Pure Yang!

Chapter 433 The Tribulation is the Number One Elixir Under Heaven! He Reigns Supreme as the Dao Ancestor
The Dragon and Snake Elixir embodies the Daoist principles of water and fire, and conceals the Yin and Yang of the Xuanmen (mysterious sect).

This elixir is extraordinary and unpredictable; it severs the dragon vein and conceals incense offerings.

These two forces are the most mysterious in the human world.

Incense holds the purest thoughts of all living beings; it is the initial tribulation of cultivation, yet it is also the sustenance for immortals and gods to achieve longevity.

In this mortal world, apart from the Zhang family's method of bestowing gods, only the primordial spirit refined by the Divine Demon Holy Embryo can consume this power.

Although one's mortal body stands in the mortal world, one's primordial spirit receives offerings of incense.

When the primordial spirit forged from the divine and demonic embryo receives such great power, it can produce one of the most wondrous changes in the world.

That is the true secret of the primordial spirit, the supreme alchemy.

Rumble…

At this moment, Zhang Fan's primordial spirit trembled, immersed in a hazy mist. The nine layers of primordial light seemed to merge into one, and the ethereal feeling was very much like the gods and Buddhas in temples and monasteries.

Immediately afterwards, the radiance of the primordial spirit, like a flame, descended from the Lingtai Yuangong and entered the Shenfu Jianggong...

That place is like the central nervous system of the human body, amplifying the "firelight" and instantly spreading it into the spine, limbs, and internal organs...

The next moment, the fire refined true yang, and the essence of the body boiled like water, then sank like frost, descending to the dantian.

This is the union of Kan and Li, a state of perfect harmony between water and fire.

The Dragon-Snake Pill, resembling a star, hovered at the golden ratio line within Zhang Fan's body, influencing his physical body to resonate with the surrounding environment.

The inner elixir is refined, and the mortal body is shed; a crystal-clear luster slowly rises from the surface of the skin.

"Golden tendons and jade bones, a body like crystal!?" Xu Jinian's expression changed drastically.

By observing with his primordial spirit, he could see many unusual changes occurring on Zhang Fan's body.

Zhang Fan's veins shimmered with a golden hue, his bones continuously solidified, secreting a jade-like substance that enveloped his outermost layer. His body was like crystal, as if he were no longer an ordinary mortal.

"His life cultivation has reached its peak! This is a sign that his life cultivation has reached its peak. He is about to form his inner core!" Xu Jinian exclaimed.

When one's life cultivation is perfected, one is no longer a mortal. All physiological functions and human structure become extraordinary. The energy within the body is highly condensed and transformed, forming an inner elixir.

The saying goes, "Only after swallowing a golden pill do I realize that my fate is not determined by heaven."

This step is like an insurmountable chasm, blocking all living beings.

Once you cross that threshold, you will truly be different from ordinary people, and begin to comprehend the path of cultivating immortality and longevity, and look towards the pure yang realm.

At this moment, the various changes in Zhang Fan's physical body are signs that he is about to form his core and achieve great success in his cultivation.

“That giant pill…” Xu Jinian seemed to understand something.

Even for ordinary cultivators at the ninth level of cultivation, no matter how profound their accumulation, it would take at least ten years to achieve great success in their life cultivation and refine their inner elixir.

This step is like a world apart, something that cannot be achieved without the effort of time and years.

Even with Zhang Fan's talent, it would take at least three to five years of hard work to achieve that.

However, the Dragon-Snake Elixir was no ordinary thing; it not only refined incense offerings but also severed the dragon vein.

Born of nature and nurtured by mountains and seas, it must seize the mysteries of creation, steal the essence of the sun and moon, and extract the spiritual essence of the dragon veins. As time turns, it gives birth to four categories: [Great Medicine], [Rare Treasure], [Exotic Treasure], and [Spiritual Embryo].

