26: Chapter 26 Using the physical body as a furnace and the dantian as a cauldron

Zhou Tianchen was silent for a moment.

He did not kneel to apprentice as everyone expected, but instead raised his head, looking directly at Jiang Changge with a solemn expression.

"Senior, this Junior dares to ask—does Senior understand the Dao of Alchemy?"

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu's expression changed slightly, and he quickly scolded:

"Tianchen! Do not be rude! It is the blessing of several lifetimes that Senior is willing to take you in as a Disciple. Why do you not kneel and thank him yet?"

Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe also frowned, winking repeatedly to signal Zhou Tianchen not to be presumptuous.

In their eyes, being able to join Kunlun was a great fortune, and Zhou Tianchen's questioning was simply ungrateful.

However, Zhou Tianchen did not retreat.

He stood in place, his back straight, his gaze still fixed on Jiang Changge.

His Aptitude to Cultivate was top-tier among the Zhou Imperial Clan; if he wanted to pursue a Breakthrough in Realm, he could have entered the Nascent Soul stage long ago.

But he did not focus on the path of Cultivation.

It was only because what he sought in his heart was never the height of his Realm, but the true essence of the Dao of Alchemy.

If the Revered Master of Kunlun did not understand the Dao of Alchemy, he would rather give up this opportunity and continue to grope in the dark alone.

Even if the road ahead was thorny, even if it took a hundred or a thousand years, he would have no regrets.

Seeing that Zhou Tianchen was unmoved, Ancestor Zhou Huaixu's expression became even uglier, and just as he was about to scold him again, Jiang Changge raised his hand to stop him.

"It is fine."

Jiang Changge's mouth curled up slightly; far from being displeased, there was a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

He looked at Zhou Tianchen and said in a calm tone: "What do you think the Dao of Alchemy is?"

Zhou Tianchen was slightly stunned, then fell into deep thought.

After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice steady.

"This Junior believes that the Dao of Alchemy is a microcosm of the Dao of Heaven and Earth."

"A furnace of Medicinal Pill, from selecting materials, formulation, and heat control to the final pill, every step contains the laws of the operation of Heaven and Earth."

"Medicinal herbs have the roles of sovereign, minister, assistant, and envoy, just as Heaven and Earth have Yin and Yang and the Five Elements; heat control has gentle and fierce methods, just as the four seasons have the alternation of cold and heat."

"One who practices Alchemy must discern the properties of herbs, comply with the timing of Heaven, and harmonize Yin and Yang to achieve a good furnace of Medicinal Pill."

He paused, his gaze firm.

"The Valley Revered Master of Medicine King Valley once taught this Junior that the Dao of Alchemy is the Heavenly Dao, and Alchemy is realizing the Dao."

"This Junior deeply agrees and takes this as his ambition, willing to exhaust his life to pursue the ultimate of the Dao of Alchemy."

After these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was lost in thought.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu nodded slightly, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes.

Although he did not practice the Dao of Alchemy, he could tell that Zhou Tianchen's words were quite insightful, far exceeding the level of ordinary Alchemists.

He was indeed the Disciple of the Zhou Imperial Clan most obsessed with the Dao of Alchemy.

Jiang Changge's smile deepened after listening.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, then put it down and spoke calmly.

"What the Valley Revered Master of Medicine King Valley said is not wrong. The Dao of Alchemy is the Heavenly Dao, and Alchemy is realizing the Dao—this is the form of the Dao of Alchemy, not its spirit."

Zhou Tianchen frowned slightly and said respectfully: "Please enlighten me, Senior."

Jiang Changge stood up, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked at the sky outside the hall.

"The Great Dao shares the same Origin, and the Dao follows nature. Everything is like Alchemy, and Alchemy is like everything."

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears in the hall.

"Alchemy is like this, and Cultivation is like this."

Zhou Tianchen's heart shook. He vaguely grasped something but could not articulate it.

Jiang Changge turned around, his gaze falling on him, and continued: "Do you think the Dao of Alchemy is just Alchemy? Is it just the combination of medicinal herbs and the control of heat?"

Zhou Tianchen shook his head subconsciously: "This Junior would not dare."

"Then have you ever thought about it?" Jiang Changge's tone was distant and profound.

