Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

After the banquet at the Chen residence, Lin Zheyu set out the next day as usual for Beast Roar Mountain to battle ferocious beasts. He had less than 3 days before he and his team departed for Baishi Mountain, and there would be plenty of time to rest once they arrived.

Back home, he took out the Toxicology Codex to study whenever he had spare time. He listed out the poisons required for the first three stages of the Poison King Body and inquired about them, only to find that most of the poisons needed for the late second stage could not be purchased from regular apothecaries.

The black market had not yet opened, so he wasn’t sure if Songyi City would even have all the necessary ingredients. He did a quick calculation and realized that reaching perfection in the third stage in one go would require herbs worth at least 10000 taels of silver.

Forget it. There’s no need to rush the Poison King Body. I should focus on raising my strength first. Once I’m stronger, earning money will be easier, and then it won’t be a problem, thought Lin Zheyu.

With a helpless sigh, he decided to set aside the Poison King Body advancement plan for now and revisit it once he had enough money in the future. Cultivating that technique not only burned through money but could also cost an ordinary person their life.

Time passed in a flash, and 3 days went by.

***

Morning, outside Songyi City. Lin Zheyu departed with the Feihong Gang’s team for Baishi Mountain. The group numbered over 200 people.

He spent all his savings on herbs for the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction, buying 31 sets and grinding them into powder to bring along. Once ground into powder, the herbs took up much less space and were far easier to carry.

Baishi Mountain was not far from Lion Valley, though it was some distance away from Songyi City. After half a day of travel, they finally arrived at Baishi Mountain. Looking up, Lin Zheyu saw that nearly half the mountain was bare and desolate. Years of mining had devastated the vegetation in those areas, and clouds of dust billowed into the air. Sometimes, a cold wind swept through, lifting the dust into a swirling haze.

Once inside Baishi Mountain, Lin Zheyu and Jia Yanyong parted ways. His rank had now risen to the equivalent of the Organ Forging Realm, so he was assigned to oversee a sector on his own.

”From now on, Lord Lin Zheyu will be in charge of the southern sector near the White River. You all will follow Lord Lin and guard that area with him. Do you understand?” Xu Chuanliang addressed the group.

He was the manager here, a branch member of the Xu Family, about 45 years old, and had reached the peak of the Organ Forging Realm.

”Yes, My Lord!” responded everyone.

The southern side of Baishi Mountain near the White River had treacherous terrain that was easy to defend and hard to attack, making guard duty here a relatively easy job.

”Alright, go on patrol now.” Xu Chuanliang waved the others off, then turned to Lin Zheyu and said, ”Lin Zheyu, you stay.”

Lin Zheyu stopped and looked at Xu Chuanliang.

”My Lord, is there something you need from me?” asked Lin Zheyu.

”Damn, can’t I talk to you even if there’s nothing urgent? I heard you defeated that boy, Chen Mu. Truly a hero in his youth. Keep working hard, and in a few years, you’ll be one of the main pillars of the Feihong Gang.” Xu Chuanliang patted him on the shoulder with a smile and said, ”Come on, I’ll show you around and help you get familiar with Baishi Mountain.”

”Thank you, My Lord,” replied Lin Zheyu.

”Baishi Mountain is close to Lion Valley, and the bandits from there often target us. Attacks and harassment are common. But you don’t need to worry too much. The southern area you’re in charge of is easy to defend and hard to breach, so the danger isn’t high. Your duties aren’t heavy. If strong bandits attack, just lend a hand. On most days, there’s little to do,” said Xu Chuanliang, explaining as they walked.

After listening to Xu Chuanliang’s explanation, Lin Zheyu gained a better understanding of Baishi Mountain. For members of the Feihong Gang, aside from the lack of entertainment and the monotony, standing guard at Baishi Mountain was not a difficult job. On the contrary, because the compensation for guard duty here was better than in the city, some people even volunteered to be stationed here.

***

Deep within Beast Roar Mountain, ferocious beasts roamed freely, and savage predators lurked everywhere.

Roar!

From deep within the forest came waves of beastly roars.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

More than a dozen burly men, crossbows on their backs and long blades in hand, advanced cautiously. Their faces were tense, and fear flickered in their eyes.

”Big Brother, last time we found the living corpse in the forest up ahead,” said one of the men.

”How many times have I told you? Don’t call me Big Brother. I’m a deacon now, so address me as Deacon!” the man in the lead snapped.

These underlings had only recently joined the Nine Nether Sect and still weren’t used to the new forms of address.

”Yes, Deacon.”

”Keep moving forward. This time, we must find that living corpse!” ordered the self-proclaimed deacon.

The group split into several smaller teams and began searching the area. More than an hour later, a scream echoed from the distance.

