Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

Time flowed like water.

In the early morning, the courtyard echoed with the sound of fists tearing through the air as fierce winds howled. Lin Zheyu’s face was stern and imposing, his momentum was awe-inspiring, and his glare was fierce and domineering. It had already been eight days since he defeated Monk Puxuan and ultimately won the title of a hundred undefeated victories.

From then on, Lin Zheyu became much more low-key. His Dominance true intent had already been successfully condensed; he had obtained the Great Strength Vajra Fist, and he had been selected by the Wuji Sect, gaining entry into it. His goals for this martial cultivation exchange meeting had already been achieved. Over the past few days, Lin Zheyu spent most of his time in the courtyard cultivating the Great Strength Vajra Fist, occasionally going out for a stroll, and living a rather relaxed and pleasant life.

In the shaded corner of the courtyard, Li Wensi looked at Li Mengxi and said, ”Young Master Zhao’s Great Strength Vajra Fist is really powerful. You’re also cultivating it, but Brother Mengxi, why does your fist technique look so ordinary?”

Hearing this, Li Mengxi’s old face flushed red, but he stiffened his neck and said, ”How could they be the same. Top-tier techniques require matching visualization diagrams and true intent diagrams. What I have is only a copied version. Of course its power cannot compare to Brother Zhao’s!”

The Great Strength Vajra Fist manual did not prevent Lin Zheyu from circulating it. However, the visualization diagrams and true intent diagrams within the manual were similar in nature, gradually losing the true intent contained within them as they were comprehended. As such, Li Mengxi and the others merely copied the manual and returned the original to Lin Zheyu.

”But I remember that when Young Master Zhao first obtained the technique and tried cultivating it briefly, its power was not as ordinary as when you use it,” Li Wensi said.

”What does a child know? Watch Brother Zhao practice carefully and do not interrupt.” Li Mengxi was left speechless and could only speak in a stern voice.

Sigh... Within the Li Family, my natural talent is considered decent, but compared to Brother Zhao, I am practically useless.

Over the past few days, he had watched with his own eyes as Lin Zheyu gradually mastered the newly acquired Great Strength Vajra Fist and unleashed impressive power with it. Such formidable natural talent and comprehension left him filled with envy.

Puff. Sizzle.

Lin Zheyu immersed himself completely in the Great Strength Vajra Fist. His punches burst forth, tearing through the rushing air and producing sharp sounds. This fist technique truly lived up to its name, its power extremely formidable. After only eight days of cultivation, he could already feel that its might surpassed that of the Violet Thunder Dominance Fist by a fair margin. If paired with a Buddhist Sect Vajra Technique, one could achieve a vajra body that dominated the winds and clouds, shattered all defenses, and swept through enemies without resistance. At its peak, its power would be utterly terrifying.

However, the Great Strength Vajra Fist emphasized the unity of fist and meditation, the harmony of inner and outer, and the completeness of form and spirit. It was a fusion of martial cultivation and Zen principles. To cultivate it to its peak required a strong Buddhist nature, study of Buddhist doctrine, and comprehension of Buddhist teachings. Lin Zheyu had no interest in Buddhist doctrine or teachings. He disliked rigid rules and constraints, preferring freedom and ease, acting as his heart desired and moving as his will pleased.

Fortunately, this fist technique did not require the cultivation of Buddhist teachings to practice. The Great Strength Vajra Fist emphasized employing vajra methods while embodying a bodhisattva heart. One carried compassion within while executing dominant vajra actions, upholding good and suppressing evil, subduing demons, and eliminating yao. Through true intent, similar effects could also be achieved. After a long while, Lin Zheyu stopped, breathing lightly. He stood silently in place, recalling the process of his recent practice and carefully contemplating the mysteries of the fist technique.

It lacks a bit of killing intent and falls short on compassion. If assisted by Slaughter true intent and Compassion true intent, the power of the Great Strength Vajra Fist could be raised significantly.

He did not follow the Buddhist path and could only cultivate the Great Strength Vajra Fist through the route of martial cultivation true intent. The Buddhist-aligned true intent derived from the Tortoise Breath True Technique served as compassion, while the Dominance conviction cultivated from Dominance true intent served as vajra. The fist technique produced in this way could not compare to the orthodox Buddhist Great Strength Vajra Fist, yet it was not entirely off the mark either.

However, cultivating this fist technique brought an unexpected benefit. Lin Zheyu discovered that the integration between Tortoise Breath true intent and Dominance true intent had become far more harmonious, no longer as sharply divided as before. Compassion could still carry a vajra glare, and within Dominance, why could there not be a touch of Buddhist restraint?

”Brother Zhao, today is the final day of the martial cultivation exchange, and we will soon pack up and head back. Will you return with me, or continue staying here?” Li Mengxi walked over and asked after seeing Lin Zheyu finish his practice.

