Later, Taoism made various improvements, thus developing more specific methods such as guidance and breathing.
Otherwise, if we follow the path of Laozi and Zhuangzi, not many people will be able to practice, because their scriptures and texts are too profound and will stop most people at the initial stage.
During this period, Taoists pushed alchemy to a new height, using various secret methods to refine elixirs, which, after ingestion, could transform one's own yin into yang energy. This shows the Taoist theory of pure yang.
“At this stage, the most important discovery of the Taoists is that they have found another secret path, comparable to the inner scene and heavenly medicine, called Path Finding!”
The so-called path-finding is said to be about finding a real road that can be walked on but is invisible to ordinary people.
There is no need to think too much. If you can really find the way successfully, the effect will be no less than entering the inner scene or picking the natural medicine. Unfortunately, the years are long and have buried all traces of the past, and now no one can find it.
Wang Xuan was stunned. According to his old colleague, the traditional techniques were constantly changing. Even the brilliant techniques of the alchemists might not be applicable in some cases?
"The root method is applicable and has never been outdated. The later methods also originated from it. It is the foundation, so it is always brilliant. However, the middle and later chapters of the pre-Qin bamboo slip method can generally be used as a reference, and it is not recommended to go deeper. I suspect that it was very applicable in the pre-Qin period, but some problems may have been discovered later."
Then Lao Chen mentioned the Taoist method, saying: "In the early days, Taoists made elixirs by collecting external objects and refining external elixirs. As time went by, it became more and more perfect, so it was called external elixir."
As Taoism rose and gradually prospered, the method of practice changed again and inner alchemy emerged.
"The breathing of the dragon and the tiger, expelling the old and taking in the new is called inner elixir." This is the most direct description of inner elixir by the ancients. "Inner" refers to the inside of the body, and "elixir" refers to the product formed by the combination of human essence, energy and spirit.
“In a sense, the old technique has undergone another transformation. The inner elixir has evolved and later turned into the golden elixir, which can achieve the Nascent Soul, etc.” Old Chen sighed.
The representative figures of this period are Zhongli Quan, Lu Dongbin, Chen Tuan and others.
"Zhongli Quan considered the "Santong Qi" and then combined it with Sima Chengzhen's "Zuowang Lun" to deduce the inner alchemy method. His research and practice methods are recorded in "Lingbao Bifa" and "Zhonglu Chuandao Ji."
Old Chen was quite knowledgeable and his explanation was very logical, which made Wang Xuan and Qingmu listen attentively.
"The one who reshaped the peak and made it shine brilliantly was Lü Dongbin. He left behind the "Secrets of Lü Gong's Golden Elixir" and developed the inner alchemy method to the golden elixir path."
Wang Xuan was a little confused. He understood why Lao Chen didn't talk about the realm earlier. The old technique was indeed complicated. It had been expanded and changed many times, and it was difficult to explain the levels of each period.
"At the same time, in addition to the cultivation of the golden elixir, Taoism has also developed methods such as drawing talismans, which are varied and powerful. The main representatives are naturally the three mountains, Longhu Mountain, Maoshan Mountain, and Gezao Mountain."
"A secret road was also discovered in the middle and late period of Taoism. Unfortunately, it was described very vaguely and the records were not clear." Old Chen shook his head, feeling quite regretful.
"Sword cultivators appeared after the Golden Core Avenue, right?" Wang Xuan asked.
"Yes." Old Chen nodded.
Wang Xuan pondered that if he calculated in this way, he could roughly estimate the age of the female sword fairy. She was obviously a latecomer, not an old monster from the early days.
Old Chen said: "Similarly, I think there are problems with the road ahead. Otherwise, it would not have gradually declined and disappeared in modern times."
Then, he mentioned Buddhism, sucked his teeth, and said: "Most of the old Buddhas have abandoned their physical bodies. This makes me a little confused!"
He even felt that it was a bit taboo for people who practiced the old techniques. In the end, they turned into a rainbow and burned the so-called stinking skin bag, which always made people feel uneasy.
As for the so-called "Bodhisattva in the flesh" in Buddhism, what is left is just a dead torso for future generations to admire, and it does not possess any extraordinary qualities. Some of them are still collected in the warehouses of relevant departments.
"What I mentioned are only the main threads of the old arts. I didn't mention the various schools of thought. For example, the red-clothed female demon fairy who is suspected to be from the same period as the alchemist is obviously extremely powerful. It is estimated that she is not afraid of the alchemist at all. She has even hunted down the top feathered alchemists."
After Lao Chen finished speaking, he concluded, "So, the most glorious era of the old art has not yet arrived. It is waiting for people like you and me to rise up!"
Looking at his serious look, Qingmu felt that his master would inevitably be beaten in the future. What if those ancients were still alive? Who else would he punish if not him?
However, before he could finish his complaints, he saw Patriarch Wang nod solemnly and say, "That makes sense. There was an Old Covenant in ancient times. I will make a New Covenant in the future."
boom!
A thunderclap exploded in the sky, startling Lao Chen. He quickly changed his words: "Lao Wang, do you know how to respect the predecessors?"
Wang Xuan glanced out the window. Dark clouds covered the stars and the moon. It was cloudy and it started to rain heavily. He didn't believe in ghosts and gods.
Old Chen realized that it was just a change in the celestial phenomena, and he calmly shut up again.
Wang Xuan asked, "Okay, Lao Chen, tell me about the realm levels you summarized. How should they be divided if they are applicable to the past and present?"
"The first level is fog, the second level is lighting..." Old Chen told him that the roads corresponding to these levels are universal. From the pre-Qin period to the present, all parties have been taking these roads, and there should not be any problems or hidden dangers.
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