Chapter 380: Great Medicine Thirteen

Jagged cliffs towered steeply, the water cold and the mountains desolate; not only was there no sign of human habitation, but even the chirping of insects and the calls of birds were faint and rustling, barely perceptible, here one moment and gone the next.

Desolate and lonely, quiet and chill, without a sound—

Only the gentle rising and falling of waves in the swamp country could be seen, washing against the islets within the water, ebbing and flowing amidst heavy mist and thick fog.

And schools of wave-chasing brocade carp, inhaling and exhaling the clear radiance of the moonlight, also appeared and disappeared within this misty haze...

After a little less than half an hour, Chen Heng descended from the cloud head, arriving upon this desolate and cold great island.

He stood atop a reef stone, gazing out at the vast sky, his expression faintly revealing a hue of contemplation.

This place was named He Jin Guang Reef; although situated within the Xiaoming Great Swamp, because the earth veins and magnetic forces were mutually entangled, it was not any sort of superior spiritual soil, and thus few disciples came here to build huts and reside.

It was only occasionally chosen as a site for banquets during spring and autumn excursions, to play with the scenery and find joy in music and wine.

Now that it was the midnight hour of the Zi period, it was naturally cold and quiet.

And in that letter, the first line of text got straight to the point, instructing Chen Heng to come to this He Jin Guang Reef three days after breaking out of his secluded cultivation, so that they might take him to meet an elder.

As for the final paragraph, the person who sent the message specifically pointed out their own identity.

Stating that they were none other than that old Daoist who had broken the formation back in the East Sea and brought him back to Changying...

And after finishing reading this letter.

A vague conjecture had already formed in Chen Heng's heart.

Back during their first meeting, that old Daoist whom Zhou Ji had disguised himself as had explicitly stated that it was precisely because a senior from Yuchenshang Sect wished to take him as a disciple that they had specially acted to resolve the deadly calamity carefully arranged by Chen Chen Yushu in the East Sea.

As for Zhou Ji, he was merely running errands for that senior from Yuchenshang Sect, helping to deliver the message.

And due to various reasons, that senior from Yuchenshang Sect found it inconvenient to reveal their identity and had no intention of immediately accepting him into the sect.

They had only vaguely laid the groundwork with Chen Heng at that time, telling him to rest assured and cultivate, without need for anxiety.

But today was different from the past.

At that time, Chen Heng, having just escaped the deadly calamity of the East Sea, possessed a cultivation of Cave-Mystic Second Layer.

Yet he had ultimately registered under the Changying Lower Academy, had not passed the Four Academies Grand Competition, and had not been accepted into Yuchenshang Sect.

But now, he was already the champion of the Four Academies, having truly entered Yuchenshang Sect, and had chosen to cultivate the first of the Three Scriptures, the Xuanzhong Kaiyuan Scripture Register.

Furthermore, during the journey to Yu Yang Kingdom, he had defeated Gu Yi of Huzhao Sect, ranking second among those at the Cave-Mystic realm on this year's New Year's evaluation; he could barely be considered famous throughout Dongmi, absolutely not an insignificant figure.

As for his cultivation, it had already reached Cave-Mystic Third Layer, with no room for further advancement in the short term.

Once the step of gathering herbs and condensing the pill was completed, he could be honored by the world with the title of "True Person"!

Formless and unfeigned, hence called a True Person—

And a True Person does not tremble when ascending heights, does not get wet when entering water, does not feel heat when entering fire; their sleep brings no dreams, and their rest knows no worries.

They had truly transcended the mortal body, their Dao-body pure, quiet, empty, and mysterious.

In some remote worlds, a Jin Dan True Person would count as a great powerhouse of an entire realm.

And even within Xudu Heaven, as long as one conducted oneself carefully, acted cautiously, did not recklessly make enemies abroad, a Jin Dan True Person could live freely and comfortably, content and happy, receiving the worship and reverence of the myriad people.

Having calculated everything from beginning to end in this manner.

The letter instructed Chen Heng to come to this He Jin Guang Reef after ending his secluded cultivation, so that they might take him to meet an elder.

That elder, nine times out of ten, must surely be the senior from Yuchenshang Sect who wished to take him as a disciple.

As for the matters to be discussed after meeting, they likely pertained to taking him as a disciple as well...

