Object Source Hub

Of course, the next day, Li Fan still helped Kun ask whether there were any more Scarlet Fruits to give it a couple to gnaw on. He also took the opportunity to inquire about Heavenly Treasures containing Return-to-Dust Zhenqi.

Fuling readily agreed. "Those are small matters. The young lady's stores lack no such spiritual food. Are you preparing for Foundation Establishment? I'll find you some Five Elements Treasures. For today, I'll take you to meet a senior brother first."

Profound Heaven Sword Intent indicated, Alas, back in those days...

Don't start reminiscing about those days! What the hell was this senior brother?

Li Fan asked warily, "Is this senior brother very close to you, Sister Fuling? As close as we are?"

Fuling rolled her eyes at him. "What nonsense are you talking about? Mu Long's post naturally requires a senior brother to guide you.

"Senior Brother Lu is Du Gongshi's disciple. He achieved the Golden Core Stage only within the last two years. Du Gongshi teaches the Heavenly Craft Mechanisms lineage, so he has no Daoist title. Senior Brother's given name is Yu. If he can achieve the Nascent Soul Stage in the future, he may have the chance to enter under the Mountain Lord's tutelage. He can be considered part of our lineage as well.

"Didn't you want to learn mechanism arts? If you have any questions along the way, you can ask him."

Li Fan understood. Fuling was probably worried that the people from the Pagoda Master's faction would bully him, so she had specifically found him some backing. "Thank you for your concern, Sister Fuling."

"Don't mention it. Thanks to you, our young lady achieved the Transformation Stage. I feel quite honored whenever I go out now too. Hehehehe!"

Laughing merrily, Fuling casually released a seven-sailed treasure ship and carried Li Fan into the sky.

Right, as one's cultivation rose, one's pomp had to rise with it too...

Thus, Li Fan followed Fuling aboard the treasure ship to the Outer Sect's Lou Guandao Pagoda, where he paid respects to Senior Brother Lu.

"Senior Brother Lu, this is Qingyue, the Real Person's attendant boy. He has only just entered the sect. If he does anything improper, there is no need for you to be polite. Feel free to discipline him."

"Disciple Qingyue pays respects to Master." Li Fan balanced Kun atop his head and performed a formal salute.

"You flatter me, Junior Sister. Qingyue, there is no need for such ceremony. Just call me Senior Brother Lu. I just heard that the Real Person has broken through to the Transformation Stage. That is truly a blessing for our Bamboo Mountain. Congratulations."

Senior Brother Lu looked quite young. He was a handsome, sunny youth with a bright and open expression, seeming at first glance like a college student who had just graduated. He even appeared younger than Fuling, yet he was already at the Golden Core Stage. His aptitude must have been good, and his luck even better.

"If you have any questions, ask Senior Brother first. Once you leave the mountain, do not cause trouble..."

Fuling gave Li Fan a few more reminders, telling him to be sensible and obedient, that children should not go stirring up trouble, and so on. Then she bid him farewell and left to attend to her own affairs, truly like an elder sister watching over him.

Senior Brother Lu was exceedingly courteous. "Qingyue, do you know what a Mu Long attendant boy is meant to do?"

Li Fan nodded. Fuling had explained it to him on the way over that morning. "Serve the sword, await Senior Brother's command, and draw the magic sword when ordered."

That was right. The full title of his position was Sword-Attending Mu Long Boy, and his only duty was to carry the magic sword and follow behind the whole time.

Senior Brother Lu nodded. "Correct. To herd is to feed: release them and feed them, gather them and pen them, slaughter them and sacrifice them. Though they are called dragons, they are in truth much like cattle and horses.

"But dragons are dragons, after all. Their bodies can easily reach one hundred and fifty zhang in length, so silver bells, golden chimes, bronze whips, and iron swords are required to herd them."

