"Therefore, I want soone to have it sent to the Observatory of Profound Mystery in Gusu City."
The Observatory of Profound Mystery is a famous Daoist temple in Gusu City, with a long history stretching back to the Eastern Jin era. It has been a flourishing site of worship for thousands of years, with deep-rooted traditions.
"The Observatory of Profound Mystery has a Dragon and Tiger Seal given by the Zhang Family during its millennium foundation ritual," Lou Hechuan said in a solemn voice.
"The Dragon and Tiger Seal can illuminate the Primordial Spirit!" Lou Hechuan whispered.
"Chairman Lou... ten years..."
"We must set off today; I'm afraid the White Crane Temple has already received the news."
Lou Hechuan interrupted before Bai Buran could voice his doubts.
Hearing this, Bai Buran understood imdiately.
The Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance had secretly concealed the human-shaped Primordial Spirit from everyone, including the White Crane Temple, intending to create sothing out of it. The Primordial Spirit contains the secrets of the Wuwei Sect, and if successful, it could an the downfall of the Wuwei Sect at their hands.
Alas, in ten years, the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance has been unable to refine it. Now, they can only rely on the Dragon and Tiger Seal at the Observatory of Profound Mystery. If used, the White Crane Temple will inevitably learn of it.
By then, the ownership of this human-shaped Primordial Spirit might have to be negotiated.
That's why Lou Hechuan is so anxious.
"There is another question..." Bai Buran began.
"What?"
"Isn't it reckless to let just four young people escort sothing so important? What if..."
"I'd rather the demons from the Wuwei Sect find out," Lou Hechuan sneered.
"I'm just afraid they won't co."
At this, a chilling gleam flashed in Lou Hechuan's eyes. At this mont, the old Daoist's posture seed incredibly upright, like a drawn blade, sharp and exposed.
Knock, knock, knock...
Just then, a series of knocks interrupted their conversation.
"Co in," Lou Hechuan said.
The door opened, and Zhang Fan and Jiang Hu walked in, greeting Bai Buran, "Boss."
"This is Chairman Lou of the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance."
"Greetings, Chairman Lou."
As juniors, Zhang Fan and Jiang Hu hastily bowed to show respect.
To them, the elder before them was a significant figure.
"Young people, you have a bright future."
Lou Hechuan stood up, smiling warmly like a retired old man.
"Have a chat."
With that, Lou Hechuan walked towards the door with his hands behind his back. As he passed Zhang Fan, he paused montarily, glancing.
Thud...
The door closed, and Bai Buran slowly withdrew his gaze.
"Please, sit."
With that, he explained the mission for this trip. However, he did not ntion the contents of the earthen jar because matters of great importance should be known as little as possible, for one's own good.
"Can't we use a courier?" Jiang Hu muttered.
"Boss, what's in that jar?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.
"I don't know. Don't ask any more questions," Bai Buran shook his head. "Just follow the Daoist Alliance people, and talk less on the road. If anything happens, try to stay back."
"Understood."
"We're good at that."
Zhang Fan and Jiang Hu said in unison.
"..."
"Who on earth did I hire?" Bai Buran was speechless.
...
At 2:23 PM.
Zhang Fan and Jiang Hu were already on the high-speed train to Gusu City, accompanied by Zhan Xinyue and Sui Chunsheng, whom they had t before.
The earthen jar was tightly wrapped in a cloth and placed in the suitcase, personally guarded by Sui Chunsheng, while Zhan Xinyue stood guard beside it.
Conversely, Zhang Fan and Jiang Hu seed sowhat redundant.
"Would you two like so duck necks?"
At that mont, Jiang Hu took out so spicy duck necks from his bag and kindly offered them to Zhan Xinyue and Sui Chunsheng.
"As a disciple of the Maoshan Orthodox Sect, how can you indulge in such cravings? Such foods only drain your Primordial Qi." Zhan Xinyue shook his head.
At their level, they could fast for extended periods, practice Inner Core Techniques, and refine and nourish herbs, maintaining abundant Primordial Qi.
Ordinary food, while nourishing flesh, depletes Primordial Qi over ti, reducing one to a Corpse Guardian.
Sui Chunsheng, without a word, took a Small Gourd from his bag, opened the cap, poured out a pill about the size of a thumb, crimson red with a faint Daoist glow. He swallowed it whole and imdiately closed his eyes.
