18 - Dungeon Growth Log

**Chapter 18** When it came to explaining demonized puppets, the system seemed a bit at a loss. "…A long, long time ago, there was a particularly powerful puppeteer who wanted to create puppets that possessed emotions, able to feel without relying on the puppeteer’s own feelings," the system mused. "She went down many wrong paths in the process. One of those missteps involved using human or animal souls as the 'emotion' material for the puppets." Xia Ge pondered this. "Are you talking about the puppeteer who created the emotional 'Leader' puppet?" System: "…Yes." Xia Ge: "Oh, go on." "The end result, of course, was a failure," the system recounted. "Souls that linger in the mortal world often do so out of unwillingness, transforming into vengeful spirits filled with obsessions. Puppets infused with such souls would only retain those maniacal obsessions, becoming uncontrollable until the obsessions faded, leaving behind mere machines of destruction. That puppeteer eventually abandoned this approach." "But what about demonized puppets..." "Even though the puppeteer gave up, the method still got passed down," the system explained. "Humans have always had the desire for immortality, and puppets can partially fulfill that wish. About five hundred years ago, puppeteering briefly became all the rage on the Fengyue Continent thanks to a brilliant puppeteer. Any random puppeteer could make a puppet… Following the secret technique passed down from that legendary puppeteer, they helped people preserve their souls within puppets…" Xia Ge interjected, "Weren't those souls malevolent spirits?" "A soul housed in a puppet won't immediately turn into a malevolent spirit," the system clarified. "Ordinarily, this technique can allow a person to remain clear-headed for about ten years, essentially extending their life span through the puppet's body." "It was common then for a master to be sought out to destroy and lay the puppet to rest when its consciousness began to fade and demonize after ten years." Xia Ge reflected, "Why haven't I heard of this being done nowadays?" "Because it's now considered a forbidden technique," the system replied. "Souls are supposed to be able to reincarnate, but those parasitized into puppets can't. After ten years, they can only transform into malevolent spirits as the puppet becomes demonized. If such a puppet is destroyed, the inhabiting spirit is obliterated entirely—not reincarnated, not laid to rest." "Thus, it's labeled as forbidden," the system continued. "That said, despite being forbidden, many still dare to dabble in such dark arts. Besides demons and monsters, the most common perpetrators nowadays are demonized puppets and the infamous transforming garments known as Yimei." Xia Ge fiddled with the small puppet in her hand. This world had countless people willing to brush against taboo for various reasons. She wasn't too different. "Can it speak?" Xia Ge suddenly inquired. "…No," the system responded. "These small puppets are usually kept to scout paths, eavesdrop, or assassinate." "Can't it grow?" Xia Ge asked, with a hint of regret. "If you want to turn it into your 'Leader'," the system said, "But low-level puppeteers can often create numerous such small puppets that carry sentimental value. They're weak, so there’s little danger of backlash." "If it gets destroyed, I think I'd be really sad," Xia Ge said earnestly, touching her heart. System: "…How considerate of you." "Sigh, forget it. The small puppet’s made and upgraded. Now, what’s the main quest for a puppeteer’s upgrade?" Xia Ge asked cheerfully. "The puppet apprentice's main quest was to collect five materials and craft a Glass Puppet to level up. What's the puppeteer's mission?" System: "Catch 'Zhenhun.'" Xia Ge blinked. "Zhenhun? What's that?" "A Yimei," the system explained. "It's called 'Zhenhun'—wearing it can suppress a hundred ghosts, protecting countless souls." Sounds impressive. Xia Ge: "Where is it?" System: "I don’t know." Xia Ge: "..." The system pretended to cheer, "Good luck, host! You are now a puppeteer! Keep striving toward becoming a puppet grandmaster! This quest is really simple—just catch 'Zhenhun', subdue it, and you'll soar to great heights! It's really simple!" Xia Ge: "…Sounds like a promotional slogan from a game, has no motivating effect at all." And it didn't seem simple, either. "Alright, host, let's be optimistic and look at the upgrade rewards!" The system attempted to change the topic. "There are many fantastic rewards!" Xia Ge wasn't impressed by the system’s meaningless diversion but played along outwardly. Xia Ge: "Rewards, huh... Can I get a hundred billion in windfall cash?" System: "..." Xia Ge: "If not, please shut up. Thanks." The system sighed in exasperation: "Can't you aim higher?! What's a hundred billion compared to the ability to climb walls? Teaching you to fish is better than giving you