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Chapter 40 Sima Chengzhen
Although the effectiveness is a bit poor, there are indeed natural treasures in the Tanggui world.

In addition to the exotic flowers and plants and nine rare pearls that have appeared in the TV series, there are some that only exist in the mouths of the characters in the plot.

Tianshan Qilan is a typical example.

It is said that there was an assassin who was trying to plot against Di Renjie. Su Wuming was testing medicine for Di Renjie and was unfortunately poisoned and unconscious for seven days and seven nights.

In order to save the life of his beloved disciple, Di Renjie invited several famous doctors from the capital to help. He also used the Tianshan orchid stored in the palace to make a soup and bathed Su Wuming's whole body in it, which successfully detoxified him.

Since this was just Su Wuming's one-sided statement, many viewers thought he was talking nonsense.

But after Lin Yu went to Tianshan in person, he did find the so-called Tianshan orchid there.

This substance is extremely yin in nature and is a type of tea. After brewing and drinking it, it can nourish yin and yang, eliminate diseases and toxins, and prolong life.

However, based on Lin Yu's personal experience, this thing is not really delicious, but the effect is indeed good for mortals.

If it could be watered with magic power of the same nature, perhaps better quality Tianshan orchids could be produced.

In addition, Lin Yu also found a mother tree of Dahongpao with excellent taste, a jujube tree that can nourish vitality and prolong life, a green bamboo with hardness comparable to steel, a lotus with three colors, and many common spiritual objects such as ginseng and Ganoderma lucidum that are more than a thousand years old.

All the things that could barely be called natural treasures were taken away by him using the sacred magic [The Universe in the Sleeve], and he prepared to bring them back to the Fulilian world to cultivate them well and try to evolve them into spiritual seeds.

In fact, Lin Yu had already tested it and found that the green dates produced by the date tree could indeed resonate with magic power.

The four green dates he gave to the four sons of Nanzhou were products that had been strengthened with magical powers. When the four sons ate them, the effect was greatly enhanced. The tea ceremony master Zhong Boqi was cured of his hidden illness, and it seemed that he would not commit murders like in the original book.

……

……

The next morning, there were still three hours until the return.

Lin Yu came to Tongbai Mountain in Tiantai Mountains.

This mountain has been known as the residence of immortals since ancient times. It has nine peaks surrounding it and a clear stream flowing in front of it.

To the north are Yuxiao and Xianglin, which belong to Huading. The veins are thick and long and the five elements are complete. To the east are Wolong and Hualin peaks reaching the sky. To the west are Zixiao, Lianhua and Cuiwei bowing their heads. To the south are Yunv and Yuquan, which are beautiful and unique.

These nine peaks are undulating and shrouded in clouds and mist. They look as high and ethereal as the residence of immortals.

During its heyday in later generations, there were 36 palaces, 72 pavilions, and a total of 108 Taoist temples of various sizes built in Tongbai Mountain. Many famous literati and poets in history once stopped here and left behind countless poems.

But in this day and age, Tongbai Mountain is far from reaching its historical peak.

Even the Tongbai Palace on Yuxiao Peak has not yet been built. Only the predecessor of Tongbai Palace, the Falun Temple built by the Taoist master Ge Xuan in the first year of the Wu Dynasty of the Three Kingdoms period, stands here.

Of course, this does not mean that there is no famous Taoist temple on Yuxiao Peak.

In fact, thirty years ago, a man built a hut here to practice Taoism, attracting many Taoist disciples to gather here.

The secluded residence of this person was known as Yuxiao Mountain Residence, which was the prototype of the future Dongtian Palace.

Yuxiao Mountain Residence is quite quiet in the early morning, with the green tiles and flying eaves half hidden in the mist that lingers all year round.

The stone steps were covered with moss, and a lush tung tree stood in the courtyard. Beneath the tree, an energetic old Taoist was sitting cross-legged on a cushion, meditating quietly facing the morning light and mist.

Different from his current colleagues who like to make elixirs, although the old Taoist learned from orthodox masters, he is not keen on external alchemy.

On the contrary, he believed that the mind created the environment, and that practicing Taoism was to cultivate the mind. Only by sitting in meditation and forgetting, focusing on tranquility and eliminating desires, and being completely untainted and unattached to anything, could one transcend the mundane world...

Not long after, the old Taoist finished his morning exercise and slowly opened his eyes under the tung tree.

Suddenly, he was startled to find that a young man in white had appeared in the yard.

This man had a tall and straight figure and handsome features. His black hair swayed slightly in the breeze. His dark eyes were slightly lowered as he quietly read the Taoist scripture in his hand.

Judging from his temperament alone, this person is like the clouds in the mountains, quite ethereal and otherworldly.

The old Taoist was stunned for a moment, and only came to his senses after a while, looking at the young man with a sharp gaze.

