Chapter 534: Seed of the Spirit

"No way!"

"Don't tell me you robbed every single clan of the Nine Netherworlds?"

Gongshu Xingyan's voice brimmed with incredulous shock and delight.

After leaving Nanxiang County town, Hua Changxi headed straight for Lihuoya Cliff. She took out all the various weapon-refining materials obtained from the Nine Netherworlds and piled them before Gongshu Xingyan.

Since embarking on the path of weapon refinement, Gongshu Xingyan had never handled such a vast quantity of refining materials.

This mountainous pile of ores and spiritual materials before his eyes was not only astonishing in quantity but also contained many rare, top-grade items seldom seen in ordinary times.

Gongshu Xingyan was so stunned by Hua Changxi's grand gesture that he was rendered speechless.

Waiting until Gongshu Xingyan had calmed his emotions, Hua Changxi looked at him solemnly: "Listen, I need you to exert your utmost effort to refine the full set of military equipment required by the Zhu Que Army as quickly as possible."

"Zhu Que Tokens, Zhu Que Armor, blades, spears, swords, and halberds, even Zhu Que warships and army formation banners... all these military supplies must be prepared in quantities of one hundred thousand sets."

Regardless of where the crisis she sensed originated, all she could do was make every possible preparation.

Hearing this, Gongshu Xingyan paused, then looked at Hua Changxi's serious expression and ventured, "Does this mean war is imminent?"

Hua Changxi glanced at him: "Why do you ask?"

Gongshu Xingyan looked at her: "With preparations like these, it's hard not to think you are gearing up for war."

Hua Changxi replied: "...There is no war. I simply feel that the Zhu Que Army's equipment should have been fully supplied long ago."

Gongshu Xingyan asked no further questions, instead turning serious: "I have thoroughly studied the blueprints for the Zhu Que Army's military equipment during this period; technically, there are no issues, and everything can be refined."

"However, there are two difficulties."

Gongshu Xingyan held up two fingers: "First, the volume is too large. With the limited manpower here at Lihuoya Cliff, even working day and night without rest, we cannot assemble one hundred thousand sets in a short time."

"Second, even the most skilled housewife cannot cook without rice. Although the materials you brought back this time are abundant, they are still insufficient to equip an army of one hundred thousand."

Hua Changxi nodded: "Regarding the materials, provide me with a list, and I will resolve it. As for manpower..."

"Weapon refiners are not ordinary craftsmen; indeed, they cannot be conjured out of thin air in a short time."

Hua Changxi pondered briefly, then said: "How about this: since manpower is insufficient, we outsource part of the craftsmanship."

"For instance, regarding the Zhu Que Blades, the blade blanks can be manufactured by the Qisheng Palace, while the final steps of sharpening and imprinting the Zhu Que totem will be completed here at Lihuoya Cliff after transport."

Hearing this, Gongshu Xingyan was overjoyed: "Of course that works! Not only can the initial refinement of blades, spears, swords, and halberds be outsourced, but warships and battle vessels can also be purchased directly from Qisheng Palace first. After buying them, I will lead my team to carry out the necessary modifications, which will save a tremendous amount of refinement time."

Immediately after, however, he frowned with some concern: "Still, for a project of such massive scale, the cost will be astronomical. If I recall correctly, the Zhu Que Army... lacks spirit stones, does it not? Can you actually command Qisheng Palace?"

Hua Changxi cast him a sidelong glance, then looked at her vibrating Yi Nian Tong device, where hall masters from various departments of the Lingguang Hall were continuously sending messages about various factions requesting an audience.

"You just need to focus on refining the military equipment; other matters do not require your worry."

Having settled the main business, Hua Changxi relaxed slightly, finally having the capacity to observe Gongshu Xingyan before her.

Very good; this person's progress was truly astonishing, rivaling even Song Weimin. Not only were his injuries completely healed, but he had also advanced from the Nascent Soul Realm to the Spirit Platform Realm.

Wait, breaking through the realm...

Hua Changxi suddenly thought of something and looked at Gongshu Xingyan: "When you broke through your realm, did you attract a heavenly tribulation?"

Gongshu Xingyan smiled proudly, pointing to the Lihuoya Cliff beneath his feet: "Most blessed lands have the effect of concealing heavenly secrets. Were I not deep within this Lihuoya Cliff, using the terrain to mask heavenly secrets, I would not have dared to break through so quickly."

