Chapter 19

Zhang Yan carefully examined the ancient and simple bronze tripod, on which were inscribed the three ancient characters “Zhen Zhuo Ding” (Purifying Tripod). As he approached to observe it, he could sense a faint aura unique to cultivators.

According to what the young Taoist had said, this large tripod should have been sent by his master, Shi Shoujing.

However, instead of giving him elixirs or Taoist scriptures, he had sent him a bronze tripod. What was the intention behind this?

In the mystic sect, every action of a high-ranking adept was filled with profound meaning. Shi Shoujing would not have sent him something without a reason; he must have wanted to convey something through the tripod.

“Tripod, tripod...”

Zhang Yan paced back and forth, deeply pondering the mystery. Suddenly, he paused, recalling a possibility. Could the master be referring to... a Lishi (Mighty Warrior)?

Although the name “Lishi” sounded impressive, those who truly knew the details did not think so.

This was because most Lishi came from disciples with no background or from miscellaneous sects and wandering cultivators.

If one reached the Foundation Establishment stage but failed to open their meridians for a long time, once they aged and passed their peak, their meridians would no longer be as strong as before, thus completely cutting off this possibility.

Therefore, when some disciples realized they had no hope of becoming immortals, they would scatter their entire essence into their limbs and bones, using it to nourish their physical bodies and become Lishi.

If their cultivation could advance further, they could rely on the power of the sect to refine them with secret medicines, infusing golden sand into their bodies, making their physical bodies even tougher.

The term “Tripod-Bearing Lishi” specifically referred to cultivators who became Lishi at the Foundation Establishment stage.

In the upper academy, there were different levels of Lishi, such as “Mountain-Lifting Lishi,” “Sea-Covering Lishi,” and “Heaven-Turning Lishi.” Although they seemed powerful, they were entirely dependent on external aids and had no hope of advancing in cultivation, becoming mere enforcers for the sect.

In a sense, they were tools in the hands of others.

Zhang Yan had heard that Lishi, due to their large appetites, would use a large tripod to cook their meals. Could Shi Shoujing be using this tripod to hint at his future, reminding him of the path he should choose, hoping he would become a Lishi?

The more he thought about it, the more he believed this was the case.

Shi Shoujing was trying to make him step back, giving up the cultivation resources that should have belonged to him and not competing with other disciples.

Was this a reminder that only by taking a different path from others could he ensure his own safety?

Zhang Yan snorted. This clearly showed that although Shi Shoujing had accepted him as a disciple, he did not believe in his potential and, by extension, his future. He had only reluctantly accepted him due to some reason.

He glanced at the bronze tripod, believing that many people must have seen it on its way here. Shi Shoujing might have even deliberately let the other disciples know about it, sending a clear message: although the three masters had accepted him, Zhang Yan, as a disciple, they had no intention of redistributing cultivation resources but were arranging for him to take another path.

Thus, the act of sending the tripod, while appearing to be a gentle suggestion, was actually an unchangeable decision by the three masters!

Zhang Yan sneered. How could his cultivation path be decided by others?

He was not content with being just a Lishi, a mere servant or guard. What was the point of seeking immortality if it meant being a slave?

Cultivation was about transcending the mundane. Being controlled by others, how could one become an immortal or cultivate the Dao?

As for Shi Shoujing saying he had limited potential, he dismissed it. Hadn't he, a nameless disciple with no background, become a formal disciple?

This showed that the future was not set in stone. His current position was proof of that!

On the contrary, those who, like his former self, did not strive for progress and waited for others to grant them opportunities, might have already been locked away by the Zhou family to serve their in-laws.

The only way to ensure his own future was to continuously improve his cultivation. Everything else was an illusion!

Smirking, he circled the tripod twice, and a bold idea suddenly came to mind.

From the aura, he could sense that this tripod was not an ordinary object but a magical artifact. Without even trying, he knew that placing food in it would remove impurities and extract the essence, avoiding the ingestion of useless dregs.

But Zhang Yan saw another use for it.

The tripod had the effect of purifying and refining!

With this thought, his eyes lit up. He immediately went out, gathered many young Taoists, and instructed them to collect a large amount of dry firewood.

Now a formal disciple, although his treatment was different from that of the noble families' children, his status was real. He could even keep servants. When he gave the order, the young Taoists dared not disobey.

Not only that, they competed fiercely to gain Zhang Yan's favor, thinking that if they could be accepted as his disciples, they might also be able to wield power like Bian Qiao and others.

Within an hour, Zhang Yan's cave was piled high with enough firewood for half a month. Some young Taoists, thinking they were being clever, even caught some wild game to send over. Zhang Yan did not refuse, accepting everything and then dismissing the young Taoists, sealing the cave entrance with a stone.

He divided the firewood into fifteen piles, corresponding to half a month, to facilitate the tripod's steaming. Fortunately, the cave was spacious, leaving him room to move.

He was not collecting the firewood to cook food but to use the tripod's power to refine the essence in his dantian, forcing it out and purifying it!

