Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

Within Forbidden Mountain, a little over a thousand meters above the foot of the mountain, Lin Zheyu and the other two followed behind Xu Yiru and Wan Xiaofei, stepping along the bridge of light before landing in a plaza.

It was an enormous plaza. Looking up, they could see rows upon rows of classical courtyards and buildings. The entire area was as large as a small town. The three followed Xu Yiru and Wan Xiaofei across the plaza and entered the magnificent building at its center.

”Very good. All three of you possess decent aptitude and are qualified to join the Formation Hall of the Directorate of Celestial Observation. Peng Ge, you have upper-grade Class B Formation Dao talent. Yao Yuqin, you have lower-grade Class A Formation Dao talent. Once you sign these contracts and swear the Great Dao oath written within, you will officially become members of the Directorate of Celestial Observation,” Xu Yiru said calmly.

With a wave of her right hand, two ancient-looking scrolls emanating an indescribable aura floated before Peng Ge and Yao Yuqin. The two respectfully thanked her, then without hesitation swore the Great Dao oath and signed the contracts. Lin Zheyu quietly paid attention. The contracts and oaths mainly consisted of rules and conditions that had to be followed after joining the Directorate of Celestial Observation.

For example, they were forbidden from doing anything detrimental to Great Wei or the cultivation world of Great Wei as a whole. They were not permitted to harm fellow cultivators serving in Great Wei’s various cultivator institutions, had to obey orders issued by the Directorate of Celestial Observation, and were required to complete a set number of annual assignments, among other things.

Compared with the contracts and oaths required to join a sect, the Directorate’s contract was considerably less restrictive. It was more similar to the Martial Alliance, a relatively loose alliance of martial artists.

”All right, you may go. Yang Ze will show you around the Formation Hall,” Xu Yiru said calmly.

”Yes, my lord!”

The two responded and followed Yang Ze out of the hall. Only Wan Xiaofei, Xu Yiru, and Lin Zheyu remained in the vast hall.

”Do you know why we kept you behind?” Wan Xiaofei asked, studying Lin Zheyu with interest.

Xu Yiru also looked him over curiously, though this time she said nothing. Normally, recruiting three people into the Directorate of Celestial Observation would only require her presence, but Wan Xiaofei had taken some interest in this martial artist named Xiao Yu. That was why the two of them had appeared together.

”Is it because I’m a martial artist?” Lin Zheyu guessed.

”That’s right. I’ve heard that you awakened a spirit divine ability, and at the same time you possess such exceptional aptitude in the Formation Dao. If you’re willing to switch to cultivating the Immortal Dao and specialize in the Formation Dao system, your future achievements would be limitless! What do you think? Have you considered switching to the Immortal Dao? If you’re willing, I can introduce you to a senior of the Formation Dao at the Deity Transformation realm.

”With that senior as your backer, the rumor currently spreading around would no longer pose any problem to you. Even those three ancient martial esteemed families would immediately send people to apologize and make amends once they found out, putting your past grievances behind you.” Wan Xiaofei looked at Lin Zheyu, smiled, and spoke slowly.

The offer he made was extraordinarily tempting. Every Deity Transformation realm expert was a top-tier existence in Great Wei, let alone one proficient in the Formation Dao. If Lin Zheyu could take such an existence as his master, he would truly rise from obscurity to prominence, shedding his humble origins and gaining an immensely powerful background and backer.

Lin Zheyu carefully chose his words and said in a sincere tone, ”My apologies. I entered the Dao through martial cultivation. I devoted the first half of my life to the martial path, and I intend to spend the latter half continuing to explore it. Even if this road is covered in thorns, even if I may waste away my entire life upon it, or take a single wrong step and fall into the abyss... It is still my Dao. I do not wish to switch to cultivating the Immortal Dao. Thank you for your kindness, Senior. I am sorry to disappoint you.”

It was not that he did not want to. Rather, the Immortal Dao came with far too many constraints and was nowhere near as free as martial cultivation. If he switched to cultivating the Immortal Dao, there would be far too many situations where he would no longer be free to act as he wished.

”Everyone has their own Dao to pursue. What is there for me to be disappointed about? Since this is your choice, I won’t say any more. I only hope that you can carve out a path of your own in martial cultivation. Once you sign this contract and swear the Great Dao oath, you’ll officially become a member of the Directorate of Celestial Observation’s Formation Hall. Oh, right. Since you’re unwilling to switch to cultivating the Immortal Dao, although your aptitude in the Formation Dao is indeed quite good, you can only receive a lower-grade Class B evaluation,” Wan Xiaofei said with a smile.

If Xiao Yu was unwilling, there were plenty of others who would be. It was just that after missing out on such a promising prospect, finding another cultivator with exceptional natural talent in the Formation Dao would take some effort.

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands in gratitude. ”Thank you, my lord!”

After checking that there were no problems with the terms of the contract, Lin Zheyu used his blood to seal the agreement and signed the scroll. He then swore the Great Dao oath.

”Yunfei, take Xiao Yu to complete the necessary procedures for joining the Formation Hall, then explain his duties to him,” Xu Yiru instructed.

