Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

"This is called one path with two routes."

The patriarch's voice was gentle and warm.

"The Daoist alchemist takes the human body as the universe, refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, and refining spirit to return to emptiness."

When the three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit return to their root, and the dragon, tiger, water, and fire unite in harmony, a golden elixir is finally formed in the dantian.

The Golden Elixir undergoes nine cycles of transformation, breaking down and rebuilding, ultimately resulting in the Pure Yang Immortal Body.

This is the path of inner sagehood, emphasizing the perfection of oneself.

"Those who follow the Dao of the Grotto Heaven take Heaven and Earth as their alchemical furnace, absorb the power of the stars as their true fire, and gather the virtue of the earth as their true water."

The celestial map serves as a symbol, and the earth's veins as a register, thus opening up the inner grotto-heaven within the Niwan Palace.

The grotto-heaven was initially as small as a mustard seed, but gradually expanded as cultivation deepened, eventually evolving into a small world.

The primordial spirit resides in the grotto-heaven, thus becoming the master of the world, immortal and indestructible.

This is the way of the external king, which focuses on governing all things.

Li Yan was terrified.

These two paths, one internal and one external, one focused and one broad, both ultimately lead to immortality.

The patriarch turned his gaze to Li Yan:

"Your Dao seed is formed by the harmony of stars and earth, and your primordial spirit has already conceived the Zhou Tian star map, which is in line with the path of the cave heaven."

The Zhou Tian Xing Tu Xuan Shu Jing consists of three volumes: the first volume focuses on cultivating stars, the second on cultivating earth, and the third on the unification of stars and earth to open up the grotto heaven.

Once you have cultivated to the point of perfect primordial spirit, the gathering of the three flowers at the crown of the head, and the convergence of the five energies, you may then attempt to cultivate in the Niwan Palace.

Based on star charts and earth veins, the chaos was illuminated, and the first level of the Star Earth Grotto Heaven was opened.

Then he looked at Sun Wukong:

"Wukong, you are a spiritual being born of heaven and earth, and you are naturally in harmony with the primordial Qi."

Following the path of the Golden Elixir will yield twice the results with half the effort.

Once you have mastered the Seventy-Two Transformations of Earthly Fiends and achieved the Perfection of the Five Elements, you may begin the first stage of the Nine Revolutions of the Golden Elixir.

Sun Wukong scratched his head in frustration:

"Master, which of these two paths is more powerful?"

The patriarch chuckled:

"Foolish child, the Way has no high or low, but the affinity has depth."

The path to the Golden Elixir requires careful planning at every step. The tribulations are relatively clear, but breaking through requires enduring the three calamities of thunder, fire, and wind, which are extremely dangerous.

The path of the Grotto Heaven allows for a deeper connection with heaven and earth, making calamities more unpredictable and unpredictable.

However, upon achieving this, one possesses immense supernatural powers and can utilize the power of celestial realms to avert some calamities.

The tone deepened:

"The more crucial point is that..."

The Nine Revolutions of the Golden Elixir lead to the Pure Yang Immortal Body, which is the physical path to sainthood.

The inner world achieved through the nine levels of the grotto-heaven is the realm of the primordial spirit.

The former emphasizes the immortality of the physical body, while the latter emphasizes the immortality of the spirit.

Which is better or worse depends entirely on individual circumstances.

Li Yan understood immediately.

This is clearly the path to immortality that the patriarch tailored to each of them based on their inherent qualities and temperament.

Sun Wukong is lively and energetic, with exceptional fighting talent. He can make the most of his strengths by following the path of achieving sainthood through the Golden Elixir.

He is cautious and steady, skilled in divination and formation, and follows the path of the primordial spirit realm, which allows him to maximize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses.

Moreover, the Dao of the Grotto Heaven can borrow the power of heaven and earth, which perfectly matches his own Daoist philosophy.

Can't beat them?

Let's hide in a cave!

in danger?

Hiding in a cave!

Insufficient resources?

It is produced naturally in this grotto!

It's practically the ultimate dream for a Taoist cultivator.

"Disciple understands."

Li Yan and Sun Wukong bowed together.

The patriarch lightly flicked his whisk, gazing at the moonlight among the pines, his tone leisurely:

"The teachings have been fully transmitted, and the principles have been explained. However, the path of cultivation lies in experiential understanding, which cannot be fully expressed in words."

The two of you have a deep connection tonight, but if you leave now, you will only gain superficial knowledge and will not be able to grasp the true essence.

His gaze swept over Li Yan and Sun Wukong:

"My back garden may seem ordinary, but it is actually a place where time and space are folded using the Great Sumeru Forbidden Method, and it contains hidden secrets."

Would you two be willing to spend seven days in seclusion here to comprehend the profound teachings and solidify your foundation?

Sun Wukong was overjoyed upon hearing this, and scratched his ear, saying:

"Master, please have mercy! I'm itching to practice right now!"

