Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

”A space-time node connected to a Yao Demon Nest? This is troublesome.” When Gu Ye heard the news, her expression grew solemn.

A true yao and demon possessed at least Grandmaster realm strength, and even she would have to avoid them. Fortunately, when the sky fell, the tall would bear it. Within the territory of Great Wei, if a space-time node connecting to a Yao Demon Nest truly appeared, powerful experts would naturally step in to resolve it. They only needed to hold Soaring Serpent Mountain and protect its medicinal fields through this wave of impact.

”The leakage of demonic power proves the passage has already connected. Now it depends on whether Great Wei has experts capable of destroying the space-time node in time. Whether or not this node can be closed promptly, the leakage of demonic power will inevitably trigger a beast tide. Go now to the foot of the mountain and support the others. Lin Zheyu, you are in charge of the western defensive line. Gu Ye, you take the eastern line. If you encounter an opponent you cannot contend with, retreat to the summit at once,” Meng Liuyuan instructed.

A grand formation had been set up on Soaring Serpent Mountain, capable of resisting attacks from Martial Innate realm experts. They only needed to withstand the aftershocks of this upheaval. Normally, terrifying beings above the Martial Innate realm would not take action against them. The first wave would bring the greatest number of ferocious beasts. If they endured it, things would ease somewhat afterward, though only temporarily.

After the beast tide, if Great Wei’s experts could not close the space-time node in time and large numbers of yaos, demons, and demon puppets invaded, the situation would become dire. What would appear then would be even more powerful and extremely difficult-to-kill demon puppets, and perhaps even true yaos or demons.

”Yes, Martial Uncle,” Lin Zheyu and Gu Ye replied in unison.

After discussing the details further, Lin Zheyu moved and headed toward the western defensive line. Orders were passed down level by level, and the disciples on Soaring Serpent Mountain went on full alert. The appearance of the space-time node caused a tremendous upheaval. Countless powerful, ferocious beasts fled in all directions from the depths of the mountains, setting off a massive beast tide.

Fortunately, the direction of the tide was not toward Soaring Serpent Mountain but radiated outward from the location where the space-time node had appeared. Otherwise, Lin Zheyu and the others would have had no choice but to abandon most of the medicinal fields and retreat into the grand formation to hold a defensive stand.

Before reaching the foot of the mountain, waves of beastly roars could already be heard. Lin Zheyu stood atop a large tree at the mountain’s base, keeping watch over the surroundings. Vast numbers of ferocious beasts charged out from the depths of the forest, causing the entire woodland to tremble. The first to appear were relatively weak beasts, though their numbers were immense.

Roars and rumbling sounds of beasts echoed. At the foot of the mountain, the disciples of the Wuji Sect held their weapons and stood in formation, ready for battle. Their formation was like a sharp blade thrust into the beast tide, redirecting the beasts’ flight. Though the disciples stationed here were strong, their numbers were vastly outmatched by the beasts within the tide. If they tried to confront all the beasts head-on, even the strongest among them would eventually exhaust their strength.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Crossbow bolts shot out like rain, piercing the ferocious beasts fleeing in panic. Mixed among them were immensely powerful Divine Arm Crossbows, aimed at the stronger beasts within the tide. The Divine Arm Crossbow was a formidable heavy weapon, common in the military. Even a Marrow Refining realm martial artist would not dare take its attack head-on.

Although the Divine Arm Crossbow was powerful, its shortcomings were significant. First, its mobility was poor. Weighing over five thousand four hundred kilograms, it had to be mounted on the ground to operate and was extremely difficult to reposition. Adjusting its firing angle required a blood qi realm expert and was very slow. Against a Marrow Refining realm martial artist, more than a dozen would be needed to pose a real threat. Second, it was difficult to operate.

Generally, only martial artists at the Blood Qi realm or above could operate a Divine Arm Crossbow. Despite its flaws, it was an excellent defensive weapon. Large numbers of ferocious beasts were slain by bolts and heavy crossbow fire before they could even approach. Those that slipped through were personally cut down by inner sect disciples. Lin Zheyu did not need to act. What he had to guard against were powerful beasts others could not handle, or yao martial artists and demon puppets lurking in the shadows.

