Daoist Feng Ling declared, "The Daoist cultivation path—refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, and refining spirit back into void—you are familiar with this, yes? It's hardly a secret within the martial world."

Li Muzhan nodded. He found this outline of cultivation exquisitely refined, a complete reversal of human generation, and perhaps it truly could lead to the final stage.

Daoist Feng Ling chuckled, "Everyone knows this theory, but the profound mysteries within are closely guarded Daoist secrets, passed down by word of mouth and never written down. Outsiders remain ignorant."

Li Muzhan felt a surge of spirit, his eyes shining brightly.

Daoist Feng Ling smiled, "As the savior of Qingxuan, I will not hold back. I shall explain the profound secrets to you."

"Thank you, Senior!" Li Muzhan clasped his hands in greeting, his expression solemn.

………………………………………………

Daoist Feng Ling stroked his beard and waved his hand, speaking slowly, "To a Daoist, martial arts are merely trivial skills, not worth mentioning. This is not meant to belittle them to show my own superiority."

Li Muzhan's heart stirred, sensing a connection to the difference between military martial arts and those of the common populace.

Daoist Feng Ling continued, "The first step is already mistaken. It should be refining essence into qi, not refining spirit into qi. Most martial artists cultivate spirit. This approach not only fails to strengthen the spirit but actually depletes it."

Li Muzhan inquired, "Senior, does that mean the path of military martial arts is the correct one?"

"Oh? You are aware of military martial arts?" Daoist Feng Ling expressed surprise.

Military martial arts are absolutely never taught outside their ranks; the rules governing this are extremely strict. An outsider should certainly not know the subtleties involved.

Li Muzhan scratched his head, a touch embarrassed. "I am currently a soldier in the Shenwu Camp."

"A fine Canghai Sword Sect!" Daoist Feng Ling shook his head with a wry smile. "You must have abandoned your martial arts before joining the army, didn't you?"

"Yes," Li Muzhan confirmed with a nod.

"Your aptitude is indeed remarkable," Daoist Feng Ling conceded, nodding. "Military martial arts truly follow the orthodox path of refining essence into qi. For someone like you, practicing military arts would normally be slower... Wait, that doesn't seem right. By the way you perform, it doesn't look like standard military martial arts!"

Li Muzhan managed a bitter smile. "As I practiced, it merged with the Canghai Divine Art."

"Ah, I see..." Daoist Feng Ling stroked his beard in contemplation. After a moment, he nodded. "That explains it. Logically, it makes sense."

"Master?" Daoist Qingxuan looked puzzled.

Daoist Feng Ling waved a hand, cutting off his disciple, and continued, "When we speak of refining essence into qi, people often mistake 'essence' for mere flesh and blood. This is a grave error."

He elaborated, "Essence encompasses all things: physical flesh, the qi of the earth, the qi of the void, the qi of the sun, moon, and stars. Everything tangible is essence."

Li Muzhan frowned in thought, deeply pondering the statement.

Daoist Feng Ling explained, "The orthodox cultivation sequence begins with the essence of the earth. One must absorb this qi from the ground to nourish and strengthen the physical body... Buddhism has a fine saying: 'The fleshly body is a precious raft; if the raft is not sturdy, how can one cross the river?'"

Li Muzhan nodded, finding this profoundly true.

"Your body is exceptionally well-trained. It seems you have focused on body-tempering arts," Daoist Feng Ling observed.

Li Muzhan replied, "What I practice is the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art."

Daoist Feng Ling clapped his hands in admiration. "A magnificent Vajra Indestructible Divine Art! I never imagined anyone after the Monk Huiguo could master it!"

Li Muzhan smiled modestly. "Sheer luck, a fortunate coincidence."

"This is the karmic opportunity of Buddhism, the heavenly secret of Daoism. You are a blessed individual," Daoist Feng Ling sighed.

He went on, "I am unfamiliar with the intricacies of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art. It must be an authentic Buddhist method. But I know that mastering it requires profound Buddhist teachings as support; ordinary people can only gaze upon it from afar."

He waved his hand sternly. "Let us return to the main path! The cultivation of essence is divided into several stages. The first step is the essence of the earth. The second is the spiritual qi of the central void, which is the spiritual energy of heaven and earth... Finally, the essence of the sun, moon, and stars. Only by being forged by the essence of the celestial bodies can the physical body become indestructible, enduring as long as heaven and earth."

Li Muzhan suddenly understood, a flash of illumination sweeping over him, and his entire demeanor brightened.

For days, he had pondered the mysteries of this process but failed to grasp the key point. Hearing Daoist Feng Ling's words now felt like a sudden enlightenment, where understanding one point unlocked a hundred others.

Daoist Feng Ling shook his head and sighed, "The first two steps are not difficult. You have reached the threshold of the second step now... but the third step is as hard as scaling the heavens. To seek communion with the sun, moon, and stars to draw down their essence—just thinking about it reveals the difficulty."

Li Muzhan nodded slowly, suddenly recalling his Celestial Mirror Illumination Scripture, how when entering it, his body bathed in lunar essence, washing and renewing his marrow.

