As the red sun sank in the west, the sky darkened.
It was the season of 'Mengchun', and one could see the lines of poetry: 'The incense in the golden furnace has burned out, the sound of the clock is faint; the gentle breeze brings a chill.
The beauty of spring is vexing, making it hard to sleep; the moon shifts, casting flower shadows on the railing.'
In the Clear Wind and Bright Moon Daoist residence, the two were sitting by the bed, discussing matters from the day.
Clear Wind said, "Do you know, today my master asked me to fetch a ginseng fruit for that Guangxin to eat? That Guangxin gobbled it down, truly making my mouth water. Ginseng fruits are rare at home; when they ripen, my master allows only two. He instructed me to absorb the moisture and eat it, which is incomparable."
Bright Moon replied, "Why did the master send Guangxin here? That Guangxin has just attained the Dao; what capabilities does he have? In a few more years, I too will be able to attain the Dao."
Clear Wind said, "Exactly. Considering all kinds of cultivation, attaining longevity is difficult, but for us, it is quite easy."
Bright Moon nodded, "That makes sense. I wonder what the master intends for Guangxin to do."
Clear Wind replied, "I don't know; let's wait and see."
The two Daoist boys whispered to each other, unaware that the real person, Jiang Zhenren, was aware of their details.
...
The next day, dawn broke.
The Great Immortal summoned the disciples of the temple to the gate, asking Jiang Yuan to demonstrate his divine abilities, so that the mischievous children in the temple could understand the benefits and drawbacks of attaining the Dao.
The Daoist boys of Wuzhuang Temple gathered, most of them in awe of Jiang Yuan, knowing the difficulty of attaining the Dao and eager to witness the divine abilities and their benefits.
Jiang Yuan took a careful look; there were over a hundred Daoist boys in Wuzhuang Temple, far surpassing the Three Stars Immortal Cave.
He saw the crowd gathered, and the Great Immortal Zhenyuan had departed, leaving this place to him.
He sent two Daoist boys to him.
Jiang Yuan asked, "Which of you is Clear Wind and Bright Moon? Point them out to me."
The Daoist boy pointed out where Clear Wind and Bright Moon were, saying, "Senior Brother Guangxin is those two."
Jiang Yuan focused his qi and looked closely at Clear Wind and Bright Moon.
They had some childlike features, but their hearts were restless, their minds clouded, easily angered and jealous.
If they were to leave Wuzhuang Temple, they would surely be 'hard of nature'.
If he could teach them to calm their hearts, like the Mother of Wood, instilling fear in them, it would quell their tempers, help them keep to the precepts, and prevent them from making mistakes again.
He had a plan in mind and said, "You two may return."
The Daoist boy responded and went back to the group.
Jiang Yuan said, "Brothers, the Great Immortal has valued me and asked me to demonstrate my divine abilities for you, so you may understand the wonders of attaining the Dao."
The others asked, "Senior Brother Guangxin, what divine abilities do you possess?"
Jiang Yuan replied, "I have the ability of eternal life through countless calamities, one hundred and eight transformations, and the technique of 'Sleeve Universe'."
The others said, "Please, Senior Brother, show us the wonders of your divine abilities."
Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "If I use my divine abilities empty-handed, they will not display their true power. If I do not invite one or two brothers to compete with me, then it will not demonstrate the efficacy of my divine abilities."
The others said, "Senior Brother Guangxin, how can we be your opponents? How can we compete?"
Jiang Yuan said, "I will not harm you; let one or two capable brothers come forth. I see that you two have decent abilities."
With that, he designated Clear Wind and Bright Moon.
The others stepped back, leaving Clear Wind and Bright Moon standing.
Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Brothers, I will now use my divine abilities, so be careful."
The two Daoist boys were frightened and trembling, for Jiang Zhenren's celestial demeanor was formidable, his eyes like lightning.
How could these two boys withstand it? They turned to flee.
Jiang Yuan chuckled, reciting a spell, and used the 'Sleeve Universe' technique, waving his sleeve in the wind, swiftly enveloping Clear Wind and Bright Moon, pulling them into his sleeve.
Clear Wind and Bright Moon panicked, pounding against the fabric, but they did not expect the sleeve to be stronger than steel.
Jiang Yuan then took them out of his sleeve like picking up straw men and used a 'Fixation' technique.
