[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin":3,"chapter-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-534":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The First Iron Rice Bowl of Great Jin",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},152220,261,"Chapter 534: Spirit Seed","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-534",534,"\u003Cp>\"No way!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you telling me you've robbed all the tribes of the Nine Nether?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan's voice was filled with an incredulous mix of shock and delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving Nanxiang County town, Hua Changxi went straight to Li Fire Cliff. He took out all the refining materials he had obtained from the Nine Nether and piled them before Gongshu Xingyan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Gongshu Xingyan had embarked on the path of artifact refinement, he had never handled such a vast amount of materials before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mountains of ores and spiritual materials before him were not only astonishing in quantity but also included many rare and top-grade items seldom seen on ordinary days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan was directly stunned speechless by Hua Changxi's grand gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after Gongshu Xingyan had calmed down did Hua Changxi look at him solemnly: \"Listen, I need you to do your utmost and refine the complete set of military equipment required by the Vermilion Bird Army as quickly as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Vermilion Bird Tokens, Vermilion Bird Armor, swords, spears, halberds, and even the Vermilion Bird warships and army formation banners… All these pieces of equipment must be sufficient for a hundred thousand soldiers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever the source of the crisis she sensed, all she could do was prepare for every eventuality as best she could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Gongshu Xingyan was taken aback. Looking at Hua Changxi's serious expression, he ventured: \"Are we about to have a war?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at him: \"Why do you ask that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan looked back at her: \"With this setup, it's hard not to think you're preparing for war.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"...There's no war. I just think that the Vermilion Bird Army should have been fully equipped long ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan didn't ask further. Instead, he turned serious and said, \"I've thoroughly studied the schematics of the Vermilion Bird Army's equipment recently; technically, there's no problem—I can refine everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But there are two difficulties.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan raised two fingers: \"First, the quantity is too large. With just the manpower here at Li Fire Cliff, even working day and night, we can't produce a hundred thousand sets in a short time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second, you can't make bricks without straw. Although the materials you brought back this time are plentiful, they're still not enough to equip a hundred-thousand-strong army.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi nodded: \"As for materials, make a list for me and I'll handle it. As for manpower…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Artifact refiners are not ordinary craftsmen. We can't just conjure them up in a short time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi pondered briefly, then said, \"How about this: if we don't have enough manpower, we can outsource part of the process.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For example, for the Vermilion Bird blades, the Artifact Saint Palace can handle the initial forging of the blade blanks, while steps like final sharpening and imprinting the Vermilion Bird totem can be shipped back to Li Fire Cliff for completion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan was overjoyed: \"Of course we can. Not only can the initial refining of swords, spears, halberds, and blades be outsourced, but we can also first purchase warships and vessels from the Artifact Saint Palace, then bring them back for modifications. This can save a huge amount of refining time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he frowned with concern: \"But such a massive project will cost an astronomical amount. I remember the Vermilion Bird Army… isn't it short on spirit stones? Can you get the Artifact Saint Palace to cooperate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi shot him a sidelong glance, looked at the vibrating Yinian Pass—the heads of various departments in Lingming Hall were continuously sending messages from various factions requesting an audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just focus on refining the equipment. Don't worry about the rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the serious matters settled, Hua Changxi relaxed slightly and finally had the chance to take a good look at the Gongshu Xingyan before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good, this man's progress was also astonishing, no less than Song Weimin's. Not only had his injuries fully healed, but he had also advanced from the Nascent Infant stage into the Spiritual Terrace stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, breaking through…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something suddenly occurred to Hua Changxi, and she looked at Gongshu Xingyan: \"When you broke through, did you attract a heavenly tribulation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan smiled smugly and pointed at the Li Fire Cliff beneath his feet: \"Most blessed lands can conceal heavenly secrets. If I weren't deep inside Li Fire Cliff, using the terrain to hide from the heavens, I wouldn't have dared to break through so quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being trapped in the ghost domain prison for a hundred years, his body had suffered unimaginable damage. Now that his injuries had healed, his body couldn't return to its prime in a short time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under such conditions, he naturally couldn't withstand the test of heavenly tribulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had been stuck at Nascent Infant for over a hundred years and had long wanted to break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Li Fire Cliff could conceal heavenly secrets, of course he had to seize the opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back now, he had truly made the right decision by choosing to follow Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Gongshu Xingyan casually open his Spiritual Terrace, Hua Changxi couldn't help showing a hint of envy on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do I feel like opening a Spiritual Terrace is so easy for you all? But for me, it's become an insurmountable hurdle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Gongshu Xingyan's eyes lit up sharply: \"No way, Palace Lord, are you still a Nascent Infant cultivator?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi shot him a sideways glance and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan clicked his tongue, circling around Hua Changxi: “I always thought your cultivation was unfathomable, but I didn’t expect…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at him, her tone cool: “I’m at Nascent Soul. Even a hundred of you would be no match for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan stroked his chin after hearing this: “I see—you’re not just a dharma cultivator, but also a body cultivator, and your physical refinement is quite advanced.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when he remembered that, to save Jingsheng of the Ghost Fire Well, she had casually taken out five Xuanhuang Fruits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was that generous to others, so she must treat herself even better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi stared intently at Gongshu Xingyan: “Can you tell me—how did you open your Spirit Platform?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much does opening the Spirit Platform relate to one’s mind state?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And how much does it relate to cultivation methods?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Hua Changxi was actually discussing the Dao with him, Gongshu Xingyan—eager to build a closer connection—pondered for a moment, then smiled: “I do have some insights and realizations about opening the Spirit Platform.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he led Hua Changxi to the stone table by the cliff edge and sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most cultivators think opening the Spirit Platform is just breaking through a realm, but that’s not the case. Opening the Spirit Platform touches a deeper dimension.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my personal opinion, opening the Spirit Platform is very closely tied to one’s mind state.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for cultivation methods—they do have some influence, but they only serve as a framework, not a decisive factor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was utterly confused: “Can you put it more simply and clearly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan straightened his expression: “In the path of cultivation, there are nine realms: Qi Condensation, Qi Sea, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Spirit Platform, Divine Gathering, Out-of-Body, Dao Union, and Deity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From Qi Condensation to Nascent Soul, you cultivate the Nascent Soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From Spirit Platform to Out-of-Body, you cultivate the Primordial Spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A person has two universes: the physical universe and the spiritual universe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For dharma cultivators, cultivating the Nascent Soul is tempering the physical universe; cultivating the Primordial Spirit is exploring the spiritual universe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cultivating the physical universe is mostly constrained by the material world—Dharma companions, resources, location—all are indispensable. Obtaining them, though not easy, still has its methods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, cultivating the spiritual universe explores where the heart yearns. You must plant a seed of the spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan smiled at Hua Changxi: “Hall Master, you have been unable to open your Spirit Platform for so long. Your cultivation methods may be limiting, and your mind state may be insufficient, but the most important thing is—have you found your own seed of the spirit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi frowned: “Seed of the spirit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongshu Xingyan thought for a moment: “Let me put it this way. For me, making Imperial-rank artifacts is my lifelong aspiration, so artifact-making is my seed of the spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For Song Weimin, ensuring the people live in peace is his lifelong pursuit, so working for the people’s welfare is his seed of the spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the Buddhist path, Buddhists take saving others as their mission, so the act of saving others is the seed of the spirit for the Buddhist disciples.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In other words—do you have an ambition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To open a spiritual world, you must first have a pursuit!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1459,"2026-05-29T04:11:04.856Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","197da54d7765fc96d50e804c33474db3ff33026dc422e06b2c782f9090fdc0ed","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-535","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-533",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]