Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

”Who was that person hiding in the shadows? Just how many of my secrets did she uncover?” Lin Zheyu murmured softly as he left the restaurant, his eyes narrowing.

He had sensed Wei Jiarou’s aura the moment she appeared. Lin Zheyu had also noticed when she secretly used a secret art to probe his secrets. Confident in his Heaven-Deceiving Art, he pushed the technique to its limits and concealed the secrets within him. However, something unexpected had still occurred.

That seemed to be the Eye of Shamanic Sight! I never expected anyone to be capable of mastering that ocular art under the present conditions of the world. Lin Zheyu pondered for a moment, a trace of surprise and gravity in his eyes.

After pondering for a long while, he finally identified the matching ocular art among the shamanic texts Qiong Yun had passed down to him. The Eye of Shamanic Sight was a special ocular art among shamanic spells that greatly enhanced the eyes’ perceptive abilities, allowing its user to see through Shamanic Dao secret arts employed by others. This ocular art was exceptionally sensitive to shamanic spells.

If it was the Eye of Shamanic Sight, then that explains it. Only a Shamanic Dao secret art of this caliber could cause the natal shamanic pattern within me to react, Lin Zheyu thought.

His Heaven-Deceiving Art was a powerful technique primarily created by combining the Formation Dao with demonic patterns. However, it had a significant flaw: its ability to conceal Shamanic Dao cultivation was far from perfect. As a result, when Wei Jiarou used the Eye of Shamanic Sight, she managed to glimpse part of the truth about him.

She should not have been able to discern much with the Eye of Shamanic Sight alone. Still, there is a considerable chance that the existence of the natal shamanic pattern within me has been exposed. Lin Zheyu frowned slightly as he considered the possible consequences.

He pondered for a long while...

Natal shamanic patterns are not particularly precious. Ten thousand years ago, any shamanic cultivator could have condensed one. They only appear rare now because the conditions of the world have changed. But rarity is all it amounts to, so it should not attract the covetous attention of too many powerful experts. Still, I must remain wary of those two people from earlier... Lin Zheyu thought to himself.

He had become even more cautious now. The closer the great tribulation drew, the more chaotic the world became. Everyone struggled to weather the calamity, using every ability and method at their disposal to increase their strength as much as possible.

***

Early the next morning, Lin Zheyu and Ji Haozhong sat downstairs in the inn, leisurely eating breakfast. The younger martial artists had gone out early to explore the city and broaden their horizons.

”Are you not going to Qionghua Garden today?” Lin Zheyu asked. Ji Haozhong had finished eating but remained seated, staring blankly out the window.

Ji Haozhong waved dismissively. ”Ah, don’t mention it. It was no fun. This year’s female cultivators are all disappointing, so I’m not going again.”

Judging by his expression, Lin Zheyu knew that something must have happened to him yesterday. However, since Ji Haozhong did not mention it, he did not ask. He was not a gossip like Qiu Kun.

”What about you? Hundred Refinements Mountain and Fire Dragon Cave are both open to visitors today. Do you want to take a look? Or are you planning to visit the Discussion Pavilion again?” Ji Haozhong asked.

”I’ll just wander around. I have nowhere in particular in mind,” Lin Zheyu replied.

After exploring the assembly yesterday, its novelty had quickly worn off. Although the Ascension Assembly was a grand Immortal Dao gathering for the entire cultivation world of Great Wei, the participating cultivators were too low in level. The assembly was primarily intended for low-level cultivators. Much like the imperial examinations of ancient times, it gave immortal cultivators an opportunity to undergo assessments and enter the various branches of Great Wei’s government.

Cultivators unaffiliated with any sect could also distinguish themselves here and display their natural talent and latent potential in hopes of attracting a sect’s interest. For a cultivator at Lin Zheyu’s level, however, the assembly held little significance.

”How boring. Why not meet up with some fellows you know, share a few drinks, discuss the Dao, and renew your friendships?” Ji Haozhong asked with a smile.