Upon saying 'still', he fixed Clear Wind and Bright Moon in place, and they stood there, gritting their teeth, unable to move.
The others saw this and burst into applause and laughter, saying, "Wonderful! Senior Brother's marvelous technique!"
Jiang Yuan said, "Brothers, how do you find my abilities?"
They replied, "Senior Brother's divine powers are vast; we cannot compare."
Jiang Yuan said, "After attaining the Dao, all can learn this. You should apply yourselves and attain the Dao early; then all divine abilities will be within you, allowing you to be carefree. Brothers, there is a saying: 'Establish your resolve to cultivate the profound, and the truth will become clear.' Do not become complacent; focus on cultivating the Dao. The qi of the heavens is vast; my Dao will flourish."
With that, Jiang Yuan raised his hands in salute.
The others bowed, all sincerely respectful, returning the gesture to Jiang Yuan.
Jiang Yuan did not speak further, leaving the temple gate and returning to the hall to pay respects to the Great Immortal Zhenyuan.
As he approached, the Great Immortal welcomed him.
The Great Immortal said, "Guangxin is indeed a remarkable person! Although you have learned from three schools, you prioritize the Dao; otherwise, how could you speak such profound words?"
Jiang Yuan bowed and said, "I dare not claim such praise! Great Immortal, I understand the reason why the disciples in the temple are not united."
The Great Immortal seated Jiang Yuan and asked, "What do you mean?"
Jiang Yuan said, "It is because there are disciples in the temple whose hearts are restless; they lack something, causing the temple to be disunited."
The Great Immortal asked again, "Which disciple is it?"
Jiang Yuan then explained the words of the two Daoist boys to the Great Immortal, indicating that this was a matter within the Great Immortal's temple, and he should not delve too deeply.
The Great Immortal, upon hearing this, said, "I have indeed overlooked this. These two boys are unruly and should be tempered."
Jiang Yuan said, "The true path is difficult to cultivate; some restlessness is common."
The Great Immortal laughed, "What Guangxin says makes sense."
Jiang Yuan stood and bowed, saying, "Having been invited by the Great Immortal, I have come to the temple. Now that the matter is concluded, I should take my leave."
He had originally planned to stay for a few years, but did not expect such a brief visit; he had resolved the matter and should return to the mountain to cultivate his abilities.
The Great Immortal urged, "You come and go in haste; is this not my lack of courtesy? Guangxin, please stay a little longer; do not let Bodhi blame me."
Jiang Yuan could not refuse, seeing that the Great Immortal was adamant, so he had to agree.
The Great Immortal arranged for two Daoist boys to serve him, conversing with him during the day and providing tea and meals at night, treating him with great courtesy.
After staying for seven or eight days, Jiang Yuan finally took his leave, returning to the mountain with a focused mind.
The Great Immortal could not keep him any longer and had to see him off.
Jiang Yuan rose on clouds and mist, traveling a thousand miles back to Lingtai Fangcun Mountain.
...
In half a day's time, it was the season of 'Zhongchun' when Jiang Zhenren returned to Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, to the Xieyue Sanxing Cave.
Upon returning to the residence, Jiang Yuan headed straight to the quiet room of his master.
As he approached, he saw the door wide open and entered, paying respects to his master.
Jiang Yuan bowed and said, "Master, I have returned today."
The master, dressed in his robes, sat on the bed and said, "Child, has the matter at Wuzhuang Temple been completed?"
Jiang Yuan replied, "It has been completed."
The master did not ask for details but said, "That is very good. Zhenyuan and I are friends; you are my disciple. Now that you have attained the Dao, you should often interact with him."
Jiang Yuan acknowledged with a nod, saying, "Master, I understand."
The master said, "You left before to teach you the True Fire of Samadhi; I expected you would return after some years, but I did not expect you to return so soon. You must not have completed your cultivation; go and meditate quietly, so you may soon master this method."
Jiang Yuan could only comply, leaving the room to return to his quiet meditation.
Upon returning to the quiet room, Jiang Yuan sat cross-legged on the mat, finally having some leisure to cultivate the 'True Fire of Samadhi'.
This divine ability was quite easy for him to practice.
This was because he had mastered the secret of the top-grade fire's timing; the True Fire of Samadhi was closely related to timing, being the marvelous use of the primordial spirit to create true fire.
The True Fire of Samadhi was indeed related to timing; if the timing was abundant, the true fire would flourish.
