formation to absorb.
As for the vast spiritual qi required by the Yin Yang Creation Formation, He Song would naturally set up a complete Spirit Gathering Formation at its location to maintain the concentration of spiritual qi within the formation.
And precisely because of this, if He Song wanted to deploy the formation, he also needed to go out and search for such places rich in yin qi.
Only by finding several places rich in yin qi.
Could He Song possess the necessary elements to deploy the Yin Yang Creation Formation.
Deploying the Yin Yang Creation Formation in a place rich in yin qi would allow its effects to be maximized.
Thus.
He Song naturally had no intention of staying longer in Fallen Phoenix Prefecture.
This was also the reason why He Song immediately set off from Fallen Phoenix Prefecture after modifying the Yin Yang Creation Formation.
Taking advantage of the few months of free time remaining.
He Song actually wanted to properly explore Fallen Phoenix Prefecture, and even the surrounding several Immortal States.
And within these several Immortal States, find a few such places rich in yin qi and conceal them.
Only in this way, when He Song deployed formations later, would he not waste time because he couldn't find such a place rich in yin qi immediately.
Thus.
He Song left Fallen Phoenix Prefecture, transforming into a streak of light heading towards the distance.
Only after leaving Fallen Phoenix Prefecture by several hundred li did He Song遁 into the ground and travel another hundred li or so.
After taking such actions and confirming no one was following, He Song, still uneasy, washed himself with Dharma power and extended his divine sense to scan the path behind him.
Seeing that there was indeed no one following, He Song then casually took out his low-grade spirit tool flying boat and sped towards the distance at extreme speed.
This time, He Song's first goal was to find several places rich in yin qi to serve as his future puppet refining locations.
Secondly, he also wanted to take the opportunity to gather some news in the prefectures of the surrounding major Immortal States along the way, to see if he could find the corpses needed for puppet refining within these Immortal State prefectures.
Fallen Phoenix Prefecture was extremely close to the Myriad Demon Realm.
Within the Myriad Demon Realm, the number of Golden Core demonic beasts was not small.
Incidents of external Golden Core cultivators dying in the Myriad Demon Realm also occurred from time to time.
Naturally, there were also Golden Core demonic beasts killed by various Golden Core cultivators.
Although He Song felt it would likely be difficult for him to obtain the corpse of a Golden Core cultivator for the time being.
But if it were the corpse of a Golden Core demonic beast, perhaps he could give it a try.
Using the corpse of a Golden Core demonic beast for puppet refining wasn't just He Song's wild fantasy.
It was actually a real possibility.
Golden Core demonic beasts, as long as their beast core hadn't been removed, could also be refined into puppets by cultivators.
Moreover, puppets refined from the bodies of demonic beasts were considerably stronger than those refined from cultivator corpses.
After all, the physical bodies of Golden Core demonic beasts were incredibly tough; after being refined into puppets and incorporating large amounts of precious materials, they naturally became even stronger.
End of Chapter