Chapter 55

"Thank you, Daoist Master!"

Lin Jue was respectful, took the three pills, and then returned to his seat, sitting cross-legged to examine the pills.

The following matters had nothing to do with him.

He saw many little Taoist priests of Xianyuan Temple looking at each other, and finally, some gradually stood up to cast their spells.

Some fanned a breeze, some breathed out a clear wind, some disturbed the blue smoke in the room, some blew the incense sticks until they glowed, and two or three little Daoists used all their strength to blow over the wooden board. The wind blown by the very competitive little Daoist Yun Yi was the strongest, almost lifting his lapels and messing up his hair. But there was no wind as strong as Lin Jue's before.

The junior sister was just a tiny bit off and didn't blow over the wooden board, but she also got two pills.

"That is all for today."

Wangji Zi, sitting at the head, said loudly:

"Now that you have listened to the Dao, cultivated the methods, and learned the spells, on the path of cultivating the Dao, you can be considered to have entered the gate. Even if you go down the mountain now, you can be called a Daoist with attainment.

"Remember not to slack off!

"This test is nothing; the real test is in the future, and it is very long!

"Originally, we who cultivate the Dao should not place too much importance on spells while cultivating peacefully on this mountain, but unfortunately, there are signs of chaos in the world today, so from now on, remember not to give up practicing spells.

"The Dao is the path of cultivation, and spells are the methods to protect the Dao.

"..."

A voice came from a little Daoist below: "May I ask the Temple Master, to what extent must one cultivate to become an immortal?"

"Become an immortal? Hehe..."

Wangji Zi chuckled, seemingly with some emotion, and also somewhat disdainfully:

"This path is long...

"The Fulu Sect confers registers, and one can set up altars to perform rituals, so one can be called a Master. You should cultivate well and practice spells; when you can use spells to eliminate demons, and people down the mountain call you a Master, you can calmly accept it.

"Without becoming a True Person, one is ultimately a mortal. When you shed your mortal body and change your bones one day, that is when you have attained the truth and the Dao, and have become a True Person.

"If we talk about becoming an immortal, a True Person can become an immortal in one step if they wish.

"If you go higher, there are Great Powers and True Immortals.

"That is already a matter of ancient times.

"Do not look too far ahead. In the thousands of years of our Xianyuan Temple, I don't know if anyone has attained the Way and the truth and become a 'True Person'; in any case, I, the old Taoist priest, have never heard of it.

"..."

Wangji Zi seemed tired as he spoke and waved for them to disperse.

Lin Jue knew that Xianyuan Temple recruited many more disciples than Fuqiu Temple: the existing disciples of Xianyuan Temple could actually be divided into three generations. Most of the little Taoist priests sitting in the hall were not Wangji Zi's disciples; among them were disciples of Wangji Zi's disciples, as well as disciples or grand-disciples of his junior brothers. It was because Wangji Zi had the highest attainment in the temple, and the 'Way' was the most important, that at the beginning of these little Taoist priests' cultivation, Wangji Zi would lecture them uniformly, explaining his understanding of the Great Way of heaven and earth, the essence of Yin-Yang spiritual resonance, and also the Five Qi and the cultivation of heart and nature, so that their future path of cultivating the Way would be easier.

Now that they had entered the gate of spiritual methods and learned a simple spell, they probably wouldn't easily come here to hear Wangji Zi's lectures again.

So Lin Jue stood up and bowed deeply.

The junior sister didn't understand why, but she just followed suit.

Then they stood up and walked out.

Today is truly good weather.

Below are white clouds, above is a blue sky, and in between are strange granite mountains with a yellowish, greenish, and blackish tint. An ancient pine tree is rooted in a rock crevice, its branches slanting out. White clouds are rolling, the blue sky is without a trace, and everything is very bright.

The temple's palaces and pavilions are connected by stone steps; Daoists walk hurriedly among them, avoiding the sun; wild deer stroll leisurely, not afraid of people; and there is curling blue smoke from furnaces, and the sound of bells and scripture chanting can be heard from time to time.

Stepping forward is like walking into a painting.

"Third Shixiong brother, why were you the first to go out? Why didn't you wait for those little Daoists to cast their Wind-Calling technique first, and then you blow a big wind to make them die of anger?" The junior sister reached out to touch the deer's antlers, but turned her head and asked her senior brother curiously, her eyes wide open.

"Wouldn't that just be another Master and Daoist Master Wangji Zi?"

"Oh!! They are just like that!" The junior sister seemed to know this only now, her eyes widening, "No wonder!"

"..."

"How did you know?"

"..."

Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind.

"Daoist brother Lin Jue!"

Lin Jue and the other, along with the fox beside them, turned to look.

It was several little Taoist priests from Xianyuan Temple, and the leader was the one named Yun Yi. This little Taoist priest was a disciple personally accepted by Wangji Zi; he was talented and the most competitive.

Compared to his unconvinced and secretly comparing attitude every time he listened to the lecture before, his brows and eyes were much softer now, but there was still some firmness and unwillingness to admit defeat.

Lin Jue didn't know what he had come for.

"The ability of Fuqiu Temple to 'know people and know fate' is truly extraordinary. Taoist brother is exceptionally gifted. Today, regarding this 'Wind-Calling,' we admit defeat." The little Taoist priest walked over, bowed to him, and then said, "Master is right; originally, those who cultivate the Way should not place too much importance on spells, but the world is indeed a bit different today... I still want to keep a competitive heart with Taoist brother."

