The spacious courtyard was exceptionally tranquil. Daoist Kumoku sat cross-legged on a wooden chair. Ye Tian removed the celestial needles he had previously inserted. "This Mingxin Pill," Ye Tian said, "can help you maintain mental clarity for an hour, effectively combating inner demons. I will also assist you, doing my utmost to help you break through."
Daoist Kumoku chuckled, "I owe this opportunity entirely to your assistance, young friend. If I succeed, you will be my reborn parent."
Ye Tian replied, "You are too kind, Daoist. Observing your breakthrough will also greatly benefit me."
He produced a second-grade Mingxin Pill and had Kumoku swallow it. Kumoku's aura surged, and he strove towards a realm he had never ventured into before.
Ye Tian's medical skills were extraordinary, and he had studied diagrams and the cultivation notes of the Human Immortal. He constantly monitored the flow of energy within Kumoku's body, offering timely reminders at the slightest anomaly.
After more than ten minutes, a subtle substance began to form within Daoist Kumoku's mind. This substance was wondrous, capable of inducing genetic-level mutations wherever it went. However, it seemed he could not fully control whether these mutations were beneficial or detrimental.
At this moment, Ye Tian's thoughts stirred. Wasn't the transformation happening within a person at this very moment akin to alchemy? Daoist Kumoku's body was the cauldron, his divine sense the fire, and his essence the medicine. This concept was already recorded in Daoist scriptures, referred to as the Golden Elixir Return.
He then shifted his perspective, viewing the subtle substance as a pill. He whispered, "The Golden Elixir has formed. Increase the fire's intensity."
Daoist Kumoku had already taken half a step forward, his concentration absolute and his wisdom profound. Ye Tian's gesture immediately conveyed the profound mystery.
Referencing the second diagram, Ye Tian used celestial needles to trace a circulation pathway within Kumoku's body. "Golden Elixir Return, follow the needles' path," he instructed.
Daoist Kumoku had initially intended to circulate energy according to his own cultivation technique. However, upon hearing Ye Tian's words, he unhesitatingly altered his plan, guiding the Golden Elixir Return along the path opened by the celestial needles.
After one full cycle, a golden radiance emanated from his body, illuminating his countenance. Ye Tian then inserted needles in a circle around his waist. "Continue along this path," he said.
The Golden Elixir Return traveled downwards, completing a circuit, then circled his waist again. It passed through the kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, spine, and digestive system. By the end of this cycle, the Golden Elixir Return had adapted to the body, and the body had adapted to the substance, mutually perfecting and transforming each other.
At this point, Daoist Kumoku knew what to do without further guidance from Ye Tian. He circulated this tamed power throughout his entire body.
Ye Tian knew that Daoist Kumoku had succeeded. In the time that followed, his body would undergo a qualitative change under the influence of the Golden Elixir Return, leading to rejuvenation.
At noon, Daoist Kumoku opened his eyes. He rose and bowed deeply to Ye Tian. "I have succeeded!"
Ye Tian nodded. "I have a set of verses. I will recite them to you now."
"The Wutu Qiankun cauldron, the Guishe Gou altar. A guest with no worldly affairs, within the heart a Great Elixir. The White Tiger roars in water, the Azure Dragon coils in fire. Mercury and lead, mud and stammering flowers, gold and wood, snow and cold. Li and Kan are not the heart and kidneys, East and West are not the lungs and liver. Thirty cycles exhaust seven returns, nine turns emerge from the Mud Palace."
This passage was the general principle for the Human Immortal stage of cultivation. Upon hearing it, Kumoku experienced an epiphany, attaining sudden enlightenment. He bowed to Ye Tian once more.
"Young friend, I must return to the mountain for quiet cultivation. It will take one month, or perhaps three. I will then call upon you to express my gratitude."
Ye Tian replied, "It is my pleasure. Daoist Kumoku, we shall meet again."
After seeing Kumoku off, Ye Tian fell into contemplation. He had observed closely, and Kumoku's cultivation process had clearly involved many mistakes, though fortunately, he had navigated them without grave peril.
"So this is the essence of a Human Immortal. However, he has not yet condensed his primordial spirit, and is still one step away from becoming a true Human Immortal."
To be precise, Kumoku was currently in the transitional phase from refining the spirit to becoming a Human Immortal, and would later need to condense his primordial spirit.