"Kid, you've got some skills — hiding a card like that."
"But don't forget, these are my soldiers. Soldiers I forged with my own hands."
"Everything about them is within my grasp. If you think you can use them to kill me, you're dreaming."
Sima Xiangtu's words were dripping with mockery.
Yet despite his claims that everything was under his control...
Whether it was the pained expression on his face as he struggled, or the turbulent aura emanating from the puppet army...
Everyone could tell — the puppet army was not entirely under Sima Xiangtu's control.
Chu Feng... was also commanding the puppet army!
In the face of Sima Xiangtu's provocation, Chu Feng did not respond.
He had no time to waste on such things.
He needed to pour every last ounce of his energy, his full strength, into seizing control of the puppet army.
As for Sima Xiangtu, though he appeared calm on the surface, he too dared not let his guard down — also exerting his full power to wrest control of the puppet army.
Under these circumstances, both the military token imprint on Chu Feng's palm and the military token in Sima Xiangtu's hand began to glow simultaneously.
In that instant, let alone the half-god-level puppet that had already reached Sima Xiangtu's side—
Tens of thousands of puppet bodies began to tremble violently.
Though there was no oppressive force, the simultaneous release of their auras conjured a series of hurricanes that swept through heaven and earth.
In that moment, across the vast expanse of sky and land, apart from the howling of those hurricanes and the clatter of puppet bodies, there was no other sound.
Every last person stood with eyes fixed upon the scene.
Whether it was the members of the Alchemy Immortal Sect, the enslaved Nine Souls Sacred Clan, or the powerful experts of the Nine Souls Starfield trapped here—
All of them understood what Chu Feng and Sima Xiangtu were fighting over.
And the outcome of their battle would most likely determine all of their fates.
"Chu Feng."
Wang Yuxian looked at Chu Feng and wanted to say something.
But the moment she opened her mouth, a hand pressed down on her shoulder — it was Dao Hai Xiangu.
Dao Hai Xiangu knew that at a critical moment like this, Chu Feng absolutely could not be disturbed.
Even the slightest disruption could affect him.
Yet Wang Yuxian, watching Chu Feng in his current state, simply could not keep her emotions in check.
She bit down hard on her lower lip, her eyes already reddening.
It was all because of Chu Feng.
The Chu Feng before her now — not only were veins bulging across his body, but his muscles had already torn, blood continuously seeping from his flesh.
Wang Yuxian could even hear the sound of Chu Feng's bones cracking and grinding.
Chu Feng was not merely giving his all — he was risking his life.
And indeed, that was exactly the case. Chu Feng's control over the puppet army was actually inferior to Sima Xiangtu's.
Especially once Sima Xiangtu began going all out, Chu Feng fell further behind.
The only reason he could still hold on was because of one person.
Chu Feng's gaze had remained fixed on Ox-Nose the entire time.
Looking at Ox-Nose, whose throat had been pierced and who now looked so wretched, Chu Feng felt fury surging within him — and his will to win grew even stronger.
He knew he absolutely could not lose.
If he lost, it would not only be a disgrace to his Master.
It would cost his Master and his friends their lives.
*Pu—*
But suddenly, Chu Feng's body shuddered. His mouth opened, and a massive spray of blood erupted from within.
Not just from his mouth — in that instant, blood also poured from his nose, his eyes, and his ears, and from his body as well.
If Wang Yuxian and Princess Xiao Xiao had not rushed forward to support him, Chu Feng would not even have had the strength to remain standing.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh—*
In the next instant, the puppet army, in perfect unison, raised their weapons and pointed them toward Chu Feng and the others.
The puppet army was no longer trembling — it had regained its original majesty.
And on Sima Xiangtu's face, the joy of victory appeared.
Looking now at Chu Feng's wretched state...
No one needed to say a word. The outcome was already clear to all.
In the end, in this contest for the puppet army, Sima Xiangtu had won.
"Master, I'm sorry. It was your disciple's incompetence."
Chu Feng hung his head, blood continuously dripping from his face.
But he did not dare to look up. He did not dare to face Ox-Nose again.
He felt he had let his Master down.
"Silly boy, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"Your Master saw your performance clearly. You didn't lose face for me — you gave me face."
Ox-Nose laughed heartily, showing not the slightest blame — only admiration.
"You're right, that disciple of yours really did give you face."
And to everyone's surprise, Sima Xiangtu actually agreed with Ox-Nose's praise of Chu Feng.
As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward Chu Feng once more.
"Chu Feng, oh Chu Feng, you really are something."
"If Yao Cheng hadn't warned me beforehand that you'd figured out a way to control my army and had me force you into the open, my army — forged by my own hands — might truly have fallen under your command."
"What a pity. In the end, this old man is still one step ahead."
"But I'm very pleased, because with a genius like you around, this old man would be hard-pressed not to succeed."