Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

”What interesting thing is it? Tell me.”

When Lin Zheyu heard that Li Mengxi’s sixth uncle, Li Guoming[1], was also going, he felt relieved and became interested in the amusing story Li Mengxi brought up. After staying in the Li Residence for more than two months, he hardly knew anyone in this grand household and was indeed quite bored. If not for Ya Lan’s company and Li Wensi frequently dropping by, it truly would have been unbearably dull.

”The martial cultivation exchange gathering in Wuling City has begun. The martial cultivation exchange is hosted jointly by the Wuling City authorities and the three esteemed families, and is held once every year. Every gathering is filled with experts, and one can witness all kinds of geniuses and techniques. You can even meet many talented female martial artists. How is it? Interesting enough?” Li Mengxi chuckled.

The martial cultivation atmosphere in the Central Plains was far stronger than anything Bafang City could compare to. There were not only countless foreign resources and techniques but also an immense level of official support for martial cultivation.

”It does sound interesting. When does the martial cultivation exchange begin?” Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

Though he had been in this world for quite some time, this was his first time attending a martial cultivation exchange. In Songyi City, the martial arts atmosphere had been weak, and there was no such grand event. When he arrived in Bafang City, he merely treated it as a temporary stop and never entered its inner circles, so he knew little about such matters. If he had not befriended Li Mengxi this time, he likely would have missed it as well.

”It begins at the start of next month and lasts fifteen days. We will head there three days in advance, which means we depart in five days,” Li Mengxi said.

”Alright.” Lin Zheyu nodded.

At a place like a martial cultivation exchange, assassins from the Soulcall Tower likely would not dare act openly. Otherwise, they would never escape. Even if they did dare to strike, he was not afraid. After more than two months of cultivation and improvement, Lin Zheyu’s strength had long since transformed.

”If your stamina is alright, rest a bit and I will take you out for a walk. You really are a martial cultivation fanatic. For two whole months, you spent almost all of it cooped up in the courtyard training,” Li Mengxi said with emotion.

From what he knew, during these two months, Zhao Hao had spent nearly all his time in the courtyard practicing martial arts and reading books. He only went out briefly during mealtimes, and his daily routine was extremely disciplined.

”A clumsy bird takes flight early. When natural talent is lacking, hard work must make up for it.” Lin Zheyu laughed and teased.

Li Mengxi rolled his eyes and silently grumbled in his heart, If your natural talent is lacking, then what does that make mine?

”Background and resources are also a form of natural talent. With your background, your starting line is already the finish line for many ordinary people,” Lin Zheyu explained.

”That is true. But being an esteemed family descendant is not as good as you imagine. There are things... sigh, best not to talk about them.” Li Mengxi sighed and shook his head. ”Let’s not talk about troublesome things. Let’s go have some drinks instead,” Li Mengxi said with a smile.

The three of them left the courtyard and walked toward Yunxi Pavilion. The Li Residence was vast, fully equipped with food, entertainment, and leisure activities. It was like a small ecosystem where one could enjoy plenty even without leaving the estate. Martial grounds, opera, dance, restaurants, storytellers, and more were all available.

Lin Zheyu, along with Li Mengxi, Li Wensi, and the brothers Li Yunbo and Li Yunfeng, gathered for the day and did not return to the courtyard until late at night. After a day of rest, the medicinal decoction he had consumed was fully absorbed, and his blood qi had recovered considerably.

”Young master, your medicinal bath is ready. Would you like to use it now or wait a while?” Ya Lan approached and asked respectfully.

”Now. I will bathe and rest early,” Lin Zheyu nodded.

