It is said that Jiang Yuan, with his heart set on passing through the Three Passes, arrived at the Yu Zhen Pass.
He had the five individuals break through this pass, and before long, the Yu Zhen Pass opened, unable to stop the five who were aided by the forces of heaven and earth.
Jiang Tong'er, nurturing the fire's essence, received assistance; how could that be considered illusory?
The five charged through this pass and continued onward, only to see an ox cart waiting for them, which they must take to proceed.
Jiang Yuan, observing inwardly, saw the path beyond the Yu Zhen Pass, which was indeed a grand road.
The water flowing along this path was tumultuous like the sea, fraught with peril, far more treacherous than the Wei Liu Pass and the Jia Zhi Pass, where the waters were numerous.
It surpassed even the malevolent waters that were countless, revealing ominous signs.
This path was undoubtedly difficult to traverse.
He was now close to the Ni Wan Palace; how could he stop here?
Jiang Yuan calmed his mind and instructed the five to take the ox cart to the Ni Wan Palace, intending to deliver the great medicine there, allowing the Dragon and Tiger to meet, thus achieving the Dao fruit.
Upon receiving the order, the five boarded the ox cart, which surged forward with great momentum, charging ahead fiercely against the turbulent waters.
Not long after, the ox cart suddenly encountered "blood-red waters surging to great heights," with hands covered in black mud reaching out from the water, attempting to halt the cart's progress.
Jiang Yuan observed inwardly and faintly heard the cries of ghosts and the wails of spirits, the cries of sentient beings blocking his path to enlightenment.
He vaguely saw the beings of the Western Niu Hezhou and the Southern Zhanbu Continent, some lamenting, some weeping, some pleading for him to ferry them across, while others resented him for only caring about himself.
Even more troubling, he faintly saw the generations of the Left family in the water, beckoning to him, begging for rescue.
The ox cart came to a halt, and the five protected the great medicine.
Jiang Yuan contemplated this transformation into the path of black mud, deep in thought.
...
In the quiet room, the Patriarch opened his eyes and gazed towards Tong'er’s chamber.
How could he not know that Tong'er had reached the most difficult point in passing the Three Passes?
The Three Passes had been pointed out by the Old Lord, so they could not be easily resisted.
However, there were three demonic obstacles: the recognition of the spirit, the desire of the spirit, which could not be dealt with by Tong'er.
The demonic obstacle after the Yu Zhen Pass was the most challenging; one must understand the heart of the Dao, ensuring that the heart of the Dao does not waver, in order to break through this demonic obstacle and achieve the elixir.
This demonic obstacle could not be made clear to Tong'er, hence the Patriarch had not reminded him; if it were clear, it would not be a demonic obstacle.
He only hoped that Tong'er could break through the demonic obstacle, for there was no one to assist at this pass.
If Tong'er fell into the demonic obstacle, it would surely lead to failure.
The Patriarch said, "After hundreds of years of hard cultivation at the Shangjing Mountain, Tong'er should succeed."
He originally intended to meditate quietly but suddenly looked outside the chamber, rising to step out, and then saw Zhen Jian standing there.
The Patriarch then asked, "Zhen Jian, why are you not cultivating ahead but have come here instead?"
Zhen Jian replied, "Master, I am not an evil guest; I felt something in my heart and, for some reason, arrived here."
Upon hearing this, the Patriarch looked closely at Zhen Jian, secretly thinking: "He is one who understands the true Yuan Spirit; he has come to see Tong'er about to achieve the Dao, having heard the intention of the Dao, yet he seems somewhat confused."
The Patriarch continued, "Guangxin is about to achieve the Dao; if you wait here, there may be some benefits."
Zhen Jian responded, "Master, since I entered the sect, the Senior Brother has been diligently cultivating the righteous path, yet I do not know how long it takes to cultivate this righteous path. Now he is finally about to succeed! Congratulations, congratulations!"
The Patriarch said, "There is no rush this time; wait until Guangxin has succeeded."
Zhen Jian asked, "Master, is there any way to assist the Senior Brother?"
The Patriarch replied, "This path is the righteous path; it cannot be assisted by others. You should wait; what path have you been cultivating recently?"
Zhen Jian answered, "Master, I have recently heard the Senior Brother say that I should read books in the library, mostly reading the works authored by the Senior Brother."
The Patriarch asked, "Have you benefited from it?"
Zhen Jian said, "I often benefit, yet there are many things I do not understand. The books say that the true self is the Yuan Spirit, residing in the Ni Wan Palace, but I cannot find the Ni Wan Palace, as if there is a fog obscuring it."
The Patriarch said, "Place your hands over your eyes."
Zhen Jian followed the instruction and covered his eyes with his hands.
The Patriarch asked, "Can you see me?"
