Chapter 2

The human body is the魄 (pò, corporeal soul). When the body moves, it is also the魄 (pò). The transformations in dreams are the魂 (hún, ethereal soul). Wisdom and intuition are the神 (shén, spirit). To put it simply, when the气 (qì, vital energy) is sufficient, it generates the魂 (hún); the魂 (hún) is the yang spirit. When the essence is sufficient, it generates the魄 (pò); the魄 (pò) is the yin spirit. When combined, the essence and气 (qì) interact, and the魂 (hún) and魄 (pò) gather.

"So, the魄 (pò) governs the body, and the魂 (hún) governs the spirit. Your魄 (pò) is strong, but your魂 (hún) is weak, and the魄 (pò) cannot control the魂 (hún). Therefore, your魂 (hún) often flies away, and your body becomes weaker and weaker!" Huo Hongye said.

Liu Shengzhi understood this principle. For normal people, the body is stronger than the spirit. Therefore, during cultivation, they are often limited by their physical senses and find it difficult to enter a state of deep meditation.

However, his spirit was too strong, while his body was too weak. This vicious cycle made it easy for his spirit to fly away.

Although he understood the principle, the solution was to strengthen his body to control his spirit.

Unfortunately, at his current state, strengthening his body was not an easy task. Ordinary tonics were ineffective for him!

"There is only one medicine that can help you now, and that is the Five-Stone Powder!" Huo Hongye said.

What? Five-Stone Powder!

Liu Shengzhi was greatly shocked. He certainly knew what the Five-Stone Powder was.

"Do you know about the Five-Stone Powder?" Huo Hongye asked with interest.

Liu Shengzhi, being honest, replied, "I know a little. I didn't expect that the true formula still exists today."

Huo Hongye said, "If you know this, you must know quite a bit!"

The Five-Stone Powder was a famous substance. During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the literati often used it like a modern aphrodisiac, stimulant, or drug. They sought a kind of spiritual madness and intense physical pleasure. It was said that this medicine was originally invented by Zhang Zhongjing to treat typhoid fever.

However, those who truly understood knew that the Five-Stone Powder originated among Daoist alchemists. It was an external elixir used in conjunction with breathing and internal energy cultivation.

But after it spread to ordinary people and caused great harm, the formula for the Five-Stone Powder gradually disappeared.

Liu Shengzhi recounted what he knew.

"About one-third of the Wei and Jin era's elegance was built on the Five-Stone Powder!" Huo Hongye sighed. "You must think carefully. This medicine is dangerous. Without understanding the techniques of qi cultivation, taking such a pill is truly risky!"

Although he advised this, his eyes gleamed with hope.

Liu Shengzhi suddenly understood. No wonder this person, who was not related to him, was so kind. He wanted to use him as a guinea pig!

But when he thought about it calmly, if he had no value, why would this person care about him?

Understanding this, Liu Shengzhi became calm.

"Treating a dead horse as if it were alive, since there is hope, I will try it!" Liu Shengzhi said.

Huo Hongye nodded with a smile, "Your name is Liu Shengzhi. Listening to this name, it has a Wei and Jin flavor! Perhaps you have a connection with the Five-Stone Powder and should use it to save your life!"

To reassure Liu Shengzhi, Huo Hongye even said these words, making Liu Shengzhi feel somewhat amused. It seemed that using the character '之' (zhī) in his name had a connection to the Wei and Jin era?

He had long seen the effects of the Five-Stone Powder in ancient texts and Daoist scriptures. Now, having the chance to try it himself, he was somewhat excited.

The Daoist sages had a philosophy of life and death: life comes and cannot be refused, and death comes and cannot be stopped. Perhaps Liu Shengzhi, having experienced many out-of-body experiences, was no longer as afraid of death as ordinary people.

"Let's try it!" Liu Shengzhi said.

Hearing this, Huo Hongye showed a hint of joy. A good doctor, having a miraculous medicine but no opportunity to test it, was unbearable.

Huo Hongye carefully took out a porcelain bottle from a small box. Inside was a pill the size of a longan, sealed with wax.

The Five-Stone Powder, made from five mineral drugs, naturally could not have the fragrant aroma of a legendary elixir.

But seeing the Five-Stone Powder, Liu Shengzhi still changed color. This was the legendary golden pill!

In early Daoism, the so-called golden pill referred to a pill made from mineral drugs.

Many people had died from taking it!

After all, mineral drugs are highly active. In modern terms, they contain heavy metals.

Unless one had cultivated to a certain level, with strong internal organs to absorb the medicinal power and expel toxins, one could not withstand it.

And now, Liu Shengzhi, not to mention cultivation, was even weaker than an ordinary person!

Huo Hongye said solemnly, "I am a descendant of Saint Zhang. That's why I have the true formula for the Five-Stone Powder and the accompanying breathing and guiding techniques. Since you have this connection, I will teach them to you!"

"Breathing, deep then stored, stored then extended, extended then descended, descended then settled, settled then solidified..."

He then taught Liu Shengzhi a set of breathing and guiding techniques developed from the inscriptions on a jade pendant.

He then used a bowl of warm yellow wine to help Liu Shengzhi take the Five-Stone Powder.

As the pill went down with the wine, it didn't take long for the medicinal power to slowly spread.

A huge wave of heat rose from his dantian in the lower abdomen, as if a furnace had been lit in his belly.

"No wonder historical records say that the literati of the Wei and Jin era, after taking the Five-Stone Powder, would run around naked in the snow, calling it 'dispersing the powder.' It turns out the effect is so powerful!"

Liu Shengzhi thought, feeling the urge to take off his clothes.

"Breath and guide the medicinal power!" Huo Hongye shouted in his ear.

Liu Shengzhi knew this was the critical moment. The heat was the medicinal power activating in his body. If he could control this power, it would greatly benefit his body and nourish it.

But if he followed the example of the Wei and Jin literati and wasted the medicinal power, it would harm his body and turn the medicine into a dangerous drug!

Many of the literati died from taking the Five-Stone Powder!

In Daoism, although death is accepted, life is also valued. It is a positive philosophy. If one can avoid death, it is better to do so!

He suddenly focused his mind, his breathing became deep and even, and he concentrated all his attention on his breathing, guiding it into his dantian.

In this way, the intense heat that seemed to burn his entire body was cooled by his breathing, like a piece of undissolved black ice in a furnace.