As he spoke, he paused, lowered his head to avoid Lin Jue's gaze, but his voice did not stop: "Master said that at this time next year, and every year at this time from now on, the temple will compare spells, and I hope Daoist brother can still come."

"Hmm?"

Is this treating himself as a target to motivate him?

If so, Lin Jue was actually quite happy.

Lin Jue pondered and returned the bow, saying:

"My master said that our two temples have been friends since the ancestors, and have interacted for generations since then; we shouldn't draw such clear lines. If you have anything to call us for, Daoist friend, we will naturally come. It's not far anyway."

"Daoist brother is compassionate."

"Compassionate."

The two groups parted ways.

One group walked toward the inner courtyard, and the other walked toward the outside of the mountain.

The junior sister was still touching the deer's antlers, smiling at him: "Third Shixiong brother, why do you want to compete with them again?"

"This is different."

"..."

The junior sister scratched her head, withdrew her hand, followed him forward, her thoughts quickly turning elsewhere, and asked him to go pick wild peaches in the mountain with her.

Slowly and leisurely, they returned to the temple.

"Third Shixiong brother, when shall we eat this pill?" The junior sister asked him while holding the peaches.

"Naturally, we should ask the second senior brother."

"That's right!"

So the two took the pills to consult the second senior brother.

The second senior brother just took one look and said to him:

"This is a Giant Spirit Pill. Looking at the quality and spiritual resonance, it's just a secondary product. The Taoist friends of Jiulong Temple are skilled in alchemy; if it comes from Jiulong Temple, it should be the dregs of the Giant Spirit Pills refined by the Taoist friends of Jiulong Temple. I don't know the refining method for this kind of Giant Spirit Pill; I only know that eating it can increase strength and strengthen the physique. It is a relatively profound pill, and it is not easy to refine.

"This kind should be called a Small Spirit Pill; the medicinal effect is limited, but for Daoists of our Spiritual Method Sect, it is also rare. You must know that many scattered Daoists down the mountain have good Daoist attainment and can use spells, but their physiques are not strong enough, and they often suffer when walking the world. This is mostly because Daoist Master Wangji Zi sees that the world is becoming more and more chaotic and is afraid that his disciples will suffer when walking the world in the future, so he specially went to ask for them.

"Daoist Master Wangji Zi's intentions are deep...

"By the way, it is best to eat this pill in the morning; eating it at night will make you unable to sleep."

It was about the same as what Wangji Zi said.

However, Lin Jue also had the ancient book.

The next morning, he swallowed the spiritual pill.

Suddenly, there was a strange feeling.

With a thought, the ancient book was in his hand.

"Whoosh..."

He turned to a new page:

Huai Wood Pill, also known as Giant Spirit Pill.

There are strange plants and herbs in the world, mostly growing in deep mountains where human footprints are rare. One of them is called Huai Wood, which grows spiritual nature by itself over a long time. Using it as the main ingredient to refine into a pill, eating it increases strength.

After taking this pill, within one hour, one will feel dizzy and want to vomit, and the skin will feel numb as if bitten by insects. At this time, no matter what one does, one will not feel tired and will have infinite strength. After one day, the whole body will ache, and it will take three to five days, or as long as seven or eight days, to recover. After recovery, the physique will increase.

Lin Jue pinched the page and listened carefully.

"..."

"Many people only know that eating a Giant Spirit Pill can increase strength and strengthen the physique, but few know that within one day after eating a Giant Spirit Pill, one must polish and exercise, releasing strength. If one does nothing, the effect of the Giant Spirit Pill will mostly be wasted.

"And there is a method to what one does.

"If you run after eating a Giant Spirit Pill, after recovery, you will be better at running. If you lift a tripod after eating a Giant Spirit Pill, after recovery, you will be better at lifting a tripod. If you dance with a sword after eating a Giant Spirit Pill, you will be better at dancing with a sword.

"It's ridiculous; even many alchemists don't know this principle, only knowing that after eating the pill, one must consume strength, otherwise one will feel uncomfortable.

"..."

"This kind of pill, although it hasn't reached the point where 'one cannot swallow it or it is useless without learning the method of ingestion,' it is still better for alchemists who have learned the method of ingestion to take it.

"At the same time, the effect of this kind of pill is not infinite. For the same pill, the more you eat, the worse the effect. Eating two or three is enough; more is useless. If you want to go to a higher level, you can only refine better pills.

"..."

It also had the complete formula for the pill.

"It seems that some pills can only be taken after practicing the method of ingestion, or even after the method of ingestion has reached a profound level."

Lin Jue heard a bit of information.

Thinking about it this way, it was reasonable.

Then his brows furrowed, and his expression changed.

The medicinal effect came on so quickly.

He felt dizzy and wanted to vomit, but he was not sleepy at all; instead, his mind was clear and he was full of energy, as if he had infinite strength. At the same time, his scalp and body began to feel numb and itchy, truly as if bitten by insects, and as if urging him to consume his strength quickly.

He quickly pushed open the door and stepped out.

As it happened, he ran into the junior sister.

The junior sister stared at him with wide eyes: "Third Shixiong brother, did you eat the pill? Why is my stomach uncomfortable after eating it, and my body is itchy?"

"Me too!"

"Then what should we do? Find the fifth senior brother? Or find the second senior brother?"

"It should be normal."

"Then what should we do? Ignore it?"

"Let's do some work first."

"That's right!"

The junior sister opened her eyes wide, deeply agreeing.

It is indeed like this—

When you are unhappy, do some work and you will forget the unhappiness; when you are uncomfortable, do some work and you will forget the discomfort.

So senior brother is like this too!

The junior sister could not help but be shocked.