Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

In the Martial Realm, at the Kong Family household.

”Fellow Kong Di, how are your injuries recovering?” Fan Hongwei asked slowly, smiling at the approaching man.

Kong Di was a genius of the Kong Family with an astonishing bloodline talent. He was a martial artist who had reached the limits of the Shackles Realm. Last time, because Lin Zheyu had been absent, Fan Hongwei and the others had sought out Kong Di instead and invited him to explore the Shamanic Clan ruins with them.

”Even though I am a martial artist with abundant vitality, my bloodline foundation was damaged this time. How could I possibly recover so quickly?”

Kong Di shot Fan Hongwei an irritated sidelong glance and asked in return, ”Could it be that you have already recovered, Fellow Fan?”

Fan Hongwei took a sip of tea and smiled. ”Of course not. However, after another six months to a year of recuperation, I should be more or less fully recovered.”

”Instead of entering seclusion to recover from your injuries, you came all the way here. What brings you here this time, fellow friend?” Kong Di asked calmly.

”Hehe, there is indeed something, but it is good news.” Fan Hongwei appeared completely at ease. Instead of answering directly, he asked, ”Have you heard of Xiao Yu from the Martial Alliance?”

”Xiao Yu? The martial artist who recently joined the Martial Alliance and has been rising to fame? I heard that he had quite a lot to do with the death of Woo Yiyan, the Woo Family genius who was being groomed as its next family head. He certainly possesses some ability. Why? Does this matter have something to do with him?” Kong Di asked curiously.

The three ancient, esteemed martial families looked down on most martial artists in the Martial Alliance. Only a select few were worthy of their regard. Qin Hu, the leader of the Martial Alliance, Xia Ping, and Wang Zhengtian, whom Lin Zheyu had yet to meet. Those three were the only exceptions.

After Lin Zheyu joined the Martial Alliance and rapidly rose to fame, some busybodies began proclaiming him the strongest martial artist below the Shackles realm. The three ancient, esteemed martial families had regarded the claim with utter disdain. However, after rumors emerged that Xiao Yu was connected to the deaths of Woo Yiyan and his younger brother, two bloodline geniuses of the Woo Family, their attitude began to change.

The three esteemed families greatly increased their attention to Xiao Yu of the Martial Alliance. Detailed investigative reports covering Xiao Yu’s appearance, aura, origins, deeds, habits, personality, and much more were added to the important archives of all three families.

”It is somewhat related to him. He has opened the three great divine repositories and awakened a spirit divine ability, granting him astonishing martial intuition. Moreover, I once performed a divination for him and observed his fortune. He possesses profound providence and is someone blessed with tremendous fortune.

”Originally, I intended to bring him along to explore those ruins, but unfortunately, that brat played a few tricks and slipped away. Left with no other choice, I sought you out instead.” Fan Hongwei spoke unhurriedly, showing no concern about revealing the matter to Kong Di.

Kong Di shot Fan Hongwei an annoyed sidelong glance. ”I knew it. Given your personality, there was no reason you would think of me first when you encountered such a good opportunity.”

They had been friends for many years and understood each other’s personalities and character extremely well. Whenever Fan Hongwei discovered something valuable, he would keep it entirely for himself whenever possible. He would never seek out someone of comparable strength to explore it with unless he had no other choice.

”Hehe...” Fan Hongwei laughed evasively.

”Enough of that. Let me continue. This time, I intend to bring Xiao Yu with me to those ruins. However, he possesses profound providence and seems to be blessed with astonishing fortune. I cannot discern his destiny, and I suspect he may be someone born in response to this great calamity.

”Ever since he advanced to the Shackles realm, even my divination and aura observation arts have been unable to see through him. To guard against any unforeseen circumstances, does your Kong Family have any powerful, dependable cultivators you can trust? Bring several more people and have them lie in ambush within the ruins beforehand.” Fan Hongwei finally revealed the true purpose of his visit.

