Seven Taoist Masters

Seven Taoist Masters is a folk novel about the founding of the Complete Reality school of Taoism. After years of hidden cultivation, he teaches internal alchemy to Ma Yü and Sun Pu-erh, who sacrifice their wealth. Wang later gathers six more disciples, testing them through harsh trials. Sun Pu-erh endures twelve years of hardship in Loyang, while Ch’iu Ch’ang-ch’un suffers repeated near-starvation before attaining the Tao. The seven masters overcome obstacles, reunite, and ultimately ascend to heaven, where they are honored by the Jade Emperor and invited to taste the immortal peach. The book closes with Ch’iu’s refusal to take the gift for himself alone.