"How do you think the challengers will manage in this trial?" the commentator asked.
"I can make a bold assessment and say that Du Shen will probably have the easiest time out of everyone here," Eccentric Long said.
Xiao Du nodded as well, feeling comfortable with this assessment.
"That is indeed probable, but do remember, they have no access to their holding bag, they cannot use their treasures or tools. Though Du Shen comes with a lot of puppets and a myriad of weaponry, to fully trust him in clearing this trial, isn't that a bit too far-fetched?" the commentator asked.
"Not at all, I have seen him, although not a lot, but seeing him find ways to solve issues in the most ingenious methods. Even without his tools, he could probably make something up. It is the other competitors that I'm worried about," Eccentric Long asked.
"How so?"
"Most other competitors come from backgrounds that worship power, they all rely on their own strength and ability to solve problems, but Du Shen had always been seen using and relying on tools and puppets to do his bidding, it is as if this stage is designed especially for him," Eccentric Long said.
"Wouldn't that be a bit of a disrespect to the cultivators of the Cryptic Sun, they also come from a great lineage of strategists and scholars. They harbor a great myriad of prowess including an advanced technological understanding. They should also be a good match against Du Shen," the commentator rebuked.
"Though you are right that the cultivators of the Cryptic Sun are also geniuses of the path of knowledge and scientific exploitation, I've yet to see any of them make something as close to the complexity of Du Shen's machinery, but you are right, one cannot be too certain of anything.
As for the rest of the cultivators, they will suffer greatly as they're unable to use their ability, they'll have to manage with minimal resources to create a defensive line against the wave of enemies, I just hope they would last long enough for us to have a real match," Eccentric Long said.
"Indeed, we cannot be too hasty in judging anyone... emm, what is Du Shen doing?"
Everyone looked up at the screen and were all wondering what was going on.
After all, one is supposed to use the puppets to build a barricade, or at least farm and sell the products to the merchant for points. But Shen Bao one the other hand was actually dismantling the very puppets he was supposed to use.
***
I wiped a bit of figurative sweat from my forehead as I was looking at this atrocious mess of puppets.
No matter who thought this was 'optimal', had a screw loose in his brain.
"Who made these puppets," I asked the merchant.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because the quality of this work is rather atrocious. I need to give them a couple of lessons," I sighed.
The merchant coughed in embarrassment and said, "Those are mere workers to help with basic things, but why are you dismantling them?" he asked.
I should be able to create three puppets before the timer is done.
"Usually other cultivators would have already built an entire fortress to protect the base, using the metal and wood all over the place.
"That's a waste of material," I said as I pointed at a few puppets that I sent mining for some materials.
"Also, with how slow those guys are working, I'd doubt they'll be of any use. I don't need to protect the shack with walls right now, all I need is to destroy the first, wave," I said as I placed the puppet's head back and it rose up.
I had already inscribed a martial art in its mental inscription, giving the puppet a mean to fight against the incoming foes regardless of their cultivation level.
For now, this puppet alone can easily take down a hundred of the base puppets I was given, but if I were to make two more, I'd be able to relax and use the time that these three puppets give me to make more stuff.
Two days went by in the blink of an eye, and I didn't rest even once, I actually had to chug several pills to keep myself at peak focus and concentration for the upcoming fight.
And soon, I had three functioning battle puppets ready. They weren't something worth writing home about, but they were good enough to hold off whatever would come from the gate up ahead.
I also had time to make some simple long-range weapons, you never know if there could be some areal creatures. After all, when I looked through the turrets that the merchant had, some of them were areal turrets that didn't have the ability to aim down. Meaning that there could be creatures that could fly.
So, for now, the three puppets were ready, and the rest were put on the upgrade block in front of me.
They already mined sufficient Saint Qi crystals for me, which I used to supplement the three improved puppets' reactors.
And just as I was about to start on the fourth puppet, the merchant spoke, "You better ready up, they're coming," he said.
I gazed into the distance and saw the gate opening up, swirling into a pitch black vortex that let out a wave of rabid looking wolves that charged forward with frenzied glares in their eyes.
There were about ten wolves that charged toward the base as if a fire was set up behind their backs.
I smiled as I realized that this would be rather easy. "Take them out," I said.
The three puppets blasted forward, with weapons at the ready, slicing and slashing at the wolves without missing a beat.
Three seconds, is all it took to fully decimate the first wave of wolves. Sounding the completion alert immediately afterward.
"Well, that was rather fast..." said the merchant, "You can rest now, the next wave will start in another twenty-four hours."
"Hmm, good enough for me," I said as I was already working on the fourth puppet."
Now that I know that three of these puppets are overkill for the first waves, I'll need to upgrade the rest of them. Also I received some points on my bracelet which I can use to buy more stuff.
I guess it's time to do some shopping.