Senior Brother Lu handed Li Fan the bronze whip in his hand for a look. It was a thirteen-sectioned, water-polished bamboo-joint hard whip cast from red copper. Each segment was linked by copper joints. The whip was hexagonal, and every face bore an engraved spell Fa Yin. A faint blood glow seeped from its body. When swung, it actually stirred up a gale of force that drove away the spiritual qi within a few inches of it. It looked like an exceptionally vicious magic treasure.

"This is the Dragon-Beating Whip. If those beasts refuse to obey, first guide them with the silver bell, then warn them with the golden chime, then strike them with the bronze whip. If they still refuse to repent, offer up the magic sword and behead them."

Senior Brother Lu held the whip in one hand and a small triangular flag like Li Fan's in the other. "Fortunately, those four young dragons are merely mischievous, not stupid. One lash makes them obedient. Ordinarily, you will not need to draw your sword. There are also two junior brothers from Lou Guan. Once they arrive with the bell and chime, I will take you to Canglong Jian."

Li Fan fell into thought. He had seen silver bells and golden chimes before, when those three masked cultivators had abducted him to Ink Bamboo Mountain. They were probably similar magic treasures.

"Senior Brother Lu, Sister Fuling said you are Du Gongshi's disciple and inherit the Heavenly Craft Mechanisms tradition. This junior is also very interested in mechanism arts. Might I seek your guidance?" Since the other two had yet to arrive, Li Fan took the initiative to make conversation.

Lu Yu smiled and nodded. "Why not? The Real Person only requested the Pivot Essentials yesterday. That was for you, wasn't it? Have you read it?"

"Yes. This disciple skimmed through some of it last night, but there are still things I do not understand. I would like to ask Senior Brother." Li Fan did not stand on ceremony. Taking out the manual, he asked, "What exactly is this 'Object Source Hub'?"

Lu Yu's eyes opened at once as he examined Li Fan carefully. "Oh? You have just begun learning mechanism arts, yet you have gone straight for the core. Then what do you think it is?"

Li Fan considered it. "The book says it is the operational core of mechanical creations, the source of a thing's motion and the pivot of the mind. It also discusses quite a few principles of Heaven's Dao. In this junior's understanding, it is roughly a core power device woven from external materials, capable of converting the spiritual qi of heaven and earth into kinetic energy. Does Senior Brother have an actual Object Source Hub that could broaden my horizons?"

Li Fan had only skimmed the manual. Its first half discussed principles, while the latter half contained all sorts of methods for crafting random components, much like a reference book. Naturally, many of its tools and parts were not particularly novel in structure or principle. Ships, carts, bamboo oxen, wooden sparrows, and the like simply used the cultivation world's zhenqi energy in place of electric or fuel power to drive their mechanisms. They were, in the literal sense, zhenqi machines.

Yet there was one component called the "Object Source Hub" that Li Fan could not quite understand. It seemed to be a kind of zhenqi engine: spiritual qi within drove the hub's operation, which in turn drove the other mechanical parts. It was like a cultivator's heart, allowing a mechanical creation to rotate and move on its own.

But that raised a problem. Where did the Object Source Hub itself get its power?

From the written description alone, this thing was the source of power. Yet it burned neither coal nor oil, and none of its components looked as though they used uranium or fuel rods. It was practically like making a perpetual-motion machine out of handcrafted parts from thin air. But clearly it was not. Even with Li Fan's limited knowledge, he could tell that while the hub connected externally to the mechanisms it drove, its internal structure resembled a cage holding a hamster.

He just did not know what exactly the "hamster" running inside that cage was...

Lu Yu accepted the Pivot Essentials and casually flipped through it. "This manual was compiled by my master for his own disciples. Apprentices under us Gongshi first follow senior disciples and work as metalworkers in the workshops for three to five years. They polish every sort of ingenious mechanical part by hand and make a complete set themselves. Only then does Master select those who are dexterous, intelligent, and insightful to accept as disciples and allow them to study this manual and understand its principles.

