The Way of the Outer Elixir

"Dong..."

A bell chimed from the Taoist temple.

Lin Jue quickly got out of bed and pushed open his door.

As expected, his junior sister, who had joined the temple at the same time as him, hadn't remembered where the dining hall was. But she was smart; she was standing quietly by his door waiting for him.

As soon as she saw him, she subtly glanced at him:

"Senior Brother, it's time to eat..."

"Hm? Yes, it's time to eat, let's go."

Although Lin Jue looked about the same age as the young girl, he was actually older. He wouldn't let such a young girl feel nervous, and he had a good impression of her from their journey. So, he smiled at her and led the way.

The dining hall was a room in a corner of the outer courtyard. Because Tianweng Hall stood between them, the kitchen was in another corner. As they walked over, they saw senior brothers carrying large basins of food toward the dining hall.

Both of them were new here. Regardless of whether their minds were settled, they were definitely a bit unaccustomed to things and didn't know what to do for a moment.

"Go and sit down."

The senior brother's expression was quite gentle.

The two then went into the dining hall and sat down.

The dining hall was neither large nor small. There were several long wooden tables, presumably for guests. Two wooden tables were pushed together in the middle to form a longer table, and the food was all laid out on it.

There were a total of nine disciples in the temple, sitting on both sides of the long table. The Cloud Crane Taoist sat alone at the head of the table.

Lin Jue couldn't help but examine the food on the table.

The junior sister also subtly glanced at it.

The temple's meals were simple, but not crude.

There was no big fish or meat, but there was a pot of rice. Although the rice was cooked to be half-dry and not watery, it was still better than what most households below the mountain could afford. In addition, there were only two side dishes: one was boiled cabbage, with faint traces of oil visible on it, and the other was stir-fried wild vegetables with eggs. Both dishes were served in large porcelain basins.

"I'll serve the rice."

The eldest senior brother, sitting closest to the rice basin, voluntarily got up to serve the rice.

Soon, a bowl of rice was placed before each person.

It looked alright.

This was related to their growth over the next few years.

"Eat, eat, eat..."

With a command from the old Taoist, everyone picked up their bowls.

Lin Jue waited for them to pick up their chopsticks first. He secretly looked around, seeing that no one was holding back and there seemed to be no other etiquette, but rather a casual atmosphere. Only then did he relax and pick up his chopsticks.

He first took a piece of cabbage and put it in his mouth.

"..."

Well! People below the mountain couldn't afford salt and saved every meal. This Taoist temple was quite extravagant!

Lin Jue didn't say anything and lowered his head, shoveling a large mouthful of rice into his mouth.

Then he took a bite of the stir-fried wild vegetables with eggs.

"..."

These wild vegetables were not wujia pi (Aralia elata), nor were they any wild vegetables Lin Jue recognized. They were soft when eaten and not very suitable for stir-frying with eggs. Like most wild vegetables that were not properly prepared, they tasted bitter.

Lin Jue didn't say anything.

Times were like this--

Iron pots had only recently appeared. Before that, there were no stir-fried dishes. Except for some inns and restaurants that specialized in selling food and wine, and wealthy families with cooks, there weren't many people who could cook delicious food. Moreover, most families at this time had trouble eating their fill. They dug up whatever wild vegetables they could find on the mountain, regardless of the taste.

It was already very good to be able to eat these at the Taoist temple.

Lin Jue glanced at the opposite side again.

The junior sister, just as he had observed others, had made him her object of observation. Seeing that he was eating casually, she cautiously began to follow his example.

However, she was very satisfied with her meal.

"Don't just eat rice. Take some side dishes, eat some eggs. These eggs are from the chickens we raise ourselves, and there are plenty of them. We can't finish them, so don't be shy." The sixth senior brother saw that Lin Jue and the junior sister were only eating rice and knew they were too embarrassed to take side dishes, so he called out to them.

"Understood, Senior Brother."

"Understood, Senior Brother!"

Lin Jue couldn't help but glance at the young girl opposite him.

"The rule in our temple is that besides Master, we take turns cooking, changing every month. It happens to be my turn this month," said the sixth senior brother. "You two are lucky. If it weren't my turn, some of them would have just given you a pot of boiled wild vegetables. If you encountered the third senior brother, he would either forget to cook or mix wine into your rice. Cherish this month when your sixth senior brother is cooking."

