Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 147 Pills (Part 2)

After returning to his residence, Lü Shang went back to his villa and slowly took out the "Treatise on the Profound Mystery of the Dragon and Tiger Golden Elixir" given to him by Qingxiazi Su Xuanlang, and began to read it.

Although Yang Jian intended to send Lü Shang to govern Liangzhou, the matter had not been drafted by the Inner Secretariat or reviewed by the Chancellery. Before these two departments had taken charge, the Ministry of Personnel could not issue Lü Shang official robes and seals. Therefore, it would take some time before Lü Shang actually took office in Liangzhou.

Lü Shang also planned to take advantage of this rare free time to rest his mind, cultivate his character, and calm his thoughts.

Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting a golden glow on the walnut table.

Lü Shang gently stroked the "Treatise on the Profound Meaning of the Dragon and Tiger Golden Elixir," looking at the opening chapter.

"Heaven and earth are vast and ancient, and sages emulate them. Their essence resides in the sun and moon, and their movement is governed by water and fire. Therefore, one must cultivate both nature and life, and unite the inner and outer worlds."

As his fingertips traced the plain silk, Lü Shang silently recited the scriptures, pausing as if struck by a profound realization, especially at the last line, "cultivating both body and mind, unifying inner and outer."

Then, his gaze swept over the entire text on the silk, immersing himself in it.

This "Treatise on the Profound Mystery of the Dragon and Tiger Golden Elixir" differs from the "Secret Formula of the Golden Flower of the Ancestor of Fuli" in its subtlety, profundity, and hidden secrets. The entire text discusses furnaces, medicines, and the timing of fire, and talks about forming a sacred embryo, creating an inner elixir, and cultivating longevity. It compares the body and mind to a dragon and tiger cauldron, and uses external alchemical terms such as the five metals and eight stones to explain the function of Kan and Li, lead and mercury in the body.

If Lü Shang were to follow Su Xuanlang's path of internal alchemy, he could achieve considerable success in the field solely with this book, "The Profound Treatise on the Returning Elixir of Dragon and Tiger."

After all, this is a handwritten letter from Qingxiazi Su Xuanlang, the founder of Neidan Dao. Although Qingxiazi Su Xuanlang is not well-known in the lineage of immortals throughout history, this does not mean that Su Xuanlang is inferior to Zhengyangzi Zhongli Quan.

Su Xuanlang was a disciple of Maoshan, specifically the Great Mao Lord, one of the Three Mao True Lords. The Great Mao Lord was a member of the Shangqing Daoist lineage and one of the Great Luo Orthodox lineages. Born into the Shangqing Daoist lineage, he was entrusted with an important task by the Jade Emperor: to manage the Book of Life and Death and to examine the underworld. He was revered as the Eastern Peak Minister and the True Lord of Fate.

The fact that Su Xuanlang was able to become a disciple of such a celestial being makes the value of his handwritten scriptures immeasurable. Although the Eastern Peak Minister, the True Lord of Fate, is not as illustrious as the Eastern Emperor, he is still the Eastern Peak Minister of Fate, an assistant deity of the Eastern Peak, and his power and authority are vast.

He held the white silk, gazing at it intently, and sighed softly, “When there is action, inaction is the foundation. From the spirit within the form, one enters the nature within the spirit. This is called returning to the root and restoring one’s destiny, just as gold returns to its original nature and is called the elixir of immortality.”

"This is Qingxiazi's inner alchemy path!"

After reading the entire "Treatise on the Profound Mystery of the Dragon and Tiger Golden Elixir", Lü Shang had his own insights.

If the "Secret Formula of the Golden Flower of the Ancestor of Fuli" speaks of the "Tao," then the "Treatise on the Profound Mystery of the Dragon and Tiger Golden Elixir" speaks of the "Dharma."

The "Tao" in "The Secret of Jinhua" is like the moon's reflection in a deep pool. It seems within reach, yet it is elusive and difficult to grasp. The entire text speaks of "the time before mercury and lead were separated, the time when chaos was first divided," and that "the primordial Qi comes from nothingness." Between the lines, it guides practitioners to observe their own true nature, break through the obstacles of consciousness, and comprehend the subtle and indistinct enlightenment.

However, the "method" in the "Treatise on the Profound Understanding of Dragon and Tiger" is like a ferry crossing and a boat. It uses the metaphor of the five metals and eight stones to clearly explain the secret of the interaction between lead and mercury, until the movement and stillness are in harmony, and the inner and outer are tempered, and the golden elixir is perfected.

