Inside the qiankun ring, time flowed slowly, nearly ten times faster than the outside world.

Fang Hao’s mind was completely immersed in the profound world of the fragment of the heavenly craft puppet manual. The knowledge recorded within the Jade Slip was as vast as the sea, far exceeding any Artifact Refining or Formation Legacy he had encountered before. It contained not only various exquisite Puppet structural designs and energy conduction circuits, but also specialized restoration methods for the damaged cores of high-level Puppets.

He absorbed this knowledge thirstily, combining it with his experiences at the Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Craft Pavilion and the Artifact Refining Hall, along with the all-encompassing nature of the Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Scripture. He understood it all with twice the result for half the effort.

After an unknown amount of time (perhaps only a few days outside, but nearly two months inside the ring), Fang Hao finally opened his eyes slowly. A hint of fatigue flashed in his gaze, but it was mostly filled with the light of excitement and enlightenment.

"As expected of the Legacy of the ancient Tiangong Sect! It is truly exquisite!" He let out a long sigh of relief. He had thoroughly comprehended the contents of the Jade Slip and now had a clear plan in mind for how to repair the golden puppet.

The core damage to the golden puppet was primarily located in the area on its chest scorched by the Nascent Soul Talisman Treasure, the ’Golden Crow Heaven-Burning Talisman’. The core Formation runes there were damaged, and the energy circuits were broken, resulting in poor Qi circulation and a massive reduction in power.

The key to the repair lay in two points: first, using a special technique to re-engrave the damaged Formation runes; second, requiring two extremely rare Materials to act as ’binders’ and ’energy conductors’ to reconnect and strengthen the broken circuits.

The first material was called ’void crystal dust’, a rare mineral powder containing spatial attributes. It was extremely fine and could enhance the stability and penetration of energy conduction. The second material was called ’earth core jade marrow’. This was no ordinary jade marrow, but rather the essence of jade marrow nurtured for over ten thousand years deep within the earth’s core fire veins, containing pure earth elemental power and fire system essence. Its nature was gentle yet resilient, making it an excellent material for repairing the damaged core base.

"void crystal dust... earth core jade marrow..." Fang Hao’s brow furrowed. He had secretly inquired about these two Materials in the major shops of Black Rock City and had even managed to check the inventory list of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, but there was no sign of them. The shopkeeper had stated plainly that these were both legendary Materials that could be sought but not easily found. A frontier city like Black Rock City simply couldn’t have them.

"Materials are hard to find..." Fang Hao sighed. Even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice; with only the method of repair but no key Materials, everything was just empty talk.

His gaze involuntarily drifted toward the inn’s window. In that direction lay the ’Black Wind Abyss’ that Gong Mingliang had mentioned.

The Black Wind Abyss, located three hundred li northwest of Black Rock City, was a famous danger zone. It was said to be ten thousand zhang deep, with black winds howling year-round and a dense Yin Qi. Not only did many powerful Yin-attribute Demon Beasts reside there, but spatial cracks also frequently appeared, making it exceptionally dangerous. However, danger zones often came with opportunities. The abyss was rich in several types of Yin-attribute Ores and Spiritual Plants rare in the outside world, and occasionally, Cultivators would find treasures left behind from ancient times.

"Gong Mingliang specifically mentioned that there was unusual activity in the Black Wind Abyss and that an exotic treasure was appearing... was it a casual remark, or was he implying something?" Fang Hao tapped his finger gently on the table, falling into deep thought.

There were two possibilities:

First, Gong Mingliang was simply using the danger of the Black Wind Abyss to threaten him, hinting that he might meet with misfortune if he left the city.

Second, there might really be some change in the Black Wind Abyss recently, and Gong Mingliang might know some information about it, or even... there might be clues to those two scarce Materials in the Black Wind Abyss! Did he reveal this intentionally to lure me out so he could make his move?

