Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

”Hunting yaos and demons? Are yaos and demons causing trouble outside Wuling City?” Lin Zheyu asked, sounding somewhat puzzled.

Outside Wuling City, the City Guard was stationed in force. The moment any yao or demon appeared, the City Guard would hunt it down and exterminate it.

”Yes. Those yao martial artists from the Yao Heaven Palace somehow lured powerful yaos from who knows where. They have been attacking villages and markets gathered outside the city. Over the past month, many people have died,” Liu Gang said respectfully.

Since his Initiation, Lin Zheyu had devoted himself entirely to training within the sect, almost completely ignoring matters beyond its gates, and knew very little about the current turmoil in Wuling City. He only knew that Sect Master Huang Baizhong frequently went out to hunt down the yao martial artists of the Yao Heaven Palace and was rarely present within the sect. Over the past three months, he had met Huang Baizhong only a few times, and whenever he encountered problems in martial cultivation, he sought guidance from Senior Sister Guo Wenzi.

”So that is how it is. I hope the sect master and the others can wipe out the people of the Yao Heaven Palace as soon as possible,” Lin Zheyu said.

He pondered for a moment, then continued, ”Help me deliver a challenge letter to Fan Qingxue. I will go challenge her tomorrow.”

”Yes, Martial Uncle,” Liu Gang replied respectfully.

Watching Lin Zheyu’s retreating figure, his heart was filled with shock. His martial uncle was actually going to challenge Fan Qingxue. One had to know that Fan Qingxue was a powerhouse ranked seventy-eight on the Hidden Dragon List. His martial uncle was truly incredible.

***

After defeating Xu Kun, who had come to challenge him, Lin Zheyu continued his previous cultivation. Over several days, he gradually grasped some of the essentials of the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nuturing Art. Although it was difficult, he found it much easier to cultivate than others due to his powerful control over essence, qi, and spirit. The techniques he had cultivated before had not been practiced in vain. Although they did not greatly enhance his strength, they improved his control and understanding of his body, making it easier for him to pick up other techniques.

In the afternoon, Huang Youwei came bustling noisily into Lin Zheyu’s courtyard and asked excitedly, ”Martial Uncle, Martial Uncle! I heard you are going to challenge Fan Qingxue. Is that true?”

Lin Zheyu opened his eyes helplessly and shot him a glare. This fellow really had no sense. Could he not see that he was cultivating? Still, Lin Zheyu was about to finish anyway and needed some rest. Continuously grinding away at the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art could easily lead one into a dead end. Cultivation, in reality, was different from using Origin Force to train within the consciousness space.

Within the consciousness space, his state was quite peculiar. In endless cultivation, there were no bottlenecks. Even if the rate of improvement was slow, it steadily increased. Back when the Barbaric Ox Fist reached Perfection, each time he used Origin Force to enhance the Barbaric Ox Fist and take the opportunity to recover his body, he would gain insights into the technique. His body also experienced extremely slight improvements.

The improvement was simply too slight and could almost be ignored. However, no matter how slight, it was still an improvement. If one poured in tens of thousands of Origin Force, the effect would become very obvious. Of course, that would be a very unwise choice. Real-world cultivation was different. Cultivation had bottlenecks, and if one failed to consolidate the results in time, one’s cultivation could even regress. In real cultivation, endlessly grinding away at a single technique was useless.

Lin Zheyu glanced at Huang Youwei and said calmly, ”That is right. Are you thinking of coming with me to the Azure Rainbow Sect?”

He knew this fellow’s temperament well. He loved to join in the excitement whenever something was going on and was nothing like a steady martial artist. This also caused Huang Youwei to make little progress in his comprehension of true intent.

”Hehe, you guessed it, Martial Uncle. When the time comes, I will go with you and cheer for you,” Huang Youwei said excitedly, clenching his fists.

Storming another sect and challenging the geniuses of the Azure Rainbow Sect was incredibly impressive. He did not want to miss such a moment of glory.

Seeing how excited he was, Lin Zheyu said with a light laugh, ”Do as you please. Your legs are on your own body. I cannot exactly forbid you from going.”

”Haha, it is settled then. I will call Xu Kai’en and Wei Dongguang as well. Deng An’s expression will definitely be a sight to see.” Huang Youwei laughed loudly. After speaking, he turned around and went off to look for Xu Kai’en and Wei Dongguang.

Suddenly, Huang Youwei’s voice came from outside the courtyard, followed by another voice that sounded slightly androgynous and carried a hint of magnetism.

”Martial Aunt, you are here! Are you looking for Little Martial Uncle? Aha, I still have something to do, so I will take my leave first. You and Little Martial Uncle carry on.”

Hearing the voices, Lin Zheyu stood up and walked to the courtyard gate.

Upon seeing Lin Zheyu, Guo Wenzi said with a hearty laugh, ”A few days ago, I heard that you defeated Heng Qiming and ascended the Hidden Dragon List. I did not expect that as soon as I returned to the sect, I would hear that you intend to challenge Fan Qingxue. Well done.”

Her presence was powerful, carrying a trace of masculine boldness and an open, forthright manner.

”Senior Sister flatters me. Please come inside. Yu Qing, prepare tea and refreshments.” Lin Zheyu invited Guo Wenzi into the courtyard.

For several months, Master Huang Baizhong had been busy with matters concerning the Yao Heaven Palace. Whenever he encountered problems in cultivation that he did not understand, Lin Zheyu would consult Guo Wenzi. Toward Guo Wenzi, he felt quite grateful.

”Have you encountered any problems in your cultivation recently?” Guo Wenzi asked after taking a sip of tea. Her sitting posture was very casual, exuding a brisk and valiant charm.

