Slime Immortal.

Chapter 195 The World Tree and the Sun
Outer Gate Hall of Merit Transmission.

"The Great Dao is nameless, yet it nourishes all things. The gate of the Mysterious Female is called the root of Heaven and Earth. It is continuous and ever-present, inexhaustible in its use. The spirit of the valley never dies; this is called the Mysterious Female..."

Inside the hall, wisps of incense smoke rose like clouds from the incense burner. Hundreds of outer disciples, dressed in uniform blue robes with cloud patterns, sat cross-legged on futons woven from Qingxin grass, as if they were sitting on clouds, each holding a scroll of "Basic Qi Refining General Outline" or "Introduction to the Five Elements".

The disciples would sometimes look up, listening intently to the elders' profound teachings resounding throughout the hall, and sometimes lower their heads, furrowing their brows in deep thought and contemplation.

Without exception, all those gathered in the hall were outer disciples below the sixth level of Qi Refining, including the green-robed youth mimicked by the slime doll.

The leader was an elderly man with a snow-white beard and a ruddy complexion like that of an infant. His Daoist name was Zijin Laoren. He was an elder of the Diyuan Peak of the inner sect, a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a lifespan of nearly two hundred years. He was highly respected within the sect.

As the main hall in the outer sect mountain range, the Transmission Hall is often visited by inner sect elders or later inner sect disciples to give lectures.

Although the lectures never involve the specific techniques and formulas secretly passed down by each peak, they teach the most practical and universal theories and knowledge on the path of cultivation, such as the nature of spiritual energy, the circulation of Qi, the interaction of the five elements, and the nourishment of the soul.

The Sanyuan Sect upholds the principle of spreading the Dharma to all and teaching without discrimination. In disseminating these foundations and ideas, it has no intention of keeping anything for itself.

Even the fundamental teachings about foundation building, as long as they don't involve secret techniques, can be heard here.

The white-robed old man, sitting upright on the futon, held a silver whisk in his hand. His eyes were half-open and half-closed, and he seemed to be drowsy. However, his voice was like thunder in spring, echoing in the ears of all the disciples.

"As the saying goes, the Taoist ancestor transmitted the law to the chaos. When the chaos was first separated, the clear and the turbid were distinguished, yin and yang were determined, and all things began to be born."

"Our path of cultivation begins with the perception of Qi and ends with transcendence. The key to success in this journey is building a solid foundation, much like building a house in the mortal world. If the foundation is not firm, even a towering building will collapse in an instant..."

A young disciple, unable to contain his doubts, raised his hand and asked, "May I ask, Elder, the ancient texts often say that Foundation Establishment is the foundation of the Great Dao. What exactly is Foundation Establishment, and what is its essence?"

Upon hearing this, the old man with purple gold slowly opened his half-closed eyes, his gaze gentle and peaceful, and fell on the slightly nervous young disciple. He said leisurely, "In essence, it is nothing more than four words—establishing the cauldron and stabilizing the furnace."

“Drawing upon the essence of heaven and earth, and gathering the spirit of the sun and moon, we gather it into the dantian and the sea of ​​qi, condensing it without dissipation, just like forging a divine cauldron, which is called establishing the cauldron. Circulating the meridians throughout the body, and circulating the great cycle of the heavens, we harmonize the water and fire within the body, and harness the power of the dragon and tiger, which is called pacifying the furnace.”

The disciples listened, but most of them still looked confused; the explanation was still too esoteric.

Chen Yu's slime figure also raised its hand at the opportune moment and asked, "Elder, this disciple is dull-witted. May I ask how exactly to set up the cauldron and how to install the furnace?"

The old man chuckled and lightly flicked his whisk, saying, "Young man, do not be impatient. Impatience and restlessness are the greatest taboos in cultivation."

"Foundation building, foundation building, is the so-called balance of Yin and Yang, the convergence of Dragon and Tiger in the Yellow Court, the completeness of the Five Elements, and the condensation of the three treasures of essence, energy and spirit into a seed of the Dao."

"In reality, one must break through the three barriers, lay the foundation for a hundred days, circulate the five elements, harmonize the dragon and tiger, subdue the restless mind, and refine the golden elixir to lay the foundation."

"This is the beginning of constructing the inner world by using the wonderful method of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. With a solid foundation, the path to enlightenment is promising."

Upon hearing this, another disciple admitted with an embarrassed expression, "Reporting to the elder, what you are saying... this disciple still doesn't quite understand."

The old man wasn't annoyed and continued slowly, "It's normal not to understand. If you can truly comprehend this mantra, you'll be close to Foundation Establishment."

"Building the foundation of the Dao is the beginning of cultivation, the basis for comprehending the circulation of Qi throughout the body."

"When the heart fire interacts with the kidney water, the liver wood harmonizes with the lung metal, and the spleen earth resides in the center to transform and transport in all directions, a universe is formed within the body, and yin and yang and the five elements construct an inner microcosm."

"In short, one must cultivate the Five Elements and harmonize Yin and Yang in order to establish a foundation for the Dao."