"You need not rush. For now, you may memorize it by rote. Once you form a Golden Core and learn the Divine Treasury Method, do not read this scripture with your eyes. Instead, use your Divine Sense to view it, and you will see the diagrams and dimensions of various mechanical components that the Gongshi recorded within it by magic, as well as the secret methods for crafting many basic tools.

"As for an actual Object Source Hub, if you want to see one..."

Lu Yu returned the black bamboo scroll to Li Fan, then spread out his right hand before him, palm up. Rolling back his sleeve to reveal his right forearm, he said, "This is the 'object.'"

Li Fan's eyes widened. Kun also puffed out its eyes and craned its head for a look.

It was actually a prosthetic arm, made with astonishing realism. He opened the forearm outward like a window, revealing countless delicate bamboo strips pulling within the arm bone. Inside the forearm sat a spherical bamboo cage the size of a cricket cage, spinning constantly. The cage was packed with mechanisms and hub linkages, yet it was still impossible to see what lay within...

Wait...

"'Object'?" Li Fan looked up at Lu Yu.

Lu Yu nodded. "My master's Dao differs somewhat from the Mountain Lord's Dao. Those like the Mountain Lord and the Real Person transform their bodies into 'Non-Things,' while the Gongshi Dao transforms the body into an 'object.' Then, through objects, one controls objects; through Heavenly Craft weaving, one evolves the mechanisms of all things.

"The 'object' inside this Object Source Hub on my hand was transformed from the head of my Lu Family. As for what exactly it is, that is a private secret of our family, so I will not explain it in detail to Junior Brother Qingyue. But you guessed correctly. For years, the mechanism arts lineage has indeed been researching the practical applications of the Dao of 'objects.'

"Though 'objects' are also affected by Heaven's Dao, they remain within heaven and earth, within the Five Elements. They do not fluctuate and transform unpredictably like 'Non-Things,' beyond all grasp. Yet their mysteries are still difficult to observe. Even our Heavenly Craft Mechanisms lineage can only crudely suppress and seal these 'objects' into Object Source Hubs for use as power cores.

"But given enough time, perhaps we may yet penetrate the truth of 'objects' and use mechanical creations to help them assume human form once more."

So "objects" were transformed cultivators too, and mechanism arts could even derive the principles of "objects"... Oh! So that was it!

Li Fan understood.

Sword Intent—no, Xuantian Sword Ancestor. So this had been your plan all along. You too had transformed your body into an object, and wanted to use mechanism arts to reshape a human body?

*Profound Heaven Sword Intent indicated, Correct. The immortal Dao of the Beichen Sword Sect ultimately evolved into transforming one's body into a sword! Unfortunately... it was ultimately no match for the Great Dao...

As long as the host lends a hand, reshapes its dharma body and Dao body, and rebuilds the sect's Daoist Tradition, state whatever conditions you wish. The Beichen Sword Sect's secret inheritances have everything one could want. No Heavenly Treasure is beyond reach.*

There was no need to name conditions. These days, he was not exactly lacking Heavenly Treasures. Besides, to be blunt, the Beichen Sword Sect's methods could be tactfully described as no longer suited to the current Heaven's Dao. Less tactfully, they were outdated, rotten, antiquated, and had long since been swept into history's garbage heap...

Profound Heaven Sword Intent indicated, Host, that was far too much low emotional intelligence!

Still, Li Fan had received quite a bit of guidance from it, so he could not be so disrespectful to Profound Heaven Sword Intent. He merely needed to lay down three rules: it was not allowed to act recklessly anymore, seize control of his body to stir up trouble, or slaughter innocents indiscriminately. At the very least, it had to discuss things with him and obtain his consent first.

Profound Heaven Sword Intent indicated, It is a deal. However, that remnant soul hidden in the painting sought to seize the host's body and undergo corpse liberation because it saw that the host had not cultivated divine light to protect his body and could see through the realm of 'objects' to enter the barrier. Also, that wine really had gone bad, so it did not count as innocent.

...Fine. If it did not count, it did not count. The wine had gone bad, after all.

