The Sage Zhang sat there calmly.
Zhang Jiwen's eyes betrayed a hint of envy, as if revealing his inner jealousy over Chen Yun's impending consumption of the fiery dates.
Even if he is destined to become the future Taoist patriarch of Longhu Mountain, and a descendant of Zhang Daoling, he does not have the fortune to enjoy such exquisite fruits. Moreover, it's not even three of them!
Zhang Jiwen was aware that Zhong Liquan had spent a significant amount to ensure his disciples could consume the three fiery dates.
Different from Master Zhang, who is composed and enviable, and Zhang Jiwen, who is calm and envious.
At this moment, Zhong Liquan's face was serious. He personally poured a cup of wine for his disciples and handed it over, saying, "Drink it."
Chen Yun solemnly took the flask with both hands and said, "Thank you, my master, for gifting me this immortal wine."
With that, he drained the cup in one go.
A sweet taste mingled with an unknown fragrance bloomed in his palate.
Before he could fully savor it, Zhong Liquan picked up a fiery date, "Eat it."
Chen Yun again expressed gratitude to his master and took the whole date without chewing it.
He was about to taste it.
Suddenly, Zhong Liquan struck him heavily on the top of his head with his hand.
Clank!
A loud crash echoed abruptly.
Chen Yun only felt dizzy, and his forehead seemed to be flowing something. Suddenly, he was in a daze, and he had the feeling that he didn't know where North or South was.
He was slightly shocked and didn't understand why his master had done so.
However, Chen Yun believed that his master would not harm him, especially in the presence of Master Zhang.
He held back his doubts and endured the discomfort, biting his teeth to try and stay awake.
Unfortunately, at this moment, his eyes were swimming in stars and he couldn't see clearly. In reality, Zhong Liquan's expression was tense and solemn.
It must have been about five minutes.
Only then did Chen Yun regain his clarity, breathing deeply and asking, "Master, what...?"
Before he could finish, Zhong Liquan handed him another cup of immortal wine, "Drink it."
Chen Yun had no choice but to swallow his questions and took the cup again, saying, "Thank you, my master."
He raised the cup again and drank it in one go.
Zhong Liquan picked up another fiery date, "Eat it."
While thanking him, Chen Yun took and swallowed it at the same time.
Just like before, Zhong Liquan struck Chen Yun on the top of his head with his hand again as soon as he swallowed the fiery date.
Clank!
Another loud crash echoed.
This time, Chen Yun was not just blinded by stars.
He felt as if his head was about to split open, and everything around him was blurred. He even experienced a brief loss of memory, not remembering who he was, where he was, or what he was doing.
Until, he kept hearing a buzzing sound in his ears, and he couldn't hear others speaking.
Zhong Liquan was tensely staring at his disciple.
Master Zhang couldn't help but speak up, "Zhengyangzi, it seems that two is his limit. Let's not worry about the third one, shall we?"
"Let's wait and see."
Zhong Liquan spoke these words with no expression on his face, but his hands trembled slightly, betraying his true feelings.
After about a cup of tea's worth of time, Chen Yun regained his clarity once more.
He looked at his master with some confusion and didn't ask anything this time.
Master Zhang couldn't help but nod slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of admiration. Zhong Liquan let out a long sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Only Zhang Jiwen had lost all envy, and what he felt was only astonishment.
Zhong Liquan looked at Master Zhang, his expression became firm, and he filled the pottery jar again, handing it over to the disciple, "Drink it as a medicine. Finish the third cup."
Chen Yun had immense respect for Zhong Liquan, and even though he felt the most discomfort twice before, when the third cup of wine was offered to him this time, he didn't hesitate at all. He took it and said, "Thank you for your kindness."
After saying that, he tilted his head and drank the wine down.
Zhong Liquan picked up the third fiery date, "Take your time with this fiery date. Perhaps its effects won't be as good as the first two, but you won't feel uncomfortable."
What?
Would eating slowly result in effects that are not as good as the first two?
Even though Chen Yun didn't feel anything after eating the first two fiery dates, he knew there must be a deeper meaning behind his master's words. He quickly thanked him again, took the fiery date, and swallowed it in one go.
Zhong Liquan couldn't help but furrow his brow and, as before, struck Chen Yun's forehead with his hand.
Bang!
A thunderous boom echoed in his mind, as if the heavens and earth had been opened up!