”I’m rather solitary by nature. I don’t know many people,” Lin Zheyu replied, shaking his head.

”Mm, that’s true.” Ji Haozhong nodded in agreement.

He had noticed that apart from a few old friends, Xiao Yu rarely interacted with the other martial artists of the Martial Alliance. He was usually either cultivating or away on missions. Despite having joined the Martial Alliance so long ago, there were probably still many people who had never seen Lin Zheyu.

Suddenly, their conversation ceased, and both men looked toward the inn’s entrance. A woman dressed in pale green, her hair arranged in two buns, entered and slowly approached them. Lin Zheyu and Ji Haozhong exchanged glances, each recognizing from the other’s eyes that neither knew her.

The woman curtsied respectfully. ”This servant greets my lords. At Lady Xiao’s command, I have come to invite Lord Xiao Zhe to an audience.”

”Lady Xiao? Which Lady Xiao?” Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

He had few acquaintances here and had met only two or three people so far.

The woman produced an identity token unique to the Vermilion Bird Sect and answered respectfully, ”Lady Xiao Yiqing. This is her token.”

Lin Zheyu sensed the aura on the token and smiled after confirming its authenticity. ”So it is a lady of the Vermilion Bird Sect. Did my lady happen to say why she wishes to see me?”

He did not know this Vermilion Bird Sect senior named Xiao Yiqing. Since arriving at the Ascension Assembly, none of the sect’s experts had appeared before them. Lin Zheyu did not even know which of them were attending the assembly.

”Lady Xiao did not say. You will naturally learn the reason once you arrive,” the woman answered respectfully.

”Be careful!” Ji Haozhong’s voice suddenly rang in Lin Zheyu’s mind through a transmission.

Lin Zheyu’s expression shifted slightly as Ji Haozhong’s transmission continued within his mind.

”The Vermilion Bird Sect is divided into numerous factions. Although we are nominally part of the sect’s factions, the faction we truly serve is Senior Jing Xinyue’s. I have heard that Senior Xiao Yiqing’s master once had a grievance with Senior Jing Xinyue. For her to summon you without any apparent reason, I fear...” Ji Haozhong’s transmission abruptly ended, but he had already said enough for Lin Zheyu to understand his meaning.

Immediately afterward, Ji Haozhong stirred his spiritual sense and transmitted a record containing information about Xiao Yiqing. Lin Zheyu swept through it with his own spiritual sense and quickly grasped the general details.

”Then I shall take my leave first.” Lin Zheyu smiled and nodded slightly to Ji Haozhong, signaling that there was no need to worry.

He then followed the maid out of the inn and headed toward Xiao Yiqing’s location. Lin Zheyu was not particularly concerned about her. This was Black Tortoise City, the venue of the Ascension Assembly. Even if Xiao Yiqing was a genius of the Vermilion Bird Sect, she would not dare act recklessly here.

Furthermore, Lin Zheyu carried a token Jing Xinyue had given him, and seeing the token was equivalent to seeing Jing Xinyue herself. She was a Deity Transformation realm expert. Even if Xiao Yiqing’s faction harbored a grievance against Jing Xinyue, Xiao Yiqing was merely a Nascent Soul realm cultivator and would not dare disregard Jing Xinyue’s token.

Did someone persuade Xiao Yiqing to make a move? Otherwise, she should have neither the reason nor the need to target an insignificant figure like me, Lin Zheyu thought.

Although he was quite famous within the Martial Alliance, hailed as the foremost member of the younger generation and blessed with monstrous natural talent in martial cultivation, the Martial Alliance was not highly regarded by the cultivation world as a whole. A leading sect like the Vermilion Bird Sect regarded it with even less importance.

Was it someone from those three ancient martial esteemed families, or that barbarian shaman who appeared earlier? Let me see what you are plotting, Lin Zheyu murmured inwardly, the corners of his lips curving upward.

He had just been thinking that the Ascension Assembly was somewhat beneath his level, of little use to him, and rather dull. Unexpectedly, something ’interesting’ had now come looking for him.