It is said that Jiang Tong'er sincerely requested the Grandmaster to teach him the fifth step of the Alchemy Path, 'Nourishing.' The Grandmaster sat cross-legged on a mat, looking at Tong'er, and said, "Tong'er, this step of Nourishing emphasizes the word 'Nourish.' Do you understand what this Nourish means?"
Jiang Yuan bowed and replied, "Master, if I may think, this Nourish should refer to the herbs in the cauldron."
The Grandmaster smiled and asked, "How do you come to this conclusion?"
Jiang Yuan explained, "When the alchemical process is complete, the cauldron is sealed tightly to prevent the medicinal vapors from leaking. This means that the four herbs are refined from the formless to the formed. Nourishing should be about concealing the medicinal vapors within, making it easier for the sixth step of the Alchemy Path to achieve union."
The Grandmaster sighed, "Good child! You truly understand the Golden Elixir and the nature of the laws. You are correct; Nourishing indeed facilitates the ease of union. However, this Nourish is not limited to the herbs in the cauldron; it also requires you to nourish the Great Zhou Tian within your body."
Jiang Yuan asked, "Master, the Great Zhou Tian within the body should consist of three hundred sixty acupoints. How should I 'Nourish' them?"
The Grandmaster replied, "There is a saying about timing; the intensity of the fire has its explanations. What does Nourishing fire mean?"
Jiang Yuan recalled the secret methods of timing, which included explanations of fire intensity.
He said, "Master, Nourishing fire refers to 'gentle fire,' focusing on 'cooking,' 'slow,' and 'nurturing.'"
The Grandmaster smiled and said, "Nourishing is often done using gentle fire. This gentle fire is for the use of the primordial spirit, and you do not need to assist it with true breath. First, it nourishes the herbs in the cauldron, allowing the medicinal vapors to be concealed. Second, it nourishes the acupoints of the Great Zhou Tian, allowing the orifices within your body to open. If the Nourishing is sufficient, your acupoints will be like boiling soup, and that will be the completion of your work."
Jiang Yuan asked, "Master, if there is no true breath to assist, how can the primordial spirit use gentle fire?"
The Grandmaster said, "This gentle fire does not require the use of true fire; the primordial spirit and the five beings within your body can generate gentle fire. However, you must maintain a calm mind. If the primordial spirit becomes fatigued and the essence is insufficient, you will need to adjust accordingly."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan felt enlightened and bowed, saying, "Master, I understand now."
This Nourishing is for the use of the primordial spirit and the five beings, to nourish the herbs in the cauldron and the acupoints within the body.
He assisted in this, but the speed of Nourishing is not something he can control, so he took the opportunity to go to the Wanshou Mountain's Wuzhuang Temple to guard the mountain.
The Grandmaster said, "Go on, go on! Head east and take the jade whisk with you."
Jiang Yuan then bowed and headed outside.
As he returned to the quiet room, he took the jade whisk and jade talisman with him and walked towards the Three Stars Immortal Cave.
Before long, Jiang Tong'er approached the Three Stars Immortal Cave, just as he was about to go out when suddenly a voice called from behind.
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother! Slow down!"
He turned around and saw that it was Zhen Jian coming over.
Jiang Tong'er held the whisk and asked, "Junior Brother, you have been cultivating for two or three hundred years. Why is your heart still restless, so impatient? What is the matter?"
Zhen Jian stepped closer and said, "Senior Brother, you do not know. I have gained some insights from reading Zen texts. Decades ago, I asked you to resolve my doubts, but I did not expect that your cultivation would be interrupted by the Grandmaster. Now that I see you going out, I do not know when you will return, so I stopped you."
Jiang Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.
Decades ago, when he was refining, how could he afford to be distracted? If someone had disturbed him, he would have surely faced death and lost his path, and his great Dao would have turned to nothing.
It was the Grandmaster who had protected him thoroughly.
He said, "Junior Brother, you do not know. At that time, it was a critical moment in my cultivation, and I could not afford to be distracted."
Zhen Jian apologized, "It was my fault; I was foolish and nearly caused trouble for you."
Jiang Yuan shook his head and smiled, "There is a reason for this. In the future, you should also teach others; this is the deep grace of the Master. What insights have you gained from reading Zen?"
Zhen Jian said, "To be honest, Senior Brother, I have been quietly contemplating for a long time. I often feel a connection; beneath the heavenly spirit, I sense the presence of others and feel that I am not myself. I seem to embody the external appearances born from greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt, and I have had many such insights recently."
