Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

Huff, huff, huff.

He breathed heavily, his expression twisted with strain. His muscles quivered from exhaustion.

Ten more minutes passed. At the instant he broke past his physical limit, his essence, qi, and spirit intertwined as one. A wave of pure exhilaration surged from within, as though his very soul had ascended. Leaning against the shade of a tree, he gasped for breath, staring blankly at the distant sky as his mind drifted into a state of ethereal clarity.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 2]

[Skills: Golden Goose Technique (Ninth Stage: 67%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 100%)]

”2 units of Origin Force are just enough to test the effects of the Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder,” Lin Zheyu glanced at the data within his consciousness and murmured to himself.

The last time he visited the black market, he had obtained a new formula, the Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder. The powder was slightly more expensive than the Redfire Blood-Nourishing Powder, costing 75 taels of silver per set of ingredients.

He had purchased a set, intending to compare the Coagulating Powder with the Blood-Nourishing Powder to see which offered better value. He brought out the Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder from inside the house and opened the leather pouch. A rich medicinal aroma spread through the air.

The ingredients used in the Coagulating Powder were potent medicines with powerful effects, but equally alarming side effects. Each contained a fifth of its potency as poison. Even Blood Qi Realm experts did not dare use them lightly.

Nowadays, such formulas were mainly used to cultivate beasts with vigorous vitality and strong poison resistance. Refining technology in this era was crude. Most formulas relied on balancing the properties of different herbs to neutralize toxins and reduce side effects.

However, many powerful herbs contained toxins that could not be removed, no matter how they were blended. Such formulas had astonishing medicinal effects, but their side effects were equally terrifying.

Ordinary medicines carried three parts poison, but these were five or even seven parts poison, and thus had been discarded. The Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder was one such formula. It was originally meant for warriors, but was now relegated to beast cultivation.

Lin Zheyu poured the powder into a wooden basin and stirred it with his left hand.

Use 2 units of Origin Force to enhance the Golden Goose Technique at the ninth stage.

In that instant, a surge of mysterious energy rose from deep within his cells, channeling through his arm to stir the Coagulating Powder’s medicinal force. It seeped into the muscles, tendons, and bones of his waist and legs.

Under the influence of that mysterious energy, the tissues and bones in those areas rapidly strengthened, becoming more resilient and capable of bearing greater blood qi burst.

Meanwhile, within his consciousness space, he continued his tireless cultivation. Compared to before, his training now flowed much more smoothly, though his mastery of blood qi burst techniques still failed frequently during intricate evasive maneuvers. Yet it no longer caused his practice to halt.

Whenever the wild blood qi power tore at his muscles or tendons, they instantly regenerated. Without pausing for rest, he continued his next attempt. He failed again and again, but kept trying until success was achieved.

A few breaths later, Lin Zheyu opened his eyes. He slowly clenched his fists. His condition had completely recovered, and the blood qi he had exhausted while breaking past his limits had returned to its peak.

”A set of Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder equal to at least twelve sets of Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction in medicinal strength. Its cost performance is even higher than that of Redfire Blood-Nourishing Powder. Moreover, the medicinal potency in the basin hasn’t been fully spent; there should still be a fair amount left,” Lin Zheyu muttered to himself.

A faint medicinal fragrance still lingered in the basin, though it had diminished to about 30% of its original strength.

I’ll store the rest for now. Next time, I’ll mix it with Redfire Blood-Nourishing Powder. By observing how much my blood qi recovers afterward, I can roughly determine the potency of the Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder. No matter what, it’s definitely more cost-effective than the Redfire Blood-Nourishing Powder, Lin Zheyu thought before carrying the wooden basin inside for safekeeping.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 0]

[Skills: Golden Goose Technique (Ninth Stage: 75%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 100%)]

”Almost there. Just 7 more units of Origin Force, and I’ll be able to push the Golden Goose Technique’s ninth stage to Perfection,” Lin Zheyu said to himself as he examined the data in his consciousness.

With the Golden Goose Technique reaching 75% of the ninth stage, his control over his body and blood qi had far surpassed that of other martial artists at the same level. In this regard, even warriors of the Force Transformation Realm might not match his mastery.

Tap.

With a light tap of his toes, Lin Zheyu darted across the courtyard in swift motion. This time, his movement techniques had become even more agile. Even when using blood qi burst techniques, he moved with far greater grace and fluidity than other cultivators of the same stage who had not trained in leg techniques.

After training for a while and adapting to his enhanced strength, Lin Zheyu changed his clothes and went out. These days, he left the city once every two days to hunt in the wild. When staying in the city, he spent his mornings studying the Toxicology Codex. In the afternoons, he wandered through the teahouses of Bafang City—relaxing, observing the local culture, and quietly searching for any trace of his teacher, Liang Song.

***

Three days later.

Night descended and lanterns lit up across the Xingluan District, casting their glow over every corner of the lively streets. The streets were crowded with people shoulder to shoulder, with carriages rolling endlessly along the main road. With nightfall, the city grew even livelier.

On the second floor of Yunhe Restaurant, Xu Qinyi sat by the window, gazing at the view outside with a faint smile on his lips. With him were Ren Qingfeng, Chen Xihong, Ren Qingying, and Xu Yuxiang. The group shared a close friendship and often gathered like this.