"Alchemy is like Cultivation—using the Physical Body as a furnace, using the Dantian as a cauldron, refining essence into Qi to serve as medicine, and guiding the heart fire to refine Qi into a Medicinal Pill."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked.

Zhou Tianchen's eyes widened, his whole body struck by lightning, standing still on the spot.

Using the Physical Body as a furnace, using the Dantian as a cauldron, refining essence into Qi to serve as medicine, and guiding the heart fire to refine Qi into a Medicinal Pill.

These few short sentences, like a sudden enlightenment, instantly swept away his confusion of many years.

He had never thought that Alchemy and Cultivation could actually be combined.

No, it was not combined—they were originally two sides of the same coin!

The Physical Body is the Pill Furnace, the Dantian is the Pill Cauldron, essence, Qi, and spirit are the medicinal herbs, and the mind is the heat!

The Dao of Alchemy is the Dao of Cultivation; the Dao of Cultivation is also the Dao of Alchemy!

Zhou Tianchen trembled all over, his breathing rapid, his eyes full of shock and ecstasy.

He looked up at Jiang Changge, his lips trembling slightly.

"Senior... this... this is..."

The others in the hall were no better off.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu's eyes narrowed slightly, repeating those sixteen words, finding them more and more infinitely profound the more he pondered.

Using the Physical Body as a furnace, using the Dantian as a cauldron, refining essence into Qi to serve as medicine, and guiding the heart fire to refine Qi into a Medicinal Pill.

Was this talking about Alchemy? It was clearly talking about the method of Cultivation and Immortal Ascension!

And it was a supreme method that pointed directly to the Origin and hit the nail on the head!

Although Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe was the Imperial Lord and his Cultivation had reached the Mahayana Realm, he was currently listening with rapt attention.

The dozen or so Imperial Clan Disciples were looking at each other, and although they did not quite understand, they could feel the profound principles contained in those words.

Lu Jinghan stood to the side, his gaze falling on Jiang Changge, his heart full of admiration.

Revered Master's words seemed to be about Alchemy, but in reality, they pointed directly to the Origin of the Great Dao everywhere.

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang were even more stunned, and their awe for Jiang Changge deepened.

Jiang Changge looked at everyone's shocked expressions and secretly found it funny.

Fortunately, he had read some Taoist internal Alchemy methods in his previous life, and with a little modification and polish, what he said could indeed bluff people.

These were originally the core theories of Taoist internal Alchemy from his previous life, but in this world, they had become an unheard-of supreme Profound Truth.

Sure enough, knowledge is power.

No, knowledge is the power to act cool.

Jiang Changge's expression was calm; he sat down again, picked up his teacup, and took a sip, looking indifferent.

"The path of the Dao of Alchemy lies in Comprehension Ability, not in Legacy. I have said all I can say, and the rest depends on your own fortune."

Zhou Tianchen trembled all over and finally came back to his senses.

He took a deep breath, lifted his robes, knelt on the ground, and knocked his forehead heavily on the jade floor.

"With Revered Master above, Disciple Zhou Tianchen is willing to join the Kunlun sect, follow Revered Master to practice the Dao of Alchemy, and exhaust his life, never failing Revered Master's teachings!"

The voice was steady, but it carried a deep-seated firmness and piety.

Jiang Changge nodded slightly and raised his hand to support him virtually.

"Get up."

Zhou Tianchen stood up and stepped aside.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu finally came back to his senses, smiling and nodding repeatedly.

"Good, good, good! Tianchen, that you can apprentice under Senior is the blessing of several lifetimes! You must practice diligently in the future and do not fail Senior's expectations!"

Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe also stepped forward and bowed deeply to Jiang Changge.

"Thank you, Senior! Zhou Imperial Clan will never forget your great kindness!"

Jiang Changge waved his hand, his tone indifferent.

"No need for formalities. When I take Disciples, I only look at fate. Tianchen and I have fate, so I will naturally accept him."

Back at the banquet at Zuixian Tower, he had already taken a fancy to Zhou Tianchen.

Although there was no reward for taking a Disciple, it was not bad.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu nodded repeatedly, not daring to force it anymore.

Although only one person was accepted, Zhou Tianchen being able to join Kunlun was already a huge gain.

Moreover, he himself had benefited a lot from the discussion about the Dao of Alchemy and the Dao of Cultivation just now.

This bond of kindness had already been forged.