Lu Yu withdrew his arm, lowered his sleeve, and smiled. "Qingyue, you saw through the mystery of the Object Source Hub at a glance. You do have some talent for mechanism arts. But a little cleverness alone is not enough. If you truly wish to achieve something in mechanism arts, practice making some mechanical creations yourself according to the diagrams. Practice makes perfect."

"Thank you for your instruction, Senior Brother. Qingyue will remember it."

Observing the stars, worshipping the moon, creating things... the natives of this world were exploring the truths and mysteries of the universe in their own ways too...

Kun indicated that it was hungry.

All you know is eat, eat, eat...

Li Fan grabbed Kun off his head and directly poured it a small bottle of Profound Nether Pill Liquid from the icy pool to rinse its mouth. He filled the catfish up like a pufferfish, then tossed it aside to float like a balloon and digest slowly, ignoring it.

Senior Brother Lu watched smiling from the side, and Li Fan did not avoid doing so before others. Spirit beasts were uncommon, but even if someone truly recognized it as a Kun, there probably was not anyone foolish enough to kill him and steal the pet, then take this young Kun home and raise it for several thousand years...

Before long, the other two Mu Long attendant boys arrived together.

Both were older than Li Fan, though not by much. They looked like sixteen- or seventeen-year-old Little Taoists. Like Li Fan, they wore black robes and green crowns as Inner Sect disciples, but both had clearly already established their foundations.

The one holding the bell radiated a biting chill, with swordlike brows, starry eyes, pearly teeth, and crimson lips.

The one carrying the chime was surrounded by a gentle warm wind, with a full forehead and eyes bright as stars.

The two Daoists walked together, one like cold jade and one like the warm sun. Their temperaments differed greatly, yet their auras complemented each other. One look was enough to tell that both were excellent prospects.

"Senior Brother, Junior Brother, sorry to have kept you waiting..." The warm one came over with a smile and immediately apologized.

"No need for ceremony. Board the boat first. We can talk on the way."

Senior Brother Lu led the three boys through mutual greetings and introductions, then casually released a light boat and took them north from the outer sect.

Li Fan roughly got acquainted with the two. One had the secular surname Yuan and the Daoist title Xuanbao, cultivating the Profound Nether Escape Technique. The other was surnamed Chen and called Daotong, cultivating the Crimson Fiend Escape Technique. Both were Lou Guan disciples who had become Dual Cultivation Dao companions under a certain Real Person Liang.

Oh, Dual Cultivation Dao companions. Wait! Dual cultivation? You two were men, weren't you?!

Profound Heaven Sword Intent indicated, Host, do not be so startled. There are many types of dual cultivation. These two have linked qi currents. They likely cultivate the Kan-Li Dual Practice, a wondrous method that harmonizes yin and yang, connects above and below, and balances water and fire. It was once a secret inheritance of the Immortal Palace. Ink Bamboo Mountain has quite a few strange traditions...

Oh, good, good. He had nearly gotten the wrong idea again... Wait, that still was not right! Cultivation was so pleasurable! Wasn't it strange for two men to do it together?

Profound Heaven Sword Intent indicated, Forming a partnership with Kun would be even rarer.

Shut up. If you have the skill, go ask these two to revive your sect...

Profound Heaven Sword Intent indicated, Host need not disparage yourself. These two have merely average aptitude. They were raised through dual cultivation and pill consumption, and simply caught a favorable era. In the past, they would only have qualified as low seventh grade at best. Without some opportunity, they could not even form Nascent Souls. I would not so much as glance at them.

Wow, that strict? Listen to you brag. Did it ever occur to you that the Sword Sect was destroyed simply because it had too few successors? And by the way, what grade am I?

Profound Heaven Sword Intent indicated, Need you ask? The host chosen by me is naturally first grade, the very best of the best!

Hm! Since Profound Heaven Sword Intent was being so honest and forthright, this host would agree to help it! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahahaha!

Kun floated beside him, its bulging eyes fixed on Li Fan as he laughed like an idiot. Then it let out a "Blergh" and threw up...