Alchemy

The alchemy room was located in the innermost part of Pure Void Temple, far from the front halls where incense-bearing visitors often came and went.

In the afternoon, sunlight pierced through the bamboo grove, illuminating the leaves until they shone brilliantly, swaying in the wind and scattering shards of light. Compared to the clamor outside, it was exceptionally tranquil, as if heaven and earth held a stillness, allowing one to hear the voices of all things.

Jiang She knew nothing of the alchemy path.

Anything related to pill refinement only reminded him of the many emperors throughout history, or literati and Daoists who obsessed over immortality, studied esoteric arts, and died from poisoning after consuming elixirs.

But after spending time with this realm of heaven and earth, witnessing the truth of ghosts and spirits, and hearing many methods of alchemy and cultivation.

Drawing inferences from analogies, he began to form some ideas.

It was worth a try.

Pure Void Temple's alchemy room was not large, with only two small medicine furnaces placed on shelves. The young acolyte had been lazy when cleaning, and a thick layer of dust had already accumulated.

Jiang She brushed his hand lightly over them and picked out a bronze furnace with an antique charm.

The Old Temple Master leaned on his staff, standing at the doorway together with the Earth Deity Mountain Master, watching the exalted one make his selection.

He had expended considerable mental energy today—first observing his temple's disciples set up an altar and perform rites, then sensing the imminent arrival of this mountain's master, and finally conversing at length with this exalted person of unknown origin, learning the identity of his childhood benefactor. His mind had been greatly shaken.

Being advanced in years and already lacking in vitality, he had grown somewhat weary.

The old Daoist asked, "My Pure Void Temple's alchemy room is rather small. Does the gentleman require another site, perhaps one arranged with ritual implements?"

"No need. This place is fine."

Facing the furnace.

Jiang She did not first light a fire, nor did he place in any metals, minerals, or materials needed for alchemy.

His heart was very calm. He sat in the room, listening to the breath of the wilderness.

And in places invisible to mortal eyes, the wind currents flowed, and the azure qi of heaven and earth passed through the tips of every tree leaf in the forest, through the flowing streams and the fish within, through the wild deer and Fierce Tiger, the Snake Python and monkeys.

It brushed past every incense-burner, Daoist, woodcutter, and hunter on the mountain.

Even further away, where the Han River cut through the city, the azure qi hurried to arrive.

Yuan Danqiu was speaking with Lian Yue when he suddenly lifted his head, looking left and right, unsure of what was happening.

The incense-burners also murmured, "Hey, did you feel that gust of wind just now? It felt strangely comfortable."

And before the alchemy room.

The Temple Master only felt a sudden breeze blow past, refreshing his entire body and penetrating to his heart and spleen.

He gazed toward the alchemy room, various thoughts churning in his mind.

Beside him, the Earth Deity Mountain Demon, as the spirit of this place and master of the mountains and rivers, felt it even more deeply. He straightened his back, his gaze fixed straight into the room, not missing a single movement of the immortal.

Jiang She sat in lotus position, eyes closed, listening to the breath of this mountain and this city.

As if this realm of heaven and earth also responded to karmic fate, unwilling to spare a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers, coming from afar to attend.

His body was one with heaven and earth, nowhere uncontained.

The Old Temple Master's words had inspired him. What if he abandoned metals and minerals, forsook herbs and plants?

Pure and simply take heaven as the tripod, earth as the furnace.

Gather the azure qi of heaven and earth, harmonize yin and yang.

Could pills still be formed?

Jiang She sat in the alchemy room, and the clear wind came of itself. The azure qi not only filled the small medicine furnace, not only filled the alchemy room, but nearly filled this entire mountain.

With each breath, his mind grew clear, his body and heart free.

The Old Temple Master suddenly felt lighter all over, as if seeing this world clearly for the first time.

Birds chirped, wind blew through the forest.

The wilderness surged past in waves.

In comparison, he realized how clumsy and heavy his own breathing had been before.

He couldn't help but say, "This is..."

The Earth Deity slowly exhaled a breath. Even the strands of his hair felt comfortable and refreshed, turbid qi sinking, clear qi floating.

The Earth Deity Mountain Demon said:

"The art of immortals. You and I, we have witnessed it today."

"Here, hearing the Dao, Temple Master, please observe carefully. This is a method of the Dao rarely encountered in a lifetime."

