It is said that five years have passed since Da Hui obtained the 'Stillness' character from the Dao, and indeed, time flies swiftly.
Jiang Tong'er practiced the Dao of the 'Stillness' character in Da Hui, remaining silent.
He only thought of refining a Golden Public, instructing five others to gather early and assist in nurturing their Yuan Shen.
On this day, the Grandmaster ascended the platform and called Jiang Yuan and Da Hui to come forward to discuss the Dao and speak of the scriptures.
As Jiang Yuan approached the Yao Tai, he saw the Grandmaster seated high and paid his respects, saying, "Disciple pays respects to Master."
The Grandmaster smiled and nodded, saying, "Tong'er, rise. Your cultivation is diligent; continue to strive."
The Grandmaster, possessing immense power, could tell at a glance that Jiang Yuan was gradually progressing towards the formation of the Golden Public.
Although the progress was slow and arduous, it was commendable that the Dao was correct.
Once the Golden Dan took shape, he would advance by leaps and bounds.
Jiang Yuan took his seat and said, "Disciple refines a Golden Public daily, not daring to make any mistakes."
The Grandmaster nodded, feeling pleased, and thought to himself, "This child has a spirited Yuan Shen, his heart is steady, and with the protection of the Yu Ding, the Golden Public is half-formed. The two spirits have no gaps to penetrate; he is indeed a cultivator. In the coming years, he should be able to achieve the Golden Dan."
Originally, the Grandmaster knew that the Golden Dan was difficult to attain and that the righteous path was arduous.
When he first taught the child, he thought the child would retreat upon realizing the difficulty, but he did not expect the child to cultivate a path.
Not long after Jiang Yuan took his seat, Da Hui approached and paid his respects to the Grandmaster, saying, "Master, disciple has arrived!"
The Grandmaster asked, "Da Hui, have you succeeded in your cultivation of the 'Stillness' character?"
Da Hui danced with joy, his brows raised in delight, and said, "Disciple has succeeded! I have attained longevity, and it is truly carefree. Disciple thanks Master!"
The Grandmaster then asked, "You tell me, how did you achieve this longevity?"
Da Hui laughed and said, "Disciple's fortune has arrived. I received the teachings of the 'Stillness' character from Master, enduring hardship without food and guarding the valley, practicing seated meditation in my sleep. I thought that for three to five years, I would need no food, and in my dreams, I would attain longevity. The King of Hell would not take me!"
The Grandmaster said, "That is good. You may take your seat."
Da Hui responded, "Yes," and sat down behind Jiang Yuan.
The Grandmaster then began to expound on the Dao and recite the scriptures.
Jiang Yuan listened, feeling the wonderful sounds entering his ears.
He then noticed Da Hui listening to the teachings, becoming drowsy.
Suddenly, the Grandmaster saw him and called out to wake him, asking, "Da Hui, what kind of posture is this? Why are you not listening to my teachings?"
Da Hui, startled awake, said, "Master, disciple practices enduring hardship without food and seated meditation in sleep. What you are teaching, disciple does not understand, does not understand!"
The Grandmaster sighed and said, "If that is the case, you may return to your chamber for quiet cultivation."
Da Hui bowed and withdrew from the Yao Tai.
Only the Grandmaster and Jiang Yuan remained on the Yao Tai.
The Grandmaster looked at Jiang Yuan and asked, "Tong'er, what do you think of Da Hui?"
Jiang Yuan stepped out of the group and said, "Master, Da Hui's heart is wild and unruly. Although he has obtained the path, it also fuels his unruly spirit. I suspect he has not fully taught himself to chop firewood and gather kindling; he must be lax."
The Grandmaster nodded and said, "This leads to the two spirits penetrating gaps and becoming greedy for power. Tong'er, seeing Da Hui attain longevity, what are your thoughts?"
Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Master, what kind of longevity is this? Enduring hardship without food, seated meditation in dreams—how can the wondrous path of longevity be like this? This is merely 'Kiln Head Earthen Brick.' Although it has taken shape, it has yet to undergo the trials of water and fire. One day of heavy rain, and it will surely collapse!"
This is the principle of the left-hand path; it is easy to practice but difficult to refine.
Moreover, with the two spirits penetrating gaps, obscured by the heart, the wild and unstable spirit, and the Yuan Shen being thwarted, how can one achieve longevity?
The Grandmaster said, "Tong'er is wise!"
After saying this, he continued to expound on the Dao and recite the scriptures.
Jiang Yuan listened to the wonderful sounds, filled with joy.
...
After the Grandmaster finished discussing the Dao and reciting the scriptures, he returned to his chamber for quiet cultivation.
Jiang Yuan left the cave dwelling, waiting for the next day to dawn and to inhale the heavenly fire.
