Chapter 285 — The Temple of the Gods
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Si Yunxiang remembered standing in the corner with him, and could not help but laugh.
Ling Yuxiu said, "That the Six-Universes Divine Treasury gestates yuan weapons is really a loose way of speaking. What the Six-Universes Divine Treasury gestates is the form of a yuan weapon, form without substance. You need only rouse your own art, and you will see the yuan qi within the Six-Universes Divine Treasury gather and take the shape of a yuan weapon."
She roused the Nine Dragons Emperor Art and said, "I studied under Libationer Bashan and took the path where combat and spellcraft flow as one. My yuan weapon takes the form of nine dragons."
She released the form of her yuan weapon. A dragon's cry rang out; nine dragons tumbled and soared, coiling and dancing around her, and then behind her their dragon heads gathered together and their bodies wound about one another, transforming into a great hammer one zhang six or seven in length, its head like a small mountain.
Si Yunxiang's expression turned strange. "Princess Xiu, your yuan weapon is a hammer?"
"Not only that."
Ling Yuxiu said, "I walk the path where combat and spellcraft flow as one, studying whether the Nine Dragons Emperor Art can be unified in both battle skill and spellcraft. So this Nine Dragons Hammer is but one form of my yuan weapon; the nine dragons can separate and take other forms. Saintess Xiang, what form does your yuan weapon take?"
Si Yunxiang smiled faintly. She roused her art, and yuan qi flew out from her Six-Universes Divine Treasury, transforming into a single silken thread. That thread shifted through a thousand transformations, weaving and crossing, flying around her like a chain. She laughed. "This is the form of my yuan weapon. Cult Leader, what form does yours take?"
Shen Mu shook his head. "My Six Harmonies realm art is not yet perfected, so I do not yet know what form my yuan weapon will take. You two have only the form of a yuan weapon. So how does one forge it into an actual yuan weapon?"
They had reached the palace in the mist. Ling Yuxiu said, "That requires skilled craftsmen to forge the yuan weapon. A good yuan weapon can fit the form of your yuan weapon perfectly and draw out its power to the utmost; if the craftsmanship is poor, the weapon forged may not even match the power of your divine powers. I plan to wait until my yuan weapon's form has stabilized, then ask the Vice Minister of Works and his people to forge my yuan weapon for me. Only, my yuan weapon's structure is complex, and I fear it will be very hard to forge. It would be better to cultivate swordsmanship. There is no need to deliberately forge one's own yuan weapon; any sword pellet will serve."
Shen Mu opened the Azure Heaven Eye and walked into the hall, saying, "I can forge them for you. My skill at the forge is not to be underestimated either. I can forge both of your yuan weapons. If we can find some mystic gold and mystic iron here, it will take me only a day or two to forge them for you."
Ling Yuxiu said in astonishment, "Divine Physician, Holy Hand, skilled at painting. Are you skilled at forging as well?"
Si Yunxiang was astonished too. "The Cult Leader has accomplishments in forging as well?"
"Accomplishments is too strong a word."
Shen Mu said modestly, "I only know how to strike iron, to put forth a bit of brute strength. I scraped through Grandpa Silent Artisan's test back in the village by a trick. Grandpa Silent Artisan is the finest blacksmith for ten li around our village, and his tests are very strict."
The two women exchanged a glance, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
The interior of this great hall was vast. Shen Mu took one look and his face showed shock; then he stepped back out of the hall and walked a full circle around it, measuring its length in paces.
"So big!" Ling Yuxiu peered into the hall and blurted out.
Si Yunxiang looked in as well, and cried out with wide eyes, "How can it be so big inside?"