Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

On the other side, Qiu Jun and Fan Qing had just exchanged greetings when their auras surged. They had barely tested each other with a probing move when they sensed the commotion from the other arena. Both split off a sliver of their perception to observe Lin Zheyu’s match. In the next instant, expressions of shock flashed across their faces.

What the hell? It’s already over? Is this guy really just a peak Divine Repository realm expert that only opened the spirit divine repository? That strength is absurd!

”Fellow Fan...”

The rising battle intent within Qiu Jun was instantly doused by a bucket of icy water. A helpless, bitter smile appeared on his face as he looked at Fan Qing, who looked no better. His whole demeanor was deflated.

”I concede.”

Fan Qing shook his head with a wry smile, waved his hand, and jumped off the stage.

What’s the point of fighting? Forget it.

Standing on the stage, Qiu Jun sighed and cupped his fists toward Nie Zhiyu in the air. ”Sigh... Senior Nie, I concede and withdraw from the Martial Hall vice hall master selection.”

There was no way to fight. That single display from Lin Zheyu, with his terrifying control over space, was enough to ensure he remained undefeated.

Nie Zhiyu showed no surprise and said calmly, ”Very well.”

With a light movement, she descended onto the arena and looked at Lin Zheyu, who was still immersed in formation studies. ”Congratulations, Fellow Xiao. From now on, you are the vice hall master of the Martial Hall.”

Lin Zheyu diverted a sliver of his attention outward and quickly came back to his senses.

He cupped his fists in thanks. ”Yes. Many thanks, Senior!”

”Mhm. Tomorrow, go directly to the Martial Hall and find Wang Xinyang. He will inform you of your duties as vice hall master,” Nie Zhiyu said with a smile. With a light step, she rose into the air and vanished from the arena.

”Congratulations, Fellow.”

”Congratulations, Fellow Xiao!”

”Congratulations.”

Whether they knew him or not, all the martial artists stepped forward to offer their congratulations.

The strength Lin Zheyu had just revealed could already be considered unmatched beneath the Shackles realm. His future advancement into the Shackles realm was all but certain. A powerhouse like that deserved their respect.

Lin Zheyu exchanged a few polite words with them, then left together with Bai Lin and Zong Linjing. He spent generously at the Profound Light Tower, treating the two to a lavish meal. When Qiu Kun heard about it, he congratulated Lin Zheyu and loudly lamented his regret, saying that if he had known earlier, he would have rushed back just to fleece Lin Zheyu for a proper feast.

The next day, at the Martial Hall.

”Fellow Xiao, your reputation truly precedes you. A pleasure to finally meet you! I heard about your match with Tian Yue yesterday. Your strength is surely unmatched beneath the Shackles realm. Had I known, I would have made time to watch it no matter what. What a pity...” Wang Xinyang said with a smile.

He was a burly, broad-shouldered man with a body covered in thick fat and a round face, which made him look stout and heavy. Such a build was uncommon among martial artists, especially at Wang Xinyang’s level. Clearly, he had developed a technique to intentionally keep this physique.

”You flatter me,” Lin Zheyu replied with a modest smile.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they moved on to business. Wang Xinyang was only one of the four vice hall masters of the Martial Hall. As for the hall master, he had reportedly been missing for over three months. Such things were common in the cultivation world. Searching for rare herbs, hunting powerful beasts, or entering secret realms often took half a year at a time.

Soon, under Wang Xinyang’s explanation, Lin Zheyu learned of his duties and privileges. The Martial Hall was primarily responsible for combat operations, essentially serving as the Martial Alliance’s enforcement arm. It had a few routine missions, yet offered high monthly merit points. What Lin Zheyu valued most was the relative leisure of the vice hall master position. He had no intention of wasting his cultivation time on trivial matters.

Raise troops for a thousand days, use them in a single moment. Though the Martial Hall was usually idle, the missions it handled were extremely dangerous, with a far higher mortality rate than other halls. The position Lin Zheyu had filled was that of a vice hall master who had died just months ago in a battle over a spirit herb garden. As for the danger, he paid it little mind.

His strength was rising faster than a rocket. Before long, once he opened the three great divine repositories, he would undergo another massive transformation. Even now, though he could not match a Golden Core realm cultivator, he far surpassed ordinary peak Foundation Establishment realm experts. If he truly encountered a Golden Core realm opponent, retreating would be perfectly reasonable.

After explaining the duties, Wang Xinyang extended an invitation with a smile. ”Fellow Xiao, Han Ge of the Han Family is currently visiting Yanwu City. He would like to invite you to the Profound Light Tower tomorrow for a gathering. I wonder if you have the time?”

”Han Ge of the Han Family? The Han Family of the Azure Dragon Realm?” Lin Zheyu asked with curiosity.

