Chapter 412: Imminent Storm

The Primordial Spirit Guiding Art was developed by Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu, drawing inspiration from the most fundamental principles of the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Technique. The most basic component of the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Technique is the Qi Guiding Art, a simple method for channeling primordial qi.

In contrast, the Primordial Spirit Guiding Art guides the spirit embryo and soul, enabling their spirits and souls to merge. This unified essence then leaves the body, only to return and reintegrate, allowing the soul to fuse and evolve into a primordial spirit.

This is why the character "Guiding" (引) is an essential part of the art's name.

Qin Mu's ability to resonate his primordial spirit with Si Yunxiang's stems from his unique spirit embryo. Unlike the spirit bodies of Si Yunxiang and Ling Yuxiu, which possess distinct attributes, his spirit embryo is devoid of any specific properties.

Primordial spirit resonance refers to the inherent frequency produced when the mental intentions of two primordial spirits merge. Since everyone's life experiences are unique, each person's primordial spirit possesses subtle differences, leading to distinct resonance frequencies.

When a pair engages in primordial spirit dual cultivation, their individual resonance frequencies harmonize to create a unique shared frequency. Consequently, if one of them attempts dual cultivation with a third party, primordial spirit resonance will not occur due to the incompatible frequencies.

However, Qin Mu's primordial spirit and spirit embryo are completely devoid of any spirit body attributes, like a blank canvas. When he practices primordial spirit dual cultivation with Ling Yuxiu, the resonance frequency matches hers; similarly, with Si Yunxiang, it adopts her frequency.

Emperor Yanfeng, failing to grasp the peculiar nature of Qin Mu's "Overlord Body," did not fully appreciate its significance. Consequently, he neglected to inform Ling Yuxiu about the taboos surrounding primordial spirit resonance, a lapse he now deeply regretted.

Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu meticulously organized the male and female versions of the Primordial Spirit Guiding Art, thoroughly outlining the cultivation methods and the soul replacement techniques. Both felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

Suddenly, they experienced an inexplicable realization, which manifested not only as enlightenment in the Dao but also as a profound shift in their Dao heart.

This collaborative effort in creating the new technique caused their Dao heart to undergo a sudden, qualitative leap.

While it seemed sudden, in truth, it was not.

Creation itself is the most challenging endeavor.

To invent a cultivation technique from nothing, one that alters the entire post-realm cultivation system and integrates the primordial spirit into those realms, represents a change far greater than the three basic sword forms devised by the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace.

It could even be argued that if Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu were to fully unlock the profound mysteries of the primordial spirit, this innovation could very likely cause the Celestial Being realm to arrive earlier, merging with the Seven Stars realm to form a single combined realm.

Such a transformation would impact countless cultivators for generations to come.

The Spirit Embryo and Five Luminaries realms pertain to martial artists and masters, not yet having crossed the threshold into divine abilities.

Only upon reaching a specific realm can one be considered a divine ability practitioner, having formally entered the gateway of such powers.

Beyond that initial realm lie the Seven Stars, Celestial Being, Life and Death, and Divine Bridge realms—stages through which divine ability practitioners advance, step by arduous step, towards the legendary realm of gods. These four realms represent four distinct steps, each incredibly challenging and requiring a vast amount of time to traverse.

Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu's breakthrough could very likely reduce these four steps to three, enabling divine ability practitioners to reach the divine realm in a significantly shorter time.

This represents an immense merit, akin to an act of creation itself.

There are no roads in the world; rather, roads are forged when many traverse a path. Changes in the cultivation system will inevitably lead to alterations in Dao arts and divine abilities, and consequently, the Great Dao of heaven and earth will also transform.

The two young individuals had no conception of the vast transformations that their creation of the Primordial Spirit Guiding Art would unleash.

The arduous process of creating the technique led to profound insights, elevating their Dao hearts to the level of grandmasters. At that moment, they were each immersed in a state of sudden enlightenment.

Similarly, when the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace devised the three basic sword forms, he too achieved the status of a grandmaster at that moment, elevating his mental state from mere skill to the realm of fundamental law.

Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu were experiencing precisely this kind of metamorphosis.

