As the saying goes, "The four seasons have their winds: spring has the gentle breeze, summer has the warm wind, autumn has the golden wind, and winter has the biting wind; all are the seasonal winds in rotation."
Since Jiang Tong'er received the secret teachings from the Grandmaster, the seasonal winds have cycled for eight years, and unknowingly, eight years have passed.
Jiang Yuan was not in a hurry to "establish the cauldron and refine medicine."
He only realized that his primordial spirit was weary when all five were present.
His primordial spirit had yet to stretch, and his essence was not complete; how could he establish the cauldron and refine medicine? He merely focused on cultivating his true self, enduring the passage of days and months, reciting mantras daily, listening to the Grandmaster's teachings, and occasionally playing chess with the Grandmaster during his leisure time.
One day, the Grandmaster ascended the platform and sat high.
Jiang Yuan took his seat among the disciples and saw that there were a dozen disciples in the class.
The Three Star Immortal Cave was somewhat lively, but unfortunately, most of the junior brothers studied side paths, with only one or two still learning the orthodox teachings.
The junior brothers greeted him one by one, and he returned the greetings.
The Grandmaster then began to lecture and expound on the scriptures.
Unexpectedly, before he could utter a profound sound, a disciple knelt down from the class.
The disciple said, "Master, I still have a doubt."
The Grandmaster lowered his gaze and asked, "Ru Fa, how do you say it?" This disciple was a younger generation among the Twelve Characters, known as "Ru."
Ru Fa bowed and said, "Master, I have been in the sect for two years, often reading texts, yet I have a doubt: the texts contain many principles, including Buddhist scriptures, Confucian books, Mozi writings, and Yin-Yang methods, but I do not know which school has the greatest ability?"
The Grandmaster replied, "Each has its strengths; how can one say who is powerful?" Ru Fa shook his head and said, "Master does not know; my heart and strength have limits, and I cannot learn many methods, so I choose one path to cultivate diligently."
The Grandmaster said, "Such words are different for each person. As you said, you should cultivate the path of the 'Flow' character. When you are ready, I will grant you what you seek, and I will pass on the teachings of the sect to you, then you will know the pitfalls."
Ru Fa bowed down and said, "Master has taught me to fetch water daily. I have carried water for over two years, hoping for your great compassion to teach me the path of the 'Flow' character."
The Grandmaster said, "Is it true?" Ru Fa nodded and said, "It is true."
The Grandmaster said, "Since it is so, I will pass on to you the teachings of the 'Flow' character."
After saying this, the Grandmaster indeed transmitted the teachings of the 'Flow' character to Ru Fa.
Ru Fa was overjoyed to receive the teachings and returned to his class.
The Grandmaster then continued to lecture and expound on the scriptures.
Jiang Yuan remained indifferent to this, knowing that the Grandmaster taught his disciples to tend to flowers and trees, gather firewood and fetch water, sweep the ground and hoe the garden.
This was because the disciples had their own causes and effects; cultivation was not easy, and the Grandmaster did his utmost to assist their unobstructed cultivation.
As they traveled far, how could the disciples not recognize the mysteries within the Grandmaster's teachings, often unable to contain their impatience and seeking a path?
After the Grandmaster finished speaking, he dismissed the disciples, leaving only Jiang Tong'er behind.
The Grandmaster asked, "Tong'er, why have you not yet established the cauldron and refined medicine? Have you not rested for eight years?" Jiang Yuan stood up, bowed, and said, "Master, I feel my essence is not complete, and my primordial spirit is still weary; thus, I have not yet established the cauldron to refine medicine. My achievements are not ready, and I fear it may lead to great mistakes."
The Grandmaster extended his palm from under his sleeve, pointed at Tong'er, and smiled, "Disciples in the sect cannot find peace; many lose their spirits after two or three years. You, Tong'er, are still good; you have rested for eight years, steady in all directions!" Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Master, this path is difficult; one cannot be hasty."
The Grandmaster said, "Tong'er is quite eloquent; I will not argue with you. This garment is for you, to serve as a covering garment; it will make it easier for you when you establish the cauldron."
After saying this, the Grandmaster took a bundle and handed it to Tong'er.
Jiang Yuan stepped forward to receive the bundle, opened it, and looked closely; it was indeed a purple robe adorned with the sun, moon, and stars, shining brilliantly, truly an extraordinary item.
He said, "Master, how can this item be called a covering garment?" The Grandmaster replied, "It is merely a piece of clothing."
Jiang Yuan accepted it and repeatedly thanked the Grandmaster for his deep kindness.
