Exploring the Depths of Azure Water
Su Yao and his companions entered the secret realm.
In an instant, heaven and earth changed.
Su Yao looked around. There was neither sun nor moon within the secret realm, yet it was flooded with light.
At its very center stood a mountain, with a palace atop it.
The rest of the realm was a forest, shaded by green trees.
"Let's go."
Su Yao withdrew his gaze and looked at the other two, then mounted Clear Breeze and flew toward the mountain in the center.
Flying above the forest, they could see turquoise pools and ponds scattered among the trees, with clear springs flowing between them.
Looking at the turquoise pools, Li Siyi said:
"When we first entered the secret realm and saw the forest and mountain, there was really no telling it was a secret realm of the Gui Water path. Not until we saw these turquoise pools, clear ponds, and clear springs."
Flying ahead, Su Yao said with a smile:
"Gui Water favors azure. On earth, it is clarity, ponds, pools, springs, and dew; in heaven, it is the evening rain. In water, it is the transformation between clarity and turbidity. In the human path, it is submersion and inundation."
Hearing this, Liu Yunhe asked in puzzlement:
"The five virtues cycle in turn, and the Azure Emperor follows the Black Emperor. Thus, wood is born of water. But after Gui Water takes on the human path, it becomes fierce and swift. Even its pools, ponds, and springs are unsuitable for nourishing wood. Yet there are so many towering trees in this secret realm. Could it be..."
Su Yao shook his head.
"You have a point. Though wood is born of water, Gui is water of clarity and turbidity. Once it takes on the human path, it becomes fierce and swift, inundating and destroying all things. Whether in springs, ponds, or pools, it carries a trace of that destructive intent. How could it nourish wood?
"Only by harmonizing the clear, numinous aspects of Gui Water, such as pools, springs, and dew, making it still and able to contain emptiness, and removing its human-path intent of submersion and inundation, can it moisten wood and bring it to life.
"In the outside world, the Supreme Ultimate and the Two Aspects are in place, harmonizing yin and yang, so this does not manifest there. But in this secret realm, there is neither sun nor moon, yet light shines everywhere. That is because the formations here harmonize yin and yang, keeping Gui Water from becoming turbid, inundating, or submerging. Thus the clear springs flow endlessly, the turquoise pools never dry, and the clear ponds never rise, allowing the great trees to flourish. Moreover, Gui Water favors azure, and azure is the color of wood. Water moistens and wood grows; wood comes into being and water lies hidden. That is why there are many pools in the forest and many trees beside the pools. They give rise to and nourish one another, nurturing spiritual resources, spiritual objects, and the like of the Gui Water path. Such is the wonder of this secret realm."
Behind him, Liu Yunhe and Li Siyi fell silent for a long time after hearing Su Yao's words. Finally, they exchanged a glance and said in unison:
"Though the Dao Child has not cultivated this path, your attainments in it are profound."
Su Yao did not turn around, but smiled and said:
"Nothing much happens in the mountains. In my spare time, when I brewed wine from pine blossoms and made tea with spring water, I simply read a few extra Daoist scriptures."
Yet he was full of doubt. In the Gui Water secret realms he knew of, clear ponds surged, turquoise pools rippled, clear springs babbled, or azure rain drifted down.
A scene like this was indeed rare-or rather, it ought never to be seen at all.
He paused, then looked at the other two and said:
"Let's hurry."
With that, he sped ahead.
Seeing this, the two behind him hurried to follow.
Up ahead, Su Yao appeared calm, but inwardly he was astonished.
For no other reason than that, ever since he had entered the secret realm, the prism in his Qi sea had been flickering constantly.
It was just like what had happened when he had encountered Little Red and Little Orange.
That meant there was a suitable variant being of heaven and earth in this secret realm.
If he refined it into his third talisman, he could quickly cultivate the Secret Method, then go on to raise and elevate the yang, forge a Divine Ability, and attain the Purple Mansion.
Only for fear of showing something amiss did he suppress his excitement and proceed at a normal pace.
A cup of tea later, the three people and two birds arrived at the foot of the mountain in the center.
Su Yao could sense that the prism was guiding him into this mountain.
Formations covered the mountain, and the group came to a halt.
Then, under the gazes of the two people and two birds, Su Yao took out the token.
