"Chu Feng, why do you look like something's weighing on your mind?"
Wang Yuxian approached Chu Feng and asked with concern.
"Lele, you must have sensed it too, right?"
Rather than answering directly, Chu Feng turned the question back to Wang Yuxian.
"Sensed what?"
Wang Yuxian looked puzzled.
"We haven't truly gained control of the puppet army."
"I don't know about you, but right now I only have about ten percent control over them."
Chu Feng said.
"Ten percent?"
"I did sense that my control over the puppet army was insufficient, but I couldn't determine the exact degree. How did you figure out it was only ten percent?"
Wang Yuxian asked.
Chu Feng then laid out his reasoning in a clear and methodical manner.
The puppet army possessed formidable power, but the fact that Chu Feng hadn't fully mastered it gnawed at him. After all, an army this powerful — if it truly went berserk, the ones who suffered wouldn't just be their enemies. It could very well be themselves.
Just like what had happened to the Demon Spirit Clan tens of thousands of years ago.
Granted, the Demon Spirit Clan had been in the wrong first, but if they had truly gained complete control over the puppet army, the tragedy of the army going rogue and slaughtering them would never have occurred.
So Chu Feng had been racking his brains trying to figure out how to deepen his control over the puppet army.
And the key to his contemplation wasn't the puppet army itself, but rather the formation he had cracked and the military command seal on his palm.
Through Chu Feng's observations, examining it solely from the perspective of the command seal yielded nothing useful.
However, when he recalled the experience of breaking the formation, Chu Feng spotted a crucial detail.
Within that formation, the seemingly perilous webs of black threads actually converged into a secret formation pattern — and that pattern was connected to the military command seal.
This so-called secret formation was similar to a martial art technique, only far more difficult to comprehend.
Based on Chu Feng's experience, as his comprehension of the secret formation deepened, the power of the military command seal in his palm would also grow.
And when that happened, his control over the puppet army would naturally strengthen.
"My way of breaking the formation was different from yours."
"Mine was much simpler. I didn't discover that thread of clues — or perhaps it was there, but I failed to grasp it."
"But Chu Feng, are you really able to increase your control over this puppet army?"
Wang Yuxian asked.
"Even though breaking the formation was rushed, the impression of that secret formation is still etched in my mind. Given enough time, I should be able to do it."
"I just don't know whether Sima Xiangtu will give me that time."
"Forget it — I'll give it a try. Even if I can gain another ten percent of control, that's ten percent more than before."
After saying this, Chu Feng closed his eyes and focused his entire mind on recalling the secret formation woven from those black spider webs, trying to draw further insight from it.
Even though everyone trusted Chu Feng completely and understood what he was worried about, their speed through the ancient teleportation formation did not slow in the slightest.
Just as Chu Feng had said — whether he had enough time depended entirely on Sima Xiangtu.
If Sima Xiangtu was truly prepared, he would begin his massacre without hesitation.
At that point, whether or not Chu Feng had fully mastered the puppet army, they would have no choice but to launch their assault against Sima Xiangtu's forces.
........
As for Chu Feng and his group's situation, the people from the Dao Alchemy Sect remained entirely unaware.
Outside a magnificent palace within the Nine Soul Holy Clan, several figures from the Dao Alchemy Sect stood guard.
They no longer bothered to conceal themselves. They had laid their cards on the table, making it known that they were Sima Xiangtu's backers.
As a result, they had become the true rulers of the Nine Soul Holy Clan. Even the clan's own members were required to drop to their knees and kowtow in reverence upon seeing them.
Wherever they occupied, the people of the Nine Soul Holy Clan had to give those places a wide berth — they didn't even dare draw close.
But suddenly, a figure descended from the sky and landed right at the palace gates.
It was a young man.
His skin was dark, and his features were rather ordinary — yet he radiated a powerful masculinity, his entire being exuding an aura that was both supremely domineering and deeply intimidating.
Upon seeing this man, even the lofty figures of the Dao Alchemy Sect brightened with pleasure — and yet they immediately dropped to their knees in a full kowtow.
This was none other than Jiang Yuantai — Jiang Kongping's elder brother.
Unlike Jiang Kongping, Jiang Yuantai had no interest in indulging in pleasures. Instead, he was devoted wholeheartedly to cultivation while also excelling at managing clan affairs.
He was deeply favored by his father.
And so, in the hearts of these Dao Alchemy Sect members, Jiang Yuantai commanded far greater respect.
Jiang Yuantai didn't spare them a glance. After landing, he strode up to the doors and kicked them wide open with a single strike.
Once inside the palace, he headed straight for the bedchamber and delivered another kick, sending those doors crashing open as well.
"Who the hell dares disturb this young master's rest?!"
From within the bedchamber came an angry roar at the sound of the kick.
Jiang Kongping shot up from his massive bed, his bare body on full display.
And lying on that same bed, besides him, were two other naked figures.