In fact, after the journey to Yu Yang Kingdom concluded and he returned to the Xiaoming Great Swamp.

The letters sent to Changying Island were, compared to before, nothing less than increased in number.

Most of these came from the residences of the Upper True Elders of Yuchenshang Sect, vaguely expressing an intention to take him as a disciple.

Among them, even a Left Hall Master of Dazhidian had similarly sent a message to Changying Island.

The Yuchenshang lineage boasted nine halls and four academies—

A Left Hall Master of Dazhidian, within Xudu Heaven, aside from the three ruling ancestral masters who sat high above all.

If one spoke of status, ranked only below the Sect Master Supreme and the nine Right Hall Masters, wielding significant power within Yuchenshang Sect, they were absolutely a illustrious figure!

If not for the fact that Chen Heng already knew someone had placed a piece on him.

Facing an offer of discipleship from such a figure, he would inevitably have been tempted.

And in the path of cultivation, there were the four essentials: Method, Partner, Land, and Wealth.

If one wished for the path of the Dao to proceed smoothly and lastingly.

The matter of taking a master was truly indispensable...

And just as Chen Heng's thoughts were spinning rapidly, his heart suddenly stirred; as if sensing something, he turned to look back, and immediately saw the clouds and mist in the distant sky slowly parting like waves.

An old Daoist, hands clasped behind his back, came singing a song, saying:

"The Great Dao is no ordinary path, within the mysterious lies mystery even more profound. Who can penetrate its secrets? Within a foot's reach, one sees the Pre-Heaven."

Once these words were spoken, before Chen Heng had time to bow in salute, he felt a blur before his eyes.

He raised his gaze to look, and saw that the old Daoist had already arrived before him between silence and soundlessness.

"Parted for several years; seeing that your Mei Mei Gongxing has advanced again, not bad, not bad, this old man's heart is indeed greatly comforted."

Zhou Ji slightly stroked his long beard, glanced at Chen Heng, and said indifferently.

At this moment, the full moon shone brightly, illuminating all four directions.

The old Daoist form assumed by Zhou Ji wore a feather robe and a black cap, his sideburns like frost and snow, with a faint hint of approval in his eyes.

His bearing was vast, ethereal, and unfathomable, making it obvious at a glance that he was a cultivated immortal of the Dao, a person of pure void and moral virtue, distinct from the mundane.

Chen Heng bowed in salute and said:

"Several years have passed since we last met; after our parting in the East Sea, Senior's demeanor surpasses even the past."

Seeing Chen Heng's manner of bowing, Zhou Ji felt an inexplicable surge of pleasure in his heart.

He was just about to grin broadly, but fearing it would ruin this air of a high-ranking personage, he immediately restrained his expression, acting as though nothing had happened.

Merely clearing his throat in a pretentious manner, he then nodded arrogantly and, under the pretext of guiding Chen Heng's cultivation, began to show off.

After quite some time had passed, just as Zhou Ji was speaking so extravagantly that he had become completely engrossed in his own words.

A cold snort suddenly rang out beside his ear, rebuking:

"I told you to deliver a message, not to blow your own trumpet; do not delay any longer, or this old man will strike a thunderbolt right onto your head!

Since you enjoy boasting so much, someday I will personally send you to the Return to Ruins, letting you boast enough to those evil monsters there; how does that sound?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Ji seemed as if someone had suddenly choked his throat, his voice cutting off abruptly.

"... Damn that old rogue Master Tongxuan! Having worked like an ox and horse for your Yu Yu Yuchen all these years, exhausting myself to death, and now I'm not even allowed to boast a little? What logic is this!

Even under the rule of the Suiyu Shouzun Shouzun Moshen, there were no such rules; this is simply more unconscionable than the Outer Sky Demons!"

Zhou Ji's eye corners twitched as he cursed bitterly in his heart, then looking at Chen Heng standing with hands folded respectfully listening, he could not help but feel regret, somewhat reluctant to stop.

Meanwhile, Chen Heng, standing aside, saw that Zhou Ji, who had been talking incessantly, had suddenly fallen silent.

He was also slightly puzzled and could not help but look up.

"Your Daoist attainments are still shallow, and ultimately your cultivation is insufficient; although I wished to point out a few key insights to you, in all things going too far is as bad as not going far enough; if the timing exceeds the limit, it will instead create obstacles of knowledge and view for you, and that would not be good."

