The Ancestor Master happily said that the child understood the 'characteristics of Dan formation' and wanted to teach the child the methods of alchemy, so that he could form Dan at an early date.
The Ancestor Master sat cross-legged on the mat and said, "Child, since you understand the characteristics of Dan formation, I will teach you alchemy. How do you feel about that?"
Jiang Yuan smiled and replied, "Master, I now understand the timing, but time is fleeting. I await your teachings on the Great Dao, and then I will proceed with the alchemy and the secret four steps of the Dao."
Upon hearing this, the Ancestor Master clasped his hands and asked, "Child, are you truly not anxious?"
Jiang Yuan shook his head, "Not anxious."
The Ancestor Master smiled silently and took out a chessboard, wanting to play a game with the child.
Jiang Tong'er looked down and saw it was 'Go'.
He performed a bow and sat down, taking the white stones.
The Ancestor Master then placed his first stone on the star point of the board.
The child smiled and responded with his own stone.
The two of them, one stone after another, made their moves, and the chessboard instantly resembled a battlefield, with black and white dragons clashing.
As the two played intensely, it truly was a 'chessboard as the ground, the pieces as the heavens, colors reflecting the yin and yang of creation.'
The two continued their game until the next day, when the child lost and felt ashamed of his inferiority.
The Ancestor Master collected the pieces and said, "Child, you have improved greatly in your chess skills. In the past, I defeated you many times, but today I only won by three or four stones."
Jiang Yuan said, "I still feel that Master has been lenient with me. I have not practiced chess for a long time; how could my skills have improved?"
The Ancestor Master laughed and said, "This has nothing to do with chess skills. In the past, you were anxious, and your celestial appearance had not formed, so you lost to me often in Go. Now you are calm, unlike before, which is why you lost to me less."
Jiang Yuan suddenly understood and bowed to the Ancestor Master.
The Ancestor Master said, "Since you are not anxious about alchemy, go on my behalf."
Jiang Yuan agreed, saying, "Master, just give your orders, and I will certainly take care of it."
The Ancestor Master said, "Since you and I have been living in the mountains for so many years, the disciples in the mountains come and go, but they never cultivate their hearts. There are people from the Southern Zhanbu Continent who have fled from three disasters and gathered at the foot of the mountain, settling in the market.
They often hear that there are people in the mountains and know of my Sanxing Cave, so they have established a shrine to offer sacrifices. I have not protected the people at the foot of the mountain; how can I accept this offering? I have truly seen them descend the mountain to dissuade them, but they do not listen.
Child, you should go and persuade the mountain people not to perform sacrifices."
Jiang Yuan responded, "Understood."
The Ancestor Master then waved his hand, instructing the child to leave.
Jiang Yuan bowed and left the quiet room.
...
Jiang Tong'er left the quiet room, took his jade whisk, and was about to descend the mountain.
The child had three treasures for protection: one was a purple robe, one was a jade whisk, and one was a Yu Ding.
These three treasures were taught to him as life-saving treasures before forming Dan.
He set out with the three treasures, walking towards the entrance of the quiet room's celestial cave.
As he walked along the mountain path and over a slope, he saw a woodcutter coming from a distance.
This woodcutter was the head of the Zuo family from back in the day, now old and frail.
Beside him was a man in his prime, truly a case of 'one generation passing to the next.'
The old woodcutter approached, placed two bundles of firewood on the ground, and bowed, saying, "Master!"
The man behind the woodcutter followed his actions closely.
Jiang Yuan returned the greeting, saying, "Young man, it has been many years since we last met."
He had gathered herbs, practiced timing, and spent over thirty years.
The old woodcutter had aged significantly.
He had long understood that cultivation knows no time; often, while he quietly cultivated, several generations had passed in the mortal realm.
The old woodcutter sighed, "Master is indeed an immortal! Over thirty years have passed, yet Master looks as youthful as ever. Truly miraculous, truly miraculous!"
Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Young man, are you chopping wood to return home?"
The old woodcutter replied, "Exactly, exactly! May I ask where Master is headed?"
Jiang Yuan said, "I am following the orders of the mountain's master. I heard that there are people at the foot of the mountain offering sacrifices to my master. This act burdens the people and wastes resources, so I am here to dissuade them."