Chen Yu seemed to be deep in thought.

The Five Elements theory... can be found in the library of the Three Origins Sect, so it's not too difficult to find.

But this harmony of Yin and Yang sounds even more mysterious; how exactly should it be done?

Some disciples, harboring the same doubts, asked the old man again.

The old man stroked his beard and explained: "The manifestation of Yin and Yang within the human body is often likened to a dragon and a tiger."

"The dragon represents the heart essence, which is of the yang attribute and symbolizes the primordial spirit. It is active and untamed, like a dragon ascending to the sky. The tiger represents the kidney essence, which is of the yin attribute and symbolizes the vital energy of life. It is heavy and descends, like a tiger pouncing on the ground."

"Harmonizing Yin and Yang means using the two treasures of Yin and Yang as a guide to set up a furnace and cauldron, using one's own essence as fuel, and refining it in the furnace. If successful, the dragon and tiger will merge and transform into a chaotic 'primordial ancestral energy'."

"If any of you young friends feel uncertain about your foundation-building abilities later on, you can seek out extremely yang or yin objects in advance to attract dragons and tigers, thus aiding in the foundation-building process..."

"The Yin and Yang Treasures?" Chen Yu silently memorized this crucial information.

From this perspective, the so-called foundation building is more like creating a small world within the body, allowing the five elements to circulate and yin and yang to balance, creating a continuous cycle of life.

Once the foundation is successfully established, even if the cultivator abstains from grains and does not ingest external energy, their cultivation level can still slowly increase solely through the circulation of their inner world.

After the morning lecture, Chen Yu found Shao Qingsong and asked him about the Yin-Yang Treasures.

Shao Qingsong chuckled, "Junior brother, you're quite impatient."

"However, these Yin and Yang treasures are not as rare as you think. Even ordinary objects that are extremely Yin or extremely Yang can harmonize Yin and Yang. The key is whether these Yin and Yang treasures are of pure attributes and whether they are compatible with oneself."

Chen Yu pondered for a moment and asked, "If what you're saying is true, Senior Brother, as long as we find the right Yin and Yang treasures, isn't it not as difficult as I imagined to forge a foundation for the Dao?"

Upon hearing this, Shao Qingsong sighed and shook his head: "Although I don't know why you brought up the Foundation Establishment, you must understand that only a very small number of cultivators can reach the ninth level before the lifespan barrier."

"These nine steps are a multi-faceted test of one's character, aptitude, and opportunities. Those who can climb all of them have already established a foundation. The remaining convergence of the dragon and tiger and the condensation of the Dao foundation are more or less a matter of natural progression."

"As long as one's qi and blood are not depleted, or one's spirit and soul have not suffered irreparable damage, it is only a matter of time before one establishes a foundation for the Dao."

His tone was somewhat desolate: "Although I pride myself on being quite diligent in my cultivation, my talent is limited, and I have wasted many years. I am still only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and my lifespan is almost halfway through. Perhaps... I will never have the chance to see the Foundation Establishment stage in this lifetime."

He patted Chen Yu on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Junior brother, you are still young and your talent seems extraordinary. As long as you work steadily and avoid arrogance and impetuosity, you will always have a chance."

"If you ever break through to the late stage and begin preparing for Foundation Establishment, you really need to look for these Yin and Yang treasures as soon as possible."

"Although it has no impact on whether the foundation is established successfully, high-quality Yin and Yang treasures can not only serve as a catalyst, but also often have the additional effect of enhancing cultivation and consolidating the foundation."

He lowered his voice and revealed, "It is said that the quality and characteristics of these Yin and Yang treasures can even affect the nature of the initial 'inner world' after Foundation Establishment to a certain extent."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yu was about to clasp his hands in thanks and take his leave to search for the Yin-Yang Treasures.

Seeing his expression, Shao Qingsong realized that he truly cared about the Foundation Establishment process and was not just acting out of curiosity, so he quickly added another sentence.

"Junior brother, remember this: the Yin and Yang treasures are best suited to your own body. If they are not suitable, even if they are legendary immortal treasures, they may only bring you harm."

"It could even lead to an imbalance of Yin and Yang, resulting in failure in foundation building."

Chen Yu looked puzzled: "Then how do I determine which Yin-Yang treasures are compatible with me?"

"That's simple. A cultivator can make a preliminary judgment based solely on their own sense of qi."

"When you come into contact with a spiritual object, if you can feel the magic power resonating with it, and feel a comfortable blending, then it is a treasure that is relatively compatible with your own little world."

"If you feel repulsed, stuck, or restless, it means that the elements clash and it is definitely not a good choice."

"Understood, thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother." Chen Yu sincerely thanked him. After bidding farewell to Shao Qingsong, Chen Yu disguised himself as an ordinary middle-aged cultivator and went to the market outside the Cloud Deep Bamboo Forest. He began to wander among the shops selling spiritual materials and pills, trying to find the Yin and Yang treasures that could resonate with his own energy.

To his surprise, the process went much more smoothly than he had imagined.

