But for those who practice this superior martial art, whether they are commoners or monks, no matter if they are deceitful or lazy, or if they serve the nation and its people, anyone who practices martial arts, who doesn’t hope to advance bravely and make achievements early, and who doesn’t want to quickly gain benefits from practice?
To achieve the Buddhist saying of ’the mind dwells nowhere,’ the requirements are too high.
Yan Chuan is eager to practice martial arts but does not aim to ultimately achieve Buddhist power.
Thus, he abridged the ’Yijinjing,’ based on the corresponding theories of the ’Yijinjing,’ according to his own needs, and based on his general understanding of the ’Yijinjing’s’ intricacies and power, he eventually established the mission and developed the martial art to appear more pure——
"My ’Yijinjing’ harmonizes the body’s meridians, connects the spirit of the five organs, circulates without dispersing, moves without breaking, energy is born from within, blood moistens from outside. After mastering this scripture, with a heart’s movement, power emerges, advancing and retreating naturally, flowing out without awareness yet out it flows, like tidal waves rising, like thunder erupting. Practicing this skill is like a small boat in the midst of a mighty ocean’s waves, surging violently; the little boat naturally rises and falls, where is the effort applied? If force is to be used, from where would the strength come? And how would it begin?"
"By practicing it, one can achieve ’Inner Strength and Divine Courage, and Outer Strength Divine Power!’"
"Divine power springs from the bones, over time, its arm, wrist, fingers, and palm become extraordinary; with intention, they are as hard as iron and stone, and it can pierce a cow’s belly with its fingers, sever a cow’s head with its palm! Reaching a profound level, one can lift a city gate, easily lift a cauldron, and all seems ordinary."
As for changing root bones and altering aptitudes, these are encompassed within these skills, needing no deliberate effort, for once the divine skill is mastered, naturally, it becomes different!
"Sun Essence, Taiyin’s beauty, the two energies blend and transform to create all things. Ancient people skilled in gathering and swallowing, over time, all became immortals. Its method is secret, unknown to the world. Even if one is aware, lacking firm intent and persistence, it is a false promise, few succeed by mere talk."
"For anyone pursuing inner refining, from the beginning practice to success, throughout life, do not concern with busyness, nor engage in external matters. If the practice of gathering and swallowing is uninterrupted, then the immortal path is not difficult to achieve. The reason for gathering and swallowing is primarily to capture the essence of yin and yang, to enhance our spirit and intelligence, helping stagnant qi gradually dissipate, clarity to flourish naturally, preventing all diseases, and providing great benefits."
In the ’Yijinjing’ there are three cultivation methods, the first is ’Inner Strength and Divine Courage,’ the second is ’Outer Strength Divine Power,’ and the third is ’Essence Gathering Method.’
At midnight, the ’Yijinjing’ emerges.
Yan Chuan sat in seclusion, pondering, unconsciously, the night fades away.
Yan Chuan sat facing the east, practicing the ’Essence Gathering Method.’
"Taking the sun’s essence at the new moon, when its energy is just renewed, suitable for capturing sun essence. Taking from the full moon, when gold and water are full, its energy is in full swing, suitable for capturing moonlight."
The ’Essence Gathering Method’ of the ’Yijinjing’ should be practiced on the new moon and full moon days, specifically on the first and fifteenth of each month.
The first is suitable for taking the ’Sun Essence!’
The fifteenth is suitable for taking the ’Moonlight!’
The ’Jian Province Competition’ starts on the twenty-fourth of the second month; today is the eighth day, just the first day of the third month, perfectly fitting for practicing this method.
The new moon for sun essence gathering, suitable during the hours of Yin and Mao!
Yan Chuan ascended alone to the western building, reached the highest point of the Cangwu Department’s Collection Room, opened the window, and silently faced the east.
After massaging himself thrice, Yan Chuan adjusted his breathing, inhaled the light essence, filled a breath, held and focused, slowly swallowed it, and guided it mentally to the Central Palace, completing one swallow.
Thus, seven swallows, then quietly stood guard for a moment.
Upon opening his eyes again——
The east brightened, the sun rose in the east.
Unconsciously, the hours of Yin and Mao passed, in just the ’seven swallows’ practice, in a flash, who would have thought two hours had elapsed.