Chen Yun felt a blinding blackness and fell to the ground, utterly unsteady.
Zhong Liquan was shocked. He rushed forward to support him, his voice filled with worry, "Drink it quickly. Are you okay?"
Master Zhang also stood up, as if preparing to save Chen Yun.
Although his head was roaring with noise and his vision was as chaotic as a muddled mess, Chen Yun faintly heard his master calling out to him. He stubbornly tried to stay conscious and not faint, breathing heavily and speaking quickly, "I'm... fine."
Zhong Liquan couldn't help but keep his worried heart from settling down. He kept holding the disciple, and his gaze constantly roamed over him.
Master Zhang had a similar expression.
Only Zhang Jiwen truly showed concern, as if fearing that Chen Yun might not make it through.
Fortunately, after a few minutes, a faint hint of color slowly appeared on Chen Yun's pale face, like a returning life force.
Zhong Liquan finally relaxed, and a mysterious smile appeared on his face.
Master Zhang looked at Chen Yun and then at Zhong Liquan, with an envious gaze, before sighing and saying, "Zhengyangzi, your disciple has truly exceptional talent. Even I am tempted to adopt him as my own student."
Only then did Zhong Liquan gently place the still half-comatose Chen Yun on the ground, sit down, and laugh, "Not a chance. He is the disciple who will carry on my legacy."
Master Zhang continued to haggle, "I don't want what you promised. Let me also adopt him as a disciple. What's wrong with having two masters? You and Master Lü Dongbin even had a student in common, Cao Yi."
Zhong Liquan flatly refused, "No way. Even if you said you wanted to adopt Zheng Wensun as a disciple, I would still accept it. But using... absolutely not."
Master Zhang could only sigh helplessly and shake his head enviously on the side.
As for Zhang Jiwen, upon hearing the words from the ancestors and Master Zhengyang, his gaze shifted from concern to extreme jealousy.
Chen Yun lay there silently, writhing in pain.
Zhong Liquan and Master Zhang sat there chatting and drinking leisurely, completely unfazed.
"Should we still make him swallow the last fiery date?" Master Zhang asked, squeezing the wine cup.
Zhong Liquan smiled and said, "This last fiery date is different from the first three. Eating it would allow him to attain enlightenment immediately. However, it doesn't fit our internal energy cultivation school."
Master Zhang made a sound of agreement, "Indeed, the last one is a fruit formed entirely by pure immortal energy, quite different from those three fiery dates."
The two of them chatted for an entire hour.
Finally, after an hour.
Chen Yun was finally completely free from discomfort and shot up from the ground.
Zhong Liquan acted as if it were no big deal, smiling and asking, "Are you awake?"
Chen Yun quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Reporting to my master, I have awoken."
At this moment, Zhang Jiwen's look at Chen Yun was already red with envy!
Zhong Liquan asked with concern, "How do you feel in your body?"
Chen Yun hadn't even had a chance to answer yet.
Master Zhang laughed and said, "Zhengyangzi, you're too impatient. It's not possible for effects to take place so quickly. It's already good if the first fiery date takes effect within a year."
Zhong Liquan smacked his head and said, "Right, I was overly concerned."
Chen Yun couldn't help but suppress his curiosity and asked directly, "Master, what does 'taking effect' mean?"
It's no wonder he couldn't help but be curious.
Chen Yun, from what he had read, knew that the fiery dates indeed needed to be taken with immortal wine, and after consumption, they would immediately transform a person into an immortal.
According to "Zhenggao" of Tao Hongjing: "Jade Liquor and Gold Syrup, Peach-like Fiery Dates, These are the drugs for soaring into immortality. They are not the same as gold elixirs."
That is to say, when combined with immortal wine, the fiery dates produce an effect that can rival gold elixirs.
It's no wonder he's curious, since he hasn't had any reaction from taking it until now.
"Hehe, it was necessary to inform you about this matter," Zhong Liquan smiled and said: "The fiery dates are divided into two levels. The lower level can make one ascend to immortality upon consumption, while the top-quality ones can give one a profound spiritual body."
Chen Yun was taken aback, "Law body?"
Zhong Liquan nodded and said, "A law body is an intangible form. It is neither empty nor existing, without a behind or a front, neither low nor high, not short nor long. When used, it can be understood by all; when hidden, it becomes invisible."
