My Celestial Ascension

As the puppet's head was destroyed, its body instantly ceased functioning and collapsed to the ground, lifeless and inert. The power that once animated it had been abruptly severed.

"The weakness is indeed their heads," Yuan acknowledged, his voice laced with admiration for Xi Meili's insightful observation. "But it won't be an easy task. These puppets are strong and fast."

Xi Meili followed closely behind Yuan, her agility matching his own. Her Primordial Chaos flames danced and crackled, incinerating any puppets that dared to approach from behind. Her cultivation surpassed Yuan's, granting her greater speed and agility.

The Primordial Chaos Fire held incredible power, capable of consuming anything it touched. However, Xi Meili possessed full control over its destructive potential. 

If she willed it, the flames would remain harmless, even to those who came into contact with them. But if she desired destruction, those seemingly benign flames transformed into an unstoppable force.

She noticed that five puppets were charging at Yuan from behind while he was fending against the other puppets.

"Dragon Claws," Xi Meili muttered, her hands undergoing a dramatic transformation. They morphed into fierce dragon claws, adorned with razor-sharp nails capable of slicing through the toughest metals effortlessly.

With the activation of the "Dragon Claw" technique, Xi Meili's speed and agility surged, her movements becoming a blur. She swiftly decapitated five Grandmaster-level puppets in one swift motion, their heads cleanly severed before they even had a chance to react.

Observing the outcome of her swift strikes, Xi Meili glanced at Yuan, who was simultaneously battling ten puppets. She couldn't help but voice her confusion. "Even though these puppets can fight against a pack of Grandmaster-level cultivators, their speed is considerably slow. It doesn't add up."

Amidst the chaos of battle, Yuan's keen observation caught the discrepancy in the puppets' performance. His voice carried over the clash of metal as he shared his thoughts, "Indeed, their speed is significantly slower than that of a true Grandmaster. It doesn't match their power at all."

"My speculation is that it's due to the passage of time. After millennia of abandonment, these puppets have lost the destructive power they once possessed."

Anna, Grace, Lily, and Emma also listened intently, their focus on Yuan's words providing a brief respite from the intensity of the fight. The weight of time hung heavily in the air, a silent witness to the deterioration of the once formidable puppets.

No one knew how many years had elapsed since this place was abandoned by the cultivators from the Nine Heavens. It was a testament to the relentless march of time. Even a mountain can't stand against the passage of time. And these are just mere puppets; they can't withstand the power of the passage of time. 

"I also believe the same, hubby!" Xi Meili exclaimed while she gripped a puppet's head in her claws and effortlessly crushed it like a soda can. Her display of strength and dominance exemplified the puppet's weakened state.

Yuan's grip on his sword tightened as he prepared to strike. With a swift motion, he charged at the remaining puppets, skillfully evading their attacks with his exceptional agility. 

"One Sword One Strike!" With each swing of his sword, he sliced through the air, severing the heads of the closest puppets. The motionless metal bodies collapsed to the ground, defeated by his skilled strikes.

Ding! 

<Your understanding of the sword has increased significantly>

«One Sword One Strike Mastery Level 3→4>

«One Sword One Strike»

«Rank: Earth»

«Mastery Level: 4»

«Discription: Consumes 7500 Qi. An extremely fast sword technique that can split the river into two. Must wield a sword to use.»

—

"This... My comprehension of this technique has leveled up!" He exclaimed in excitement as he heard the system announcement.

His mastery of the 'One Sword One Strike' sword technique had reached level 4, bringing forth refined and deadly movements. Each swing became a display of precision, and the time required to execute the technique reduced significantly. 

With his newfound mastery, Yuan effortlessly dismantled the remaining puppets, one after another. His refined movements and deadly precision made the task significantly easier. 

He had already destroyed more than 17 puppets, but half of their mechanical adversaries still remained.

Anna, Grace, Emma, and Lily watched with a mix of concern and admiration as Yuan and Xi Meili continued their relentless assault. 

The worry in their eyes stemmed from the fact that there were still numerous puppets to be destroyed, and Yuan couldn't rely on his divine rank skill due to the risk of collateral damage underground.

Meanwhile, Xi Meili fought alongside Yuan, her flames dancing and engulfing the puppets. Her primal chaos flame proved to be a devastating force, easily reducing the metallic bodies to ash. Together, their combined strength and skill decimated the remaining puppets.