Daoist Feng Ling stated, "This step is a chasm. Over a thousand years, countless practitioners have tried, yet only a handful have attained immortality and the Dao—they faltered precisely at this step!"

"Where did Senior stop?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Daoist Feng Ling shook his head mournfully. "I, too, am blocked here. I do not know if I will ever succeed in this lifetime."

Li Muzhan offered a wry smile. "If even Senior is thus hindered, it is even more impossible for me."

Daoist Feng Ling quickly adjusted his mood, stroked his beard, and chuckled. "The ways of the world are unpredictable. You are young, without guidance, yet you have reached this stage. This is the work of Heaven itself. Heavenly destiny resides within you; strive harder!"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head.

Daoist Feng Ling advised, "In refining essence into qi, the beginning and the end are difficult, but the middle is easy. You have broken through the first stage, and the second followed naturally, not being difficult. Let me share my experience regarding the third step... It is best to reside at a high altitude, near the sun, moon, and stars. The closer you are, the greater the chance of sensing them." Li Muzhan paused in thought. "Senior, is the key to this third step a visualization technique?"

Daoist Feng Ling stroked his beard and chuckled, "Excellent comprehension!" The key to the third step is refining the heart (lian xin). The heart and qi must become one, constantly tempered until the qi of the sun, moon, and stars can be sensed... This qi is then used to temper the body, cultivating the indestructible and imperishable form... Only then can one cultivate the primordial spirit (yuanshen). If the body leaks, the primordial spirit is depleted; the rate of cultivation will not match the rate of depletion, making progress impossible... This is refining qi into spirit. As for refining spirit back into void, that is the method for cultivating the primordial spirit and entering the realm of immortals—that I also do not know."

Li Muzhan pondered, and before his eyes appeared a clear path to heaven, the steps distinct and ready to be trod. Gratitude welled up, and he bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior, for your guidance!"

Daoist Feng Ling waved his hand, stroking his beard and smiling. "It is nothing. If in the future your cultivation progresses and you can assist Shangqing Temple, that will be reward enough!"

Li Muzhan nodded slowly. "That is my duty."

Listening to the Senior's words was better than reading ten years of books; these words surpassed a decade of study, perhaps even changing his destiny itself.

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment. "Senior, what should I practice next?"

Daoist Feng Ling observed, "I see spiritual energy surging throughout your body; clearly, you have touched the threshold of the second step. Continue practicing downwards from there."

"What state should I achieve in the second step?" Li Muzhan asked.

Daoist Feng Ling replied, "When the second step is complete, the body communicates seamlessly with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, achieving endless generation and inexhaustible internal power... When the third step is complete, inhaling creates wind, exhaling creates clouds, and spitting breath forms protective gang qi, making the body invulnerable to blades and swords."

Li Muzhan said, "I do not know how to proceed now."

Daoist Feng Ling instructed, "The Daoists speak of forming the Elixir. In the second step of cultivation, the essence of the earth is Yin, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is Yang. Embracing Yin and holding Yang, combining the two into one, constitutes the Minor Dragon-Tiger Elixir Method..." The third step forms the Elixir: the essence of heaven and earth is Yin, and the qi of the sun, moon, and stars is Yang—this is the Great Dragon-Tiger Elixir Method... Moving beyond that is refining qi into spirit, which is the upward journey of the Golden Elixir, nourishing the mind and spirit to form an imperishable primordial spirit."

Li Muzhan smiled bitterly and shook his head repeatedly. He was unfamiliar with the Dragon-Tiger Elixir Method, which was likely a secret transmission. He had once practiced a text called the Ziyang Stele, forming a Purple Elixir, which he once thought was a Daoist Elixir Method, but now realized it was extremely superficial.

Daoist Feng Ling stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You practice a Buddhist method; the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art follows a unique path. The current situation is strange—the essence of the earth and the essence of heaven and earth have merged into one, inseparable... I dare not rashly pass on a method to you."

Li Muzhan's wry smile intensified. "What should I do, then?"

Daoist Feng Ling responded, "You must explore it yourself. I have clarified the underlying theory for you; try to see what fits."

"Master knows..." Daoist Qingxuan cast a pleading look.

Daoist Feng Ling shot him a look. "The Elixir Path was also invented by humans originally. Mingkong possesses exceptional comprehension; why can he not create his own mind-method?"

Daoist Qingxuan smiled bitterly and shook his head. If creating a mind-method were so easy, these methods wouldn't be kept secret and unwritten. Asking Master Mingkong to invent one was truly putting him in a difficult position.

Daoist Feng Ling declared, "In my view, the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art has been practiced well. Master Huiguo achieved the Vajra Indestructible Body, and even now his physical form has not decayed, showing the profoundness of this technique, grasping the essence of body tempering... It is a pity he failed to forge the primordial spirit and eventually dissipated... Cultivating only the body, not the spirit, cannot lead to eternal life."

Li Muzhan countered, "It is said that the Divine Monk Huiguo reached the farther shore and achieved Buddhahood, thus casting off his physical shell."

