Seeking the Tao in the Mortal World

Chapter 167: First Win

Qin Yi looked at Ju Yunxiu in the stands.

Ju Yunxiu closed her eyes and ignored him.

Qin Yi was dumbfounded. She didn't want me to participate in the competition, but I insisted on coming, so she is now throwing a tantrum.

But Ju Yunxiu didn't ignore me at all. She gave me several paintings in advance...

I just don’t know if I can use the paintings... Since Xi Xiangzi can use the prepared elixirs just now, it shouldn’t be a big problem... The craftsman probably won't craft on the spot. He should have brought the ready-made things.

After all, even if I were given a noble weapon, there is no telling whether I can be fully utilized it at my level. It still depends on my own understanding of the way.

I'll accept the challenge.

Qin Yi stood up and climbed to the center of the arena.

Ju Yunxiu opened her eyes.

Before she finished the sentence, Ju Yunxiu glared at her, and she sat down pitifully. Ju Yunxiu was embarrassed in the presence of the audience.

On the contrary, Qin Yi's image was not embarrassing at all, even giving people a good image. He was holding the jade flute, and his green shirt was fluttering, looking elegant and aloofness. It really suited the image of piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting sect and fit her aesthetics too well.

The discordant mace came to her mind, but it was quickly put aside. I haven't seen him fight with the mace. It must be a ritual weapon...

In the center of the arena, the middle-aged craftsman bowed. "I'm Gongshu Lu. It's nice to meet you, Junior Qin."

"What a name!" Qin Yi praised, "You are really born to be a craftsman."

Gongshu Lu was puzzled, then he shook his head and said, "In terms of names, Junior Qin is more suitable for your sect."

Qin Yi smiled and said, "What does Senior Gongshu plan to compete with me? Want to have a match between the painting soul and the puppet?"

"There is no need to compare. Calligraphy and painting are about soul, and our puppets are about strength. Each has its own strengths. Victory or defeat can only prove our cultivation, not the tao." Gongshu Lu said, "After all, this is a tao conference, not a fighting competition."

Qin Yi was a little curious. "Then what are we competing?"

Gongshu Lu said, "Let's talk about practicality."

Qin Yi became more and more interested, "In what way?"

Gongshu Lu pointed to the distant mountain. "Over there is the white crystal black copper mine owned by our Myriad Tao Immortal Palace. Now the puppets we made are mining and transporting the mine, which contribute a lot to the Immortal Palace. But has your way of calligraphy and painting been contributed to the Immortal Palace?”

Qin Yi was stunned for a moment, then he wanted to laugh.

He suspected that Gongshu Lu had been wanting to debate this topic with Ju Yunxiu. However, due to the disparity in status and cultivation, he was ignored by Ju Yunxiu. Now he finally got the chance to challenge Qin Yi.

He thought about it and said with a smile, "We can draw a large number of strong men to mine at any time, but it takes a long time for Senior to make a puppet, and the materials can't be obtained easily, right?"

Gongshu Lu shook his head and said, "To make the painting soul be able to physically mine, one's cultivation must at least reach the level of Senior Ju. Besides, it can't remain outside the painting for a long time, which is not practical."

Qin Yi said, "You haven't yet answered the second half of my sentence. How long does it take to craft this mining puppet? How many materials are needed? What level of cultivation is needed?"

"If it's just for mining, it doesn't require rare materials. Ordinary iron is enough. It's not difficult to craft. Phoenix Initiation Stage disciples can do it." Gongshu Lu said honestly, "But it does take a long time, and the limbs have to be polished, which consumes time... Ordinary disciples should take half a year to craft it. This is their first project. "

Qin Yi tilted his head and looked at him for a long time, then he said with a strange expression, "A disciple completes a puppet independently? Then polish it slowly by himself?"

"Yeah, otherwise how do you craft it?"

"You have been developing for five thousand years, and you don't have the concept of molding or assembly lines?"

"Of course there are molds. It's just for the purpose of training the disciples, so we deliberately maintain manual polishing." Gongshu Lu frowned and said, "This is the first time I've heard of assembly lines. What is this?"

"Some people are responsible for making feet, some are responsible for making hands, and some are responsible for assembling..."