Zhou Ji's facial expression tightened; feigning profound mystery, he waved his hand, sighed lightly, and said:

"My realm, after all, is still too profound...

As the saying goes, every word is a pearl; that you do not understand some of it is only to be expected."

After sighing and finishing this sentence, Zhou Ji dared not delay any longer; placing his hand on Chen Heng's shoulder, he took just one step forward, leaping over ten thousand waters and a thousand mountains, shifting across this Ci Fang Di Zhi Jie in an instant.

Before his eyes, light and shadow became chaotic and blurry, but only for an instant, before his vision cleared again.

At this moment, Chen Heng raised his eyes and saw that at some unknown time, he had already arrived within a vast green-blue mountain valley.

Everywhere one could see lush fine trees and colorful calyxes shining together, while the calls of insects and birds rose and fell one after another, each sound pleasant to the ear.

"The Yu Yu Yuchen senior you wish to see is within this valley; shortly, a guide will come to lead you to pay respects; this old man still has important matters to attend to, so I will not stay long."

After arriving at this mountain valley, Zhou Ji cleared his throat awkwardly, then immediately put on an air of nonchalance and said indifferently.

Almost the instant his voice fell, in the distance an old ape parted the knee-high dense grass and slowly walked over.

Upon seeing Zhou Ji appearing as an old Daoist with an immortal bearing and Daoist bones, the old ape was greatly startled, standing dumbfounded on the spot without moving.

But when he came to his senses and was just about to harshly mock him with words.

Zhou Ji glared at him, clenching his fist tightly, forcing the old ape to swallow the words back into his stomach.

"What act is this? Your true form is a Taotie, and even after transforming you do not look like this; you, the Dayou Sect Master, pretending to be a high Daoist expert, who are you trying to fool!"

The old ape glanced at Zhou Ji with a grin and transmitted his voice with a laugh:

"Pretending! This life I just love to pretend; even in death I cannot change this fault! If you hadn't intentionally sought the spotlight back then, you wouldn't have been captured to this broken valley to become a brother in hardship with me."

"Scram quickly; this Daoist is too lazy to deal with you!"

Zhou Ji snorted coldly.

"Scram then! As if I fear you?"

The old ape did not argue further, merely glancing at Zhou Ji with a smile before leading Chen Heng to walk into the valley.

After walking along the rugged mountain path for a short while, once they had walked out of a small grove filled with various strange trees, the view suddenly opened up broadly before their eyes.

A large green stone suddenly came into view, and atop the green stone sat a human figure in cross-legged meditation.

"This is the place; please!"

The old ape slightly shrank his neck, extended his hand, and gestured to Chen Heng.

After saying this, he retreated on tiptoe without staying any longer.

"Chen Heng, finally this day has arrived."

At this moment, the human figure on the green stone slowly raised his head, smiled gently, and said:

"I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Profoundly subtle and ancient, sacred and inexplicable—

The Daoist sat casually cross-legged on the green stone; his voice carried a slight smile, yet possessed a magnificent momentum that seemed to swallow heaven and earth, vast and unmatched!

His facial features were blurred and indistinct, making it difficult to discern details; one moment he appeared as an ordinary mountain woodcutter, the next moment he transformed into a noble king or duke with a high crown and towering sash; in just a brief instant, he manifested the appearances of all living beings in the world, every state of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

The Buddha said: No mark, self-mark, mark of living beings; all marks are thus the Tathagata.

The Daoist Gate calls it Dividing Truth and Hiding Scenery, changing at will, floating and sinking with heaven and earth, circling with the sun and moon!

Master Tongxuan gazed at Chen Heng, nodded, asked no further questions, and went straight to the point:

"That you could travel from the Southern Region's Xuanzhen to reach your current position today is not easy; now that you have already cultivated to the Cave-Mystic Third Layer realm with your innate golden mercury refined and condensed, surely your next step is to go out and seek medicines?"

After a brief surprise, Chen Heng also gathered his mind, bowed with knuckles together to show respect, observing every detail of etiquette without omission, and said:

"Senior sees clearly; my Ru Jin Gong is now sufficient, and I intend to go out and seek medicines to refine and condense my Jin Dan."

