Under One Person: My Inner Realm Connects to All Worlds!

Chapter 41 Enough is Enough

Upon hearing this, Master Xuanzhen's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his teacup paused slightly.

"Alchemy?"

He looked at Han Yun with a half-smile, "You're so young, yet you're interested in alchemy?"

Han Yun said, "By chance, I obtained some rudimentary pill formulas, but I have no one to guide me and find it difficult to grasp the basics. I heard that Qingxu Mountain was once the place where the patriarch Ge Hong refined pills, so I came here to seek his guidance."

Master Xuanzhen pondered for a moment, then suddenly stood up, walked to the wall, gently pushed open a hidden compartment, and took out a blackened bamboo scroll.

“Ge Zu did indeed leave something here back then.” He handed the bamboo slips to Han Yun. “However, there’s nothing particularly special about it; it’s just a copy of the ‘Baopuzi’.”

Han Yun took the bamboo slip and felt it was slightly heavy in his hand. The bamboo slip was engraved with dense ancient seal script, the characters were vigorous and powerful, and vaguely revealed a mysterious meaning.

He examined it closely and found that it was indeed a fragment of the "Baopuzi". Although the content differed from the modern version, the general meaning remained the same.

The Inner Chapters of the Master Who Embraces Simplicity recounts divine prescriptions, supernatural transformations, health preservation and longevity, warding off disasters and curing diseases, discusses the essence of the universe, the methods and applications of making elixirs and immortal medicines, the learning and application of various techniques, and the various books of Daoist scriptures, thereby illustrating the breadth and possibility of cultivation for people.

The Outer Chapters of Baopuzi discuss human gains and losses, satirize worldly customs, and discuss methods of governing the people; it evaluates the merits and demerits of worldly affairs, advocates concealing one's talents and waiting for the right time, and emphasizes self-discipline and loyalty to the ruler; it discusses advising the ruler to appoint virtuous and capable officials, love the people and restrain desires, and to hold absolute power; it also discusses transcending worldly affairs, self-cultivation, and writing books.

Judging from the texture of these bamboo slips, they are indeed ancient artifacts from the Eastern Jin Dynasty. However, Han Yun did not expect that the other party would show them to others so easily.

"This……"

Han Yun's heart skipped a beat.

Master Xuanzhen said calmly, "The reason why our ancestor established the Quanzhen Longmen branch here was because he discovered the site where Ge Zu refined elixirs and obtained this bamboo slip."

"However, after years of contemplation, he gained nothing and died with regret. The position of abbot was passed down to me, and there have been twenty generations since then."

"You've seen what Qingxu Temple is like. There aren't many incense offerings, it's sparsely populated, and the old Taoist priest doesn't have any disciples. Not long ago, the local authorities expressed interest in collaborating with me, saying they wanted to turn this place into a tourist attraction."

"Ah~"

Master Xuanzhen sighed and continued, "The younger generation is incompetent and unable to continue. After some time, I will return to the ancestral temple of Baiyun Temple in the capital to report on my Taoist duties and request the Quanzhen ancestral temple to abolish this branch."

"I have no use for these bamboo slips, so I'll just give them to you!"

Han Yun took a deep breath, solemnly accepted the bamboo slip, and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you for bestowing this treasure upon me, Daoist!"

Master Xuanzhen waved his hand and said with a smile, "No need for thanks. If you can truly comprehend its mysteries, it will be a relief for me."

"Moreover, for hundreds of years I have observed that the patriarchs of each generation have been obsessed with this and neglected their own cultivation. Perhaps the true lineage of the patriarch Ge is not destined for me in the Quanzhen School."

Han Yun carefully put away the bamboo slips, still having many unanswered questions in his mind.

He bowed to Master Xuanzhen again and said, "Master, although these bamboo slips are ancient artifacts, their content is identical to the extant *Baopuzi*. The abbots of the temple have studied them for hundreds of years; have they discovered anything special?"

Master Xuanzhen gazed into the distance and said slowly, "The layman is clever. This bamboo slip may seem ordinary, but it actually contains a hidden mystery."

