As Cultivation Deepens, Tai Yuan Emerges from Seclusion

In a quiet courtyard of the Zhizhi Hermitage, Lin Pingzhi, under the watchful eyes of Jiang Yizhen and Fang Daoming, was focusing intently on practicing the Internal Strengthening Method, "Tiger Strike Thunder Sound."

His posture was steady, his breathing deep, and a low humming sound echoed from within his body, resembling the heavy thunder before a great storm, or a suppressed roar rising from the depths of an abyss, striking the ears repeatedly.

Jiang Yizhen and Fang Daoming were both experienced practitioners on the path of cultivation. With their extraordinary vision, they could see through many details with a single glance.

Fang Daoming looked at Lin Pingzhi with surprise, unable to help but turn to Jiang Yizhen and ask, "Master, is Pingzhi currently undergoing Marrow Cleansing and Tendon Altering?"

By seniority, Fang Daoming should be Lin Pingzhi's Martial Uncle, but they were close in age, so they got along more like friends during this period.

Fang Daoming had begged for a living in his youth, experiencing the coldness of the world. After entering the Dao, his mindset became detached, observing the common people with a touch of ease and laziness. Meanwhile, although Lin Pingzhi had lived in luxury since childhood, his family's tragedy had made his resolve firm and decisive.

Although their personalities differed, they got along surprisingly well.

Jiang Yizhen gently stroked his long beard, his eyes never leaving Lin Pingzhi's movements.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "No! Although the 'Sound of Creation' is indeed occurring within Pingzhi's body, judging by his progress, he has not yet reached the Marrow Cleansing stage. He should be increasing the harmony of his internal organs."

Hearing this, Fang Daoming frowned slightly, puzzled: "Then how did he manage to cultivate this 'Sound of Creation' so early? This is not a realm that ordinary people can easily reach."

Jiang Yizhen's eyes were deep, his voice filled with emotion: "This must be Tai Yuan's doing! That child's current methods are truly enlightened."

His voice carried anticipation, envy, and a hint of regret.

After all, he had practiced the Dao for many years but had never been able to enter the Inner Realm, while Tai Yuan had achieved such extraordinary success at a young age. How could he not feel emotional?

Sensing the complex emotions in his master's voice, Fang Daoming straightened his back and said firmly and confidently, "Do not worry, Master. I will forge ahead bravely and will not let Senior Brother Tai Yuan be the only one to shine."

His voice was resonant and convincing.

Hearing this, a pleased smile appeared on Jiang Yizhen's face.

He patted Fang Daoming's shoulder and said gently, "Although your talent is slightly inferior to your Senior Brother Tai Yuan's, you are still a fine jade. As long as you consult him often and practice diligently, in time, I believe you too can peer into that exquisite realm."

Suddenly, a shout came from nearby.

"Ha!—"

The master and disciple looked toward the sound and saw Lin Pingzhi's chest expand as he raised his palms to his forehead and slowly pressed them down.

A stream of white vapor, visible to the naked eye, was blown out three feet by Lin Pingzhi. The white vapor was condensed, causing the surrounding air to churn and make a strange roaring sound.

Fang Daoming was sharp-eyed; he noticed that the white vapor carried specks of gray. He knew that this was the turbid qi being expelled from Lin Pingzhi's body.

Once the turbid qi was expelled, the clear qi rose, strengthening the tendons and bones, cleansing the internal organs, and warding off all illnesses.

Fang Daoming could not help but feel admiration, and his respect for Tai Yuan grew even deeper.

At the same time, the true meaning of the *Elixir Scripture* flashed through his mind: "The Seven Returns and Nine Cycles, the Golden Liquid Great Elixir; Seven is the number of Fire, Nine is the number of Gold. Refining Gold with Fire to return to the origin is called the Golden Elixir."

Dividing the body into upper and lower mysteries, distinguishing winter and summer by Spirit and Qi, and aligning Form and Spirit with the Kan and Li hexagrams. Wood of the Soul in the east, Gold of the Po in the west, Fire of the Spirit in the south, Water of the Essence in the north, and Earth of the Will in the center—this is the gathering of the Five Elements.

Containing the gaze of the eyes, concentrating the hearing of the ears, regulating the breath, and closing the tongue—this is the union of the Four Images.