Among them, large medicinal herbs are the most common, especially those found in deep mountains and marshes, such as ginseng and he shou wu. These herbs accumulate over many years and can even roam freely in the mountains, and are known as "walking ginseng" and "walking he wu". Even for ordinary people, they are priceless treasures.

Rare treasures are what are commonly referred to as "natural treasures," extraordinary substances found in nature. For example, the [Dragon Toad Oil] that Zhang Fan obtained from Toad Treasure Mountain is a rare treasure.

Rare treasures are the easiest to understand, because they are nurtured under various conditions in the mountains and seas, comparable to, or even surpassing, magical treasures crafted by powerful human cultivators. The [White Bone Relic] that Zhang Fan obtained is a rare treasure.

The spiritual embryo is the most difficult to conceive, faces the greatest calamities, and also has the greatest potential for creation.

A naturally born spiritual embryo must reside in a place with a dragon vein.

It should be understood that dragon veins are channels that carry the energy of heaven and earth, directly affecting the environment of mountains and seas, and the fortunes and misfortunes of humankind.

Therefore, the dragon vein is the most important and crucial condition for nurturing a naturally born spirit.

Such stringent requirements mean that, throughout history, the number of naturally born and surviving beings is extremely limited.

The Dragon-Snake Pill, refined by the ancestors of the Lingbao Sect, contains not only the power of incense offerings but also the power of the dragon vein.

Incense is used to refine the primordial spirit and cultivate one's nature.

Dragon veins forge the physical body and govern life force.

Only through the union of dragon and snake can the boundless method of immortality and the Taoist esoteric internal alchemy be achieved.

Rumble…

Zhang Fan's primordial spirit became increasingly mysterious, and his physical body was also undergoing a frenzied transformation. Yin and Yang were reversed within, and water and fire were in harmony at the entrance, filling the entire cave with a terrifying aura...

The ancient cave trembled, stone chips fell, mist rose, and fog descended, startling Xu Jinian and Shan Jun, who both huddled in a corner.

They seemed to hear the wind and thunder in their ears, and saw frost and white snow settling before their eyes, and the moonlight shining brightly. All sorts of strange phenomena came one after another.

I don't know how much time passed, but the sounds stopped and the scenery before my eyes faded away.

They slowly opened their eyes. They were still in the cave. Not far away, Zhang Fan stood there. He seemed different, yet he seemed no different at all.

In a daze, Zhang Fan's body was trembling incessantly at an extremely terrifying frequency, so much so that it was difficult to discern with the naked eye. He seemed completely out of place with his surroundings.

But upon closer inspection, the man seemed to blend seamlessly with his surroundings, appearing natural and harmonious, indistinguishable from his surroundings.

"Brother...you...you've reached the level of the Head of the Fast?" Xu Jinian couldn't help but ask.

"Not yet, but soon," Zhang Fan chuckled.

Pregnancy takes ten months, let alone the cultivation of the inner elixir. This requires both cultivation and nourishment, and can be accomplished in less than a hundred days.

In addition, the Dragon-Snake Pill is extremely mysterious. It is clearly still inside Zhang Fan's body, but it cannot be seen, touched, or sensed.

However, His power is omnipresent, like the two poles of heaven and earth, influencing Zhang Fan's primordial spirit and physical body respectively, just like cultivating both body and mind.

At this moment, Zhang Fan was truly amazed by the methods and wisdom of the Lingbao Sect's predecessors. They were able to combine the power of the dragon vein and incense offerings, seize the creation of heaven and earth, and glimpse the mysteries of yin and yang to refine such a pill.

"It's simply unbelievable," Zhang Fan said thoughtfully.

Dragon veins govern human fortune and misfortune. This power takes at least several hundred years to accumulate before it has a chance of giving birth to a naturally born spiritual entity.

The ancestors of the Lingbao Sect actually had such means to intercept the power of the dragon vein of Tongluo Mountain and use it to refine elixirs.