***

Night had grown deep and all was silent. After bathing, Lin Zheyu sat cross-legged on the bed. The bright moonlight shone upon his bearded and slightly honest-looking face.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 44]

[Skills: Violet Thunder Blood-Congealing Art (Perfection), Tortoise Breath True Technique (Sixth Stage: 0%), Golden Goose Technique (Tenth Stage: 100%), Violet Thunder Dominance Fist (Sixth Stage: 0%), Spirit Wondrous Movement Technique (Fifth Stage: 100 percent)]

Lin Zheyu looked at the data within his consciousness. Including the 2 units of Origin Force he had gained from breaking his limits that morning, he had 44 units remaining. During these two months, he had not rushed to increase them. Since there was still time, raising too much at once would make it difficult to control and cause his blood qi to leak. Gradual improvement allowed him more time to adjust to his increased strength.

Two new techniques appeared in the data panel. The Violet Thunder Dominance Fist had a total of eight stages. Lin Zheyu had cultivated it up to the Blood Qi realm and then ceased progressing. Before pushing his Blood Qi realm to its limit, he did not intend to advance into the Marrow Refining realm.

The other new technique, the Violet Thunder Blood Condensing Technique, was derived from the Violet Thunder Dominance Fist. The Violet Thunder Dominance Fist’s Blood Qi realm method was effective, far superior to the incomplete Primordial Origin True Technique he had once practiced. However, compared with the Primordial Origin Technique {Modified}, it was still somewhat lacking. After all, the Primordial Origin Technique {Modified} burned all essence, qi, and latent potential to elevate one’s strength. Though the cultivation process was agonising, the effect was astonishing.

Drawing inspiration from the Primordial Origin Technique {Modified}, Lin Zheyu incorporated the method of burning blood qi, life essence, and origin qi into the Violet Thunder Dominance Fist, creating a new technique. He named it the Violet Thunder Blood Condensing Technique. Its enhancement effect was astonishing, about 30% stronger than the Primordial Origin Technique {Modified}. Moreover, the Violet Thunder Dominance Fist’s incomplete version lacked only the true intent diagram. Its Blood Qi realm method remained complete, including its mental methods and medicinal formulas.

Lin Zheyu blended the mental method into the Violet Thunder Blood Condensing Technique, greatly softening its originally violent nature. The cultivation pain was significantly reduced to roughly 30% of what the Primordial Origin Technique {Modified} had inflicted. To his resilient will, such pain was insignificant.

Aside from enhancing those two techniques, his Tortoise Breath True Technique had also reached the sixth stage. Over the past two months, he had spent 15 units of Origin Force to cultivate it to this stage. As he had expected, Origin Force could indeed assist with cultivating true intent. During enhancement, as long as his hand rested upon the true intent diagram, the aura of true intent would be drawn by the mysterious energy into his consciousness space.

However, before using Origin Force to enhance it, one needed to completely brand the entire true intent diagram into one’s spiritual will. Without memorising every detail of the diagram, Origin Force could not be used to elevate it.

Branding the true intent diagram into one’s will was far more difficult than expected. Its details included not only static patterns but also dynamic ones. These dynamic details referred to the pulsation, breathing, and life aura of the turtle that one perceived when viewing the diagram through its true intent aura. That state represented the true essence of the diagram. It took Lin Zheyu about half a month to completely imprint the Tortoise Breath True Technique’s true intent diagram into his mind.

”The contents beyond the sixth stage of the Tortoise Breath True Technique can only be cultivated after forming true strength. With my current mastery of the fifth stage at perfection, I should be able to conceal Dragon Transformation, right?” Lin Zheyu was not very confident.

The first four stages of the Tortoise Breath True Technique focused on sealing one’s life essence and locking one’s qi and blood to prevent loss of vitality. The stages beyond the sixth involved using true strength infused with tortoise breath true intent to temper the physique and stimulate life essence. The first half of the technique was about conserving, reducing the loss of essence.

The latter half focused on increasing and enriching the density of life essence to fundamentally extend one’s lifespan. Combined, the Tortoise Breath True Technique’s longevity effect was astonishing. However, Lin Zheyu had not even reached the Marrow Refining realm, let alone formed true strength. He could not cultivate the contents beyond the sixth stage. For now, his progress in the technique had reached its limit.

1. The surname was Tang instead of Li in the raw. I think it’s an author’s mistake so I corrected it to Li. ☜