”Yuxiang, your beloved Brother Lin is on his way; better think about what you’ll say first,” said Chen Xihong, withdrawing his gaze from the window and looking at Xu Yuxiang with an amused smile.

Xu Yuxiang shot him a glare. Under the warm lantern light, her cheeks flushed slightly, making her look both charming and shy. Ren Qingying leaned over and whispered something into Xu Yuxiang’s ear, earning herself a playful eye roll in response.

”Ugh. Sister Qingying, you’re teasing me too,” said Xu Yuxiang in a soft, flustered voice.

Though her eyes were fixed on the window, the corner of her gaze lingered toward the staircase. Before long, a handsome young man in a blue training outfit appeared at the top of the stairs, his expression calm and steady.

”Brother Lin, long time no see.”

”Master Lin, it’s been a while.”

Xu Qinyi and the others rose with smiles to greet Lin Zheyu.

It had been nearly ten days since Lin Zheyu arrived in Bafang City, and tonight was his first time meeting Xu Qinyi and the others.

”Brother Xu, Brother Ren, Brother Chen, and the two young ladies. It’s been a while. You’ve all grown even more handsome and beautiful,” said Lin Zheyu with a light smile.

At Xu Qinyi’s invitation, he sat by the window. From there, the night view outside was quite pleasant. He and the group had become good friends. Though they hadn’t met for several months, the atmosphere between them remained warm and familiar.

He swept his gaze around and noticed Xu Yuxiang staring straight at him. In response, he gave her a slight nod and a faint smile. Both Xu Yuxiang and Ren Qingying were fine women. If he had been an ordinary man, marrying either one and living a peaceful life would have been a good choice. Unfortunately, Lin Zheyu’s ambitions did not lie there. Having been given a second life and gaining a golden finger, Lin Zheyu sought to climb to the very peak of martial cultivation, to witness the higher realms of the world.

After a few cups of wine, the atmosphere at the table grew much more relaxed.

”Brother Lin, what are your plans for the future?” asked Xu Qinyi, turning toward him.

The others also looked his way, curious about what Lin Zheyu intended to do. Lin Zheyu gave him a puzzled look, unsure what he meant by that question.

”Ah, look at me. I forgot to tell you. You’ve been in Bafang City for some time now. I imagine you’ve heard a bit about the major forces here. There are four strongest powers in Bafang City in total: one gang, two sects, and one esteemed family.

”The gang refers to the Giant Spirit Gang, the two sects are the Golden Wing Sect and the Abyss Sect, and the family is the Yuan Clan, which commands the City Guard of Bafang City. The Feihong Gang has only recently arrived. To survive and grow in Bafang City, they must align themselves with one of these major forces.

”We chose to side with the Golden Wing Sect. I, along with Ren Qingfeng and Chen Xihong, have already joined as inner disciples. Would you be interested in joining the Golden Wing Sect, Brother Lin? The Xu Family can recommend you and even cover all of your martial training expenses,” said Xu Qinyi with a bright smile, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Lin Zheyu.

”With your aptitude, Brother Lin, if you could learn a powerful martial art and receive guidance from a true master, you might even become a Force Transformation Realm expert one day. The Golden Wing Sect is one of the strongest factions in Bafang City, guarded by a Force Transformation Realm expert. With your natural talent and comprehension, you might even catch the attention of one of their elders and be taken in as a personal disciple,” said Ren Qingfeng with a smile.

”What is the Golden Wing Sect’s primary cultivation technique? Can it be trained to reach the Dragon Transformation?” asked Lin Zheyu after a brief pause.

What he needed most at the moment was a martial technique capable of helping its user cultivate to the Dragon Transformation. If the Golden Wing Sect possessed such a method, he would not mind joining them.

”The Dragon Transformation!”

Everyone’s expression turned to astonishment at his words, leaving Lin Zheyu slightly confused by their reaction.

”Brother Lin, you’re thinking too simply about martial cultivation. Warriors who reach the Dragon Transformation are one in ten thousand, each one a monstrous prodigy. It’s true that the more times one’s blood qi undergoes qualitative change, the better, but that only applies to geniuses. The more times blood qi transforms, the stronger and harder to control it becomes, making the breakthrough to the Marrow Refining Realm far more difficult.

”For ordinary people, reaching the sixth transformation, or worse, the Dragon Transformation, isn’t necessarily good. It often makes the breakthrough to Marrow Refining Realm painfully slow, or even impossible.

”If one cannot reach the Marrow Refining Realm before the age of 40, their martial path effectively ends there. That’s why most warriors attempt to break through at the fourth or fifth transformation of blood qi,” Chen Xihong explained patiently.

He knew that Lin Zheyu had trained for less than a year and lacked much of the common knowledge about martial cultivation, so he elaborated thoroughly.

”That’s right. Anyone who can reach the sixth transformation and still break through to the Marrow Refining Realm is considered a true martial genius. The Golden Wing Sect’s main cultivation technique is the Golden Wing Codex, which can only be trained up to the sixth transformation of blood qi.

”Most disciples in the sect attempt to break through at the fourth transformation, while the more talented ones push to the fifth before doing so. Those who choose to train to the sixth transformation are all exceptionally gifted and utterly confident in themselves.” Xu Qinyi turned to Lin Zheyu and said, ”With your natural talent and comprehension, you could try reaching the sixth transformation of blood qi before attempting the Marrow Refining Realm breakthrough.”