Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

In Bafang City, at the Xuanning Gate.

Lin Zheyu would be leaving tomorrow, so he needed to register in advance today. To avoid drawing attention, he changed his appearance once again. At this moment, he looked like an utterly ordinary middle-aged man, someone who would vanish in a crowd without a trace. This appearance had taken him quite some time to craft in front of a bronze mirror. It required careful adjustments to dull his once handsome features into the unremarkable face of a man past his prime.

When he arrived near the Xuanning Gate, Lin Zheyu immediately saw a group preparing to depart for the Central Plains. A burly man with a full beard held up a wooden board with two lines written on it: Guangxuan Escort Agency and Registration Point for Central Plains. The expedition was being organized by Guangxuan Escort Agency, one of the well-known companies in Bafang City. Having been passed down through four generations, it might not have been the best, but it carried a solid reputation and was well-trusted.

Previously, Jia Yanyong and the others had made several inquiries on Lin Zheyu’s behalf, but since the other groups seemed unreliable, they had not mentioned them. It was only after learning of Guangxuan Escort Agency’s upcoming expedition that they informed him.

”Friend, how do I register for the journey to the Central Plains?” Lin Zheyu asked as he approached curiously.

”All ya’ need to do is pay the fee and record your name,” the burly man replied with a hearty smile. His tone carried a simple, honest warmth that made him seem trustworthy.

”All right. How much is the fee?” Lin Zheyu asked.

”You can inquire over there,” said the man.

Lin Zheyu thanked the man and walked toward a nearby stall. A young man was managing it, and beside him stood a woman with a graceful figure and refined features, her expression carrying a touch of heroic spirit. She was strikingly beautiful, spirited, and confident, with a charm no less than that of Ren Qingying or Xu Yuxiang.

A single glance told Lin Zheyu of their strength. The young man was at the peak of the Bone Forging Realm, while the woman was stronger, having just broken through to the Blood Qi Realm, though her energy was still a bit unsteady. Judging by her age, which was around eighteen, her talent was clearly exceptional.

”Excuse me. How much is the registration fee to travel to the Central Plains?” Lin Zheyu asked.

”The registration fee is 100 taels of silver. Along the way, we’re only responsible for leading the route. If you want protection on the road, that’ll cost an additional 400 taels. As for food, mounts, and lodging, you must handle those yourselves. Though you can also purchase them from us for another 100 taels,” the young man replied coolly.

The spirited young woman glanced briefly at Lin Zheyu. Seeing that he was just an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, she lost interest and looked away.

What an outrageous price, Lin Zheyu muttered inwardly.

100 taels of silver per trip was already exorbitant, and if one paid for all the extra services, the total would reach 700 taels of silver. It was pure profiteering.

”I don’t have much silver. Just leading the way will do, thank you.”

Lin Zheyu took out ten taels of gold and handed them over. With his level of strength, he was among the top in Bafang City and did not need anyone’s protection. As for food and transport, buying a couple of ox carts would cost little in comparison.

”Your name?” the young man asked flatly, glancing at Lin Zheyu.

”Zhao Hao,” Lin Zheyu replied casually, giving a false name.

”All right. This is your jade token. Keep it safe; if it’s lost, you’ll have to buy another. Assemble outside Xuanning Gate tomorrow at morning hour. We won’t wait for latecomers,” the young man said indifferently.

”All right, thank you.”

Lin Zheyu took the jade token. It was a specially made piece, though quite cheap. It was probably worth only a little over 100 wen. There were special anti-counterfeit markings on it that would require a skilled craftsman to imitate. However, since the young man memorized every registrant, no one could sneak in with a fake.

”Another poor wretch,” the young man muttered softly, glancing at Lin Zheyu’s departing figure.

Before long, more people arrived to register.

***

Lin Zheyu still needed to purchase ingredients for Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction. During the journey, he could brew the herbs into a tonic to help his body recover faster after pushing his limits. If danger arose, he could also use Origin Force for recovery after drinking the decoction. Besides the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction herbs, he also stocked up on Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder and a fair amount of seasoning for roasting meat.

He had earned quite a bit through hunting. Even after buying thirty sets of herbs for the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction and ten sets of Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder, he still had 6300 taels of silver left, all converted into gold for easier carrying.

The next morning, Lin Zheyu set out early with his pack, wearing five hundred kilograms of weighted armor. The armor had cost him 2000 taels of silver, but selling it now would only fetch 600, which was a huge loss, so he decided to bring it along. Carrying five hundred kilograms was not easy, so he planned to move it to an ox cart once he bought one.

