Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

”More medicinal pills again...” Lin Zheyu murmured in mild disappointment.

He had no shortage of pills. With Origin Force at his disposal, he had little need for any medicinal pills. He only required a strong medicinal potency to prevent his blood qi from being depleted while using Origin Force to advance.

”But these Essence and Qi Pills look familiar...”

Lin Zheyu narrowed his eyes, studying the sample displayed on stage. The distance made it hard to see clearly, but after careful observation, realization dawned on his face.

The pills were identical to the ones he had once taken from the black-and-red-robed member of the Nine Nether Sect. Back then, besides the Blood Pills that aided in breaking through the Blood Qi Realm, he had found another bottle of unknown pills on that man.

There had been only four pills in total. Not only did that cultist possess them, but so did the Pei Family martial artist, who had carried seventeen of them.

I wonder how effective they are. If they work well, keeping a few on hand could be useful. When my blood qi runs dry in battle, they could serve as energy to help me recover with Origin Force.

He couldn’t help but sigh. Martial artists in the Central Plains had countless supporting pills for cultivation; no wonder so many powerful fighters arose here. It was little surprise that those from remote regions longed to come to the Central Plains in search of breakthroughs.

The Essence and Qi Pills eventually sold for 3,800 taels of silver, or roughly 125 taels per pill. It was not overly expensive, but nearly impossible to obtain on the open market.

After the Essence and Qi Pills, several other supporting pills were auctioned, including those that stimulated blood qi for life-risking battles. Following the pills came various Blood Qi Realm martial techniques.

”No cultivation technique for the fourth transformation of blood qi?” Lin Zheyu grew uneasy. If none appeared, he would have no choice but to find a way into a sect and acquire one there.

”Everyone, thank you very much for your patience. We’ve auctioned off many pills of different varieties, but without a powerful technique for condensing blood qi, it would still be difficult to achieve a true qualitative change. With that said, I’d like to introduce our next item...”

It’s here!

Lin Zheyu took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement rising within him.

”This manual, the Primordial Origin True Technique, originates from ancient times, but it is heavily incomplete; its true intent diagram and the post Marrow Refining Realm sections are missing. Only the Blood Qi Realm cultivation method remains. As everyone knows, only techniques containing true intent diagrams that can be advanced to the Grandmaster Realm are called True Techniques.

”Each True Technique is exceedingly domineering and requires special pills and mental methods to practice; otherwise, one risks grave errors and damage to their foundation. This manual lacks the pill formulas, the intent diagram, and the mental method; only the method for condensing blood qi remains. Though it cannot be cultivated, it is an invaluable reference...” Li Lingyun explained eloquently, her clear and musical voice stirring the crowd. Compared to selling pills, selling manuals was far more profitable; after all, it cost them barely anything.

”True Technique?” Lin Zheyu blinked in surprise at her explanation.

It was the first time he had heard such a term. Truly, one’s circle determined one’s vision. Without Wang Jing’s invitation and the chance to attend the Li Family auction, he might never have known of what they called a True Technique, unless he joined a sect himself.

So it’s just an incomplete technique... Hmm, looks like not a single cultivation method for beyond the fifth transformation of blood qi is going to come out. These esteemed families and sects truly keep such techniques under tight control. None are shown, not even here.

After some consideration, he waited for a few rounds of bidding before calling out, ”3,200 taels of silver.”

No sooner had his voice fallen before another bidder raised the price. ”3,500 taels.”

”3,600 taels.”

***

Another round of bidding followed. Lin Zheyu was somewhat surprised as he hadn’t expected so many people to fight over an incomplete manual.

”4,100 taels! Any higher bids?” Li Lingyun asked with a smile. She waited a few breaths, and just before she brought down the gavel, Lin Zheyu suddenly raised the bid by another 100 taels.

”Hm?”

From a seat further ahead, a burly man turned to look in his direction. The man wore a white, faceless mask and sat closer to the stage than Lin Zheyu.

”Hmph. 4,200 taels of silver,” the man snorted coldly, his tone indifferent but his posture full of determination.

”4,500 taels,” Lin Zheyu replied, glancing at the man from the corner of his eye.

He was determined to win this technique. If he missed it, there might not be another one for condensing blood qi later. Besides, this burly man surely wouldn’t raise it above 10,000 taels, right?

”4,800 taels...”