This technique represents almost the pinnacle of external alchemy, exceeding human imagination.

Ordinary cultivators simply cannot withstand or refine it; their physical bodies would find it a great calamity.

Not to mention, this pill also contains the power of incense offerings.

This kind of power is beyond the reach of the primordial spirit. Even cultivators, once tainted by it, will either go mad or suffer from a deep, dark sleep.

Such a dangerous elixir should theoretically be unsuitable for anyone to use.

This great pill seemed tailor-made for Zhang Fan.

In the entire world, there is probably no one else besides him who can enjoy this elixir.

"Brother, you're already like this and you still haven't mastered it?" Xu Jinian couldn't help but ask.

Zhang Fan's aura was already terrifying, and his body showed signs of the completion of his life palace.

"Do you think this is a movie? You think swallowing a pill will instantly make you a master of your cultivation level and invincible?" Zhang Fan shook his head and said.

“Cultivation is not something that can be achieved overnight.” Zhang Fan has not yet truly stepped into that realm, but he will be soon. At the latest, he should be able to truly refine his inner core and enter the [Zhaishou] realm within three months.

"Why do you all want pills? I don't have any!" Xu Jinian said with a mournful face.

Shan Jun obtained the Marrow Cleansing Pill, and Zhang Fan obtained the Dragon-Snake Pill, both advancing further in their cultivation. Only he, aside from being slapped in the face and having his dignity trampled, gained nothing.

Rumble…

Just then, the ancient alchemy furnace began to vibrate again, even more dramatically than before. Suddenly, a beam of black light shot into the sky, spreading like a dark night, instantly obscuring the dome of the ancient cave.

Zhang Fan looked closely and saw a large black pill jump out.

"Um!?"

Zhang Fan sensed a hint of danger.

Rumble…

Almost simultaneously, the black pill rushed towards Xu Jinian and entered his body.

"Ah ah ah..."

Xu Jinian let out a scream as black energy tore through his flesh like chains, passing through his internal organs and binding his bones...

His primordial spirit observed that his physical body was being hacked by knives, chopped by axes, struck by lightning, and burned by fire... Even his primordial spirit was as if he were in the dark of night, drowsy and about to fall into a deep sleep.

"This... what kind of pill is this... is it expired?" The mountain lord stared wide-eyed, clicking his tongue in amazement.

Xu Jinian's roar seemed to come from purgatory, filled with pain, and even when he stopped, it made people's scalps tingle.

“That’s not a pill…or rather, it’s not an ordinary pill…” Zhang Fan’s eyes were deep, as if he was deep in thought.

"What is that?" the mountain king asked, puzzled.

"Jie!"

"Jie?"

"The calamity is the most precious pill in the world," Zhang Fan murmured softly.

Taoist elixirs are not about turning stone into gold, but about catalyzing wondrous life.

Just like the Dragon and Snake Elixir, if an ordinary expert were to consume it, it would be a death warrant, not only failing to bring any advancement or change, but also ending in life and death in an instant.

But Zhang Fan was different. In his youth, he cultivated the Dragon and Tiger Daoist Method, and later cultivated the Divine Demon Holy Embryo. He also touched the Three Corpses Illuminating Fate and learned from many sources. Now that his realm has been established, he has also comprehended the mystery of the union of dragon and snake. Therefore, after consuming this pill, he experienced many wonderful things.

There is also the Mountain Lord, who is originally a spirit from Mount Tongluo. He has been consuming the essence of the sun and moon for many years, resulting in a rich and complex blood and qi within his body. Therefore, he was able to undergo various transformations after consuming the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Xu Jinian was different. He had almost no foundation to speak of, and he could even count the days he spent cultivating Tao on his fingers. What he relied on was a little intelligence and a little luck.

Compared to great practitioners, he lacked too much in terms of experience, perseverance, and wisdom.

Any elixir would be more of a curse than a blessing for him.