Outside the city, mist shrouded the forests. Lin Zheyu retrieved his hidden Golden Scale Saber, slid it into its prepared sheath, then took out a bamboo whistle and blew it. Before long, Little Black emerged from the fog in a flash.

”Come on, and let’s leave this place together. I’ll roast plenty of meat for you later,” Lin Zheyu said with a smile, patting Little Black’s head.

Little Black didn’t fully understand what he meant, but it caught the words roast meat and plenty. Its eyes lit up instantly, and it stood on its hind legs, rubbing its paws together, a habit it had whenever excitement got the better of it.

Seeing this, Lin Zheyu couldn’t help but laugh. With Little Black at his side, he made his way to the area outside Xuanning Gate. Little Black naturally possessed a strong ability to conceal its aura. It followed beside Lin Zheyu, curiously observing everything and itching to touch things with its paws, but it restrained itself after a sharp rebuke from him.

Many merchant caravans passed through Xuanning Gate, forming a lively marketplace outside the city. There were travel supplies, ox carts, horses, and all sorts of goods for sale. The air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly made snacks and food.

Chirp, chirp.

Little Black sniffed the air, drooling uncontrollably. It waved its paws, pointing eagerly at a distant stall selling roasted meat cakes while staring pitifully at Lin Zheyu. Its entire beastly life revolved around eating and sleeping, and now that it saw so many delicious things, it couldn’t tear its eyes away.

”Wait a bit. Once I’ve bought the ox cart, I’ll get you something to eat,” Lin Zheyu said evenly, lifting Little Black by the scruff. Wearing five hundred kilograms of weight took a heavy toll on his body, so he needed to buy a cart first to unload the armor.

Chirp, chirp.

Little Black let out a dissatisfied cry but immediately quieted down after Lin Zheyu shot it a glare.

Having followed Lin Zheyu for so long, the little creature had learned to read his expressions. It knew when it could fuss or ask for food and when it had to behave; otherwise, it would get smacked on the head, which hurt terribly.

”Shopkeeper, do you have any ox carts suitable for long travel? I need something sturdy and durable,” Lin Zheyu asked as he entered a shop that specialized in ox and horse carts.

Since Lin Zheyu carried heavy luggage, his armor alone weighed five hundred kilograms, so an ox cart was more suitable for long journeys due to its superior load capacity and endurance.

”For long travel, I recommend an Ox Horse, a hybrid of ox and horse. It combines the strength of an ox with the speed of a horse, making it ideal for long journeys,” the shopkeeper said after studying Lin Zheyu. When his gaze fell on Little Black, who squatted nearby with keen intelligence in its eyes, his eyes lit up with surprise.

Having spent years dealing with animals and livestock, while the shopkeeper couldn’t gauge Little Black’s true power, he could tell at a glance that this little creature was extraordinary and brimming with spiritual awareness.

”Oh? May I take a look first?”

Lin Zheyu’s interest was piqued. The variety of animals in this world was immense, filled with countless kinds of fierce and wild beasts, so it was perfectly normal that creatures like the Ox Horse existed.

”Of course. Please follow me,” the shopkeeper said with a cheerful smile.

Following the shopkeeper, Lin Zheyu arrived at a vast yard behind the building. The open space was divided into several sections, each pen holding different breeds of oxen, horses, and livestock.

”These are the Ox Horses. After our training, they’re very gentle and obedient,” the shopkeeper said with a smile, patting one inside the pen.

Seeing the creatures before him, Lin Zheyu couldn’t help but marvel as they truly lived up to the name. The beasts combined the features of both ox and horse: sturdy, muscular limbs, a broad and powerful body, a head much like a horse’s, and a tail that swished gracefully behind them.

”Let one out for a test,” Lin Zheyu said.

At his request, the shopkeeper released the strongest Ox Horse among them. Lin Zheyu patted its back, tapped his toes, and leapt smoothly onto it. The sudden addition of over five hundred kilograms made the beast stagger two steps before regaining its balance.

”Oh!” the shopkeeper exclaimed in surprise.

He was well aware of an Ox Horse’s strength and stamina, so to see it struggle was a bit surprising. Following the shopkeeper’s instructions, Lin Zheyu guided the beast to walk around the field.

Chirp, chirp, hiss.

Little Black’s eyes lit up. With a soft whoosh, it bounded onto the Ox Horse’s head.