Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 63 The So-Called Heavenly Craft

A warm, delicate touch came from my palm, almost ethereal.

Lu Chenyuan looked down at her. There was no flattery or calculation in his glassy eyes, only the natural intimacy of a fledgling returning to its nest, like a mountain deer licking a traveler it had just met, like a new swallow chasing the first wisp of spring breeze under the eaves.

It looks so real.

It's so pure!
When Lu Chenyuan looked into her eyes, he even felt a pang of guilt about being her "master".

How on earth was this made? Just from a bunch of metal and jade?!

Is Gu Yunsheng even human? Princess Pingyang isn't even human anymore; she painstakingly created this body herself...

No wonder Duan Yu was so infatuated with the jade statue that he was like a lovesick fool. Even if the goddess was immobile and just a statue, she was enough to make people dream of her.

The late autumn night was chilly, and a cold wind swept through the hall. The goddess stepped barefoot on the cold stone, and her toes curled unconsciously.

Lu Chenyuan was cultivating the "Gold-Swallowing Treasure Scroll," which involved swallowing gold and forging bones, making his body increasingly inhuman. He was even a little afraid of the heat in the cold weather, so the doors and windows were all open. Seeing this, he waved his hand to close the doors and windows, took off his outer robe and wrapped it around her thin shoulders, and asked, "Are you still cold?"

She actually gets cold? She's more like a normal person than I am! Lu Chenyuan was truly impressed.

The goddess shook her head, still looking at him.

Lu Chenyuan led her to the table, her flowing skirt trailing on the ground like moonlight spilling across the cold stone floor.

Lu Chenyuan suddenly remembered a line from the part of the "Heavenly Crafts Scroll" that he had already copied: "Spiritual beings need to be nurtured with warmth." So he gripped her fingertips and transferred his true energy to her. The Empress's body, inside and out, from her hair to her bones and blood, was made of top-grade natural treasures. Her skin and flesh were made of [North Sea Jade Marrow], which could come alive when it encountered energy and could freely guide true energy.

Once the Qi of Geng Metal enters the body, the skin will faintly glow with golden light.

The goddess sensed it, looked down at their clasped hands, and suddenly mimicked his strength to gently clench them back, then clumsily tried to channel a wisp of true energy back into them.

"..."

Lu Chenyuan was both amused and exasperated. This was no assistant; it was more like sending a naive and clueless student to school.

He grew increasingly anxious, wanting to understand what was wrong with her. He led her to sit down at the table, quickly picked up the jade slip, and used his divine sense to activate the "Heavenly Craft Scroll," searching for the section on humanoid mechanical puppets and immersing himself in it.

The goddess sat obediently beside him, tilting her head to look at him.

"The way of mechanical puppets is to imitate life and seize the creation of heaven and earth and steal the mystery of yin and yang. Anyone who makes mechanical puppets must first establish its form, cast its core, and let its qi flow, and then endow it with spirit. If the form is not correct, the instrument will not function; if the core is not solid, the soul will not reside; if the qi does not flow smoothly, the power will not continue. Only when all three are in place can it be made into a superior product."

Lu Chenyuan skimmed through the sections on "Body Form" and "Qi Furnace" and went straight to the "Spirit Core" section.

This is the place where spirits reside, and it is also where the wisdom of the mechanical puppets is recorded.

Suddenly, Lu Chenyuan raised an eyebrow, having found what he was looking for:

"A vessel is an inanimate object, but it comes alive when imbued with spirit. However, a newly born spirit is like an infant, ignorant and utterly unaware. In the beginning, it cannot see or hear, and only when summoned by the master does it know to advance or retreat. Its movements are slow, like a drunkard leaning against a wall, its ten fingers trembling uncontrollably..."

"Three days later, they began to distinguish between yin and yang. They gradually learned the difference between day and night, and the changes of cold and heat. They were happy to see their master and alert when they encountered an enemy, but they still could not distinguish between good and evil..."

"Within ten days or so, they begin to understand human nature. They can then discern words and expressions, and distinguish the joy and anger of their master. When the master is pleased, they leap for joy; when the master is angry, they cower in fear. However, their wisdom is still shallow, like that of a three-year-old child, and sometimes their words and actions are inverted: they want to rush towards a candle flame, and they leap into a deep abyss..."

"After a year, it will acquire spirituality. It can remember past events and understand common sense. When it sees the master studying, it will serve tea and grind ink; when it sees the master practicing martial arts, it will hand over a sword and change clothes. However, its temperament is not yet settled. It will be influenced by its surroundings. If it often associates with refined people, it will gradually become proficient in music and chess; if it mingles in the marketplace, it will fall into the mire..."

Lu Chenyuan suddenly realized.

The time since the birth of the goddess must have been more than "a year" ago. From the fifth year of Zhenguan to now, it has been almost sixty years.

