Time truly flies; before one realizes, three years have passed.
Jiang Tong'er appeared behind the temple at the foot of the mountain.
The small temple had indeed been dismantled, and Tong'er no longer descended the mountain.
Instead, he remained in the Three Star Immortal Cave, listening to the Grandmaster expound on the Dao and recite scriptures, occasionally discussing Zen principles with Maitreya Bodhisattva, living a leisurely and content life, neither hurried nor anxious.
One day, after the Grandmaster finished discussing the Great Dao and dismissed the class, he retained Jiang Yuan to stay behind.
Once the junior disciples had left, Jiang Yuan stepped out from the class and respectfully greeted, "Master."
The Grandmaster ascended the platform and asked, "Child, how long have you been practicing your fire control?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan roughly calculated in his heart and replied, "It has been three years."
The Grandmaster said, "Are you now learning to refine?"
Jiang Yuan responded, "I hope Master will teach me the refining methods!"
The Grandmaster smiled and asked, "I should teach you, but I see you quietly cultivating and listening every day, unlike in the past. What is the reason for this?"
Jiang Yuan laughed and said, "I have been practicing fire control, focusing on the primordial spirit and the five elements, no longer disturbed by the two spirits. Thus, I am not in a hurry. Although I do not know what refining entails, I understand it must be difficult. It requires the primordial spirit to be agile and the essence to be preserved before one can refine."
The Grandmaster stepped down from the platform, lightly patted Jiang Yuan's Niwan Palace, and laughed, "Indeed, when one understands one principle, they understand a hundred. You do not speak of the foolish words of turning the Golden Elixir into mud."
Jiang Yuan, upon hearing this, could only say, "Master, do not expose my shortcomings."
The Grandmaster helped Jiang Yuan to sit down and said, "Sit, I will teach you the refining methods."
Jiang Yuan did not dare to refuse and served the Grandmaster as he took his seat in the class.
Once seated, he listened attentively and said, "I hope Master will kindly teach me!"
The Grandmaster smiled and said, "The refining method requires the right fire control to learn. It involves igniting and extinguishing the fire, the distinction between gentle and fierce flames, teaching the true fire to temper the great medicine in the cauldron, allowing the four medicines to take shape. When they reach the state of complete unity, then the work is accomplished."
Jiang Yuan diligently noted everything down and asked, "Master, is it during the tempering that one uses the secret of fire control to manage the ignition and extinguishing, the gentle and fierce flames?"
The Grandmaster nodded, "Indeed! When the four medicines take shape, that is when this step is accomplished."
The Grandmaster spoke of refining in just a few words.
However, Jiang Yuan knew this step was difficult.
Controlling the fire requires precise tempering of the cauldron; even a slight deviation could ruin the medicine.
This medicine is a primordial great medicine, existing even before this body was born, merging into the formless, unseen and untouchable, only gathering energy to manifest the medicine.
Such a great medicine is not easy to refine.
Even with true fire, it is unlikely to succeed in a short time.
Jiang Yuan bowed and said, "Master, I understand."
The Grandmaster said, "Child, you must remember, this fire control must not go wrong. You need to learn the secret method of managing the fire. During refining, the two spirits will definitely obstruct you; this is a critical opportunity! Because during refining, you must concentrate fully, without distraction. If you are disturbed by the two spirits, even a slight deviation will lead to death and the dissolution of your Dao. This step of refining is the most perilous step in the path of elixir cultivation!"
Jiang Yuan felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this.
He knew the two spirits loved to find opportunities to exploit weaknesses and disrupt his cultivation.
If the Grandmaster spoke of focusing entirely on refining, he would be unable to resist and would only be continuously obstructed by the two spirits.
A slight mistake could lead to death and the emptiness of the Great Dao.
The path of the Golden Elixir is difficult and perilous; each step has its subtle uses, but if any step is taken incorrectly, it could endanger one's life.
Refining is indeed difficult!
When gathering herbs, he was obstructed by the two spirits, relying on the assistance of the primordial spirit.
However, in this refining process, the primordial spirit is used, and with the five elements united, how could there be any assistance?
He knelt again and said, "I hope Master will save me!"
The Grandmaster laughed and said, "I was just wondering how you would break the deadlock; I did not expect you to seek a shortcut and come to ask me."
Jiang Yuan said, "Since Master teaches me, there must be a method to break the deadlock. I hope Master will show great compassion and teach me everything!"
The Grandmaster took a talisman and handed it to Jiang Yuan, saying, "This jade talisman can protect you from the obstruction of the two spirits during refining; it is only useful during refining and not at other times."
