Lv Dongbin is not only one of the eight immortals.
In Daoism, his status is still extremely exalted.
Because Lv Dongbin is one of the founders of the Dan Ding school.
That is not the most exciting thing for Chen Yun.
What excited him the most was that Lu Dongbin's teacher was Han Zhongli, who was also one of the Eight Immortals!
Han Zhongli's original name was Zhongli Quan, he was also known by the courtesy name Yunfang, Yizhao Daode, and the pseudonym Zhengyangzi, Huoguazi. He was born in Yangxian, Donghan Dynasty.
According to Chen Yun's information from modern society, Zhongli Quan was originally a general of the Eastern Han Dynasty, so he was also called Han Zhongli.
This person was skilled in literature from a young age, especially fond of calligraphy. He was over eight feet tall and reached the rank of Grand General. Later, after a defeat in battle, he retreated to Yangjueshan Mountain to attain enlightenment.
If we look at the myths, one says Zhongli Quan was enlightened by the Iron Crutch Li, the leader of the Eight Immortals, while another version claims it was Wang Xinfu who enlightened him. In the Yuan Dynasty period, Wang Xinfu was conferred as the East Wu Zifulu Shaoyang Emperor of Zhipufu, also known as East Wu Emperor. The original figure was Dongwanggong. Anyway, Zhongli Quan became a immortal because of this.
However, from the perspective of Taoist records, Zhongli Quan's identity and status were quite extraordinary.
This person is the second patriarch of the All-True Northern Line, the founder of the internal alchemy school, and is truly a great master of the true Daoist path.
The first patriarch of the All-True Northern Line is Wang Xinfu.
Recalling the words said by Grandpa San when they left Dahuishan earlier, it proves that Zhongli Quan is one of the Eight Immortals.
Chen Yun's heart couldn't help but beat rapidly and irregularly.
As long as Wang Xianchang was willing to buy him, Chen Yun could become the pharmacist's helper under this revered master!
If by some day he were to learn some internal alchemy from Zhongli Quan, he would definitely have a chance at immortality and eternal life!
Immortality and eternal life are such a great temptation!
That is something that generations of emperors have dreamed about!
With excitement and unease, Chen Yun's eyes kept fixating on Master Wang.
Master Wang, after carefully examining him for half a while, perhaps because he really liked him, turned to look at the third ancestor and directly said: "Brother, this young man is very smart and I quite like him. You can put a price on him, as long as it is reasonable, I will buy him without hesitation."
The third ancestor's heart was deeply reluctant to sell, but he couldn't afford to offend the King Xianchang in front of him. So he took a deep breath and deliberately quoted a higher price: "Fifty taels..."
He originally thought that the King Xianchang would think the price was too high and would say a few words before giving up.
But before the third ancestor could finish his sentence, Master Wang nodded decisively and said: "Good."
Bought?
Master Wang really bought me?
Chen Yun was overjoyed.
......
Walking outside the city of Chaocheng.
Chen Yun still feels a bit dreamy.
He couldn't have imagined that he would really come into contact with immortals.
"Master, thank you for buying me at such a high price."
"Haha, everything is about fate. You're worth fifty taels of silver, oh, right, since you will work in the Daoist temple from now on, you can call me brother instead of master. You don't need to call me master anymore."
"Alright."
Two people walked and talked as they went along.
During their walk, Master Wang told Chen Yun that his true name was Wang Laozhi, who was originally from Song state. He later bowed to Zhongli Quan as his master and hence came to the Zhongshan Mountain.
Perhaps it was Chen Yun who intentionally guided the conversation.
The topics of their casual conversation gradually shifted from getting to know each other to the subject of attaining enlightenment.
“The world's grand laws are countless, and I'm not fully aware of other immortality schools.” Wang Laozhi said with his hands clasped behind his back: "There are six stages in our inner alchemy school's immortality technique, which are 100-day foundation building, refining the internal organs to refine essence, refining essence to refine qi, refining qi to refine spirit, refining spirit to return void, and finally merging with Dao through refinement."
