Chapter 14: Fortune

Master Qingxu pondered for a moment before replying:

“This is precisely what sets Chisongzi apart from ordinary men. Chisongzi is an immortal, and his ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’ is a divine tool for refining elixirs—how could he give it away lightly? He had to hide it where mortals would scarcely find it, waiting for the one fated to possess the ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’… Thus, he chose Mount Zhongnan.

Mount Zhongnan’s peaks rise in endless succession, its ravines crisscrossing the land; especially atop its summits, the cliffs are perilous beyond compare, places few ordinary people would ever tread. This ensured that the ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’ would rarely, if ever, encounter the common man. Moreover, Chisongzi set a ‘barrier’ at the hiding place of the furnace for two reasons: first, to draw the attention of the destined one, and second, to test whether this fated person had the power to break the barrier and retrieve the ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’…

In the end, Danzi, you became the one destined to possess it! Yet, from the first year of Shang Tang when Chisongzi hid the ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’ to the fourth year of Zhenguan in the Great Tang, more than two thousand years have passed before you, the one fated, finally appeared—how belated you are! Hahaha…”

At these words, Master Qingxu stroked his silver beard and laughed aloud.

“What?” Yan Chixia was stunned. “More than two thousand years? Master, the barrier laid by the immortal Chisongzi over two thousand years ago is still so powerful… Was he truly at the cultivation realm of a ‘Primordial Golden Immortal’?”

“Of course! Otherwise, how could he be called an immortal?” Master Qingxu stopped laughing and said, “Danzi, it is fortunate that Chisongzi set that barrier over two thousand years ago—the original defensive power has nearly faded. If it had been laid later, the moment you stepped into the barrier today, you would have been shattered to pieces!”

“What?” Yan Chixia asked in confusion, “Master, does the strength of a barrier’s defense relate to how long ago it was set?”

“Of course it does,” Master Qingxu explained. “When a barrier is first established, the true energy condensed upon its protective shield is full and abundant, making its defense formidable. But as time goes by, the energy stored within the barrier is gradually eroded by the forces of nature—unless it is regularly replenished and maintained, no matter how mighty a barrier, it will eventually become a defective shell of itself, what is called a ‘remnant barrier.’ Danzi, the barrier Chisongzi set upon Mount Zhongnan has long since become a remnant barrier. That’s why you escaped unharmed…”

“Oh, so that’s how it is!” Yan Chixia pressed his hand to his forehead in relief. “Master, I am truly fortunate!”

“Yes, but even so, you were still injured,” Master Qingxu said. “Danzi, sit here and heal your wounds with your cultivation. I will go and prepare some Revitalizing Golden Elixir for you.”

Yan Chixia, upon hearing this, quickly lifted the ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’ and said, “Master, if you’re going to refine pills, use this ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace.’”

“No, no, no!” Master Qingxu refused at once. “Danzi, this ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’ belongs solely to you—how could I use it? ‘Do not do unto others what you do not wish for yourself,’ and ‘what belongs to others must not be claimed as one’s own’—these have always been my guiding principles.”

“But Master, we are family—there’s no division between yours and mine!”

“No!” Master Qingxu insisted. “Danzi, this ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’ is yours and yours alone; I will not use it. Moreover, you must remember: ‘Harbor no intention to harm others, but never be without a guard against others.’ The ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’ is a divine artifact for refining elixirs; you must keep it secret and let no one know of it. Otherwise, if those with greedy hearts learn of it, they might covet the furnace, seize it by force, and bring harm upon you!”

“Yes, Master, I will always remember your teaching!” Yan Chixia nodded in agreement. “Master, when you refine the elixir, please make an extra pill. Tomorrow I’ll bring one to Sister Xiaoyue.”

Master Qingxu agreed and turned to walk toward his room.

Overflowing with joy, Yan Chixia carefully placed the ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’ into a sandalwood box, closed the lid, and then sat cross-legged on the floor to begin healing his injuries with cultivated energy.

At that moment, Yan Chixia’s heart surged with excitement. The ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’ had brought him boundless encouragement and hope. As he cultivated and nursed his wounds, his thoughts wandered freely, envisioning a brilliant future… Now, his cultivation of the Dao had borne great fruit, and he had reached the ‘Fusion’ realm. He was determined to press on with all diligence, sparing no effort, to reach the pinnacle of Daoist cultivation—the realm of the ‘Primordial Golden Immortal’!

After two quarters of an hour, Yan Chixia finished healing. Just as he stood up, he heard Master Qingxu call out, “Danzi, the Golden Elixir is ready—come and take it!”

Yan Chixia answered and, carrying the sandalwood box, hurried to Master Qingxu’s room. There he found two freshly refined Revitalizing Golden Elixirs in a wooden bowl, both perfectly round and glowing with a vibrant red luster.

“Ah!” Yan Chixia exclaimed with delight. “Master, your elixirs are better than ever! These radiant, round golden pills are almost too beautiful to take!”

Master Qingxu laughed. “Danzi, don’t hesitate—take one at once. After you’ve taken the Golden Elixir, rest a while and continue your cultivation. Right now, you are at the ‘Fusion’ stage. When you reach the ‘Heart-Movement’ stage, I will teach you the art of alchemy.”

“Wonderful!” Yan Chixia was overjoyed. “Master, now that I have the ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace,’ once I learn alchemy from you, I’ll be able to use it to refine Golden Elixirs myself!”

“Indeed!” Master Qingxu replied with hope. “Danzi, I believe that in the future, the Golden Elixirs you produce with the ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace’ will be extraordinary, with effects beyond compare!”

“Master is right! With the ‘Wish-Fulfilling Alchemy Furnace,’ I will certainly produce peerless Golden Elixirs!” Yan Chixia declared with the utmost confidence. After taking one elixir, he placed the other in his pocket, saving it to give to Bai Xiaoyue the next day.

By then, it was just past the hour of Shen.

Yan Chixia saw Master Qingxu settling on his meditation cushion to enter into contemplation. He picked up the sandalwood box, left Master Qingxu’s room, and returned to his own. He placed the sandalwood box gently on his desk, set the ‘Hero’s Sword’ beside it, then took a sheet of talisman paper from the pile on the desk, spread it before him, dipped his brush deep into a pot of cinnabar ink, and began to draw with focused concentration.