Chapter 189: Yin-Yang School
As expected, when the matches were added, one could see the blazing fire in the furnace, like rising smoke burning in the cauldron.

Xu Fu asked Li Daoxuan to add more firewood, so he added one more piece. The fire burned more vigorously with each piece of firewood added.

The fire was like a waterfall falling from the sky, rolling and washing away constantly.

The force was like a surging river, roaring and raging.

It is also like huge waves rising in the sea, one higher than the other.

"Heavy and intense fire is called martial fire." Xu Fu said calmly.

"The so-called fire in the heart is like a series of obstacles. It is like the surging sea, raging fire and boiling oil. The fire rises at all times, hidden in the chest. It is as strong as a blade, and it moves forward without hesitation."

"Disciple, do you understand?"

"Master, I just understand a little bit." Li Daoxuan listened to Xu Fu's words with a serious face, bowed to him, and frowned, "Master, the martial fire you just mentioned, in my opinion, could it be referring to the fierce Yang? Hidden in the heart and lungs, invincible?"

"That's true." Xu Fu nodded and smiled, then waved his sleeves. He felt a breeze blowing, and the fire in the furnace became more vigorous.

The furnace where the elixir was being refined was burning red, like the red sunset glow at dusk.

"This is called seven-point martial fire."

"Put some ginseng and polygonatum in it."

Li Daoxuan took the order, took the two medicinal herbs and walked to the alchemy furnace. With his hand attached to the elixir energy, he opened the lid of the furnace and put the herbs in.

"This pill is called Bu Ming, which is taken from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. It is called Bu Ming, but it does not replenish life. In fact, it replenishes the deficiency of the body, the deficiency of yang, and the deficiency of the kidney. Take one Bu Ming pill every half a year, and the normal person will live a hundred years, and the old man will live longer. All diseases will be gone, and all deficiencies will disappear." Xu Fu smiled and recited the pills he was currently refining one by one.

His singing in the courtyard sounded like the tinkling of mountain bells and rivers, extremely pleasant to the ears.

"If you want to make a life-replenishing pill, you need to remember the secret formula. Seven parts of the fierce fire will make you a human Huangjing. Eight parts of the red fire will make Tiankui enter the cauldron. Feng Shui rotates, and the slow fire will extend by three parts. The ancient way is ordinary, and six parts are still gentle. The remaining three ingredients will enter, and twelve hours will pass. If you skillfully take the life-replenishing pill, your happiness and longevity will also be extended."

Xu Fu sang, waving his sleeves to add more fire.

The strong fire in the alchemy furnace was raised to a higher level, and then Li Daoxuan added the other two medicines.

It was unknown how long it had been, and Li Daoxuan did not put any more firewood in. He only saw Xu Fu sitting cross-legged in front of the furnace, with his hands clasped together and chanting scriptures.

He listened quietly and memorized every word Xu Fu recited.

This method of learning is also common among masters and apprentices in ancient times. Masters rarely impart the true method step by step, but instead teach you the mysterious and wonderful methods through their words and actions.

If you can understand it, you will naturally obtain the true Dharma. If you cannot understand it, the master will only say that you are not talented enough and your understanding is not good enough.

Therefore, the true Dharma cannot be obtained and what has been learned is not enough. This is also why masters often mention the word "understanding" when accepting disciples.

The so-called enlightenment is not enlightenment, but one's words and deeds. Knowing and observing the subtle is also a manifestation of enlightenment.

After Xu Fu finished reciting, he waved towards the alchemy furnace, and the raging fire in the furnace was extinguished instantly, leaving only a faint orange-yellow flame burning.

"Look, this is a slow fire." Xu Fu pointed at the furnace and said with a smile. "Slow fire is the ultimate Yin. Its light is not blinding, and its temperature is not scorching. The warmth is still there, and the remaining energy is not exhausted. It is three inches high and does not change. It is an eight-point slow fire. Do you remember it?"

"I'll remember it, disciple." Li Daoxuan nodded. He memorized the characteristics of the civil and martial fires, and he would definitely need these methods to make pills in the future.

The most important thing in alchemy is the use of fire. What kind of medicine is used with what kind of fire, and what kind of elixir is finally formed. A slight temperature deviation will make a world of difference. Since ancient times, the art of fire has been the great secret of alchemy. Just like the art of Dharma, the art of evil spirit of talisman, it has always been passed down orally by the master.

Even if a disciple writes it down on paper, without the guidance of a master, the seven parts of civil and martial arts will be enough to disturb the confusion.

