The time since the master student ritual has passed for about half a month.
In the spring of February and March, the temperature gradually warms up, and flowers bloom all over the mountains and hills.
The scale of the master student ritual was grand before, mainly because Zhong Liquan publicly declared that he received a direct student.
In ancient times, there were also distinctions among disciples.
For example, there were disciples of different categories such as named disciples, beginners, inner disciples, and direct disciples.
The named disciples usually refer to those who are only on paper and not formally recognized, and can change their allegiance at any time.
Such as Zhao Mu.
As for Cao Yi, although he is a named disciple, the situation is somewhat special.
He is not only Zhong Liquan's named disciple but also the formal disciple of Lü Dunbin, so he is considered direct.
Entrants to the school are different from named disciples; they need to formally be initiated as disciples and must abide by the rules of the school.
However, entrants to the school are generally not taught by the teacher's father, and are often taught by senior disciples.
Chen Yun is a direct disciple, also known as a close disciple.
Such level of disciples can enter the inner hall and gain the unique teachings and secret arts from their master that are not passed on to other disciples. They may also have the potential to become the successor of their master's teachings in the future.
Zhong Liquan has a total of four direct disciples.
They are Lü Dunbin, Zheng Wenshu, Wang Laozhi and Chen Yun.
By all accounts, the direct disciples have the potential to inherit the master's teachings, and they would surely pass on the secret art of longevity.
However, since Chen Yun joined the master's disciples two weeks ago, he has not learned any secret arts or even any other techniques from Zhong Liquan, let alone the secret art of longevity.
After the master student ritual ended, Zhong Liquan gave Chen Yun a bunch of Taoist scriptures.
Such as the "Tao Te Ching" and the "Nan Hua Jing" etc.
Although Chen Yun did not understand his teacher's intentions, since experiencing the great terror of life and death, as well as enlightenment and clarity of purpose, his originally turbulent heart gradually became calm.
Naturally, he feels very satisfied by reciting Taoist scriptures every day.
On this day, he was studying the "Tao Te Ching" in the bedroom on the right side of the Red Building.
Suddenly, Zhong Liquan's voice came from behind, "Has there been any progress in reading the Taoist scriptures since the past two weeks?"
Chen Yun quickly stood up and bowed, then respectfully replied, "Master, my disciple is immersed in studying the Taoist scriptures every day and has not had any special insights."
Zhong Liquan, fanning himself with a bamboo fan, asked, "What is the content of Chapter 8 of the 'Tao Te Ching'?"
Chen Yun recited, "The best person is like water. Water benefits all things without contention, as it is in the lowest places and does not compete with others. Therefore, it is almost like Tao. It resides in good places, its heart is deep, it acts with benevolence, its speech is truthful, its government is well-administered, its abilities are excellent, and its movements are timely. Only by not contesting can there be no complaints."
Zhong Liquan asked again, "What does this mean?"
Chen Yun carefully pondered and replied, "Laozi praises water the most in all things in nature and believes that the nature of water is almost like Tao. It has no fixed form, it changes with the external environment; it has no fixed color, 'it turns green when it is immersed in green, and yellow when it is immersed in yellow'; it has no fixed place of residence, flows along the terrain; its greatest feature is variability. It can be a gentle spring brook, a rushing torrent, a surging river or even an ocean. It flows continuously without exhausting itself."
Zhong Liquan nodded and said, "Laozi uses water as a metaphor for people. A good person is like water, nourishes all things without contention, therefore, a good person's heart is calm and deep beyond measure, treats others sincerely, loves and gives without selfishness, upholds his word in dealing with others, applies his strengths in handling matters and acts wisely at the right time. This is the essence of 'good'."
After carefully listening to the end, Chen Yun hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you, Master for your guidance."
Zhong Liquan smiled slightly and said, "Come to the third floor at midnight tonight."
After speaking, he waved his fan and walked out of the door.
On this night, at midnight, go to the third floor?
At first, Chen Yun had not reacted, thinking in his heart, What on earth are you calling me to your bedroom at this hour for?
But soon, his heart jumped. Could it be that he is going to pass me the secret of immortality?
Doesn't a sage who has achieved enlightenment prefer to pass down skills in the dead of night?
Finally, he is going to pass me the secret art of immortality?
Finally, I am going to learn the secret art of immortality!
Chen Yun's emotions were turbulent, and for a moment, he couldn't calm himself down.
Several minutes later, he suddenly woke up, sighed deeply and said, "My control is still not enough."
Thinking that, Chen Yun sat back down at the desk in front of the window and once again began to study the "Tao Te Ching" carefully.
...
In the evening, Chen Yun lay down on the bed early to meditate and store spirit.
