"Primordial Spirit?"
Quinn Shepherd looked puzzled. Just now, when his Six Directions realm Grand Unification Art reached perfection, he fell into a state of enlightenment. Before he knew it, both his and Lynn Ling's souls and spirit embryos had drifted out together. Was this what they called the Primordial Spirit?
Soul—there are two aspects: spirit and soul. Spirit means the spirit embryo, soul means the soul itself. Once you've cultivated the spirit embryo, your soul is complete.
Prince Luther Ling’s cultivation was far above theirs. Ever since the previous Crown Prince, Yuxia Ling, died, the Emperor had valued him greatly, promoting him to Grand Tutor, Grand Mentor, and Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince, personally teaching him cultivation and the ways of statecraft.
Recently, Prince Luther Ling had made rapid progress, far beyond what he’d achieved at the Imperial Academy. Now, at the peak of the Seven Stars Realm, he was more than capable of explaining basic cultivation knowledge to Quinn Shepherd and Lynn Ling.
The Primordial Spirit is when the soul attaches to the spirit embryo, becoming the inner deity of the body. Yuanqi transforms into the essence of the soul—thus, the Primordial Spirit is formed.
Prince Luther Ling explained, “The Six Directions realm not only produces spirit weapons, but also the Primordial Spirit. However, the Primordial Spirit only matures when Six Directions advances toward the Heaven-Man Realm, at which point it can roam the ends of the world. You two have just entered Six Directions—how could your Primordial Spirits leave your bodies and wander so soon?”
Quinn Shepherd and Lynn Ling were bewildered; they themselves didn’t know how it happened. Somehow, their Primordial Spirits had left their bodies and wandered the world.
Six Directions means east, west, south, north, as well as the union of body and intent, intent and qi, qi and soul, soul and spirit, spirit and Heaven-Earth, Heaven-Earth and body. Only by achieving this union can one truly reach Six Directions.
Prince Luther Ling pondered, “After Six Directions, soul and essence merge, Primordial Spirit and flesh become one—only then can the Primordial Spirit safely leave the body. Otherwise, even if it does, it can’t return. How did you two manage to do this…?”
He was completely baffled.
Quinn Shepherd and Lynn Ling exchanged a glance, shivering. From Prince Luther Ling's explanation, if they hadn't achieved full Six Directions union—body, intent, qi, soul, spirit, Heaven-Earth—their Primordial Spirits might never have found their way back to their bodies!
"We were playing around just now, but thankfully my brother arrived in time and called us back. Otherwise, our Primordial Spirits really might not have found our bodies again." Lynn Ling shuddered in fear.
Roaming the world is still a small thing. Once you reach the Heaven-Man Realm, you can roam the Great Void and witness the wonders of the universe. But there's still the Seven Stars Realm in between.
Prince Luther Ling put aside his confusion and said, "The Imperial Academy teaches a lot about the Six Directions Treasury. You two should attend more classes. Daniel Shan has already finished the waterwheel and is heading to the foundry in Fang Prefecture to improve the forging process. He wants to invite Qin..."
He was about to say "Beast" but suddenly changed his words: "...Cult Master, please come along."
Quinn Shepherd hesitated, "This river embankment...?"
A dozen Imperial Academy scholars arrived at the riverbank—among them were Shen Wanyun and others. Prince Luther Ling said, "Leave the embankment to them. This time, Vice Minister Daniel Shan plans to improve the foundry's process and manufacture some river-suppressing beasts. He insists you must go."
They hurried to the foundry in Fang Prefecture. Daniel Shan and other Works Ministry officials had just arrived outside the foundry. Fang Prefecture was mountainous, with many mines. The foundry refined Blackgold and Blackiron. Quinn Shepherd joined Daniel Shan, who greeted him respectfully: "Forging treasures and weapons requires Blackgold and Blackiron. His Majesty has long wanted to expand the foundry, but when Great Thunderclap Temple was powerful, he hesitated. Now that the temple has suffered a major setback, it's time to expand the foundry. We must ask Cult Master to help improve the boilers and forging technology..."
Quinn Shepherd nodded, "No problem."
Lynn Ling quickly stepped forward and said to Daniel Shan, "Vice Minister, I've reached the Six Directions Treasury and forged my spirit weapon. Could you help me improve it?" With that, she took out her Nine-Dragon Armament.
Daniel Shan took her Nine-Dragon Armament and smiled, "Princess, with a master by your side, why ask me?"
Lynn Ling was puzzled, not knowing who he meant by "master."
Serena Yunxiang quickly took out her Thousand-Silk Thread and said, "And my Thousand-Silk spirit weapon, please help me too, Hall Master Shan."
Daniel Shan took her Thousand-Silk Thread as well, examining both spirit weapons. His expression changed slightly as he gently activated them. The Nine-Dragon Armament instantly expanded into nine flying dragons, their scales and whiskers astonishingly lifelike, while the Thousand-Silk Thread grew segment by segment, sometimes unfurling, sometimes retracting—its transformations truly unpredictable.
Colleagues, come and take a look!
