In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 98 Five Elements Pill

The evil deeds are not committed for profit, nor even for personal preference, but simply to fit in.

Many of the cases were so morbid that Lu Zhao felt a chill run down his spine, comparable to the 'reproductive rape' culture of the Indians.

Lu Zhao does not deny that there are truly kind people, and that there is no inherent difference in moral character among races, but environment and culture can determine what kind of people most of them are.

As the ruling class, their concern is never whether individuals are kind, but whether the group is controllable.

After listening to Lu Zhao's account, the old Taoist nodded and said, "The Japanese pirates have always been like this; they fear power but not virtue."

Lu Zhao asked curiously, "Why did you suddenly ask about this, teacher?"

“I’ve been thinking about some things lately.” The old Taoist priest gripped the wooden pestle and said, “During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, the problem of Japanese pirates along the coast was serious. They burned, killed, looted, and plundered precious medicines, attempting to become immortals and ancestors.”

Seeing Lu Zhao's puzzled expression, as if he didn't understand the meaning, he realized that Lu Zhao looked confused.

The old Taoist priest explained, “Throughout history, there have been countless schools of cultivation, which can be roughly divided into four forms: internal alchemy, visualization, breath control, and guiding exercises (body strengthening). Although each school claims to have its own unique skills, in practice they all take the best of each other.”

"In your current terms, the first stage is about self-cultivation and foundation building, strengthening the body and laying a solid foundation."

"The second stage is Refining Essence into Qi, which allows one to heal the physical body by circulating Qi. The third stage is Refining Qi into Spirit, which grants one a sixth sense. The fourth stage is Refining Spirit into Emptiness, and the fifth stage is Refining Emptiness into Dao."

"Of course, the old and new are different and cannot be generalized, but they do have certain commonalities. The second stage of cultivation emphasizes refining essence, which is usually done with some kind of elixir."

Lu Zhao understood and said, "My mentor in the capital taught me that the second-stage Transcendent training involves strengthening the five internal organs. It's best to take the special medicine supplied by the Federation to lay a solid foundation for breaking through to the third stage."

Just as life development requires life supplements after reaching the first stage, the second stage also has special precious medicines to assist in cultivation.

These resources are all controlled by the Federation, and the vast majority of cultivation resources are produced by the Federation.

"This is the art of internal alchemy, which has existed since ancient times." The old Taoist priest asked, "Do you know what the requirements are for those above the fifth level?"

Lu Zhao shook his head, indicating that he did not know.

The cultivation methods for the first three stages are public knowledge, while the methods for the fourth and fifth stages can only be learned when one is preparing to break through. Before the fifth stage, no one has ever even heard of them.

"Before the fifth level, one should learn from the strengths of all schools of thought; after the fifth level, one should cultivate one's own unique path and become supreme. You have almost perfected your spiritual cultivation, so it is only right that you be shown the way ahead, so that you will not make a mistake in the future."

The old Taoist priest revealed the true meaning behind his previous long speech.

He cut off four strands of hair, which transformed into four phantom images that shot out into the sky.

The first step is for the practitioner to condense a round, radiant golden pill in their dantian, which shines with divine light in all directions.

"The Golden Elixir Path originates from something that was formed from chaos, existing before Heaven and Earth, signifying the celestial being."

The second process involves infusing the body's meridians with elixir, creating an inner world.

"Contemplate and visualize, the Yellow Court and the Divine Palace, one thought, one world."

The third path involves cultivators being enveloped in a misty purple aura, merging with the primordial energy of heaven and earth, and mastering the five elements.

"Primordial Qi, the five elements in harmony."

The fourth path is for practitioners to achieve physical sainthood, with bones as fine as jade, blood as pure as mercury, tendons like dragons, and muscles like tigers.

"The true forms of dragon and tiger, the physical body achieves sainthood."

Lu Zhao was mesmerized, staring intently at each illusory figure as they demonstrated their immense power to move mountains and fill seas.

It also reveals the modern classification of supernatural powers: physical, spiritual, five elements, destiny, and nature.

Destiny and nature are similar, but they are divided into two categories because the application of supernatural powers has revealed significant differences.

