Chapter 109

Purple Gold Ingot, also known as the Divine Immortal Taiyi Elixir, also called the Jade Pivot Elixir, and named the Ten-Thousand Diseases Detoxifying Pill. It can dispel all poisons, accumulated poisons, insect poisons, gu poisons, arsenic, fungi, dead cow, pufferfish, etc., as well as epidemic diseases, mountain miasma, throat closure, throat wind, madness, demonic qi, frenzy, bewildering death, locked jaw, infantile convulsions, etc.... It can cure all diseases, and the medicine works upon contact with the illness,

Daoist Sect divine pill -> Daoist Sect divine pill? Actually "Daoist Sect divine pill" is a term; "Daoist Sect" is Daoist Sect (already in glossary). "divine pill" is divine pill, generic.

Daoist medicine -> Daoist medicine (generic). Hubei Wudang Mountain -> Hubei Wudang Mountain (place). Zhang Sanfeng -> Zhang Sanfeng (person). So include Zhang Sanfeng, Wudang Mountain.

end of Yuan, start of Ming (dynasties). Not a name? Could be considered historical period; but not a named entity? Probably exclude. Liaodong person Zhang Sanfeng (person). Already have Zhang Sanfeng. Wudang Mountain (place). Hua Tuo (person). So include Hua Tuo.

Upon hearing the old man say he was Hua Tuo and was about to leave, Zhang Sanfeng hurried forward to grab him and ask for advice. Unexpectedly, as he just caught hold of the old man's lapel, the old man gave a tug, making him stagger and nearly fall off the cliff beside the road. He was startled, breaking out in a cold sweat, and hastily opened his eyes: it turned out to be a dream of Nanke.

Ming Chao emperor -> Ming Chao emperor (Ming Chao is in glossary). So include Ming Chao (already). Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill -> Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill (item). So include.

And the reason for this name is that during the refining process, eight kinds of treasures are used.

The first treasure, the Imperial Gold Seal, is actually a gold box for storing the folded secret recipe of the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Ingot. It is eight cun eight fen long, corresponding to the sixty‑four hexagrams of the Zhouyi; four cun eight fen wide, corresponding to the four seasons and eight solar terms; two cun eight fen thick, symbolizing the full moon of the 2‑8‑16 day; the top is inlaid with a pattern of two dragons playing with a pearl, symbolizing the transformation of yin and yang; inside contains the Taiji, with eight swimming dragons carved around, symbolizing the changes of the eight trigrams, endless and continuous. Because the bottom of the box is cast with the four large characters 'Imperial Gold Seal', and the box resembles a great seal, it is called the Imperial Gold Seal.

Second treasure: Gold-inlaid Jade Satchel -> Second treasure: Gold-inlaid Jade Satchel (item). We'll translate as "Gold-inlaid Jade Satchel". Need to include.

Third treasure: White Tiger Guarding the Gate -> Third treasure: White Tiger Guarding the Gate (item). Fourth treasure: Azure Dragon Blocking the Pass -> Fourth treasure: Azure Dragon Blocking the Pass (item). Fifth treasure: Hua Tuo's Divine Prescription -> Fifth treasure: Hua Tuo's Divine Prescription (item). Sixth treasure: Thunder God's Forge -> Sixth treasure: Thunder God's Forge (item). Seventh treasure: Eight Immortals' Seclusion -> Seventh treasure: Eight Immortals' Seclusion (item). Eighth treasure: Sanfeng Protects the Treasure -> Eighth treasure: Sanfeng Protects the Treasure (item). Also note "Sanfeng" refers to Zhang Sanfeng (Sanfeng). So we might include "Sanfeng Protects the Treasure". But we already have Zhang Sanfeng.

Fifth treasure Hua Tuo's Divine Prescription, sixth treasure Thunder God's Forge.

However, the secret recipe and procedure, I'm afraid, can only be known by the Daoists of Wudang Mountain; of course, the identity of that Daoist probably also has to be out of the ordinary in order to grasp this secret formula.

Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill -> Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill (already). Pangzi -> Pangzi (glossary). Wudang Mountain -> Wudang Mountain (already).

However, if Granny Hong's meaning is indeed like that, then what he said amounts to nothing. Although the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill has heaven-defying efficacy, it can not only cure Shi Shi's illness but also help her regulate her innate deficiencies; yet the refinement of the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill is extremely cumbersome, requiring at least seven heavenly cycles, and the success rate is extremely low—even if Wudang Mountain has it, it is not something I and Pangzi can obtain.

Five Thunderclaps Strike the Top -> "Five Thunderclaps Strike the Top"? It's an idiom; not a named entity.

"No, I mean we can refine it ourselves..." Hong Nainai said, word by word, never expecting that this sentence would stir up such a fierce storm in the depths of our hearts.

After a moment, I, having regained my senses, gulped and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"Granny Hong, you say you can refine it—do you know the secret formula and method for the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill?" Even though I was thunderstruck by those words, I still found it a little hard to believe. Because the formula of the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill is too precious, precious enough to cause a storm in the medical world; moreover, it is extremely complicated, complicated to the point of requiring one hundred and eight kinds of medicinal ingredients.

Moreover, since the divine pill came into being, Wudang Mountain has kept the refinement process of the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill highly secret; the primary requirement is that the person refining it must be a Daoist who is either deaf, mute, or disabled, and must also spend his whole life never leaving Wudang Mountain. Only those who meet these conditions are qualified to participate in the alchemy.