Fang Hao leaned toward the second possibility. As a Golden Core Cultivator and a Great Master of Formations and Puppets, Gong Mingliang’s need for and understanding of Materials like ’void crystal dust’ and ’earth core jade marrow’ certainly far exceeded his own. He might truly know some secrets of the Black Wind Abyss, and perhaps he even needed these Materials himself, which was why he was determined to obtain the fragment of the heavenly craft puppet manual.

"This is an open trap." Light flickered in Fang Hao’s eyes. Gong Mingliang had calculated that he would go to the Black Wind Abyss. He only needed to set an inescapable net outside the Black Wind Abyss and wait for the prey to come to him.

To go, or not to go?

If he went, he would inevitably face Gong Mingliang and his likely ambushes, which would be extremely dangerous. Although he had broken through to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, his chances of winning against a prepared Middle Golden Core Stage Cultivator and his Family’s forces were slim. With the golden puppet damaged and unusable, his greatest trump card was neutralized.

If he didn’t go, repairing the golden puppet would be a distant hope. Without a Nascent Soul-level combat power to protect him in this unfamiliar land of Qingzhou, he would be restricted at every turn and find it difficult to move. Moreover, hiding in the city forever wasn’t an option; the Gongming Family’s influence in Black Rock City was deeply rooted, and they would eventually find an Opportunity to deal with him.

"Risks and opportunities coexist..." Fang Hao took a deep breath, his gaze gradually becoming firm. The path of cultivation was originally an act of defying heaven; how could it ever be smooth sailing? If he was timid and hesitant, how could he achieve the Great Dao?

"I must go!" He made his decision. But he wasn’t going to his death; he needed to devise a thorough plan to minimize the risks and perhaps even... turn the tables!

First, he carefully recalled and studied the records regarding the golden puppet in the fragment of the heavenly craft puppet manual. Although the golden puppet’s core was damaged and it couldn’t exert Nascent Soul combat power, its material was extremely hard, comparable to a Nascent Soul Magic Treasure, and its basic physical defense and strength remained. Furthermore, it had some small auxiliary functions inside that he might be able to utilize.

Next, he took stock of all his trump cards: Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, various Spells, Formation attainment, the empty clarity mirror, the newly acquired yitian sword, the chaos pill furnace (currently mainly used for auxiliary Alchemy and nurturing), the Earth Core Flame Fire, and most importantly—the time dilation function of the qiankun ring!

"Perhaps... I can do this..." A bold plan gradually took shape in Fang Hao’s mind.

He planned to use the qiankun ring to buy time! Before entering the Black Wind Abyss, or after finding a relatively safe place within it, he would enter the qiankun ring to further strengthen himself! For example, by refining some targeted Talismans and Formation Plates, or attempting to Cultivate a life-saving secret technique!

At the same time, he wanted to make full use of the environment of the Black Wind Abyss itself! With the howling black winds, restricted Divine Sense, and unstable space, it was the perfect place for him to utilize his Formation advantages and the specialties of the Ethereal Art! If Gong Mingliang wanted to ambush him, he could also use the dangerous environment to ambush the other party in return!

"Gong Mingliang, you want to be the hunter, but you don’t know who the real prey is!" A cold arc curled at the corner of Fang Hao’s mouth.

He no longer hesitated and immediately began to act. First, he checked out of all the rented inn courtyards, creating the illusion that he had already left Black Rock City. Then, he changed his appearance, disguising himself as an ordinary Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, and quietly left Black Rock City by blending into the flow of people leaving the city.

After leaving the city, he did not head directly for the Black Wind Abyss. Instead, he took a long detour, choosing a more remote path that was also said to lead to the edge of the Black Wind Abyss. Along the way, he was extremely careful, with his Divine Sense fully active, alert for any possible tracking or ambushes.

A few days later, the silhouette of a massive abyss shrouded in grayish-black mist, with the faint sound of howling winds, appeared on the horizon.

He had reached the Black Wind Abyss!

The true adventure was about to begin! Could Fang Hao snatch food from the tiger’s mouth, find the repair Materials, and kill his powerful enemy? Everything was full of unknowns. But his Dao Heart became even more firm and bright at this moment.