Chapter 381

Purple gold ingot, also called the Immortal Taiyi Pill, also known as the Jade Pivot Pill, named the Ten-Thousand Diseases Detox Pill. It can dispel all poisoning, accumulated poison, insect poison, gu poison, arsenic, mushroom, dead cattle, pufferfish poison, etc., as well as epidemic disease, mountain miasma, throat closure, throat wind, perverse evil, ghostly qi, madness, delirium, locked jaw, infantile convulsions, etc.... It can cure all diseases, and the disease is eliminated upon taking the medicine,

Even a healthy person, if taken long-term, can lighten the body and abstain from grains. Even those who die from severe illness, acute poisoning, or hanging suicide, as long as it has not exceeded twelve double-hours, can be revived. Hence it is called the Daoist Sect's divine elixir. According to legend, Wudang Daoists who subsist solely on this elixir can go their whole lives without eating grains; some attain the Dao and ascend in broad daylight, while others become wandering immortals, appearing and disappearing unpredictably. Even those of dull wisdom, by regularly taking this pill, can live past a hundred years before passing away.

This is an extremely precious medicinal pill in Daoist medicine, a treasured heirloom of Mount Wudang in Hubei. Legend says it was invented by Zhang Sanfeng, the founding patriarch of Wudang. As for his origins, there is also a rather mysterious story about him.

Legend has it that, at the end of the Yuan and beginning of the Ming dynasties, Zhang Sanfeng, a native of Liaodong, left home to come to Mount Wudang, where he faced the wall and cultivated for nine years. One day, while Zhang Sanfeng was seated in meditation, an old man with white hair and a clear aura suddenly walked up before him, muttering incessantly, neither speaking nor singing, yet full of rhythm. Zhang Sanfeng listened closely and realized that the old man's chant was actually a medicinal prescription for curing illness. As the saying goes, nine out of ten monastics know medicine; hearing that the prescription was extraordinary, he immediately knew the man must be an adept. Zhang Sanfeng then made an offering of incense, bowed, and asked the old man which immortal he was and what instruction he had. But the old man paid no heed, acting as if no one were there, and continued his chanting without pause. Fortunately, Zhang Sanfeng's hearts were in sync; he instantly fell silent and listened attentively to the old man's words. After a while, the old man finished his chant and said, "I am Hua Tuo. Those who remember my words will someday find great use for them." Having spoken, he drifted away.

Upon hearing that the old man was Hua Tuo and that he was about to leave, Zhang Sanfeng hurried forward to grab him and ask for instruction. But as soon as he seized the old man's lapel, the old man gave a tug, causing Zhang Sanfeng to 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.

Although it was only a dream, after waking Zhang Sanfeng remembered the prescription he had heard in the dream very clearly. He hurriedly spread out paper and brush, recording the prescription in full. Upon finishing and examining it closely, he found there were four: the first was the secret formula for the Wudang Eight Treasures Purple Gold Ingot. Of course, the divine pill's original name was not called Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill. The name Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill was later bestowed by an emperor of the Ming Chao.

The reason for this name is that eight kinds of treasures are used in the refining process.

The first treasure is the "Imperial Gold Seal". This object is actually a gold box used to store the folded slip containing the secret formula for the Wudang Eight Treasures Purple Gold Ingot. It measures 8 cun 8 fen in length, corresponding to the sixty-four hexagrams of the Zhouyi (8×8=64); its width is 4 cun 8 fen, corresponding to the four seasons and eight solar terms; its thickness is 2 cun 8 fen, symbolizing the full moon of the sixteenth day of the second and eighth months; the top is inlaid with a pattern of two dragons playing with a pearl, symbolizing the transformation of the two primal forces of yin and yang; inside it contains the Taiji, and around the edges are carved eight swimming dragons, 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.

The second treasure is gold-inlaid jade satchel,

The third treasure is the White Tiger Guarding the Gate, the fourth treasure is the Azure Dragon Blocking the Pass, the fifth treasure is Hua Tuo's Divine Prescription, the sixth treasure is Lei Gong's Forge, the seventh treasure is the Eight Immortals' Secluded Dwelling, and the eighth treasure is San Feng Guarding the Treasure.

Among the eight treasures, most are merely external objects; only the fifth and sixth treasures are of paramount importance, the core of the eight treasures. The fifth treasure, Hua Tuo's Divine Prescription, is the prescription for the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill; the sixth treasure, Lei Gong's Forge, is the crucial procedure for refining the pill.

However, the prescription and procedure are likely known only to the Daoists of Mount Wudang; moreover, the identity of such a Daoist must be out of the ordinary in order to grasp this secret formula.

"You mean you want me and Pangzi to go to Mount Wudang to beg for an Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill," said Red Granny when she mentioned the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill. I instinctively thought of that, because we neither have the prescription for the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill nor know how to refine it; aside from begging for medicine, there is no other way.