Despite their progress, the worried expressions on the faces of Anna, Grace, Emma, and Lily remained. They understood the gravity of the situation—the odds were still against them, and the outcome remained uncertain. 

They couldn't rely on Yuan's divine rank skill, leaving them in a precarious position.

Grace, her voice filled with concern, called out to Yuan, "Darling, be careful! There are still too many puppets left."

"Yes, there are too many of them. Yuan and Xi Meili can't fight them alone. Let's go help them." Lily, determined to assist her little brother and Xi Meili, swiftly retrieved her sword from her storage ring.

Anna agreed, turning to Grace. "Our daughter is right. They can't handle this alone. We're also at the Spirit Master realm, so we can join the fight." With conviction, she retrieved her sword from her storage ring. Witnessing her determination, Grace followed suit, unsheathing her own sword.

Emma, aware of her lack of sword techniques, observed the unfolding scene. Instead of drawing a sword, she relied on her extraordinary physical strength. She had her own way of contributing to the battle.

"Let's show those soulless puppets who's the boss!" Lily's voice rang out with determination. 

Anna, Grace, and Emma nodded in agreement, their eyes gleaming with a shared resolve. Together, the four of them charged towards the remaining puppets.

As they closed in on the puppets, Anna and Grace unleashed their sword technique, the 'Lotus Blossom Sword Dance.' Their bodies moved with agility, effortlessly dodging the puppets' attacks. With swift strikes, they targeted the puppets' heads, obliterating them.

Yuan, observing his wives actions, couldn't help but interject. "Didn't I tell you guys to stay back?"

Anna pouted at her son's remark. "Don't underestimate us. We may not be as strong as you, but we are Spirit Master realm cultivators. We can fight alongside you."

Yuan contemplated their words and realized they were right. They had achieved the Spirit Master realm, and their strength was not to be underestimated. 

"Just be careful and try not to get hurt, okay?" said Yuan. 

"We can take care of ourselves. You focus on fighting those puppets!" Lily exclaimed, and with a swift motion of her sword, she used her technique, 'Frozen Moon Blade,' to slice through the puppet's head effortlessly.

Emma, not one to sit idly, unleashed her immense physical strength. With a powerful blow from her fist, she shattered the puppet's head, relying on her raw power to crush her adversaries.

Yuan, witnessing the incredible display of strength from his wives, couldn't help but marvel at their growth. He exclaimed, his voice filled with awe, "They have become powerful!" 

His eyes scanned the battlefield, taking in the strength and mastery displayed by Anna, Grace, Emma, and Lily. With their newfound abilities, he and Xi Meili now possessed a significant advantage.

With Anna, Grace, Emma, and Lily joining the battle, Yuan and Xi Meili gained a significant advantage. The combined strength of the six fighters reduced the number of puppets at an astonishing rate. Their relentless assault left the puppets falling one after another.

Yuan continued to slice through the puppets with his sword, his strikes precise and deadly. Each swing brought forth the destruction of another puppet. 

Beside him, Xi Meili utilized her Flames and Claws, her attacks engulfing the puppets in a sea of fire and tearing through their defenses.

With the strength of all six of them combined, the number of puppets dwindled at an astonishing rate. Their synchronized attacks left no room for the puppets to retaliate. 

The battle became a display of their power and unity as they systematically destroyed the remaining adversaries.

In just a few minutes, only a handful of puppets remained. Their once formidable ranks had been decimated, reduced to mere remnants of their former power. 

Yuan's sword sliced through the air one final time, severing the head of the last puppet. Silence settled over the battlefield as the remaining puppets crumbled to the ground.

Yuan, his chest heaving with exertion, surveyed the scene before him. "Finally, it's over," he declared, his voice laced with a mixture of relief and triumph.

This battle had pushed him further than any previous encounter, even surpassing his fight against the Orc Lord.

In a moment of reflection, Yuan muttered to himself, realizing the untapped potential within him. "If only I were able to use my divine rank skill, the battle would have ended long ago."

Anna approached him, her eyes filled with warmth and understanding. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. "That's not important now," she reassured him. "What matters is that we won against a force far stronger than our own. We stood united and emerged victorious."

The others joined in, their expressions a mix of relief and pride. Grace nodded in agreement. "Indeed, we surpassed our own limits and triumphed together."