Upon hearing this, the old woodcutter replied, "Indeed, Master, there is a temple at the foot of the mountain, and inside there are not only the old immortal but also you, Master."
Jiang Yuan was astonished, "How could I be there?"
The old woodcutter laughed and said, "Master is unaware. Your past deeds of subduing demons and vanquishing evil are known to the people. The demons from Yuzhu Mountain and Evil Wind Mountain, as well as those around Ling Tai Fangcun Mountain, were all eliminated by you. Your might has not diminished."
Jiang Yuan did not expect that his past actions of eliminating demons on the orders of his master would lead to offerings being made in his name.
He said, "Young man, will you go with me and lead the way?"
The old woodcutter gladly agreed, handing the two bundles of firewood along with the old axe to the man beside him, saying, "Take these back! I will accompany Master."
The man had no choice but to pick up the firewood and axe and head home.
Jiang Yuan smiled, "This young man is a filial gentleman."
The old woodcutter said, "Do not trouble me with such matters; how can we speak of filial piety? I lament that he is following the old path I once took."
Jiang Yuan asked, "Young man, do you know how many generations your family has lived on the mountain?"
The old woodcutter shook his head, "I do not know, I do not know!"
Jiang Yuan said, "I do not know either. I only know that fathers pass down to sons, and sons pass down to grandsons, endlessly. You say your son is following the old path, but you do not realize he is also following the path of your father."
The old woodcutter was left speechless.
Jiang Yuan smiled and said nothing as he continued down the mountain path.
The old woodcutter, agile on his feet, followed closely behind.
...
Before long, the two reached the foot of the mountain.
It was now early spring, and they could see that 'the sun warms, the ice melts, and the earth is in harmony; gentle winds and nourishing rains bring blessings to the people.'
The old woodcutter led Jiang Tong'er to a small temple at the foot of the mountain.
Jiang Yuan peered inside.
Although the temple was small, it was complete in its offerings, with various ceremonial instruments that looked quite proper.
There were also many people inside worshipping.
Upon closer inspection, he saw two clay statues at the front.
One was of the Ancestor Master, though the likeness was unclear, while the other statue beside it bore a resemblance to him, about fifty to sixty percent similar.
The old woodcutter asked, "Master, should I go in and have someone welcome you?"
Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Is there much expense here?"
The old woodcutter replied, "Years ago, people from the Southern Zhanbu Continent crossed the sea and traveled to the Western Niuhe Continent, becoming familiar with the route. In recent years, many people from the Southern Zhanbu Continent have come. This temple was built collectively by many families, and the expenses are considerable. Every time there is a sacrifice, it is even harder to calculate."
Jiang Yuan, upon hearing this, said no more and walked inside.
The old woodcutter followed.
Jiang Tong'er entered and first bowed before the statue of the Ancestor Master.
He then approached his own statue, kneeling and worshipping with sincere words and actions.
The crowd asked, "Where are you from? How do you know such etiquette?"
Jiang Yuan stood up and smiled, "I am from Ling Tai Fangcun Mountain."
Suddenly, someone in the crowd said, "Why do you look so much like an immortal child?"
Jiang Yuan flicked his whisk and said, "I am but a child cultivating in the mountains, precisely the statue you are worshipping."
The crowd was astonished and confused, saying, "If you are an immortal child, why do you worship yourself?"
Jiang Yuan laughed and said, "It is because I know that 'seeking others is not as good as seeking oneself.' What use is it for you to establish this shrine? It would be better to dismantle it and distribute the wealth. You must know that to forge iron, one must first be strong oneself. Seeking gods and Buddhas is not as good as seeking oneself. If the effort of worship were used for other purposes, what could not be accomplished?"
After saying this, the child paid no further attention to the crowd and returned to the mountain.
Had he been the same as in his earlier years, wholeheartedly seeking the Dao and longevity, he would have been unmoved, burning incense and worshipping Buddhas at home.
It was likely that he would have turned to bones by now, with no chance of forming the Golden Dan here.
The Dao is always present, hidden in the heart.
It is acceptable to seek a good teacher to enter the door, but how can one always seek a good teacher to help in cultivation? Ultimately, it is 'seeking oneself.'
The old woodcutter followed him.
The crowd remained silent, not pursuing.
(End of Chapter)