The Five Immortals of the Cosmic Orbit and the Three Vehicle Methods

Ling Fengzi sat cross-legged, slowly speaking.
"The sects of the Daoist gate are diverse, such as the Lingbao Sect, Shangqing Palace, Quanzhen Dao, Zhengyi Dao, and Jingming Sect, and beneath them are many sub-branches..."
As he spoke, his hand gently traced the lineages of each sect in the air.
"Though each has its own inheritance, in general, the methods of cultivation are nothing more than fasting, forgetting emotions, absorbing the new, breathing exercises, the five quietudes, keeping precepts, visualization, gathering the essence of the sun and moon, channeling, breath retention, naturalness, and non-action."
Ling Fengzi's voice became soft and leisurely, as if he were chanting an ancient and mysterious scripture.
"For cultivators at this stage, who have not yet comprehended the Great Dao, they have merely obtained a single method within the Dao, or learned a single art within the method."
"Relying on firm belief and painstaking will, they hold fast to this for their entire lives without ever wavering. By taking the Qi of the Five Elements and blending them by chance, they gradually solidify their physical form. Ordinary evils and illnesses can hardly harm them, and their bodies remain largely free of sickness. In the end, they can achieve the realm of a Human Immortal."

A Human Immortal?
Tai Yuan listened with rapt attention and could not help but ask: "Master, what is a Human Immortal?"
Although he had heard of this term, he did not understand it well.
Ling Fengzi smiled slightly, stroked his long beard, and said slowly: "A Human Immortal is a cultivator who, though they have not comprehended the Great Dao, has mastered a single method or art, holding fast to it with resolute determination. If they can preserve their primordial Qi and guard their lower Dantian, they do not need the method of 'replacing the cauldron' to enjoy the fruit of longevity. They can extend their lifespan by several hundred or even several thousand years, living long without dying. This is what we call a Human Immortal."
His gaze grew distant, as if piercing through time, as he continued: "In ancient times, Peng Zu lived for eight hundred years, his lifespan vast and enduring. There was also Master Tongxuan, Zhang Guo, who lived through the Sui and Tang dynasties, reaching the age of two hundred and eighty-nine at his death. Furthermore, there is the sword ancestor of the world, Chunyang Zhenren Lu Dongbin, and the manifesting Sanfeng Zhenren Zhang Sanfeng. The world has not seen them ascend, so perhaps they are already figures at a higher level. Whether there is some great secret hidden within, even this master does not dare to speculate too much."
Tai Yuan listened with surging emotions, his mind unable to settle.
Even in his past life, there were endless legends about the two mythical figures, Lu Dongbin and Zhang Sanfeng.
Although almost everyone believed that humans could not exist for so long, analyzing it from the perspectives of cell division, telomere length, and other scientific angles, in this Great Ming era where internal Qi and Daoist arts existed, everything was possible.
He took a deep breath, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and asked respectfully: "Master, what lies beyond the Human Immortal?"

Ling Fengzi nodded slightly and continued: "Beyond the Human Immortal is the Earth Immortal. An Earth Immortal has attained half of the heavens and earth, possessing the talents of a celestial. Though they have not comprehended the Great Dao, they have halted at the stage of minor achievement. Although it is difficult for them to display earth-shattering divine abilities, they can enjoy longevity in the mortal world, never dying in the human realm, and can be called leisurely immortals of the land."
"On the path of Alchemy, the Earth Immortal is the stage of refining Qi to restore the Spirit. It requires aligning with the rising and falling principles of heaven and earth, using the cycles of the Sun and Moon, and employing the hours within the body."
As Ling Fengzi spoke, he used his fingertips to simulate the orbits of the heaven, earth, Sun, and Moon, as well as the flow of internal energy within the body.
"First, one must recognize the Dragon and Tiger, secondly pair Kan and Li, distinguish the purity of the water source, and separate the early and late seasons. Gather the True One, slay the two polarities, align the three realms, divide the four phenomena, distinguish the five movements, define the six Qis, gather the seven treasures, arrange the Eight Trigrams, and traverse the nine provinces. When the Five Elements are inverted, Qi is transmitted to the mother, and husband and wife exchange roles. The three Dantians are repeatedly refined, burning into an elixir that eternally guards the lower Dantian, refining the form to dwell in the world and achieve immortality. Thus, they are called Earth Immortals."
Tai Yuan listened as if spellbound, and could not help but ask further: "Master, what lies beyond the Earth Immortal?"

