Chapter 21: Chapter 20 is very insightful; don't mention it again next time.
"The most essential part of the 'Great Golden Immortal Elixir Decree' is the Human Elixir Technique."
That was a genuine Dharma Technique, and those who cultivated with Jin Guang, who wouldn't want to get their hands on the Human Elixir Technique?
Now, this newly arrived Big Senior Brother was going to pass on the Human Elixir Technique to them, which should be an extremely joyful event.
But...
After lying there for an hour, Zhang Fei Xuan finally showed signs of life, his body no longer convulsing on the ground. After gasping for a few breaths, he lifted his head.
Song Yin stood at the entrance of the grand hall in a leisurely manner, also looking toward Zhang Fei Xuan, "Not bad, you are the one with the best quality among these people."
"???"
Zhang Fei Xuan didn't know why, but he suddenly felt a chill, instinctively looking around. Hmm... it was still the familiar square. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, but soon after, his face took on a mournful expression.
"Big Senior Brother, Big Senior Brother!"
He half-rose, as if prostrating at Song Yin's feet, speaking urgently, "Is the Human Elixir Technique like this? You're supposed to refine people with it!"
The pain was unbearable just to think about, already making his head blank and his speech thoughtless.
"Indeed, it is used to refine people."
Song Yin found it odd, "The Human Elixir Technique is indeed intended to refine people—it's right there in the name. What's the issue? Aren't you human?"
It sounded about right...
But refining people was supposed to mean refining others into pills to swallow, not turning oneself into a pill!
Zhang Fei Xuan opened his mouth, now somewhat clear-headed, but the words stopped at his lips, too afraid to say them out loud.
He feared that Song Yin would punch him to death.
"Big Senior Brother, may I leave now?" In the end, that was all he could muster to ask.
"Leave? Stay put. Let's wait for the other disciples to wake up; it's about that time," Song Yin replied.
With no other choice, Zhang Fei Xuan could only shakily stand up, waiting for the other disciples sprawled across the square to come to.
Song Yin was well aware of the use of Great Path Aura in refining a person; each had varying durations, but he could ensure they would almost wake at the same time.
As expected, it wasn't long before the other disciples gradually came to their senses, one by one looking dazed as if they had just returned from a stroll through the Ghost Gate.
Seeing all the disciples awake, Song Yin nodded and said, "Very well, now begin meditating and performing Qi Refinement. Swallow the elixir, and seize this opportunity for me to pass on the law."
Upon hearing the phrase "passing on the law," all the disciples who hadn't fully awakened stiffened instantly, their bodies going limp as they slumped down again.
Zhang Fei Xuan did the same, kneeling down before clutching at Song Yin's foot.
"Big Senior Brother, no more transmission, please. I really can't take it!" He looked up at Song Yin, appearing exceptionally pitiable.
If the transmission continued, he would die right there!
"Big Senior Brother, spare our lives!" The disciples wailed and crawled on the square.
"This is strange. You all wanted the Dharma Technique, and now you don't? During meditation, isn't it right for me to pass on other Dharma Techniques to you? What nonsense about sparing your lives; I'm not some demon who eats humans. Sit up properly!"
Song Yin's expression collapsed as he shouted.
Immediately, all the disciples straightened their bodies, palms facing the sky, adopting the posture for circulating Qi and cultivation.
"Second Junior Brother?" Song Yin looked towards Zhang Fei Xuan, who was still holding onto his own foot.
"That... Big Senior Brother."
Zhang Fei Xuan strained to conjure a smile, "Look, I'm at the Fifth Stage 'Use Wisdom,' my realm isn't the same as theirs, my refinement method is different, I don't need it, right?"
"Hmm?" Song Yin's gaze turned displeased.
"I'll go right over."
Zhang Fei Xuan hurriedly stood up and obediently walked to the front of the crowd in the square, amid their schadenfreude-filled stares, and sat down at the very front.
"All right, swallow the elixir now," Song Yin called out.
Zhang Fei Xuan took the elixir, the size of half a fingertip, and swallowed it directly.
