Chapter 40: The Supreme Dao's Alchemy Secret Transmission

The Supreme Dao's secret alchemy transmission, known as the "Nine-Turn Pill Scripture," is the true alchemy transmission of the Supreme Dao Ancestor. Logically speaking, apart from the set of fundamental methods in the Tushita Palace—the "Nine-Turn Golden Pill Scripture"—which records some of it, the other true transmissions in the Central Lands, the Supreme Clarity Sect and the Louguan Dao, have not obtained the true transmission. Of course, the Dao Venerable Wenshi and the Dao Venerable Xuandu certainly know it.

Yet, in the Central Lands, apart from the three great true transmissions, there are also three treasures of the Daoist lineage left behind by the Supreme.

The Supreme Bagua Furnace and the Supreme Yin-Yang Fan are both spiritual treasures for alchemy, and naturally, they contain the inheritance of the Supreme Pill Scripture. However, for some reason, one can also comprehend the Supreme Pill Scripture from the Supreme Dao's Dust Bead.

Perhaps the Supreme Dao Ancestor truly loved alchemy deeply. The three spiritual treasures of the lineage he left behind all contain his own insights on alchemy. Every time he opened the furnace, he would either write a few strokes on the pill furnace, record something on the fan used to fan the flames, or even while playing with the beads, he would not forget to mutter a few words.

Over time, these spiritual treasures must have developed their own physical memory.

In any case, thanks to this, Qian Chen knows a few parts of the Supreme Pill Scripture, and he even knows some secret transmissions regarding the refining of the Nine-Turn Golden Pill. The true transmission of Tushita Palace is different from the start of Foundation Establishment. While others internally refine a breath of Qi to change their constitution and build a Dao body, they swallow external pills and collect internal medicines, refining an internal pill upon Foundation Establishment.

This is similar to the Core Formation realm of cultivators, only it is brought forward to the very beginning of cultivation.

The quality of this internal pill is naturally inferior to the internal pill that cultivators painstakingly refine; it can only be considered among the lower three ranks. It is normal for it to be only ninth rank at the beginning. If it can be raised to the seventh rank, it is already a rare genius. The subsequent cultivation in Tushita Palace consists of continuously using the internal pill one has refined as the pill core, constantly collecting external and internal medicines, and refining it with the art of returning pills. With every turn, the miraculousness and grade of the internal pill will improve significantly.

Often, three turns can lead to a first-rank Core Formation, possessing the cultivation base equivalent to the outstanding talents of the Daoist sects who have achieved a first-rank Core Formation.

And starting from the sixth turn, one can swallow a golden pill into the abdomen, refine the golden pill with the Yang Spirit, and achieve the Nascent Soul. If one only swallows it after nine turns of the internal pill, often as soon as the Yang Spirit refines the golden pill, one can achieve the status of a Dao Lord... Coupled with the gourd of Nine-Turn Golden Pills secretly transmitted within Tushita Palace, with internal and external combined, Tushita Palace has produced no fewer than ten Dao Lords over millions of years, all thanks to this.

Therefore, the path of Qi refining is not popular in Tushita Palace; instead, the Golden Pill path is used to replace it, which is different from the Supreme Clarity Sect and Louguan Dao, which focus more on Qi refining, with the Golden Pill and Qi refining paths running in parallel.

As for the Primordial Dao's Orthodox Tiger-Dragon Mysterious Altar, it practices Qi refining and talisman paths in parallel; the Jade Void Palace practices Qi refining and Golden Pill paths in parallel; the Kunlun Sect focuses solely on the ancient path of Qi refining. The Lingbao Dao's Upper Clarity Palace also practices Qi refining and the Golden Pill path together, while the Shaoqing Sword Sect practices sword cultivation alongside Qi refining.

When sword cultivation reaches a profound realm, there are two paths: one sword breaking ten thousand laws and sword arrays generating ten thousand laws. One is the path of Qi-refining sword cultivation, which emphasizes one breath and one sword; the other is the path of sword array cultivation, which emphasizes encompassing everything within the sword. But these distinctions only exist after the Nascent Soul realm...

Maoshan was originally also a Lingbao true transmission, cultivating the Yin Spirit, Yang Spirit, etc. The method of refining the spirit and the path of Qi refining were practiced together, emphasizing crossing three tribulations to achieve the Nascent Soul.

But later, the Daoist lineage was integrated into the side sects; this was done intentionally by the Lingbao Dao to expand the influence of the Daoist sects.