But the time the Hidden Immortal spent with her was probably less than a year before he sealed her away in the Mechanical City...

Her intelligence should be between "ten months" and "one year". During this period, her spirit gradually became more solid, but without anyone to teach her, her intelligence never developed. She could read people's expressions and understand human feelings, but she could not remember past events or understand common sense.

"I see."

Lu Chenyuan understood and breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that it wasn't a problem with the mechanical puppet itself. Otherwise, with his current cultivation level, it would be impossible to know when he could repair it. The goddess just needed time to awaken her wisdom.

It's nothing!
He was a teacher for a while, though he didn't teach anything particularly serious...

"Then learn slowly, no need to rush."

Lu Chenyuan smiled and said, "However, the title 'Goddess' is uncommon. After this incident, the Twelve Yuan Chen Puppet Armor has become famous throughout the martial world. Calling out these two words will easily attract attention. Let me give you a nickname..."

He pondered for a moment: "The 'Nine Songs: Lesser Master of Fate' says: 'I bathe with you in the Salt Pool, and dry your hair on the sunny side.' The word 'dry' has a very good meaning. It means that the morning dew is waiting to dry, which is a metaphor for the ignorance of a newborn. Moreover, the end of the night and the beginning of the day are associated with the Rat. From now on, I will call you Lingxi when I show people to others."

Nine feet of outer armor would be too conspicuous in the capital; it would be better to conceal one's true form.

“Lingxi…”

The goddess repeated it, a smile appearing on her lips, and nodded vigorously.

"And you need to cover the mechanism behind your ear..."

Lu Chenyuan looked around and then at the gold, Shu brocade, and several boxes of jewelry that had been given to him along with the house when he captured Ashina Yan. He immediately had an idea, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "I'll make you a hat!"

"?"

The goddess was puzzled and tilted her head to watch Lu Chenyuan busy.

Lu Chenyuan didn't have much talent in design, but he was a natural clothes hanger, which made the designer very satisfied. I won't go into details about how satisfied he was, but in short, he learned tailoring and knew many modern clothing design concepts. Making a hat that suited a little girl's temperament was too easy for him!

In less than 15 minutes, a delicate soft hat took shape in his hands.

This hat resembles the currently popular folded headscarf, but instead of a stiff frame, it is made of snow-white Shu brocade with a fluffy curve. The brim droops slightly, just enough to cover the hidden gears behind the ears. The top of the hat has several fine pleats, like a budding magnolia. On the left side, there is a small silver thread entwined plum blossom, with an ice-crack patterned glass bead embedded in the center of the flower.

When the moonlight shone on it, the beads cast tiny, scattered spots of light on the table, like fragments of a starry river.

Lu Chenyuan held the hat and gently placed it on her head—

The goddess's demeanor changed instantly.

Her original white fairy dress, though ethereal, always carried an air of otherworldly detachment due to her overly perfect appearance. Now, with this hat on, the fluffy brim softens her features, and the shimmering light of the glass beads dances on her cheeks, making her look even more like an innocent young lady from a secluded family. With her wide sleeves draped down and her skirt swaying gently, coupled with her slightly tilted, bewildered expression, she is like a fairy who has stepped out of a traditional Chinese painting, charming yet lively.

Lu Chenyuan took two steps back, crossed his arms, and examined the object closely, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.

"It has to be my taste, beautiful!" The goddess noticed the light weight on her head, blinked, and slowly raised her hand, her fingertips carefully touching the brim of the hat. Her movements were extremely light, as if she were afraid of breaking it.

Despite her body being made of natural treasures, she cherished this hat made of ordinary fabric.

Seeing this, Lu Chenyuan felt even more pity. He turned and walked to his desk, unfolding the unfinished pages of the "Tiangong Scroll". The inkstone had already been prepared. He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and the rustling sound of the brush tip touching the paper was particularly clear in the quiet room.

The goddess knelt quietly beside him, watching him write.

Lu Chenyuan asked, "Can you read?"

The goddess shook her head.

"Repeat after me. Heaven."

"……sky."

"work."

"work."

……

The next morning, in front of Xuanji Pavilion.

Amidst the morning mist, Yuan Qingshuang, dressed in a dark blue official robe, stood before the stone steps, frowning as she looked at the beautiful young woman who had suddenly appeared before her. Her gaze swept over the soft hat she had never seen before, its brim slightly drooping, the silver ribbons adorned with plum blossoms shimmering in the morning light…

Yuan Qingshuang pursed her lips slightly.

Most of these novelties are probably the work of this Lord Lu...

Lu Chenyuan handed over the copied diagrams of the "Heavenly Crafts Scroll," looked around, and asked in surprise, "Your Highness is not here? Yesterday she said she would personally take me to the sixth level. What happened?"

If things hadn't happened so suddenly, Li Lingyue probably wouldn't have broken her promise.