When the eyes do not look, the Soul resides in the Liver; when the ears do not hear, the Essence resides in the Kidneys; when the tongue is silent, the Spirit resides in the Heart; when the nose does not smell, the Po resides in the Lungs; when the limbs do not move, the Will resides in the Spleen—this is called the Five Qi Consorting with the Prime.

Did this not correspond to Lin Pingzhi's current state of cultivation?

While Fang Daoming was thinking, Lin Pingzhi finished his practice and stood with his hands at his sides.

However, he did not move immediately.

Instead, he stood quietly in place, savoring the subtle differences between his current realization and his previous ones.

The *Analects* state: "I examine myself three times a day!"

Lin Pingzhi had known this principle before, but he had never applied it to himself.

During his time at the Ziyang Academy, he had unconsciously begun to practice the principles from the books.

Now, after every practice session, he would compare his current realization with the previous one, so as not to practice blindly.

The saying "If you can renovate yourself one day, do so day after day, and let there be daily renovation" was exactly this.

Numbers begin with One, are established with Three, completed with Five, flourish with Seven, and reach their limit with Nine.

Nine days later, Tai Yuan emerged from seclusion. Jiang Yizhen, Fang Daoming, and Lin Pingzhi were waiting outside to welcome him.

At this moment, there were no martial nephews, senior brothers, or masters—only fellow seekers on the same path, and those who respected the trailblazer.

The sky was clear, the breeze cool, and the flowers in bloom, as if this small world was celebrating.

Of course, this was just their imagination. With Tai Yuan's current cultivation, he could not yet trigger natural phenomena. To achieve that level, one would have to be an Outer Realm Grandmaster who had achieved the Unity of Heaven and Man.

Tai Yuan stood by the railing of the pavilion, his gaze distant as he said aloud: "I have had some sudden insights. In two days, I will explain what I have gained this time."

As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a speck of dust.

Time was like fine sand in one's hand, slipping away before one could grasp it. Two days passed in a flash.

In a quiet tea room, incense smoke curled, and a gentle breeze blew.

Tai Yuan said: "True Earth captures True Lead, True Lead controls True Mercury. Lead and Mercury return to True Earth, and the entire body is completely still. Snow falls from the void, and yellow sprouts grow in silence. The jade furnace is warm with fire, and purple clouds fly above."

Jiang Yizhen asked: "What is the difference between the civil and military fire?"

Tai Yuan said: "True Earth is the Earth within the body. Lead and Mercury are the Water and Fire within the body. Using Earth to overcome Water, Lead can be captured. Using Water to overcome Fire, Mercury can be controlled. When the six elements are aligned and the body is motionless, then Earth, Water, and Wood can merge into one. This is what is meant by gathering the medicine into the furnace."

"White snow must be born from emptiness, representing creation. Yellow sprouts must wait for fire to nourish them, representing the earth's fertility. Just like in nature, when the moon is empty and Yang energy has not yet stirred, it is a state of nothingness, and white snow falls from heaven. In the months of Yin and Mao, Yang energy gradually flourishes, representing movement within stillness, and yellow sprouts emerge from the earth. Once white snow and yellow sprouts appear, the flame of the Jade Furnace must be gently nurtured, and naturally, purple clouds will soar from the summit. If the fire is too fierce, they will disperse."

Fang Daoming and Lin Pingzhi could not interject at all in such a discussion. Their reserve of knowledge only allowed them to listen.

Jiang Yizhen said: "The lotus flower opens, and the Divine Water and Golden Waves are still. In the deep night, the moon is bright, and heaven and earth are like a mirror. How do you explain this?"

Tai Yuan said: "The flower represents fire. The Divine represents the Heart, which belongs to Fire. The Golden Elixir only requires attention to the Divine Water and the Flower Pool, which is the principle of Water and Fire in harmony. In water there are three parts, clear and tranquil, so Fire produces the Lotus, which naturally blooms. At midnight, when the First Yang stirs and the moon is bright, the golden light enters the body, illuminating heaven and earth like a bright mirror."

Jiang Yizhen said: "Cinnabar refines Yang Qi, and Mercury boils Golden Essence. Golden Essence and Yang Qi, Cinnabar and Mercury. The Sun Soul of the Jade Rabbit, the Moon Po of the Golden Crow's marrow. Gathering them into the furnace, they turn into a pool of clear water. Can we hear of its relation to the Great Dao?"