Trapped in the Ghost Domain Prison for a hundred years, his body had suffered unimaginable severe injuries. Although his wounds had now healed, his physique could not recover to its peak condition in a short time.

Under such circumstances, he naturally could not withstand the trial of a heavenly tribulation.

Yet, having stagnated at the Nascent Soul Realm for over a century, he had long desired to break through.

Since Lihuoya Cliff could conceal heavenly secrets, he naturally had to seize the opportunity.

Reflecting on it now, his decision back then to follow Hua Changxi was indeed the right one.

Looking at Gongshu Xingyan, who had easily opened his Spirit Platform, Hua Changxi could not help but reveal a trace of envy on her face.

"Why do I feel that opening your Spirit Platform seems so simple for you all, yet for me, it has become an insurmountable hurdle?"

Hearing this, Gongshu Xingyan's eyes suddenly lit up: "No way! Hall Master, you are still a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator?"

Hua Changxi shot him a sidelong glance and said nothing.

Gongshu Xingyan clicked his tongue, circling halfway around Hua Changxi: "I always assumed your cultivation was unfathomable, never expecting..."

Hua Changxi looked at him, her tone cool: "I am indeed at the Nascent Soul Realm, but beating a hundred of you would be no trouble at all."

Hearing this, Gongshu Xingyan stroked his chin: "I understand now. You are not only a Dharma Cultivator but also a Body Cultivator, and your level of body refinement is quite high."

Especially thinking back to when, in order to save Jingsheng of the Ghost Fire Well, she had casually produced five Xuanyuang Fruits.

If she was that generous to others, she must be even better to herself.

Hua Changxi looked at Gongshu Xingyan with burning intensity: "Can you tell me how you opened your Spirit Platform?"

"How much does opening the Spirit Platform relate to one's state of mind?"

"And how much does it relate to cultivation techniques?"

Seeing Hua Changxi discussing the Dao with him, Gongshu Xingyan, who had already wished to draw closer to her, pondered for a moment before smiling: "I do indeed have some insights and realizations regarding opening the Spirit Platform."

Saying this, he led Hua Changxi to sit at a stone table by the cliff's edge.

"Most cultivators believe that opening the Spirit Platform is merely breaking through a realm, but in reality, it is not so; the opening of the Spirit Platform touches upon another depth."

"Personally, I believe that opening the Spirit Platform has a very significant relationship with one's state of mind."

"As for cultivation techniques, there is certainly some relation, but the technique serves merely as a framework and is not decisive."

Hua Changxi listened in a fog of confusion: "Can you explain it more simply and clearly?"

Gongshu Xingyan straightened his expression: "In the cultivation of the Dao, there are a total of nine realms, namely: Qi Refining, Qi Sea, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Spirit Platform, Spirit Condensation, Soul Departure, Dao Integration, and Deity."

"From Qi Refining to Nascent Soul, one cultivates the Nascent Soul."

"From Spirit Platform to Soul Departure, one cultivates the Primordial Spirit."

"Humans possess two universes: one is the physical universe, and the other is the spiritual universe."

"For Dharma Cultivators, cultivating the Nascent Soul is tempering the physical universe, while cultivating the Primordial Spirit is expanding the spiritual universe."

"The cultivation of the physical universe is often limited by the real world; Dharma partners, wealth, and land are all indispensable. Although acquiring these is not easy, there are ultimately methods to do so."

"However, the cultivation of the spiritual universe explores the direction of one's heart and requires sowing a seed of the spirit."

Gongshu Xingyan looked at Hua Changxi with a smile: "The Hall Master has long been unable to open the Spirit Platform; perhaps your technique imposes limits, or perhaps your state of mind is lacking, but most importantly, have you found your own seed of the spirit?"

Hua Changxi frowned: "A seed of the spirit?"

Gongshu Xingyan thought for a moment: "Let me put it this way: take me, for instance. My lifelong ambition is to forge Emperor-grade artifacts, so artifact forging is my seed of the spirit."

"Take Song Weimin; ensuring the people live and work in peace and contentment is his lifelong pursuit, so performing deeds for the people's welfare is his seed of the spirit."

"Then there is Fomen. The Buddhists take saving others as their duty, so performing acts of salvation is the seed of the spirit for disciples of Fomen."

"To use an old expression: do you have an ambition?"

"To open a spiritual world, you must first have a pursuit!"