The second update is delivered. Once again, I ask for monthly votes. It was another all-night session; I only hope for everyone's support.

The greatest aspiration of any Puppet Master is to create puppets that possess true life and soul. Every Puppet Master shares this dream, yet none have ever succeeded. Even the Divine Artificers, who represent the pinnacle of the craft, have only managed to create puppets with "fleeting lifespans," entirely lacking genuine souls.

Yet, the Master of this secluded residence, a Puppet Master who passed away centuries ago, actually managed to bring such puppets into existence. Though these creations are confined to this small castle, forever barred from the world under the blue sky, they possess souls. It must be admitted that these puppets only gained longevity and self-awareness after his death—it wasn't entirely his doing. It could be called an accident, a mutation, or perhaps a gift from Heaven, but without him crafting them with their initial "brief spans of life," they simply wouldn't exist now.

Ultimately, this remains his success... a regrettable fact that he never knew.

A Puppet Master of this caliber undoubtedly stood at the highest echelon of their art.

For Lin Luo to inherit his life's work is an incredible stroke of fortune, tantamount to having one foot already across the threshold of that grandest dream.

Though the Puppet Master had stated that Lin Luo could take anything in this room, Lin Luo had already given his word to Peacock that he would take none of it. He would not break that promise... even though he knew Peacock wouldn't object even if he cleared the room.

Furthermore, he could see the deep longing flicker in Peacock’s eyes whenever she gazed upon anything in this chamber. Everything here held precious memories related to her father. How could he bear to strip her of those recollections?

Love for one's puppets is not something spoken lightly.

Therefore, Lin Luo decided to stay here for the time being; he would not take anything. But he could learn.

When the door opened, Little Xiao and the host of smaller dolls immediately swarmed them, chattering questions at them, even Seven Seven was present, though silent. Lin Luo and Peacock’s sudden disappearance from the room, followed by the door snapping shut, had terrified them. No matter how hard they knocked, there was no response from inside, making them fear some accident had occurred. Because of this, Little Xiao had even summoned Seven Seven inside.

Lin Luo offered no lengthy explanations, brushing it off with a simple, "It was nothing serious." He then informed Seven Seven that they would be staying here for a while, before eagerly re-entering the room, motioning for Little Xiao to follow... Little Xiao was also a Puppet Master, with exceptional innate talent; passing up this opportunity would be too regrettable.

Peacock was the eldest among the dolls, serving as the matriarch. If even she didn't object to Lin Luo staying, how could the others? Moreover, they didn't dislike Lin Luo or Little Xiao; in fact, they were slightly delighted.

Since the immediate crisis had passed, Seven Seven let go of her earlier worry and turned to leave.

"Wait." Before she could fly out, Peacock called her back. She then went to pour a cup of black tea, placing it on their usual tea table, and addressed Seven Seven, saying, "You can wait here, but I won't talk to you anymore."

Perhaps it was seeing a faint trace of her father again, or perhaps it was Lin Luo's presence, that slightly softened her attitude towards Seven Seven, though she remained haughty. With a final 'hmpf,' she darted away.

This child... Seven Seven remained expressionless, but a slight amusement touched her heart.

"Thank you." Seven Seven nodded slightly and flew to rest on the edge of the table.

She was an unparalleled master, the foremost figure of the current and past ages. In her prime, the mere release of her aura could shatter the heavens, cleave the earth, and force all creation to kneel. Yet, her demeanor toward living beings was naturally serene and peaceful, devoid of the arrogance of superiority or the arrogance of singularity. She did not regard the strong with higher esteem, nor did she look down upon the weak.

Her forceful entry earlier was simply the most convenient and direct course of action; she hadn't overthought it. Killing the giant rat was also because the rat had first evinced a killing intent toward them—they were enemies, and against enemies, she showed no mercy. To falter would mean she was no longer Seven Seven.

Furthermore, since their target included Lin Luo, there was absolutely no room for negotiation.

Strictly speaking, according to Seven Seven's principles, the giant rats were controlled by the dolls, making Peacock and the others the true culprits whom she would not spare. However, she could perceive that the dolls themselves posed no threat, and Lin Luo had no desire to harm them, so she would not intervene. Since Lin Luo cared for these puppets, she would too.

Now that the dolls were showing her kindness, she would not maintain a stiff posture over past events and accepted their overtures calmly.

Seven Seven operated by principles, but her sole, fundamental principle was Lin Luo.