Eight or nine out of ten side sects in the world have benefited from the great vow of Maoshan in the past. After the True Persons of the side sects achieve the Nascent Soul, they either enter Buddhism, enter the Dao, or enter the demonic path. And those who enter the Dao are the most numerous. Apart from the fact that the Daoist sects are carefree and have fewer constraints, it is also because the Daoist techniques of the side sects were mostly influenced by Maoshan.

Therefore, although Maoshan has dispersed, Maoshan's successors are spread throughout the side sects of the world, and they are even more prosperous in the Heavenly Realm.

As long as the Nascent Soul True Persons of the side sects are willing to cross the three tribulations, they can enter the true transmission of the Daoist sects and be treated equally with the Daoist sects in the Heavenly Realm. In recent years, the Buddhist sects have wielded their hoes ruthlessly, taking advantage of the aloofness of the Daoist sects to poach their corners several times, winning over many Nascent Soul True Persons of the side sects, and spreading the great Dharma inheritance of the Buddhist sects into the side sects; this is also because they are learning from Maoshan's old wisdom.

But for the most part, it is because the current leaders of the Daoist sects, the lineage of the Primordial Lingbao Tianzun, do not look favorably upon the side sects.

It is also because of this that the Lingbao Dao left in a huff and took root overseas... It is also because the philosophies of the three Daoist ancestors differ. The Supreme Dao Ancestor practiced inaction, handing over the leadership of the Daoist sects to the two Daoist ancestors, Primordial and Lingbao, while he himself had long since merged with the Dao, governing the Great Dao for heaven and earth. His lineage inheritance is also mostly pure and inactive; sects like the Louguan Dao have even declined because they were too "salted fish" (lazy). Although the Supreme Clarity Sect is slightly better, that is also because they bear the responsibility of governing the destiny of the Daoist sects and supervising whether the actions of the Daoist sects in the world deviate from the righteous path.

Therefore, they often have to take action to exterminate those Daoist lineages that have stubbornly entered the demonic path, because they govern punishment for the Daoist sects.

Disciples of Tushita Palace have to travel the world to collect external alchemy medicines, so naturally, they cannot be pure and inactive either...

The philosophy of the Lingbao Dao Ancestor is to teach without discrimination, wanting to integrate all the great paths of cultivation in the world into the Daoist sects, annexing demons, Buddhas, witches, and monsters, so that all those who cultivate the Dao in the world are practitioners, and the Daoist sects are cultivation itself, possessing the spirit of incorporating three thousand side paths as my own.

The Primordial Dao Ancestor, on the other hand, emphasizes the distinction between internal and external, detesting the demonic path and side sects, believing that the Daoist sects should only select the elite, rather than not distinguishing between good and bad and incorporating everyone into the Daoist sects. Those with poor character and poor temperament should be expelled from the Daoist sects. Under him, it is fine for Daoist disciples to have poor aptitude, but the requirements for temperament are high; at the very least, they must have upright character.

Because the Supreme Dao practiced purity and inaction and did not like to cause trouble, when the Daoist sects discussed the Dao internally millions of years ago, they chose to support the Primordial Lingbao Tianzun. Of the three great true transmissions of the Lingbao Dao, Maoshan dispersed its lineage and flowed into the side sects, while the other two, Shaoqing and Upper Clarity, went overseas. The Shaoqing Sword Sect went to the East Sea to take root, and the Upper Clarity Palace ran to the Great Wilderness Continent of the North Pole.

Returning to the subject, the Supreme Alchemy Path promoted by Tushita Palace includes the path of Qi pills, which combines the comprehension of internal and external pills. The internal pill path was originally comprehended from the external alchemy arts. After countless years of development, driven by the true transmissions of the Daoist sects, side sects, and even Buddhist and demonic sects, it has long since transcended the shackles of the external alchemy arts and possesses other profound mysteries of the Great Dao.

Therefore, Tushita Palace later borrowed the mysteries of the internal pill art and Qi refining into pills.

They developed an external Qi pill that approximates the internal golden pill. It is like a cultivator refining Qi, collecting various external medicines and primordial Qi, imitating the process of condensing and forming a core, and refining an external Qi primordial pill with Daoist techniques. The essence is to use alchemy techniques to refine a cultivator's golden pill. Such an "external pill" is like a cultivator's internal pill, also possessing the miraculousness of enhancing cultivation and refining magic power.

It is known as an external golden pill... with infinite miraculous uses.

Refining an external Qi primordial pill is equivalent to having the magic power of Core Formation, and it can also easily change one's foundation, and even comprehend some of the mysteries of Core Formation, which is also helpful for future Core Formation.

Of course, it still cannot compare to the Supreme Dao, where every time they refine a pill, it is equivalent to simulating the process of Core Formation once.

