Chapter 294: The Second in the World

"Yuanshen?"

Qin Mu was somewhat puzzled. Just now, his Liu He realm's great unification technique had been perfected, and he fell into enlightenment. Unknowingly, it even brought Ling Yuxiu's soul and Ling Tai flying out together. Was this Yuanshen?

"Soul, soul. One is Ling, the other is Hun. Ling is Ling Tai, Hun is soul. Once Ling Tai is cultivated, the soul becomes complete."

Ling Yushu's cultivation was much higher than theirs. Ever since the former crown prince, Ling Yuxia, had died, the emperor had placed great importance on him, newly appointing a Taizi Taishi, Taizi Taifu, and Taizi Taibao to specifically guide him in cultivation and state affairs.

In these days, Ling Yushu had made significant gains, advancing his cultivation far more rapidly than when he was in the Imperial Academy. Now, he had reached the peak of the Qi Xing realm, so he had no trouble explaining basic knowledge to Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu.

"Yuanshen is the soul attaching to the Ling Tai, becoming the divine entity within the human body. Yuanqi transforms into the essence of the soul, thus forming Yuanshen."

Ling Yushu continued, "In the Liu He realm, besides nurturing Ling Bing, there's also Yuanshen. However, Yuanshen only matures when advancing from Liu He to Tian Ren realm, allowing it to roam the vast heavens and earth. You've only just entered Liu He—how could you achieve Yuanshen leaving the body and roaming so quickly?"

Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu were bewildered, not understanding how it had happened. They had simply stumbled into Yuanshen leaving the body and roaming the world.

"Liu He refers to heaven and earth, southeast, northwest, as well as the unity of body and intent, intent and qi, qi and soul, soul and Ling, Ling and heaven and earth, and heaven and earth with the body. Only by achieving this is it true Liu He."

Ling Yushu pondered, "After Liu He, the soul and essence fully integrate, making Yuanshen one with the physical body, allowing it to leave and return. Otherwise, even if it leaves, it might not come back. How did you two manage it..."

He was utterly baffled.

Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu exchanged glances and shivered. From what Ling Yushu said, if they hadn't achieved the unity of body, intent, qi, soul, Ling, and heaven and earth, their Yuanshen might have left and never found its way back!

"Just now, we were having so much fun, but luckily brother arrived in time to call us back. Otherwise, our Yuanshen really might have lost its way to the body." Ling Yuxiu felt a wave of fear.

"Roaming the world is just the beginning. Once you reach Tian Ren, you can roam the Taixu and witness the wonders of the universe, but there's still the Qi Xing realm in between."

Ling Yushu set aside his confusion and said, "The Imperial Academy teaches a lot about the Liu He realm, so you two should attend more classes. Shan Youxin has already finished the waterwheel and is heading to the Fangzhou supervisory factory to improve their forging processes. He wants to invite the Great Cult Leader to join him."

He was about to say "animal" but quickly changed it to: "...Great Cult Leader to go together."

Qin Mu hesitated. "What about the river embankment?"

A group of over ten Imperial Academy scholars arrived at the riverbank—it was Shen Wanyun and his companions. Ling Yushu said, "Leave the embankment to them. This time, Shan Silang plans to improve the supervisory factory's processes and create some Zhenjiang beasts, and he insists on having you there."

They hurried to the Fangzhou supervisory factory, where Shan Youxin and other officials from the Ministry of Works had just arrived outside. Fangzhou was mountainous, with many mines, and the supervisory factory handled the refining of Xuangold and Xuaniron. Qin Mu met up with Shan Youxin, who quickly bowed in respect. "Refining treasures and weapons requires Xuangold and Xuaniron. His Majesty has long intended to expand the Fangzhou supervisory factory, but the influence of Daleiyin Temple was too strong back then, so he hesitated. Now that Daleiyin Temple has suffered a major setback, we must seize the opportunity to expand. That's why we need the Cult Leader to come and improve the boilers and forging-casting techniques..."

Qin Mu nodded. "No problem."

