After returning to the Martial Arts Hall, Huo Yuanhong immediately began practicing this Turtle-Snake Coiling art.
The moon hides the jade rabbit, the sun hides the crow; of themselves, turtle and snake entwine;
When they entwine, life is steadfast, and Golden Lotus may be planted in fire.
The Golden Elixir Verse Formula says: To refine the returned elixir, first nourish the lead; turtle and snake in one breath produce the innate.
The turtle belonged to yin, the snake to yang. Their "entwining" represented the harmonious union of water and fire, the balancing of yin and yang. This Alchemy Path art had originally been created by a True Person who hoped to use his own body as a cauldron, harmonize the two currents of yin and yang, reverse the acquired into the innate, and return to youth.
That True Person naturally failed. Unable to truly return to youth, he changed direction and intended to enter the Dao through martial arts. To his surprise, he discovered that this unorthodox art could assist in cultivating Elixir Strength.
"Turtle-Snake Entwining"—since they were entwined, there could be no leakage; and with no leakage, "life would be steadfast."
Dan Formation had once been called the Leakless True Immortal in ancient times. One's entire body became without leakage, able to lock in essence and qi without letting them escape, greatly slowing the effects of aging and extending one's years.
A Dan Formation expert who could live to one hundred and fifty would indeed have been no different from an immortal by the standards of the ancients' lifespans.
After giving it an overall read-through, Huo Yuanhong quickly immersed himself in practice.
This art was divided into two parts: Turtle-Snake Entwining and Turtle-Snake Shadow Casting.
Turtle-Snake Entwining used the turtle's way of storing strength and guarding qi to reduce