Sima Chengzhen

Although the effects were somewhat inferior, the Tang Gui World did indeed possess natural treasures.

Besides the exotic flowers and rare herbs seen in television dramas, and the Nine Great Marvelous Pearls, there were also some things only mentioned by characters in the plot.

The Heavenly Mountain Qilan was a typical example.

Legend had it that an assassin once ambushed Di Renjie, and Su Wuming, while testing medicine for him, was unfortunately poisoned and fell into a coma for seven days and seven nights.

To save his beloved disciple's life, Di Renjie invited several renowned physicians from the capital to help. He then brewed a decoction using the Heavenly Mountain Qilan stored in the palace and had Su Wuming bathed in it, which successfully detoxified him.

Since this story was only Su Wuming's account, many viewers believed he was talking nonsense.

However, after Lin Yu personally visited the Heavenly Mountain, he indeed found the so-called Heavenly Mountain Qilan there.

This item was extremely yin in nature and was a type of tea. After brewing and drinking it, it could nourish yin and replenish yang, dispel illnesses and toxins, and prolong life.

However, based on Lin Yu's personal experience, this thing was really not good to drink, but its effects were indeed remarkable for mortals.

If it could be irrigated with mana of a similar nature, perhaps higher-quality Heavenly Mountain Qilan could be produced.

In addition, Lin Yu also found a Great Red Robe Mother Tree with an excellent flavor, a Green Date Tree that could nourish vitality and prolong life, a Green Bamboo with hardness comparable to steel, a Lotus Flower with three colors, and many other ordinary spiritual items such as ginseng and lingzhi that were over a thousand years old.

Everything that could barely be called a natural treasure was taken away by him using the Holy Scripture Magic [Sleeve Universe], and he planned to bring it back to the Frieren World to cultivate it carefully and try to evolve it into a spiritual seed.

In fact, Lin Yu had already experimented, and the green dates produced by that date tree could indeed resonate with mana.

The four green dates he gave to the Four Sons of Nanzhou were products that had been strengthened by mana. After the four sons consumed them, their effects indeed increased greatly. Tea master Zhong Boqi thus got rid of his hidden ailment and would not commit heinous crimes as in the original work.

The next morning, with three hours left until his return.

Lin Yu arrived at Tongbai Mountain in the Tiantai Mountain Range.

This mountain had been known as the dwelling place of Immortals since ancient times, with nine peaks encircling it and a clear stream flowing in front.

To its north were Jade Firmament and Xianglin, belonging to Huading, with a deep and long provenance and complete five elements. To the east, Wolong and Hualin peaks pierced the sky. To the west, Zixiao, Lianhua, and Cuiwei bowed their heads. To the south, Yunü and Yuquan were beautifully strange.

These nine mountain peaks rose and fell, shrouded in clouds and mist, truly appearing like the lofty and ethereal dwelling place of Immortals.

In its later peak period, Tongbai Mountain housed thirty-six palaces, seventy-two temples, and a total of one hundred and eight large and small Taoist temples. Many famous literati and inkmen had stopped here, leaving countless poems.

However, in this current era, Tongbai Mountain was far from reaching its historical peak.

Even the Tongbai Palace on Jade Firmament Peak had not yet been built. Only its predecessor, the Dharma Wheel Courtyard, built by the high Taoist Ge Xuan in the first year of Wu of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period, stood here.

Of course, this did not mean that famous Taoist temples had not yet appeared on Jade Firmament Peak.

In fact, for the past thirty years, one person had been living in seclusion here, cultivating the Tao and attracting many Taoist disciples.

The humble dwelling where this person lived in seclusion was known as the Jade Firmament Mountain Dwelling, the prototype of the future Grotto-Heaven Palace.

The Jade Firmament Mountain Dwelling was quite quiet in the early morning, with blue tiles and flying eaves half-hidden in the year-round mist.

The stone steps were mottled with moss. A lush phoenix tree stood in the courtyard. Beneath the tree, a spirited old Taoist was sitting cross-legged on a cushion, meditating quietly in the morning light and mist.

Unlike his peers who currently favored alchemy, the old Taoist, although a legitimate successor, was not passionate about the art of external elixirs.

Instead, he believed that the realm was created by the mind, and cultivating the Tao was cultivating the mind. Only by sitting and forgetting, concentrating the mind, focusing on stillness, and eliminating desires, and achieving a state of being free from dust and attachment to anything, could one transcend the mortal world...

A short while later, the old Taoist finished his morning practice and slowly opened his eyes under the phoenix tree.

Suddenly, his expression froze. He noticed that a young man in white had appeared in the courtyard at some unknown time.

This person stood tall and straight, with a handsome appearance. His black hair swayed slightly in the breeze, and his dark eyes were lowered, quietly reading a Taoist scripture in his hand.

Judging by his demeanor alone, this person was like the clouds and mist in the mountains, possessing a somewhat ethereal and transcendent quality.

The old Taoist was mesmerized for a moment before coming to his senses. He gazed intently at the young man.

