Alchemy

The alchemy chamber was in the innermost part of Pure Void Temple, unlike the main hall up front, where worshippers often came and went.

In the afternoon, sunlight pierced the bamboo grove, illuminating the leaves until they gleamed. They swayed in the wind, scattering flecks of light everywhere. Compared to the noisy world outside, it was exceptionally tranquil. A stillness seemed to fill heaven and earth, and one could hear the sounds of all things.

Jiang She knew little about the Way of Alchemy.

The only thing alchemy brought to mind was the many emperors in history, as well as scholars and Daoist priests, who had become obsessed with immortality, studied esoteric arts, and died from taking poisonous pills.

But after dealing with this world for so long, witnessing that ghosts and spirits truly existed, and hearing many methods of alchemy and cultivation—

He had drawn connections and developed a few ideas of his own.

It was worth a try.

The alchemy chamber at Pure Void Temple was small, with only two tiny medicine furnaces set on a shelf. The young Daoist acolytes had been lazy when cleaning, and a thick layer of dust had already gathered.

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

The Old Temple Master leaned on his cane, standing at the doorway with the Earth Deity Mountain Master as they watched the expert choose.

He had expended a great deal of mental energy today. First, he had watched the temple's disciples perform a ritual; then he had sensed the arrival of this place's Mountain Master. After that, he had spoken at length with this unknown expert, learning the identity of the benefactor from his youth. His emotions had been stirred too greatly.

At his age, his spirits were already flagging, and he was beginning to feel tired.

The old Daoist asked, "The alchemy chamber at Pure Void Temple is rather small. Would you like to choose another ritual site and arrange your implements?"

"No need. This place is just fine."

Facing the furnace,

Jiang She did not light a fire or put in any metals, minerals, or ingredients needed for alchemy.

His mind was calm. Seated inside the chamber, he listened to the breathing of the mountains and wilderness.

And in a place invisible to mortals, the wind flowed. The azure qi between heaven and earth passed through the tips of every tree in the forest, through flowing streams and schools of fish, through wild deer, tigers, snakes and pythons, and apes and monkeys.

It swept past every worshipper, Daoist, woodcutter, and hunter on the mountain.

Even farther away, the Han River flowed through the city, and the azure qi hurried to answer the call.

Yuan Danqiu was talking with Daoist Lian Yue when he suddenly lifted his head and looked around, unsure what had happened.

The worshippers also murmured, "Hey, did you feel that gust of wind just now? It felt so refreshing."

And outside the alchemy chamber,

The Temple Master suddenly felt a gentle breeze blow over him, leaving his whole body refreshed, as if it had cleansed his very soul.

He looked toward the alchemy chamber, his mind filled with thoughts.

Beside him, the Earth Deity Mountain Demon, as the spirit of this place and lord of its mountains and rivers, felt it more deeply. He straightened his back and stared into the chamber, not missing a single movement of the immortal.

Jiang She sat cross-legged, eyes closed, listening to the breathing of this mountain and this city.

It was as though heaven and earth themselves had sensed the karmic bond, and, unwilling to be held back by thousands of mountains and rivers, had come from ten thousand miles away.

His body was one with heaven and earth; nothing was beyond his reach.

The Old Temple Master's words had given him inspiration. What if he abandoned metals and minerals, and used no medicinal herbs?

What if he used the sky as his cauldron and the earth as his furnace—

Gathering the azure qi of heaven and earth, harmonizing yin and yang—

Could he also form pills that way?

Jiang She sat in the alchemy chamber as a gentle breeze came of its own accord. The azure qi not only filled the tiny medicine furnace and the alchemy chamber, but nearly filled the entire mountain.

With every breath, his mind grew clear, his body and spirit free.

The Old Temple Master suddenly felt himself grow lighter, as if he were seeing the world clearly for the first time.

Birds chirped, and the wind stirred the forest.

The wilderness surged past.

Only by comparison did he realize how heavy his breath had been before.

He couldn't help asking, "This is..."

The Earth Deity slowly exhaled. Even the strands of his hair felt comfortable and refreshed. The turbid qi sank, and the clear qi rose.

The Earth Deity Mountain Demon said:

"The arts of the immortals. Today, you and I have witnessed them."