They had only completed the Primordial Spirit Guiding Art itself; the method for strengthening one's primordial spirit within higher realms remained an uncharted territory.

In fact, cultivating to strengthen the primordial spirit is a matter typically addressed at the Seven Stars realm. No current cultivation technique offers methods for enhancing the primordial spirit within these higher realms. This implies that these two pioneers could advance beyond others, comprehending the true method for primordial spirit cultivation and creating even more techniques.

"Emperor!" the Blind Man exclaimed, suddenly kicking Emperor Yanfeng's calf. His jesting demeanor vanished, replaced by a grave expression. "Have you sensed any changes occurring between heaven and earth?"

Emperor Yanfeng was about to retort angrily, but he paused, sensing carefully. "There is indeed a subtle, almost imperceptible change," he said with surprise. "It's quite peculiar..."

"Deaf Man, Cripple Man, awaken yourselves," the Blind Man urged. "Carefully sense the Great Dao of heaven and earth!"

The Blind Man summoned the Deaf Man and Cripple Man. Both elders also detected a subtle, almost imperceptible fluctuation, like gentle spring rain silently permeating the night, faint and slow.

"What's happening?" the Deaf Man asked, surprised.

"This change suddenly occurred after Mu'er and Princess Xiu created the Primordial Spirit Guiding Art; it's quite uncanny," the Blind Man explained. "Sense it carefully, all of you. The Great Dao of heaven and earth appears to be undergoing a subtle, wondrous transformation. This tremor is faint, but it cannot elude my Dao heart!"

The Cripple Man, the Deaf Man, and Emperor Yanfeng were all grandmasters. The Cripple Man, for instance, had independently comprehended the mysteries of the Divine Leg, elevating speed to a divine level using his own self-created techniques, a testament to his exceptionally strong Dao heart.

The Deaf Man, meanwhile, had pushed the Dao of Painting to its absolute pinnacle, achieving renown as both divine and saintly in his art.

Emperor Yanfeng, despite the Nine Dragons Imperial Art not being inherently exceptional, had single-handedly elevated this technique to the pinnacle of cultivation, placing it on par with the ultimate arts of the three great sacred lands. Remarkably, the Nine Dragons Imperial Art he mastered was derived solely from a few rudimentary dragon-language characters inscribed on the Imperial Tablet.

Other inhabitants of the manor, even formidable experts such as Granny Si, Yu Zhaoqing, and the Empress Dowager, had not yet attained the mental state of a grandmaster. Thus, they naturally could not perceive the tremor and mysterious transformation within the Great Dao of heaven and earth.

"Your Majesty," the Deaf Man suddenly interjected, "your daughter's future achievements may far exceed your own. Have you ever considered appointing her as Crown Prince?"

Emperor Yanfeng paused, slightly startled, and gazed at Ling Yuxiu, who appeared to be in an inexplicable state of transcendence.

Appoint Princess Xiu as Crown Prince?

At that moment, the idea genuinely occurred to him.

"Let Yuxiu gain some experience with the border army," Emperor Yanfeng decided, his heart settling. "There are still some uneradicated rebels in the northern snow plains; let her and Yushu each command a force." He reflected that while female crown princes were less common than male ones, they were not unheard of, particularly as many female divine ability practitioners existed, and some sects were led by women. Female emperors, though rare, were a historical reality.

"If Xiu'er can perform better than Yushu..."

Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu awoke from their respective states of enlightenment. During this time, they had each comprehended numerous mysteries concerning the primordial spirit, specifically its cultivation within higher realms. Some of these insights could be documented and shared, while others were deeply personal, to be intuitively grasped rather than verbally articulated.

"Xiu'er, my injuries have mostly healed," Emperor Yanfeng's voice resonated. "Return to the capital with me."

Ling Yuxiu acknowledged him, her gaze settling on Qin Mu. She whispered, "Herdboy, will you return to the capital with me? We could practice primordial spirit dual cultivation there..."

Qin Mu hesitated, then shook his head. "You should go first. I need to stay here and wait for Grandpa Butcher to return; there are some things I need to ask him."

He handed the completed male version of the Primordial Spirit Guiding Art to Ling Yuxiu. "Give this set of techniques to the Imperial Preceptor," he instructed, "he will ensure its widespread adoption."

