It is said that in the clear skies above and the dim earth below, when the distinction between black and white is truly apparent, Jiang Tong'er draws the dual energies of heaven and earth into his body.
He feels the clear energy entering through his heavenly spirit and the turbid energy flowing in through his bubbling spring.
The two energies, like a dragon and a tiger, are not easily subdued to form the cauldron.
Jiang Yuan is secretly alarmed, not expecting that establishing the cauldron would be fraught with such dangers.
He remains calm and composed, commanding the Heart Monkey to subdue the heavenly energy and the Wood Mother to tame the earthly energy, while the Yellow Matriarch coordinates in the middle.
The heavenly energy resembles a dragon, while the earthly energy resembles a tiger, both difficult to contend with.
Fortunately, the Heart Monkey possesses great divine abilities, and the Wood Mother remains steadfast in guarding the heart, making it possible to subdue the dragon and tiger.
The dual energies of heaven and earth are taught to the four, obediently entering the area three inches below the navel.
Upon their meeting, how could they not be unsettled? The dragon and tiger engage in battle, but with the Heart Monkey watching over, the two energies begin to merge.
After a round of subduing, the two energies are obedient.
It is already midday, and he seizes the opportunity to inhale the heavenly fire into his abdomen.
With the Heart Monkey's divine power, he ignites the flames, intending to manifest the cauldron.
The great fire ignites beneath his navel, and the wind stirs the smoke, rushing straight towards the Niwan Palace.
Fortunately, the intent horse arrives to protect the Niwan Palace from harm.
Jiang Tong'er feels the fire burning painfully beneath his navel.
Jiang Yuan tightly guards his mind, ensuring the fire does not extinguish.
"This fire burns even fiercer than the Heart Monkey's current flames!"
"In the past, when the Heart Monkey burned, I thought the wind stirred the smoke, causing my mind to become unclear, turning my eyes red, nearly leading to an eye ailment. But now, burning the cauldron, the pain is much greater."
Jiang Yuan silently thinks, unwilling to concede defeat, inhaling the heavenly fire to bolster the flames.
When his mind is once again steady, he sees beneath his navel that the dual energies of heaven and earth are refining the great fire, indeed merging together.
Upon closer inspection, he sees the Wood Mother fanning the flames, and the fire's intensity is astonishing, truly aided by the Wood Mother.
The Heart Monkey, the Heart Monkey, the intent horse, and the Yellow Matriarch are all present, protecting him thoroughly as the cauldron takes shape.
He only needs to endure the pain, inhale the heavenly fire, and then borrow the kidney water to complete the cauldron and achieve success!
...
Establishing the cauldron is no ordinary feat.
If not for Jiang Yuan receiving assistance from the five, he would never achieve success.
Time flies swiftly, and before he knows it, half a year has passed.
Tong'er inhales the heavenly fire daily, ensuring the flames do not cease, while the Wood Mother constantly fans the flames, and the cauldron gradually takes shape.
On this day, Jiang Yuan finally makes progress.
Beneath his navel, at the three-inch mark, a cauldron-like form appears, and the dual energies of heaven and earth dissipate.
It is now the time to establish the cauldron, so Jiang Yuan instructs the intent horse to mobilize the kidney water.
At this moment, with the flames raging, the cauldron manifests.
Unexpectedly, the Wood Mother, intent on fanning the flames, does not heed his command.
Jiang Yuan urgently orders the Heart Monkey to pull the Wood Mother aside and to bring the kidney water to rush into the flames.
When the water and fire merge, he sees the cauldron appear beneath his navel.
Upon closer inspection, this cauldron resembles gold and jade, both cauldron and furnace, truly a "Golden Cauldron and Jade Furnace," with hidden transformations within.
How could an ordinary person perceive this?
The Golden Core path has seven steps, the first being "Establishing the Cauldron," and now success is achieved.
Tong'er rises from the mossy stone, adorned in a purple robe.
He is indeed pure of body as he heads towards the Three Stars Immortal Cave.
Before long, Jiang Yuan returns to the Immortal Cave and directly enters the Yao Platform, where he indeed sees the Master seated at the altar, waiting for him.
Jiang Yuan steps forward and kneels in greeting: "Master, I apologize for keeping you waiting."
The Master smiles and says, "I anticipated your talent; you would surely succeed soon, and indeed you have. Tong'er, how is the cauldron?"
Jiang Yuan replies, "This cauldron resembles gold but is not gold, resembles jade but is not jade. There is transformation within; the cauldron has no fire and is empty inside, yet it serves as the foundation of the Golden Core path."