"This Yuxiao Mountain Residence is where the old Taoist practices in seclusion. Who are you, and why don't you come in without permission?" "..."

The young man in white raised his eyes, looked at the old Taoist carefully, and then raised the Taoist scripture in his hand.

"Is this "On Sitting and Forgetting" written by you?"

“…It’s the old Taoist.”

The young man in white smiled slightly, cast his gaze on the Taoist scriptures, and said leisurely: "Faith and respect, severing ties, collecting the mind, simplifying things, true observation, peace and stability, and attaining the Tao. These seven stages of sitting and forgetting are indeed close to the art of inner alchemy!"

The art of inner alchemy?

The old Taoist was stunned when he heard this, then his eyes lit up with excitement, as if he had grasped some secret.

Seeing this scene, the young man in white, or Lin Yu, couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth.

External alchemy and internal alchemy are two different Taoist cultivation techniques. External alchemy originated from alchemy, which refers to refining external objects into elixirs and taking them for immortality, while internal alchemy regards the human body as a furnace and cultivates the essence, qi and spirit in the body to condense them into elixirs.

During the second year of Jingyun in the Tang Dynasty, the harmful external alchemy techniques were still popular in the world.

As for the art of inner alchemy, it is only in its infancy at present, but the one who promoted the formation of inner alchemy and had an important influence on the inner alchemy theory of later generations was the old Taoist in front of Lin Yu - Sima Chengzhen!

This person is a descendant of Sima Kui, the Minister of Rites of Cao Wei, and the great-great-grandson of Ma Yi, the official of Langya County in Northern Zhou.

He came from a prominent family, but had no interest in becoming an official. At an early age, he became a disciple of Taoist Pan Shizheng in Songshan, where he studied the Shangqing scriptures and talismans.

After completing his studies, he bid farewell to his teacher and traveled to famous mountains, finally ending up at Mount Tiantai, where he lived in seclusion at Yuxiao Peak. During this period, he wrote numerous Taoist scriptures, founded the Shangqing Tiantai School, and was revered by later Taoists as the twelfth-generation master of the Shangqing School.

The book "On Sitting and Forgetting" in Lin Yu's hand is one of Sima Chengzhen's most representative works, and it is also a milestone work in Taoism's transition from external alchemy to internal alchemy.

"May I ask, sir, what is the art of inner alchemy?"

Sima Chengzhen ignored the age difference, bowed, and looked at Lin Yu with a sharp gaze.

Lin Yu smiled slightly and said in a leisurely tone: "The theory you wrote is called "Zuowang", but it is actually "Zuochi". Although it has the prototype of inner alchemy, it can only be regarded as the initial stage on the road to immortality. The real method of immortality should be to integrate body and spirit. Use the human body as a furnace to condense the essence, energy and spirit. Only in this way can the elixir be formed, and the body and spirit can be united, and immortality can be achieved!"

"The form and spirit are both complete, condensed into a pill..."

Sima Chengzhen murmured to himself, as if he had realized something.

After a moment, he came back to his senses and said excitedly: "The Lingbao Sutra says that the body and spirit are one, and that is the true body. The Xisheng Sutra also describes that the body and spirit are united, so they can last forever!"

"However, the way of humility has different levels of strength. A deep one will affect both the body and the form, a shallow one will only affect the mind. If it affects the form, only the body will be affected, while if it affects the mind, only the wisdom will be gained. I have practiced for many years, but I have only achieved the mind..."

"May I ask, fellow Taoist, is there a way to achieve both?"

Facing the old Taoist priest's excited and expectant gaze, the smile on Lin Yu's face froze slightly.

He came to Sima Chengzhen today, first to show his divine power, second to give some advice, and third to keep some backup plans in this world.

In his expectation, facing an expert in Taoism like Sima Chengzhen, a simple description of the inner alchemy method that has not yet appeared should be enough for him to deduce it on his own.

Who would have thought that this guy would be so demanding. Since I couldn't figure it out myself, I just asked him directly.

How should he answer this?

Lin Yu had a headache. He had only collected the Taoist Canon today and he didn't really understand it, so how could he answer it?

...There's no other way, I can only fool him for now!
Lin Yu thought so in his heart, but smiled without saying anything.

Sima Chengzhen was initially puzzled, but then his face suddenly showed enlightenment. He said seriously, "It is said that the Dharma cannot be passed on lightly, and the Dao cannot be sold cheaply. However, you coming here uninvited today is already rude, and you privately reading the Taoist scriptures can be considered stealing the master's teachings. I will not hold it against you. I am willing to put aside our past grudges and sit down to discuss the Dao with you. Isn't this also not allowed?"

"Ha ha!"

Lin Yu laughed dumbly: "You old Taoist, you are really interesting... Well, since I was rude first, I will tell you something!"

As he spoke, he waved his sleeves, and suddenly a steaming teapot and two jade teacups appeared on the stone table in the courtyard.

(End of this chapter)