Jiang Tong'er accepted the jade talisman and thanked the Grandmaster for his deep kindness.
The Grandmaster waved his hand, urging Jiang Yuan to cultivate.
Jiang Yuan bowed again but first assisted the Grandmaster back to the quiet room.
He helped the Grandmaster walk towards the quiet room, and before they returned, he suddenly felt a great tremor in his Niwan Palace.
He circulated his qi towards the cave.
He saw that in the quiet rooms, boundless light rose, illuminating the Three Star Immortal Cave, but it did not rise for long before dissipating into formlessness.
The Grandmaster said, "Maitreya Bodhisattva has gained some insight."
Jiang Yuan nodded, "Maitreya Bodhisattva indeed possesses profound prajna."
The Grandmaster, not knowing when, took a ruler and lightly tapped Jiang Yuan's crown, saying, "You have drawn in Zen principles like Maitreya Bodhisattva; now that you have gained some insight, you should go congratulate him."
Jiang Yuan agreed, unafraid of the Grandmaster's ruler.
He knew the Grandmaster's ruler had the power to calm the seas, but when it came to hitting him, how could he use force? He assisted the Grandmaster back to the quiet room and then headed towards where Maitreya Bodhisattva resided.
...
Before long.
Jiang Yuan arrived at a quiet room and saw Maitreya Bodhisattva standing at the door, a smile on his face.
Jiang Tong'er stepped forward and said, "I, Guangxin, congratulate Maitreya Bodhisattva on your insight!"
Maitreya Bodhisattva, upon seeing Jiang Yuan, came forward and smiled, "Indeed, it is a wonderful method, indeed a wonderful method! Thank you, Real Person Guangxin, for passing on the teachings!"
Jiang Yuan asked, "Bodhisattva, have you attained enlightenment?"
Maitreya Bodhisattva shook his head, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "I have not yet attained enlightenment, but I understand how to practice Zen. There is a saying, 'The Buddha is the mind, and the mind is the Buddha.' This method truly becomes my path of practice. Thank you, Real Person, for the teachings!"
Jiang Yuan returned the greeting, "Bodhisattva need not thank me; Zen is right there, everyone can learn, and everyone can become a Buddha. How could you thank me?"
Maitreya Bodhisattva sighed with regret upon hearing this.
If this Real Person were to become the Buddha of the Western Pure Land, how wonderful would that be! He sincerely clasped his hands and said, "Real Person, I shall return to the Western Pure Land to cultivate. You are well-versed in Buddhist teachings; would you be willing to enter the Western Pure Land and sit on a high-grade lotus platform? You would naturally receive great responsibilities and rewards."
Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Bodhisattva, I am still a small cultivator, a mere withered tree, and I do not dare to shamelessly occupy the lotus platform."
Maitreya Bodhisattva, possessing great wisdom, understood Jiang Yuan's implication.
He clasped his hands and said, "I will not speak further! Real Person, I shall take my leave; please convey my regards to Dao Brother."
Jiang Yuan agreed.
Maitreya Bodhisattva departed, and Jiang Yuan saw him off.
Once they had left the Three Star Immortal Cave, Maitreya Bodhisattva rode on a cloud towards the Western Pure Land.
Jiang Yuan then returned to the Three Star Immortal Cave, relaying the news of Maitreya Bodhisattva's departure to the Grandmaster, and resumed his cultivation in the quiet room.
...
Unknowingly, five days passed.
On this day, Jiang Yuan had nourished his spirit and essence, preparing thoroughly.
He donned a purple robe, placed the jade whisk, the Yu Ding, the Tai Xuan Qing Sheng talisman, and the jade talisman, along with all the necessary divine objects beside him, and was ready to undertake the fourth step of the cultivation secret: 'Refining.'
This step is critical and must not be taken lightly.
It requires true fire to temper the four medicines in the cauldron, allowing the four medicines to take shape from the formless.
Jiang Yuan entered a meditative state, calling upon the five elements to gather in the cauldron beneath his navel, and then invited the primordial spirit to emerge from the Niwan Palace.
Speaking of the primordial spirit, it has marvelous uses; it is like another self within the body, capable of sensing, moving, thinking, and even generating true fire, repeatedly assisting him in blocking the two spirits, allowing him to cultivate without obstruction.
It is indeed the true self!
Once everything was prepared, Jiang Yuan activated the secret of fire control from the upper layer, allowing the primordial spirit to generate true fire.
With the five elements working together, he inhaled and exhaled true breath, managing the fire to burn the cauldron, proceeding with 'Refining.'
Seeking monthly tickets, seeking continued reading.
(End of Chapter)