Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 248 Dan Yuan (Part 1)

"My lord, return to camp!"

Halberds lined the camp gates, drums and horns sounded in unison, and a group of soldiers stood solemnly to welcome them.

Lü Shang dismounted, threw his whip at a soldier, and strode into the camp.

Inside the barracks, the fortifications stood imposing, and the elite soldiers, spears in hand, were solemn and focused.

“My lord,” General Yan Rui stepped forward and bowed.

Lü Shang raised his hand and said to the soldiers on his left and right, "Give the order to ascend the tent."

"Account increase!"

Inside the main tent of the camp, candlelight blazed brightly. Lü Shang sat in the main seat, while his secretary, Fang Yanqian, stood beside him. Dozens of soldiers chanted their pledges before the tent.

"My lord,"

Upon receiving the summons, Yan, Xiao, Huo, and Ling filed in one after another.

"Um,"

Lu Shang's gaze swept over the four generals, who stood respectfully with solemn expressions.

These four generals are all extraordinary individuals. Their martial arts have reached the level of mastering internal organs, making them true warriors capable of taking on a hundred men.

Given the opportunity, one might one day break through the limits of the physical body, enter the realm of marrow refining and blood exchange, and embark on the path to physical sainthood.

"Commander-in-Chief's order: Return to Liangzhou. Gentlemen, depart at dawn tomorrow. Do not delay."

Lü Shang's voice was like pearls and jade, and the candlelight inside the tent flickered in response.

Upon hearing this, the four generals bowed in unison and said, "Your subordinates obey."

Yan Rui,

Lü Shang's gaze fell on the commander on the left, and he said, "We will set off tomorrow. You will lead the vanguard to clear the way."

"Xiao Ji, you will lead the rear guard and inspect the weapons and provisions."

"I will obey your orders!"

Generals Yan and Xiao responded in deep voices, their tiger-like eyes gleaming.

"Huo Xiao, Ling Yue,"

Lu Shang changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, and said, "You two will each lead the elite troops of the central army and accompany me."

"Here!"

Huo and Ling clasped their fists together, the sound of their armor clashing crisp and piercing.

Lü Shang announced loudly: "Furthermore, this is to inform the entire army that on the return journey, anyone who illegally seizes civilian property or disturbs the countryside, regardless of rank, will be severely punished without exception!"

"Here!"

The four generals responded in unison, their voices shaking the tent curtains.

“You remember this,”

After a pause, Lü Shang said quietly, "The purpose of our troops' advance into Longyou is to quell the rebellion and stabilize the region. If we do not enforce strict military discipline, how are we any different from rebellious bandits?"

Fang Yanqian stepped forward, cupped his hands in agreement, and said, "What you say is absolutely right, Your Excellency. Longyou has just suffered from banditry, and the people are displaced. Now that our army is returning in triumph, we should demonstrate the benevolence of the royal army to stabilize the people's hearts."

"Xiao Chong understands me,"

Lü Shang nodded and said to Yan Rui and the other four generals, "After you return, make proper preparations. Tomorrow at dawn, we will muster the troops in front of the tent."

"Here!"

The four generals responded with a resounding "yes," bowed, and withdrew.

"Xiao Chong,"

Lü Shang said softly, "The Qiang rebellion has been quelled and Longyou has been initially pacified. Now that I am returning to Liangzhou, would Xiao Chong be willing to come with me?"

Lu Shang valued Fang Yanqian highly. If Lu Shang had thought highly of Fang Yanqian before, it was because he was Fang Xuanling's father.

Holding him in your hands is like making a move for the future.

However, after spending time together, Lü Shang also recognized Fang Yanqian's abilities, acknowledging that he was indeed a man of great talent.

If Fang Yanqian were to return to Liangzhou with Lü Shang, Lü Shang, as the governor of Liangzhou, would undoubtedly have a much easier time.

After all, the governor is in charge of the military and political affairs of a prefecture. He must obey the imperial orders above, supervise the subordinate counties below, inspect the administration of officials, and pacify the people. He has many daily affairs to attend to.

With Fang Yanqian sharing the burden, Lü Shang would have much more free time for cultivation. Fang Yanqian solemnly bowed and said, "I am deeply grateful for Your Excellency's kindness and consideration; I am willing to serve you and repay your kindness in recognizing and promoting me."

Lu Shang smiled and said, "Liangzhou is located on the frontier, surrounded by Qiang and Hu tribes, and there are many complicated matters. It is precisely in need of a talent like Xiao Chong to manage the world."