"..."

Lin Jue couldn't help but glance at this sixth senior brother.

"Can you two cook?"

"Yes."

"Will... will not..."

"It's Old Seventh's turn to cook next month, and the month after that, it'll be Lin Jue's turn. By then, you should both be familiar with the Daoist temple. It's fine if you don't know how to cook; your senior brothers don't either. Just being able to boil something is enough."

"Got it."

"Go-got it..."

Dinner was eaten relatively cleanly.

Lin Jue had been pondering which of the seven Spells he should cultivate first and which one to focus on. Since he didn't understand them well, he first sought out his second senior brother, who specialized in alchemy.

"Younger brother, what is it?"

"Second Senior Brother, I don't know what to learn. I'd like to ask for your guidance on the methods of alchemy first."

"No need to be polite."

The second senior brother seemed to be a man of few words, which was evident from his demeanor. He simply nodded, his face showing no particular expression.

The two walked in the night.

A crescent moon hung in the sky.

"Did Master ever tell you that in ancient times, cultivators in the human world primarily focused on alchemy?"

"He did."

"And you also know the difference between Outer Elixirs and Inner Elixirs?"

"Roughly."

"Then I won't say more." Second Senior Brother Yan Xuanyi nodded. "In ancient times, cultivators sought divine abilities through alchemy, sought longevity through alchemy, and sought immortality through alchemy. Nowadays, most people believe that cultivators' alchemy only serves to heal the sick, help others, and increase Cultivation. At most, they've heard legends of a Golden Elixir that grants immortality with just one pill. In reality, none of that is entirely accurate."

"Please guide me, Senior Brother."

Lin Jue was naturally eager to learn and listened intently.

"Everyone practiced alchemy in ancient times, so Outer Elixir was naturally a great path, not a minor one. The Spiritual Law School that came later also had similarities with the ancient Outer Elixir School. Alchemy draws from heaven and earth, and Spells also draw from heaven and earth. It can be said that alchemy could achieve what cultivation and Spells could do back then."

When discussing his primary cultivation method, even the second senior brother became a bit more animated:

"For example, cultivation can lead to immortality and longevity, and alchemy can also... You must have heard the legends from ancient times about someone who ascended to immortality or gained longevity after consuming a Golden Elixir, right?"

"I have indeed heard them."

"Or, for example, if you learn a Five Elements Magic to allow you to burrow into the ground, there's also a pill that, when consumed, allows you to burrow into the ground. If there's a Spell that lets you breathe fire, or a Spell that reverses aging, there's also a pill in the world that, when consumed, allows you to breathe fire or reverse aging."

"Is it truly that miraculous?"

"Outer Elixir came first, then Inner Elixir, and only after that came Spiritual Law," the second senior brother said. "The two have similarities and differences, but unfortunately, Outer Elixir gradually declined, and Inner Elixir retreated into the deep mountains. Over time, it became less prosperous than the Spiritual Law School. Consequently, more and more new Spells emerged that alchemy could not replicate, because Spells constantly evolved while Outer Elixir stagnated. Not only did it stagnate, but ancient pill formulas were also increasingly lost."

"So that's how it is."

"It's a pity we are a Daoist temple of the Spiritual Law School. Although I also study alchemy, I don't have the complete knowledge. Our founder left behind five pill formulas, and over the years, we've collected only a little over ten."

The second senior brother looked at Lin Jue as he spoke:

"Besides that, I am also proficient in Fire Element Magic, which complements alchemy, and I understand the methods of 'Eating' and 'Gathering'."

"Fire Element Magic?"

"Alchemy requires fire, after all. However, you haven't started cultivating Spiritual Law yet. After you begin cultivating Spiritual Law and gain some Cultivation, you can then study Five Elements Magic."

"Then when can I cultivate Spiritual Law?"

"No need to rush. Eldest Senior Brother will teach you. If anyone is in a hurry, it should be Master, more than you," the second senior brother said calmly. "It's just that you can't start learning it right away, nor can you only learn Spiritual Law."

"Why not?"

"In that case, wouldn't you only know the technique but not the underlying principle?" The second senior brother glanced at him faintly.

"Only know the technique but not the principle..."

Lin Jue murmured, his expression becoming serious.