The Shengji Elixir was small and hence, slid smoothly into his stomach; soon, he felt a burning sensation in his abdomen, as if his body was absorbing the nutrients thoroughly.
What followed was an inexplicable trembling of mana.
A flicker of surprise appeared in Zhang Fei Xuan's eyes, but he quickly closed them and concentrated on meditating.
After all, this was a Superior Grade Pill, indeed capable of speeding up the circulation of energy; such a good thing must not be wasted.
The other disciples were even more astonished—that truly was a Superior Grade Pill!
The kind that could speed up the circulation of energy when consumed!
After swallowing the elixir, they all meditated in silence, no longer speaking.
In the square, all the fellow sect members sat neatly, practicing Qi Refinement and Cultivation, which made Song Yin nod in approval.
Although the sect was in decline, at that moment, there was a semblance of the righteous path of cultivation.
Song Yin also swallowed an elixir and sat down to meditate on the steps at the entrance of the main hall, his eyes closed, but his mouth did not stop.
"While cultivating your energy, you need to concentrate, but you can also listen to the teaching. Starting today, I will pass on to you all the essentials of 'Great Golden Immortal Elixir Decree.' Now, let us begin with the most fundamental 'Medicine Stone Chapter.' Those who haven't heard it, concentrate; those who have, consolidate..."
Passing on the law wasn't just about the Human Elixir Technique; they couldn't refine it yet, but they could certainly learn the others.
Since Song Yin had promised to pass on the law, he would naturally teach the entirety of the 'Great Golden Immortal Elixir Decree.'
The disciples, either in the Guarding Simplicity or the Solidifying Essence realm, started with the most basic teachings, which was just perfect.
The sunlight shone down on everyone in the square. As Song Yin began his lecture, the light seemed to give rise to mist around them, making them appear to be enveloped in Immortal Qi, an image right out of a cultivation tale.
The mortals who had just finished cleaning the side halls gazed enviously at this sight.
As mere mortals, they had never seen such a scene before—it was something they had only heard about or seen depicted. To witness it with their own eyes stirred longing in their hearts.
The youths of fourteen or fifteen stood transfixed, holding brooms and mops, listening intently to Song Yin's teaching.
The sun climbed higher in the sky, nearing midday, and the medicinal power within their bodies began to gradually subside with the circulation of energy.
Ordinarily, their meditation would last just an hour or two; any longer was pointless.
But the circulation of energy and cultivation were set aside for the moment; the main thing was what Song Yin was teaching...
"To distinguish the properties of herbs is to be judicious, to abstain from crude external appearances is adhering to natural law; the Pre-Heaven Mysterious Barrier lies within such discernment, seeing one's true nature is the key to manifestation... This means," Song Yin explained, "we need to discern the nature of herbs, understand the growth of plants..."
Song Yin paused there and shifted tones:
"However, in my contemplation, it's not just this simple; in seeking herbs, we must not only pay attention to their outward characteristics but also to their inherent natures, penetrate all their medicinal properties, and find their essence. Then we must focus on their compatibility to perfectly capture the essence of the medicine. Only by doing so can we refine a Superior Grade Pill."
Zhang Fei Xuan listened with an increasingly bewildered expression.
The lecture was insightful, but let's not have it said again!
It was not possible to say that Song Yin's teachings were poor; in fact, he still managed to gain some insights from them.
He himself could be considered to have a thorough understanding of the Dharma Technique that Song Yin was currently speaking of, yet he still realized other things.
Let alone the other disciples, they surely benefited immensely.
Together with the elixir that could speed up the circulation of energy and cultivation, they indeed reaped quite a few benefits.
But as for his idea of comprehension and supplementing the understanding...
It was impossible to achieve!
Who would have the skill to so precisely discern all medicinal properties of an herb? Maybe not even the highly specialized herbalist could claim to perfectly identify all the properties of a single herb.
And even if one did possess such skill, refining a Superior Grade Pill would still be impossible; that comes down to the technique of Alchemy Dao.
Perhaps only someone as eccentric as Song Yin could do such a thing...