Ling Yuxiu nodded, then hesitated. "Can I pass your improved Nine Dragons Imperial Art to my Imperial Father?" she asked.

Qin Mu smiled. "It originally belonged to your Ling family; you are free to pass it on."

Ling Yuxiu suddenly kissed him on the cheek, then darted away like a startled swallow.

Emperor Yanfeng shook his head and, taking her with him, bid farewell to the Empress Dowager. "The officials who accompanied me were instructed to remain in Bazhou; I kept them from coming here," he explained. "It's best they remain unaware of what transpired in this manor. Mother, please take good care of yourself."

The Empress Dowager sighed, then said gravely, "You must also take good care of yourself! The matters you and the Imperial Preceptor are undertaking are perilous, not just matters of execution; you must be extremely cautious. Although you have grown, I still worry deeply for you."

Emperor Yanfeng turned and departed, with Ling Yuxiu following close behind. "Imperial Father," she said, "the Herdboy taught me the Nine Dragons Imperial Art, and it's quite different from the version you imparted. I wish to share it with you; would Imperial Father like to learn?"

Emperor Yanfeng burst into laughter, shaking his head. "Though your young lover is remarkably talented and capable, and this time he even collaborated with you on a groundbreaking creation that makes me feel quite inadequate, when it comes to the Nine Dragons Imperial Art, he is far from proficient. The version of the technique he learned was, after all, taught to him by me."

Ling Yuxiu, irritated, retorted, "Are you going to learn it or not?"

"Very well, tell me about it."

Ling Yuxiu then imparted the Nine Dragons Imperial Art as taught by Qin Mu. Emperor Yanfeng's expression grew progressively solemn. When Ling Yuxiu finished, his face turned livid. "He taught you this?" he demanded coldly.

Ling Yuxiu shivered, sensing the killing intent radiating from him. "Imperial Father..." she stammered.

"The Imperial Tablet is on him!" Emperor Yanfeng's face contorted in furious mirth. "This technique was comprehended from the Imperial Tablet! My Ling family's treasure has been with your young lover all this time! I'm going back to—"

As he was about to storm back, he abruptly halted, gazing towards the mist-shrouded manor. After a moment of stunned silence, he shook his head and said to the bewildered Ling Yuxiu, "Let's return to the capital."

Ling Yuxiu quickly interjected, "The Imperial Tablet is with him. I'll retrieve it for you, Imperial Father; please don't be angry."

Emperor Yanfeng shook his head. "I have examined this Imperial Tablet countless times and have never gained any insight from it. The Ling family's ancestors also studied it repeatedly, always failing to decipher its mysteries. The Ling family's imperial throne was not acquired through this tablet, so there is no need to provoke an irreconcilable conflict with the Heavenly Saint Cult over it."

Ling Yuxiu secretly glanced at his face, which remained as calm as still water, betraying no emotion. She could not discern his true intentions.

"Xiu'er, you absolutely must not reveal that the Primordial Spirit Guiding Art was created by you and Esteemed Minister Qin," Emperor Yanfeng stated gravely. "No one, under any circumstances, should know about this. If you speak of it, I won't be able to protect you."

Ling Yuxiu paused for a moment, then nodded silently.

Back at the manor, Qin Mu was examining the Blind Man's eyes. Although the Blind Man's leg injury had fully healed, his eyes remained bandaged, requiring regular dressing changes.

"Mu'er, don't claim credit for creating the Primordial Spirit Guiding Art," the Blind Man suddenly stated. "Everyone in the manor who witnessed this must also remain absolutely silent; it must never be revealed. Do you understand?"

"Why?" Qin Mu asked, perplexed.

The silk band was untied, and the Blind Man slowly opened his eyes. Initially devoid of luster, divine light gradually surged within his black pupils. Then, layers of intricate array patterns spiraled inward, revealing an infinitely profound Nine Heavens within his gaze. His voice was exceptionally calm: "The law has changed, the Dao has changed, and thus, heaven has changed. A changing heaven brings death. All grandmasters across the land have sensed these unusual fluctuations. A storm is brewing..."