Chapter 974
Getting Impatient
Sun Wukong and Chu Yang sat down, their eyes curiously surveying everything in the alchemy room. Sun Wukong pointed to the alchemy furnace and asked, "Daoist Master, is this the alchemy furnace? Back when I was in Heaven, I saw Laozi's alchemy furnace, which was much bigger than this, but this one looks quite formidable."
Qingxuzi smiled slightly and said, "Great Sage, you are joking. My alchemy furnace is just an ordinary bronze furnace. How can it be compared with the Eight Trigrams Furnace of the Supreme Lord Laozi? The Eight Trigrams Furnace of the Supreme Lord Laozi is a supreme innate treasure that can refine elixirs of immortality. My alchemy furnace can only refine some ordinary pills to regulate the body and assist in cultivation."
"I see." Sun Wukong nodded, then asked, "Master, I would like to ask you, Taoist cultivation emphasizes tranquility and non-action, but I am impatient and can never calm down. What should I do?"
Qingxuzi picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and slowly said, "Great Sage, your impetuous nature is innate, and changing it is not something that can be done overnight. Taoist cultivation emphasizes 'a mind free of distractions and following the natural order.' The so-called tranquility and non-action does not mean doing nothing, but rather not acting deliberately, conforming to the Way of Heaven, and following the laws of nature. Great Sage, you can try to calm your mind in your spare time, close your eyes and regulate your breathing, and eliminate distractions from your mind. Over time, your temperament will naturally become more peaceful."
"Close your eyes and regulate your breathing to eliminate distracting thoughts?" Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "I have tried it, but every time I close my eyes, I think of the time I made a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace and the monsters I encountered along the way. I just can't calm down."
Qingxuzi smiled and said, “That’s normal. Great Sage has a wealth of experience and many distracting thoughts in his mind. It’s indeed difficult to eliminate them all at once. I have a ‘Mind-Calming Technique’ here. Great Sage can try to practice it. This Mind-Calming Technique can help Great Sage eliminate distracting thoughts, calm down, and focus on cultivation.”
"Really? That's wonderful!" Sun Wukong was overjoyed and quickly stood up, cupping his hands in greeting. "Please, Daoist Master, teach me this Mind-Calming Technique! I will definitely practice it diligently!"
Qingxuzi nodded, then slowly began to recite the Mind-Calming Mantra: "The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; the named is the mother of all things. Therefore, constantly without desire, one can observe its mystery; constantly with desire, one can observe its manifestations. These two are the same in origin but different in name; they are both called profound. Profound and yet more profound, the gateway to all mysteries..."
Qingxuzi recited the mantra slowly, his voice gentle yet powerful, each word clearly reaching the ears of Sun Wukong and Chu Yang. Sun Wukong closed his eyes, listening intently, memorizing each word, and silently repeating it aloud. Chu Yang also closed his eyes, listening attentively; the words of the Tranquility Mantra flowed into his heart like a clear spring, gradually calming his previously restless mind.
After reading it once, Qingxuzi stopped and asked, "Have you two remembered it?"
Sun Wukong opened his eyes and grinned: "I've got it! Daoist, I think this calming mantra is very profound. When I recite it, I feel very peaceful."
Chu Yang opened his eyes and said respectfully, "Thank you, Daoist Master. I have memorized it. This Mind-Calming Mantra can indeed calm the mind and eliminate distracting thoughts."
Qingxuzi smiled slightly and said, "Just remember it. This Mind-Calming Technique requires diligent practice, day after day, to see results. Great Sage, you are impatient, so you need to practice even more. Over time, you will naturally overcome your impatience and focus on your cultivation."
"I understand!" Sun Wukong nodded quickly. "After I go back, I will definitely practice this calming mantra every day and try to overcome my impatient nature as soon as possible."
Qingxuzi then looked at Chu Yang and asked, "Benefactor Chu Yang, do you practice Buddhism or Taoism?"
Chu Yang cupped his hands and said, "Replying to Daoist Master, I cultivate some basic Buddhist teachings and some cultivation methods that I obtained by chance. I have not practiced them systematically, so my cultivation level has always been very low, and I can only be considered as a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. I have always wanted to systematically learn some cultivation methods to improve my cultivation level, but I have never had the opportunity. I would appreciate Daoist Master's guidance."