”Ah, fuck! Hel—”

The voice was cut off halfway through and fell silent. Moments later came the sound of chewing and bones being crushed with sharp, cracking noises.

”Over there! Quickly, fire the arrows!” shouted the deacon loudly.

Several of the men beside him responded by loosening their crossbow bolts with sharp whistles, shooting toward the direction of the sound.

”Those in the back, be ready to release the warhorses to lure the living corpse away!” the deacon continued to command.

The living corpse had skin like bronze and bones like iron. Blades and arrows were useless against him. The arrows were only meant to mark the living corpse. The arrowheads were specially made; they were hollow inside and filled with a unique powder.

Upon impact, the arrowheads would burst, scattering the powder across the living corpse’s body. This would leave a mark, making the corpse easier to track and find if they failed to capture him.

Roar!

”Ahhh!”

A roar unlike anything human echoed through the forest. A figure clad in tattered clothes burst out from the woods, muscles bulging grotesquely, eye sockets sunken, and eyes gleaming with ferocity. In his right hand, he clutched a severed arm, gnawing on it as he ran, producing sickening crunching sounds. His teeth were frighteningly strong. He was the living corpse they had come searching for.

The living corpse suddenly leaped high into the air and, like a cannonball, hurtled toward the men shooting from afar.

Boom!

The living corpse slammed heavily into the ground with a dull thud, sending dirt flying in all directions. He grabbed a nearby man with one hand, tossed aside the severed arm, and plunged his left hand into the man’s chest, ripping out a still-beating heart. The brutal and horrifying scene sent the surrounding men fleeing in terror.

”M-Monster!”

”Ahhh! Help!”

Screams and cries for help echoed all around.

The deacon forced down his fear and shouted loudly, ”Now! Release the warhorses, quickly!”

He shouted the order, urging the men in the distance to release the warhorses and draw the living corpse’s attention. The living corpse craved blood and flesh. The warhorses they had chosen were brimming with blood qi, perfect for luring its focus.

Neighhh.

The men in the distance snapped out of their shock and released the prepared warhorses. Four powerful steeds charged out from the forest. Seeing the task complete, the deacon turned and bolted. His heart pounded wildly, and his body trembled uncontrollably from sheer terror. But it was already too late. His loud shouting moments ago had already drawn the living corpse’s attention.

Rooaaar!

The living corpse let out a deafening roar, tossed aside the blood-soaked corpse, and leapt forward with explosive force, pouncing toward the deacon.

In a panic, the deacon swung his blade toward the living corpse. Yet the blade struck as though against solid steel, failing to inflict even the slightest wound. The shockwave of the impact instead sent searing pain through his palm.

The deacon immediately discarded his weapon and bolted toward the underlings in the distance. The living corpse was too fast for anyone to outrun, but as long as he ran faster than his subordinates, there was still a chance he might survive.

”Ahhh!”

A shrill scream split the air.

The living corpse shifted his footing and, in a blur, appeared beside the deacon. His claws clamped onto the deacon’s shoulders and, with a violent wrench, tore him cleanly in half. Flesh and blood sprayed through the air, entrails spilling across the ground in a grotesque display.

Neighhh.

Sensing danger, the four steeds bolted toward the edge of the forest.

After killing the deacon, the living corpse’s savagery was fully unleashed, and his eyes became a deep crimson color. He extended a bluish-purple tongue to lick his lips and then charged madly after the four steeds.

These four horses were Swiftblood Steeds, renowned for their speed and carefully chosen for this purpose. At full sprint, their speed was astonishing.

Whoosh!

The living corpse darted rapidly through the forest, moving with unnerving agility. There was hardly a trace of human reason left in him. His crimson eyes lacked pupils, and with a blink, the red vanished entirely, replaced by a deep violet-black. They looked unfathomably deep.

Puff!

Suddenly, he sprang into the air like an agile ape and landed squarely on the hindmost steed. His claws, razor-sharp, plunged viciously into the horse’s belly and tore out a massive, still-beating heart.

Neighhh...

The horse let out a wailing cry before collapsing to the ground. The living corpse opened his mouth wide, his lower jaw seeming to unhinge as it stretched wider and wider until it could fit the entire horse heart inside.

Crunch.

He chewed several times with blood trickling from the corners of his mouth, and a look of twisted satisfaction appeared on his face. After devouring the heart, the living corpse grinned, fixed his gaze on the fleeing horses in the distance, and resumed the chase, charging out of Beast Roar Mountain.

The four steeds had been specially trained to run toward the edge of the forest. Once they lured the living corpse outside, there would be more people stationed beyond the forest to guide the living corpse in a specific direction.