This was a dreamlike room; the dreaminess extended not just to the decor but to everything within: nothing here changed with the passage of time. The blooming flora released sweet fragrances, never wilting or fading. Broken vases and cups instantly mended themselves. The beautiful, clean curtains never discolored or aged. Even food that was eaten and tea that was drunk would soon "grow" back.

The dolls were not quiet; they were rather lively. Even with Seven Seven present, after a few nervous glances, they gradually relaxed upon seeing her sitting still, seemingly like a statue. They chatted and played, acting exactly like a gaggle of small children.

When it was time to eat, they would obediently take their seats, eat quietly, and then move to a side table for tea afterward—very orderly.

At first, because Seven Seven was at the table, although they were a bit fearful, they couldn't very well ask her to leave, so they were somewhat cautious while drinking tea. But several of the dolls were still very young, appearing no older than four or five. Unlike Peacock, they held no animosity toward Seven Seven, and before long, they couldn't resist starting conversations with her.

After all, Seven Seven currently looked rather harmless. Though expressionless, she carried no imposing authority; instead, she gave the impression of a child throwing a cute tantrum. And since the dolls themselves were inherently charming, they naturally gravitated toward things they found cute.

Seven Seven usually spoke little because she felt most things didn't warrant verbal articulation, but she possessed the necessary courtesy. So, when the dolls engaged her, she responded politely.

Although her replies held no particular amusement, the sheer cuteness of Little Xiao was captivating, making the dolls feel as if they had gained a younger sister. They chatted happily, basking in the superiority of being older sisters, and gradually seemed to forget the earlier unpleasantness. Even Peacock, who had declared she would "never speak to her again," ultimately failed to keep her promise and was drawn into the conversation.

And so, the dolls chattered incessantly, and... and then Seven Seven found it utterly annoying.

These puppets talked far too much; she already regretted agreeing to stay.

Meanwhile, Lin Luo was completely engrossed in studying the art of puppet creation. Although no one could instruct him, forcing him to study independently, much like buying a textbook and reading it in solitude at home, Lin Luo found the deceased Master to be undeniably brilliant and meticulous. In nearly every piece of research material, there were copious personal insights left by the Master. Lin Luo possessed strong comprehension skills and the ability to apply concepts widely, leaving no principle incomprehensible.

As for Little Xiao, Lin Luo paid her no mind. The teacher guides the student to the door; practice is up to the individual. Before this, he had already taught Little Xiao everything he knew and was capable of teaching. How much she absorbed was her own business. Here, it was even more so; he himself was a student, too busy learning to teach anyone else.

Although Lin Luo was a supreme powerhouse, no less formidable than Seven Seven in her historic might, that was a separate matter. Right now, he was just an ordinary Puppet Master, whereas the Master of this residence was a pinnacle figure. There was no shame in approaching this knowledge with a student's mindset.

In any case, Lin Luo found the material fascinating, and the more he learned, the happier he became.

Tedious study makes time crawl, but enjoyable learning makes time fly. Lin Luo had no idea how long he had been there. At any rate, the food supply, which should have lasted him and Little Xiao half a year, was depleted long ago. While the food in the outer room would replenish itself, Lin Luo harbored a concern: what if they consumed too much, depleting the power sustaining that area too quickly, causing this entire realm to vanish prematurely? That would be disastrous.

After all, no matter how immense the power, it cannot be maintained forever. Even if it lasted for centuries or millennia without issue, what about tens of thousands of years later?

He knew clearly that the outer room would one day disappear when its power was exhausted, and with it, the puppets. He lacked the means to save them, but he could at least refrain from consuming their vital resources.

Therefore, once his personal supplies ran out, he and Little Xiao subsisted on what they could procure from the jungle outside. As for Seven Seven, she required no sustenance whatsoever.

After an unknowable stretch of time, Lin Luo finally finished meticulously "observing" everything in the room... His observation went beyond mere sight; it involved profound sensory perception. Once seen and felt, and etched into his memory, it became permanently his—knowledge that no one could ever steal.

Now, in the Way of the Puppet, Lin Luo dared not claim to surpass the deceased Master, but he certainly was not far behind.

And then...

Boom!

It wasn't the sound of an explosion, but Lin Luo felt something within him being forcefully displaced.

It was as if a dam holding back a flood had suddenly ruptured. At that moment, a relentless surge of power began to generate within Lin Luo, impossible to contain.

Of course, Lin Luo didn't try to stop it; he felt only elation.