After all, we’ve heard of medium-rare steak, but who’s ever heard of medium-well done steak?
Therefore, Xu Fu's teaching Li Daoxuan the method of using fire is also a disguised way of passing on his own Taoist tradition.

Li Daoxuan was grateful in his heart, so he naturally studied with great concentration.

"Fire is like a firefly, it exists but never goes out. This is called a three-point slow fire." Xu Fu said with a smile, and asked Li Daoxuan to add a cup of water to the alchemy furnace.

Li Daoxuan was puzzled. He had never been exposed to alchemy and did not understand why adding water was used. Maoshan alchemy was better than nothing, or it could be said that the Taoist alchemy methods were all inherited from the ancient Qigong practitioners.

But since the Qin and Han Dynasties, Qigong practitioners have disappeared from the world, and many ancient methods have been lost. It is just like Xu Fu went to sea and brought a portion of alchemy inheritance.

Therefore, in Baiyun Temple, although the old Taoist Master Changming had been exposed to alchemy, he was not proficient in it. Li Daoxuan did not understand it at all, so he had many doubts.

He expressed his doubts and bowed to Xu Fu.

"Master, why do we need to add a touch of water during the alchemy process?"

"This is a very good question." Xu Fu smiled with satisfaction. "You can ask questions when you have doubts. This is the attitude of wanting to learn the real thing."

"This alchemy is like cooking. Without water, it cannot survive. But the water also changes. If you use gentle fire to make the elixir, you only need to take a finger of water. If you use fierce fire to make the elixir, you need to take a palm of water. It is said that water nourishes all things, and the elixir is full of life. The gentle fire takes one inch square, and the fierce fire takes three inches long. Do you remember it?"

"Disciple has remembered it." Li Daoxuan nodded as if he had realized something.

"You are just beginning to learn the art of alchemy, and there is still much you have not learned. This art of alchemy is not a way to die, but rather the principles of yin and yang and the five elements. Yin is for literature, and yang is for martial arts. The five elements are hidden in the furnace. You just need to learn how to make this life-replenishing pill today."

"Follow Master's instructions."

Upon hearing this, Li Daoxuan sat down and listened to Xu Fu's teachings. He personally taught him how to use fire and medicine to refine the Bu Tian Pill.

He listened and was deeply touched.

He secretly sighed that the art of alchemy was no worse than the art of talismans, and that he still had so many things to learn.

Keeping the teachings in mind, Xu Fu also let Li Daoxuan try to make medicine by himself.

"Remember, the strong fire starts from the heart and is born in the lungs. The gentle fire starts from the kidneys and is released from the spleen. You can feel it carefully."

Li Daoxuan practiced while listening, and unknowingly became more proficient.

When he finished refining a life-replenishing pill, the pill had a smooth surface and was quite spiritual. It looked like it was of good quality and was a top-grade pill.

Xu Fu picked up the pill with a pleased look on his face. He praised Li Daoxuan for his talent in alchemy and taught him how to identify good and bad pills.

It was unknown how long Xu Fu stayed in this illusion. After Li Daoxuan had basically mastered the use of civil and martial fire, he looked outside the yard.

"The time has come, it's time for you to leave." Xu Fu sighed.

"Master, before I leave, I have one thing I want to ask you." Li Daoxuan thought of the purpose of his coming in, and bowed respectfully towards Xu Fu.

"Oh? What else?" Xu Fu asked.

"Master, do you know the Yin-Yang art of Fuso?" Li Daoxuan stated the purpose of his visit. He asked Xu Fu about the inheritance of Yin-Yang art from the East.

But when he thought that his master was the ancestor of Fuso in the East, he felt it was a bit strange for some reason.

"The Fusang Yin and Yang Doctrine?" Xu Fu stroked his beard, stretched out his hand and counted with his fingers, then a look of enlightenment appeared on his face, and he smiled at Li Daoxuan.

"So this is why I came here."

"Master, I only have a passing knowledge of the Yin-Yang School. Moreover, a thousand years have passed since then, and the changes are so great that it is difficult for Master to explain. However, there is one thing in the Tao that may be able to solve your confusion."

After Xu Fu finished speaking, he pointed his finger at Li Daoxuan's forehead.

Immediately, the sky turned dark and Li Daoxuan fell to the ground with his eyes closed.

"Leave now. I have already given the item to you, my disciple."

After saying this, everything went dark and he lost consciousness.

(End of this chapter)