”There is indeed a difficult problem I wish to consult you about. It concerns the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art,” Lin Zheyu said.

”So you are cultivating this technique as well,” Guo Wenzi said, showing no sign of surprise.

When she had just become a true disciple, the first technique she exchanged for was the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art. Not only her, but even Junior Brother Cui Haihong had done the same. Only Senior Brother Chen Ding had not. Senior Brother Chen Ding was a strange person. His natural talent was astonishing, but he always had ideas that were different from others—strange and unconventional. Back then, Cui Haihong had nearly run into problems during cultivation under Chen Ding’s guidance.

”This technique involves the spiritual soul, and beginning its cultivation at the Marrow Refining realm is somewhat early. Normally, you cannot sense the existence of the spiritual soul, so there is no need to dwell on it too much,” Guo Wenzi said with a smile.

”I sensed it,” Lin Zheyu said.

Guo Wenzi’s smiling expression instantly froze. She widened her eyes and blinked, somewhat unable to believe what she had just heard.

”Senior Sister, I sensed it. It is just that I cannot control the spiritual soul and store it within my physique.” Lin Zheyu voiced the doubt in his heart.

He had truly sensed it. After more than three days of ceaseless cultivation without rest, he finally sensed the location of the spiritual soul deep within his consciousness. It was very hazy and not clearly perceived, but he had indeed sensed it.

”Really? Tell me about the process by which you sensed the spiritual soul,” Guo Wenzi said in disbelief.

The spiritual soul was contained within the Mud Pellet Palace[1], and before it became strong enough to break through the restraints of the Mud Pellet Palace, it was impossible to sense it at all. She herself had only been able to sense it after breaking through to the Force Transformation realm and cultivating for several years, once her spiritual soul had grown stronger. Yet Lin Zheyu had sensed it already at this stage. It was simply unbelievable.

”Yes. My perception of it is somewhat vague. It is a chaotic space, with no sense of time or space, where everything is gray and indistinct. At first, I could not sense anything. As I entered deep meditation and visualized the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art visualization diagram during meditation, I gradually developed a certain special sensation. Following that sensation...” Lin Zheyu explained slowly, recounting the cultivation process of the past few days.

During the cultivation of the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art, he had not used Origin Force to enhance it and had relied entirely on his own cultivation, so there was nothing that could not be spoken of.

Listening to Lin Zheyu’s description, Guo Wenzi felt deeply shocked in her heart.

So he truly sensed it!This junior brother’s natural talent is somewhat terrifying!

”It seems that you truly sensed it. I can only share my own understanding with you, then. My attainments in this technique are merely average. If you wish to seek instruction, you can consult Elder Yang. Elder Yang’s attainments in the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art can be considered the finest in the Azure Tide Pavilion,” Guo Wenzi suggested.

”I ask senior sister for guidance,” Lin Zheyu said respectfully.

”I would not dare to claim that. In a few years, you might even surpass me.” Guo Wenzi smiled and said, ”You are currently still in the first stage of sensing the spiritual soul. At this stage, control over the spirit is extremely weak, but through certain techniques and methods, it is still possible.”

Guo Wenzi spoke slowly, selflessly imparting her insights into the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art to Lin Zheyu. Under her explanation, Lin Zheyu’s eyes grew increasingly bright. Without guidance, relying solely on self-exploration, it would take several years to discover the techniques and experience that Guo Wenzi had imparted.

Time slowly passed. In the courtyard, Lin Zheyu sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, immersed in cultivation. Under Guo Wenzi’s guidance, he began attempting to control the spiritual soul, circulating the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art and storing it within his physique. The so-called nurturing of the spirit within the body was not truly fusing the spiritual soul into the body. Even Martial Innate realm martial artists likely could not achieve such a level. The Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art used secret techniques to draw a thread of soul guidance, establish a connection with the physique, and, through unique means, achieve the effect of nourishing the soul with the body.

Looking at Lin Zheyu, who had entered a deep stage of cultivation, Guo Wenzi felt deeply moved.

What astonishing natural talent and comprehension. No wonder Elder Yang and Master took a liking to him back then and directly accepted him as a true disciple.

Back then, in order to ascend the Hidden Dragon List, she had expended tremendous effort and cultivated a powerful martial technique, only succeeding in entering the Hidden Dragon List when she was nearing the threshold of sixty years of age. She then challenged step by step upward, ultimately stopping at rank seventy-one.

Meanwhile, Lin Zheyu had ascended the Hidden Dragon List at such a young age and was now even preparing to challenge Fan Qingxue, who ranked seventy-eight on the Hidden Dragon List. The gap between people was truly immense. Within the Wuji Sect, Guo Wenzi’s martial cultivation natural talent was considered top-tier, but compared to her junior brother, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

With Junior Brother’s lightness and movement techniques, Fan Qingxue should not be his opponent. If junior brother is willing, he could even directly charge into the top sixty.

She had exchanged blows with Lin Zheyu before and had witnessed his movement techniques that were so exquisite they resembled those of a ghost. Such powerful lightness and movement techniques were something she had never seen surpassed by anyone else in the Marrow Refining realm. When fighting an expert in movement techniques like Lin Zheyu, only those with deeper martial cultivation attainments, stronger lightness and movement techniques, or defenses as extreme and abnormal as Puxuan’s would have any chance of victory.

If Master were to know that Junior Brother’s natural talent in the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art had reached such a level, he would surely be very pleased.

The Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art held extremely special significance for the Wuji Sect.

1. In cultivation context, this refers to the upper spiritual palace in the head, associated with spirit and soul. ☜