Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

A faint blood-colored aura rose from Lin Zheyu’s body. This blood-colored aura, condensed from blood qi that had grown powerful to an extreme, transformed into a long, blood-colored dragon. Under his control, the long, blood-colored dragon shifted and changed, vivid and lifelike.

”Is this blood qi being projected outward?”

Lin Zheyu curiously controlled the long, blood-colored dragon, making it assume all kinds of postures. Before reaching the Dragon Transformation, blood qi could not be released outside the body and could only flow within, relying on the blood vessels spread throughout the body. He had not expected that after advancing to the Dragon Transformation, blood qi could become powerful enough to break free of the body and be projected outward.

”Although it is interesting, its strength is too low. Projected blood qi has almost no offensive power and can only be used to enhance momentum and atmosphere.”

After playing around for a while, Lin Zheyu’s sense of novelty faded. He drew the faint blood qi surrounding his body back into himself and fully activated the Tortoise Breath True Technique. The aura around him rapidly diminished, returning him to an ordinary and unremarkable state. He then looked at the data within his consciousness.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 39]

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

”There are still 39 units of Origin Force left, which is plenty enough to allow blood qi to undergo another qualitative change,” Lin Zheyu said to himself.

When he had just advanced, he could clearly feel that the ninth transformation of blood qi was not the limit of a martial artist. If he continued cultivating, he could still improve further and allow blood qi to undergo additional qualitative changes. However, the efficiency of further improvement would be much lower and would require far more time, vitality, and energy.

There’s no need to rush into improving for now. I should unlock the Ninefold Origin Lock Art first and see the effects. After the Ninefold Origin Lock Art locked away life essence, qi, and blood, it directly affected this body’s latent potential. Even after cultivating again, the total amount of blood qi produced did not even reach half of what it was before. It is probably just a little over one-third of the original amount. I wonder whether the blood qi that was locked away and the blood qi cultivated anew can merge perfectly after the Ninefold Origin Lock Art is released.

Lin Zheyu felt somewhat uneasy.

The blood qi that had been locked away earlier was at the eighth transformation and had been sealed together with life essence. If it were released, whether that blood qi that had undergone eight qualitative changes could merge with the blood qi that had undergone nine was secondary. The most important question was whether it could break the body’s restraints and increase the total amount of blood qi.

Creak.

He pushed the door open and checked the surroundings of the courtyard. After confirming that no one else had returned and that there was no one nearby, he released the Ninefold Origin Lock Art. In that instant, vast life essence mixed with blood qi surged forth like floodwaters bursting through a dam. Even with the concealment of the Tortoise Breath True Technique, it was impossible to completely hide all of the aura.

Phew.

After confirming that there were no issues, Lin Zheyu let out a long breath and cleared the distracting thoughts from his mind.

Ninefold Origin Lock Art, release!

The thought flashed through his mind as Lin Zheyu rapidly formed seals with both hands while forcefully tapping various acupoints across his body.

The immense life essence and blood qi that had been firmly locked within the acupoints throughout his body poured out with a thunderous roar as the Ninefold Origin Lock Art was released. Lin Zheyu felt unbelievably strong right now. He felt as though his body was about to be torn apart by the vast blood qi. At the same time, powerful life energy flowed into his body as the Ninefold Origin Lock Art was undone.

Lin Zheyu’s body was like a dried sponge, rapidly absorbing this surge of life energy. As it was absorbed, the sensation of being on the verge of bursting from blood qi eased considerably.

”The blood qi at the eighth transformation is being rapidly absorbed and converted into blood qi at the ninth transformation. After using the Ninefold Origin Lock Art, the sense of weakness in my body disappears once my life energy replenishes it. But there is a feeling of separation. The fusion is not entirely perfect,” Lin Zheyu murmured.

He closed his eyes and carefully sensed the changes in his body after releasing the Ninefold Origin Lock Art. Once it was undone, the life energy and blood qi energy that had previously been sealed away felt slightly separated from his body. Both the life energy and the blood qi energy were slowly dissipating. This sense of separation was the result of foundational damage caused by using the Ninefold Origin Lock Art.

”If this continues, most of this energy will dissipate over time. I should use Origin Force to restore the foundation damaged by the Ninefold Origin Lock Art and bring my body back to its peak first,” Lin Zheyu said to himself.

He placed his hand into the water basin, closed his eyes, and sent out a thought.

Use 1 unit of Origin Force to improve the Violet Thunder Blood Condensing Technique.