The only cultivation family he knew of was the Han Family of the Azure Dragon Realm, which he had learned about when visiting Lei Yunshu. Within that realm, the Han Family was one of the two most powerful families. Its strength was terrifying, ranking among the eight great families of Great Wei.

”Exactly. After hearing how you defeated Tian Yue in a single strike, Fellow Han Ge has taken great interest in you and wishes to make your acquaintance,” Wang Xinyang said with a smile, his round face giving off a particularly friendly impression.

”Alright.” Lin Zheyu nodded.

If it had been anyone else, he likely would have ignored it. But Han Ge belonged to one of the eight great families of Great Wei’s cultivation world, backed by immense resources. Whether for networking or simply to avoid offending him, Lin Zheyu had no reason to refuse. In any case, it would not take much of his time.

”Haha, there will be many prodigies present as well. You certainly won’t regret going,” Wang Xinyang said with a laugh.

After taking over the vice hall master position and familiarizing himself with the other members, Lin Zheyu left, having nothing else to do. His main goal in competing for the position had been to raise his authority, allowing him to exchange for higher-level techniques and manuals.

Leaving the Martial Hall, he headed straight to the library. The more advanced techniques were all kept on the third floor and above.

Lin Zheyu arrived on the third floor. On duty today was an elderly man with white hair and a youthful face, his expression stern without anger, exuding an air of quiet authority.

”Greetings, Senior,” Lin Zheyu said as he stepped onto the third floor and offered a respectful salute.

He had read through the Martial Alliance’s member registry before and had some impression of the old man before him. His name was Xia Ping, an ordinary name, yet it was said his strength was extremely formidable.

The old man raised his eyes and gave Lin Zheyu a brief glance, responding with a soft grunt. ”Mhm.”

He then closed his eyes again and resumed meditation. Seeing this, Lin Zheyu did not disturb him and began searching the library for the techniques he needed.

The fact that I haven’t broken through to the Divine Repository realm yet must not be known... Lin Zheyu muttered inwardly.

This time, he had come mainly for Divine Repository realm techniques. However, exchanging for only one would seem strange and might arouse suspicion. So Lin Zheyu spent extra spirit stones to acquire three different techniques. Each had its own characteristics.

One was balanced and orthodox, the most widely practiced within the Martial Alliance. Another took an unconventional path, said to defy fate, reshape one’s martial foundation, and open the strongest divine repository. The last was hailed as the ultimate Divine Repository realm technique, yet its difficulty was so extreme that almost no one had succeeded in cultivating it.

Beyond the Divine Repository realm came the Shackles realm. There were no techniques for it. One had to rely on oneself to comprehend and break free from the so-called shackles of the Heavenly Dao. What could be purchased were merely insights and records left by predecessors, along with general descriptions of the realm. Though not techniques, they were just as expensive.

Lin Zheyu selected only a few classic works to deepen his understanding of the Shackles realm. In addition to the three Divine Repository realm techniques and related texts, he also exchanged for the advanced version of the Spirit Martial Universe Secret Art. As for the ultimate version, it wasn’t that he didn’t want it. He simply lacked the spirit stones and merit points to afford it.

As his strength increased, the cost of martial techniques rose ever higher, and his demand for spirit stones grew accordingly. Fortunately, he focused primarily on cultivating his own body and had little need for pills, rare herbs, or dharma artifacts. Otherwise, he would have been even more strained.

”Senior, I would like to exchange for these techniques,” Lin Zheyu said respectfully, handing over the jade slips.

Xia Ping opened his eyes, glanced at the jade slips Lin Zheyu had chosen, and a trace of surprise flickered in his gaze. However, he asked no questions. With a faint smile, he completed the registration.

After finishing the registration, Xia Ping said casually, ”It’s done. The Divine Repository realm is more important than you think. Do not rush to break the shackles. Besides these three techniques, the Great Evolution Pure Origin Art is also quite interesting. You may want to exchange for it next time and study it.”

Lin Zheyu was slightly taken aback. This senior seemed to have misunderstood something. Turning the words over in his mind, he caught a hint of something deeper. It seemed that within the human divine repositories lay a great secret, one that could have a profound impact even on realms beyond the Shackles realm.

Seeing that Lin Zheyu had exchanged for three Divine Repository realm techniques, Xia Ping assumed he was aware of this secret and intended to study the divine repositories more deeply before advancing to the Shackles realm. That was why he offered the reminder. Lin Zheyu quickly understood and bowed respectfully. ”Senior, thank you for your guidance. I will keep it in mind.”

”Mhm.” Xia Ping responded lightly and closed his eyes once more.

After Lin Zheyu left, he opened his eyes again, a hint of curiosity appearing within them.

”An interesting little fellow. Even I can’t see through him. Whose disciple could he be?” Xia Ping muttered with interest.