Huh!
Yes, the same as the ones recorded in the Taoist copper cauldron.
Chen Yun felt that the copper cauldron was increasingly extraordinary.
After pondering for a moment, he asked, "What is special about the six stages?"
"Master Wang Laozhi slowly walked forward and said, 'Normally, people can stay healthy for a hundred days during the foundation-building stage. If they can refine the internal organs to transform the grains into essence, they will become physically strong. Refining essence into qi is the key to cultivation. Many people spend their whole lives unable to achieve this, let alone refining qi into spirit and finally forming a gold-like body or refining the spirit back into a true form of life, and becoming an immortal."
At this point.
Suddenly, Master Wang Laozhi turned around and revealed an enigmatic smile, "Once you cultivate a golden elixir, you become an immortal. Being invulnerable to water and fire, as well as to blades and spears, is the very basics. You can also move mountains and seas, change stars and constellations."
What?
Gold elixir is so powerful?
Chen Yun's eyes widened abruptly as he asked curiously, "What about the yang spirit?"
Master Wang Laozhi said gravely, "The yang spirit materializing out of the body is as bright as the scorching midday sun in June. As long as it doesn't fall under external force, it can basically achieve eternal life with heaven and earth."
Whew, the yang spirit will be as long-lived as heaven itself?
Chen Yun was greatly shocked in his heart, deeply enchanted by Master Wang Laozhi's words.
Suddenly, he thought of something, "Oh, Master Wang, you said earlier that there are still six stages above refining the spirit back into a void, namely refining the void back into Dao. What's so extraordinary about that?"
"Haha Haha," Wang Laozhi laughed, "Refining the void back into Dao is the highest realm in my cultivation of the Daoist path."
He pointed his finger towards the sky as he spoke, "Through refining the void back into Dao, one can shatter the void, ascend to the realm of immortals, and be invulnerable to all evil forces and not subject to any calamities... eternal and indestructible!"
Immortal realm.
Is there really an immortal realm in this world?
Chen Yun was confused.
Master Wang Laozhi sighed and said, "My teacher has already reached the stage of refining the void back into Dao and entered the immortal realm. There, he has another divine form, which is the person commonly known as Zhengyang Chanyu, one of the Eight Immortals."
Fuck.
Zhongli Quan is so awesome?
Chen Yun has always known that he has found a powerful back.
But he hadn't expected this strong leg.
Moreover, what makes him a bit puzzled is that the third ancestor said that Zhongli Quan was the human form of the Zhengyang Chanyu, one of the Eight Immortals.
How come Wang Laozhi said it in the opposite way?
Chen Yun asked about this confusion.
Who would have thought that Wang Laozhi suddenly shrugged with a lack of interest, "I have been cultivating for hundreds of years and haven't even managed to refine a golden elixir yet. How can I talk about refining the void back into Dao?"
Chen Yun saw that Wang Laozhi didn't want to talk about it anymore, so he obediently didn't ask any more questions.
Not long after, they arrived outside the city.
Suddenly, Wang Laozhi began to mutter to himself.
Soon, a magical scene unfolded.
Chen Yun found that a cloud of mist rose beneath his and Master Wang Laozhi's feet, lifting them into the air and carrying them swiftly.
At first, he was scared and worried that he might accidentally fall and die if he wasn't careful.
Fortunately, standing on this misty cloud felt as solid as walking on flat ground, and Chen Yun finally felt relieved.
Mid-air.
Chen Yun exclaimed, "Master Wang, you can fly in the clouds and conjure mist without having refined a golden elixir. Your powers are too profound."
Perhaps he was too comfortable with the compliments.
Feeling pleased with the praise, Wang Laozhi said proudly, "Actually, I'm just one step away from refining a golden elixir. In an ordinary school, I would be considered a leader."