Chen Yun was still a bit confused and humbly asked for clarification, "Master, what does this mean?"
Zhong Liquan thought for a moment and explained in more common language, "The law body is the body of the Tao. When you absorb the Taoist energy into your own body and return to its original state, you can see your true nature. In short, whatever your nature is, it will manifest in whatever form it responds to, for example, Tian Pong, the leader of the Four Sages of the North Pole, once consumed two top-quality fiery dates. Because he detests evil as much as he loves justice and has a fiery temper, he was born with three heads and six arms or four heads and eight arms, all in a very angry form. He wields six items: a nine-drummed bell (jue), an axe (fu), a bow and arrows, a sword (jian), a bell (duo), and a halberd (ji), with a height of fifty li. He has red hair, red or dark clothing, an Xuan hat (xuan guan), gold armor or red armor, bare feet."
Many people believe that the law bodies with three heads and six arms, etc., come from Buddhism.
In fact, it's not the case. The supreme being among the four northern celestial spirits in Daoism, Tianpeng True Master, also has such an image.
The "Great Preceptor Northern Pole Subduing Demon Incantation and Ghost Record" also describes the image of Tianpeng: "With three heads and six arms, holding a nine-drummed bell, an axe, bow and arrows, a sword, a bell, a halberd, and a rope. He is fifty li tall, wearing dark clothes, an Xuan hat (xuan guan), and gold armor. Leading 360,000 divine soldiers."
In later works, the "Taoist Meetings and Unity" also recorded: "His body is a thousand feet tall, with square teeth. Four heads and eight arms, shining with divine light. Holding a golden ruler and shaking the bell of the emperor. With strong copper teeth and iron paws, he annihilates evil spirits. Holding the thunderbolt cauldron, the thunder strikes and the lightning flashes. The grass and trees wither, destroying all life. It overturns mountains, dams rivers, turns the earth upside down. It captures demons and commands the strong to submit. To be punished or eliminated by me is no problem for them. Who dares to stand against my divine sword?"
As for the pig Eight Pig of Journey to the West in his previous life as the commander of heavenly troops, it was actually inspired by the heavily Tibetan-colored Mali Zhi General, who rides a chariot and is given the title of Commander of Heavenly Troops. However, the half-human half-pig form of Daomu's pulling pig was still preserved in "Journey to the West", becoming a literary artistic image combining two original characters from different religions.
Doumu refers to Doumu Yuanjun, who was later incorporated into the Taoist mythological system. However, in actuality, she is a product of the invasion of Buddhist culture into Taoist culture and was forcibly inserted into it.
Therefore, the image of Tianpeng True Master in Taoism is actually three-headed and six-armed, or four-headed and eight-armed.
Chen Yun knew about Tianpeng's image, but he never thought that he would have the chance to obtain a Dao body similar to that of Tianpeng True Master. The whole person was filled with disbelief.
Zhong Liquan continued to introduce, "This top-grade fiery date is born from the prehistoric Daoist energy after a million years of nurturing. Each top-grade fiery date contains a unique amount of Daoist energy. Therefore, no one knows what kind of law body will be born from consuming it. The only thing that is known is that the resulting law body will often conform to the nature of the consumer."
Master Zhang asked by the side, "Can you see my vertical eye on my forehead?"
Chen Yun replied, "Reporting to Master Zhang, I saw it."
Master Zhang nodded slightly and added, "My heavenly eye is also a law body I gained from consuming the fiery dates. A law body is not confined to the physical form. If one day you transcend to become an immortal, you will also be able to have the ability of a law body in the form of a 'god.' Of course, if you cultivate internal alchemy, even after you attain enlightenment and become an immortal, your physical body will not decay in the short term. If you can refine a golden elixir, your physical body can live for ten thousand eight hundred years. After ten thousand eight hundred years, if you still can't refine the yang spirit, all your cultivation will vanish like smoke and ashes, and you will have to be reborn and cultivate again."
Aha, I understand!
In other words, I may not necessarily obtain the law body with three heads and six arms or four heads and eight arms like Tianpeng True Master, or I may acquire something like Master Zhang's heavenly eye, or another form of law body.
Chen Yun couldn't help but feel secretly anticipatory, wondering what kind of law body he would gain from swallowing the three fiery dates.
(This chapter is complete)