Ling Yuxiu quickly stepped forward and said to Shan Youxin, "Silang, I've cultivated to the Liu He realm and refined a Ling Bing. I'd like you to help improve it." With that, she took out her Nine Dragons weapon.

Shan Youxin took her Nine Dragons weapon and smiled. "Princess, with the Great Master by your side, why ask me?"

Ling Yuxiu was puzzled, not knowing who he meant by "Great Master."

Si Yunxiang also hurriedly took out her Qian Si and said, "And my Qian Si Ling Bing—please help, Shan Tangzhu."

Shan Youxin took her Qian Si Ling Bing as well, examined both weapons, and his expression changed slightly. He gently activated them, and the weapons transformed dramatically. The Nine Dragons weapon expanded instantly, turning into nine flying dragons with incredibly realistic scales and whiskers, while Qian Si extended section by section, sometimes unfolding and sometimes contracting, its changes utterly unpredictable.

"Everyone, come take a look!"

Shan Youxin called over the many officials from the Ministry of Works. The Ministry's Silang also approached, and the crowd marveled at the two Ling Bing, praising them endlessly. The Ministry's Silang said, "What masterful craftsmanship! The forging techniques are divine, beyond compare!"

After studying them, Shan Youxin retracted the weapons and returned them to Ling Yuxiu and Si Yunxiang. "Saintess, Princess, these Ling Bing must be the Cult Leader's work, right?"

Ling Yuxiu nodded. "Yes, he refined them for us at sea."

Shan Youxin showed a look of admiration. "The Cult Leader's forging skills surpass all of us in the Ministry. We might exceed him in some techniques, but overall, we fall short."

Ling Yuxiu was stunned and exclaimed, "You can't forge anything better?"

"We can't forge anything that surpasses the Cult Leader's."

Shan Youxin replied, "We just learned a great deal from examining the Princess's and Saintess's Ling Bing. Yours are already perfect; the Ministry can't improve them."

Si Yunxiang said doubtfully, "Shan Tangzhu, are you just saying that because he's the Cult Leader and don't want to offend him?"

Shan Youxin said seriously, "The Cult Leader's forging methods are nearly divine and profound. In terms of skill alone, no one in the world surpasses him. His techniques are exquisitely refined—many I've never seen or even heard of! Fan Yunxiao's fast ship and its furnace were designed and forged by the Cult Leader; I was there and was utterly amazed! His expertise is truly the best in the world!"

The two girls stared wide-eyed, speechless.

Qin Mu quickly demurred, "Silang, you're overpraising me. I just learned a bit of blacksmithing; I wouldn't dare claim to be the best!"

Ling Yuxiu and Si Yunxiang blinked, looking at the cowherd from Daji who had always been boastful, now surprisingly modest. "He's actually learned to be humble—quite rare..."

"At most, the second best in the world."

Qin Mu added humbly, "I'm not as good as the mute grandfather in our village. He's the best blacksmith in the area. At the market, if we put our knives side by side, his would sell out first."

Shan Youxin sighed, "I'd love to buy those divine knives for study and collection—it's a shame they're just in a small village market. Cult Leader, this time we're improving the supervisory factory, so please teach us. This way!"

They surrounded Qin Mu like stars around the moon and entered the supervisory factory, followed by Ling Yushu, Ling Yuxiu, Si Yunxiang, and the Minister of Works. The four exchanged wide-eyed glances, all a bit astonished.

The Minister of Works sighed, "The Heavenly Devil Cult Leader, the Imperial Academy's first Tai Xue Doctor, the renowned Qin Shenyi, and now the second-best in forging and refining treasures—this Tai Xue Doctor is full of surprises. What other talents does he have that we don't know about?"

Ling Yuxiu suddenly remembered and said, "He's great at painting. He once painted a portrait of me and sealed it with a talisman, saying that without it, the me in the painting would come alive and walk out."

Si Yunxiang also recalled, "We escaped from Long Jiaonan thanks to his painting. He drew a storm at sea and a ship breaking through the waves, and then an identical storm and ship appeared, carrying us away!"