After hearing this, Chen Yun had another question, "Right, Master Wang, you said that the level of cultivation varies depending on the school. How do you know the approximate level of someone else's strength?"
Master Wang Laozhi said, "We have a secret technique called Guanqi in our Daoist temple that can roughly discern the level of cultivation of others. For example, if someone's strength is comparable to that of someone who has just refined True Qi, then they are at the level of an inferior mage. There are also mages of medium and superior levels, high-level magicians, and the level of a sect leader. Well, a sect leader is followed by a Golden Pill True Immortal, whose level cannot be discerned using Guanqi."
Chen Yun hesitated and said, "This world... does it really divide cultivators into levels like inferior mage, high-level magician?"
"Oh, it's true that cultivators are not divided into any so-called levels," Master Wang Laozhi explained in detail, "However, some cultivators will enter the court to enjoy the prosperity and glory of the human world. The emperor will often grant different ranks of official positions based on the depth of power of those seeking an official position. For instance, an inferior mage would be granted a position of seventh or sixth rank, a moderate mage fifth or fourth rank, an upper mage third rank, a high-level magician second rank, and a sect leader would be granted a first-ranking position. Over thousands of years, these ranks have gradually become the standard for measuring the strength of cultivators. That's why you see such divisions."
Chen Yun had a general understanding.
According to Wang Laozhi's words, the foundation-building stage and transforming the grains into essence can only be considered the beginning of cultivation, and are not true cultivators at all.
Cultivators who have refined essence into qi or are of equal strength are divided into inferior, moderate, and superior mage levels.
......
They were flying at a very fast speed.
Without much time for idle talk, the cloud where they were flying gradually descended to a Taoist temple with green bricks and tiles, covering an area of two or three acres.
Master Wang Laozhi led Chen Yun around the temple to get acquainted with it.
The inner courtyard was the residence of the ancestors, that is, the dwelling place of Zhongli Quan.
The outer courtyard was divided into a herbal garden, alchemy rooms, and quarters for the Taoists, among other things.
After getting familiar with the environment,
Master Wang Laozhi took Chen Yun to the herbal garden.
As soon as they entered, Chen Yun saw that the herbal garden, which covered an acre, was filled with exotic flowers and rare herbs.
What amazed him most was that in the middle of the garden, there was a Li Zhi tree.
It was winter, yet the Li Zhi tree in the middle of the garden was covered with ripe and abundant fruits, which was unexpected for the season.
"This will be your place of work from now on."
"Pointing to the herbal garden, Wang Laozhi said, 'Most of the herbs in here are those that can be found in the human world. However, there are also some heavenly and earthly roots that Master brought back from the immortal realm. You need to take care of them carefully. Today, I just brought you here to take a look. From tomorrow onwards, I will have people teach you how to identify and care for herbs and those heavenly and earthly roots. After resting for a while, you will begin your work here.'",
Chen Yun felt somewhat perplexed and asked, "Master Wang, isn't the cultivation technique that Master passed down the Inner Dan Technique? What use are these herbs and heavenly and earthly roots?"
Master Wang Laozhi said with reason, "Of course, they are used for alchemy and consumed to enhance cultivation."
Chen Yun felt somewhat dizzy and asked, "Must internal cultivation also rely on external materials?"
Master Wang Laozhi let out a "hm," "External alchemy is the ancestor of internal alchemy. The greatest practitioner of external alchemy, if they took it, could even ascend to immortality on the spot."
As he said this, he sighed and shook his head, "Alas, the method for brewing the 'Da Luo Ling Tang' that can make one achieve the status of a Great Sage with just one bite has been lost. Otherwise, I would definitely try to brew some to see if it lives up to the rumors."
Oh?
Yes, the "Da Luo Ling Tang" can make one achieve the status of a Great Sage with just one bite.
Chen Yun blinked his eyes and thought to himself that if he hadn't mistaken, he had obtained a book a few years ago that recorded the method for brewing the "Da Luo Ling Tang."