He saw the bright moon hanging high in the western sky and, with a sense of foreboding, headed towards the moss-covered boulder.
As Jiang Yuan walked outside, he suddenly heard a call and stopped to look back.
He saw his junior brother Da Hui calling for him.
"Brother, slow down, brother, slow down!"
Da Hui hurriedly approached, taking two steps for every one of Jiang Yuan's.
Jiang Yuan smiled and asked, "Junior brother, are you not practicing seated meditation in your dreams? Why are you looking for me?"
Da Hui stood still and said, "I have come to express my gratitude. Back then, brother saved my life in the Yuzhu Mountain. If it were not for you, I would not have this path of cultivation."
Jiang Yuan shook his head, saying, "We are fellow disciples; there is no need for thanks."
Da Hui said, "That is one thing, but I have not paid my respects to you since entering the sect, which is my fault."
Jiang Yuan smiled again and said, "I have been diligently cultivating in the mountains every day; how could you find me? It is not a fault!"
Da Hui and Jiang Yuan exchanged pleasantries, and their relationship grew closer.
Suddenly, Da Hui changed the subject and asked about the path Jiang Yuan was cultivating.
Hearing this, Jiang Yuan shook his head and laughed, saying, "My path is far inferior to yours. You think that by enduring hardship without food and seated meditation in dreams, you can attain longevity. However, I must inhale and exhale heavenly fire daily to maintain my roots and prevent my soul from being taken by the King of Hell."
Da Hui was astonished and asked, "Brother, what kind of path is inhaling and exhaling heavenly fire?"
Jiang Yuan replied, "Inhaling and exhaling heavenly fire is a path of hardship."
Da Hui asked again, "Brother, is there a distinction between bitter and sweet in the path?"
Jiang Yuan laughed and said, "Junior brother, you do not know. I inhale and exhale heavenly fire daily, and every time the heavenly fire enters my body, it burns my lungs, stirring up smoke, making my eyes red and my spirit pained, as if my Yuan Shen were being cast down to the Nine Underworlds."
Hearing this, Da Hui was alarmed, feeling a sense of dread, yet secretly delighted, thinking that the Grandmaster must have imparted the sweet path to him, sparing him from such suffering.
He comforted Jiang Yuan repeatedly and spoke of a few things before returning to his quiet chamber to cultivate his sleep.
Jiang Yuan, seeing Da Hui's appearance, shook his head and smiled, then went outside the cave dwelling.
...
Behind the Yao Tai, in the Grandmaster's quiet chamber.
The Grandmaster listened to the sounds from the cave dwelling, closing his eyes in contemplation.
After a long while, he smiled and said, "Good!"
"This child has talent. If one day I am not in the dwelling, I need not worry about him taking charge."
...
The misty clouds drifted by, and the seasons passed without marking the years.
Jiang Yuan thought only of refining Yin Fire during the winter solstice and Yang Fire during the summer solstice, cycling through repeatedly for thirteen years.
After thirteen years, Jiang Yuan's lungs had been continuously tempered by the martial and fire scriptures, glowing red like a furnace.
He saw two pearls flying up and down like fire wheels, truly 'Hunyuan Yiti.' Upon seeing this, he understood that the two pearls must be his weapons.
Yet he still did not understand how his weapons became two pearls.
How could these two pearls be used as weapons?
Jiang Yuan was puzzled and confused, yet he knew that once the two pearls took shape and the Golden Public manifested, all his doubts would naturally dissipate.
In those thirteen years, he did not cultivate every day.
Besides listening to the Grandmaster expound on the scriptures, he also visited the Zuo family.
The head of the Zuo family, not knowing from where, had found a woman fleeing from disaster, and they had married, now raising a son.
This made the child sigh, as in his spare time from cultivation, he had already experienced several generations in the mortal world.
Moreover, there were often cultivators coming to the cave dwelling.
The Grandmaster was kind-hearted, and those with fate would enter the cave dwelling.
Now there were seven disciples in the cave dwelling.
Jiang Yuan had been cultivating for a long time and did not know the general situation of his junior brothers' cultivation.
The Grandmaster also taught him not to worry too much and to cultivate his path early.
On this day, Jiang Yuan sat on the moss-covered stone, diligently refining the Golden Public.
Suddenly, he saw a bright golden light in the east, faintly accompanied by a bear's roar.
He looked over, and the Mud Palace shook violently, causing his Yuan Shen to assist.
From a distance, he saw a 'bear' in the east, looking aged, as if it were about to perish.
"The Zhou royal family..."
"His lifespan must be coming to an end."
Jiang Tong'er murmured.
With his Yuan Shen, he could discern the heavenly numbers.
Before he could think much, he suddenly saw a great change in the east, with purple qi coming from the east...
(End of Chapter)