Ling Yushu turned to the Minister of Works. "Does the Hua Sheng Ge have that kind of ability?"

The Minister shook his head. "The talents of Hua Sheng Ge can only paint things to look like them—some with spirit, some with skill—but none that can make what's painted come to life. The Heavenly Devil Cult Leader is truly..."

He shook his head again. "Full of surprises. How can one person excel so highly in so many fields and still be so modest? It's astonishing."

"Is he really that modest?" Ling Yuxiu was confused; the cowherd was usually so arrogant, acting like he was second only to the best.

Si Yunxiang also felt unconvinced; their Saint Cult Leader had never been humble, always saying things like, "You can't beat me yet, keep practicing."

"He's already very modest."

The Minister of Works remarked, "If I had even a fraction of his skills, I'd boast about being the best in the world. But he never brags or shows off—he only speaks the truth when asked, saying he's second, not first. I've never seen anyone so humble!"

Ling Yushu was also taken aback by how outstanding this Heavenly Devil Cult Leader was. "Such an exceptional young man—my sister seems..."

He started worrying if his sister could match up to him, then quickly shook his head. "What am I thinking? That boy better not get near my sister!"

They entered the supervisory factory and saw Qin Mu and the others measuring the structure of the great furnace. The Ministry officials brought out various calculation tools, some testing and some computing, bustling about and ignoring the newcomers.

After a while, everyone gathered around Qin Mu as he used Yuanqi to draw diagrams in the air, sketching new furnace structures, forging and casting machinery, and even several three-dimensional humanoid machine designs. The others hurriedly recorded them and gathered the necessary materials.

The supervisory factory was in full swing, with deafening forging sounds echoing everywhere. Qin Mu forged while explaining his techniques to those nearby, and the Ministry officials nodded in agreement.

After some time, they produced the first forging machine—a humanoid, eight-armed automaton with a large furnace in its chest for feeding medicinal stones to power it.

The automaton's upper body was made of molten composite Xuangold and Xuan copper, constantly flowing over its surface. When the metal reached its hands, it could transform into hammers, steel chisels, tongs, or other tools, exerting immense force of hundreds of thousands of jin.

The operator beside the furnace only felt a bit of heat, which was bearable, allowing them to control the machine and forge the metal into shape.

The runes and mechanisms in this automaton were incredibly complex. Ling Yushu saw that Shan Youxin and the others had already filled several thick stacks of books—piled as high as half a person—and was astounded.

He flipped through one and was full of admiration. The books were mostly filled with Shen Tong-derived runes; Qin Mu had applied everyday Shen Tong and spells to forging, embodying the principle of practical application to the fullest!

"This Cult Leader truly deserves the title of 'Saint'—unlike someone like Li Tianxing, who's evil through and through!"

Ling Yushu felt deeply moved. Seeing Qin Mu resting nearby, he approached with a smile.

"Cult Leader, if I joined the Heavenly Saint Cult, what position could you give me?"

Qin Mu looked up, surprised.

"Aren't you worried the emperor would be wary of you if you joined?"

Ling Yushu said excitedly, "He has his state teacher; I need mine too! If I ascend the throne one day, you could be my Qin Guoshi!"

Qin Mu stood up and shook his head.

"Yankang isn't my homeland. I'm from Daji, remember? I'm one of the forsaken by the gods. I couldn't be your Guoshi. Do you have the courage to defy the gods' commands and make the people of Daji your subjects?"

Ling Yushu was stunned.

"You're not like your father—he dared."

Qin Mu patted his shoulder and walked toward Shan Youxin and the others.

"He had the guts to risk everything for reform and change. The first time he saw me, he no longer saw me as forsaken. You can only maintain the status quo; you still see me as someone from Daji. Your Highness, if you had the emperor's ambition, I'd be your Guoshi. But do you?"

Ling Yushu thought of Emperor Yanfeng's actions and words, and sweat broke out on his forehead. He knew he couldn't do it.

It wasn't that Ling Yuxiu wasn't worthy of such a man—it was that he himself wasn't worthy of a Guoshi like Qin Mu.