Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

Guanghua City, the largest city in the Guanghua Region.

The headquarters of the Wuji Sect, along with many other top sect headquarters, were all located here. It was the center of the Guanghua Region and its most prosperous city. The entire Guanghua Region was extremely vast. Between Wuling City and Guanghua City lie several large cities and gathering grounds, the two separated by more than five hundred kilometers. Lin Zheyu and his group were all-powerful martial artists, moving far faster than many ferocious beasts used for travel.

Within the mountain forest, four figures[1] darted swiftly through the trees. Suddenly, a ferocious beast howled and burst from the dense woods, lunging toward the comparatively weakest Lin Zheyu.

Pfft.

Huang Baizhong did not even turn his head. His hand rose, and his blade fell. A flash of cold light swept past, and the beast’s howl stopped abruptly.

”At this pace, can you still hold on?” Huang Baizhong asked softly.

A total of four people set out for the main sect this time. Besides Lin Zheyu and Huang Baizhong, there were Guo Wenzi and Wu Xuan. Cui Haihong and Gu Ye were unable to come due to a shortage of manpower. As for the beautiful Wu Xuan, Lin Zheyu had only met her a few times and was not very familiar with her. However, he had formed a good friendship with her disciple back at Soaring Serpent Mountain.

Lin Zheyu guessed that Huang Baizhong and Wu Xuan were heading to the main sect this time not only to bring him to exchange for the Primordial Wuji True Technique, but also to handle other matters. Since they did not mention it, he did not ask.

”No problem,” Lin Zheyu replied softly.

Aside from Lin Zheyu, the other three were all martial artists of the Force Transformation realm, and all primarily cultivated the Azure Tide Boundless True Technique. The true strength within them far exceeded that of ordinary martial artists. If they traveled at full speed, they would arrive quickly without needing much rest. However, to accommodate Lin Zheyu, a Marrow Refining realm expert, they deliberately slowed down.

”Not bad, Junior Brother. After traveling for so long, you’re still in good condition. After cultivating the Boundless Azure Sea Body, how many times has your blood qi increased?” Guo Wenzi asked curiously.

Hearing this, Wu Xuan also looked over with interest.

”More than twice,” Lin Zheyu replied.

The Azure Tide Boundless True Technique could theoretically raise blood qi to three times its original limit, though that was only in theory. Normally, it could only reach a little over twice. However, by relying on the Ninefold Origin Lock Art, Lin Zheyu directly broke through that limit. The amount of blood qi within him had reached an astonishing four times the original. The richness of his blood qi was almost unimaginable.

”More than twice and still this enduring. Your stamina is impressive,” Guo Wenzi said with a smile.

”I digest and absorb well. My physique is a bit special. The medicinal pills I take are absorbed in no time, which is why I can last until now. But it also caused some trouble. When I was young, I was always hungry,” Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

After joining the Wuji Sect, he had intentionally and unintentionally revealed his large appetite and rapid digestion.

”Haha, the first time I ate with you, your appetite shocked me. You nearly ate as much as three of me combined,” Guo Wenzi said with a laugh.

After resting three or four times along the way, they finally arrived at Guanghua City before nightfall. Lin Zheyu had come to the main sect once before. After joining the Wuji Sect, all disciples of the inner sect and above were required to register their identities at the main sect as a form of reporting in. When Lin Zheyu first came, he had been a complete novice. Now, he had grown into an expert comparable to the peak of the Force Transformation realm. Led by Huang Baizhong, the four of them headed straight to the Wuji Sect headquarters. Their arrival was rather abrupt, and few at the main sect knew of it. Otherwise, if word spread that the recently renowned branch sect’s true disciple had come, many would surely have gathered to watch.

”Junior Brother, since you’re rarely at the main sect, do you want to challenge Liang En? As long as you defeat him, you’ll be the Dao Child candidate of this generation,” Guo Wenzi urged softly. She had come along mainly to watch the excitement.

”I’ve already issued a challenge to him. Let me see whether he has accepted,” Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

As he spoke, he took out the Hidden Dragon Tokens from his chest and held them in his hand. Immediately, the familiar map projection appeared within his consciousness.

”You brat, you’re really planning to challenge Liang En right now? He’s been in the Wuji Sect since he was young. Among this generation of disciples, he is unquestionably the number one.” Wu Xuan teased with a smile.