After only inquiring at a few shops, he sensed the Yin-Yang treasures that resonated with him.

After some careful selection, he finally spent three hundred spirit stones at a time-honored shop called "Hundred Refinements Pavilion" to buy a yang-type spirit herb called "Red Sun Grass" and a yin-type spirit jade called "Mysterious Yin Jade".

Returning to the bamboo cabin, upon opening the door, several gel figures responsible for daily tasks were still working diligently. One of them was even scattering fish food by the lotus pond behind the courtyard, feeding several rather intelligent and colorful koi in the pond.

Chen Yu got up from the bed, took the Yin and Yang treasures from his clone, then sat cross-legged, placed them in front of him, and tried to cultivate the "Nine-Layer Life Palace Technique".

Just as Shao Qingsong said, with the assistance of the Yin and Yang treasures, the circulation of spiritual energy within the body seemed to be much smoother, and cultivation efficiency did indeed improve.

However, he never did the hard work of cultivation; his cultivation level was achieved through eating.

These Yin-Yang treasures might be of great benefit to ordinary cultivators, but for him, their effect on promoting cultivation was not so important.

Their greater role is to serve as a guide and harmonize yin and yang during the foundation-building process in the future.

After a few more days, I will find a way to obtain the Five Elements Cultivation Method from the library, and then the path to Foundation Establishment will be paved.

Thinking this, Chen Yu leisurely lay back on the bed, his consciousness gradually fading away, slowly sinking into darkness, returning to the other side.

Sunlight streamed lazily through the window onto the wooden floor of the treehouse, and a slime that had been dozing at the desk slowly opened its little eyes.

"Judging by the time, Nelly and those Stoneborn will be officially visiting soon, so we need to make some preparations in advance." Chen Yu skipped away, preparing to leave the treehouse.

As he walked along the road, the words of the old man in purple and gold still echoed in his mind.

To create a little world...

Why does it sound... a bit like the World Tree in the bottle inside his stomach?

He couldn't help but look at the World Tree sapling emitting a hazy glow from its belly.

Ok?
He felt that the World Tree sapling looked particularly pleasing to the eye today.

It even gives one a feeling of merging with magical power.

The Qi blends together...

What the hell!

Could it be that this World Tree sapling can also be considered one of the Yin-Yang Treasures?!
His gel-like body shuddered violently, revealing his shock.

It seems true.

Using the World Tree as the Yin-Yang Treasure for Foundation Building, I didn't know it was that powerful.

However, upon closer examination, if we consider his stomach as a small world, the World Tree, being more inclined towards nourishment and stability, can only be considered an extremely yin entity according to the yin-yang classification.

Then he is still missing one thing that is extremely yang.

"The most yang thing, the most yang..."

Chen Yu's gel seems to have wilted a bit.

Where could he possibly find something of supreme yang that could rival the sapling of a World Tree?

Even if it's just a fictional World Tree, it's still a World Tree.

If Yin and Yang are out of balance and energy is disrupted, at the moment of Foundation Establishment, the entire slime body will explode into a shower of gel with a loud "boom".

broken.

Thinking about it this way, wouldn't he be trapped in the Qi Refining stage forever, unable to establish his foundation?

He finally understood why Shao Qingsong said that the more powerful the Yin-Yang Treasures were, the better.

Chen Yu was somewhat troubled.

A being of the same rank as the World Tree, a supremely yang entity... the only thing he could think of seemed to be the sun.

Is he going to swallow the sun?

If his belly is really that big, then it's not impossible.

Just as he thought the idea was a bit far-fetched, he suddenly remembered the lost relics that Arthur had mentioned during a casual chat.

The Crown of Ignis.

Legend has it that this sacred crown was forged by the ancient sun Ignis from the last embers and radiance collected from the core of a fallen sun, mixed with gold of faith that carried sacred vows, and then forged in the eternal furnace that symbolizes eternity and creation.

correct!

This thing... it sounds pretty high-class, and it originates from the core of the sun, containing the power of the sun. It should be considered a high-level, supremely yang object.

Unfortunately, Arthur and his companions have been in the Kingdom of White Horse for a long time now, and there is still no news of them.

This inevitably caused him some concern.

Although Count Bran was watching, he always felt that Arthur's dull and simple-minded appearance would easily expose him.

An undead infiltrating a human town is no small matter.

"Just waiting like this isn't a solution."

He happened to see the anvil and the lizardmen preparing the wagon for a trip to the White Horse Kingdom for purchasing and trade, and an idea popped into his head.

Since the reason they couldn't contact Arthur and Count Bran was because of the distance.

So, by secretly placing a slime clone in the White Horse Kingdom, he might be able to contact the missing slime as a relay.

So he conjured a slime with "Shadow Walk," "Bat Wings," and "Stealth," and it joined the trade caravan.

Once it enters the border of the White Horse Kingdom, it will attempt to fly into the heart of the kingdom under the escort of the stinging bees.

He hoped to bring back good news from Arthur and Count Bran, as well as the Ignis Crown he needed.

(End of this chapter)