Chapter 332: Divine Cannon

New Human Emperor!

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace's gaze was complicated, and a trace of murderous intent even arose in his heart. The Village Chief, as the previous Human Emperor, was indifferent to fame and fortune, devoid of any lust for power. His aspirations were grand, and his focus was never on worldly authority, which earned him widespread respect. But would Qin Mu, the new Human Emperor, be like the Village Chief?

The Human Emperor possessed immense power. This power even surpassed that of Emperor Yanfeng, and his rallying cry was even stronger than the Imperial Preceptor's!

The Imperial Preceptor had visited Little Jade Capital, where he learned some secrets and understood the immense power of the Human Emperor. Emperor Yanfeng and he had always sought to govern all sects and sacred lands across the world, but few were willing to submit to Eternal Peace. Yet, the Human Emperor could. The Human Emperor could make these sects surrender. The Human Emperor's authority wasn't forged through battle and bloodshed; it was bestowed upon him by all the major sects and sacred lands.

Even Little Jade Capital, if they knew Qin Mu was the new Human Emperor, would likely support him. If Qin Mu became consumed by power, he could easily seize Emperor Yanfeng's authority and completely ruin the reform efforts of both the Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Yanfeng!

“If you and Emperor Yanfeng fail, with the Human Emperor present, there will still be hope for a resurgence.” The Village Chief's voice entered his ears.

The Imperial Preceptor's heart jolted in surprise, and he withdrew his gaze. He said, “I will not fail.”

The Village Chief smiled faintly. He said, “I hope you succeed. I don't want Mu'er to suffer.”

Qin Mu walked over, and both men fell silent.

The Imperial Preceptor's gaze fell upon him again, and he felt a strange sensation. This fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy before him could be considered the most powerful person in the world, yet he himself was completely unaware of it.

Qin Mu was currently the Heavenly Devil Cult Master, a Grand Academician of the Imperial College, and a successor from Disabled Elderly Village. However, his most significant identity was that of the current Human Emperor.

His power far exceeded that of both the Emperor and the Imperial Preceptor. Yet, Qin Mu had no idea how vast the Human Emperor's power truly was, which was indeed a most peculiar situation.

The Cripple observed the Imperial Preceptor's expression, feeling a secret smugness in his heart. “The Imperial Preceptor probably doesn't know that Mu'er also has that treasure symbolizing the Ling Family's imperial authority,” he thought. “If he knew the Emperor's Disk was worn by Mu'er, he'd likely be furious!”

He had given the Emperor's Disk to Qin Mu just for fun. He had studied the jade disk for decades, but he could never comprehend its mysteries, rendering it useless to him.

However, he did know the significance of the Emperor's Disk. This jade disk was bestowed upon the Ling Family by the gods, representing divine imperial authority. It was said that the Ling Family's Nine Dragons Emperor Art was comprehended from the Emperor's Disk.

The theft of the Emperor's Disk was a major event at the time. However, Emperor Yanfeng concealed it, so outsiders were unaware.

No one had imagined that this Emperor's Disk was actually in Qin Mu's possession!

With both the Emperor's Disk and the Human Emperor Seal, Qin Mu was the most powerful person under heaven. Yet, Qin Mu knew nothing of this.

“When that foolish boy finds out about this, he'll be absolutely speechless with shock!” The Cripple was triumphant.

Shan Youxin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, stepped forward and paid his respects to the Imperial Preceptor. He then quietly said to Qin Mu, “Cult Master, the cannonry on the army's flying ships needs repairs after the battle. We'd like to ask the Cult Master to come take a look.”

Qin Mu wondered, “Your forging techniques aren't much worse than mine. Why do you need me?”

“The array imprints inside the cannon barrels are problematic. After the cannons on the ships are fired, they turn scorching red. The array patterns imprinted within are then interfered with by the high temperatures, which significantly reduces the array's power and can also cause the cannons to explode.”

