Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

Morning.

The sky was just beginning to brighten. Lin Zheyu rose early, sat cross-legged on his bed, and practiced the Tortoise Breath Grand Method. After reaching the Blood Qi Realm, he could once again continue cultivating to cultivate it.

Through this period of training, he discovered that practicing the Tortoise Breath Grand Method right after waking in the morning was far more effective. This was related to the changes in metabolism after a night’s sleep.

During deep sleep, the body’s metabolism and blood qi activity dropped to their lowest point, somewhat similar to the Tortoise Breath Grand Method. By comprehending the body’s natural changes, he could better grasp the profound mysteries of the technique.

After cultivating for two hours, he stepped outside for a walk. On the streets of Songyi City, the atmosphere had grown much more hushed. If not for the occasional refugee groups passing through, bringing a trace of life to the city, Songyi City would have been completely lifeless.

During the afternoon, inside the Jade Pill Teahouse, Lin Zheyu and his companions gathered every day.

”Have you heard? Zhou Jiang is dead,” Xie Jiang said.

”What? He was so strong, so how could he be dead?” Jia Yanyong exclaimed in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. ”Could it be that among the bandits, a powerful martial artist appeared?”

Zhou Jiang was a member of the Feihong Gang; his strength was at the peak of the Bone Forging Realm, stronger than Jia Yanyong and the others. He was a battle maniac and incredibly fierce once he started fighting.

”Baishi Mountain’s mining area was attacked by a group of bandits. A clash broke out, and three were killed. Two of them were nobodies who only knew a few sloppy moves, and although Zhou Jiang was strong, in the heat of battle, he charged into the bandits’ encirclement. The others couldn’t rush to his aid in time. Even the fiercest fighter can’t face so many hands alone, and he was beaten to death,” said Xie Jiang while staring intently at Jia Yanyong.

Hearing this, Lin Zheyu and Ning Hui also turned their heads at the same time to look at Jia Yanyong. In Zhou Jiang’s fate, they glimpsed Jia Yanyong’s possible future.

Feeling uneasy under their stares, Jia Yanyong muttered uneasily, ”Hey, hey, why are you all looking at me like that? I’m not the lunatic who throws his life away in a fight.”

”No, you are.”

The group said in unison.

Jia Yanyong was speechless.

”Do you think Leader Xu will send men over for support?” asked Ning Hui.

”It hasn’t come to that yet. But with bandits running rampant outside the city and other places being attacked, we might be sent somewhere else for support,” said Xie Jiang.

This fellow loved to gossip and always had the latest news. Lin Zheyu focused solely on martial arts, Jia Yanyong paid no attention to such matters, and Ning Hui was too lost in wine and women to stay informed. That was why they gathered every day to hear the news Xie Jiang brought through his gossip.

”Brother[1] Lin, if we really get sent for support, we’ll probably be in the same squad. When that happens, my little life will be in your hands,” said Xie Jiang as he looked at Lin Zheyu.

”You’re too polite, Brother Jiang. Just call me by my name; there’s no need for ’Brother,’” replied Lin Zheyu, momentarily at a loss for words. It felt awkward being called ”Brother” by someone older than him.

”Don’t you scholars say that the accomplished one is fit to be a teacher? Your strength far surpasses ours. What’s wrong with calling you Brother Lin? If I could put aside my pride, I’d even call you Brother Yu,” said Xie Jiang, chuckling slyly.

Lin Zheyu rolled his eyes at him. After spending more time with the group, he discovered Xie Jiang’s true personality. Unlike the reckless and thoughtless Jia Yanyong, this fellow often came up with little schemes, though he tended to be shameless.

As they chatted idly, the storytelling began. The storyteller was an elderly man with deep skill, far surpassing Lin Zheyu in technique. The patrons listened with great interest.

”So Fatty Xing has changed his ways, actually coming here to listen to a story.” Ning Hui curled his lips and gestured toward a nearby table as he spoke.

The group looked over and saw a familiar figure.

”Fatty must be here to stir up trouble again. That guy failed to cause trouble last time, so now he’s brought more men with him,” said Jia Yanyong.

There was no need to guess what Fatty Xing was here for. That young master had no interest in storytelling. All he enjoyed was fighting, gambling, and women. When Lin Zheyu saw Xing Jinglong, his brows furrowed slightly. He sensed that Xing Jinglong had come specifically for him.

