Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

”You actually want to join the Bull Demon Sect?” Luo Chengwen asked in surprise.

He could not discern Lin Zheyu’s true strength, but his third uncle, after some observation, believed it to be around the fourth transformation of blood qi. Many middle-aged martial artists journeyed to the Central Plains either for the sake of their juniors or to find an opportunity to break through to the Marrow Refining Realm.

Luo Chengwen assumed Lin Zheyu was the latter. The Barbaric Ox Fist, after all, was a third-rate technique. No matter how gifted the practitioner, it could barely support advancement beyond the Blood Qi Realm. For Lin Zheyu to have reached the fourth transformation, he must have cultivated something else.

”Brother Zhao, is your main cultivation art also a fist technique? The Bull Demon Sect is merely one of the Heavenly Sage Sect’s many branches, focusing primarily on fist techniques. If your main art isn’t one, switching midway to their system might not be worth the cost.

”After all, the Bull Demon Sect isn’t particularly strong. In the Central Plains, where powerful sects are everywhere, it ranks at best in the lower-middle tier. That’s why few have even heard of it. I only learned about it by chance during the imperial examination when a friend mentioned it,” Xu Shixin explained.

Once one reached their forties, changing to a different cultivation method became extremely difficult. One would have to retrace all of their earlier stages, including the Muscle Forging, Bone Forging, and Organ Forging Realms. It would be a huge waste of time and energy, especially if the new and old arts differed greatly in nature.

”No, my main art is a saber technique. Grasping momentum and evolving it into intent is no easy task. I just want to see whether the Barbaric Ox Fist’s later forms might push its momentum a step further.” Lin Zheyu smiled and gestured toward the Golden Scale Saber in his hand. He habitually concealed his true strength, leaving others uncertain of his capabilities.

”I see, but you’ll likely be disappointed. The techniques inherited from the Heavenly Sage Sect demand an exceptional grasp of momentum and are notoriously difficult to cultivate. That’s why they spread the Barbaric Ox Fist so widely to filter for talent. And I’ve heard that in the Central Plains, the major sects only accept young disciples. Once you’re over twenty-five, you stand no chance of becoming a true disciple. The Bull Demon Sect is probably the same,” Luo Chengwen said with a chuckle.

”I see. My thanks to you both for clarifying.” Lin Zheyu smiled and clasped his hands in thanks. Indeed, befriending the young masters of esteemed families was the best way to gather information, just as he had once done with Xu Qinyi and the others.

”Young Master Xu actually sat for the imperial exam? Your learning must be remarkable! May I ask why you gave up the path of letters for martial cultivation? Reaching the palace examination level at worst would have made you a top scholar. Surely that offers a brighter future than martial arts,” a young woman sitting across from Xu Shixin blinked curiously as she asked.

Her name was Ke Wanyue, another budding genius. Those willing to spend months traveling from Bafang City to the Central Plains were either martial artists seeking breakthroughs or young talents chasing greater prospects. Of the more than eighty people traveling with the Guangxuan Escort Agency this time, over twenty were such prodigies.

”Everyone has their own aspirations,” Xu Shixin said after a moment’s thought, his tone carrying a faint trace of emotion. He offered no further explanation and soon fell silent.

”Hmm...?” Ke Wanyue blinked her large eyes, gazing at Xu Shixin with eager curiosity.

When she realized he had no intention of explaining further, disappointment crossed her face. Ke Wanyue was talented yet pure-hearted, giving off a simple, innocent charm; whatever she thought could be read at a glance. It was obvious to anyone watching that she had feelings for Xu Shixin.

”Haha. Come now, Brother Shixin, say a few more words. Look how anxious you’ve made Miss Ke!” Luo Chengwen said with a hearty laugh.

He, too, was quite curious about why Xu Shixin had abandoned the path of scholarship for martial arts. As a member of the Luo Family of Bafang City, Luo Chengwen knew far more about the Great Wei than people like Xu Qinyi from smaller regions. From what he knew, the Great Wei’s bureaucratic system was unique; officials of a certain rank all possessed immense power. Even those who had never trained in martial arts became terrifyingly strong after attaining high office.

For example, the prefect of Bafang City had risen through the imperial examinations, advancing step by step until he held the position of prefect. Luo Chengwen had heard his grandfather say that this official’s strength was formidable, so much so that even the city’s four major powers feared him. Luo Chengwen suspected that these high-ranking officials, who transformed from frail scholars into unfathomably powerful figures, owed part of their strength to the talisman tokens they carried.

”There’s no special reason. I simply dislike being bound by rules,” Xu Shixin said with a faint smile.

A hint of regret flickered in Lin Zheyu’s eyes. What a pity, he had almost gotten another juicy story. He was deeply curious about the Great Wei government’s inner workings, but he had never found a reliable source. Back in Songyi City, the information he’d gleaned from Xu Qinyi and the others had only scratched the surface.

Crackle.

The campfire burned steadily, crackling and spitting sparks. Lin Zheyu sat quietly among the group of young geniuses, listening to their chatter. He often picked up valuable information from their casual conversations.

”Little Black, go catch another beast,” Lin Zheyu called toward the distance, where the creature was sitting beside Liang Yunhui, roasting meat together.

He had managed to blend into this circle of prodigies thanks to his strategy of winning them over with food. Even though many of them were accompanied by powerful elders from their families, hunting wild beasts in unfamiliar forests was never easy. Along the journey, they had subsisted mostly on dry rations, catching game only by luck. But ever since Lin Zheyu joined them, their nights had been filled with the aroma of freshly roasted meat.