Su Yao poured his Law Power into it, and the token suddenly blazed with light. A clear, cold voice issued from it, resounding throughout the secret realm:
"Gui Water contains emptiness; the Zhongnan token opens the way.
"Clarity and turbidity divided, springs surge and pools run clear.
"Where Rainbow Clouds shine, let this mystical court be opened."
Then azure rain fell from the sky.
An azure barrier appeared over the mountain. The next moment, the rain touched it, and a small door swung open before Su Yao and the other two.
The group entered.
They then headed up the mountain.
At the mountainside, they came upon a hall. Two characters were written on the plaque above it:
"Azure Water."
Su Yao raised a hand in a gesture, and the group entered the hall one after another.
Once inside, Su Yao quickly scanned his surroundings. The hall was empty, containing nothing beyond its usual furnishings.
Without another word, he turned and headed toward the rear.
Leaving the main hall, he came to the rear hall and immediately spotted the Alchemy Chamber in the distance. The prism was guiding him there, so he looked at the other two.
"Let's take a look in the Alchemy Chamber first."
The two acknowledged him and quickly followed.
They entered the Alchemy Chamber.
Su Yao looked over and saw a bronze Pill Furnace standing inside.
Beneath the Pill Furnace was a spiritual flame. The fire was bewitching but not gaudy, bright but neither dazzling nor eye-catching.
Even from a distance, Su Yao could feel the searing heat within the fire.
"Th-this... what fire is this?" Liu Yunhe stammered.
After a pause, Liu Yunhe added:
"This fire is no worse than the Fallen Sun Joined Hearts Si Fire from before."
Li Siyi nodded in agreement and said:
"But this fire looks like Radiant Fire. Why would anyone use Radiant Fire to refine pills?"
Su Yao was equally puzzled. It was clearly Radiant Fire, which was well suited to refining artifacts but could not produce pills. Yet from the look of things, it was being used to refine pills.
After thinking for a while, he thought of the wood and this secret realm, and it suddenly became clear to him:
"So that's how it is. So that's how it is."
Hearing this, Li Siyi asked:
"Please enlighten us, Dao Child."
Su Yao smiled and said:
"Radiant Fire is the transformation of fire, and its nature is fierce. Thus, Radiant Fire can produce artifacts, but not pills."
He paused.
"This secret realm was created through the Gui Water path. Long ago, a demon sage of the Radiant Fire path was slain by a Gui Water True Lord. Moreover, Radiant Fire has taken on the human path, yet the principles of the five elements' mutual generation and subjugation still hold. When Radiant Fire enters this Gui Water secret realm, its fierce nature is subdued by Gui Water, and its flames greatly diminish. With its fierceness gone and its flames weakened, it lacks the strength to refine either pills or artifacts. But..."
Su Yao turned around and looked at the vast expanse of verdant forest outside the Alchemy Chamber. Slowly, he said:
"Jia Wood towers to the heavens in this secret realm. The fierceness of Radiant Fire was originally subdued by Gui Water-its fierce nature vanished, and its flames weakened.
"Yet Jia Wood can give rise to fire, and Jia Wood in turn draws on Gui Water as its source.
"Water moistens wood, wood gives rise to fire, fire refines pills, and when the pills are complete, the water's essence is concealed within them and returns to Gui Water.
"Thus, though Gui Water subdues Radiant Fire, it does not sever its life force. Instead, it changes fierceness to warmth and violence to gentleness.
"Gui Water gives rise to Jia Wood, and Jia Wood gives rise to Radiant Fire. With the aid of Jia Wood, Radiant Fire's flames are revived, yet its nature is no longer as fierce as before. It becomes a gentle, enduring fire.
"Use this fire to refine pills, together with the moisture of Gui Water and the Qi of Jia Wood, and water and fire complement each other, bringing the Dao of Alchemy to fruition."
He paused, then looked back at the bronze Pill Furnace and continued:
"These pills are not refined by fire alone, nor formed by water alone. Gui Water moistens their substance, Jia Wood courses through them as Qi, and Radiant Fire transforms their shape. The three cycle and give rise to one another without end, producing a furnace of spiritual pills. This is precisely where the wonder of this secret realm's workings lies."
Liu Yunhe and Li Siyi both looked on in admiration.
Li Siyi said softly:
"Dao Child, your explanation has cleared away the thatch that blocked our understanding."