Although there are no beatings and arrow passes in the mountains, the specific time is unknown.
After pretending to sleep for a while, Chen Yun looked outside at the bright moon, which seemed to be directly overhead. It would seem that it was getting close to midnight.
He put on his clothes, did not light the oil lamp, but only stumbled in the dark, and went up step by step along the stairs.
As soon as he stepped onto the stairs, Chen Yun felt cold wind blowing constantly, and ghostly cries and howling sounds could be heard in his ears.
"This is the residence of my master. How can there be cold wind, ghostly cries and howling?"
Although he couldn't make sense of it in his mind, Chen Yun had no fear at all and continued up the stairs to the second floor.
Turned a corner.
The staircase from the second to the third floor.
Suddenly, the scenery before him changed.
In front of him, there appeared a place surrounded by a milky mist, like a fairyland.
There were flying maidens, soaring cranes, and deities riding on five-colored auspicious clouds.
"Hmm, odd."
Seeing this scene, Chen Yun felt more and more puzzled.
This three-story Red Building has not been ascended by me before.
Within the first fifteen days after the master student ritual, he had to pay morning and evening visits to his teacher with a cheerful expression every day, and he had never encountered such a situation before.
Chen Yun still remained calm and did not let the scenery outside deceive him.
He followed his memory to continue upward.
Finally, the view opened up suddenly before him.
Only to see that his teacher Zhong Liquan had already stood by the railing, looking up at the moon.
Chen Yun dare not disturb in any way, walked softly to its back, lowered his eyebrows and stood on the left side.
At first, Zhong Liquan did not say a word.
About three minutes later, he suddenly began to sing slowly:
"If it were not for the heavenly fated event, I would not have shared the Taoist secret with you. With just a few words, there are no many characters, but a thousand volumes of Taoist scriptures can be understood in one word."
At this point, Chen Yun still felt a bit strange. How could his teacher be singing loudly at midnight?
However, when Zhong Liquan sang the next verse, Chen Yun suddenly woke up and realized that his teacher was passing on the secret of immortality!
Listen to Zhong Liquan singing: "One decree knows the outside of heaven, sweeps aside the door and does not leave a trace. If it is said that this principle is the way of immortality, heaven and earth are empty, up and down is void."
Chen Yun listened attentively with his ears perked up.
Zhong Liquan's robust voice caused his singing to sound like an ethereal melody.
“The difference between wood and gold is now known. True lead and true mercury have no shape. Who knows this secret? It will enable one to obtain the sun and moon high up in the sky.”
“There are no obstructions between wood and gold, nor are there the differences between dragon and tiger or east and west. It is neither the liver, lungs, heart or kidneys, nor the stomach, spleen, gallbladder or essence.”
Time ticked by minute by minute and second by second.
In a flash, Zhong Liquan had sung the spell for immortality several times.
"Within a moment, together with jia and geng... The golden bird flies into the jade toad palace... This parent and child meet...”
Chen Yun felt somewhat magical. Although this was his first time listening, the content and knowledge were like impressions on his soul.
Gradually, Zhong Liquan had been singing for half an hour and was nearing the end.
"In three thousand moments, the childlike image appears, in a hundred days' work, the transformation of the essence becomes spiritual. After ten months of refining, a pure yang body is formed, and naturally neither cold nor summer can invade."
"With divine energy and colorful clouds covering his five bodies... Known as the square, he is called a true person."
"With golden light enveloping his body, he is difficult to see. He governs himself with grace and authority, walking on both sides. White cranes pick him up and take him to the Daoist realm. He flies away in the day and meets with the emperor in the heavenly palace!"
With this, Zhong Liquan stopped singing, turned around and smiled, "This is the 'Song of Breaking through Delusion and Correcting the Path,' can you understand?"
Chen Yun was just about to open his mouth to speak.
Suddenly, Zhong Liquan reached out and pushed him from behind, "Go back."
Chen Yun was pushed off the Red Building and fell towards the ground.
In an instant, he was frightened out of his wits, and sat up suddenly!
Looking out the window, the moonlight was still bright.
It turned out to be a dream.
Chen Yun suddenly understood, "As the saying goes, the law does not pass to the sixth ear. If it were to be normally taught me the secret of immortality, even if I was as cautious as possible, it might still be heard by those with strong magic powers. Therefore, my teacher imparted it to me in his dream, and entrusted me with the highest secret of immortality."
Breath.
Finally, I have learned the art of immortality.
Chen Yun's inner heart was very happy.
At the same time, he also understood his teacher's intention, why he passed the great law at midnight.
Because the midnight hour is an excellent time for practicing martial arts.
Chen Yun had no more sleep, got up to practice the secret arts.