The Master nods and says, "Indeed, this is the cauldron! Now that the cauldron has formed, you must not become lax. Before the elixir is completed, the energy must not be released. If the essence leaks, the body will perish, and the path will be lost."
Jiang Yuan, upon hearing this, feels a chill run down his spine, firmly remembering it in his heart.
He says, "Master, I understand! I will not leak energy and will gather herbs as soon as possible."
The Master was about to say something when he suddenly felt something and looked up towards the outside of the Immortal Cave.
He said, "Tong'er, the matter of gathering herbs is something I will discuss with you later. You already understand, and I will speak with you about it when we have time. There is a friend visiting from outside the cave; you may accompany me to receive him."
Jiang Yuan is astonished in his heart, wondering why the Master personally goes to receive him.
If it were a usual occurrence, he would simply call for him to be received; why would the Master need to go personally? He bows and says, "Yes."
The Master walks towards the entrance of the Three Stars Immortal Cave.
Jiang Yuan closely follows behind.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Three Stars Immortal Cave, the Master opens the main door wide.
Jiang Tong'er adjusts his breath and looks carefully; in the distant sky, he sees auspicious clouds approaching.
Jiang Yuan asks, "Master, who is coming?"
The Master replies, "That is a friend of mine, residing at Wanshou Mountain in the Xiniu Hezhou, at the Wuzhuang Temple. His Dao name is Zhen Yuanzi, and he is known in the world as 'One with the World.' In the past, he did not know I had come, but now he knows and has come to congratulate me."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan immediately recognizes the visitor; it is this Daoist.
He recalls the 'Great Dream' from "Journey to the West," knowing that this person is one who practices great magical powers within the Daoist sect.
His Master is renowned in the world, and it is not surprising that he has such a powerful friend.
As the two masters converse, the auspicious clouds swiftly descend, arriving at the entrance of the Three Stars Immortal Cave.
Jiang Yuan sees that the leader is a youthful-looking Daoist in a crane cloak, followed by two Daoist boys, neither of whom possesses much magical power.
The Master steps forward and says, "Zhen Yuanzi."
The whimsical Daoist laughs heartily and says, "Puti, you entered Xiniu Hezhou without informing me; that is punishable! In the future, when we discuss the Dao, you will owe me one!"
Seeing his friend's joy, the Master laughs and says, "My cave dwelling has not been established for long; why would I call for you? Now that the cave is set, I can invite you here."
Zhen Yuanzi points at the Master and says, "In the past, I established the Wuzhuang Temple on Wanshou Mountain and was the first to invite you. How did you change so much?"
The Master chuckles and says, "Do not act so pretentious; come with me into the cave to chat."
Zhen Yuanzi remains silent and follows the Master into the cave.
The two Daoist boys bow to Jiang Yuan and say, "Dao brother."
They know that Jiang Yuan possesses considerable magical power.
Jiang Yuan returns the greeting and says, "Please enter the cave, both of you."
He then leads the two Daoist boys inside.
Upon reaching the pavilion, the Master seats Jiang Tong'er, and Zhen Yuanzi also seats his two Daoist boys.
Zhen Yuanzi looks at Jiang Yuan with surprise in his eyes and says, "Puti, how did your disciple establish the cauldron?"
The Master laughs and says, "Indeed, the five have gathered, and the elixir is in sight."
Zhen Yuanzi examines Jiang Yuan from head to toe, sighing for a long time, "So remarkable! This is a person born in the Southern Zhanbu continent. The energy of the Southern Zhanbu continent has leaked for a long time, yet there are still such talents born. Once this matter is settled, I will go to the Southern Zhanbu continent to seek a fated method. My two disciples have cultivated for over two thousand years without finding the path; they truly lack a fated method."
The Master shakes his head and says, "Your two disciples have not found the fated method to walk the righteous path. You might as well teach them some side paths; there are three hundred and sixty side paths in the Daoist sect; you can allow them to learn a side path."
Zhen Yuanzi shakes his head and says, "My Taiyi Xuanmen is different from your two schools; it is not the same, not the same!"
The Master laughs and says, "The combination of the two schools is just as it should be; those who wish to learn should devote themselves to study."
Zhen Yuanzi says, "If everyone were like you, how could the Xuanmen and Ling Mountain speak? Would it not be inappropriate to merge into one? Puti, do not speak of such things. I have come to seek you today, indeed to congratulate you, and furthermore, to discuss the Dao with you."
The Master gladly agrees and instructs Tong'er to fetch the fire dates from the room to welcome the guest.
Jiang Tong'er receives the order and goes...
(End of Chapter)