"This Jade Firmament Mountain Dwelling is where I, this old Taoist, cultivate in seclusion. Who are you, and why have you entered without invitation?"

"..."

The young man in white raised his eyes, carefully examined the old Taoist, and then gestured to the Taoist scripture in his hand.

"Did you write this On Sitting and Forgetting?"

"...Indeed, it was I, this old Taoist."

The young man in white smiled slightly, his gaze shifting to the Taoist scripture, and he said leisurely, "The seven stages of sitting and forgetting—belief, severing ties, concentrating the mind, simplifying affairs, true observation, supreme tranquility, and attaining the Tao—have indeed come close to the art of the inner elixir!"

The art of the inner elixir?

The old Taoist was stunned upon hearing this. His eyes then lit up with brilliance, and a look of excitement appeared on his face, as if he had grasped some profound secret.

Seeing this, the young man in white, or rather Lin Yu, couldn't help but curl his lips.

External elixirs and inner elixirs were two different cultivation methods in Taoism. External elixirs originated from alchemy, referring to refining elixirs from external substances and consuming them for longevity. Inner elixirs, on the other hand, regarded the human body as a furnace and cauldron, and through cultivating the essence, qi, and spirit within the body, they were condensed into an elixir.

In the year of Jingyun, during the Tang Dynasty, the prevalent practice in the world was the harmful art of external elixirs.

As for the art of the inner elixir, it was currently only in its nascent stage. The person who promoted the formation of the inner elixir art and had a significant impact on later inner elixir theories was the old Taoist before Lin Yu—Sima Chengzhen!

This person was a descendant of Sima Kui, the Grand Astrologer of Cao Wei, and a great-grandson of Sima Yi, the Commander of Langya Commandery of Northern Zhou.

He came from a prominent family but had no interest in officialdom. He had apprenticed under the Taoist Pan Shizheng of Mount Song at a very young age, learning the Shangqing Sutra Methods and talismans.

After completing his studies, he bid farewell to his master and traveled to famous mountains. He eventually settled in Mount Tiantai, living in seclusion on Jade Firmament Peak. During this time, he wrote countless Daoist scriptures and founded the Shangqing Tiantai Sect. He is revered by later generations of Daoism as the twelfth patriarch of the Shangqing Sect.

This copy of On Sitting and Forgetting in Lin Yu's hand is one of Sima Chengzhen's most representative works and a milestone in Daoism's transition from external elixir techniques to inner elixir cultivation.

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

Despite the age difference, Sima Chengzhen cupped his hands in a respectful bow, his eyes shining as he gazed at Lin Yu.

Lin Yu smiled faintly and said leisurely, "The theory you've written is called Sitting and Forgetting, but it's actually 'sitting and galloping.' While it has the rudiments of an inner elixir, it's merely an elementary stage on the path to longevity. True methods of longevity should encompass both form and spirit, using the human body as a furnace and crucible to refine essence, qi, and spirit. Only then can the elixir be formed, allowing form and spirit to merge and achieve eternal life!"

"Form and spirit complete, refining into an elixir..."

Sima Chengzhen murmured to himself, as if a realization dawned within him.

A moment later, he came to his senses and said excitedly, "The Lingbao Sutra states, 'When body and spirit are one, it is the true body.' The Xisheng Sutra also describes, 'Form and spirit merge, thus achieving longevity!'"

"However, the Dao of the Void has varying depths. Deep practice benefits the form, while shallow practice only affects the mind. Those who benefit the form only gain their body, while those who benefit the mind only gain wisdom. I, this old Daoist, have cultivated for many years, yet I have only gained wisdom..."

"May I ask, fellow Daoist, do you have a method that achieves both?"

Meeting the old Daoist's excited and expectant gaze, Lin Yu's smile faltered slightly.

He had come to find Sima Chengzhen today for three reasons: to reveal his power, to offer guidance, and to leave some contingency plans in this world.

In his estimation, facing an expert as deeply versed in Daoism as Sima Chengzhen, a simple description of the inner elixir methods, which had yet to appear, should be enough for him to deduce the rest.

Who would have thought this fellow would be so bold as to ask him directly when he couldn't figure it out himself?

How was he supposed to answer?

Lin Yu felt a headache coming on. He had only just collected the Daoist scriptures today; he didn't truly understand them. How could he possibly answer?

...No choice but to bluff my way through for now!

Lin Yu thought to himself, but on the surface, he simply smiled without speaking.

Sima Chengzhen was first confused, then his expression cleared, and he said sternly, "It is said that a Dharma cannot be easily passed on, nor can the Dao be sold cheaply. However, you, fellow Daoist, came uninvited today, which is already impolite. Secretly perusing our temple's Daoist scriptures can be considered stealing knowledge, yet I do not hold it against you. I am willing to put aside past grievances and discuss the Dao with you, but is even that not permissible?"

"Haha!"

Lin Yu chuckled, speechless. "You old Daoist, you're truly amusing... Very well. Since I was impolite first, I shall tell you a little about it!"

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