Daoist Feng Ling shook his head. "This is the difference between Buddhism and Daoism. Buddhism achieves perfection, reaches the farther shore, and sheds the fleshly shell, seeking only the immortality of the primordial spirit. Daoism emphasizes longevity, where the body and the primordial spirit coexist... In the Daoist view, an indestructible body is only the first step; the second step is the imperishability of the primordial spirit; the third step is transcendent freedom—arriving and departing as desired, traversing various worlds as easily as moving between cities." He added, "Buddhism emphasizes only the primordial spirit and neglects body tempering. In my view, Buddhism and Daoism each have their merits and flaws; it depends entirely on the individual... Some are suited to cultivating Buddhism, others to Daoism. No method is superior; suitability is key."

……………………………………………………，……………………

Li Muzhan slowly nodded. He rarely heard discussions of these high-level concepts. When his Master taught him, the focus was on the subtleties of the mind-method; rarely did the Master speak from such a lofty perspective.

His grand-master might have known these things but rarely spoke of them, preferring Li Muzhan to realize them through his own comprehension.

Daoist Feng Ling concluded, "In my opinion, your path should be to first bring the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art to completion, then proceed to the third step—drawing down the power of the sun, moon, and stars to forge the body, and only then cultivate the primordial spirit. Perhaps then you have a chance at longevity."

Daoist Feng Ling continued, "Once the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art is perfected, your lifespan will extend significantly, giving you ample time to attempt the third step. The longer you live, the greater the hope for the third step."

Li Muzhan's eyes shone brightly. He was invigorated; he hadn't expected a method for true longevity existed. He had always assumed claims of transcending the cycle of reincarnation after achieving immortality were fanciful. Escaping reincarnation, however, was the most wondrous prospect.

He understood what death was and did not fear it, but escaping the cycle of reincarnation was indeed a marvelous thing.

Daoist Feng Ling advised, "Your current attainment is the completion of the first step, touching the threshold of the second. However, the situation is unusual. In my view, you should honestly focus on perfecting the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art first, see if you can then achieve the second step, or perhaps try the military martial arts."

"Yes, thank you, Senior," Li Muzhan nodded.

Daoist Feng Ling said, "I will transmit the Dragon-Tiger Elixir Path to you for reference." Li Muzhan paused, but did not stand on ceremony, nodding his acceptance.

Daoist Feng Ling’s expression grew solemn, his eyes radiating brilliant light, his lips moving slightly. Daoist Qingxuan, however, could not discern any sound; he only watched as Li Muzhan nodded continuously, appearing deeply lost in thought.

A moment later, Daoist Feng Ling stopped speaking. Li Muzhan lightly closed his eyes, motionless, his expression calm as still water.

Daoist Qingxuan secretly marveled. To receive his Master's personal transmission of the Dragon-Tiger Elixir Path was no small matter; his Master was a man who looked down on almost everyone.

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Li Muzhan opened his eyes, his lips moving silently. Daoist Qingxuan knew that Li Muzhan had also mastered the secret art of sound transmission via moving lips, and they were communicating now.

For the time that followed, Daoist Qingxuan enjoyed quiet. Little time passed for him, but Daoist Feng Ling and Li Muzhan kept their lips moving incessantly.

Daoist Qingxuan did not move. The rule of "the law is not passed to six ears" applied—they were not hiding it from him, but adhering to propriety, so others would not overhear. Qingxuan had already learned the Dragon-Tiger Elixir Path, or he would never have reached his current level of cultivation.

………………………………………………………………

About fifteen minutes later, Li Muzhan and Daoist Feng Ling stopped. Li Muzhan bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior, for the gift of your teachings. I shall never forget this favor!"

Daoist Feng Ling waved his hand. "Forget it. Do not speak such words again in the future. Let Qingxuan accompany you outside for a while. The scenery of Jade Dragon Mountain is magnificent; take a good look. It will also aid your cultivation!"

"Yes," Li Muzhan agreed.

Daoist Qingxuan smiled and rose to accompany Li Muzhan as they left.

The scenery of Jade Dragon Mountain was indeed breathtaking. The entire mountain resembled a giant dragon winding away endlessly, connected to heaven and earth, presenting a spectacle of unparalleled grandeur.

The highest peak of Jade Dragon Mountain touched the sky, hidden within the clouds, its apex unseen. Driven by curiosity, Li Muzhan followed Daoist Qingxuan upward and discovered the summit was covered in perpetual snow.

Above the endless white snow lay a small hut, constructed of stone, rather plain.

"Master often meditates in seclusion here," Daoist Qingxuan pointed to the hut.

The cold wind whipped at their robes, biting intensely. If not for their internal energy protecting them, their blood would have frozen solid long ago.

Li Muzhan suddenly realized this spot must be the closest to the sun, moon, and stars, which is why Daoist Feng Ling chose it to meditate on the third step.

"Which star does the Senior try to guide?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Daoist Qingxuan understood his meaning. He pointed toward the sky where the sun hung high, radiating fierce light. (To be continued)

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