Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

”If the two of you won’t be going, I can recommend another fellow, though Fellow Han will need to invite him personally. As for whether he’ll agree, I can’t guarantee it,” Pei Yichen said.

”Oh? Who is it?” Han Ge asked curiously.

”Tian Xukun of the Directorate of Celestial Observation,” Pei Yichen replied.

Though called the Directorate of Celestial Observation, it was basically the imperial Wei Family of Great Wei. All official institutions in Great Wei, whether the Directorate of Celestial Observation or the Heavenly Works Pavilion, were forces directly under the Wei Family. Within these institutions, there were those trained internally and those recruited externally from other families and factions. Tian Xukun had joined the Directorate of Celestial Observation from a young age and was raised entirely under its guidance.

”Tian Xukun? Hadn’t he already entered seclusion to break through to the Golden Core realm?” Han Ge asked in surprise.

In order to find people to enter that space-time node and contend for greater opportunities, he had searched everywhere for suitable candidates. He had found Tian Xukun at the time, but his subordinates replied that he had already entered seclusion to prepare for his Golden Core breakthrough.

”He’s come out again. Not long ago, the Directorate of Celestial Observation’s top genius, Di Jie, successfully formed a nine-pattern Golden Core with the help of that person. As soon as Tian Xukun heard the news, he immediately ended his seclusion,” Pei Yichen said with a faint smile, a hint of emotion in his tone.

A nine-pattern Golden Core. Ever since something went wrong with this world, such a thing had almost never appeared again.

”Di Jie succeeded?” Han Ge said in shock. His sources were usually well-informed, yet he hadn’t received this news, which caught him off guard.

No wonder Tian Xukun came out of seclusion. After all, they’ve been rivals for centuries. With Tian Xukun’s temperament, he might have accepted it if Di Jie had only formed an eight-pattern Golden Core, but he had achieved a nine-pattern Golden Core...

Han Ge smiled slightly, gaining some confidence as he said, ”I’ll handle persuading Tian Xukun.”

”The space-time node deep within the demon cave is quite dangerous. With just the few of us, it may not be enough. You’ve invited others as well, haven’t you?” Pei Yichen asked, looking at Han Ge.

The Dao resonance contained within rule fragments was limited, and the time available to comprehend it was brief. Though they were all prodigies, without Lin Zheyu’s Origin Force to assist them, the benefit they would gain from those rule fragments would diminish. They no longer valued such opportunities.

This time, Han Ge and the others intended to enter the space-time node and venture into another world in pursuit of greater opportunities. Passing through a space-time node into the demonic realm was already extremely dangerous. The node within the demon cave was far more powerful than those that had appeared near Great Wei, with both the number and strength of the yaos being terrifying. If it were only the few of them, the risk would be too high.

”Of course not. If all goes well, there will be at least fifteen of us forming the team this time,” Han Ge said with a confident smile.

Su Qingqing let out a breath of relief. ”That’s good to hear.”

She smiled at Pan Xinyu and Pan Xinwen. ”I’ve heard the Extreme Cold Heavenly Palace of the Extreme Cold Palace is about to open. The reason you’re not going is to participate in that trial, isn’t it?”

”Yes. Compared to the opportunities within the space-time node, those within the Extreme Cold Heavenly Palace are more important to us,” Pan Xinyu said with a nod.

The Extreme Cold Heavenly Palace was the predecessor of the Extreme Cold Palace and one of the most powerful sects in ancient times. During that great calamity, it was nearly wiped out, with only a small number of disciples escaping to establish the present-day Extreme Cold Palace. The Heavenly Palace contained abundant opportunities and treasures, far better suited to their cultivation techniques.

”If there’s another opportunity in the future, we can cooperate again. Though by then, we’ll likely all have reached the Golden Core realm,” Han Ge said with a smile.

Lin Zheyu sat quietly to the side, listening to their conversation and gaining quite a bit of insight. From their exchange, he realized that they were not all that familiar with one another.

Pei Yichen and the Pan twins, for instance, only knew of each other and may have exchanged greetings before, but had no deeper interaction. At most, they were only slightly more acquainted with one another than they were with Lin Zheyu. As the drinks went around, the group gradually grew more at ease.