Li Yan was also deeply shaken.

The Great Sumeru Forbidden Technique is a supreme divine power involving the Dao of Time and Space, which cannot be performed by anyone other than a Golden Immortal.

The patriarch used this method to keep them for seven days, which was actually a precious time to attain enlightenment without any disturbance.

He immediately bowed and said, "This disciple couldn't ask for more, thank you for your kindness, Master!"

The patriarch nodded and waved his sleeve.

In an instant, the scenery in the garden changed.

The moonlight remains, the pine shadows are still there, yet a profound sense of time and space permeates the air.

Li Yan felt a lightness all over his body, as if he had stepped into another dimension, where all sounds and smells from the outside world were cut off.

Only when the Daoist principles flow can the laws of heaven and earth become exceptionally clear.

"This is the Pine Moon Minor Realm, formed by borrowing the essence of the moon and the spirit of the pine trees, and it has a seven-day limit."

The realm is rich in spiritual energy and imbued with Daoist principles, making it perfect for the two of you to comprehend the new method.

The patriarch's voice came from the void, gradually fading into the distance.

"I will come to guide you in seven days. Cultivate diligently and do not waste this opportunity."

As soon as he finished speaking, the patriarch's figure had vanished without a trace.

"Senior brother, let's begin!"

Sun Wukong could no longer contain himself. His golden eyes gleamed, and he found a flat rock and sat down cross-legged.

Li Yan nodded and found a corner near the old pine tree.

The moonlight is strongest here, and the earth's energy is abundant at the pine roots, making it a perfect place for cultivating both the stars and the earth.

He calmed his mind, activated the mirror of his heart, and reflected on his own state.

[Cultivation Level: Primordial Spirit Perfected (Nine Petals Solidified, Lotus Seed Sprouting)]

[Receive the same true teachings as the chosen one, intertwined destinies, +400 affinity]

【Aura of Destiny: 680/640】

[Current Environment: Pine Moon Minor Realm (Abnormal spacetime flow, spiritual energy concentration: excellent, Daoist manifestation: high)]

[Listen to the true words of the Great Dao, observe the Yin and Yang Tai Chi, and gain +50 in Daoist comprehension]

[Having received the "True and Wonderful Secrets of the Perfect Union of Exoteric and Esoteric Teachings," one glimpses the path to longevity and elevates the foundation of one's spiritual path.]

[He received the "True Explanation of the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang" and acquired thirty-six great Dao supernatural powers.]

[Having received the "Zhou Tian Xing Tu Xuan Shu Jing," his mastery of the Way of Stars and Earth was completed, and his abilities in deduction, alchemy, artifact crafting, and formations greatly increased.]

Li Yan looked away and glanced sideways.

Beside him, the five-colored energy around Sun Wukong had already materialized.

The heart's fire glows red like the rising morning glow.

The liver's wood element, green in color, resembles the sprouting of spring forests.

The spleen, with its yellow awns, resembles the earth's membrane.

The lungs, golden and white, resemble autumn frost congealing into a blade.

The kidney water's radiant glow resembles the moon reflected in a cold pool.

As the five elements circulate, faint shadows of the five internal organs appear to rise and fall in the chest and abdomen.

"The five elements must generate and support each other to achieve the unity of the five elements."

Sun Wukong slightly closed his golden eyes, his mind sinking into introspection.

"Heart fire generates spleen earth, spleen earth generates lung metal, lung metal generates kidney water, kidney water generates liver wood, and liver wood generates heart fire."

It goes on and on, endlessly.

He formed a hand seal, and five-colored light flowed, outlining a diagram of the five elements' mutual generation and restraint in the void.

The moment the diagram was completed, the circulation of the five elements within the body accelerated threefold, and strange changes occurred on the surrounding ground.

On the left, vegetation grows wildly; on the right, metal and stone spring up spontaneously; in front, flames flicker; and behind, water vapor condenses.

A spring of earthy yellow spiritual energy gushed forth from the center.

Li Yan was slightly surprised, withdrew his gaze, and began to carefully comprehend the essence of the "Zhou Tian Xing Tu Xuan Shu Jing".

"Stars form the framework of the heavens, and earth forms the axis of the earth... When stars and earth interact, all things are born."

Li Yan silently recited the scriptures.

The Dao tree swayed, and the lotus seed phantom at the center of the nine-petaled primordial spirit flower glowed faintly.

He raised his finger and made a sweeping motion in front of him, using the power of stars as ink to outline a celestial map in the air.

Three hundred and sixty-five points of starlight manifested, triggering a resonance of the celestial Daoist rhythms within the Pine Moon Minor Realm.

[Comprehend the first volume of the "Zhou Tian Xing Tu Xuan Shu Jing" to increase your mastery of Zhou Tian star charts by 20 and your deductive reasoning ability by 15.]

The harvest is revealed in the mirror of the heart.