He reached out and gently brushed his hand across the bamboo slip, pointing to several fine engravings: "Look at these patterns. They are not naturally formed, but intentionally created. All the abbots of the past believed that if one could understand the patterns within them, one might be able to glimpse the true teachings of Master Ge."

Han Yun examined the bamboo slip closely and indeed found very faint lines on the edge, arranged in a seemingly orderly manner, yet elusive.

He pondered for a moment and asked, "Has the Daoist master ever tried the method of manifesting water and fire?"

Master Xuanzhen shook his head: "The bamboo slips are old, I dare not touch them rashly. However..."

He paused, then offered a suggestion: "My late master once said that Ancestor Ge was skilled in alchemy and emphasized the importance of timing and control of the fire. Perhaps this is related to these bamboo slips." Han Yun seemed to understand, placed the bamboo slips on the table, and lightly touched the patterns with his fingertips.

Suddenly, he noticed something unusual: the textures of some of the bamboo strips seemed to be able to be pieced together to form a larger pattern.

"Master Daoist, may I borrow your pen and ink?"

Master Xuanzhen brought out paper and pen, and Han Yun traced the patterns on the bamboo slips one by one.

When all the patterns are pieced together, a simplified mountain landscape is revealed, with one section marked with the shape of an alchemical furnace.

Master Xuanzhen's expression shifted slightly, but he remained calm, as if he had known about the place for a long time. He said directly, "This is Danxia Cave on the back of Qingxu Mountain."

Han Yun's heart skipped a beat: "Could it be that the true teachings of Ge Zu are hidden there?"

Master Xuanzhen sighed, “Since you have a connection with bamboo slips, you may go and investigate for yourself.”

"However, over the past few hundred years, our predecessors have explored Danxia Cave many times, but to no avail. We hope that you will not have too high expectations."

Upon hearing this, Han Yun immediately understood that the mystery on the bamboo slips must have already been deciphered by Qingxu Temple, and the key point lay in Danxia Cave.

Han Yun solemnly said, "Thank you for your kindness, Daoist. Regardless of whether I gain anything or not, it is already a great honor to be able to visit the relics of Ge Zu."

"good!"

Master Xuanzhen nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

If all the patriarchs of Qingxu Temple had been as open-minded as this young friend and not attached to the lineage of the patriarch Ge, Qingxu Temple would probably have flourished long ago.

Taoism has always emphasized the concept of "inheritance and responsibility".

When the world is governed by the Way, even warhorses are used for manure; when the world is not governed by the Way, warhorses breed in the suburbs. No calamity is greater than discontent, no fault greater than greed. Therefore, knowing contentment is true contentment.

Is it hatred? Or is it a fallacy?
Since we are not meant to be, why force it?
Master Xuanzhen was quite magnanimous. After watching Han Yun leave, he turned around and returned to Qingxu Temple, where he offered incense to the statue of Ge Zu once more, the smoke curling and swirling above.

He gazed at the smoke resembling the red clouds of Danxia, ​​recalling the days of offering incense every day for the past few decades, and couldn't help but drift into a daze.

------

As for Han Yun, after leaving Qingxu Temple, he followed the map and arrived at Danxia Cave.

Danxia Cave is located on the cliff behind Qingxu Mountain. The entrance is covered by withered vines, and it would be difficult for ordinary people to find it without the guidance of bamboo slip patterns.

Han Yun parted the vines, and a warm feeling, different from the cold air outside, rushed towards him, mixed with a faint smell of earth.

The cave is deep and winding, and traces of ancient people's carving can be faintly seen on the stone walls.

Han Yun took out his flashlight, and the beam shone on the mottled stone wall, revealing specks of gold. He looked closer and found tiny gold particles embedded in the stone wall.

A gold mine?!
Han Yun's eyes widened as he recalled local records, which indicated that the county did indeed have gold mines. He didn't pay much attention to the gold ore.

Continue walking for about 100 meters, and the cave suddenly opens up.

One of them was a spacious cavern. Although there were signs of human intervention, everything was clearly visible, and there was nothing that seemed to be a legacy from the Ge family.

This is understandable, as the successive patriarchs of Qingxu Temple have probably explored this place thoroughly.

(End of this chapter)