Chapter 35: The Way of External Elixirs

"Dong..."

There was the sound of a bell in the Daoist temple.

Lin Jue hurriedly got up from his bed and pushed open the room door.

As expected, that junior sister who had joined the temple with him had not remembered where the refectory was, but she was clever; she was currently standing silently at the door waiting for him.

As soon as she saw him, she stole a quiet glance at him:

"Third Shixiong brother, it's time to eat..."

"Hm? That's right, it's time to eat. Let's go."

Although Lin Jue looked about the same age as this little girl, in reality, that was not the case. He naturally would not make such a young girl nervous, and plus, he had a very good impression of her along the way, so he smiled at her and led the way forward.

The refectory was a room in the corner of the outer courtyard. Because the Tianweng Hall stood in between, the kitchen was in another corner. As they walked over, they already saw a senior brother carrying a large basin of food toward the refectory.

Both of them were new to this place. Regardless of whether their hearts were settled or not, they were certainly somewhat unaccustomed to it, and for a moment, they did not know what to do.

"Go and sit."

The senior brother's expression was quite gentle.

The two of them then went to the refectory and sat down.

The refectory was neither big nor small, with a few long wooden tables that were likely prepared for incense pilgrims. In the middle, two wooden tables were pushed together to form a longer table, and the food was all placed on it.

There were a total of nine disciples in the temple, sitting on both sides of the long table, with Daoist Yunhe sitting alone at the head.

Lin Jue could not help but size up the food on the table.

The junior sister was also stealing glances.

The food in the temple was simple, but not crude.

There was no big fish or meat, but there was a pot of rice. Although the rice was cooked neither dry nor thin, it still surpassed the vast majority of households at the foot of the mountain. In addition, there were only two vegetable dishes: one was boiled cabbage, on which some oil could faintly be seen floating, and the other was wild vegetables stir-fried with eggs. Both dishes were served in large porcelain basins.

"I'll serve the rice."

The senior brother who sat closest to the rice basin took the initiative to stand up and serve the rice.

Soon, a bowl of rice was placed in front of each person.

It looked like it was alright.

This concerned their growth over the next few years.

"Eat, eat, eat..."

At the old Daoist's command, everyone picked up their bowls.

Lin Jue waited for them to reach out with their chopsticks first, secretly looking around. Seeing that no one had any reservations and that there did not seem to be any other etiquette, but rather it was quite casual, he felt relieved and also reached out with his chopsticks.

He first picked up some cabbage and sent it into his mouth.

"..."

Well! People at the foot of the mountain could not afford salt and were frugal with every meal, yet this Daoist temple was extravagant!

Lin Jue did not speak, lowering his head to shovel a large mouthful of rice.

He then picked up a mouthful of wild vegetables stir-fried with eggs.

"..."

These wild vegetables were not acanthopanax, nor were they any kind of wild vegetable Lin Jue recognized. They tasted soft and were not very suitable for stir-frying with eggs, and like most wild vegetables that were not handled well, the taste was bitter.

Lin Jue did not say anything, though.

This era was just like this—

Iron pots had only just appeared not long ago, and before this, there was no stir-frying at all. Except for some inns and restaurants that specifically sold food and wine and wealthy households with cooks, it was rare to see households that could make food taste good. Moreover, in this era, most households struggled even to eat their fill; they dug whatever wild vegetables they could find on the mountain, regardless of the flavor.

Being able to eat these in the Daoist temple was considered quite good.

Lin Jue glanced at the opposite side again.

That junior sister was sizing him up just as he was sizing up the others, but she had taken him as her object of observation. Seeing him pick up food without restraint, she then carefully followed his lead.

It was just that she was very satisfied while eating.

"Don't just eat rice, pick up some vegetables, pick up some vegetables, eat the eggs, eat the eggs. These eggs were laid by the chickens we raise ourselves; there are plenty of them, we can't finish them, no need to be polite." Seeing that Lin Jue kept eating rice and the junior sister also kept eating rice, the sixth senior brother knew they were too embarrassed to pick up the vegetables, so he greeted them repeatedly.

"Understood, senior brother."

"Understood, senior brother!"

Lin Jue could not help but glance at the little girl opposite him.

"The rule of our Daoist temple is that, except for Master, cooking is done in turns, changing every month. This month, it just happens to be my turn."

"..."

Lin Jue could not help but glance at this sixth senior brother.

"Do you two know how to cook?"

"I do."

