Chapter 34: The Path of Vital Essence Alchemy (First Update)

Chapter 34: The Path of the Vitality Pill (First Update)

Within the Hall of Three Pure Ones, the elderly Taoist, who had been meditating on the image of the Supreme Patriarch, slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of joy passing through them.

Already a centenarian, he had long since set aside power, beauty, and wealth. In his heart, there remained only one pursuit: the Way.

He yearned to make another breakthrough within his lifetime, yet the higher the peak, the more arduous the climb.

Among the ranks of extraordinary individuals, Master Jing Tian’s cultivation was at the very summit. Within the Taoist sects, aside from the Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, none dared claim certain victory over him.

Could one imagine the terror of finding no path forward?

In recent years, Master Jing Tian had gradually fallen into despair, so much so that he began fostering the next generation to safeguard the sect’s future. Otherwise, in another thirty or forty years, he would transcend this mortal life.

The appearance of Luo Feng, however, was a beacon of hope—a ray of light that allowed the old Taoist to glimpse a renewed chance for life, a renewed chance to peer into the mysteries of the Great Dao!

These days, he had been searching for Luo Feng to discuss the Way. Unfortunately, Luo Feng was nowhere to be found—whether atop the snow-capped peaks or in any of the various Taoist abbeys, not a trace. Yet Luo Feng was clearly within the Shangqing Sect.

This left Master Jing Tian greatly vexed.

Today, Luo Feng came of his own accord—a most delightful surprise. He must seize this opportunity to discuss the Dao at length, and perhaps uncover the reason behind Luo Feng’s extraordinary abilities.

“Fellow Daoist Luo,” he called, greeting him with a smile. As he approached, he paused in surprise, “Isn’t this a disciple of the Heavenly Strategy School?”

“How strange his state appears—he should by rights have perished, and yet something is forcibly tethering his life.”

“Could it be that a great healer has intervened?”

Luo Feng cupped his hands and replied, “Elder, he was rescued by Biqing, after being hunted by a group of All-True followers. I used a thread of wood energy to sustain his life. I ask you to lend your aid.”

“Wood energy?!” Master Jing Tian nearly let his horsetail whisk slip from his hand.

Wood energy? The essence of forests and grass carries wondrous effects; to snatch a soul from the underworld nearly rivals the miraculous elixirs left by the Patriarchs.

The immortal path cherishes life above all, seeking to save all beings. No matter how grave the matter, nothing is more important than a human life.

Despite the many questions crowding his mind, Master Jing Tian suppressed them and set about diagnosing the young man from the Heavenly Strategy School.

Medicine and the Dao are intertwined. Traditional medicine employs the theories of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, and Taoist cultivation requires a deep study of the body’s meridians, dantian, and vital acupoints.

A master physician may not wield mystical arts, but a true Taoist will always possess medical skill.

He fetched a rattan chair, gathered various medicinal infusions and life-preserving pills, and summoned several young disciples to assist.

After half a day of diligent care, the grievously injured youth’s wounds gradually ceased bleeding, his breath settled into a more regular rhythm.

Master Jing Tian stroked his long beard and chanted a prayer to the Holy Savior of the Supreme Oneness.

The satisfaction of saving a life was no less than the joy of breaking through in cultivation.

Buddhism values karma, Taoism emphasizes responsibility—Taoists, too, possess compassion.

“Elder, your medical skill is remarkable,” Luo Feng praised.

As the saying goes, each art has its own specialists. Luo Feng himself had little experience with healing arts beyond superficial wounds, and was no match for the old Taoist.

Master Jing Tian smiled knowingly, the corners of his mouth curling ever so slightly. Though a Taoist cultivates detachment, who can remain unmoved by a sincere compliment?

Especially when such praise comes from a near-immortal cultivator—it was truly gratifying.

Luo Feng glanced at the youth on the bed, asking, “Elder, when will he recover?”

The old Taoist waved his hand, “We are both seekers of the Way; there’s no need for honorifics—call me ‘fellow Daoist.’ As for him, with your wood energy sustaining his life, he’ll recover in three or four months. But his foundation will never be what it was.”

As he spoke, a sigh escaped his lips. For extraordinary individuals, to have one’s foundation damaged is as if half their life has been taken.