"I heard from Master that you've practiced the Qi Nourishing Method for a few years. If you've made up your mind and want to learn alchemy, I can teach you other aspects of alchemy first, then teach you swallowing and gathering. Once you cultivate magical power and learn Fire Element Magic, I'll teach you how to refine pills," the second senior brother said, adding a reminder, "Oh, right. Although you can't start learning Spiritual Law now, you can continue practicing the Qi Nourishing Method you already know. Your attainments and Cultivation in the Qi Nourishing Method will then carry over to Spiritual Law."

"Thank you, Second Senior Brother."

"Is there anything else?"

"There is..."

"What is it?"

"Master and I went to the Mountain Lord's banquet, and I accidentally obtained an Earth Wood Essence along the way," Lin Jue said, pulling out the Earth Wood Essence from his embrace. He looked a little embarrassed. "It's said to have some effect just by carrying it, but its effects are even better when refined into a pill. So, I wanted to ask Second Senior Brother how to refine it."

"It's just a Five Elements essence. It's nothing more than extracting Spiritual Charm. If you want to refine it into a pill for consumption, just give it to me. I'll tinker with it for you when I have some free time."

"Then I'll trouble you, Second Senior Brother."

"Don't be so formal."

The second senior brother's expression remained calm. He took Lin Jue's Earth Wood Essence and turned to leave, heading towards his quarters in the night. A calm voice drifted back:

"We are a small temple with not many people. It's just us brothers staying together all day, so there's really no need for so much formality."

"Understood."

Lin Jue stood still.

A few cats and dogs on the ground looked up at him curiously.

He suddenly felt fortunate to have chosen this place.

Returning to his room, he pondered sleep.

Although it was the height of summer, it was still cool in the mountains. Once night fell, it was so quiet that one could hear the calls of distant wild beasts and birds. It was serene and conducive to sleep.

He was woken up by his Senior Brother in the early morning.

His Senior Brother called Lin Jue and his Junior Sister to the Mountain Moving Hall. At this time, there were only the three of them in the hall. He gave each of them a scripture and told them to recite it.

Lin Jue had seen this book before—

It was the Yin Yang Scripture.

"Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will become clear. For the first month, you will each recite the Yin Yang Scripture once every morning."

His Senior Brother's words were similar to his Second Senior Brother's. The Floating Hill Temple cultivated Yin Yang spiritual methods. The essence of the Great Way of Yin Yang was the Dao itself, while the Yin Yang spiritual methods were merely techniques. Therefore, before learning the spiritual methods, they were made to recite the Yin Yang Scripture first.

Lin Jue figured this must be the Floating Hill Temple's morning routine.

Without further ado, Lin Jue began to read.

"Heaven gives birth to the Five Qi, Earth bears Yin and Yang. Day and night alternate, seasons cycle, all are the way of Yin Yang..."

As Lin Jue read, he noticed there was no sound beside him.

He turned his head to look—

His Junior Sister was holding the Yin Yang Scripture, sitting on a meditation cushion. Her delicate, fair face was filled with confusion, and her eyes didn't know where to look.

She looked at the book, then at Lin Jue.

Then she looked back at their Senior Brother.

"What? Oh! You can't read?" Their Senior Brother finally understood.

"..."

"It's alright. Since you can't read, you can go back and rest for now," their Senior Brother said. "Someone will teach you to read in a couple of days. Don't worry, you can start after you learn to read."

"Mm..."

His Junior Sister could only nod and put down the book.

"Go back and rest."

However, his Junior Sister refused to leave. She remained seated there, glancing at Lin Jue. "I want to listen to Junior Brother read..."

"Very well."

Their Senior Brother did not object.

A desire to learn was always a good thing.

Lin Jue didn't mind and continued reciting.

"Heaven gives birth to the Five Qi, Earth bears Yin and Yang. Day and night alternate, seasons cycle, all are the way of Yin Yang..."

He paused as he read and looked back.

The young girl still looked very confused.

"It means that Heaven gives birth to five kinds of Qi, and the Earth carries the alternation of Yin and Yang. Hmm, this part is probably a parallel structure, meaning both Heaven and Earth have five kinds of Qi, with the alternation of Yin and Yang, the changes of day and night, and the cycle of seasons all being the way of Yin Yang..."

He then continued with the next sentence.

The young girl sat on the meditation cushion, listening intently, with clear emotion of being moved and ashamed on her face.