Lu Zhao asked, "Which kind of teacher?"

"I follow the Golden Elixir Path."

The old Taoist priest replied, then returned to the original topic: "During the Jiajing era, Japanese pirates were rampant, and the culprits were the five great thieves who wanted to break through to the sixth level."

"The essence of heaven and earth lies in life, and humans are the most abundant precious medicine. They plunder people to refine medicine. This method is against the harmony of heaven and earth. Those who failed to ascend to heaven fell to earth and became demons."

Lu Zhao asked, "Teacher, are you talking about the Ancient God Circle?"

There is a cave of water beasts in the South China Sea, and even a small group of water beasts that escape from there are enough to make the border post feel like it's facing a major enemy. The old Taoist nodded and said, "That's right. You will have the opportunity to come into contact with them in the future and can obtain precious medicines from them. I can teach you the method of alchemy. Those five thieves all cultivated innate true qi, and the demons they transformed into are perfect for making Five Elements Pills."

"The perfection of the second stage lies in the unity of the five elements and the condensation of a primordial true energy."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhao's eyes widened slightly.

The refining of precious medicines is a state secret and is generally not disclosed to outsiders.

But isn't it normal for an immortal who has lived for five hundred years to know how to refine elixirs?

This wasn't the first time the old Taoist priest had displayed his skills. Just as he was used to Lu Zhao's talent, he was also used to the other party's methods.

He clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Thank you, teacher."

He'll break through 50 points of vitality around September, which is only a matter of the next two months. By then, the application for second-tier cultivation medicine might not be processed immediately; he'll have to prepare some himself.

The flood season is approaching, then we can kill a few more aquatic beasts.

The old Taoist priest asked, "Do you still have any doubts today?"

Lu Zhao reported on his recent cultivation progress and learned that the old Taoist priest had become somewhat numb after he had mastered the immobilization technique in less than a week.

Back then, I studied for half a year and still couldn't get the basics right.

He said, "Being too hasty is not a good thing. The key to mastering the art of immobilization is being able to move at will."

Lu Zhao humbly asked, "Teacher, what does it mean to act according to one's heart?"

The old Taoist priest replied, "When a thought arises, it settles; a settled mind is a person."

Lu Zhao scratched his head: "I thought about using my mental power to immobilize people, but my true qi cannot leave my body."

The old Taoist priest said leisurely, "That means your skills are not up to par. When I was a student, I mastered the basics on my first try."

Lu Zhao had no doubts about this, since the other party was an immortal.

They are definitely more talented than me.

About half an hour later, Lu Zhao bowed and left.

Five strands of hair that had been floating above the Taoist temple drifted down and merged into his body, following him as he left Hunyuan.

Boom!
A melodious humming sound spread out.

The old Taoist priest held a wooden pestle, and a chime had appeared in front of him at some point.

"I chose a secluded dwelling to suit my wild nature, where I receive neither farewells nor welcomes throughout the year. Sometimes I climb straight to the top of a solitary peak, and under the moon, I let out a roar through the clouds."

"The elixir refined five hundred years ago should be ready to be produced."

In the thirty-fourth year of the Jiajing reign, a Taoist priest presented a formula for the Five Elements Elixir.

In the thirty-seventh year of the Jiajing reign, Japanese pirates frequently raided the coast. The people built a city wall with bricks and five gates with stone walls.

Also in the 40th year of the Jiajing reign, a great victory was achieved in the southeastern pirate raids. Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou joined forces to kill the major pirate Wu Ping, while the whereabouts of the other four pirates remained unknown.
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July 11th, light rain.

Ring ring ring.

Lu Zhao was squatting by the river to check the water level when his phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and answered it.

"Hey! Uncle Zhao!"

A clear and loud voice came from behind her. Lu Zhao held the phone away and said helplessly, "I'm going to go deaf. What's going on this time?"

The caller was his niece, Lu Xiaotong.

"It's summer vacation, and Grandma wants to go back to her hometown for a visit."

Lu Zhao's first reaction was to refuse, saying, "Mom was hospitalized for a while last month, and her health is not good to begin with. Why come all this way back? What if she suddenly falls ill again?"

(End of this chapter)