Only calamity...

Calamity can be both a fatal disaster and an elixir of immortality.

The more you lose, the more you endure, the more you gain.

Without all those calamities, there would be no invincible Three Corpse Daoist, no Chu Chaoran of pure Yang and limitless power, and not even the Great Spirit Sect King of today…

Throughout history, those great masters of alchemy who have achieved illustrious fame and attained the highest sacred status have all undergone transformation and ascension to immortality amidst suffering and tribulations.

"Immortals are made from mortals, but I fear that mortals lack the willpower to be strong..." Zhang Fan murmured.

"If he wants to achieve something, he must first lose something; if he wants to ascend to the heavens, he must first fall into the boundless hell."

Zhang Fan knew that this pill was the most important one in the furnace. The ancestors of the Lingbao Sect had poured their hearts and souls into leaving this important pill for future generations.

That was the calamity.

Only by truly understanding this word can one possess the potential to reach the realm of pure yang and limitless energy.

"Will he...will he die?" Shan Jun couldn't help but ask.

In just five minutes, Xu Jinian didn't even have the strength to scream anymore, and it was even difficult to sense his presence.

At this moment, he was like a tree struck by spring thunder, its exterior charred black, but inside only a sliver of life remained, waiting to burst forth.

"I don't know. This is his tribulation, but also his opportunity," Zhang Fan said, shaking his head.

He could vaguely sense the painstaking efforts of the Lingbao Sect's predecessors. It was probably no easy task to refine this pill; it would require a great deal of effort, and even sacrifice of life.

For countless years, the calamities of all living beings around seemed to be hidden within that elixir.

The lightning strikes on plants and trees, the calamities of wild beasts fighting, the calamities of floods and collapsing mountains, the calamities of Taoist priests passing away... all these calamities transformed into various phenomena, circulating within Xu Jinian's body, causing him to constantly experience, constantly comprehend, and constantly transform.

"That's too ruthless! Is there really such a method of cultivation?" Shan Jun's nerves trembled as he listened.

“This is his fate, and this is his path.” Zhang Fan’s gaze darkened slightly.

He knew that this was probably the biggest hurdle in Xu Jinian's life, and of course, it was also the greatest destiny he had ever faced. If he could overcome it...

"If he can overcome this obstacle, the world is vast, and he will surely have a place in the future."

As he spoke, Zhang Fan turned to look at the two lines of small characters left by the ancestors of the Lingbao Sect on the wall:
Lingbao is shrouded in dust and rarely seen by the heavens; I have been cultivating in the mountains for countless years.

Now, time has changed everything, and the Central Ancestor has prospered for three hundred years.

Looking at these two lines of small print now, it seems we can better understand the profound mystery hidden within.

"The Zhongzu Dynasty prospered for three hundred years..."

Zhang Fan murmured to himself, looking at Xu Jinian who was in turmoil, a meaningful look rising in his eyes.

"Fate is truly extraordinary."

Who would have thought that an unknown nobody who had only graduated from junior high school and started working in society would have such a connection with the famous Lingbao Sect?

"This is also your destiny. Follow him, and in the future..."

“Follow him? But I want to follow you,” Shan Jun couldn’t help but say.

He only followed Zhang Fan all the way because of him.

"Follow me and you'll go hungry nine times a day," Zhang Fan chuckled.

He has too many enemies, and they are all people he can't afford to offend. It would be too dangerous for him to follow him, and Zhang Fan couldn't possibly keep a fierce tiger by his side at will.

After all, the mountain lord is still a long way from becoming a demon.

"Don't underestimate him," Zhang Fan said calmly.

"Perhaps... one day..."

“He can also be called the Dao Ancestor!” Zhang Fan said in a low voice.

Rumble…

A thunderclap resounded across the sky, tearing through the air above Tongluo Mountain.

Shan Jun looked at Xu Jinian with suspicion in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)