However, if Red Granny really meant that, then what she said would be as good as saying nothing. Although the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill has heaven-defying effects—it can not only cure Shishi's illness but also help her make up for her innate deficiencies—its refinement is extraordinarily complicated, requiring at least seven celestial cycles, and its success rate is extremely low; even if Mount Wudang had it, it would not be something Pangzi and I could obtain.

I asked Red Granny in this way, preparing myself for disappointment. But her answer struck me like a thunderclap from five directions, leaving Pangzi and me as if struck by lightning, frozen in place, unable to react in body or mind.

"No, I meant that we ourselves could refine it," Red Granny said, word by word, never imagining how strongly this sentence would stir up a storm in our hearts.

After a moment, upon regaining my senses, I gulped down a mouthful of saliva with a guttural sound.

"Red Granny, you say you can refine it—do you know the prescription and method for the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill?" Even though this statement shocked me, I still found it hard to believe. Because the prescription for the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill is extremely precious—precious enough to cause an uproar in the medical world—and it is also extraordinarily complicated, involving as many as one hundred and eight medicinal ingredients.

Furthermore, since the divine pill came into existence, Mount Wudang has kept the refinement process of the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill strictly 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 their entire life on Mount Wudang. Only those who meet these conditions are qualified to participate in the refining.

Given these requirements, one can imagine how precious and rare the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill is; for an ordinary person to inquire about it is practically as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Now Red Granny has us refining the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill ourselves, which has truly stunned us.

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

Indeed, this expected answer caused both me and Pangzi to sigh in unison. Yet Red Granny then dealt us, who were disappointed, a heavy surprise.

"Although I don't know the prescription for the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill, Miss Murong knows it; moreover, she also knows the procedure for refining it."

"What did you say?"

"What did you say?" Pangzi and I stared at Red Granny in shock; even my head was nearly overwhelmed by a wave of dizziness, leaving me unable to react.

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

"Red Granny, are you serious…? Miss Murong really can refine the Eight Treasures Purple Gold Pill." Pangzi's face flushed red, his voice hurried. He was nervous and excited, yet he also worried that Red Granny was speaking without basis.

When Red Granny nodded, again confirming that Murong Jiaja could refine the pill, Pangzi let out a loud 'wa' cry, clenched his fists and jumped about excitedly, and even had me call Murong Jiaja out to ask for clarification.

"Hey hey hey, Weiqiang Brother, what's wrong with you? Even if Silijing Sis agreed to go on a date with you, you wouldn't need to get this excited!" Yao Yirong said, slipping a piece of chicken into her mouth while eyeing Pangzi curiously.

"Get lost, what nonsense are you talking?" Silijing blushed and shoved Yao Yirong, being teased by her two students, Silijing also didn't know whether she felt embarrassed and angry or just 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 obvious: I wanted him to go back and say it again, 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 without prior agreement.

Grandma Zhao smiled kindly, then relaxed her breath, and 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 change appeared in our sight, with 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 both of you accept it." Without giving us a chance to refuse, Grandma Zhao was about 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 penny for the cure-all; why are you pulling this stunt now?"

Frankly, looking at this bundle of change, everyone's nose felt a bit sour. Many of the coins were very old, giving off a musty smell, and who knows how much sun and rain the old woman endured while painstakingly picking up scraps outside to gather these few coins.

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

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

"Oh no, this won't do; this money was originally meant as incense-oil money for you. You not taking my money already makes me feel embarrassed—how could I then take yours? No, absolutely not." Grandma Zhao waved her hands in panic.

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

"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 with a headache.

"Exactly, you don't know, in my hometown some Taoist temples do collect incense-oil money, but when they see someone in need of help, they also open the merit box, take out the money, and give it to those who need help. So if we don't help you, the deities will blame us." At the end, Pangzi pretended to purse his lips, stiffly squeezing out two teardrops, looking pitifully at Grandma Zhao.

"Our cultivation's supreme is the divine spirits; if the divine spirits blame us, we won't have good days!" Pangzi lowered his head, his thumbs rotating up and down: "If the deities get angry, we'll be miserable later... boo hoo." After saying that, he even acted out a couple of spasms, wiping his hand across his eyes as if wiping tears.

In the end, Grandma Zhao couldn't resist and reluctantly accepted the money; this kind old lady, upon taking the money, knelt before us again, frightening me and Pangzi into kneeling as well, and we used both hands and feet to help her up.

All these formalities are the most annoying; every time I see them I dislike them, and every encounter leaves me 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 pro."

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

Me: "..."

While being speechless at Pangzi, I vaguely recalled that I seemed to have brought no money today; the money I gave Grandma Zhao was what Yao Yirong had just picked up for me... awkward.

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