Time truly flies, and before one realizes, a month has passed.
The Three Star Immortal Cave cultivators, along with their lives and destinies, all focused on their cultivation.
Jiang Yuan practiced the Sleeve Universe technique, hoping to refine it early.
He often held a leaf in his hand, but struggled to comprehend its essence.
Wukong, on the other hand, had made good progress, secretly practicing the Golden Dan's true path, advancing by leaps and bounds.
One day, Jiang Yuan received a summons from his master, and thus made his way to the quiet chamber to meet him, inquiring about the matter at hand.
The master took a mat and handed it to a young disciple, instructing him to sit down, saying, "Zhen Yuanzi has sent someone to invite you to the mountain."
Jiang Yuan took his seat, puzzled, and said, "The great immortal is out, does he want me to guard the mountain?"
The master replied, "I do not know; Zhen Yuanzi sent someone but did not mention the reason."
Jiang Yuan said, "Master, the great immortal helped me in the past, and now he sends someone to invite me. I must go for a visit."
The master said, "That is indeed the right thing to do. Your skills and methods are sufficient for you to travel without worry."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan stood up to pay his respects and prepared to head to Wanshou Mountain.
The master stopped the young disciple and said, "Do not rush, do not rush! Young disciple, the journey there is uncertain in duration. I will teach you a method that you can practice in your spare time for self-protection."
Jiang Yuan, upon hearing this, stepped forward and repeatedly thanked the master for his deep kindness, requesting him to pass on the teachings.
The master said, "What I will pass on to you is the 'True Fire of Samadhi.' You must remember the incantation well. This fire is extraordinary; it can forge gold and steel. This fire does not extinguish when it encounters water; instead, pouring water on it is like adding oil to the flames, enhancing its intensity. This will be sufficient for your self-protection."
After saying this, the master imparted the secret of the True Fire of Samadhi to the young disciple.
The young disciple carefully memorized the incantation, feeling that this method was quite easy, as it shared a similar essence with the 'heat control' he learned during his Dan cultivation, serving the purpose of the primordial spirit.
He asked, "Master, is this related to heat control?"
The master smiled and said, "What kind of fire does not require heat control? Mastering heat control allows for twice the result with half the effort."
Jiang Yuan suddenly understood, saying, "Heat control is indeed a marvelous application."
For those cultivating the Golden Dan, these three aspects are crucial: establishing the cauldron, gathering herbs, and heat control.
This heat control is a secret that is not passed down lightly; if it were not for the master imparting the superior secret of heat control to him, he would not have recognized it.
The master said, "This method is very profound; you must practice it fully."
Jiang Yuan took note carefully.
The master then instructed him to go.
Jiang Yuan left the master's quiet chamber, returned to his residence, donned his purple robe, and held a dust whisk, finally setting out from the Three Star Immortal Cave.
As he approached the entrance of the Three Star Immortal Cave, he saw Wukong returning with water.
From a distance, Wukong waved at him, and as he got closer, he bowed in greeting.
Wukong joyfully exclaimed, "Senior Brother!"
Jiang Yuan took a closer look and saw that Wukong's eyes were sharp and imposing, indicating he had made a small accomplishment in the Dan Dao.
In just over a month, he had reached this stage, truly a manifestation of the heavens and earth, with no obstacles in cultivating the Golden Dan's true path.
It is said that this manifestation of the heavens and earth does not require the invitation of five people; the acupoints throughout the body open naturally, and there is no need for nurturing.
The heavens and earth form naturally, and when born, the cauldron is established.
Gathering herbs is as easy as drinking water.
The young disciple had cultivated for hundreds of years, facing various difficulties, while Wukong easily achieved this.
If those who could not succeed in the Dao were to know of this, it would surely lead to trouble.
However, the young disciple had already cultivated his heart and achieved the Dao, feeling only joy within.
Jiang Yuan said, "Junior Brother, your cultivation has made a small accomplishment; congratulations, congratulations!"
Wukong replied, "I am far behind Senior Brother. Have you traveled far?"
Jiang Yuan nodded and said, "An elder has summoned me; I must go for a visit. Junior Brother, continue your diligent cultivation."
Wukong bowed and said, "Senior Brother, please go ahead; do not let me delay you. I will certainly cultivate diligently."