Grrr!

A massive bear roared as it charged toward the defenses of Soaring Serpent Mountain. Its size was terrifying, standing over three meters tall. Its eyes were filled with darkness, and its entire body was pitch black, radiating a sinister and dreadful aura. It was a ferocious beast corrupted by Baleful Yin force and transformed into a demon puppet.

Bang, bang, bang!

Dozens of Divine Arm Crossbow bolts struck the giant bear, producing dull thuds before falling to the ground. They caused it no harm at all, only slowing its advance slightly.

Roar! Bang, bang!

Its speed was astonishing. It charged through the rain of bolts, enduring the heavy crossbow fire as it barreled toward Soaring Serpent Mountain. In the blink of an eye, it reached the defensive line. An inner sect disciple of the Wuji Sect moved instantly and appeared beside the giant bear. His expression was icy as his long saber flashed through the air, a streak of cold light slashing toward the bear’s neck. The man was named Jiang Huo, an inner sect disciple skilled in saber techniques, and his strength was respectable.

Thud.

A dull sound rang out. The expected sensation of blade slicing flesh never came. The razor-sharp saber in Jiang Huo’s hand seemed to have turned into an unsharpened, blunt blade. It struck the giant bear yet failed to inflict the slightest damage. This giant bear demon puppet was a living corpse refined by human hands. Only artificially refined living corpses possessed such terrifying defense. Demon puppets formed solely through Baleful Yin force corrosion were also tough, but compared to a living corpse, they were insignificant. Ordinary demon puppets were formidable for their terrifying regenerative ability.

Not good, Jiang Huo cried out inwardly.

Realizing he could not harm the astonishingly defensive demon puppet before him, he retreated rapidly, but it was already too late.

Whoosh!

A fierce wind howled. Terror flashed across Jiang Huo’s face. The giant bear’s claw suddenly slammed down toward his head. If it struck, his skull would burst like a watermelon.

Bang!

A thunderous explosion rang in his ear. Jiang Huo’s terrified expression froze. Right in front of him, a thick and powerful arm appeared abruptly and seized the giant bear demon puppet’s claw. The terrifying paw was utterly immobilized in that grip.

”I will handle this one. Go deal with the other beasts,” Lin Zheyu said calmly.

With that, his arm exerted sudden force. The terrifying three-meter-tall giant bear demon puppet was lifted with his right arm and smashed heavily into the ground, producing a booming crash.

”Thank you, Martial Uncle!” the man said respectfully. He moved at once and charged toward the remaining beasts that had slipped through.

Rumble.

The earth trembled as the giant bear demon puppet was slammed into the ground by Lin Zheyu. Such damage, however, was trivial for a living corpse possessing Marrow Refining realm strength.

What astonishing defense. Its strength is not high, around mid-stage Marrow Refining realm, but its defensive power is abnormal. Its body is filled with dense Baleful Yin force. It must have been artificially refined into a living corpse, Lin Zheyu pondered inwardly.

The instant he smashed the giant bear living corpse to the ground, his figure moved, and he suddenly appeared beside its head.

Rumble, rumble.

Blood qi roared within his body as muscles swelled across his frame. A terrifying punch blasted out and smashed down toward the giant bear living corpse’s head. With a pop, his fist burst through it like a watermelon, purple-black ichor exploding outward as the skull shattered. Dense Baleful Yin force surged madly toward Lin Zheyu’s fist, trying to burrow into his body. Golden blood qi stirred lightly within him, and the Baleful Yin force dispersed into wisps of black smoke in the air.

So weak. I thought a Marrow Refining realm living corpse would have far stronger defense.

The so-called bronze skin and iron bones of a living corpse were nothing more than this. If one’s strength was great enough, even the toughest bronze skin and iron bones would be like paper.