Ning Changge silently nodded in agreement. The Quanzhen Sect's philosophy was similar to Wudang's. Though it was a Jianghu sect, its essence was rooted in Daoism.
The disciples primarily cultivated the Dao, with martial arts serving as a supplementary practice for protection.
However, the Quanzhen Sect wasn't purely Daoist; it advocated the integration of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. This fusion of the three teachings, focusing on understanding the heart and seeing one's true nature, was what defined Quanzhen.
The disciples' expressions grew serious as they listened intently. Ning Changge also sat upright, paying close attention. From his previous discussions with Wang Chongyang, he knew that the Grandmaster's understanding of the Dao was exceptional.
Wang Chongyang's voice echoed through the hall: "Those who leave the secular world must first seek a hermitage… If one does not move, the blood and Qi will stagnate…"
"Medicine is the essence of mountains and rivers, the quintessence of plants and trees…"
"The Dao of the heart is such that if one remains calm, the heart will not move, and one will see nothing…"
He began with the basics, discussing hermitage, wandering, studying, meditation, and calming the mind. Though these were foundational concepts, Wang Chongyang always managed to offer new insights, often using examples to explain his points.
Ning Changge nodded in approval, feeling inspired. However, when he glanced at the disciples, he noticed that most of them seemed confused, understanding the words but not the deeper meaning.
"Five Qi gather in the central palace, three essences converge at the peak. The Azure Dragon exhales red mist, the White Tiger spits black smoke. The myriad spirits align, the hundred meridians flow, cinnabar glows, mercury and lead condense. Though the body resides in the human world, the spirit roams the heavens…"
Wang Chongyang continued, his eyes deep as though immersed in the world of Daoist scriptures. He delved into his understanding of the Three Flowers and Five Qi.
"The three essences are the three flowers—essence, Qi, and spirit. Essence is the jade flower, Qi is the golden flower, and spirit is the nine-flower…"
Ning Changge's mind felt as though it had been struck by lightning, and flashes of insight began to appear.
"Three Flowers Gather at the Peak, Five Qi Return to the Origin. Essence, Qi, and spirit nurture the three flowers, while the five organs store the five Qi, which correspond to the five elements."
"The Five Qi and Five Elements… Once I reach the Foundation Establishment stage, I can delve deeper into this."
"As for the Three Flowers—essence, Qi, and spirit—I've already touched upon them. When I comprehended the Pure Yang True Fire, I gained insight into the True Fire of Essence and Qi. Only the True Fire of Spirit has eluded me, but could it be that…"
"I've been guarding a treasure without realizing it?"
Ning Changge couldn't help but laugh inwardly, feeling a great sense of relief. In his sea of consciousness, his Spirit God flickered, and a pale, eerie flame began to rise, growing stronger with each passing moment.
The Spirit God was the embryonic form of the Primordial Spirit, and the True Fire of Spirit was born from the Primordial Spirit itself. Just as the Pure Yang True Fire had emerged from the sun-like spiritual energy, the True Fire of Spirit would emerge from the Spirit God.
[System Notification]
– You have listened to Wang Chongyang's lecture and gained insight into the principles of the Three Flowers and Five Qi. Combining this with your understanding of the Samadhi True Fire, you have created the Immortal Dao technique, Pure Yin True Fire!
In that moment of enlightenment, a pale flame suddenly rose from Ning Changge's body, exuding an unsettling aura. The Pure Yin True Fire was the True Fire of the Primordial Spirit, specifically designed to burn the Primordial Spirit, consciousness, soul, will, and even obsessions.
As the Pure Yin True Fire formed, Ning Changge felt all his distracting thoughts burn away, entering a state of emptiness and clarity. The pale flame continued to rise, enveloping him, but it did not spread outward.
Wang Chongyang was startled awake. When he saw the flame surrounding Ning Changge, his pupils contracted. He felt as though he had encountered something terrifying, as if the flame could burn him into the cycle of reincarnation, erasing his soul entirely.
"What kind of fire is this…?"
The disciples below also noticed the strange phenomenon around Ning Changge, their eyes wide with shock as they whispered among themselves.
"What's happening to the Little Immortal?"
"Could this be the legendary Pure Yang True Fire?"
"No, I've heard that Pure Yang True Fire is blue, but this flame is pale."
"Could it be… that the Little Immortal has gained new insight from the Grandmaster's lecture?"
This speculation left everyone in awe. What kind of monstrous talent could gain such terrifying enlightenment from just a brief lecture? Though they couldn't fully comprehend the flame's power, they instinctively knew it was dangerous—just a spark could likely wipe out the entire Quanzhen Sect!
The disciples whispered in low voices, but Wang Chongyang quickly gestured for silence. They immediately quieted down, their eyes still fixed on Ning Changge.
By this time, the flames around Ning Changge had gradually dissipated, and the True Fire of the Primordial Spirit had withdrawn. He emerged from his meditative state, his eyes filled with a hint of apology.
"I deeply apologies for interrupting your lecture, Master Chongyang."
Wang Chongyang waved it off but couldn't help asking, "Did you gain some insight?"
Ning Changge smiled and nodded. "A little."
He didn't bother hiding his joy. The harvest from this session was immense. Now that he had comprehended the True Fire of the Primordial Spirit, if he could also grasp the True Fire of Essence, he would be able to combine essence, Qi, and spirit to form the Samadhi True Fire once he reached the Foundation Establishment stage!