He moved the tripod over a pile of firewood, used a bamboo tube to channel the spring water from the stone wall into it, and lit the firewood when it was half full.

Soon, the water in the tripod began to boil. He stripped off his clothes and leaped into the tripod.

From his previous fight with Wang Lie, he had learned that extreme external conditions or moments of life and death could cause the dantian to open, releasing essence. However, this method was too dangerous and, without a large amount of elixirs, could easily lead to mistakes. It was an extremely extreme approach.

Now, thinking about it, if Chen Feng had indeed used this method to refine his essence, he must have had his reasons and was forced to take the risk.

Based on his reasoning, aside from other methods, the elders of the sect should have ways to help their juniors refine their essence, which was more stable and less likely to cause problems.

In fact, his thoughts were close to the truth. When disciples of the mystic sect reached the Essence Refinement stage, the elders usually helped them open their dantian, guide the essence, and then slowly refine it themselves. This process was not completed in a day, as the elders also consumed their own essence, the extent of which depended on their cultivation.

Generally, they would practice for one to two hours a day, then sit in meditation to recover their essence. After about half a month, they would complete the process.

For disciples with inherited techniques, this stage was not difficult to pass.

For Zhang Yan, without the guidance of elders, he had to rely on himself.

The heat in the tripod grew stronger, and Zhang Yan had to start circulating his inner qi to resist it.

At this moment, he realized the tripod's mystical nature. Despite the burning firewood, the cave was not filled with smoke, and the tripod's walls remained cool. The heat did not rise like ordinary steam but seeped into his muscles and bones.

He knew this was not ordinary heat but equivalent to a senior adept with much higher cultivation using inner fire to force him.

Feeling a slight pain in his internal organs, he quickly swallowed a Zhengyuan Pill and exerted all his strength to resist the heat. However, the heat kept surging, giving him no respite.

Gradually, his inner qi was depleted, and he had to force more from his nearly exhausted meridians. He knew this was the critical moment. Despite his flushed face and red, cooked-like skin, he gritted his teeth and persisted.

After about a quarter of an hour, his inner qi was completely exhausted. Suddenly, there was a loud "boom," and the tightly closed dantian door opened again. This time, due to the continuous influx of external fire, the dantian did not close but continued to release essence, which fought with the external fire.

The essence was constantly consumed, and the impurities were refined by the heat in the tripod, transforming into the purest essence. Black impurities seeped out of Zhang Yan's skin, though the foul smell was unbearable, he had no time to care.

Whenever he felt his body could not hold on, he swallowed a pill to protect his meridians and organs, guiding the essence with his mind, determined to extract all the essence hidden in his dantian.

Whenever a pile of firewood burned out, he moved the tripod to another pile, ensuring the tripod fire did not stop.

For three days and three nights, Zhang Yan did not leave his cave, only refining his essence in the tripod.

After swallowing no less than twenty-six Zhengyuan Pills, most of his essence had been refined. However, he encountered a difficult point; no matter how hard he tried, the last bit of unrefined essence in his dantian could not be forced out.

Just as he was becoming anxious, a line from the "Yiqi Qingjing" (One Qi Clearing Scripture) flashed in his mind:

"Death of the heart, life of the spirit, the qi will move on its own"!

His mind suddenly cleared. At this stage, the refinement of essence was already a natural process, but he had been too eager and too focused, losing the true meaning of the Dao, causing the qi to stagnate and the essence to retreat.

This situation was similar to when he was at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Realizing this, Zhang Yan's mind became clear. He swallowed all the remaining pills, not focusing on the last bit of essence but guarding his dantian, as if his entire body was empty.

He was already at the final step, just one push away. Now, with this realization, the last bit of essence slowly rose from the dantian, the impurities sank, and the yin and yang separated. It merged with the previously refined essence, circulating through his meridians thirty-six times before returning to the dantian, settling quietly.

The firewood under the tripod had burned out. Zhang Yan opened his eyes, and a flash of brilliance appeared in them. The dim cave, which had been dark, now appeared as clear as daylight to him.

At this point, he had completed the "Essence Refinement and Purification" stage, stepping into the "Essence Completion and True Cultivation" realm. His inner qi had been completely transformed into true essence, and his strength had tripled. His arms had the strength of three thousand catties, his eyes could see the stars in the sky and the depths of the water, and his body was far from that of an ordinary person.

Now, he only needed to spend time enhancing his true essence and consolidating his realm to open his meridians and advance further!

Zhang Yan thought of the "Xuanyuan Inner Reference Marvelous Record" and thought, "Isn't this a sign of divine assistance?"

Even though the book was complex and difficult for others, with the broken jade in his possession, he could repeatedly try without fear of failure. Once he successfully opened his meridians, he would see the expressions of the masters and other disciples!

He looked at the heavy and clumsy Zhen Zhuo Ding, which seemed to have been sent to help him because others could not wait for his slow progress. He couldn't help but laugh and recite aloud: "Others use the tripod to advise me not to compete, but I use the tripod to refine my essence. The mundane heart falsely interprets the divine Dao, and all the calculations are in vain!"

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PS: Cough, cough, a small request for votes!