After speaking, Lü Shang raised his hand to the table and said, "Xiao Chong, draft the sealed document and send it to the governor's office in Diezhou."

"Tell them that the Qiang rebellion has been quelled, and that our Liangzhou army will set off at dawn tomorrow to return to Liangzhou. We will then have the government send someone to take over the camps."

"Well,"

Fang Yanqian bowed again and solemnly replied.

Lü Shang raised his hand and said, "Go."

"Yes,"

Fang Yanqian retreated slowly, gently closing the tent flap to block out the sound of armor plates rubbing against each other outside.

Inside the tent, the candlelight flickered. Lü Shang sat alone in the main seat, pondered for a moment, and then took out a scroll of cinnabar from his sleeve.

This inscription is made of silk, dark brown in color, with cinnabar characters on it, and it has not faded over time.

"The Book of Immortal Elixir Consumption," he read by candlelight, turning the pages of the alchemical text.

The so-called "taking bait" refers to ingesting medicinal bait or elixirs.
When Lü Shang led his troops into the mountains, he killed quite a few demons. These demons had cultivated for at least a hundred years and some for several hundred years. Although they were nothing in Lü Shang's eyes, they still had some resources.

This "Classic of Immortal Elixir" was obtained by Lü Shang in a demon cave.

Of course, what these human demons obtain and then treasure and hide in their demon caves cannot be some superior method.

Its name is "divine elixir," but it is not a true elixir of immortality.

Instead, it is an introductory text on external alchemy, which talks about how to guide the qi and massage, and how to refine elixirs.

"Although the methods in this 'Immortal Elixir Scripture' are rudimentary, they are enough for me to glimpse the wonders of external alchemy and see if I can refine an external elixir myself,"

"Unfortunately, although I have become a human immortal, I am far from reaching the level of understanding the principle that the inner and outer are the same. If I had reached this level, even without any alchemical texts, I could have independently realized and comprehended a method of alchemy."

As Lü Shang flipped through the alchemical texts, he deduced the methods of external alchemy.

He had been thinking about how to enhance the strength of his soldiers and officers. Now that he had obtained the alchemical manual, he naturally wanted to use it to refine external elixirs, which would help his soldiers improve their essence and blood and hone their physique.

Although Lü Shang was a martial arts immortal without primordial spirit power, he cultivated 3,200 body spirits, each of which was a unique supernatural power.

The three thousand two hundred divine bodies are three thousand two hundred supernatural powers, among which several supernatural powers are most suitable for refining external elixirs.

For example, the Mind Spirit, one of the twenty-four spirits of the Yellow Court, can generate supernatural powers that can be used to refine elixirs.

It should be noted that the mind and spirit, also known as the elixir of life, are called the guardian spirit.

The Taoist master said, "The heart is fire."

The essence of the southern sun governs fire, which corresponds to Mars above and the heart below.

After Lü Shang achieved mastery of his 'mind and spirit,' a true fire naturally ignited within his heart.

"The heart is the sovereign fire, and is called the upper darkness; the kidneys are the minister fire, and are called the middle darkness; the bladder is the people's fire, and is called the lower darkness."

He looked at the method of controlling the fire in the "Classic of Immortals' Elixir" and seemed to have some understanding.

"The three energies combine to form fire, and disperse to form energy; hence it is called the Samadhi True Fire."

Samadhi is really hot!

Every Taoist practitioner knows about the Samadhi Fire.

The "Classic of Immortals' Elixir" further claims that it has the power to eliminate the three corpses, remove the seven souls, subdue demons, kill the five ghosts, subdue the nine insects, and refine the physical form.

"This is not the Samadhi," Lü Shang said, his fingertips tracing the cinnabar inscription, a flicker of fire in his eyes.

"But even if I obtain the highest level of Samadhi Fire, it will be enough for me to refine external elixirs,"

The flame of true fire in my heart flows with my thoughts, and warmth spreads from my chest to my limbs and bones.

The three thousand two hundred spirits responded in unison, and within their hearts, the elixir of their spirits shone brightly.

"External alchemy!"

Lu Shang raised his hand, and fire condensed at his fingertips, producing a glowing red light that made the vermilion characters on the cinnabar book even more dazzling.

Although his inner fire was only at its peak, it possessed a unique and mysterious quality. The flames swirled around the silk, carrying a gentle, warm energy.

(End of this chapter)