”That was in the past. Now I am the unquestioned number one among this generation of Wuji Sect disciples,” Lin Zheyu said with an air of dominance as he put away the Hidden Dragon Tokens.

Liang En had accepted his challenge. However, he did not seem to be within the sect at the moment.

”Do your best. After you defeat Liang En, I will reward you with five thousand contribution points,” Huang Baizhong said, patting Lin Zheyu on the shoulder.

”Thank you, Master,” Lin Zheyu replied.

Since joining the Wuji Sect, he had only carried out one mission, the one at Soaring Serpent Mountain. The contribution points he gained were few, and most of his cultivation resources had been provided by Huang Baizhong.

”What are you thanking him for? You earned it yourself. Every time you move up one place on the Hidden Dragon List, the sect issues a reward. But it is not given to you. It is given to your master. Because you have risen so quickly on the Hidden Dragon List, your master has gained quite a lot of benefits,” Wu Xuan said with a smile.

When a martial artist ascends the Hidden Dragon List, they gained the benefit of the Hidden Dragon Tokens to assist in cultivation. Their masters also receive substantial rewards. This was a method used by the sect to encourage strong members to seek out and recruit more talented martial artists.

”That’s right. The rewards I received because of you are even greater than this. Keep working hard. If you can reach the top of the Hidden Dragon List, I will betroth my granddaughter to you,” Huang Baizhong said with a wide grin.

”Uh... That will not be necessary. If you say that, I might not dare to reach the top of the Hidden Dragon List,” Lin Zheyu said hurriedly after a brief pause.

Huang Baizhong had only one granddaughter. She was famously willful, and her looks were merely above average.

Wu Xuan and Guo Wenzi could not help but laugh out loud. They naturally knew Huang Baizhong’s granddaughter and did not have a particularly good impression of her.

”What are you saying? My granddaughter is so... Ahem, forget it. Handle your own lifelong matters yourself.” Huang Baizhong had just begun to praise his granddaughter when he noticed Wu Xuan looking at him strangely and immediately swallowed his words.

If only the two juniors were present, it would have been fine. But with his junior sister there as well, he could not bring himself to continue praising her against his conscience.

***

In the central area of the headquarters stood a building over a dozen stories high called the Wuji Tower, one of the most important structures of the headquarters.

”Weren’t you hunting yaos and demons in the northern lands? How do you have time to come here?”

In the hall on the first floor, two elderly men were seated, discussing something. When they saw Huang Baizhong arrive, they spoke with smiles.

”Greetings, Elder Liu, Elder Wang.”

Lin Zheyu and the others stepped forward to pay their respects.

They were elders of the main sect, senior in generation even to Huang Baizhong, and belonging to the same generation as Elder Yang. Those who could become elders of the main sect were all Grandmaster realm experts. If Elder Yang had not fallen from the Grandmaster realm back then, he too would now be serving as an elder in the main sect.

”I brought the junior here to select a technique,” Huang Baizhong said.

”Oh?” Elder Liu looked at them in surprise, his gaze finally settling on Lin Zheyu.

”You are the one selecting a technique? In less than two years after joining the Wuji Sect, you have already cultivated the Boundless Azure Sea Body. Your natural talent is truly astonishing,” Elder Liu said with emotion.

”Of course. Not long ago, this boy even defeated Xiao Shi of the War God Sect. He is now a great genius ranked thirty on the Hidden Dragon List. The subsequent true techniques of the Azure Tide Pavilion are complete. If you came here, could it be that you want to choose the Primordial Wuji True Technique?” Elder Wang asked, doubtful yet uncertain.

Nowadays, not many disciples dare to choose the Primordial Wuji True Technique. Most would settle for other techniques that made advancement to the Grandmaster realm easier.

”Yes,” Lin Zheyu answered.

”Really now!” Elder Wang exclaimed in astonishment after hearing Lin Zheyu confirm it himself.

”I heard that before joining the Wuji Sect, you had already condensed the Dominance true intent. If you cultivate the Primordial Wuji True Technique, you will possess nine kinds of true intent. The eight true intents of the Primordial Wuji True Technique alone already have a terrifying impact on a martial artist. Only those with great fortune, great perseverance, and monstrous natural talent can succeed in cultivating it. Besides the eight true intents of the Primordial Wuji True Technique, you have also condensed the Dominance true intent. This almost severs your potential to advance to the Grandmaster realm in the future. Baizhong, you actually agreed to let your disciple make such a choice?” Elder Liu asked, looking at Huang Baizhong.