Daniel Shan quickly called over many Works Ministry officials; the Vice Minister also came forward. Everyone examined the two spirit weapons, full of admiration. The Vice Minister said, "Truly a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship—the forging method is wondrous, the skill divine!"
After studying them, Daniel Shan returned the two spirit weapons to Lynn Ling and Serena Yunxiang, saying, "Saintess, Princess, these spirit weapons were forged by the Cult Master, weren't they?"
Lynn Ling nodded, "The cowherd made them for us while we were at sea."
Daniel Shan looked respectful, "The Cult Master's forging skill has already surpassed all of us in the Works Ministry. We may excel in some techniques, but overall, we cannot compare."
Lynn Ling was stunned. She blurted out, "You can't make anything better?"
I can't make anything better than the Cult Master.
We just examined them and learned a lot from the Princess and Saintess's spirit weapons. Both are already perfect; the Works Ministry can't improve them.
Hall Master Shan, is it just because he's the Cult Master and you don't want to embarrass him?
Daniel Shan solemnly replied, "Cult Master Quinn's forging method and skill approach the divine. In terms of technique, no one in the world can surpass him. His forging is exquisitely ingenious—many methods I've never seen or even heard of! The swift ship and pill furnace of Chief Brahma Yunxiao were both designed and built by the Cult Master; I was present and found it astonishing! His skill is truly the best in the world!"
The two girls widened their eyes, unable to speak.
Quinn Shepherd hurriedly replied, "Vice Minister, you flatter me. I'm just a blacksmith, I wouldn't dare claim to be the best in the world!"
Lynn Ling and Serena Yunxiang blinked, looking at the cowherd from the Great Ruins, thinking, "He's always bragged, but now he's actually being modest—how rare..."
At most, I'm second best in the world.
I'm not as good as my mute grandpa in our village—he's the best blacksmith for miles around. When we sell kitchen knives at the market, his always sell first.
With such divine knives, I'd love to buy some for study and collection. Who would've thought they'd be hidden in a small village market? I wish I could buy them all. Cult Master, please teach us while improving the foundry this time. Please!
They crowded around Quinn Shepherd like stars around the moon, entering the foundry. Behind them were Lynn Ling, Serena Yunxiang, and the Works Minister; the four exchanged stunned glances.
The Works Minister sighed, "Heavenly Demon Cult Master, the Imperial Academy's first Doctor, the famed divine physician Quinn, and now the world's second-best forger—this Doctor is truly extraordinary. What other skills does he have that no one knows about?"
Lynn Ling suddenly remembered and said, "He's great at painting. He once painted me and stamped it with a seal, saying that if he didn't, I'd come alive and walk right off the painting!"
Serena Yunxiang also recalled, "We escaped Drake Dandy thanks to his painting. He drew a sea storm and a ship braving the waves, and then a real storm and ship appeared to carry us away!"
Lynn Yushu looked at the Works Minister and asked, "Does the Painting Sage Pavilion have such ability?"
The Works Minister shook his head, "The Painting Sage Pavilion's artists can make paintings lifelike, some capture spirit, some have great skill, but none can make what they paint come alive. The Heavenly Demon Cult Master is truly..."
He shook his head, "It's truly astonishing. How can one person be so accomplished in so many arts, and still remain so humble? Such virtue is admirable."
'Is the cowherd really humble?' Lynn Ling was confused; he usually acted arrogant, always claiming to be second best.
Serena Yunxiang also disagreed; their Cult Master was never known for humility. Whenever she challenged him, he'd always say, "You can't beat me yet, keep practicing."
If I had even a tenth of his skill, I'd boast about being the best in the world. But he never brags or shows off—he only speaks honestly when asked, and never claims to be number one, only number two. I've never seen anyone so humble!
Lynn Yushu was also shocked by the Heavenly Demon Cult Master's excellence: "Such an outstanding young man, my sister..."
He suddenly worried whether his sister was worthy of such an outstanding Cult Master, then quickly shook his head: "What am I thinking? That kid better not get close to my sister!"
They entered the foundry to find Quinn Shepherd and others measuring the furnace structure. The officials brought out various tools, some for testing, some for calculating, bustling about and ignoring the newcomers.
After a while, everyone gathered around Quinn Shepherd, watching him use yuanqi to draw new furnace designs, forging machinery, and several three-dimensional humanoid mechanisms in the air. The others quickly took notes and brought the necessary materials.
The foundry bustled with activity and the deafening sound of forging. Quinn Shepherd forged while explaining his methods to the officials, who nodded repeatedly.
After a while, they produced the first forging machine: a humanoid automaton with eight arms and a large pill furnace in its chest, into which medicinal stones could be fed to power it.
The automaton's upper body was made of molten composite Blackgold and Blackbronze, constantly flowing over its surface. The metal could shift into hammers, steel rods, pincers, and more, with immense strength able to exert hundreds of thousands of pounds of pressure.
The person operating the automaton by the pill furnace felt some heat but could tolerate it. From there, they could control the machinery and forge metal into shape.
The automaton's runes and mechanisms were complex. Lynn Yushu saw that Daniel Shan and others had recorded several thick stacks of books, piled higher than a person, and was astonished.