If the timing was poor, the true fire would diminish.
Jiang Yuan focused on mastering the timing.
...
Time passed quickly, and it was now the season of 'Jichun'.
Jiang Yuan had fully mastered the True Fire of Samadhi, making rapid progress, almost reaching the pinnacle of the True Fire of Samadhi, due to his proficiency in timing.
Jiang Yuan had originally planned to refine the True Fire of Samadhi to perfection, but one day, Zhenjian came to visit him, interrupting his cultivation.
On this day, Zhenjian entered the quiet room, and Jiang Yuan invited him to sit on the mat.
After a moment, both host and guest were seated, and Jiang Yuan asked, "Junior Brother, what brings you to seek me?"
Zhenjian held a leaf in his hands and asked, "There is something unclear to me that I have pondered over but cannot understand, so I come to seek guidance from Senior Brother."
Jiang Yuan sat upright on the mat and pointed to the leaf in Zhenjian's hand, saying, "If it is about this leaf, I cannot answer."
Zhenjian shook his head, saying, "It is not about this leaf."
Jiang Yuan, upon hearing this, asked, "If it is not about this leaf, then please tell me; I will listen and clarify your doubts. If it remains unclear, you may seek Master."
Zhenjian asked, "Senior Brother, can one attain the right fruit through the side paths?"
Jiang Yuan replied, "In the realm of the Dao, there are three hundred and sixty side paths, all of which can lead to the right fruit; how could one not attain it?"
Zhenjian said, "To be honest with you, I once heard Master speak of the Great Dao, teaching the path to Wukong, yet he critiqued the side paths as 'setting pillars in walls' and 'fishing for the moon in water'. I, lacking the talent of Senior Brother, cannot cultivate the right path. Hearing this, I have doubts in my heart; can the side paths truly lead to the right fruit?"
Jiang Yuan understood and guessed that the two gods were causing trouble.
He smiled and said, "Junior Brother, why think this way? According to Master, the side paths are not limited to 'setting pillars in walls' and 'fishing for the moon in water'; there are also sayings like 'bricks made from clay at the kiln's head', and many more."
Zhenjian almost dropped the leaf in his hand, tears streaming down his face as he said, "Senior Brother, it is hard, it is hard. Since I was young, I did not understand things, blindly seeking the true path, yet my playful heart deceived my true self, causing my body to be filled with yin and yang qi.
Now I have awakened to the hardships of cultivation, earnestly seeking a side path fruit, but unexpectedly, I have no chance to attain true insight. I lament my youthful ignorance; if I had nurtured my nature with the true, today I would surely have a path to walk. Senior Brother, what should I do?"
Jiang Yuan said, "Junior Brother, there is no need for tears; I have not finished speaking."
Zhenjian asked, "Senior Brother, what do you mean?"
Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Junior Brother, what do you think of the 'bricks made from clay at the kiln's head'?"
Zhenjian replied, "Those bricks are formed at the kiln's head, already taking shape, yet they have not been tempered by water and fire. If a heavy rain falls, they will surely be ruined."
Jiang Yuan continued, "But if they are tempered by water and fire, what do you think?"
Zhenjian replied, "They will surely become bricks."
Jiang Yuan nodded with a smile, saying, "Junior Brother, do you not understand?"
Zhenjian suddenly realized, as if awakening from a dream, and bowed down in front of Jiang Yuan, saying, "Junior Brother thanks Senior Brother for clarifying! The side paths can indeed lead to the right fruit, just as water and fire can transform clay into bricks! I am indeed cultivating 'bricks made from clay at the kiln's head', but if I am tempered by water and fire, the clay will become bricks, and then my Dao will surely succeed."
Jiang Yuan said, "Good."
Zhenjian dared not disturb Jiang Yuan further, and after three bows, he took his leave, the clouds parting and the mist dispersing, knowing how to proceed.
There is a saying: 'Clay at the kiln's head, broken by rain, is merely untempered by water and fire.
If tempered by water and fire to become bricks, it can endure in the world for ten thousand years.'
Jiang Yuan resumed his cultivation.
...
In the mountains, time flows without a cycle, and the cold ends without knowing the years.
Cultivators often see a hundred years pass like flowing water, and before long, three years had gone by.
Jiang Yuan finally mastered the True Fire of Samadhi.
During these three years, he also refined the 'Sleeve Universe' technique to great proficiency, but he had not learned any new methods.