Lin Zheyu had only mentioned that he had been noticed by the Wuji Sect and accepted as a disciple, without revealing much else. Li Mengxi did not know when Lin Zheyu would join the Wuji Sect or whether the apprenticeship had already been completed.

”I will not return to the Li Family. I have already brought all of my important items with me. You can handle whatever remains,” Lin Zheyu said after a moment of thought.

There would be nothing for him to do if he returned to the Li Family with Li Mengxi and the others. He had gone to the Li Family initially mainly to avoid assassination attempts from Soulcall Tower. Now, whether in terms of strength or backing, he had sufficient confidence and no longer needed to fear Soulcall Tower. There was no longer any need to go back.

”By the way, after joining the Wuji Sect, I will abandon my current identity,” Lin Zheyu said after thinking it over.

Seeing that none of them were surprised and instead looked curious, he smiled lightly.

”My real name is not Zhao Hao. I am sorry for deceiving you for so long. My original name is Lin Zheyu. As for where I come from and my true age, I will not say,” Lin Zheyu said.

”Brother Zhao, ah, no, Brother Lin, you really kept us in the dark,” Li Mengxi complained with a smile. He had long guessed that Zhao Hao was merely an alias for Lin Zheyu and did not particularly mind it.

”Quick, show us your original appearance. Let me see whether Brother Lin is as handsome and elegant as a jade tree,” Li Mengxi teased.

Li Mengqi and Li Wensi both blinked their eyes, staring at him with curiosity, also eager to see Lin Zheyu’s true appearance. Lin Zheyu smiled, rubbed his face vigorously with both hands, and released his control over his facial muscles and skin membrane, allowing his appearance to slowly return. He opened his mouth and exaggerated his expressions, letting his facial features settle into a more natural state. Having maintained the disguise for too long, he was still a little unaccustomed to reverting all at once.

”Wow!” Li Wensi exclaimed, hurriedly covering her mouth with her hand. She stared at Lin Zheyu’s face, blinking rapidly, a different kind of light appearing in her eyes.

”So young! Brother Lin, you truly have an outstanding appearance. Compared to me, you are only lacking by just a tiny bit.” Li Mengxi stretched out his hand to gesture and spoke with a grin.

”Young Master Zhao... Young Master Lin, you look so young. Did you use some kind of beauty-preserving pill?” Li Wensi said enviously as she looked at Lin Zheyu’s smooth and fair skin.

”I was born this way. But you are not bad either, Wensi. Take good care of yourself. After you advance to the Marrow Refining realm and complete the cleansing of tendons and marrow, you might look even younger than me,” Lin Zheyu said with a smile, teasing lightly. He only maintained his original appearance for a moment before restoring Zhao Hao’s face again.

”The name Lin Zheyu and this appearance are known only to you. Remember to keep it confidential for me. The identity of Zhao Hao has attracted some trouble, and I do not wish to carry it over to my original identity,” Lin Zheyu reminded deliberately.

”Understood. We guarantee it will not be leaked. However, Xiong Yonghao and the others also know that Zhao Hao was noticed and accepted by the Wuji Sect. Will they connect the dots later on?” Li Mengxi said with some concern.

”It is fine. I deliberately reminded them earlier not to spread the news that I had been noticed by the Wuji Sect. They are not loose-tongued people and would not go around spreading it for no reason,” Lin Zheyu said.

He simply did not want to bring too much trouble upon himself. Even if others truly found out, it would not be a big issue. As long as he stayed within the Wuji Sect for some time, his strength would soon advance by leaps and bounds, and there would be no need to worry about past troubles.

***

The next morning.

As the martial cultivation exchange meeting came to an end, the martial artists departed one after another. The once lively Wuji Manor instantly became somewhat quiet. Monk Puxuan also left. In this exchange meeting, aside from Lin Zheyu successfully obtaining the title of a hundred undefeated victories, everyone else ended in failure under Puxuan’s suppression.

Within Wuji Manor, at Pine Crane Hall.

Under the guidance of a Wuji Sect disciple, Lin Zheyu arrived at the main hall.

”Greetings, Elder Yang.” Lin Zheyu bowed toward Elder Yang.

”Mm. You look much more pleasing to the eye like this,” Elder Yang said with a smile as he sized up Lin Zheyu’s original appearance.

”Later, you will return to the Wuji Sect with me. The Wuji Sect is divided into the main sect and eight major branches. The Azure Tide Pavilion is the branch stationed in the Wuling City region. There is little difference between the main sect and the branches. Martial cultivation resources are allocated according to contribution points and natural talent potential. Each year, the Wuji Sect holds an internal sect competition. If you can stand out in the competition, you will be able to enter the main sect. The cultivation resources there are beyond your imagination,” Elder Yang said with a smile. He briefly introduced the situation of the Wuji Sect, giving Lin Zheyu a general understanding of it.