”It was my own choice. And besides the Dominance true intent, I have also condensed the Tortoise Breath true intent,” Lin Zheyu said when he saw Huang Baizhong glance at him.

”You also condensed the Tortoise Breath true intent? Good boy! To attempt advancing to the Grandmaster realm with ten true intents as your foundation, this is an unprecedented feat,” Elder Wang said, eyes wide in shock.

”You have only just achieved some success, and already you are so inflated. Even past number ones of the Hidden Dragon List did not dare attempt to condense ten true intents before advancing to the Grandmaster realm. You’re truly worthy of being someone who condensed the Dominance true intent. What boldness,” Elder Liu said with a chuckle, whether in sincere praise or veiled criticism unclear.

”Elders, with Lin Zheyu’s natural talent and comprehension, it is possible for him to succeed. His talent in the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art is even more terrifying than in martial cultivation. He has already completely mastered this technique and can maintain its circulation in daily life. Moreover...” Huang Baizhong began to explain.

He explained how Lin Zheyu was extremely compatible with the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art and that he already possessed spiritual soul strength not weaker than Guo Wenzi’s. Elder Wang and Elder Liu were both stunned upon hearing this.

”Really?” Elder Liu asked in disbelief.

”Yes. I personally tested him,” Huang Baizhong nodded solemnly. ”Besides the Primordial Wuji True Technique, I also brought him here to obtain the later techniques of the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art.”

”Let me try.” Elder Wang could no longer hold back. The moment his words fell, a terrifying pressure suddenly rose from his body and crushed down toward Lin Zheyu.

The sudden action caught everyone off guard. Aside from Huang Baizhong and Lin Zheyu, even Wu Xuan and Guo Wenzi failed to react in time. Feeling the true intent pressure crushing down on him, Lin Zheyu quickly stirred the blood qi within his body, putting on an act of his face flushing red. Yet it was only his face that reddened slightly. He did not even furrow his brows.

Oh. Such powerful endurance is nearly comparable to a slightly weaker peak Force Transformation realm expert. Even with my sudden move, he still restrained his true intent and did not counterattack based on a martial artist’s instinct. That means my attack did not bring him much sense of danger...

Many thoughts flashed through Elder Wang’s mind.

His true intent pressure receded like a tide. Everything felt as though it had been an illusion.

”Not bad. You’re truly strong. To cultivate such a powerful spiritual soul in the Marrow Refining realm, you indeed qualify to cultivate the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art. But if you wish to advance to the Grandmaster realm with ten true intents as your foundation, the hope is still rather slim. If you find it cannot be done, cut your losses in time. Abandon the cultivation of the other true intents, and there may still be room to recover. The path is your own choice. Take care of yourself,” Elder Wang said after a brief contemplation, deliberately offering his advice.

”Yes. I will keep it in mind. Many thanks for your guidance,” Lin Zheyu said, cupping his fists in thanks.

”Heh. As expected of someone who cultivated the Dominance true intent. What bold spirit. Work hard and let me see just how powerful the Grandmaster’s will formed on the foundation of ten true intents can be,” Elder Liu said with a smile.

After speaking, he waved his hand, signaling Lin Zheyu and the others to go upstairs. After bidding farewell to the two elders, they headed toward the eighth floor of the Wuji Tower. The eighth floor housed many precious martial arts manuals. The richness of its collection was far beyond what the Library Pavilion of the Azure Tide Pavilion could compare with.

”Do you think this boy can succeed?” Elder Liu asked with interest.

”It will be very difficult. But his natural talent in the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art is astonishing. Perhaps he truly has a chance to carve out a path by force with his powerful spiritual soul,” Elder Wang commented.

He felt deeply moved. Lin Zheyu had joined the Wuji Sect for less than two years, yet within such a short time, he had completely mastered the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art. That alone was astonishing. Not only had he mastered it, but he had also cultivated his spiritual soul to such a level. It was simply monstrous.

”I, for one, think highly of him. The stronger the spiritual soul, the less influence true intent has on a martial artist. With his talent in the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art, ten true intents should not be too difficult for him. If he can successfully advance to the Martial Innate realm, with such terrifying soul talent, his future will be limitless,” Elder Liu said with a sigh of admiration.

1. The author wrote ’three’ here but I changed it to four because there’s actually four people in total. ☜