Tales of Herding Gods Chapter 4: Heavenly Devil Creation Technique

“Grandpa Cripple’s leg techniques allow him to sprint through the heavens, so who could have possibly severed his leg? Grandpa Ma’s strikes are incredibly mighty, yet who was capable of lopping off his right arm? And who managed to bypass Grandpa Butcher’s blades to slice him in two?”

Having witnessed the genuine prowess of Butcher, Old Ma, and Cripple, Qin Mu felt a mixture of profound admiration and deep bewilderment.

Once his leg training with Cripple concluded, Qin Mu’s body finally finished processing the energy from the blood of the four spirits, further refining his physical frame. By this point, he was so drained that he wanted nothing more than to collapse and sleep.

However, his ordeal was only beginning.

Nearly every day, the village elders would hunt down ferocious beasts to extract the blood of the four spirits for Qin Mu to consume. The moment he drank it, a grueling cycle of training would start, pushing him to his limits until he was utterly spent.

In addition to mastering the leg, fist, and knife arts from Cripple, Old Ma, and Butcher, Qin Mu studied smithing under Mute and practiced calligraphy and painting with Deaf. He even trained in staff techniques and echolocation under Blind’s guidance while wearing a blindfold.

Whenever Qin Mu reached the point of total exhaustion, the Village Chief would summon him to practice breathing exercises. The method the Village Chief imparted was the formidable and specialized Overlord Body Three Elixir Technique.

Qin Mu didn't truly grasp the prestige of the so-called Overlord Body Three Elixir Technique, but he noticed that the fatigue from his various training sessions vanished whenever he practiced it. He would feel vibrant and full of life after just a short period, leading him to believe the breathing technique was truly miraculous.

Apothecary watched Qin Mu leave with a flickering gaze before whispering, “Village Chief, you only taught him the most basic Daoyin Technique, didn't you?”

“That is true. It is merely the Daoyin Technique,” the Village Chief replied, making no effort to hide the fact. “The Four Great Spirit Bodies each possess their own unique methods. The Green Dragon Spirit Body cultivates using the Qi of the Green Dragon, while the White Tiger Spirit Body utilizes the Qi of the White Tiger. The Vermillion Bird and Black Tortoise Spirit Bodies likewise use the Qi of the Vermillion Bird and Black Tortoise. However, Qin Mu’s body lacks any of these four elemental attributes, making it impossible for him to utilize their specific Cultivation techniques. Since he cannot use our methods, I could only give him the simplest one. Even commoners can practice the Daoyin Technique because it is the only one that requires no specific attributes.”

Apothecary remained skeptical. “But the Daoyin Technique is far too basic… it’s too ordinary! A person can certainly become a martial arts practitioner with it, but their potential achievements would be severely limited!”

“I once believed that as well,” the Village Chief admitted, a peculiar look crossing his face. “However, I suspect we may have been dismissing the Daoyin Technique too easily. Qin Mu has been practicing it since he was small, and his Vital Qi has become exceptionally powerful. The only issue is that he needs an attribute to truly unleash its full potential.”

Apothecary shuddered. “Exactly how strong is his Vital Qi?”

“If his Vital Qi possessed the same attribute as your Green Dragon Vital Qi, Qin Mu’s power would already rival half the strength of your Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure.”

This revelation caused Apothecary to recoil in disbelief.

“I have already shattered the Celestial Being Wall and opened my Celestial Being Divine Treasure!” he exclaimed. “It took me years to fully awaken my Spirit Embryo, Five Elements, and Six Directions Divine Treasures! Half the power of my Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure is equivalent to a peak martial arts practitioner! For Qin Mu to match that without even opening his Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure… if he actually succeeds in awakening it, won't he be several times more powerful than a Spirit Body? How can this still be the Daoyin Technique?”

The Village Chief shared his confusion. “The Daoyin Technique is indeed strange. It is a simple breathing method, yet the Foundation it builds is incredibly sturdy. Mu’er has been at it for ten years, which is no small feat. While progress was slow initially, I have noticed his strength growing exponentially lately. His advancement is particularly frightening on the days he drinks the blood of the four spirits! If the Daoyin Technique weren't so common, I would suspect it was some legendary Godly technique…”

Both men looked equally perplexed.

Apothecary exhaled sharply and shook his head. “It is still futile. No matter how much he grows, Vital Qi without an attribute cannot exert much force. How far do you honestly think he can go with the Daoyin Technique?”

The Village Chief’s expression darkened with uncertainty. “I have no idea.”

Apothecary nodded slowly.

The Daoyin Technique was the most rudimentary method used by children to establish a Foundation. Usually, by age ten, that Foundation would be strong enough to handle spirit blood. Once a child’s specific Spirit Body was identified, they would move on to better techniques.

Once a practitioner broke through any of the Walls, superior methods were used, rendering the Daoyin Technique obsolete.

Furthermore, an ordinary person using the Daoyin Technique would never have the opportunity to consume spirit blood daily like Qin Mu. Only the most powerful clans could afford such luxury, and none would waste those resources on a common child. No noble family would do what the elders of Disabled Elderly Village were doing—hunting rare spirit beasts just to support the Cultivation of an ordinary boy like Qin Mu.

The Village Chief had never heard of anyone pushing the Daoyin Technique to its limit, especially not to the level Qin Mu had reached.

Consequently, he couldn't predict the boy's future potential.

To the astonishment of both Apothecary and the Village Chief, Qin Mu’s Cultivation grew even more profound in the following days. The supposedly mundane Daoyin Technique was causing a radical transformation in his body, forging a Foundation of incredible solidity!