Tai Yuan said: "Yang Qi is the single point of True Yang qi within the body. Golden Essence is the single point of True Yin essence within the heart. Refining it with Yang Fire is like Cinnabar. Nurturing it with Yin Talisman is like Mercury. Cinnabar and Mercury are external things."

"The Soul rules Wood, and Wood can produce Fire, so the Spirit is housed where the Soul is stored. The Po rules Gold, and Gold can produce Water, so the Essence is housed where the Po is stored. If one can absorb the wind to nourish the Spirit and absorb the qi to nourish the Essence, then Essence and Spirit will harmonize within the furnace, turning into a pool of water."

Jiang Yizhen said: "I have heard of an acupoint that is no ordinary thing, formed by the union of Qian and Kun. It is called the Divine Qi Acupoint, and within it lies the essence of Kan and Li. Can we hear of it?"

Tai Yuan said: "This is the Acupoint of the Mysterious Female, no ordinary thing. Before this body existed, this acupoint was already there. It is not above, not below, and not in the middle; it is what is called the Innate Single Acupoint. When the fetus is formed, the father's essence of Qian and the mother's blood of Kun combine to form it. It is the Acupoint of Divine Qi, housing the essence of Water and Fire."

Jiang Yizhen said: "Zhen and Dui are not physical things, and Kan and Li have no north or south. The Dipper Handle revolves through the cosmic cycle, wanting people to gather them. I see that Pingzhi's body is aligned with the Sound of Creation; does he possess this secret?"

Tai Yuan said: "Zhen, Dui, Kan, and Li are not the ordinary east, west, south, and north, but the hexagram qi of heaven and earth. Just as the Dipper Handle points to the monthly establishment, completing one revolution a day, the fire within the body completes one revolution in an instant. If one cannot gather the Five Elements, how can they align with the revolution of the Dipper Handle?"

"Zhen is the Azure Dragon, coming from the Eastern Sea. Dui is the White Tiger, rising from the Western Mountain. If the Dragon roars and clouds rise while the Tiger growls and wind stirs, and the two beasts meet and battle before the Yellow Chamber, then wind and clouds will gather, naturally merging into a single mass of marrow."

They were all lost in thought, especially Jiang Yizhen and Fang Daoming, who, thinking of Lin Pingzhi's Sound of Creation, hoped to deepen their understanding of the body's Five Elements.

Thus, Fang Daoming asked: "Then Senior Brother, what is meant by the Five Organs Qi guiding Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth? And what is meant by the positions of the Five Elements guiding east, south, west, north, and center? How does this manifest in a person? I would like to hear your explanation."

Tai Yuan said: "Only humans have round heads and square feet, resembling heaven and earth, with the rising and falling of Yin and Yang, and the mechanisms of heaven and earth. The Kidneys are Water, the Heart is Fire, the Liver is Wood, the Lungs are Gold, and the Spleen is Earth. The Five Elements generate and overcome one another, returning to the origin, connected by a single breath."

"This single breath is formed when the father's essence and mother's blood combine to shape the body. Its Yang resides at the place of its initial birth, a single point of Yuan Yang in the two Kidneys. Yuan Yang rises to elevate the True Water, True Water transforms to produce True Qi, and True Qi transforms to produce the Yang Spirit."

Time quietly slipped away, like sand through fingers.

The time spent discussing the Dao passed quickly, and soon it was time to part.

Jiang Yizhen and Fang Daoming stood in front of the Zhizhi Hermitage, seeing off Tai Yuan and Lin Pingzhi.

Tai Yuan cupped his hands in salute, his expression detached yet solemn: "All things have their flourish and decay, and every cycle has its beginning and end. The heavens are vast, and may our Dao flourish day by day. I wish you, Martial Uncle and Junior Brother, smooth journeys, good health, and long-lasting Dao fortune. Farewell."

Lin Pingzhi stood behind Tai Yuan, mimicking his master's posture, cupping his hands respectfully: "Farewell."

Jiang Yizhen nodded slightly, a touch of emotion in his eyes as he said softly: "Take care."

Fang Daoming performed a Taoist salute: "The path is vast; may you have a smooth journey."