Shan Youxin, the Master of the Heavenly Works Hall, quickly led the way. He said, “During this war with the Barbarian Tribes, more than ten cannons have already exploded, killing over a hundred divine arts practitioners. The array patterns of these cannons were jointly designed by the Imperial College's Heavenly Works Hall and Array Essence Hall. I suspect it might be caused by profound gold fatigue. Cannon light of this intensity should be too much for the profound gold used to forge the cannons to withstand…”

Qin Mu shook his head and said, “It's not profound gold fatigue. It should be thermal attenuation caused by a problem with the array. I'll go take a look.”

“Thermal attenuation?”

Shan Youxin's eyes lit up, and he praised, “That's possible! However, the Array Essence Hall's design is already very sophisticated, and it might be difficult to improve.”

The Imperial Preceptor raised an eyebrow, watching the two depart. He exclaimed in surprise, “The Cult Master even understands the art of artifact forging, and even Vice Minister Shan has to consult him!”

The Cripple chuckled, “Mu'er learned blacksmithing.”

The Imperial Preceptor glanced at him, then recalled how this shameless old thief had relieved himself in his bed and urinated in his teapot, causing his face to turn slightly green. Furthermore, the Sword God's Back-Carrying Sword Diagram he had collected had also been stolen by him!

Qin Mu and Shan Youxin arrived on a flying ship. Many Ministry of Works officials were busy repairing the damaged parts of the ship. Several cannons had exploded, their muzzles blown outward into fragments, and there were still some bloodstains on their barrels.

These cannons were called True Yuan Cannons, and they were not found on merchant ships. Fan Yunxiao greatly desired to acquire some True Yuan Cannons, but they were simply unavailable on the market.

Qin Mu first inspected the exploded sections, meticulously examining what forces caused them. He then checked the metal cross-sections and observed the undamaged cannon turrets. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Besides issues with the forging process, there are indeed problems with the array formations. However, the array formations on these turrets are difficult to modify, and with the war pressing, there's no time to reforge the turrets or re-imprint the arrays. Therefore, the only option is to work on the cannon barrels themselves. I believe circular artifacts should be added to the muzzle and deep inside the barrel to gather light.”

He cut a large piece of metal from a cannon barrel, then directly used his own vital qi to melt the profound gold and refine it in front of everyone.

Numerous Ministry of Works officials gathered around to watch him forge the artifact, exclaiming in continuous admiration. They quickly took out paper and pens to note down Qin Mu's forging techniques.

Before long, Qin Mu had forged two circular rings and imprinted array patterns onto them.

The array patterns he imprinted on the rings were the Divine Firmament Sky array patterns from the Nine Heavens Eye Opening Art, which the Blind Man had taught him. The two rings resembled irises, but without pupils.

Of the two rings, one he placed deep inside the cannon barrel, and the other he fitted over the muzzle.

Qin Mu used Vermillion Bird vital qi to manifest fierce flames, connecting the True Yuan Cannon's array patterns with those of the two rings. He then said, “Hall Master Shan, try activating the True Yuan Cannon.”

The True Yuan Cannon was powered by the flying ship's alchemical furnace. Qin Mu had improved the flying ship's alchemical furnace, enabling it to provide the True Yuan Cannon with its most powerful firepower.

Shan Youxin immediately gave the order for the soldiers to activate the furnace and ascend. The flying ship hovered in mid-air, and he then commanded them to fire towards Duck Tongue Peninsula.

A beam of light shot straight out from that cannon turret, brighter than before. The next moment, this beam struck a soldier from the Barbarian Tribes who was clearing the battlefield in the Duck Tongue area.

That squad of Barbarian Tribe soldiers, relying on their speed, had entered the battlefield to loot treasures from the corpses. Unexpectedly, a beam of light shot forth, instantly piercing one soldier, whose body fell to the ground.

The Ministry of Works officials on the flying ship were stunned. They exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the other's eyes. The True Yuan Cannons on the flying ship originally had a range of only thirty li, but now they could reach over a hundred li!

Shan Youxin personally stepped forward to adjust the cannon turret and fired again. Another beam of light shot out, and another Barbarian Tribe soldier fell, dying an unnatural death.