In just a month, Qin Mu could handle even larger doses of spirit blood, and his Vital Qi became denser than that of someone who had just awakened their Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure!

However, despite this density, the lack of attributes meant he couldn't manifest his power externally. Qin Mu was unable to demonstrate the true scale of his progress.

But the density of his Vital Qi provided other benefits! He became exceptionally resilient and possessed a rapid recovery rate. Eventually, he reached a stage where he could hold his own against his mentors. He could clash with Butcher’s knives, endure Old Ma’s punches, trade blows with Blind’s staff while blinded, and keep pace with Cripple’s legs. He would finish these sessions by helping Mute the Blacksmith, swinging a hundred-pound hammer. Even after such intense labor, a session of the “Overlord Body Three Elixir Technique” left him completely revitalized.

The incredible efficacy of the “Overlord Body Three Elixir Technique” even startled the Village Chief. He asked Apothecary to secretly monitor Qin Mu’s health to ensure he wasn't suffering from any internal damage due to overexertion.

After a check-up, Apothecary returned with a stunned expression. “There is no sign of strain or exhaustion. In fact, because his Vital Qi is so thick, it is actively enhancing his physical constitution.”

The Village Chief was at a loss. Despite his vast wisdom, he had never encountered a case like this. Cultivating the common Daoyin Technique to such a degree defied all known logic.

“Qin Mu, today you will learn tailoring from Granny. No fist training today,” Granny Si called out.

The hunched old woman approached, carrying a small basket of needles and thread. As she began walking out of the village, Qin Mu hurried to take the basket for her. “Granny, shouldn't we learn tailoring at home? Why are we leaving?”

“We are heading out to learn the true art of tailoring… and how to make real clothes.”

Granny Si laughed softly. “Old Ma, Cripple, and the others have finally started teaching you real skills. I can’t fall behind. Today, I will show you the pinnacle of a tailor's craft.”

The pinnacle of a tailor's craft? Qin Mu wondered. Doesn't a tailor just sew fabric?

Despite his doubts, he followed Granny Si to the riverbank. Though she was hunched over, her pace was remarkably swift. Qin Mu had to employ the leg techniques Cripple taught him just to stay by her side. After traveling several miles, they arrived at some grassy hills near a mountain. A herd of elk was grazing peacefully about two hundred paces away.

Granny Si pulled a silver needle from a spool and flicked it. The needle vanished in a streak of light. A moment later, one of the elk dropped to the ground while the rest of the herd scattered in terror.

As they reached the fallen animal, Qin Mu saw it was still breathing. However, Granny Si’s needle was embedded between its eyes, rendering it motionless.

“Watch closely, Mu’er. The needle has pinned the elk’s Heaven Soul.”

After ensuring he noted the position, she inserted another needle into the base of the elk's tail.

“This needle secures the Earth Soul,” she explained.

She then placed a third needle into the elk’s navel. “This one pierces the Life Soul. Beyond these three souls, there are seven spirits. The first is the Canine Corpse, located at the crown of the head.”

Granny Si continued to drive needles into the elk near the first puncture. “The second spirit is the Concealed Arrow, found in the brain. Be careful! The Heaven Soul and the Concealed Arrow are close together. They may look like they are in the same spot, but their depths differ. Do not confuse them.”

“The third spirit, the Yin of Sparrow, resides in the Adam’s apple,” she said, pointing to Qin Mu’s throat. “Can you feel that small indentation? That is where it hides. This needle will pin the elk’s Yin of Sparrow.”

Granny Si worked with blurring speed, placing needle after needle.

“The fourth spirit, Seizing Thief, is in the heart where the blood gathers.”

“The fifth, Not Toxic, is also near the navel. Don't mistake it for the Life Soul.”

“The sixth, Remove Filth, is at the perineum.”

“The seventh, Smelly Lung, is in the lungs, the center of breath.”

Once the three souls and seven spirits were pinned, Granny Si said, “Securing the three souls and seven spirits is the vital first step of tailoring. This is known as 'Soul Bind.' Do you have it, Mu’er? If so, the tailoring begins.”

Qin Mu was baffled by how this related to making clothes, but he memorized the points perfectly. “I’ve got it.”

Granny Si took out her scissors and began to skin the elk, starting from the mouth. Soon, the entire hide was removed. Curiously, despite being skinned, the elk's body did not bleed.

“I have tethered the soul to the hide, keeping the blood, energy, and spirit trapped within. The body is dead, but the life remains in the skin. Now, we must refine it into a garment. Watch my fingers!”

She tossed the elk skin into the air. Using her finger as a needle, she struck the hide as it tumbled through the sky.

Qin Mu watched intently, counting three hundred and sixteen strikes before the skin hit the ground. Each hit was precise, injecting Vital Qi into the leather.

When the hide landed, it didn't collapse. It stood upright like a living deer! It moved its head and flicked its tail—it was impossible to tell it was just an empty skin.

Qin Mu stared, dumbfounded by the sight.

Granny Si smiled and opened the skin, draping it over Qin Mu. “This is the kind of clothing a true tailor creates.”

Suddenly, the skin tightened around Qin Mu. It felt as though it were merging with his own flesh, forcing him down onto all fours.

He felt as if he had truly become an elk, even sensing the twitch of a tail.

Granny Si held up a mirror. Looking at his reflection, Qin Mu saw a deer staring back. He tried to speak, but only an elk’s bleat came out.

Suddenly, a thunderous voice boomed across the hills.

“The Heavenly Devil Creation Technique! Such wicked sorcery! I never expected to find a rogue devil training a devil brat in such foul arts in the desolate Great Ruins!”