Before Qin Yi finished his words, the dirty craftsman on the 'rostrum' suddenly raised his head with inspiration.

Gongshu Lu was also mumbling to himself. The craftsmen on the stands also began to whisper, obviously gaining great insights.

They were all professionals. Without Qin Yi's explanation, they could understand the logic in it. The efficiency of their craftsmanship might not only be improved by a little but it could also be widely applied in other aspects.

It was not that they couldn't develop to this stage in thousands of years, but the thinking of the immortal way was a little different.

Because immortal was too focused on personal cultivation. The concentration of great power in one was the ultimate pursuit, and there is very little emphasis on the division of labor and collaboration. It was already good that they had collaborated in explorations. How could they think of the assembly line operations?

Qin Yi just gave them a hint, and they got a lot of inspiration. These craftsmen were thinking of more things and longer terms than Qin Yi could think of at this moment.

In fact, when Qin Yi mentioned this, his original intention was to tell them that to make a mold, you first need to paint...

But the meaning they got was different... Qin Yi was also a little confused for a moment. This was completely unrelated to the way of calligraphy and painting and the way of craftsmanship. How could it still count?

Sure enough, Gongshu Lu reacted and said, "Junior Qin's words are very meaningful to us, and we thank you for that. But what does this have to do with the way of calligraphy and painting?"

Qin Yi frowned and said, "I figured this out by reading a book, so why doesn't it matter? Craftsmen should also read more and work hard to improve their knowledge and skills..."

Ju Yunxiu smiled. This is truly a catch-all answer. Junior Qin's wit is commendable.

The craftsman on the rostrum suddenly said, "We lost this match. We have studied thousands of years of craftsmanship, and we still need a piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting person to enlighten us. What a shame. Not only do we admit defeat in this case, we also sincerely invite Nephew Disciple Qin to be our guest. We hope that Nephew Disiple Ju will release him."

Ju Yunxiu was filled with joy. She smiled slightly, trying hard to maintain an elegant image, "Master's Junior Mo, it's not a problem to let him be a guest, just don't poach my people."

The craftsmen nodded and said nothing more. Gongshu Lu also cupped his fists and walked down the arena.

Qin Yi breathed a sigh of relief, wiped away the non-existent sweat, and turned to look at Ju Yunxiu.

Not to mention her aloofness and indifference to this conference, in fact, one of her initial intentions of inviting him was obviously for this conference. After all, as the sect master, if she refused to participate in the conference for many years, her face would be disgraced, right? She of course felt delighted that Qin Yi could bring her honor.

Ju Yunxiu looked at him with a smile. Their gaze met for a while, then they turned their heads away at the same time.

When Qin Yi turned his head, he noticed Tian Jizi turned to look at Ju Yunxiu and frowned.

Qin Yi was surprised. I thought it was Zheng Yunyi who had intentions for Senior Ju, but now his master is more likely to be the person.

Tian Jizi should be one generation higher than Senior Ju, right? Are you trying to rob the cradle?

"Junior Qin." Suddenly, the familiar voice of Xi Xiangzi came to his ears, interrupting his thoughts.

Qin Yi turned around and saw Xi Xiangzi bowing to him with a smile, "How about another match?"

Qin Yi glanced at his crotch subconsciously, wondering if he was having a rash.

Xi Xiangzi seemed to sense his gaze, and he shrank back in embarrassment. He said, "I heard that the way of music has the entrancing song and calming song. The way of elixir can produce this effect too. How about we compete on it?"

"Okay." Qin Yi yawned. "But I'm tired today, so let others compete first. We'll do it tomorrow."

After finishing speaking, without waiting for Xi Xiangzi to answer, he left the scene and ran to tease Qing Cha.

Xi Xiangzi was speechless. You just had a few words with Gongshu Lu. How are you tired?

But the Immortal Palace had always been full of weirdos. There were many who went to drink in the middle of the competition, so he couldn't force it. He said, "Then it's a deal. Junior Qin must honor your promise."

"I know, I know. Do I dare to break the promise in front of so many sect masters?" Qin Yi waved his hands impatiently, but what he was thinking that he had to go back tonight to refine a soul-protecting elixir first.

Do you really think I only know piano, chess, calligraphy and painting? I specialize in alchemy too.