The other Barbarian Tribe soldiers immediately took to their heels and ran. Shan Youxin fired continuously, picking off Barbarian Tribe soldiers one by one; not a single one escaped alive. Only their mounts galloped towards the mighty pass on the other side.

Shan Youxin touched the cannon barrel and exclaimed in surprise, “Seventeen shots, and the barrel is still cool! Imperial Preceptor! Imperial Preceptor! Quick, go invite the Imperial Preceptor here!”

A moment later, the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace arrived on the ship, an inquiring look on his face.

Shan Youxin, unable to hide his excitement, bowed and said, “Imperial Preceptor, the Barbarian Tribes can now be defeated!”

The Imperial Preceptor's heart was greatly shaken, and his expression turned solemn. “Vice Minister Shan,” he said, “there are no jokes in the army!”

Shan Youxin chuckled, “Imperial Preceptor, this is no joke! Our flying ships' True Yuan Cannons originally had a range of thirty li. On the battlefield, there are many experts; even Seven Star realm powerhouses can activate sword pellets to take lives from thirty li away with flying swords. Therefore, the True Yuan Cannons on the flying ships could only be positioned in the central army, and a single True Yuan Cannon could often only be fired a limited number of times. Now, the True Yuan Cannons have a range of one hundred sixty li—a fivefold increase!”

The Imperial Preceptor was startled and blurted out, “One hundred sixty li? Are you certain it's one hundred sixty li?”

Shan Youxin nodded emphatically and said, “It is one hundred sixty li! And thanks to Cult Master Qin's modifications, the cannon barrels don't overheat, which is the most crucial point. We can fire as many shots as we want! Previously, the flying ships were positioned in the central army, but now, they can be fully deployed in a single line to clear the way! Our army has over two hundred flying ships. Each ship has True Yuan Cannons in two rows, upper and lower, on both left and right sides—eight cannons per row—and another eight at the front and back of the ship, totaling forty True Yuan Cannons per ship. With over two hundred ships and a thousand cannons, we can kill enemies from over a hundred li away. A single wave of cleansing can directly push us into the enemy's city pass!”

The Imperial Preceptor gasped, murmuring, “Hall Master Shan, this cannon of yours will save an immense amount of provisions and military funds, and countless soldiers' lives…”

Shan Youxin bowed and said, “This is the Cult Master's achievement. I dare not claim credit.”

Qin Mu was drawing the array pattern diagram for the Divine Firmament Heaven Eye. He had just finished the patterns and handed them to the Ministry of Works officials.

The Imperial Preceptor leaned closer, looked it over, and asked in confusion, “This is some kind of eye-technique divine ability! You've applied an eye-technique divine ability to the True Yuan Cannon?”

Qin Mu rinsed his brush and nodded, “The muzzle is the pupil, and the cannon light is the gaze. They are completely interchangeable.”

The Imperial Preceptor paused, then quickly said, “The Heavenly Record Pavilion of the Imperial College records hundreds of eye techniques. Among them, there's a most powerful eye-technique divine ability called Sun-Shooting, which I haven't been able to master. However, I've memorized the array patterns of the Sun-Shooting Divine Eye. Can you create a cannon like that?”

His vital qi erupted, and layers upon layers of array patterns emerged, forming an incredibly complex eye.

Qin Mu examined it carefully, then suddenly shrunk his body and walked among the array patterns. After returning to his normal size, he said, “Forging this cannon would require many people and the collaboration of two or three manufacturing plants. It would probably take two months to build one. Moreover, this cannon would be enormous, likely heavier than any spirit weapon! Where did you acquire such a complex divine eye, Imperial Preceptor?”

“The Great Ruins.”

The Imperial Preceptor said gravely, “I was greatly shaken when I first saw this eye technique myself. Can you tell what this eye technique is used for?”

Qin Mu shook his head.

“Slaying gods.”

The Imperial Preceptor said calmly, “If you can build it, you will be the foremost Heavenly Artisan in the world today. The cannons you create could shoot down gods!”

Qin Mu quickly waved his hand and said with utmost sincerity, “I wouldn't dare call myself the foremost Heavenly Artisan. I am only the second.”