In an instant, vast mysterious energy surged forth, and the foundation damaged by the Ninefold Origin Lock Art was restored immediately. The dissipating blood qi and life energy stabilized and began to rise at an astonishing speed.

After several breaths, Lin Zheyu opened his eyes and exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. A faint trace of fatigue showed in his eyes. Using too much Origin Force in a short time placed an immense strain on his mind. He then carefully sensed the blood qi energy within his body. Gradually, the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.

”So it really works. Although the total increase is not large, the results are what matter. After all, this is only the effect of using the Ninefold Origin Lock Art once, then rebuilding cultivation. If it is used many times, the effect will be astonishing.”

Lin Zheyu was in an excellent mood. After sealing life essence and blood qi with the Ninefold Origin Lock Art, then cultivating again and releasing it, the total amount of blood qi in his body increased by roughly one-twentieth compared to before. This was merely the result of using the Ninefold Origin Lock Art once, rebuilding cultivation, and releasing it. If it were done twenty times, the total amount of blood qi would double outright.

***

”So exciting! I did not expect a Grandmaster realm expert from the Bull Demon Sect to appear this time. That expert cultivates a Dominance true intent. If Young Master Zhao were here, it would surely inspire him and help him see his future martial path more clearly.”

Li Wensi’s clear voice came from outside the courtyard. Lin Zheyu’s expression shifted as he quickly circulated the Ninefold Origin Lock Art, sealing his strength once more. He went up to six locks before finally stopping.

That should be about right. This level of strength is roughly the same as when my blood qi was at the eighth transformation, Lin Zheyu thought after sensing his condition.

The earlier attempt had been to test the effects of the Ninefold Origin Lock Art, so he had used all nine turns at once. Now, he only wanted to seal part of his strength and maintain the level he had at the eighth transformation of blood qi. If he directly ran it to nine turns, his strength would rapidly drop to a level even weaker than the fourth blood qi transformation. After using the Ninefold Origin Lock Art, Lin Zheyu continued to fully circulate the Tortoise Breath True Technique to conceal any traces left from stopping at the sixth turn.

”Not bad. If my true strength and blood qi intensity can still be seen through at this level, then I can only accept it,” Lin Zheyu said.

He tidied the room briefly and pushed the door open to step outside.

”Young Master Zhao, you are here too. Did you not go out for a stroll?” Li Siwen said with some surprise when she saw Lin Zheyu step out.

”I went out for a short walk and bought a few things before coming back. Why did you return so early? Is there not still an event tonight?” Lin Zheyu asked with a smile.

”There is still a banquet tonight, and we can bring people in. We came back specifically to find you and Yanming,” Li Wensi said with a giggle. Her chin lifted slightly, as if saying how nice she was and waiting to be praised for her cuteness.

”Thank you. But I do not enjoy that kind of setting, so I will not go. Have fun,” Lin Zheyu said.

”Brother Zhao, come along. Many female martial artists from Water Cloud Palace are here, and they are very beautiful,” Li Mengxi said with a laugh.

Hearing this, Li Mengqi shot him a sideways glance.

”Is Water Cloud Palace not based in Pingyang City? I remember Pingyang City being quite far from Wuling City. They came as well?” Lin Zheyu asked in surprise.

”Of course they came. Water Cloud Palace is not limited to Pingyang City. They also have a branch in Wuling City. By the way, the Bull Demon Sect also came. The Bull Demon Sect brought a Grandmaster realm expert. Their sect cultivates the Bull Demon true intent, which is also a type of Dominance true intent. That Grandmaster realm expert shared insights into martial cultivation at the exchange. It is a pity you could not attend,” Li Mengxi said regretfully. He felt that if Brother Zhao had been present, it would have greatly helped him in condensing his true intent.

”You descendants of esteemed families really have it good, with Grandmaster realm experts sharing martial cultivation experience,” Lin Zheyu said with a sigh.

Back in Songyi City, Master Liang Song had guided him, but as his strength increased, Lin Zheyu no longer had anyone to instruct him. Along the way, he had relied entirely on his own exploration and cultivation.

”We do not have it easy either, sigh. Banquets of this level have strict limits on attendance. To secure a spot for the family, I practically spent all my accumulated family contribution points. Looks like I will be living a hard life again,” Li Mengxi said with a sigh.

Because their parents had passed away early and there was no parental support, all their contribution points had to be earned on their own. As a result, they were often barely making ends meet.