"Cultivating both body and spirit, unifying the inner and outer realms,"

He put down the white silk, closed his eyes and regulated his breathing. He felt his blood and qi flowing with his breath, like a dragon and a tiger fighting in his dantian, and water and fire harmonizing in his huangting.

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clang!
The next day at dawn, the bell of Fajie Temple shattered the morning mist. Lü Shang followed behind Lü Yongji, walked across the release pond, and stepped over the railing of the Nine Lotus Bridge.

Inside the Xiangji Hall, the air was filled with the scent of sandalwood. Lü Yongji personally lit three sticks of agarwood incense, and wisps of smoke gathered in front of his deceased wife's portrait.

The candlelight flickered red in the Buddhist hall, and the rising smoke from the agarwood incense in Lü Yongji's hand meandered before the portrait, outlining the gentle features of the woman in the painting. After inserting the agarwood into the bronze incense burner, Lü Yongji turned around, a wisp of sandalwood fragrance wafting from his robes, and said, "Shang'er, light some incense for your mother."

After taking Changchun Pills for two consecutive days, Lü Yongji looked radiant. The red veins between his eyes had faded to almost invisible, and his pupils, reflecting the morning light, had a subtle, clear, and lustrous sheen, like cold jade.

"Yes,"

Lu Shang accepted the agarwood offered by Lu Yongji with both hands and knelt down.

The sandalwood scent wafted over his eyebrows as Lü Shang slowly inserted the incense into the burner, watching as three wisps of smoke gradually melted into the shadow of the prayer flags hanging from the temple ceiling.

Lu Shang gazed at the portrait of his mother. This portrait was painted by Lu Yongji after he became prominent, with great effort. He had commissioned Dong Boren of Runan, a renowned contemporary figure painter, to create the portrait based on Lu Yongji's description.

After the painting was completed, Lü Yongji enshrined it in the Xiangji Hall of Fajie Temple.

It must be said that Lü Yongji was indeed a man of deep affection. Even after achieving prominence, he did not forget his wife who had shared his hardships. Although he had concubines in his mansion, he had no principal wife. He often mourned his deceased wife, making him quite an anomaly among the Lü family.

Looking at the portrait, Lü Yongji gently brushed his fingertips across the bronze incense burner on the edge of the offering table and said, "You have grown up now. In the future, we, father and son, will be separated more often than not. Although I am reluctant to let you go to the frontier, His Majesty wants to give you an important position. I cannot keep you by my side for my own selfish reasons."

"However, though a man's ambitions may lie in all corners of the world, he must not forget where his roots lie!"

Lu Shang lowered his eyes and gazed at the swaying incense ash in the incense burner, replying, "Father's teachings are etched in my heart."

“When my mother was alive, she often taught me with the saying, ‘A tree may grow a thousand feet tall, but it will never forget its roots; a person may stand between heaven and earth, but he will never forget his origins.’ Today, my father’s words are exactly what my mother taught me. Although I am far away, my heart is always with my family. Even if I travel to the ends of the earth, I will never forget them.”

Upon hearing this, Lü Yongji's eyes shone with even greater satisfaction. He raised his hand and gently patted Lü Shang's shoulder, his palm pausing on the young man's shoulder as if he could feel the hard bones in the young man's spine through the fabric.

Suddenly, the copper bells on the eaves of the Buddhist hall rang softly. A breeze swept through the hall, carrying pine needles and causing the incense ash on the offering table to tremble slightly. He gazed at his deceased wife's face amidst the swirling smoke, a very soft sigh suddenly rolling down his throat, followed by a relieved smile on his lips.

"I am relieved that you remember your mother's words."

As he turned around, the hem of his robe swept across the offering table, causing the candle wicks in the celadon candlesticks on the table to crackle and pop.

When the two stepped out of Xiangji Hall, the morning mist had already been evaporated by the sun, and the koi in the release pond swam following the spots of light, stirring the water surface into a scattering of gold.

As the morning mist dissipated, the sunlight slanted across the railings of the Nine Lotus Bridge. Lü Yongji walked with his hands behind his back in the middle of the bridge, the purple satin sleeves fluttering in the breeze as he passed through the corridor. Lü Shang followed closely behind, his expression solemn.

As the two approached the temple gate, the bluestone path had been warmed by the sun. The guest monk of Fajie Temple quickly stepped forward and brought two cups of honey-preserved plum soup. After Lü Yongji took them, the plum soup rippled slightly in the rough porcelain cups.

"Go and fetch the horse."

He gave instructions to the servants who were attending him.

Under the ancient locust tree outside the temple, three fully saddled horses were grazing on the tips of grass.

(End of this chapter)