He planned to refine his own methods a bit more before seeking his master to learn new techniques.
One day, the master began to teach the Great Dao and summoned the disciples in the residence.
Jiang Yuan took his seat among the group, waiting to hear the master's teachings.
He looked at Zhenjian, who was making a fan from the leaf in his hand, his eyes clear, evidently having attained true insight.
Among the disciples in the residence, none could compare to Zhenjian.
Zhenjian had once strayed but was able to awaken, wholeheartedly cultivating the side path, enduring a hundred years of hard work, seeking the right fruit, and thus he had attained true insight.
Zhenjian was about to step forward when suddenly someone sat in the next seat, and it was Sun Wukong.
Zhenjian did not pay attention and sat in the back row.
Wukong bowed and said, "Senior Brother!"
Jiang Yuan heard and looked closely, seeing that the good monkey had indeed completed his dan and formed his celestial body.
He did not know when this had happened, as he had not witnessed the various phenomena when Wukong attained the Dao.
He asked, "Wukong, how is your cultivation?"
Wukong laughed and said, "Do not worry, Senior Brother; I have succeeded! However, it is still a bit unstable. After cultivating for a few more years, it will surely solidify."
Jiang Yuan said, "Junior Brother, you have done well; you have succeeded in just over three years."
Wukong replied, "Much of it is due to Master and your efforts, Senior Brother. Additionally, I have endured some hardships in my cultivation, which is why I have succeeded."
Jiang Yuan, upon hearing this, admired him in his heart.
The creation of heaven and earth is indeed remarkable; in less than four years, he had completed his dan and formed his celestial body, surpassing hundreds of years of hard cultivation.
However, although the monkey's celestial body appeared flawless, the five spirits within had not descended.
If he were to cultivate his heart, he could attain the Dao.
If he did not cultivate his heart, disaster would come sooner or later.
Jiang Yuan said, "Junior Brother, although you have succeeded now, you should still cultivate diligently."
Wukong did not dare to be negligent and replied, "Yes."
Jiang Yuan did not say more.
Before long, the master saw that all the disciples had arrived and began to teach the Great Dao.
Today, he was not discussing the doctrines of the three schools, but rather the principles of heaven and earth and the path within the body.
The human body is akin to heaven and earth, for the human encompasses the numbers of heaven and earth.
What exists in heaven and earth also exists in man.
The disciples in the class heard this and said, "But there are those who are not human."
What they referred to was Wukong, who was not human, hence he lacked the numbers of heaven and earth within him.
Wukong stepped out of the class and said, "Brothers, I too have a round head and a flat foot, with nine orifices and four limbs, five organs and six intestines; how can I lack the numbers of heaven and earth?"
The master replied, "Wukong, although you resemble a human, you have fewer cheeks."
It turned out that Wukong had a face like that of the Thunder God, with a protruding face and a sharp chin, lacking a piece.
Jiang Yuan looked on, understanding in his heart.
There is a saying: 'Heaven shows no mercy, yet great grace is born.' The monkey easily attained the golden dan, yet the five spirits were difficult to descend.
He lacked the numbers of heaven and earth due to his fewer cheeks; his orifices were incomplete, and his circulation was not whole.
Thus, it is difficult for a person to attain the Dao, but if one does, they will surely excel.
The creation of heaven and earth makes it easy to attain the Dao, but if one does attain the Dao, there must be deficiencies, and one must cultivate the heart to compensate for those deficiencies with myriad methods.
Wukong was not angry and laughed, saying, "Master, although I have fewer cheeks, I have more bags of essence; perhaps they can compensate for the numbers of heaven and earth."
The master asked, "I have yet to ask you, what path have you been cultivating recently?"
Wukong replied, "Master, I have been cultivating the true path of the golden dan. Recently, I have succeeded, and my understanding of the law has deepened, and my foundation is gradually solidifying."
The master said, "Since you have succeeded, I should teach you a method to help you avoid disasters and difficulties. Do you wish to learn?"
Wukong bowed and said, "I wish to learn, I wish to learn!"
The master said, "What do you wish to learn? I have a method of heavenly calamities, thirty-six transformations. I also have a method of earthly calamities, seventy-two transformations. If you learn them, you can avoid disasters."
Wukong said, "I wish to learn the earthly calamities."
The master responded and then whispered the teachings to Wukong.
(End of Chapter)