In the mountains, there are no cycles of sixty years; the cold passes without knowing the year.
Since Jiang Yuan witnessed the Lung Palace and received the secret of the fire's timing from his master, five years have already passed.
He has spent the winter solstice in the west and the summer solstice in the east, daily inhaling and exhaling the Heavenly Fire to refine the Golden Sovereign, hoping to shape the Golden Sovereign as soon as possible to protect his Yuan Shen.
On this day.
The sky in the east was slightly brightening, and Jiang Yuan was seated on an old stone covered in green moss not far from the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave, basking in the sunlight while inhaling and exhaling the Heavenly Fire.
In his mind, he peered into the 'Lung Palace,' which resembled a furnace.
When the fire was lit, the flames beneath were fierce and blazing, burning the furnace until it was 'red all over.'
At this moment, it was the summer solstice, and he was seated in the eastern position, igniting the Martial Fire.
Refining the Golden Sovereign requires much attention.
The fire ignited after the summer solstice is the Eastern Fire, Martial Fire, Yang Fire; its flames are surging and fierce, used for refining.
The fire ignited after the winter solstice is the Western Fire, Literary Fire, Yin Fire; its flames gradually weaken, used for gentle refining.
Jiang Yuan inhaled and exhaled the Heavenly Fire for a long time, then concluded his practice and rose.
This was a daily necessity, not something that could be accomplished in a day or two; today’s effort had borne fruit.
Just as he was finishing, he planned to pay respects to his master.
He leaped up seven or eight zhang, soaring towards the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave.
As he leaped over the old trees in the forest, he suddenly heard a series of cries.
Jiang Yuan clenched his fists, adjusted his body, and landed back on the ground.
The cries were those of an infant.
He had heard the woodcutter of the Zuo family say that his wife was pregnant.
This infant's cries must be from the new addition to the woodcutter's family.
This matter had been mentioned ten months ago; he hadn’t expected time to pass so quickly.
The woodcutter of the Zuo family had once shared a 'Lung Heart Insight' with him, enlightening him about the Golden Sovereign, which was a blessing.
Now that the Zuo family had welcomed a new child, he should go congratulate them.
Thinking this, Jiang Yuan changed direction and headed towards the Zuo family’s home.
Before long, Jiang Yuan arrived at the Zuo family’s house.
The woodcutter saw Jiang Yuan and was overjoyed, holding the infant and saying, “Master, today our family has joy!”
Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded, “I was meditating in the mountains and heard the cries of an infant, knowing there was joy in your family, so I came to congratulate you.”
The woodcutter, hearing that Jiang Yuan had come specifically, was filled with happiness and said, “Master, look, this is the infant, my son!”
The woodcutter handed the infant to Jiang Yuan for him to see.
Jiang Yuan observed the infant, who was wrinkled and had a loud voice, with a spirit that was lively.
However, he noticed the infant was thin and frowned, saying, “Brother, the infant is newly born and should be dressed warmly to prevent cold evils from invading.”
The woodcutter dismissed his concern, saying, “Master, you don’t know; my family took care of my brothers this way in the past.”
Jiang Yuan helplessly thought, “I suspect that people from the Southern Zhanbu Continent have many premature deaths, not only due to their lifespan but also due to inadequate care.”
The woodcutter was unaware of Jiang Yuan's thoughts and was overjoyed, playing with the infant.
Jiang Yuan said, “Now that your family has joy, I came to visit, but I have nothing to offer, so I will protect your child, ensuring he remains healthy and free from illness.”
After saying this, he gently stroked the infant's crown, using the Qi of the Heart Monkey, which flowed from his palm and enveloped the infant.
This Qi of the Heart Monkey could protect the infant from illness and disasters, allowing him to grow into adulthood.
The woodcutter knelt with his child, tears of gratitude streaming down his face, “Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!”
Jiang Yuan smiled without speaking, exchanged pleasantries, and returned to the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave.
Upon returning to the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave, he walked to the Yao Platform and saw his master seated high on the platform.
Jiang Yuan approached and performed a deep bow, “Disciple pays respects to Master!”
His master opened his eyes and said, “Child, a family from the Zuo household has welcomed a new life.”