Zhen Jian replied, "Master, I have covered my eyes with my hands, yet I cannot see."
The Patriarch asked, "Can you understand?"
Zhen Jian replied, "Master, I, I do not understand."
The Patriarch sighed, "Lower your hands and wait for Guangxin."
Zhen Jian could only respond affirmatively.
...
In the quiet room, Jiang Yuan was deep in thought.
He observed inwardly and saw the ox cart struggling to move on the black mud road, with hands covered in black mud continuously grabbing at the cart, preventing it from advancing.
Various manifestations sought to make him stop, preventing him from passing this path and meeting with the Yuan Spirit.
These various sounds seemed to arise from his heart and also seemed to echo in his ears, disturbing his mind.
Jiang Yuan pondered for a long time and said, "How can such demonic obstacles move my heart? All beings suffer; only self-ferrying is possible. Have I not also self-ferried?
I was originally a foolish child, merely a dream of yellow millet, who, by chance, became a disciple and cultivated the elixir path for hundreds of years. Life and death are like floating clouds. I asked the five to set up the cauldron, gather herbs, control the fire, refine, nurture, and cultivate the heart; how could there be anything easy?
On the path, I often see myself sitting on the moss-covered stone for a thousand years. Now, as I am about to succeed, why do sentient beings block my path without self-ferrying? What is the reason?"
He then instructed the five to clear the way, allowing the great medicine to meet with the Yuan Spirit, merging into one.
When his heart of the Dao remained unwavering, there was no need for the five to clear the way.
The ox cart surged forward, breaking through the grasp of the hands covered in black mud.
The cart raced through the black mud path, heading straight onward towards the Ni Wan Palace.
The ox cart galloped forward, and in just a few moments, it approached the Ni Wan Palace.
No one obstructed the path anymore; the demonic obstacles were all dispelled, unable to disturb his heart.
Thus, he passed through the Wei Liu Pass, the Jia Zhi Pass, and the Yu Zhen Pass, breaking through all three demonic obstacles.
Before long, the ox cart arrived near the Ni Wan Palace, where the Yuan Spirit emerged to meet the five.
Huang Po then handed over the great medicine.
The Yuan Spirit consumed the great medicine, and his form and spirit underwent a transformation, merging into one.
When Jiang Tong'er observed inwardly, he saw the Yuan Spirit resembling a chick, a unified whole, complete and flawless, measuring an inch in diameter, with black and white supporting each other.
This is called the inner elixir, also known as the Sacred Embryo.
It only awaited the elixir to circulate through the body’s meridians and the Nine Cycles of the Great Zhou, ensuring the immortal body was perfect and without leaks.
At that time, it would be considered immortal, and the Golden Elixir would be successfully formed.
Jiang Yuan dared not hesitate; now that the Sacred Embryo was formed, he would circulate the Nine Cycles.
His heart and spirit moved, and the Sacred Embryo followed his heart, heading towards the acupoints of the Great Zhou.
As the Sacred Embryo passed through the acupoints, it was said that the acupoints nurtured the essence, leading to transformation, thus generating qi.
If this qi does not leak and the acupoints are sealed, then immortality is born, counted as success.
This place had one acupoint, and there were three hundred sixty such acupoints, corresponding to the number of the Great Zhou.
The Sacred Embryo needed to circulate through the Nine Cycles repeatedly, ensuring no leaks from the acupoints, to successfully form the Golden Elixir.
At this moment, Jiang Yuan finally understood what it meant by "when one acupoint is opened, all acupoints are opened."
His Sacred Embryo had just begun to form, initially glimpsing the pathway, allowing him to understand how the Sacred Embryo becomes the Golden Elixir.
Jiang Yuan was determined to make the Golden Elixir succeed.
...
Outside the quiet room, the Patriarch, with his spiritual eye, knew that Jiang Tong'er had broken through the demonic obstacles.
This demonic obstacle was still insufficient to move Tong'er’s heart of the Dao; it was because he had underestimated Tong'er.
He said, "Zhen Jian, you should wait here."
Zhen Jian asked, "Master, how is the Senior Brother?"
The Patriarch replied, "Guangxin is now unimpeded; success still requires some years. You should calm your heart and guard against disturbances from others."
Zhen Jian bowed and said, "Master, I will certainly remember."
The Patriarch said, "You must not lack wisdom; if you cultivate with a calm heart, nurturing your nature and refining your spirit, when will you 'see' will be when you understand my words."
Having said that, the Patriarch walked back into the chamber.
Among the disciples of the Sanxing Immortal Cave, only Jiang Tong'er received the true teachings of the Patriarch, while the others only learned the surface.
Zhen Jian, aside from Jiang Tong'er, was the only one who understood the Yuan Spirit.
(End of Chapter)