”5,800 taels,” Lin Zheyu said calmly, ignoring the man’s venomous glare.

”Damn it! Fighting me over a broken, incomplete manual? I’ll remember you!”

The man cursed under his breath and gave up on the bid. Any further bidding would simply not be worth it.

”Any more bids? If not, this technique will belong to the guest at seat eight-seven-three,” Li Lingyun said with a pleasant smile. She glanced around the hall, waited a few breaths, and, seeing no response, prepared to close the sale.

”Congratulations to the guest who has won the incomplete copy of the Primordial Origin True Technique,” Li Lingyun announced with a smile.

Lin Zheyu let out a breath of relief. Though the manual was missing its pill formulas and mental methods, if he could leverage the unique properties of his Origin Force, it would be an enormous gain. Even though incomplete, the Primordial Origin True Technique was a genuine True Art, and its method for condensing blood qi might allow cultivation up to the ninth transformation of blood qi.

”I hope I can cultivate it... Otherwise, that 5,800 taels of silver will have gone to waste,” Lin Zheyu murmured.

Spending nearly 6,000 taels of silver at once had cut his savings in half. And even if the technique proved workable, the herbs required for advancement would be another major expense. Having secured the manual, Lin Zheyu did not leave immediately. Even without bidding further, simply listening to Li Lingyun’s introductions broadened his knowledge that would be nearly impossible to acquire at the Martial Honor Restaurant.

The auction went on, but as expected, there were no more manuals like the Primordial Origin True Technique for condensing blood qi. There were, however, several incomplete pill recipes and secret tomes. Lin Zheyu did not bid on any of them, however. It was not because they were unworthy, but because he was simply out of money.

Nearly another two hours passed before the auction finally came to an end. The amount of money the auction house made must have reached well over a million taels. The incomplete Primordial Origin True Technique that Lin Zheyu had purchased was among the cheaper items; some treasures had sold for hundreds of thousands of taels.

When the auction ended, the guests left in an orderly manner. While there had been only one entrance for entry, ten exits were now open for departure, with optional protection services provided. It was a thoughtful arrangement.

After receiving his manual, Lin Zheyu left Spirit River Tower. Even though he sensed no one tailing him, he still took several detours, blended into the crowd, and changed disguises multiple times before finally making his way home.

***

Returning to his courtyard, Lin Zheyu could not wait to take out the manual and begin studying it. After searching for so long, he had finally obtained the technique he sought.

”As I thought! I knew it! The techniques beyond the fifth transformation of blood qi involve the body’s many acupoints!”

Lin Zheyu’s eyes grew brighter as he flipped through the incomplete Primordial Origin True Technique.

He had practiced many techniques before, yet ordinary methods for tempering the body and condensing blood qi made it nearly impossible to reach the ninth transformation before his mid-thirties. Only techniques like the Boiling Blood Secret Art, which targeted acupoints, could make that possible. However, unlike the Boiling Blood Secret Art, the Primordial Origin True Technique employed a much gentler approach to condensing blood qi. It merely required a guiding mental method and medicinal pills to prevent the practitioner from injuring their body during the process.

”So that’s it, eh? The mental method serves to stop the circulation of blood qi. The process of condensing blood qi in the Primordial Origin True Technique is similar to that of the Boiling Blood Secret Art. Once initiated, it becomes uncontrollable until all the essence and blood qi in one’s body is exhausted, only ceasing when the body collapses from depletion. Yet unlike the Boiling Blood Secret Art, the acupoint circulation pattern here is different; it doesn’t burn essence, qi, or spirit, though that also greatly reduces its effectiveness.”

Lin Zheyu’s eyes gleamed brighter as he studied the description.

The blood qi circulated through the body’s acupoints, undergoing purification and qualitative transformation with their aid. The process, however, was extremely dangerous, as without the energy produced by burning essence, qi, and spirit, the flow of blood qi through the acupoints could easily cause severe damage throughout the body.

The mental method was meant to halt the process and prevent the practitioner from losing control and exhausting their body. The medicinal pills protected the acupoints from harm during cultivation. Yet for Lin Zheyu, neither of these problems mattered. As long as his spirit remained intact, he could forcibly endure any physical injury.

”Good, good. It looks like those 5,800 taels of silver weren’t wasted,” Lin Zheyu said with a faint smile, feeling quite pleased.

With this incomplete True Art in his hands, he could now advance directly toward the Dragon Transformation.