Chapter Nineteen: Preparations

This type of pill essence was frequently used in certain folk lineages in my previous life, mainly to open up the disciples’ meridians and set them on the path of cultivation. It could be called a seed of the Great Way, a means of transmitting merit, or passing on the Law itself.

Many are unaware that some people, seemingly without any prior knowledge, suddenly become enlightened overnight—gaining mastery of spells or experiencing a sudden opening of their minds. Such phenomena arise from encountering a cultivator who transmits the Law.

Examples abound: the venerable master of the Three Mountains who granted Sun Wukong the Golden Pill Path and various wondrous arts in one night, or Huang Shigong’s transmission of the art of war to Zhang Liang. Though it appeared he merely passed on a few volumes of military strategy, the true essence could be illuminated in half an hour. Books on strategy were everywhere in the past, but how many could truly grasp their spirit? Those who could comprehend them were rare indeed, and even to seize a fraction of their secrets was a feat among a hundred.

The world, ignorant of the true principle, perpetuates misunderstandings, failing to grasp the crux of transmission; as a result, the matter grows ever more complicated, further muddied by heretical theories, taking people farther from the Way.

The Great Way is utmost simplicity. The essence of passing on merit and Law is summed up in a single word. “The Sage embraces the One and thus stands for the world,” and “My Way is unified by the One”—such sayings all point to this truth.

Though it is a simple seal, it is never given lightly. I am too occupied now, but among those here, only Little Jade possesses such innate talent—after all, she is a fox spirit who has attained refinement—so it is only natural she should be chosen.

Meanwhile, Wang Yuanhong, Wang Yuanling, and Wang Yuanxing were all outside, commanding over two hundred people in their tasks.

These three were Wang Yuanfeng’s elder brothers—true brothers-in-arms. Although in daily life each handled his own affairs, whenever something arose, they would all gather at once.

Wang Yuanhong, having come from a military background, was most adept at maneuvering troops, positioning men in ambush around the area. Brow Finch remained at Wang Yuanhong’s side, casting spells at each location they reached, rendering the archers and swordsmen invisible to outsiders.

Wang Yuanfeng, however, paid no attention to external matters. He thought to himself, With my brothers and Little Jade here, plus Brow Finch, a corpse fiend who has cultivated for years, and over two hundred elite archers and swordsmen in ambush, it should be enough. Normally, two hundred would suffice, but my brothers felt uneasy and borrowed all the top experts from the noble ladies’ households in our marquisate, just in case—determined to ensure nothing could possibly go wrong.

All I need do is focus on my own task. This time, I am refining an external pill, which follows the same principles as the internal pill, but with certain differences. The internal pill cultivated within oneself comprises one’s own spirit, soul, and vital essence—full of personal destiny and attributes. Even those who would recklessly use evil arts to seize another’s cultivation cannot directly absorb it; conversion is always required, which takes time, even for demon cultivators. Otherwise, one risks being affected by the inner pill itself, falling into madness or deviation.

But an external pill is different. It is formed by combining ingredients in a furnace, subtly aligning with heaven and earth. To preserve its purity, personal will and spirit are generally not infused. Thus, once the pill is complete and left behind, it becomes a thing of heaven and earth, free to be claimed. No one knows what might happen to it—it may even develop its own consciousness and become a cultivator in its own right.

He proceeded to add various spiritual herbs into the pill furnace according to the formula. Instantly, the ingredients were purified and vaporized, their medicinal energy spreading throughout the furnace.

He activated the furnace, merging it with the external pill, and struck the furnace with his palm. In that moment, the image of a nine-aperture pill furnace appeared above the pill, flashing briefly before imprinting itself within. The process was swift—an untrained observer would only notice the pill flash, unaware of the subtlety of the technique. Without guidance, one could never comprehend this crucial step, colloquially known as “enlightening the apertures.”

Now, the external pill’s brilliance intensified, spinning with lively spirit, stirring the medicinal vapors and refining the chaotic spiritual energies within the furnace. The entire furnace spun, inhaling vital essence from all around, drawing in the ambient energy of the house, which gathered above as a cloud several dozen feet across, slowly streaming toward the pill furnace.

Within the chamber, Wang Yuanfeng controlled the furnace, guiding the external pill to absorb both the internal and external energies, thereby augmenting its vitality and enhancing its quality.

Meanwhile, many outside witnessed the cloud of vital essence rising over the Marquis of Wu’an’s residence.

Experts from many factions, concealed throughout Shengjing, recognized this as the omen of a spiritual treasure’s imminent birth. Some sensed their own fortune was at hand. Similarly, the imperial observatory in the palace took note; they dispatched agents to watch the marquisate’s anomaly and reported to the current emperor.

All manner of people sprang into action, rushing toward the source of the phenomenon: old and young, Daoists and monks, in a dazzling array of attire—an almost festive procession, all converging on Wang Yuanfeng’s small courtyard.

Yet, not everyone hurried to the Marquis’s residence. Some hastily packed their belongings, lamenting, “These are troubled times,” and prepared to slip out of the city at dawn.

Others, indifferent, simply minded their own affairs, unaffected by the commotion.

At that moment, several watchers in the shadows saw a small figure sneak in—it was Wang Yuanqing, their fourth brother. Little Jade was about to pull him back to keep him from disturbing the young master, but Wang Yuanhong stopped her, saying, “Fourth Brother instructed us: any outsider who enters is to be slain without mercy, but if it’s family, we pretend not to notice.”

“Oh, all right, big brother,” Little Jade replied, waving her hand to shroud them once more in darkness.

Unaware of all this, Wang Yuanfeng continued refining the external pill, when suddenly he heard a knock at the door. He guessed it must be his fourth brother, Wang Yuanqing—after all, it was he who had found the ingredients for this pill, though they were of no use to him, and he wished to learn. Thus, Wang Yuanfeng had decided to transmit the method to him. He called out, “Come in, the door’s not locked.”

The door creaked open, and a head poked in, scanning the room. Wang Yuanqing saw his fourth brother controlling the pill furnace, above which hovered nine apertures, with fine white mist streaming eagerly inside.

He remembered his brother’s invitation earlier that day to come at midnight, and, having waited patiently, had now sneaked out. Witnessing this scene, he marveled at his brother’s extraordinary abilities, then sidestepped into the room.

Wang Yuanqing glanced around, taking in the billowing mist that filled the chamber, giving it an ethereal air. At the back stood a sacred altar with incense, candles, yellow paper, cinnabar talismans, and all manner of ritual implements. Above it hung a portrait of a stern figure holding the Three-Treasure Jade Scepter. In the previous life, nine out of ten would recognize this as the image of the Primordial Celestial Lord, but to Wang Yuanqing, it radiated a mysterious glow, exuding an ineffable profundity that drew the observer into a state of contemplation. Coupled with the scene of swirling clouds and mist, it was truly a vision of an immortal’s abode.