Qingxuzi nodded and said, “Benefactor Chu Yang, you have a solid foundation and a calm temperament, making you a promising candidate for cultivation. Although Buddhist and Taoist methods differ, they both emphasize self-cultivation and improving one's cultivation level. I have a low-level spell here called ‘Wind Control Technique.’ This spell is easy to learn and practice. After mastering it, you can use the wind to increase your speed and also use it to evade enemy attacks in times of crisis. It is very suitable for your current level of cultivation.”
"Wind Control Technique?" Chu Yang's eyes lit up, and he quickly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Daoist Master! This junior is willing to learn this Wind Control Technique, please teach me!"
“Alright.” Qingxuzi nodded and said, “This Wind Control Technique mainly relies on one’s own spiritual energy to connect with the wind in the world, thereby achieving the effect of riding the wind. First, you need to calm down, mobilize your own spiritual energy, gather it in your feet and around your body, then silently recite the Wind Control Incantation to guide the spiritual energy to merge with the wind, slowly try to use the wind to make your body float, and then gradually control the wind to increase your speed.”
With that, Qingxuzi stood up, walked to the open space in the alchemy room, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, mobilized his spiritual energy, gathered it in his feet and around his body, and then silently recited the Wind Control Incantation. Instantly, his body floated up gently, about three feet off the ground, and then, with the help of the wind, he moved slowly, his movements light and graceful, like a feather, freely traversing the air.
Sun Wukong and Chu Yang were dumbfounded. Sun Wukong couldn't help but exclaim, "Amazing! Daoist Master, your wind-riding technique is incredible! It's almost as good as my somersault cloud!"
Qingxuzi smiled, slowly descended, and said, "Great Sage, you flatter me. My Wind Control Technique is merely a low-level spell, and it is worlds apart from the Great Sage's Somersault Cloud. The Great Sage's Somersault Cloud can travel 108,000 li in a single somersault, while my Wind Control Technique can only travel a thousand li a day at most, and its speed is far inferior to that of the Somersault Cloud."
"Even so, it's still very impressive!" Chu Yang said respectfully. "Daoist Master, may I try it now?"
"Of course you can." Qingxuzi nodded and said, "Calm down first, and follow the method I just told you. Mobilize your spiritual energy and gather it in your feet and around your body. Then silently recite the Wind Control Mantra and slowly try to float. Don't rush, take it step by step. If you can lift yourself off the ground an inch the first time, that's already very good."
"Yes, thank you, Daoist Master." Chu Yang nodded, walked to the open space in the alchemy room, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and, following Qingxuzi's instructions, calmed his mind, eliminated distracting thoughts, and mobilized his spiritual energy, slowly gathering it in his feet and around his body. He could clearly feel a faint spiritual energy flowing slowly within his body, gathering in his feet and around his body, bringing a sense of lightness.
Then, he silently recited the Wind Control Incantation, guiding the spiritual energy within his body to connect with the wind in the world. Instantly, he felt a faint breeze enveloping his body, and his body lightened slightly, actually lifting him about an inch off the ground. Although it was only an inch, and his body was still swaying slightly, making it difficult to maintain his balance, Chu Yang was already very happy.
"You did it! Brother Chu Yang, you did it!" Sun Wukong couldn't help but cheer loudly upon seeing this. Qingxuzi also showed a gratified expression and nodded: "Not bad, not bad, Benefactor Chu Yang, you have great talent. You were able to lift yourself off the ground an inch on your first attempt, which is already very impressive. Keep up the good work, slowly control the spiritual energy and wind force, maintain your body's balance, and then try to increase your height and speed."
Chu Yang nodded and continued to focus on his cultivation. He slowly adjusted the spiritual energy within his body, guided the wind, and tried his best to maintain his balance. Gradually, his body stopped swaying and he could steadily lift himself about three inches off the ground. Then he slowly tried to move his body, although the speed was very slow and clumsy, but he could indeed move freely with the help of the wind.
Sun Wukong, watching from the side, couldn't resist the urge to try it himself and said, "Daoist Master, I, Old Sun, would also like to try this Wind Control Technique. I wonder if you could teach me, Old Sun?"
Qingxuzi smiled and said, "Of course. Great Sage is exceptionally talented, and he will definitely master this Wind Control Technique faster than Benefactor Chu Yang. However, Great Sage's Somersault Cloud is already very powerful, so this Wind Control Technique may not be very useful for him."
"I, Old Sun, just think it's fun and want to give it a try." Sun Wukong grinned. "No matter how useful it is, I, Old Sun, want to learn it. It's never a bad thing to have another skill."