Given these requirements, one can imagine how precious and rare the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill is; for ordinary people to inquire a little about it is practically as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Now Granny Hong has us personally refine the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill, which has truly stunned us.

In the eager and expectant gazes of me and Pangzi, Hong Nainai slowly opened her mouth: "I don't know."

Indeed... this expected answer caused me and Pangzi to sigh in unison. However, Hong Nainai then dealt us, who were disappointed, a heavy blow of surprise.

Miss Murong -> Miss Murong (generic address). We'll exclude as generic form of address. However we need to include the person's name later: Murong Jiaja -> Murong Jiaja.

No.

"What did you say?" I and Pangzi both stared at Hong Nainai in shock; even my head was nearly rendered unable to respond by a wave of dizziness.

This is a natural reaction brought on by the intertwined waves of disappointment and hope.

Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill -> same. Murong she -> Murong she (referring to Murong Jiaja). So we need Murong Jiaja.

Until Hong Nainai nodded, again confirming that Murong Jiaja would refine it, Pangzi let out a loud 'wa' cry, clutching his fists and jumping excitedly, and even had me call Murong Jiaja out to ask for clarification.

"Hey hey hey, Brother Weiqiang, what's wrong with you? Even if Sister Jingjing agreed to go on a date with you, you don't need to be this excited!" Yao Yirong, while picking up a piece of chicken and putting it in her mouth, looked curiously at Pangzi.

"Get lost, what nonsense are you talking?" Silijing blushed and shoved Yao Yirong, teased by her two students; Silijing didn't know whether she felt ashamed and angry or shy.

Hehe... Pangzi scratched the back of his head and gave a foolish hehe laugh, embarrassed and lowering his head. Yao Yirong's teasing made his heart feel sweet as honey, making him forget the shock brought by the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Blossom.

I gave Pangzi a look; the meaning was clear — I wanted him to continue speaking later, after all this isn't a convenient place to talk.

Not long after, Grandma Zhao also came out of the room.

"Grandma Zhao, how is Shishi now? Has she fallen asleep?" As soon as Grandma Zhao appeared, everyone gathered around her without prior agreement.

Grandma Zhao smiled kindly and relaxed her breath, then said to us: "She's fallen asleep; this child has been through so much, she's exhausted."

While saying that, he kept rummaging in his pocket for something.

A few seconds later, a large bundle of loose change appeared in our sight — five-yuan, ten-yuan, and five-mao coins, all present.

"Two great immortals, you've had a rough time running around today; this is my little token of gratitude, please accept it, both of you." Without giving us a chance to refuse, Grandma Zhao tried to stuff the money into our hands.

The first to react was Pangzi; as soon as Grandma Zhao reached out, he immediately pushed it back.

And he said to Grandma Zhao: "Grandma Zhao, I already told you I wouldn't take a single penny for the cure-all; why are you pulling this stunt now?"

To be honest, looking at this bundle of change made everyone's noses feel a bit sore. Many of the coins were very old, giving off a musty smell; who knows how much wind and rain the old woman endured out there, painstakingly picking up scraps to save these few yuan and mao.

We naturally couldn't accept this money; if we did, our consciences would be uneasy for life.

So we not only refused to take it, but we also took out whatever little we had from our pockets and shoved it into Grandma Zhao's hands. Additionally, Yao Yirong and Silijing contributed a share. Seeing the pitiful state of Shishi and Grandma Zhao, everyone couldn't help but want to lend a hand.

"Hey hey hey, this won't do; this money was originally meant as incense-oil money for you. You refusing mine already makes me feel embarrassed—how could I then take yours? This is absolutely not okay, absolutely not." Grandma Zhao waved her hands frantically in fear.

During the evasive process, there was another round of pushing back and forth.

"The deities accept incense-oil offerings, but they also teach universal salvation; Grandma Zhao, is it reasonable for you to take this money?" I explained, headache forming.

"Exactly, you don't know; in my hometown some Daoist temples do accept incense-oil money, but when they see someone in need of help, they also open the merit box, take out the money, and aid the faithful who need assistance. So if we don't help you, the deities will blame us." At the end, Pangzi pretended to purse his lips, forced out two teardrops, and looked pitifully at Grandma Zhao.

"The leader of our Daoist practice is the divine spirit; if the divine spirit blames us, we won't have good days!" Pangzi lowered his head, rotating his thumbs up and down: "If the deities get angry, we'll suffer terribly, terribly… wuu wuu." After saying that, he even twitched twice like a performance, wiping his hand across his eyes as if wiping tears.

Finally, Grandma Zhao couldn't resist and, feeling embarrassed, accepted the money. This kind old lady then knelt before us again, frightening me and Pangzi into kneeling as well; we used both hands and feet to help her up.

I hate all this formal nonsense—each time I see it, I hate it more; each encounter leaves me feeling more embarrassed.

As Grandma Zhao stood up and finally put the money into her pocket, recalling that scene, I couldn't help but secretly give Pangzi a thumbs-up in my heart, involuntarily praising: "Acting talent."

Pangzi flicked his hair, raised his nose, and said proudly: "Strength faction."

Me: "……"

While being speechless toward Pangzi, I vaguely recalled that I seemed not to have brought any money today; the money I gave Grandma Zhao was actually the change Yao Yirong had picked up for me when gathering medicine… awkward.