The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 81: Refining Equipment, Water and Fire Dao Monument

Lieyang Peak, Feihuo Palace.

Xuanming handled the refining materials himself.

Each piece is carefully selected.

Refining equipment is an ancient skill of cultivating immortals, which is divided into heavenly refining, earthly refining, five elements refining, etc. He had only practiced it when refining the peach wood sword and whisk. Later, he upgraded the grade of the two instruments by borrowing the power of thunder, which could barely be considered as a kind of heavenly refining.

Apart from this, he never refined any weapons again.

Therefore, Xuanming is self-aware and knows that although he has rich theoretical knowledge, his practical ability is relatively low and his foundation is weak. This time, he did not aim too high and started from the basic magical instruments.

After the materials were prepared, Xuanming sat cross-legged on the cushion and raised his hand to send a stream of magic power into the magic furnace in the middle.

When Master Qiuzhen was traveling in Daxuan, he passed by a crater and picked up a piece of spiritual iron by chance. The magic furnace was made of spiritual iron and was engraved with fire talismans, spirit gathering talismans, etc. After activation, it used magic power as firewood and could borrow the power of the earth fire to refine weapons.

The fire was blazing and the temperature in the room was rising rapidly. When the temperature was right, Xuanming spread out his palms and slightly raised his hand towards the materials. A piece of iron stone flew into the furnace. As the temperature got higher, another piece of iron stone was thrown in.

Refining equipment focuses on the temperature. After most of the materials are put in at different temperatures, the spiritual sense probes into it and feels that the spiritual materials are melted into liquid after being cooked and refined rapidly over high heat. Xuanming then lowers the temperature appropriately to attract the liquid in the furnace.

In order of the difference in properties, first bring similar objects closer together and fuse slowly, then other liquids. The process is slow, and the man is focused, careful and meticulous. After that, add the remaining spiritual materials, melt them into liquid, and continue to fuse them. When a mirror is formed, Xuanming gradually lowers the temperature, switches to a low fire to warm and seal it.

During this time, he raised his hands from time to time, made hand gestures, engraved runes, attracted inspiration, adjusted yin and yang, and coordinated the five elements.

The art of refining equipment is extensive and profound. It requires an understanding of yin and yang, the five elements, and talismans. Xuanming is an expert in this area with profound attainments. From a truth-seeking perspective, no one can match him.

This is also the confidence he has in refining weapons.

However, Xuan Ming was not careless, but became more focused. If he made a mistake in his area of expertise due to carelessness, resulting in failure in refining the weapon, it would be a huge loss of face.

Time passed slowly. Nine days later, the fire in the furnace went out, the magic furnace cooled down, the magic weapon glowed, and an Eight Trigrams mirror flew out of it and hovered in the air. The wind and thunder of heaven and earth, the water, fire and mountains, evolved into the wonderful images of the Eight Trigrams. Looking at the formed magic weapon, Xuanming smiled slightly.

He summoned the mirror and looked at it carefully. Because he had a deep understanding of the Eight Trigrams, he knew that this magic tool was far superior to similar tools. It was more sensitive and mysterious in exorcising evil spirits, circumventing danger, calculating geomancy, and detecting demons and ghosts.

---

In the quiet room, Xuanming put away the Bagua mirror and recovered his energy and spirit. Half a day later, he continued to refine the weapon.

He didn't know how long it took to refine the weapon. After entering Feiguang Palace for a month, when he recovered, he had already refined two Bagua mirrors and a Taoist stele. The time he spent was shorter and shorter, his efficiency was higher and higher, and his magic weapon was stronger and stronger.

In the process of summing up experience, learning lessons, and finding and filling in gaps, Xuanming's level of refining equipment improved by leaps and bounds.

After recovering his energy, he continued to refine the Dao Stele. Even though he had experience, Xuanming still did not dare to be careless. He focused and treated it with all his heart every time.

Processing materials, starting a furnace, melting spiritual stones with fierce fire, fusing spiritual fluid, shaping and finalizing, engraving runes...

After carving out the three magic arrays, he thought for a while, then raised his fingers to carve again. With the help of his spiritual perception, he added a restriction and switched to a low fire to nourish and refine the magic array.

Every evening and morning, Xuanming would calculate the auspicious time, wave his sleeves to open the skylight, let a ray of sunlight fall down, guide the yin and yang, rotate around the magic furnace, and temper the Dao stele.

This is his original creation of the weapon refining process. Only those who have built a superior Yin-Yang foundation can achieve this step. It is considered a further purification of the magic weapon. With meticulous craftsmanship, the power and inspiration of the magic weapon refined by Xuanming will be further improved and of superior quality.

Unfortunately, when he was refining the first Taoist stele, he had previous experience, his control over his magic power was more extreme, and he also found a gap between evening and early morning, so he dared to seize the opportunity and make bold attempts. The two Bagua mirrors had not been tempered by the Yin and Yang, and were indeed a little worse than the subsequent ones.

Seven days later, the fire in the furnace went out, and a magic weapon came into being. A Taoist stele hung in the air, shining brightly. A heavy meaning permeated the air. Xuanming waved his sleeves, and a magic formula was thrown into it.

This is a simplified version of the Yin-Yang Foundation Building Chapter: Water and Fire Foundation Building Chapter. If the former has an upper limit of ninth grade, which is the pinnacle of superior Dao foundation; the latter has an upper limit of seventh grade, which just reaches the baseline of superior Dao foundation.