"Alright." Qingxuzi nodded and explained the cultivation method and incantation of the Wind Control Technique to Sun Wukong in detail. Sun Wukong was exceptionally intelligent and possessed profound cultivation. He memorized all the methods and incantations after only one listen. He closed his eyes, mobilized the spiritual energy within his body, gathered it in his feet and around his body, and silently recited the Wind Control Incantation. Instantly, his body floated up more than ten feet off the ground. Then, using the wind, he moved rapidly, faster than Qingxuzi, and his movements were extremely agile, like a nimble monkey, freely traversing the air.
"Hahaha! This is fun! So much fun!" Sun Wukong cheered loudly as he rode the wind. "Daoist, this wind-riding technique is really fun! Although it's not as fast as my somersault cloud, it's still very interesting!"
Qingxuzi looked at Sun Wukong and couldn't help but laugh: "Great Sage is indeed exceptionally talented. He has mastered this Wind Control Technique so quickly."
Chu Yang continued his focused cultivation, gradually mastering the Wind Control Technique. He could steadily levitate three feet off the ground and move freely, his speed slowly increasing. Although still clumsy, he could now skillfully use the Wind Control Technique. He was very happy; he had finally learned a spell, which would give him more self-protection capabilities in the future, and allow him to better protect his master and fellow disciples.
Before they knew it, the sun had already begun to set, and golden sunlight streamed through the windows of the alchemy room, casting golden shadows on the floor. The charcoal in the alchemy furnace was still burning, wisps of white smoke rising from its opening, and the aroma of herbs filled the entire alchemy room.
Qingxuzi looked at the two and said, "Alright, benefactors, let's stop our cultivation here for today. Cultivation is not something to be rushed; it requires gradual progress and diligent practice to achieve success. Benefactor Chu Yang, you should practice this Wind Control Technique more and strive to master it as soon as possible. Great Sage, you should also practice this Mind Tranquility Technique more and overcome your impatient nature."
"I understand! Thank you, Daoist Master!" Sun Wukong stopped riding the wind, landed on the ground, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance today, Daoist Master. I have benefited greatly from it."
Chu Yang also stopped cultivating, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for teaching me the Wind Control Technique, Daoist Master. I will definitely practice diligently and live up to your expectations."
Qingxuzi smiled slightly and said, "You two benefactors, there's no need to be so polite. It is my good fortune to be able to guide you. Now, let's go back. Master Tang Sanzang must be getting impatient."
“Okay.” Sun Wukong and Chu Yang said in unison, and followed Qingxuzi out of the alchemy room and headed towards the courtyard.
Back in the courtyard, Tang Sanzang was sitting on a stone bench, eyes closed, meditating, his expression serene. The young Taoist boy sat quietly beside him, serving them. Upon seeing them return, he quickly stood up and said, "Master, Great Sage, Benefactor Chu, you've returned."
Tang Sanzang opened his eyes, saw them, and a look of relief appeared on his face: "Wukong, Chuyang, you're back. How was the Daoist's guidance?"
Sun Wukong grinned and said, "Master, the Taoist priest's guidance was excellent! He taught me a calming mantra and the art of riding the wind, which I learned in no time!"
Chu Yang also respectfully said, "Master, the Daoist has taught me a low-level spell called the Wind Control Technique. I have already mastered it. In the future, if I encounter danger, I will have more ability to protect myself and better protect you."
Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang smiled with satisfaction, clasped his hands together, and respectfully said to Qingxuzi, "Thank you for guiding this humble disciple, Daoist Master. I am deeply grateful for your great kindness."
Qingxuzi waved his hand and said, “Master Tang, there’s no need to be so polite. Both of you are very talented and it is your own good fortune that you have learned these things. It’s getting late, and I have already instructed my young disciple to prepare guest rooms. You have all had a long journey, so please rest early. Tomorrow morning, I will prepare a vegetarian meal for you. After you have eaten, you can continue your journey to the west.”
"Thank you for your trouble, Daoist Master," Tang Sanzang said quickly.
The young Taoist priest led everyone to the side rooms on either side of the courtyard. The rooms were very clean, furnished with two wooden beds, a table, two chairs, and a wardrobe. Though simple, they were very tidy. The windows were open, and a gentle evening breeze blew in, carrying the coolness of the mountains and the fragrance of grass and trees, making everyone feel very comfortable.
"Masters, Great Sage, Benefactor Chu, these are your guest rooms. Please rest well. If you need anything, please call me anytime," the young Taoist said, bowing before turning and leaving. (End of Chapter)