A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 57: Eating Elixir and Avoiding Grain, Cultivating Immortality with Pills
"Harnessing the spiritual essence of the world?"
Bai Qi focused intently on those words, spreading his fingers as if trying to grasp something slipping away:
"How is it possible? Isn’t spiritual essence the most refined essence naturally emanating from the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, the sun, moon, and stars? According to the books, it is elusive, creating something from nothing, like emptiness.
Can it all be... claimed by the Dragon Court? Such methods are truly terrifying; no wonder they can end a millennium of lost ways and rule over the Red County Divine Land!"
Reading does indeed greatly enhance one’s knowledge, and many previously confusing aspects are now readily understood.
"If the Dragon Court controls the changes in spiritual essence across the land, able to manipulate it at will, then Black River County’s taxation, conscription, and even the Government Office being rendered useless really seem inconsequential.
Because the lifeline is tightly held, no matter how much power is delegated locally, it doesn’t affect the big picture."
Bai Qi buried his head in reading for a while, putting down the nearly historical ’Miscellaneous Records’ when the candlelight grew dim.
He summarized that Uncle Dao’s talk of Daoist Official conferring was akin to passing a government examination in a previous life.
With the "title" granted by the Dragon Court, one can legally assimilate spiritual essence, enjoying superior cultivation privileges, stationed in various Prefecture Cities and County Cities, only following the holy decree.
Immortal Masters are even less constrained, originating from major sects, making traveling the world no inconvenience.
If truly a direct disciple or Saint Child, they even have the authority to act before they report, wielding the power to decide life and death.
"Top of the three ranks! Truly decreed by the Dragon Court, superior beings!"
Bai Qi clicked his tongue twice. In comparison, Black River County really can’t be considered a grand place.
Even with the Fishery, Chai Market, and Fire Kiln, plus Martial Society occupying spots, it’s still just small matters.
To those ranked in the three registers, the highly regarded Immortal Master Daoist Officials.
Everything here seems like ants and dust, not worth a glance.
"Vision can be far-reaching, but actions must be grounded.
Even before a giant roc spreads its wings for ninety thousand miles, it must lay low and eat insects on a humble hill."
Bai Qi felt no discouragement, stretched lazily, extended his muscles, and specifically chose an ancient book on "Daoist Art and Spirit Refining."
"Because entering Daoist Art is harder than practicing martial arts, aside from Dragon Court’s control over spiritual essence, due to external demands being many and intricate, it consumes far more wealth than martial pursuits.
With drastic changes in the world environment, unable to just meditate and cultivate Qi as before, hence another path emerged that is Eating Elixir and Avoiding Grain."
Through the skill of reading and interpreting texts, he read swiftly, finding it increasingly astonishing.
The start of Daoist Art prioritizes Eating Elixir.
This stage embodies the philosophy of "using form to reinforce form, eating to refine essence."
Gathering true Qi from worldly things to gradually transform the flesh.
Initially using mild wood, stone, and herbs to harmonize the organs;
Then swallowing cinnabar and stalactites, refining with spiritual essence.
Once the organs and stomach gradually withstand solid items, upgrading to lead, mercury, gold, and jade.
Eating these things as people eat food.
Succeeding in not touching water or grains for seven days, fifteen days, or even a month.
This marks the first boundary, mastery of Eating Elixir and Avoiding Grain.
Next steps are entering meditation and embracing the embryo, nurturing the essence and blood origins!
"... It’s practically a high-cost cultivation style, extremely expensive play!
Feeling like anyone with less than hundreds of thousands of ounces can’t even approach, without a lucrative source of wealth! 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
In comparison, the expenses for martial arts and medicinal baths are much cheaper, scarcely anything.
It’s not at all how I imagined cultivation."
Bai Qi’s lips twitched, unable to hold back complaints about these high-end Immortal Master Daoist Oficial’s ways.
After careful consideration, he also found it to be inevitable.
"Ultimately, it’s still the calamity of lost ways reaching far and wide, spiritual energy disorderly, rapidly receding.
This book mentions how cultivators used to meditate and cultivate Qi in their abodes daily with improvement, and even luxurious items like spirit stones were used for self-cultivation, something unimaginable now."
Bai Qi once assumed that Lao Dao’s mention of difficult Daoist Art entry due to Five Elements Spirit Root-like qualification restrictions.
Unexpectedly, it was purely indicating personal poverty, insisting he abandon such thoughts early.
"Daoist skill, magic, commonly compiled into books using secret texts, without the right approach, the words are hard to understand.
There are also individuals with special natural physique, capable of sensing the spiritual nature within, approximately perceiving the meaning.
For example, Spirit Child with Yin-Yang Eye, or those communicating with plants and spirits with an Innocent Heart, Ah Di seems to be such a case.
If unfamiliar with secret text and lacking this qualification.
Often heart blood and fingertip blood are utilized to stimulate and act."
Bai Qi breathed a slight sigh of relief, knowing Ah Di understood the magic texts on yellow paper, with the book’s explanation, due to his sensitive soul and pure mind, making it easy to perceive subtle changes around.
Much like Spirit Children with Yin-Yang Eyes who can see the supernatural, because of their special birth year and month or other reasons, they see the subtle and colloquially "see ghosts."
As for Wang Laizi mastering bait-making skills, probably relying on the crude method of using heart blood and fingertip blood.
"I thought Ah Di was some peerless prodigy, a cultivation genius... to achieve enlightenment, bring chickens and dogs to heaven, so I too may enjoy leisure."
Bai Qi mused playfully, closing the book’s cover.
Seeing the sky outside already dark, thinking of Ah Di waiting at home, he intended to get up and leave.
His eyes flashed, summoning the black talisman.
[Skill: Reading and Interpretation (Minor Proficiency)]
[Progress: 695/800]
[Effect: Reading a hundred times, the meaning emerges, gaining insights and gradually achieving mastery]
"Reading increases knowledge, also aids in skill advancement."
Bai Qi selected several books on local customs, historical anecdotes, and miscellaneous accounts, asked Uncle Dao for permission, then left Tongwen Hall.
Picked up some cooked food wrapped in lotus leaves at a nearby shop and walked back to the house at Erxian Bridge under the night.
...
...
Duijin Street, Yang Residence.
The spirit shed on the long street had been taken down, Tea Master collected his reward and left with his entourage who were playing music.
The cold wind swept paper money, and the old servant at home bent over, carrying a lantern to patrol at night, checking whether the gate is locked to prevent stealthy thieves.
His steps were stumbling, not very agile, like a cripple limping.
"Not sure if the stove is still warm, make a bowl of meat porridge and send it to Master Meng, he’s gone days without touching grain and water."
The old servant named "Uncle Zhong," was once a villager from Datian Bay, knowing a few words, often freelanced with cargo ships.
Unfortunately, caught amidst the most rampant Water Thieves’ Heaven-defying Saber ten years ago, barely escaped with life.
Immersed in the Black Water River for two days and nights, rescued half a life, hence became crippled.
Uncle Zhong planned to return and report, but didn’t expect nearby villages to be raided clean, with houses burned down.
Having lost wife and property, he could only sell himself into the Fishery doing miscellaneous work.
Luckily, Master Meng took extra care, provided work, allowing three meals a day.
"Brother Quan was also raised under my watch, taught literacy and reading, but was snatched and eaten by Demon Fish, heaven is truly merciless, leaving Master Meng to send his black-haired kids out."
Perhaps due to aging, Uncle Zhong lately kept recalling past times, his wife standing by the door with a pregnant belly, saying nothing, gently smiling.
"Alas, damn the world, good people never get a good return."