"We'll eat it ourselves," Jiang Hu said after being rebuffed, pushing the duck necks toward Zhang Fan.
"Damn..."
Suddenly, Zhang Fan exclaid.
"What is it?!" Jiang Hu asked.
"I forgot my Sleeping Pills."
"Is your sleep that bad?" Jiang Hu couldn't help but ask.
"Never mind, never mind, we're only staying a couple of days anyway," Zhang Fan shook his head, dismissing the thought.
"Unexpectedly, there are mbers of the Daoist Sect on the sa train."
In the next carriage, a young man put down his phone, turned his head to look behind, and couldn't help but sneer.
"If you don't recognize true lead and master ancestor, all efforts are in vain. Divorcing a wife won't separate Yin and Yang, living without grain leaves the stomach empty..."
A youth in casual attire gently recited.
"Herbs, tals, and gold are re dregs, clouds and mist obscure sun and moon. Even combining breath and visualization differs from the Golden Core affairs."
At this point, an elder beside him, graying at the temples but looking quite healthy, continued.
This verse from the Daoist classic "Enlightennt Chapter" criticizes thods like breath control and ditation, fasting on herbs or taking External Pills, while advocating Inner Core cultivation to nourish the Primordial Spirit and True Yang.
"If one understands the true essence of cultivation, why would they need to consu External Pills? Just pretentiousness..." the casual youth mocked.
"The realm of Infinite knows no disparity; even External Core has its profundity..."
Just then, the elder shook his head and said, "Once, among the Five Great Demons, one was skilled in crafting External Pills."
"Master, what are the Five Great Demons?" the casual youth asked puzzled.
The elder seed not to hear, but a reminiscing look appeared in his eyes.
"He had an elixir called 'Divine Breath Pill,' gilt and spherical, quite mystical. I took one in my early years."
"The Divine Breath Pill, what's that?" the casual youth asked curiously.
"Divine Breath enters silence into pseudo-death, with one sleep all is void." the elder sighed.
"Divine Breath, Divine Breath, once consud, the Primordial Spirit ceases, entering extinction," the elder sighed.
"If taken, the Primordial Spirit ceases? Doesn't that an death?" the casual youth showed surprise.
"For ordinary people, it is indeed a deadly pill. But if one's Primordial Spirit is strong, pausing a thought mimics death, enters a dream state, revives with renewed vigor, becoming ever stronger," the elder spoke in low tones.
In Daoist circles, sleep is also called a small death or pseudo-death, the closest state to the return of Consciousness to tranquility.
Especially deep sleep, which greatly aids in the restoration of bodily functions.
Ancestor Sanfeng once lauded the mystical aspects of sleep for cultivation, holding the secret to Immortal Techniques.
Sleeping Immortal, Sleeping Immortal, lying still as if forgotten, the three lights sink with nature becoming complete.
Each breath returns to the mysterious aperture, each breath goes naturally.
Do not scatter, be at peace, nourish till rcury is round, wait for lead blooms to appear.
Guard against losing it, stay vigilant; True Fire Ti, operate within; traverse seven reversals, not difficult.
Practice nine turns, why lant. Observe Dragon Tiger battlefield quietly, secretly reverse Yin and Yang.
People say I'm a muddling fool, I want to sleep yet am not asleep.
Once learned, true lying ditation.
Cultivate to true embryo origin.
When the sleeping dragon rises, ascending to the heavens.
Whence this dormant technique, from ssy-haired Taoist Ancestor Sanfeng.
The elder naturally understood the wonders of dormant sleep mimicking death. In his early years, he had taken the pill, stayed in a pseudo-death state for seven days and nights before waking.
Thinking back now, he shuddered at the thought. If he hadn't awakened, pseudo-death might have beco true death, with exhaustion of Primordial Spirit, unable to reignite.
Every ti soone takes the Divine Breath Pill, it's akin to snuffing out the Primordial Spirit once.
Thus, the Divine Breath Pill, while mystical enough to induce a pseudo-death state, is unbearable for common people.
Unless the Primordial Spirit is strong enough to exhaust the pill's effects in one night.
"Such an elixir isn't ant for human consumption... no human's Primordial Spirit can withstand the pill's fierceness long-term..." the elder lanted.
"Then why make it!?"
"Normal people and mortals cannot consu it, but there are other species."
"Other species? What are those?" the casual youth pursued.
"Divine Demon Holy Embryo!!" the elder's lips moved lightly, uttering these four words.
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