"To hear the Dao here, Master, you must look closely. This is a cultivation art one may not encounter in a lifetime."

The Old Temple Master couldn't help asking:

"Do mortals see it this way? Do immortals and gods think so too?"

The Earth Deity Mountain Demon sighed. "Compared with a true carefree immortal, one who has transcended the world and truly attained the Dao..."

"You and I are both babes just learning to speak on the path to the Dao. What difference is there between us?"

"To behold the Great Dao—what greater fortune could there be?"

The Earth Deity even felt a little embarrassed. A few days ago, at his initiation banquet, he had offered fine wine to the immortal and claimed it was worth a month of meditation. He had not been entirely free of pride at the time, and the immortal must have seen through it.

And now...

The azure qi between heaven and earth, the stirring vitality—

To say it would be worth three or five years' worth of cultivation would probably be an understatement.

After today, he wondered how many living things in this land would benefit greatly, and how many would attain the Dao in the years to come.

Inside the alchemy chamber, only the gentle breeze remained.

Jiang She opened his eyes. Sunlight poured into the chamber, brilliant and radiant. Even the air inside had turned pale azure. Bamboo leaves rustled outside the door, and withered leaves spun across the ground.

Heaven and earth fell still.

And in the furnace, nine pills lay quietly.

They shimmered azure, brimming with vitality.

That was what he had gained from this trip.

He thought for a moment, then rose and opened the door to ask the Temple Master for a few porcelain bottles.

The Old Temple Master was still dazed.

The Earth Deity tugged at him.

"We have some!"

As he spoke, his voice grew unusually cautious, tinged with bewilderment.

He hurried away.

By the time the Old Temple Master hurried back, barely half a quarter of an hour had passed. No one knew how quickly or urgently the aged Daoist had walked. Unsure what kind of bottles the immortal wanted, the Old Temple Master had simply grabbed every porcelain and jade bottle used for storing pills in the temple.

There were eight or nine bottles in all.

Jiang She couldn't help smiling faintly.

He put the pills into three bottles. Their bodies were perfectly round, and their medicinal properties neither dispersed nor faded. After a moment's thought, Jiang She beckoned, drawing the azure qi inside the chamber into the bottles. The azure spiritual liquid gathered without dispersing, each drop like a pearl, free of the slightest impurity.

There was more of this than there were pills; it took several bottles to hold it all.

When he had finished, Jiang She turned around and looked at the two men standing motionless outside like stone statues. He clasped his hands and said,

"Thank you, Master, for lending me this place."

The Old Temple Master abruptly came back to himself.

He dared not accept the bow and hurriedly moved aside.

Th-this...

So this was what the expert had meant by "trying it out" and "never having refined pills before"?

He had even been the one to tell the man how to refine pills, offer a few pointers, and share several pill formulas. Yet watching this extraordinary man refine pills just now, from start to finish, it had seemed like an entirely different thing.

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

He opened the door and walked out of the courtyard. Only then did he see the many Daoists gathered outside, too numerous to count at a glance. They had sensed the miraculous happening but hadn't dared enter and disturb him. They could only watch from afar, their hearts yearning to go inside.

The Old Deer Mountain God was among them. His beard and hair were completely white, and compared to the mortals who had no idea what was happening, he looked exceptionally composed.

He raised a hand in greeting to Jiang She, his expression complicated, and said with a smile,

"Your wondrous art has truly opened our eyes."

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

The Old Temple Master stood stunned for a moment.

In the crowd, Yuan Danqiu and Meng Haoran, who had come along with the Daoists to have a look, stared at the man in blue robes and were struck speechless. They didn't even hear Daoist Lian Yue calling to them beside them. Only after he nudged them several times did they come to their senses.

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

Yuan Danqiu murmured.

He had parted from Jiang She less than two hours ago. He had been talking with Daoist Lian Yue when he saw many Daoists hurry off toward some place.

Curious, Yuan Danqiu had set out with Meng Haoran and Daoist Lian Yue.

Listening to the people whispering and speculating, he learned that this was the alchemy chamber at Pure Void Temple, a place few people ever visited.

Alchemy...

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

Under everyone's gaze, Jiang She looked at the two standing with the Daoists and said,

"You two go on ahead. I'm afraid I'll be a little late getting back."