Jiang Yuan, upon hearing this, clapped his hands and laughed, "That is you! Congratulations, congratulations!"
Zhen Jian, puzzled, asked, "Senior Brother, what do you mean?"
Jiang Yuan smiled without answering and continued walking outside.
Zhen Jian, however, did not understand and felt a flicker of inspiration that he could not grasp.
...
Jiang Tong'er left the Three Stars Immortal Cave.
He had not yet descended the mountain when he first sat on a moss-covered stone to communicate with his primordial spirit, allowing the primordial spirit and the five beings to nourish the cauldron and the acupoints within his body.
Upon receiving the command, the primordial spirit acted immediately, working in unison with the five beings to gently heat the cauldron.
Jiang Tong'er felt a warm sensation in his abdomen.
This fire's operation was different from that of burning gold; this gentle fire was born from the wondrous use of the primordial spirit, drawing upon the essence.
In the secrets of the highest quality timing, there are various applications of fire.
Tong'er thought to himself, "In the seven steps of the Golden Elixir, the key points are no more than three steps: the golden cauldron, the jade furnace, and the four great herbs, along with the secrets of timing."
The cauldron, the great herbs, the timing.
These three steps are crucial; the rest are merely extensions of these three steps.
Jiang Yuan taught the primordial spirit to refine gentle fire and nourish the cauldron.
He then stood up and headed down the mountain, making his way to Wanshou Mountain.
At this time, the five beings served the primordial spirit, nourishing the cauldron, while he needed to rely on his own strength to descend the mountain.
It is said that in his younger years, he was just a child who descended the mountain to go to Hangu Pass.
He still needed the Grandmaster's magical powers for protection, traveling the golden path directly without being disturbed by demonic obstacles.
When he traveled west with the Cowherd, he was accompanied by the Old Lord, and upon returning to the mountain, the Grandmaster came to meet him on the golden path, ensuring he was not harmed by demonic obstacles.
Now, as Tong'er was about to achieve success in the Alchemy Path, he possessed some magical powers, which could not be compared to the past.
He was no longer afraid of the demonic obstacles along the way; rather, the demonic obstacles should fear him.
Jiang Yuan walked along the mountain path, leaping over dirt slopes.
Not long after, he heard the call of a deer.
Upon closer inspection, he found it was a white-horned deer.
The white deer came from the cliff, swiftly approaching him, holding a spiritual fruit in its mouth.
Jiang Tong'er recognized this deer; years ago, when he first settled his restless heart, he had descended the mountain to fetch the Zuo family, and this deer had once served as his means of travel.
After hundreds of years without seeing it, the deer had developed some spiritual awareness and still recognized him.
The white deer lowered its head and placed the spiritual fruit in front of him, its front legs resting on the ground.
Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "I am heading to Wanshou Mountain. Do you wish to be my means of travel?"
The white deer remained still and let out a call.
Jiang Yuan gently patted the white deer and took the spiritual fruit, eating it in one bite to quench his thirst.
He then sat atop the white deer and headed down the mountain.
One could see that the good child, wearing a purple gold crown, dressed in a purple robe, holding a whisk, and wearing shoes, with a divine and ethereal presence, tied with a jade talisman of the Yu Ding, rode the white deer, truly embodying a celestial being.
...
In the Three Stars Immortal Cave, in the quiet room.
The Grandmaster felt something and looked down the mountain, joyfully saying to himself, "When Tong'er returns, the Nourishing will surely be successful, and the remaining union and the nine transformations into the elixir will be without hindrance. This child has indeed received my true teachings."
"Although Zhen Jian has suffered a fundamental injury, great ups and downs can lead to a clearer understanding of the mind and nature, ultimately allowing him to see the primordial spirit. If he cultivates well, he may obtain the correct fruit from the side paths in the coming years. I hope Tong'er can awaken him with a single word and help him gain insight."
"My disciples are all of no use, none have grasped the essentials."
"Just as Tong'er said, the Dao is always present."
"Enough, enough, enough! With Tong'er here, that is sufficient! Now that Tong'er possesses some magical power and has the Three Treasures, heading to Wanshou Mountain, there will surely be no demonic obstacles daring to stop him."
The Grandmaster no longer looked further and closed his eyes to meditate in silence.
(End of Chapter)