"The Daoist scriptures and classics you have cultivated in this life are all of the highest grade; some key insights and Mi Fa are recorded within them, so this old man will not elaborate further."

Master Tongxuan paused slightly in his speech and said:

"And you should also know that if one wishes to achieve a Jin Dan of the Cheng Shang San Pin, not one of the thirteen flavors of Great Medicine for Condensing the Pill can be missing?"

Chen Heng's expression turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice:

"This disciple understands."

The thirteen flavors of Great Medicine for Condensing the Pill are essential items for achieving a superior-grade object, requiring that not one be missing.

But if one wishes for the Jin Dan to be of an even higher grade.

The quality of these Great Medicines likewise involves certain considerations; one must not pass off inferior goods as superior!

And the thirteen great medicines are divided into two major categories.

Either external medicines sought from the world outside the body, or internal medicines sought from the world within the body.

They are in total:

Cloud Flower Dragon Paste, Sky-Wandering Mud, Bright Union Cinnabar, Profound Chamber Water, Seven Brightness Nine Light Zhi, and Old Immortal Beard—these six types of external medicines.

As well as Shen Fu Huo, Three Wondrous Flames, Five Palace Thunder, Jade Cauldron Wind, Sage Earth, Righteous Thought Edge, and Serene Void Essential Qi—these seven types of internal medicines.

Six types of external medicines, seven types of internal medicines—

If a cultivator can gather them all completely, they will achieve a High-Grade Jin Dan, and from then on, the great path of immortality will be within sight!

And in lineages such as Yu Yu Yuchen, Zhongyi, Blood River, and Xiantianmo Sect, most have rules requiring disciples to go out and seek medicines; this is also to allow them, while gathering external medicines, to polish their Dao heart and perfect the Three Treasures, so as to refine the remaining seven flavors of internal medicines.

Now, among the six types of external medicines,

Chen Heng has currently obtained only one type, Profound Chamber Water, and still lacks five others.

But as for the seven types of internal medicines,

With his current Mei Mei Gongxing, even without deliberate cultivation, he has already refined more than half, achieving them naturally with smooth progress.

Shen Fu Huo is a fire that fuses form and refines substance; only those with accomplished attainment in their physical body can refine it, reaching at most a height of nine feet and nine inches.

For most cultivators, this stage is a difficult obstacle.

Whether Xue Xuan or Mo, it requires expending great effort.

But due to the Tai Su Yu Shen, this complex internal medicine was, for Chen Heng, instead the first to be successfully cultivated.

As for the rest,

The Three Wondrous Flames are a mixture of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, serving to revive the primal root and illuminate the physical shell.

The Five Palace Thunder is transformed from the five elemental breaths within the body, specialized in sweeping away filth and purifying defilement.

The Jade Cauldron Wind is a mixture of True Yang and True Nature, returning to the Qi cavity, capable of opening apertures and igniting spirituality...

Of the four types of internal medicines mentioned above, Chen Heng has now successfully refined and stored them all within his body.

Only the remaining three types of internal medicines—Sage Earth, Righteous Thought Edge, and Serene Void Essential Qi—have not yet been cultivated.

But regarding the refinement of Sage Earth and Righteous Thought Edge, Chen Heng already has some ideas.

Spending some Yi Xie Gong on them will suffice to accomplish it.

It is only the final Serene Void Essential Qi that leaves him worried, unsure from which direction to begin...

At this moment, Master Master Tongxuan smiled slightly and said,

"Of the six external medicines and seven internal medicines, only the final Serene Void Essential Qi is a secret not transmitted to others; no sect or school records it on bamboo slips or silk.

Yet even so, those who can condense Serene Void Essential Qi are exceedingly few, extremely difficult to achieve."

Having spoken, he raised his hand and pointed, whereupon a beam of spiritual light flew out and landed in Chen Heng's Purple Palace:

"This is the Xiu Xing Zhi Fa for that Serene Void Essential Qi; I summoned you here today precisely to entrust it to you."

And before Chen Heng could bow his head in gratitude, Master Master Tongxuan gave a faint smile again and said,

"When you succeed in gathering the medicines and return to the mountain gate, if your Elixir Achieves First Grade, I shall announce it across the Nine Provinces and Four Seas and personally accept you as my disciple.

At that time, you, Chen Heng, will be my personal disciple!"

Unity

(End of Chapter)