Yuan Qingshuang withdrew her gaze and said, "This morning, Qiu Shenji led 30,000 elite troops to Bashu to wipe out the Buqi Sect. The Martial Emperor personally visited Dingding Gate to reward the army and specially summoned Princess to accompany him. Afterwards, he still needs to rush to Luoshui to inspect the sacrificial ceremony. He is too busy to be in two places at once, so I can only do it in his place. I hope Lord Lu will not be offended."

"Don't mention it, sir."

Lu Chenyuan understood and gestured for him to proceed: "The 'Heavenly Craft Scroll' has been copied. The steward may verify it against the jade slip."

As he spoke, he prepared to take out the jade.

"No need."

Yuan Qingshuang waved her hand and smiled, "I trust Lord Lu's character."

Then, changing the subject, his gaze fell once more on the Empress: "But this one..."

Lu Chenyuan raised an eyebrow: "Hasn't the steward already checked? It is undoubtedly the true form of the Divine Empress."

"No, I don't doubt..."

Yuan Qingshuang suddenly chuckled: "If Her Highness the Princess saw her like this, she would probably wish you had presented her to Emperor Wu yesterday. Before Her Highness finds out, Lord Lu might as well... make plans early."

"..."

That’s what it meant.

Lu Chenyuan shook his head and chuckled, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Manager. I understand."

Yuan Qingshuang nodded and said no more, leading him up to the sixth floor of Xuanji Pavilion.

"Click——"

The moment the black iron gate was pushed open, a chilling aura of war rushed towards them.

Lu Chenyuan looked inside and saw that the pavilion was shrouded in dark blue ice mist, with eighteen cold lights appearing and disappearing in the ice—those were eighteen third-grade divine weapons, all sealed in thousand-year-old ice, each of which had drunk the blood of heroes.

But now it has become a spoil of war from the prosperous Zhenguan era.

"These weapons were all important weapons seized from enemy countries during the reign of Emperor Taizong."

Yuan Qingshuang flicked her wide sleeves, dispersing the icy mist. "There are the personal weapons of a warlord from the late Sui Dynasty, the precious blade of a Turkic Khan, and the treasures of both Buddhism and Taoism..." Her fingertips traced the ice surface, finally stopping before the four most dazzling ice pillars: "If Lord Lu wishes to choose, he might as well start with these four—"

The first ice pillar contains a long sword, its blade as white as frost and its body covered with silver patterns.

"【Shuoye】, the sword of Song Jingang, a general under Liu Wuzhou."

Yuan Qingshuang said, "During the Battle of Hedong, this sword once cut through the Fen River in one stroke, splitting it in two. The sword's intent did not dissipate, and the water curtain did not fall for three days. Song Jingang used it to break through seven Tang army camps. In the end, it was only when Duke Wei personally intervened that he was subdued."

Inside the second ice pillar lies a lance wreathed in purple lightning, its tip adorned with vivid thunder patterns.

"【Purple Lightning Startles the Wild Goose】, Dou Jiande's signature weapon."

She said solemnly, “Before Hulao Pass, this spear once attracted heavenly thunder, and with one strike it shattered the city’s defensive formation and half of the city wall. It is said that when charging with the spear, electric snakes would run around his body within ten feet, and ordinary weapons would melt upon contact.”

The third ice pillar contains a long sword that is entirely blue-green, with faint cloud patterns flowing across its blade.

"【Azure Sky】, the treasure of Jade Void Palace in Kunlun Mountain."

Yuan Qingshuang explained, "This sword is forged from a mixture of azurite and Tianya divine iron. When the sword is drawn, it radiates azure light and its sword aura is unparalleled. Back then, Xuanzhenzi, a strange man under the command of the King of Kaoshan, used this sword to break through the camp of the eighteen rebel kings. Wherever the sword light passed, no one could stop it."

The last ice pillar is the most peculiar—a black iron vajra floats in mid-air, its runes sometimes visible and sometimes not.

"As for this Lotus Brightness Zen Staff..."

Yuan Qingshuang's expression softened slightly. "This staff is the personal magic weapon of Master Tanzong of Shaolin Temple. It weighs 180 jin and is forged entirely from Grade 4 Soul-Suppressing Iron, mixed with seven relics of living Buddhas. The staff is engraved with three secret mantras: the Diamond Sutra to suppress evil spirits, the Lion's Roar Mantra to break through demonic obstacles, and this Thousand-Jin Talisman Array. When the staff strikes, the Thousand-Jin Array is activated, causing the ground to sink three feet into the ground within thirty zhang. Hundreds of Turkic elite cavalrymen, along with their horses, were blasted into a bloody pulp. After the battle, the Master returned to the temple to cultivate in seclusion and presented this staff to the court..."

Within the icy mist, the four divine weapons seemed to resonate with each other.

Yuan Qingshuang turned to look at Lu Chenyuan: "What does Lord Lu think?"

(End of this chapter)