Refining external pills in this way, the worst is using spiritual herbs and the like, because plants easily wither and flourish. After being refined into external pills, they are not only not hard enough, but also easily dissipate primordial Qi, deteriorate, and degenerate. Next are mineral pills; the nature of gold is immortal, so refining external Qi primordial pills like refining magic treasures is not easy to deteriorate. It is just that the nature of gold is ultimately different from the human body; although it is immortal and indestructible, it is difficult to merge with the body. At most, it is equivalent to a magic treasure that enhances magic power and cultivation.

The concept of this mineral external pill was later borrowed by the Primordial Dao and integrated into the seals of many magic treasures, achieving the lineage of artifact cultivation.

The next best are demon pills, demon lords, internal pills and golden pills of fellow cultivators, and ancient divine beasts and spiritual objects. Although these internal pills are quite mysterious and can even refine the innate supernatural powers of demon beasts, divine beasts, and spiritual objects, they are known as external incarnations.

But after all, the process is too harmful to the harmony of heaven. The Primordial Dao detests demon bodies, the Supreme Dao values life and treasures life, and the Lingbao Dao itself has many great beings of different species, and at the same time, they love to subdue spiritual beasts and mounts the most, so they would never waste a good mount like this. Therefore, it is the least circulated among the Daoist and Buddhist sects, but it is very popular among the side sects and demonic sects.

The most supreme grade is refining this pill using the primordial Qi of heaven and earth.

Just as cultivators collect Qi to refine pills, the external pill most suitable for cultivators is naturally also formed from the primordial Qi of heaven and earth. However, Qi is unfixed, and the external pill refined is difficult to form, which is the most difficult of the four methods. Moreover, the raw materials are also the most precious. After all, it is not easy for cultivators to collect Qi, and Qi refining requires daily hard work. With the time spent collecting the essence of primordial Qi, wouldn't it be better to refine an internal pill yourself and achieve a Core Formation Daoist?

Only cultivators like Qian Chen, who aim for a supreme golden pill and need to carefully polish their foundation, but have to improve their magic power to guard against tribulations, would think of refining such external pills.

Of course, the real reason Qian Chen had this idea was that he happened to have suitable materials for alchemy in his hands.

The Gang and Sha Qi between heaven and earth are the best materials for refining external Qi primordial pills. On the strange stone from beyond the heavens in his hand, a little bit of Dry Sima Sima Qian Tian Yi Qi Clear Gang remained. Although it was too scarce, it was far from enough to practice the Innate One Qi Great Capture or even collect Qi for Core Formation, but it happened to be able to be combined with the weak Earth Sha Yin vein beneath this desolate house, combining Gang and Sha to refine an external Qi primordial pill.

But Qian Chen's hesitation was also because of this... These Gang and Sha Qi were too scarce. Even if the essence was still good and pure enough, it would be absolutely difficult to refine a supreme external Qi primordial pill. After all, the quantity was too small. Even if he could collect Qi and refine Qi in the future, continuously mellowing the essence and increasing the grade... it would take a lot of time—still that old saying, with this time, wouldn't it be better for Qian Chen to achieve Core Formation himself?

It was originally intended to deal with a temporary crisis...

Even if Qian Chen refined this pill, he would at most refine it to the eighth rank, making it difficult to deal with Master Miaokong, which is why he was somewhat hesitant.

But after thinking about it for a few days, Qian Chen still made up his mind to refine this pill... First, such an external pill can indeed increase magic power and temporarily improve cultivation. With an external pill in hand, Qian Chen is truly equivalent to a cultivator of the eighth-rank Core Formation. It has miraculous uses for refining magic treasures, and even collecting Qi for cultivation, protecting the Dao, and defending himself.

Secondly, refining an external pill in this way is also very helpful for Qian Chen to comprehend the key to Core Formation in the future.

Finally, Qian Chen also needs to refine an external pill to practice his hands, and in the future, rely on this pill to break into various spiritual mountains and dangerous places. Perhaps he can find a place with Earth Sha suitable for the Ice Soul Bingpo Bingpo Hanguang Gang in his hand and refine an Ice Soul external pill. Although the essence of the Ice Soul Bingpo Bingpo Hanguang Gang in his hand is not as pure as the Dry Sima Sima Qian Tian Yi Qi Clear Gang, the quantity is sufficient.

He already has the Gang Qi in his hand, and he also understands the method of alchemy; he only lacks the last suitable Sha Qi.

On the contrary, among the various means to rival Master Miaokong within a year, it is the most likely to be achieved and has the fewest future troubles.

Qian Chen made up his mind and began to prepare to extract the Earth Sha Yin vein beneath the desolate house...