After hearing this, Jiang Yuan returned the greeting and exited the Three Star Immortal Cave.
As he left the residence, he saw a young disciple with a 'topknot and short hair' who had somehow found his white deer, playing with it joyfully, quite carefree.
Jiang Yuan stepped closer, and the white deer leaped over, nudging him affectionately, and he gently stroked the white deer.
The young disciple approached Jiang Yuan and said, "Guangxin Senior Brother, my master has summoned you."
Jiang Yuan asked, "Did the great immortal mention the reason?"
The young disciple shook his head and said, "I do not know; I was only told to invite Guangxin Senior Brother to Wanshou Mountain."
Jiang Yuan said, "In that case, I will go for a visit. How will you get there, Junior Brother?"
The young disciple replied, "I will walk there."
Jiang Yuan realized that the young disciple had not yet achieved a proper result; he was still an ordinary mortal.
He could not carry the young disciple because those who had not achieved a proper result carried a heavy aura, making it impossible to lift them with the pure energy of clouds and mist.
If he were to walk, it would take some time, which was indeed inconvenient.
He was not skilled in side paths; if there were any side paths or evil methods, he could easily capture them.
He said, "Junior Brother, I cannot carry you."
The young disciple bowed and said, "Please go ahead, Senior Brother; I will walk back to the mountain."
Jiang Yuan said, "Although I cannot carry you, I have a method called 'Sleeve Universe.' If you agree, I can teach you this method, and you can be placed in my sleeve. When we arrive at Wanshou Mountain, I will take you out, which will be faster than walking."
The young disciple, upon hearing this, joyfully said, "Guangxin Senior Brother, please use the method. This 'Sleeve Universe' technique is often seen used by my master; it is harmless, it is harmless! It is indeed convenient!"
Jiang Yuan then recited the incantation and performed the 'Sleeve Universe' technique, gently spreading his sleeve in the wind, swiftly enveloping the young disciple and placing him inside the sleeve.
He looked at his sleeve, knowing that this method was extraordinary; it could contain a person as if they were nothing, waiting to be used.
It would allow those who could kick the heavens and play with wells to be handled without resistance.
Jiang Yuan gently stroked the white deer, letting it play by the cliff, and then he leaped up, riding the clouds toward Wanshou Mountain.
...
After a while, Jiang Yuan finally arrived at Wanshou Mountain.
His cloud-riding skills were not yet refined; among the hundred and eight great methods, there was a cloud-riding technique he had not perfected, which is why he could only travel slowly.
He arrived at Wanshou Mountain, landed on the cloud, and descended in front of Wuzhuang Temple.
He opened his sleeve, and like pulling out a straw man, he took the young disciple out.
The young disciple landed, looked around, and was overjoyed.
After thanking Jiang Yuan, he walked to the entrance of Wuzhuang Temple and knocked on the door, calling out, "Guangxin Senior Brother is here! Quickly open the door!"
After a short while, the temple door swung open, and two young disciples emerged.
Jiang Yuan recognized them; they were the two disciples who had guarded the temple with him in the past.
Seeing them now, they seemed to have made some progress in their cultivation.
The two young disciples stepped forward to bow, saying, "Guangxin Senior Brother, it has been many years since we last met. Seeing you again truly brings us joy."
Jiang Yuan returned the greeting, smiling, "Congratulations to both of you for your progress in cultivation."
The two young disciples, upon seeing Jiang Yuan in his purple robe with a dust whisk, realized his celestial demeanor had already formed, and they did not dare to boast, saying, "We have only shallow cultivation; Senior Brother is the true cultivator. Our master often says that when Senior Brother achieves success, celestial beings will come to invite you, yet you still do not go."
Jiang Yuan said, "My Dao is shallow; how can I be a celestial being? I will cultivate for a few more years before discussing it."
The young disciple who had come to invite him stepped forward and said, "Guangxin Senior Brother, the two junior brothers can catch up later; our master is waiting for you in the temple."
The two young disciples apologized and led Jiang Yuan into the temple, heading toward the hall.
As Jiang Yuan entered, he looked around.
Wuzhuang Temple had not changed since the past; it was just that there were more young disciples now, likely due to the great immortal taking in new disciples over the years.
Wuzhuang Temple had indeed become more populated compared to the Three Star Immortal Cave.
(End of Chapter)