“Fellow Daoist Jing Tian.” Luo Feng readily adopted the new form of address. “Is there any way to restore his foundation?”

Luo Feng was, in truth, somewhat obsessive. Otherwise, he would not have pursued cultivation with such unwavering constancy for a decade.

He had rescued the youth, but to leave a flaw in the end left him unsettled.

Indeed, it was his own discomfort—he simply could not let his mind be at ease.

It was not out of pure benevolence.

Master Jing Tian shook his head, “Though man is born of father and mother, of flesh and blood, his true origin is the primal Qi. To lose one’s foundation is to lose a portion of that primal essence. Unless there were a great...a grandmaster of the Dao…”

His rambling explanation broke off abruptly; the air grew still.

In Luo Feng’s hand, a strand of vitality appeared—brimming with life, vibrant and lively. To call it ‘wood energy’ would be to belittle it; it was truly the essence of creation itself.

This was the very force that had kept the youth of the Heavenly Strategy School alive.

“Fellow Daoist, what do you make of this thread of vitality?” Luo Feng asked thoughtfully.

The old Taoist swallowed hard, his body instinctively drawing a deep breath, his organs greedily absorbing the energy, gradually reviving.

“Though it’s not quite the original primal Qi, its quality is not far off. In all my years, I have never seen a living grandmaster. It should suffice to restore the foundation, though the quantity required will be considerable.”

Reluctantly, Master Jing Tian tore his gaze from the vital energy, reminding himself silently: after a century of cultivation, do not lose your conscience.

Rather than prolong his own life, it would be better to save a young man, adding strength to the righteous path—after all, he was a member of the Heavenly Strategy School. It was a worthy trade.

In the end, a thought arose in the old Taoist’s mind—perhaps he would live to see the birth of a grandmaster.

The Black Dragon has oppressed the world for three hundred years—long enough. It is time for a true successor to emerge, sweeping away centuries of miasma and gloom.

“Large quantity?” Luo Feng smiled slightly, his robe billowing. Heaven and earth cleared; vital energy from all directions gathered and flowed into his embrace as if forming a great river.

In his previous life, he had seen a few moves of Tai Chi. He had not grasped its essence, but his cultivation was sufficient to toy with vital energy at will.

Rivers of vital energy coalesced into a small, emerald-green sphere. Under Luo Feng’s control, the current of energy continued to swirl and condense, and in the blink of an eye, it had grown to the size of a soccer ball.

Luo Feng frowned—how could something the size of a soccer ball be swallowed?

With a swirl of true Qi, the silver river pressed down, and the sphere instantly shrank to the size of a fist.

Still dissatisfied, Luo Feng closed his eyes, focusing his mind.

A single thought leapt forth, enveloping the vital energy, refining it again and again.

A pure yang intent, like real fire—the vital energy gradually transformed into vital liquid, and the liquid condensed into a golden pill.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a lustrous, emerald-green, flawless golden pill hung suspended in the air.

With a flick of Luo Feng’s finger, the pill shot into the mouth of the youth from the Heavenly Strategy School.

Turning, Luo Feng saw that Master Jing Tian could no longer hold his horsetail whisk—it clattered to the floor.

“Fellow Daoist, are you all right?” Luo Feng picked up the whisk, puzzled.

Master Jing Tian, trembling, took it back, stammering, “Just now… what was that?”

“You mean the Vitality Pill?” Luo Feng replied calmly. “I once read in storybooks that cultivators refined pills from spiritual herbs or the inner cores of beasts. But if a beast attains intelligence and walks the path of goodness, it is no different from a human—slaying such a creature for its core offends Heaven. And as for spiritual herbs, they require thousands of years to form; to harvest them rashly is something my heart cannot bear.

“So, I thought: since plant and beast inner cores are all formed from vital energy and the essence of sun and moon, perhaps energy itself could be refined into a pill.

“I tried it just now—and to my surprise, it worked. It was rather easy.

“I call it… the Vitality Pill.”

Master Jing Tian: ……….

After a hundred years of cultivation, this was the first time he felt the urge to curse aloud!

[Thanks to DadaDadi for the 200 reward]

[Thanks to ‘I am a cautious and cunning reader’ for the 100 reward]

[Thanks to book friend 20190819200215689 for the 100 reward]

(End of this chapter)