Don’t let me find an opportunity, or I’ll tear you apart, thought Lin Zheyu darkly as he looked at Xing Jinglong in the distance.

He wanted to completely destroy anyone who harbored ill intent toward him. The unpleasant feeling of being targeted was forcing him to stay constantly alert to avoid being ambushed. Ever since he returned from outside the city last time, Lin Zheyu had made a hidden bed in the kitchen and slept there every night.

***

The storyteller spoke eloquently on stage, while the audience below listened with rapt attention.

Bang!

Suddenly, Xing Jinglong slammed his palm on the table with a thunderous sound, and the entire teahouse fell silent at once.

”What kind of garbage is this? You dare tell such a worthless story? Get off the stage,” he said, glaring at the storyteller with contempt. The old man was frightened into a cold sweat.

”Damn it, I’ll deal with him!” said Jia Yanyong as he slammed the table and rose in anger. He was a man who preferred fighting over thinking, and his temper flared easily. Provoked by Fatty Xing’s words, he was ready to strike.

”Don’t bother with him. He came here deliberately to cause trouble, hoping to provoke you into fighting. Look at the men sitting beside him. One of them is an Organ Forging Realm expert. If we fight, we’ll be the ones to suffer,” said Lin Zheyu, pressing down on Jia Yanyong’s shoulder, unwilling to reveal his strength in a fight.

His perception was extremely sharp, far surpassing that of ordinary Blood Qi Realm cultivators. Without a direct test, it was difficult for a Blood Qi Realm expert to tell if their opponent was at the Organ Forging Realm or the Bone Forging Realm.

Both the Organ Forging Realm and the Bone Forging Realm tempered the body’s internal structures, with little obvious improvement in essence, qi, and spirit. Some who had reached the Organ Forging Realm looked less vigorous in essence, qi, and spirit than the sturdier, more muscular Bone Forging Realm fighters.

But after training the Tortoise Breath Grand Method to the third stage, Lin Zheyu’s control over his body reached a terrifying degree. From subtle details in the body, he could discern the opponent’s realm.

”Even an Organ Forging Realm expert came along? Is this guy trying to provoke a fight between the two gangs?” exclaimed Xie Jiang in alarm.

Though their gangs quarreled, in the city, it never went too far. They had never seen a fight involving the Organ Forging Realm. An Organ Forging Realm fighter was considered first-rate in Songyi City. If one struck, it meant the two gangs had truly torn away from all plesantry.

Hearing this, Jia Yanyong quickly sat back down and asked doubtfully, ”How do you know there’s an Organ Forging Realm expert among them?”

”I saw him once when I was with Senior Brother Han. His strength is formidable, nearly at the peak of the Organ Forging Realm,” said Lin Zheyu, making up an excuse and subtly pointing at the middle-aged man beside Xing Jinglong.

The man was around forty, with a short mustache and an ordinary face that seemed unremarkable.

”Despicable fellow. I’ll have someone call Lord Qiu. Let’s see if they still dare act so brazenly!” said Xie Jiang angrily, summoning a subordinate to fetch him.

***

Xing Jinglong glanced sideways at Jia Yanyong and the others. Seeing Jia Yanyong stand, a triumphant smile tugged at his lips. But soon, his expression darkened when he saw Lin Zheyu pull Jia Yanyong back down.

This brat is really cowardly. Is he still holding back even after being provoked like that? Xing Jinglong cursed inwardly. He was still bitter from the last time Lin Zheyu had slipped away.

In the city, he couldn’t attack openly, or it would easily spark a conflict between their families. But if he found a pretext to provoke him, giving the other a beating was still acceptable. Breaking a few limbs in a fight was nothing unusual. It wasn’t a big problem as long as no one was killed in the city.

”If you’re not going to make a move, then we’ll keep causing trouble and ruin this teahouse’s business,” said Xing Jinglong, letting out a cold laugh.

Wasn’t Lin Zheyu rumored to repay kindness? He wanted to see if he could endure this, too. He grabbed a plate from the table and hurled it toward the storytelling stage. With a sharp crack, the plate smashed against the wall behind the stage, shattering into pieces. The elderly storyteller turned pale with fright at the scene and hurried down from the stage.

1. The raw used 兄(xiōng) which meant older brother. ☜