The magic formula was injected, and strange visions appeared. Water and fire appeared at the same time. With the Taoist stele as the center, the air was divided into two by water and fire, which were clearly separated but also mutually inclusive, and finally disappeared.

---

After putting away his magic weapon, Xuanming stood up and walked out of the quiet room.

After refining the weapon for a month and a half, it was finally over. Standing in front of the Feihuo Palace, he looked up at the blue sky, the vast sky, the white clouds, and the sunshine shining on his body, making his body and mind warm and comfortable.

Footsteps were heard, and Xuan Yang hurried over after hearing the news. He was first surprised that Xuan Ming had successfully come out of seclusion, and then said: "I wonder what senior brother has refined during this retreat, can you let me see it?" Seeing Xuan Yang staring at him eagerly, his eight-foot body blocking the road and the warm sunlight, as if he was not going to leave unless he showed it, Xuan Ming's mouth twitched slightly.

Reaching out and pushing away this iron fool, the shadow retreated, the sun shone again, Xuanming squinted his eyes, and felt comfortable all over. No wonder old people like to bask in the sun. He didn't feel it deeply before, but now he feels that there is indeed something.

The winter dawn is like village wine, but the extraordinary warmth only lasts for a moment.

This is what you need when you go on a journey, but the lingering feelings are suddenly gone.

Ordinary days seem to exude a leisurely and comfortable aroma, lazy and warm.

It was just that a Taoist priest who looked like an iron tower next to him was a bit of an eyesore. Thinking that Xuanyang was not only addicted to alcohol but also obsessed with tools, Xuanming took out a Bagua mirror and threw it over.

Xuan Yang immediately took it with both hands. After carefully examining it, his eyes lit up: "Brother, your skill in refining this Bagua Mirror is almost catching up with mine."

Xuan Ming rolled his eyes at his silly junior brother who still couldn't speak, and reached out to take back the Bagua mirror. Unexpectedly, Xuan Yang was prepared and quickly dodged.

"Brother, for the sake of that jar of spirit wine, how about giving me this mirror?" Xuan Yang continued, "Chang Qingzi is out and about, and it is inevitable that he will encounter danger. With this mirror, he will be much safer, and it will save me the trouble of refining it. Anyway, you are in seclusion this time to refine the Dao Stele. This Bagua Mirror is dispensable to you. I will definitely tell Chang Qingzi that you care about the younger generation."

Xuanming was not surprised that Xuanyang suddenly complimented him, because this junior brother would become clever and smart whenever he encountered something related to Changqingzi.

However, Xuan Yang's words made sense. Xuan Ming's heart moved, and he took out another Bagua mirror, threw it to Xuan Yang, and instructed: "Give one to Chang Anzi as well. If the other two disciples need it, remember to borrow it."

After saying this, Xuanming walked away.

Looking at the two Bagua mirrors, Xuan Yang was surprised: "Two Bagua mirrors! In just one and a half months, you have refined three magic tools!"

To refine three magic weapons with guaranteed quality and quantity, even if he tried his best, it would take at least one and a half months. To get to this point, Xuan Yang had spent more than thirty years, while his senior brother had only been in the Tao for more than three years.

Even though this senior brother has a high level of comprehension, deep attainments in Taoism, and profound attainments in formations and talismans, and is able to know everything, he is still a bit discouraging.

Xuanming did not explain, as some of his words sounded long-winded. In the final analysis, refining weapons was the same as practicing cultivation, which was to regulate yin and yang. It was a different path to the same end, except that one shifted from internal to external cultivation. It was because he understood this that he made rapid progress.

After walking a few dozen steps, he saw the century-old tree that once stored wine in the distance. Xuanming said as he walked:
"I refined four pieces this time, not three!"

Lingjue caught a glimpse of Xuanyang's expression of doubt about life, and Xuanming was in a good mood. As for the matter of the spiritual wine, he did not explain. No matter what he said, it would be like trying to cover up the truth.

In front of the Feihuo Palace, Xuan Yang's eyes widened in disbelief. After calming down a little, his lips trembled and he hesitated several times. He estimated that his senior brother had already left Lieyang Peak, and finally couldn't help but complain: "Childish!"

Hey!
A head popped down from the sky.

Xuan Yang felt pain and his forehead swelled up.

"Brother, I know I was wrong."

At the foot of Lieyang Peak, looking at Xuanyang who had turned into a giant Antarctic Immortal, Xuanming's mouth curled up and his hands no longer itched.

Do you really think the Taoist's Bagua mirror is so easy to get?

If not... the wine tasted really good, he would have been able to turn this cheap junior brother into a three-headed dragon.

After walking a few steps, Xuan Ming waved his sleeves backwards, and a bottle of spiritual sore medicine appeared in front of Xuan Yang. He, who was originally in pain, suddenly grinned.

---

Returned to Zangdao Peak and entered the Wendao Academy.

Xuanming was sleeping soundly on the bed.

The sun rose and the moon set, the setting sun and the bright moon, and it was not until three days later that he woke up. He stood up and stretched, feeling full of energy, back in shape, and refreshed.

Without going to the Sutra Repository or touring Floating Cloud Mountain, Xuanming ate the spiritual food to fill his stomach, then sat cross-legged on the cushion, calming his mind. He sank his mind into his lower dantian and gazed at the microscopic world beyond the world.

(End of this chapter)