Jiang Yuan replied, “Master, I have already seen them and used the Qi of the Heart Monkey to protect the child, ensuring he remains safe and sound.”
His master was pleased, “Very good. The Zuo family is a peaceful household. How is your cultivation, child?”
Jiang Yuan answered, “Disciple ignites the Literary Fire during the winter solstice and the Martial Fire during the summer solstice. The Golden Sovereign has not yet taken shape, but it has been beneficial to my cultivation.”
The Lung Palace, ignited with Yin and Yang fires, indeed had its benefits, making his body lighter, which is said to be a sign of high magical power.
His master looked around and said, “There is indeed magical power. I have a task for you to do during your spare time in cultivation.”
Jiang Yuan knelt and said, “Please give your orders, Master.”
His master smiled and said, “I see great talent in you, child. There are some empty bamboo slips here; I need you to write about etiquette, chess skills, and various schools of thought. It would be best if you could handle this.”
Jiang Yuan responded, “Yes,” understanding his master’s intention to teach him to write on the bamboo slips to enrich the cave’s knowledge.
His master then handed him many blank bamboo slips along with ink and brushes.
Jiang Yuan accepted the task, not daring to be careless, and returned to his quiet room, diligently preparing thick ink to write about etiquette, chess skills, and adding some knowledge from the Hundred Schools of Thought in his dreams.
Time passed swiftly.
Since Jiang Yuan took on his master’s task, three or four years had gone by.
He inhaled and exhaled the Heavenly Fire daily, wrote on bamboo slips, and listened to his master’s teachings, gradually increasing his magical power.
On this day, Jiang Yuan was, as usual, in his quiet room, writing on a bamboo slip to enrich the cave’s knowledge.
After three or four years, he had written quite a bit, and the cave’s knowledge was gradually becoming more complete, resembling a celestial abode with numerous schools of thought.
“Child, come here.”
His master’s voice entered the room.
Jiang Yuan did not dare to be negligent, placing his brush down and setting the bamboo slip aside to let the ink dry.
He approached the Yao Platform and saw his master seated high, walking forward to pay his respects.
His master pointed outside the cave and said, “There is a disciple of etiquette outside; you go and receive him.”
Jiang Yuan was startled and understood; his master had instructed him to write about etiquette, and someone was waiting for him.
In the quiet residence of the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave, it was indeed time for someone to reside there.
Jiang Yuan responded, “Yes,” and walked outside.
Upon reaching the cave entrance, he saw a young man with dark skin and a round face waiting.
The young man stood over three zhang tall, making Jiang Yuan feel half a head shorter just by standing.
Jiang Yuan was dumbfounded, both surprised and curious, thinking to himself, “Could this person be from the Western Niu He Continent? Otherwise! People from the Western Niu He Continent are sixteen elbows tall, and this person is far from that, yet he is still over six elbows tall.”
The tall young man, seeing Jiang Yuan, was flustered and said, “Master, I am, I am a disciple of etiquette. Seeing the sun and moon shining here, I sensed a spiritual opportunity. I came up the mountain after asking a passing woodcutter, knowing there is an old immortal here, to learn some etiquette!”
Jiang Yuan said, “My master called me out and said a disciple of etiquette has arrived, instructing me to receive you. I suppose it is you; come with me inside.”
After saying this, he opened the door wide.
The young man entered, following Jiang Yuan into the cave.
They walked in silence until they reached the Yao Platform.
Jiang Yuan reported, “Master, the disciple of etiquette has been brought in.”
The young man, upon seeing the Bodhi Ancestor, knelt on the ground and said, “Old Immortal, I sincerely wish to learn etiquette. I have come to pay my respects and humbly ask the old immortal to teach me!”
His master, seated high on the platform, said, “Where are you from? Please tell me your hometown and name.”
The young man replied, “Old Immortal, I am from the Liuqie Kingdom of the Western Niu He Continent, named Ram.”
Jiang Yuan thought to himself, “This person is indeed from the Western Niu He Continent, with a round face, but his stature is not as recorded. I will ask my master later. However, this person is covered in dust, and his Heart Monkey is unsettled; he is not at all like a disciple of etiquette.”
(End of Chapter)