"I... I don't..."

"Next month it's old seven's turn to cook, and the month after that it will be Lin Jue's turn. It just so happens that by then you should also be familiar with the Daoist temple. It doesn't matter if you don't know how to cook; your senior brothers don't know how either, as long as you can cook it until it's done."

"Understood."

"Un-understood..."

The evening meal was eaten quite cleanly.

Lin Jue had been pondering which of the seven spells he should practice first and which one he should focus on. Because he did not understand enough, he first found the second senior brother who specialized in alchemy.

"What is it, junior brother?"

"Second senior brother, I don't know what I should learn, and I would like to ask you for advice on the method of alchemy first."

"No need to be polite."

The second senior brother did not seem to have many words; this could be seen from his demeanor. He just nodded, and there was no fluctuation on his face.

The two of them strolled under the night sky.

A crescent moon hung in the sky.

"Has Master ever told you that in the ancient times, human cultivators focused primarily on alchemy?"

"He has."

"Do you also know the distinction between external elixirs and internal elixirs?"

"I roughly know."

"Then I won't say much more." The second senior brother, Yan Yan Xuan Yi, nodded. "In ancient times, cultivators sought miraculous powers through alchemy, sought longevity through alchemy, and sought to ascend to immortality through alchemy. Nowadays, most people in the world think that cultivators' alchemy only serves to treat illnesses and save people and to increase Daoist cultivation; at most, they have heard in legends of a Golden Core that can make one become an immortal after eating one grain. In fact, these are all incomplete."

"Please enlighten me, senior brother."

Lin Jue was naturally eager to learn and listened earnestly.

"In ancient times, everyone practiced alchemy, and external elixirs were naturally a Great Dao, not a minor path. The later Spirit Method Sect and the original External Elixir Sect also have commonalities; alchemy draws from heaven and earth, and spells also draw from heaven and earth. Roughly speaking, whatever cultivation and spells could achieve back then, alchemy could also achieve."

Speaking of his own major, even the second senior brother could not help but have a bit more interest in talking:

"For example, cultivation can lead to immortality, and it can lead to longevity, so alchemy can also... You must have heard rumors of people in ancient times who ate a grain of Golden Core and flew away to become immortals, or attained longevity, right?"

"I have indeed heard of them."

"Take another example: you learn a Five Elements spell, which can allow you to escape into the earth, and there is also a type of elixir that, if eaten, can allow you to escape into the earth. There is a spell that can allow you to spew fire, or return to youth, and there is also a type of elixir in the world that, if eaten, can allow you to spew fire, or return to youth."

"Is it really that magical?"

"First came external elixirs, then internal elixirs, and only after that came the Spirit Methods." The second senior brother said, "The two have commonalities, and also differences. It is just a pity that later, external elixirs gradually declined, and internal elixirs hid in the deep mountains. As time went on, they were not as prosperous as the Spirit Method Sect. Thus, there were more and more new spells that alchemy could not achieve, because spells were constantly being created, while external elixirs stood still. Come to think of it, it's not just standing still; more and more ancient elixir formulas have been lost."

"So that's how it is."

"It's a pity that we are a Spirit Method Daoist temple. Although I also study the method of alchemy, I cannot obtain it completely. Back then, the founder left behind five elixir formulas, and through generations of collecting, there are only ten or so."

The second senior brother said, looking at Lin Jue:

"Besides this, I am also proficient in the Fire Element spells that go with alchemy, and I am well-versed in the methods of 'ingestion' and 'gathering'."

"Fire Element spells?"

"Alchemy requires fire, after all. However, you haven't started practicing Spirit Methods yet. Only after practicing Spirit Methods and having some Daoist cultivation can you practice Five Elements spells."

"Then when can I practice Spirit Methods?"

"No need to be anxious, the first senior brother will naturally teach you. If we talk about being anxious, Master should be more anxious than you." The second senior brother said calmly, "It's just that you cannot learn it from the very beginning, nor can you only learn Spirit Methods."

"Why is that?"

"In that case, wouldn't you only know the technique but not the Dao?" The second senior brother glanced at him indifferently.

"Only know the technique but not the Dao..."

Lin Jue murmured, his expression solemn.