”I envy you, truly. To have such a sentient beast is truly great luck,” Luo Chengwen said, watching Little Black dart into the forest with admiration.

He wasn’t the only one; Ke Wanyue, Xu Shixin, and the others were equally envious. Beasts as intelligent as Little Black did exist, but they were rare, and those that did were usually fearsomely powerful and nearly impossible to tame. A creature like Little Black, moderate in strength yet full of awareness and easily trained, was a true rarity.

”It was just luck,” Lin Zheyu said with a smile before turning to Xu Shixin. ”Young Master Xu, please continue. You were talking about the Water Cloud Palace.”

”Yes, yes, go on! Is it true that the Water Cloud Palace is made up entirely of women, all of them breathtakingly beautiful?” the young man beside Lin Zheyu asked eagerly, his eyes full of curiosity.

”All right, let’s continue. I don’t know too much about the Water Cloud Palace myself...” Xu Shixin said with a chuckle, then resumed describing the culture and major powers of the Central Plains.

He truly lived up to his reputation as a scholar capable of passing the palace examinations. His storytelling was fluent and captivating, drawing everyone in. Nearly every night, they would gather together; Lin Zheyu provided the roasted meat, and Xu Shixin entertained them with tales of different cities, their powers, and their customs, one region at a time.

”Oh, right, Brother Zhao, the Bull Demon Sect you’re interested in is located in Wuan City, about fifty kilometers from Pingyang City,” Xu Shixin suddenly said. He had just been talking about the Water Cloud Palace, one of the strongest sects within Pingyang.

”My thanks for the information, Young Master Xu,” Lin Zheyu replied. He was already planning to make inquiries about the Bull Demon Sect once they reached the Central Plains and assess the situation for himself.

”You’re too polite. I should be the one thanking Brother Zhao for his hospitality these past days,” Xu Shixin said with a gentle smile, his manner refined as ever.

With such elegance, good looks, literary grace, and outstanding martial talent, it was no wonder Ke Wanyue had become enamored with him. The group talked late into the night before returning to their respective carriages to rest.

”Uncle Zhao, in two more days we’ll reach Ruyang City. Where are you headed this time? If it’s along the same route, we could continue traveling together,” Liang Yunhui said with a cheerful smile. She had a good impression of Lin Zheyu and thought him a kind person.

”I’m planning to go to Wu’an City,” Lin Zheyu replied.

”Ah, what a pity,” Liang Yunhui said with a hint of disappointment. She had grown fond of Little Black, and their time traveling together had been filled with laughter.

”And where are you two headed? If it’s convenient, perhaps I could tag along and see the customs of that place,” Lin Zheyu said with a smile, noticing how she gazed longingly at Little Black roasting meat in the distance.

Lin Zheyu had no fixed destination and could go anywhere. According to Xu Shixin, the Bull Demon Sect’s strength was mediocre; it was a weaker branch of the once-mighty Heavenly Sage Sect. He wasn’t eager to join them. He preferred to aim for a more powerful sect whose techniques aligned better with the momentum he cultivated through the Barbaric Ox Fist. Clearly, joining a strong sect would benefit his long-term growth far more.

Lin Zheyu’s martial conviction was still unformed, and his current momentum was only something he had partially comprehended through the Barbaric Ox Fist. If he joined a stronger sect, he could always spend a few years cultivating a new kind of momentum. But if he entered the Bull Demon Sect and later tried to defect, that would be a problem. No sect would willingly take in a disciple with a history of betrayal.

”Really?” Liang Yunhui exclaimed in delight. ”We’re going to Wuling City! My father is with the Inkfeather Sword Sect there. We came to the Central Plains this time to find him.” She was so overjoyed that she blurted out their true purpose.

Hmm... a thousand-mile journey to find her husband, Lin Zheyu thought to himself, glancing at Liang Yuhan in the distance.

He suspected that the mother and daughter’s trip to Wuling City might end in heartbreak. After all, in stories, it was always the same. The husband rose to success, abandoned his wife and child, and found someone younger and more well-connected.

”Then let’s head to Wuling City first. I’ve heard the food there is excellent,” Lin Zheyu said with a grin.

Wuling City ranked among the top ten cities in the Central Plains in terms of overall strength, and visiting it would surely prove worthwhile.

”Yes, yes! There’s so much good food there!” Liang Yunhui said excitedly. Overjoyed, she ran toward Little Black to give it a hug, only for it to dodge away in a blur.

Chirp, chirp.

It blinked its eyes, looking at Liang Yunhui in confusion.

Ignoring Liang Yunhui’s playful attempts to cuddle Little Black, Lin Zheyu returned to his Ox Horse carriage. Sitting cross-legged outside, he began studying the Boiling Blood Secret Art once more. While listening to the young geniuses chat earlier, a sudden spark of inspiration had struck him.

Use an improved blood qi burst technique to strike the Qi Storage Acupoint, and then...

The thought formed clearly in Lin Zheyu’s mind. The data within his consciousness flickered and blurred for a few breaths before stabilizing again. He looked at it anxiously, only for disappointment to cross his face.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 39]

[Skills: Raging Wind Slash (Perfection), Boiling Blood Secret Art (Perfection), Golden Goose Technique (Tenth Stage: 100%), Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual (Third Stage: 100%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 100%)]

”Still no good.” Lin Zheyu gave a helpless smile. The Boiling Blood Secret Art still showed no indication of a first stage, meaning his new idea had failed.