Liang exhaled slowly, watching Tian Shu with a cool, unreadable expression.
"There. Now speak. Begin with the puppets."
Tian Shu lowered himself cross-legged onto the cold stone floor. He closed his eyes briefly, gathering his thoughts. When they opened again, they were calm, resigned—yet sharp as ever.
"The puppets are called Ghost Puppet Generals. They originate from the lost Hollow Puppet Sect of the Western Desolation Realm. The technique that controls them is the Soulthread Binding Art. It uses extracted meridians from dead cultivators, reforged with soul-infused silk. Each puppet is a vessel, guided by my will, tethered to me through spirit threads anchored in my dantian."
Liang's eyes gleamed faintly.
"And the inscriptions?"
Tian Shu nodded. "They're carved with Binding Nether Runes of the Ninth Circle, harvested from the ruins of the Ninefold Tomb in the Yulian Abyss World. That's where I found the scroll."
Liang fell silent for a beat, his gaze unreadable.