fish. Don't you get this simple truth?" Xia Ge looked defeated: "I don't want to be the best in the world. I just want an unexpected fortune and to get rich overnight." System: "..." The system's voice grew softer: "Actually, think about this. If you become the best in the world and then rob the Thousand Souls Cult, you won't just get rich overnight; you'll also earn a good name for defeating evil! Isn't that great?" The Thousand Souls Cult was the biggest demon cult on the Fengyue Continent. Xia Ge, with righteous indignation, declared, "Little Ghost! I never realized how shameless you were! How can you distort the noble phrase 'defeating evil and upholding justice' like this? Such a sacred undertaking mustn't be tainted by money!" The system chuckled, "Looks like the host doesn't want the reward. No problem, I didn't want to give it to you anyway." Xia Ge quickly adapted, "Little Ghost! Good and evil, right and wrong are just matters of human benefit. Robbing the rich to help the poor is natural, and defeating evil is the duty of disciples of Lingxi Peak. But I firmly believe that earning a little extra while defeating evil is just the natural way of things..." System: "…" Yeah, you’re remembered as a Lingxi Peak disciple. Seeing the system unresponsive, Xia Ge continued righteously, "After all, human limits are finite..." The system responded coolly, "Oh." Xia Ge: "…Little Ghost, we've shared time for three years; how can you not understand me by now?" …It's because I understand you too well that I don't want to respond at all. The system sneered, "But I'm shamelessly distorting your high-minded 'defeating evil and upholding justice’ phrase." Xia Ge didn't blink, "I’ve said it already, good and evil, right and wrong are just matters of human benefit. It's perfectly fine to earn a little extra while defeating evil. Everyone has to eat, after all… How can that be shameless?" System: "..." You are undoubtedly the most shameless person—bar none. Snorting in disdain, the system still granted the reward. [ Ding! System Upgrade Reward! Congratulations to the host for gaining 15 points. Points Shop now open!] [ Ding! {Soul Snatch} upgraded! {Ghostly Shadows} upgraded! {Straight Shot} upgraded! Congratulations on unlocking a new skill, {Controlled Voice}!] "What is Controlled Voice?" Xia Ge wasn't interested in the points shop, just curious about the new skill on her panel. The system was rather cold, "See for yourself." [Controlled Voice Level 1 Proficiency 0/3 Skill Introduction: Can control a puppet's movements using musical instrument sounds. At level 3, can control malevolent spirits.] Xia Ge stared at the words "malevolent spirits" for a while. "Controlling malevolent spirits… sounds powerful." The system boasted a little, "Of course it's powerful. All my skills are the strongest!" Xia Ge: "But I don’t know how to play any instruments." System: "…" Can you let me be proud for three minutes? No, even three seconds. Xia Ge sighed deeply, "Can I change skills?" The system tried to keep its spirits up: "No, you can't. A puppeteer’s three minor stages randomly assign three skills that can’t be changed once set, unless you capture 'Zhenhun' and ascend to become a puppet grandmaster." Xia Ge: "..." A new skill, but it's pretty useless—no surprise at all. Xia Ge opened the points shop. The points shop had many items, so much that it was overwhelming. As Xia Ge scanned through, she even saw a machine gun. Xia Ge: "..." ... Hey, is it really okay to have such incongruous items here? The system evidently overheard her thoughts: "Of course it's okay, because you can’t afford them." This made Xia Ge quietly shift her gaze from the Maozi rifle to the points. "1, 2, 3, 4…" The system knowingly asked: "What are you counting?" Xia Ge, expressionless: "The zeros." The system snickered, "Many, aren't there?" From the system's deep malice, Xia Ge yet again felt the plight of the poor. "What can fifteen points buy…” After a thorough look, Xia Ge found that all the incongruous items were absurdly expensive, starting at millions and ending in billions. For instance, a bar of Su** Recliner soap priced at a hundred billion… Unbelievable. Flipping to the end, Xia Ge finally found something she could afford. [Lingxi Mountain Jinjiang Branch special xiaolongbao, honest value, local discount, free shipping for 15 points!] Xia Ge: "…" "Enough! The soup dumplings at the Jinjiang bun shop by the gate are just one copper coin each!! And you’re charging fifteen points with free shipping right at the gate?! I can’t breathe! Stupid system! Stupid points shop!!!" Xia Ge promptly closed the screen. "I'm going to sleep." The system's voice sounded in Xia Ge's ear like a brothel madam enticing clients, "Don't be like that, dear customer. Take another look. The soup dumplings with free shipping are different from the ones at the gate~" Xia Ge: Hehe. What an absolutely useless reward.