Chapter 295 — Second in All the World

"The Primordial Spirit?"

Shen Mu was somewhat bewildered. A moment ago, as his Six Harmonies realm Grand Unification cultivation method reached perfection, he had fallen into a state of enlightenment, and without his noticing, Ling Yuxiu's soul and spirit embryo had flown out alongside his own. Was this the Primordial Spirit?

"Soul, soul. First the spirit, second the hun. The spirit is the spirit embryo, the hun is the hun-po. Once the spirit embryo is cultivated, the soul is complete."

Ling Yushu's cultivation far exceeded theirs. Ever since the former crown prince Ling Yuxia's death, the emperor had placed great importance upon him, newly appointing a Grand Mentor, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince to specifically instruct and guide him in cultivation and in handling affairs of state.

Ling Yushu had also profited greatly these days; his cultivation advanced with far greater speed than when he had been at the Grand Academy, and he had now reached the peak of the Seven Stars realm. To instruct Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu in some common knowledge was more than within his means.

"The Primordial Spirit is when the hun-po takes residence within the spirit embryo and becomes a deity within the human body. The primal qi transforms into the essence of the soul, and thus the Primordial Spirit is formed."

Ling Yushu said, "In the Six Harmonies realm, aside from gestating a primordial weapon, there is also the Primordial Spirit. But it is only when one advances from the Six Harmonies realm into the Heaven-Man realm that the Primordial Spirit matures and can roam to the very limits of heaven and earth. You have only just entered the Six Harmonies—how could your Primordial Spirits possibly leave your bodies and roam heaven and earth so soon?"

Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu were blank. They themselves did not understand what had happened; somehow, in a muddled daze, their Primordial Spirits had left their bodies and roamed heaven and earth.

"The Six Harmonies are heaven, earth, east, south, west, and north—and also the body joined with the intent, the intent with the qi, the qi with the hun, the hun with the spirit, the spirit with heaven and earth, and heaven and earth with the body. Only when all this is achieved does one attain the Six Harmonies."

Ling Yushu mused, "After the Six Harmonies, the soul and the vital essence merge and penetrate one another, and the Primordial Spirit becomes one with the physical body—only then can the Primordial Spirit leave the body. Otherwise, even if it departs, it cannot return to the flesh. How did the two of you manage it...?"

He could not fathom it no matter how he tried.

Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu exchanged a glance and shuddered. From what Ling Yushu meant, if one had not achieved the Six Harmonies of body, intent, qi, hun, spirit, and heaven and earth, then very likely once the Primordial Spirit left the body it could not find its way back to the flesh!

"We were playing so wildly just now. Fortunately, Brother came in time and called us back, otherwise our Primordial Spirits really might not have found their bodies." Ling Yuxiu was struck with lingering fear.

"Roaming heaven and earth is still a small matter. If one reaches the Heaven-Man realm, one can roam the Great Void and witness the majesty of the cosmos. But between here and there lies the Seven Stars realm."

Ling Yushu cast the puzzling matter from his mind and said, "The Grand Academy teaches a great deal about the Six Harmonies realm. You two should attend more lectures. Shan Youxin has already finished the waterwheel and is on his way to the Fangzhou Superintendency Works to improve the forging techniques there. He wanted to invite Shen..."

He was about to say the word "beast," then abruptly corrected himself: "...the Great Hierarch to come along."

Shen Mu hesitated. "This river dike..."

More than a dozen Grand Academy scholars arrived at the riverbank—Shen Wanyun and the others among them. Ling Yushu said, "Leave the river dike to them. This time Vice Minister Shan intends to improve the Superintendency Works' techniques and manufacture some river-suppressing beasts. He insists you come."

They hurried to the Fangzhou Superintendency Works. Shan Youxin and other Ministry of Works officials had just arrived outside the works as well. Fangzhou was mountainous, with many mines. The Superintendency Works was responsible for refining dark gold and dark iron. Shen Mu met up with Shan Youxin, who hastily made his respects and said, "Refining treasures and forging weapons both require dark gold and dark iron. His Majesty has long intended to expand the Fangzhou Superintendency Works, but at the time the Great Thunder-Bell Monastery's influence was great, and His Majesty hesitated. This time the Great Thunder-Bell Monastery has suffered a great loss, so we must seize the opportunity to expand the works. Therefore we could not but invite the Hierarch to come and improve the furnaces and the forging and casting techniques..."

Shen Mu nodded. "Very well."

Ling Yuxiu hurried forward and said to Shan Youxin, "Vice Minister, I have cultivated to the Six Harmonies realm and forged a primordial weapon. I would also like to ask the Vice Minister to help improve it." With that, she brought out her Nine Dragons weapon.

Shan Youxin took her Nine Dragons weapon and smiled. "The Princess has a Grand Master at her side—why ask me?"

Ling Yuxiu was puzzled, not knowing who this Grand Master he spoke of might be.

Shan Youxin also took her Thousand Silk primordial weapon. He examined both primordial weapons, and his expression shifted slightly. With a gentle activation, the two primordial weapons suddenly changed form: the Nine Dragons weapon swelled and transformed into nine flying dragons, their scales and whiskers rendered with incomparable vividness, while the Thousand Silk weapon extended joint by joint, now unfurling, now contracting, truly unfathomable in its transformations.

"Colleagues, all of you, come look!"

Shan Youxin hastily summoned the many Ministry of Works officials. The Vice Minister of Works also pressed forward. The crowd marveled at the two primordial weapons, praising them without end. The Vice Minister of Works said, "Truly work of supernatural craftsmanship, the forging method is divine beyond divine, a technique beyond technique!"

After the Ministry of Works officials had studied them for a while, Shan Youxin retracted the two primordial weapons and returned them to Ling Yuxiu and Si Yunxiang, saying, "Holy Maiden, Princess, these two primordial weapons are the Hierarch's handiwork, are they not?"

Ling Yuxiu nodded. "Yes, the cowherd forged them for us out at sea."

Shan Youxin's face showed reverence. "The Hierarch's forging skills have already surpassed all of us in the Ministry of Works. In certain techniques the Ministry of Works might exceed the Hierarch, but overall, we are no match for him."

Ling Yuxiu was stunned and blurted out, "You cannot forge something better?"

"Nothing that surpasses the Hierarch's."

Shan Youxin said, "We have just taken a look, and we have learned much from the Princess's and the Holy Maiden's primordial weapons. Your two weapons are already perfection itself. The Ministry of Works cannot improve them."

Shan Youxin said gravely, "Hierarch Shen's forging method is in technique near to the divine, near to the Dao. In technique alone, no one in this world can surpass him. His forging methods are exquisite beyond compare—many of them I have never seen, never even heard of! That swift ship of Hall Master Fan Yunxiao's—the pill furnace was designed and forged by the Hierarch. I was present at the time and was awestruck. His craftsmanship may truly be called first under heaven!"

The two girls stared wide-eyed, unable to speak.

Shen Mu hastily demurred, "The Vice Minister overpraises me, overpraises me. I only learned to strike iron, to strike iron—I dare not claim to be first under heaven!"