With a turn of her right hand, a palm-sized diamond-shaped jade token appeared in her grasp. Countless intricate restriction runes were engraved across its surface, yet together they possessed astonishing beauty.

”Imprint your soul mark onto it. From now on, this will serve as your identity jade token within the Directorate of Celestial Observation,” Xu Yiru said calmly.

”Yes. Thank you, my lady. I will take my leave.” Lin Zheyu caught the jade token, cupped his hands in farewell, and followed Yunfei out of the hall.

Before long, only Wan Xiaofei and Xu Yiru remained in the hall.

Xu Yiru asked, looking at Wan Xiaofei. ”Senior Brother, that Deity Transformation realm expert you mentioned just now... you weren’t referring to the master, were you?”

”Mm.” Wan Xiaofei nodded with a smile and said, ”Unfortunately, this brat’s fortune isn’t deep enough. He missed his chance to become our junior brother.”

”If the martial artists of the Martial Alliance were willing to switch to cultivating the Immortal Dao, they would have done so long ago. Why would they wait until now?” Xu Yiru said, shaking her head.

She looked curiously at Wan Xiaofei and continued, ”Were you planning to introduce him to the master and have him test that technique for refining formations into the body?”

”That’s right! Refining formations into the body places far too great a demand on a cultivator’s physical body. Fifth Junior Brother and Eighth Junior Brother nearly had their bodies collapse from practicing it. It’s rare for a martial artist with such exceptional aptitude in the Formation Dao to appear. Martial artists primarily cultivate the physical body, so their physiques are extraordinarily powerful. That kind of strength is different from the body-refining methods of the Immortal Dao.

”Since Fifth Junior Brother and Eighth Junior Brother, who both practiced Body-refining techniques alongside their main cultivation, failed, perhaps Xiao Yu, with his background in martial cultivation, might have had a slight chance of succeeding. I didn’t expect the brat to be unwilling to switch to cultivating the Immortal Dao. He’s missed out on an enormous opportunity.” Wan Xiaofei shrugged indifferently.

”Perhaps... Refining formations into the body is so difficult. I really wonder how the Heavenly Derivation Sect managed it. I heard they have an entire group of cultivators who specialize in this kind of technique. Still, I don’t think success or failure in refining formations into the body has much to do with physical strength.”

Xu Yiru shook her head. ”It may have something to do with Formation Dao natural talent, strength, and constitution.”

”That’s possible too, but let’s leave that problem for the master to worry about. Right, I should visit the master and tell him about Xiao Yu. Perhaps he will take some interest in a martial artist pursuing a fusion of martial cultivation and the Formation Dao!” Wan Xiaofei said with a smile.

***

”Senior, this way please,” Yunfei said respectfully.

She secretly observed Lin Zheyu with some curiosity. This was the first time Yunfei had ever seen the Directorate of Celestial Observation’s Formation Hall recruit a martial cultivator. Moreover, Senior Xiao Yu had no intention whatsoever of switching to the Immortal Dao, seemingly wasting such exceptional natural talent in the Formation Dao.

”How does that natural talent rating work?” Lin Zheyu asked casually.

”Senior, the natural talent rating determines the initial level of benefits each cultivator receives upon entering the Formation Hall. However, this rating can rise as one makes contributions and spends more time in the Formation Hall. That said, increasing it is extremely difficult. Most cultivators can raise it by no more than three minor grades over their entire lives. Therefore, the natural talent rating a cultivator receives upon entering the Formation Hall is extremely important,” Yunfei replied respectfully.

Although she did not say it aloud, she deeply regretted Senior Xiao Yu’s refusal to switch to the Immortal Dao.

If Senior Xiao were willing to switch to cultivating the Immortal Dao, his natural talent rating could probably reach middle-grade Class A, or perhaps even higher, couldn’t it?

”I see. Then what sort of tasks do cultivators of the Formation Hall usually have?” Lin Zheyu asked.

”Routine duties include inscribing formation restrictions onto weapons refined by the Heavenly Works Pavilion. When formations in the major cities of Great Wei develop problems, we may be sent to repair them. When a space-time node appears, we may also be dispatched to help set up formations, and so on. Beyond these more common duties, we occasionally face unexpected situations. When those arise, we simply wait for orders...” Yunfei explained.

From Yunfei’s explanation, Lin Zheyu gained a general understanding of the responsibilities borne by cultivators of the Directorate of Celestial Observation’s Formation Hall. Overall, life in the Formation Hall was relatively easy. As talented cultivators specializing in the Formation Dao, each of them was extremely valuable, so under normal circumstances, they would not be assigned dangerous missions.

Moreover, the path of the Formation Dao was far more difficult than most other paths of the Immortal Dao, and only cultivators with exceptional natural talent could achieve anything of note. Possessing outstanding Formation Dao natural talent alone was not enough. One also had to spend enormous amounts of time comprehending and researching formations. As a result, cultivators in the Formation Hall had plenty of free time, allowing them to spend long periods in secluded cultivation.

This place really does suit me... Lin Zheyu murmured inwardly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.