"I heard from Master that you have practiced the Qi-Nurturing Method for a few years. If you have considered it well and want to learn alchemy, I can teach you other matters of alchemy first, then teach you ingestion and gathering. When you have cultivated magical power and learned Fire Element spells, I will then teach you how to practice alchemy." The second senior brother said, and reminded him again, "By the way, although you cannot start learning Spirit Methods now, the Qi-Nurturing Method you originally knew can also be practiced continuously. By then, the attainments and Daoist cultivation you have in the Qi-Nurturing Method can also be brought into the Spirit Methods."

"Thank you, second senior brother."

"Anything else?"

"There is..."

"What is it?"

"I went to attend the Mountain Lord's banquet with Master, and halfway through, I accidentally obtained a piece of Earth-Wood Essence." Lin Jue said, taking out that piece of Earth-Wood Essence from his bosom, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It is said that it has an effect just by carrying it on one's person, but if it can be refined into an elixir, the effect will be even better, so I would like to ask second senior brother how to refine it."

"It's just Five Elements essence, nothing more than extracting the spiritual aura. If you want to refine it into an elixir to ingest, just give it to me. I'll help you tinker with it when I have time in a few days."

"Then I will trouble second senior brother."

"Don't be a stranger."

The second senior brother's expression remained calm. He took Lin Jue's Earth-Wood Essence and turned to leave, walking toward his quarters in the night, only a calm voice coming back:

"We are a small temple, there aren't many people, just a few senior and junior brothers staying together all day, there really is no need to be so formal."

"Understood."

Lin Jue stood where he was, motionless.

A few cats and dogs on the ground looked up at him curiously.

Suddenly, he felt a bit fortunate to have chosen this place.

Returning to his room, he pondered as he fell asleep.

Although it was already midsummer, it was still cool in the mountains. Once night fell, it was so quiet that one could hear the calls of wild beasts and birds from very far away, peaceful and easy to sleep.

He was woken up by the first senior brother early in the morning.

The first senior brother called Lin Jue and the junior sister together to the Mountain-Moving Hall. At this time, there were only the three of them in the Mountain-Moving Hall. He gave each of them a scripture and told them to recite it.

Lin Jue had seen this book—

It was precisely the *Yin-Yang Scripture*.

"Read the book a hundred times, and its meaning will naturally reveal itself. For the first month, you should first recite the *Yin-Yang Scripture* once every morning."

The first senior brother's explanation was similar to the second senior brother's. The temple practiced the Yin-Yang Spirit Method, and the essence of the Yin-Yang Great Dao was the Dao, while the Yin-Yang Spirit Method was just a technique. Therefore, before learning the Spirit Method, he had them recite the *Yin-Yang Scripture* first.

It seemed this was the morning class of the Fuqiu Temple.

Lin Jue did not say much and began to read.

"Heaven produces five kinds of Qi, Earth bears Yin and Yang, day and night alternate, the four seasons cycle, all are the Dao of Yin and Yang..."

As Lin Jue read, he noticed there was no sound beside him.

He turned his head to look—

The junior sister was holding the *Yin-Yang Scripture*, sitting on a meditation cushion, her delicate and fair little face full of bewilderment, and she did not know where to look with her eyes.

One moment she looked at the book, the next she looked at Lin Jue.

One moment she turned her head to look at the first senior brother.

"What is it? Oh! You don't know how to read?" The first senior brother also understood.

"..."

"It doesn't matter. Since you don't know how to read, you should go back and rest first." The first senior brother said, "In two days, someone will naturally teach you how to read. No need to be anxious, learn how to read first."

"Hm..."

The junior sister had no choice but to nod and put down the book.

"Go back and rest."

The junior sister, however, refused to leave and still sat there, glancing at Lin Jue: "I'll listen to junior senior brother recite..."

"That's fine too."

The first senior brother did not object.

Being eager to learn was always right.

Lin Jue did not mind either and continued to recite.

?? ￠O

"Heaven produces five kinds of Qi, Earth bears Yin and Yang, day and night alternate, the four seasons cycle, all are the Dao of Yin and Yang..."

He paused while reading and turned his head to look.

The little girl was still very bewildered.

"It means that heaven produces five kinds of Qi, and the earth bears the alternation of Yin and Yang. Hm, this is probably a similar technique of mutual explanation, meaning that both heaven and earth have five kinds of Qi, and there is the alternation of Yin and Yang. The changes of day and night and the alternation of the four seasons are all the Dao of Yin and Yang..."

He then continued to recite the next sentence.

The little girl sat on the meditation cushion, listening earnestly, and there was obvious emotion and shame in her expression. ===== CHAPTER 36 =====