The Old Temple Master couldn't help asking:

"Mortals feel this way. Do immortals and gods think the same?"

The Earth Deity Mountain Demon sighed: "Compared to such a true wanderer beyond the world, one who has truly attained the Dao."

"You and I are but babes learning to babble on the path of seeking the Dao. What difference is there between us?"

"To glimpse the Great Dao—how fortunate is this?"

The Earth Deity even felt somewhat ashamed. A few days ago, at his feast of entering the Dao, he had offered the immortal fine wine, boasting that it could replace a month of seated meditation. At the time, he had not been without thoughts of self-pride, and the immortal must have seen through it.

And now...

This azure energy between heaven and earth, teeming with life.

I fear even saying three or five years... would be an understatement.

Who knows how many living beings on this land will be greatly blessed after today, and in days to come, how many will attain the Dao?

Within the alchemy chamber, only a room full of clear breeze remained.

Jiang She opened his eyes. Sunlight streamed into the room, radiant and brilliant. The air inside was tinged with pale azure. Outside the door, bamboo leaves rustled, and withered leaves spun in circles on the ground.

Heaven and earth were utterly still.

And in the alchemy furnace, nine pills lay quietly.

They shimmered with azure, brimming with vitality.

This was the harvest of this trip.

He thought for a moment, then rose and pushed open the door to ask the temple master to borrow a few porcelain bottles.

The Old Temple Master was still in a daze.

The Earth Deity tugged at him.

"I have them!"

When he spoke, his voice was unconsciously solemn, tinged with bewilderment.

He hurried away.

By the time the Old Temple Master returned, only half a quarter of an hour had passed—who knew how fast and urgently the aged Daoist had moved? Not knowing what kind of vessel the immortal wanted, he simply grabbed all the porcelain and jade bottles used for storing pills in the temple.

Eight or nine bottles in total.

Jiang She couldn't help but smile faintly.

He filled three bottles with the pills, their bodies perfectly round, the medicinal properties neither dissipating nor fading. Jiang She thought for a moment, then beckoned with his hand, drawing the azure energy from the room into the bottles. The azure spiritual liquid condensed without dispersing, dripping like pearls, untouched by dust or filth.

This yielded more than the pills; it took several bottles to finish storing it all.

Having done this, Jiang She turned back and looked at the two people standing like stone statues outside the door, motionless. He cupped his hands and said, "Many thanks to the temple master for lending me this place."

The Old Temple Master snapped back to reality.

He dared not accept the salute and hastily stepped aside.

This... this...

Was this what the exalted one meant by "wanting to give it a try" and "never having refined pills before"?

Even the basics of alchemy, some precautions, and a few formulas—this old Daoist had told him. But watching this extraordinary man refine pills from afar, from start to finish, it seemed like an entirely different craft.

Jiang She tucked the pills and spiritual liquid into his sleeve.

He pushed open the door and stepped out of the courtyard, only to see beyond it many Daoists standing—too many to count at a glance. All had sensed the marvel but dared not approach to disturb, merely watching from afar, their hearts yearning.

The Old Deer Mountain God was also among the crowd, his hair and beard pure white, appearing especially at ease compared to the mortals who had no idea what had happened.

He raised his hand in greeting to Jiang She, his expression complex, and smiled.

"Sir's wondrous methods have truly opened our eyes."

He stroked his beard. "The people of Xiang Prefecture are indeed blessed..."

The Old Temple Master stood frozen in a daze.

Among the crowd, Yuan Danqiu and Meng Haoran, who had come with the Daoists to gawk, stared at the azure-robed high master, speechless. They couldn't even hear the calls of Lian Yue beside them until they were pushed a few times before snapping back to reality.

"It's actually Mr. Jiang..."

Yuan Danqiu murmured.

He had parted from Jiang She only two hours ago. While speaking with Lian Yue, he saw many Daoists hastily leaving, heading toward some place.

Yuan Danqiu, fond of the extraordinary, brought Meng Haoran and Lian Yue along.

Listening to the crowd's whispers and discussions, he learned this was the Pure Void Temple's alchemy chamber, rarely visited.

Alchemy...

Mr. Jiang had said he didn't know how to refine pills.

Amid the gazes of the crowd, Jiang She looked at the two standing with the Daoists and said, "You two go on ahead. I'm afraid Jiang will be returning a bit later."