He had come to ask for reinforcements. As an immortal cultivator skilled in divination and aura observation, he knew all too well how unreasonable cultivators blessed with immense fortune and profound providence could be. When Xiao Yu was still in the Divine Repository realm and had yet to advance to the Shackles realm, which was comparable to the Golden Core realm, Fan Hongwei had been confident that he could suppress him. Now that Xiao Yu had reached the Shackles realm, however, Fan Hongwei was no longer entirely certain.

”I see... In that case, I have a good suggestion. Although the matter involving Woo Yiyan was suppressed by the leader of the Martial Alliance, the Woo Family must be desperate to get their hands on that brat. If you approach them about cooperating, they will probably only want Xiao Yu himself and will not ask for a share of the treasures we obtain from the ruins,” Kong Di proposed after a moment of thought.

”The Woo Family... That is indeed a good idea.” Fan Hongwei’s eyes brightened slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

***

In the Martial Realm, at Yanwu City. Inside a private room atop the Profound Light Tower, Lin Zheyu sat across from a woman dressed in a fiery-red martial outfit. A trace of coldness lingered between her brows, while her bearing was bold and spirited. Lin Zheyu smiled as he looked at her. She was strikingly beautiful and pleasing to the eye.

”Fellow Zong, will you be joining me on the garrison assignment at the demon cave this time?” Lin Zheyu asked with a smile.

The woman was none other than Fellow Zong, Zong Linjing. Lin Zheyu had originally thought he would be going alone. Unexpectedly, a little over a month later, the alliance leader sent someone to inform him that another martial artist would be accompanying him.

”Mm,” Zong Linjing replied softly. She had barely finished her previous assignment before immediately accepting the garrison mission at the demon cave.

”You certainly push yourself hard. Be careful not to accumulate injuries and leave behind hidden damage. That would be troublesome,” Lin Zheyu cautioned.

”Do not worry. Although a martial artist’s physique cannot compare to that of a yao, our vitality and regenerative abilities are far beyond what immortal cultivators can match. As long as the divine soul and the foundation of one’s life remain unharmed, even the most severe injuries can eventually heal,” Zong Linjing said calmly.

She was naturally aloof and reserved. Even when speaking with close friends such as Lin Zheyu and Bai Lin, she remained a woman of few words.

”Haha, that is true. When do you plan to depart? If you intend to leave within the next few days, we could travel together,” Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

More than two months had passed since Fan Hongwei delivered the pill residue. During that time, Lin Zheyu had found an opportunity to purchase a treasured saber and a concealment formation disk. Those two dharma treasures alone had cost him forty-one high-grade spirit stones. He was now penniless once again, with only a single high-grade spirit stone remaining.

Lin Zheyu could not help but sigh inwardly. Immortal cultivation truly was an extravagant pursuit. Without sufficient wealth and resources, immortal cultivators were not much better off than martial artists. Their spells were merely a little flashier.

”About half a month from now,” Zong Linjing replied after giving it some thought.

”Half a month is a little too long, so I will not wait for you. We will meet at the demon cave in half a month.” Lin Zheyu smiled and raised his wine cup in a toast to Zong Linjing.

”Fellow Zong, allow me to offer you a toast. May our journey to the demon cave proceed smoothly, and may our paths of cultivation remain prosperous and unhindered!”

After bidding farewell to Zong Linjing, Lin Zheyu returned to his courtyard. He turned his right hand over, and the Primordial Chaos Pool flew out. The moment it landed on the ground, it expanded until it stood taller than a person. Since his attainment in the Shamanic Dao had yet to reach the Body Fusion realm, he was still unable to gain complete mastery over the Primordial Chaos Pool.

However, after refining it for so long, Lin Zheyu had finally completed the initial refinement and gained full command of its temporary access privileges. This gave him far greater control over the Primordial Chaos Pool.

The Primordial Chaos Pool was now even more convenient to use than a storage pouch. The storage pouch Lin Zheyu carried was merely a decoy to avoid attracting suspicion. He stored all his valuable dharma treasures and possessions within the space inside the Primordial Chaos Pool.