I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1775 - 208: Utilization

Chapter 1775: Chapter 208: Utilization

Most of the helplessness in this world stems from not understanding enough.

The meaning behind these words is that once you understand something thoroughly, you can figure out a solution.

For Puppet Master Liu Xiaojiang, a crude bloodline hybrid technique like the Crystal Giant doesn’t even warrant special understanding—a single glance is enough for him to uncover its secrets.

It’s just like how a seemingly miraculous trick to outsiders always has a discernible pattern to insiders.

Upon hearing the resolution, Shi Muzhi offered generous praise to Liu Xiaojiang, yet the master who had seen through the trick remained melancholy.

Truth be told, when Liu Xiaojiang first heard of the Crystal Iron Colossus, his usually stoic heart did stir with excitement. But now that the fog had cleared, he felt there was no need for him to stay in Lanshan City any longer.

After all, for puppetry to develop, it must rely on replicable techniques and craftsmanship, not on bloodlines that are difficult to reproduce.

After a brief farewell with Shi Muzhi, Liu Xiaojiang left Lanshan City.

And this scene was noticed by a keen observer from Wind Media, further solidifying the notion that an invincible puppet existed on Red Cloud Mountain.

After all, if even a master like Liu Xiaojiang was unwilling to get involved in this chaos, who else would have the courage to challenge it?

It seemed that Ten Thousand Beasts Manor was resigned to swallowing this bitter pill!

Many self-proclaimed clever clans stopped their support once they saw Liu Xiaojiang leave.

Silence has a kind of power. To the fox-like astute clans, the first to remain silent signals something extraordinary.

The clans tacitly recalled their Wind Media emissaries spreading news outside, and the fervor surrounding the conflict between Ten Thousand Beasts Manor and Red Cloud Mountain quickly cooled.

By the second or third day, even the local taverns and tea houses in Lanshan City rarely discussed it heatedly. They merely sighed briefly, as if the matter had already passed and concluded.

"No one can provoke Unparalleled City, backed by the Void Grandmaster."

"Poor Manor Lord Shi, fighting against a colossal Crystal Iron Colossus dozens of feet tall at his age—what a pitiful sight."

"Don’t talk about it anymore. That’s the way of the world—might makes right. Let’s drink, let’s drink."

When asked about the matter, most people gave a few vague replies before changing the subject.

Even during the gatherings of clan disciples, the battle between Ten Thousand Beasts Manor and Red Cloud Mountain was no longer discussed. Instead, they turned their attention to the origins of Red Cloud Mountain’s Crystal Iron Puppets.

After all, these unified and standardized Crystal Iron Colossi deeply intrigued the upper echelons of the clans.

Compared to endless investments in raising Wild Beasts or the exhausting efforts of managing warriors who might betray them, puppets—once purchased—required only minimal maintenance while guaranteeing loyalty as combat weapons. It was far too tempting.

If they could obtain ten or eight of such puppets to station at the border, they could even save the costs of maintaining troops.

Wherever people exist, there is demand. Many puppeteers who hadn’t yet made a name for themselves recognized this demand and immediately sought to promote themselves.

To win resources and trust, they frequently disparaged Ten Thousand Beasts Manor, slyly remarking, "Young master, take a look—even though Ten Thousand Beasts Manor’s beasts are capable of tearing puppets apart, they dare not act recklessly."

"Because puppets can be reconstructed, whereas Wild Beasts, once dead, are gone forever. So investing in puppets is the future of group warfare."

Many ambitious yet untalented clan disciples were increasingly convinced by the puppeteers’ rationale after witnessing Ten Thousand Beasts Manor’s plight, and thus aggressively recruited a wave of retainers.

As puppetry swept through Lanshan City, the reputation of Beast Taming plummeted. Even the prices of Spiritual Beasts and Wild Beasts sharply declined.

It was in this atmosphere that the various family heads of Longzhou’s Beast Taming clan arrived at Lanshan City to visit the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor station.

The heads of several clans heard the city abuzz with discussions favoring puppetry over Beast Taming, glanced at the injuries and depletion in the manor’s beastyard, and looked up at the defeated blanket of black clouds hanging overhead. Even Shi Muzhi, cloaked in golden armor to greet his guests, bore a crestfallen expression that saddened the visiting family heads.

Could the Beast Taming clan have truly fallen this far?

Their direct bloodline relatives were slain, yet they couldn’t even fight for justice?

Valley Master of Golden Lion Senge Xuanhu was so infuriated his golden hair bristled. He stormed up to Shi Muzhi and roared, "That look on your face—does it mean the rumors outside are true? Are you really going to let it go!?"

"What other choice do I have..."

Shi Muzhi smiled bitterly, cupping his hands in a plea, his voice despondent: "If I can safely return the remaining clan members and Wild Beasts to Yancang, then losing face is just losing face."

Seeing Shi Muzhi’s timid demeanor, Senge Xuanhu grew even angrier and refused outright: "This matter cannot be let go; you must make Red Cloud Mountain give you justice!"

"Justice?"

Shi Muzhi shook his head with a bitter smile, his expression forlorn: "That justice... Ten Thousand Beasts Manor cannot afford it. Once, Lanshan City echoed day and night with calls to censure Red Cloud. But now, if you visit the taverns again, who’s still talking about it?

Ten Thousand Beasts Manor couldn’t even break through Unparalleled City’s array of Crystal Iron Colossi. Behind them are formidable warriors who haven’t yet made a move and the unfathomable head of the Unparalleled Institute. Forget it... let’s give up."

Senge Xuanhu was livid, seeing Shi Muzhi—normally steady and unassuming—driven into such desperation. "Relying on those fickle fence-sitters as your support—are you out of your mind?! As part of the Beast Taming clan, do you think we’ll just stand by and do nothing!?"

"Ten Thousand Beasts Manor has already sustained severe losses of battle beasts; I cannot allow my brothers to suffer as well."

Shi Muzhi weakly waved his hand, struggling to say: "Better... better to let it go."

"It cannot be let go!"

Murong Jun of Thousand Birds Peak spoke coldly: "This matter is no longer just about Ten Thousand Beasts Manor; it concerns the entire Beast Taming clan of Longzhou. If we retreat from this step, the backbone of the Beast Taming clan will crumble, and there will be no future for its legacy. This battle must be fought—and it must be won!"

"The Crystal Iron Colossi—Shi Muzhi, you needn’t worry about them."

Ghost-Step Lone Wolf of the Iron Wing Clan echoed in agreement: "This time, we five clans have brought elite battle beasts, determined to show these ignorant Lanshan dwellers whether puppets are truly stronger than Beast Taming!"

"Brothers... brothers...."

Tears welled in Shi Muzhi’s eyes. He choked up several times, only able to cup his hands and bow deeply to the crowd.

Dragon Continent Calendar, February 9, 1796

No one expected Ten Thousand Beasts Manor to stir again, but they erupted with force. Golden Lion Valley, Thousand Birds Peak, Dragon Taming Stronghold, Ten Thousand Beasts Manor, and the Iron Wing Clan—these five pillars of the Beast Taming clan—rallied thousands of spirit beasts.

The five clans united, forming a beast horde of over ten thousand, surging toward Red Cloud Mountain.

Their momentum raised towering waves, as if they would completely submerge Red Cloud Mountain.