Ling Fengzi smiled slightly, a hint of reverence flashing in his eyes: "Beyond the Earth Immortal is the Divine Immortal. A Divine Immortal gathers to form a shape and scatters to become Qi. They sleep without dreaming, feel no worry, eat without craving, and breathe deeply. The breath of a True Person comes from the heels, while the breath of an ordinary person comes from the throat. This is the stage of refining Spirit to return to Emptiness on the path of Alchemy."
His tone grew even more distant: "At this stage, the jade fluid returns to the elixir, refining the form into Qi, leading to the Five Qis Converging to the Origin and the Three Yangs Gathering at the Summit. When merits are complete, they willingly let go, and the celestial embryo transforms itself. When Yin is exhausted and Yang is pure, a body exists outside the body. Shedding the mortal shell to ascend as an immortal, they transcend the mundane and enter sainthood. They do not fear heights, do not drown in water, and are not burned by fire. Casting off the dust of the world to return to the Three Mountains, they are called Divine Immortals. A Divine Immortal comprehends the Great Dao, ascends to the Daluo Heaven, and is liberated from all burdens. At any time and place, they can scatter and gather their primordial spirit, living freely between Heaven and Earth. Possessing vast divine abilities, they are also known as Daluo Divine Immortals."
Ling Fengzi's description was filled with fantastical colors.
Tai Yuan listened with yearning and could not help but ask: "Master, what lies beyond the Divine Immortal?"

Ling Fengzi closed his eyes for a moment, then said slowly: "Beyond the Divine Immortal is the Heavenly Immortal. A Heavenly Immortal is at the supreme stage of refining Emptiness to join the Dao. Their merits are completed within the Three Vehicles, and their achievements surpass the Three Vehicles from without. They are not bound by laws, nor do they become stagnant in the Dao. They have great merit toward heaven and earth, and have accomplished grand deeds throughout past and present. Because Divine Immortals tire of the Three Islands, they transmit the Dao to the mortal world. With merit on the way and deeds in the human realm, they participate in creation, remaining immortal through ten thousand eons."
His tone became even more solemn: "At that time, divine light shines everywhere, establishing an eternal presence and transforming into thousands of incarnations. Once attained, it is eternally attained; once proven, it is eternally proven. Their divine abilities are vast, and their magical power is boundless. When heaven and earth close, they do not close; when heaven and earth open, they open to deliver people."
Having spoken, Ling Fengzi closed his eyes and fell silent, as if immersed in that supreme and peerless realm. Tai Yuan sat quietly in contemplation, carefully organizing his master's words in his mind.
The Heavenly Immortal is supreme, establishing an eternal presence, watching the birth and death of the universe.
The Divine Immortal is next, casting off the dust of the world to return to the Three Mountains, transcending the mundane and entering sainthood.
The Earth Immortal is below that, attaining half of heaven and earth, possessing celestial talents, and dwelling eternally in the world.
The Human Immortal resides at the foundational level, stopping at minor achievements, able to live out their natural lifespan.

Wait, why was the Ghost Immortal missing?
The Cosmic Orbit has Five Immortals: Heaven, Earth, Divine, Human, and Ghost.
Tai Yuan asked respectfully: "Master, among the Five Immortals, why is the Ghost Immortal missing?"
Hearing this, Ling Fengzi showed a look of disdain, smiled, and said: "A Ghost Immortal, though called an Immortal, is actually just a ghost! Those who cultivate it do not awaken to the Great Dao, but merely seek a shortcut. Their bodies are like withered wood, their minds like cold ashes, guarding their spiritual sense with an unyielding will. In meditation, they project their Yin Spirit. This Yin Spirit is merely a clear and intelligent ghost, not a Pure Yang immortal. Only because they are single-mindedly bent on keeping their Yin spirit from dissipating do they call it a Ghost Immortal."
His tone carried a hint of contempt.
Daoists seek this life, not the next.
"True Daoist hermits, none would choose the path of the Ghost Immortal. Unless during their cultivation, they are already advanced in age, their physical bodies hopelessly decayed, or their surroundings are so difficult that survival cannot be guaranteed, and they have no hope of achieving the Great Dao in this life—only then would they use this method to project their Yin Spirit."
"Although they can transcend within the Yin realm, their divine image is unclear, their names are not registered in the ghost courts, and they are nameless on the Three Mountains. Though they do not enter Samsara, it is difficult for them to return to the Pengying Immortal Realm. Ultimately, they have nowhere to belong, and can only resort to taking over another's body to reincarnate."
Tai Yuan nodded, understanding in his heart.
The Ghost Immortal was merely a foundational cultivation technique, which was to say, it only cultivated the soul.
But this world was different from the one written in "Yangshen," where there were fortune lightning tribulations that could help the soul purify all Yin attributes. Therefore, it was not chosen by seekers of the Dao.

Recalling his master's teachings, Tai Yuan's heart grew even firmer.
He journeyed all the way south, with two destinations in mind: one Daoist, one Buddhist.
The patriarch of the Southern Sect of Daoism—Wuyi Sanren Bai Yuchan, who once transmitted the Dao and taught methods at the Wuyi Hermitage.
The Sixth Patriarch of the Buddhist Zen Sect—Huineng, who passed down the sudden enlightenment teachings at the Caoxi Nanhua Zen Temple.