The Grandmaster waved his hand, instructing Tong'er to rest.
Jiang Yuan accompanied the Grandmaster back to the quiet room and then rested himself.
Time truly flies; unknowingly, half a year passed, summer turned to winter.
On this day, Jiang Yuan's primordial spirit stretched, and his essence was full.
Just as he was about to establish the cauldron, he walked outside to speak with the Grandmaster, intending to establish the cauldron outside the cave.
Tong'er approached the Grandmaster's door, and a gentle breeze blew, causing the door to open.
The Grandmaster sat cross-legged on the mat, looking at Tong'er with bright eyes.
He saw that Tong'er was "wearing a golden and jade crown, dressed in a purple robe of sun and moon, stepping on shoes, with a rich and divine appearance, and his eyes shining with spiritual light, holding a whisk in his hand; he truly was an immortal with the Dao."
How could this resemble a mere Dao child? He had the appearance of a celestial being.
Jiang Yuan knelt down and said, "Master, I am about to establish the cauldron!" The Grandmaster smiled and said, "Go, go! Establishing the cauldron is very easy for you, but you must know that once the cauldron is formed, the work does not cease."
Jiang Yuan said, "I will remember."
The Grandmaster closed his eyes and said no more.
Jiang Yuan bowed and withdrew.
After Tong'er left, the Grandmaster opened his eyes, watched Tong'er depart, and stroked his beard, smiling, "Good child, good child!"
In the Three Star Immortal Cave, the disciples gathered under the old pine tree, discussing what paths they were each cultivating.
Suddenly, Jiang Yuan passed by, and the disciples, seeing his celestial appearance, were both surprised and envious, and they did not fail to pay their respects.
Jiang Yuan returned the greeting and said, "Junior brothers, I still need to cultivate; I cannot stay for long."
After saying this, he lightly waved his whisk and departed.
The crowd said, "What path is the senior brother cultivating? How did he attain such a celestial appearance, what kind of fate is this from the world?"
Zhen Jian said, "Do not act so surprised; the senior brother is cultivating the Golden Core True Path!" The crowd asked, "What is the Golden Core True Path? Why have we not heard of it?"
Zhen Jian pointed at the crowd and said, "You do not cultivate your hearts; how can you know where the true path lies? I will explain it to you: the Golden Core True Path is a difficult path; it requires life and death struggles, contending with the two gods. A moment of carelessness could lead to shattering bones.
Moreover, there are various fateful encounters, each time risking life and death, only then can one find the opportunity for cultivation. How can this path be described as easy? If it were not for reading in the texts, I would not know this method either."
Upon hearing this, the crowd felt a chill run down their spines, and they dared not mention it again, fearing to entertain thoughts of cultivating this life-and-death path.
They thought the senior brother was mistaken, as there were simpler paths to cultivate; why choose such a difficult one?
Jiang Yuan left the Three Star Immortal Cave and found a moss-covered stone.
He sat cross-legged on the moss-covered stone, contemplating the dual energies of heaven and earth.
The Grandmaster had said that establishing the cauldron was very easy for him; this path involved gathering the dual energies of heaven and earth to form the cauldron.
He had once seen the Lung Furnace within his lungs, and the two paths bore similarities.
Jiang Tong'er thought to himself: "The Grandmaster's teachings include the saying that the cauldron should be established one inch and three-tenths below the navel, where water and fire harmonize to reveal the cauldron."
He had a restless heart, and harmonizing water and fire was quite easy.
He only needed to gather the dual energies of heaven and earth to establish the cauldron.
Jiang Yuan calmed his mind, closed his eyes to nurture his spirit, and waited for the right moment.
When the dual energies of heaven and earth were ready to be drawn, he would establish the cauldron.
Unknowingly, time passed, and half a day went by; the sun set in the west, and the moon rose in the east.
Jiang Tong'er remained seated, unmoving, like a clay statue of an immortal.
Finally, at the hour of the tiger, as the eastern sky began to lighten, Jiang Yuan opened his eyes, realizing that the moment had arrived.
He waved the jade whisk in his hand, and the purple robe on his body rustled.
His mud palace trembled, and borrowing the power of his primordial spirit, he allowed the turbid energy of the earth and the clear energy of heaven to enter his body.
The jade handle of the whisk in Tong'er's hand was born from the essence of the Kun Yuan, and the sun and moon on his purple robe manifested the clear energy of heaven.
The two combined, allowing him to easily gather the dual energies of heaven and earth, all entering his body, one inch and three-tenths below the navel, just as he was about to establish the cauldron...
(End of Chapter)