”Fellow Xiao, in a few days, the Heavenly Works Pavilion’s Treasure Seizing Assembly will begin. Will you be attending?” Pei Yichen asked with a smile as he looked at Lin Zheyu.

The reason they had gathered here was mainly for this assembly. The venue was not far from here, located at Fallen Phoenix Slope, which Lin Zheyu had passed by earlier. Fallen Phoenix Slope was a crucial site for the Heavenly Works Pavilion’s artifact refining. The surrounding area of several dozen kilometers was fully occupied by the Pavilion and belonged to its territory.

”The Treasure Seizing Assembly? If you participate, can you obtain a dharma treasure?” Lin Zheyu asked, a hint of interest appearing.

”There is only one dharma treasure, and only the cultivator who claims first place can obtain it. But aside from that, each Treasure Seizing Assembly is a grand event of the cultivation world. A large number of cultivators gather there, and every time, many interesting dharma artifacts, formation arrays, talismans, and more appear,” Han Ge added with a smile.

”Then I’ll have to find time to see it for myself. By the way, are there any restrictions on participating?” Lin Zheyu asked.

”Only invited cultivators may participate in the assembly, and the Martial Alliance also has quite a few slots. However, those were distributed months ago. Since you’ve only recently joined the Martial Alliance, you likely weren’t invited. I happen to have a Heavenly Works Token. I’ll give it to you,” Su Qingqing said with a smile. With a flick of her hand, a fiery red token appeared, shaped like a blazing flame and radiating a faint aura of fire.

”Many thanks, Fellow Su.” Lin Zheyu did not stand on ceremony and accepted the token directly.

For someone of Su Qingqing’s background, such a token was not particularly valuable. The Martial Alliance itself had many slots, but Lin Zheyu had simply arrived too late and missed them.

”You’re too polite,” Su Qingqing said with a gentle smile, her beautiful face blooming like a vivid flower. Unlike the Pan sisters’ icy demeanor, she carried a lively charm tinged with sincerity, her smile exuding warmth.

More than two hours later, after finishing their discussion and exchanging contact methods, the group took their leave. Before departing, Su Qingqing offered a special reminder.

”Be careful of Ning Ji’an. He never lets a grievance go. After suffering a loss and humiliation at your hands, he will definitely look for a chance to retaliate,” Su Qingqing said seriously.

”Thank you for the reminder.” Lin Zheyu cupped his hands, accepting the goodwill.

After Lin Zheyu displayed his formidable strength and severely injured Ning Ji’an in a single strike, Su Qingqing showed him considerable goodwill. He guessed she might need his help in the future. Still, he did not mind. Among cultivators, aside from those who followed ruthless or demonic paths, most valued personal ties deeply. Cultivation required clarity of mind, and relationships built through mutual help often paid off in time. When he encountered trouble in the future, he could always turn to her for assistance.

***

In a lavishly decorated hall, the sound of wood shattering rang out.

”Xiao Yu!” A furious, teeth-gritting roar echoed through the hall.

Ning Ji’an’s chest rose and fell, his eyes blazing with fury as killing intent surged within him. As a direct heir of an ancient, esteemed family, he had been defeated in a single move by an ordinary martial artist, without any chance to resist. His confidence and pride as a member of an esteemed family had been utterly shattered by Lin Zheyu.

”What disgraceful behavior!” A stern voice rang out as a serious-looking middle-aged man approached, his sharp eyes like those of a hawk fixed on Ning Ji’an.

Seeing who it was, Ning Ji’an’s expression eased somewhat. He took a few deep breaths and said respectfully, ”Father.”

Ning Ji’an’s father sat down to the side and asked calmly, ”What happened to make you so angry?”

”It’s nothing. I can handle it myself.” Ning Ji’an shook his head, though his eyes burned with killing intent. His pride would not allow him to appear weak or incompetent before his father.

”You were merely defeated by an ordinary martial artist. What is there to hide? As a martial artist, you must face failure, confront it, overcome it, and press forward without hesitation. Have you forgotten everything I taught you?” Ning Ji’an’s father’s eyes sharpened, releasing an overwhelming pressure.