Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

The Barbaric Ox Fist and Raging Wind Slash each have their own strengths and weaknesses. To unleash threefold power with the Raging Wind Slash, I’d need eight preparatory strikes with momentum, whereas the Barbaric Ox Fist allows me to release threefold strength continuously. However, the Barbaric Ox Fist’s drain on essence, qi, and spirit is too great, so I can only manage four punches at most.

The Raging Wind Slash’s threefold power relied mainly on leverage and stored force, and not much on true momentum. In theory, though, it could reach up to tenfold strength. Achieving that, however, would require advancing his understanding of momentum, and by then it would likely resemble the Barbaric Ox Fist, capable of allowing him to release only a few powerful bursts.

No matter how much he improved, the Raging Wind Slash would always require a buildup phase, unlike the Barbaric Ox Fist’s continuous bursts. If he had used it earlier, the charging alone would have drained a huge portion of his blood qi. After one eighteenfold strike, he’d have to start building power again, which would give the beast time to recover. Only with the Barbaric Ox Fist could he chain together four explosive punches in succession to daze it. Using the Raging Wind Slash multiple times might wound the beast, but it would also deplete his own strength almost completely.

”It’s a pity I’m not strong enough. Otherwise, I could try capturing it as a mount and as a sparring partner to hone my fist technique and momentum.” Lin Zheyu sighed.

He would be leaving Bafang City the day after tomorrow, so there would be no chance to spar with that beast again.

”Little Black, go catch a beast for roasting,” Lin Zheyu ordered.

After eating and resting, he followed Little Black’s lead to easily capture a beast at the third transformation of blood qi. With his current strength, hunting such creatures was as easy as breathing. Once Little Black lured it close, Lin Zheyu unleashed an eighteenfold Barbaric Ox Fist, knocking it unconscious with a single blow.

***

Time passed, and the sun dipped below the horizon. After selling a hunted beast at the marketplace, Lin Zheyu took Little Black to a forest not far outside Xuanning Gate.

”For the next two days, stay around here and don’t wander too far. Understand?” Lin Zheyu instructed. He would be leaving the day after tomorrow, and he intended to take Little Black with him.

Chirp, chirp.

Little Black chirped twice in confusion, then nodded vaguely as if half-understanding. After so long together, it had learned the meaning of many words.

”All right, go play. Be careful and don’t wander too far. There are City Guards stationed nearby,” Lin Zheyu reminded.

He wasn’t too worried, however. As a beast, Little Black possessed strong instincts for avoiding danger. With its intelligence, it knew well where it could and couldn’t go. If not for Lin Zheyu, it would never have ventured this close to Bafang City.

After arranging things with Little Black, Lin Zheyu moved swiftly toward Bafang City. Three days in the forest had restored his essence, qi, and spirit to their peak. Tomorrow, he could once again push past his limits and gain new units of Origin Force. In the meantime, he planned to visit a teahouse to listen to storytellers or enjoy a few melodies at the Spring-Filled Pavilion. He wanted a bit of rest and leisure to balance his cultivation.

***

At dawn, the sky was overcast, and a faint mist hung in the air.

In the courtyard, Lin Zheyu wore five hundred kilograms of weighted gear, his body radiating a powerful aura of momentum qi.

Barbaric Ox Charge!

Ox Horn Thrust!

He practiced the Barbaric Ox Fist again and again, tirelessly repeating every move. He had trained in many techniques before, some even second-rate arts that were far superior in reputation to a common third-rate one like the Barbaric Ox Fist. Yet, in the end, he realized this simple art held potential no less than those higher-grade techniques.

Though the Barbaric Ox Fist alone could only train one to the peak of the Organ Forging Realm, and at best to the Blood Qi Realm if one had exceptional talent, it contained immense depth in the understanding of fist momentum. This was especially true while training under five hundred kilograms of weight. Each punch he threw carried tremendous force and heaviness. With the addition of fist momentum, the technique bore the profound feeling of ”one strength breaking ten thousand techniques.”

***

Over two hours later.

Lin Zheyu lay sprawled on the ground, chest rising and falling heavily, utterly exhausted. Not only had his blood qi power been drained, but even his physical strength had been pushed to its absolute limit.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 2]

[Skills: Raging Wind Slash (Perfection), Boiling Blood Secret Art (Initial Mastery: 78%), Golden Goose Technique (Tenth Stage: 100%), Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual (Third Stage: 100%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 100%)]

I’ll keep training the Boiling Blood Secret Art slowly, and it’ll soon reach Perfection. As for my Origin Force, I’ll save it for later. I’m hoping that once I reach the Central Plains, I’ll be able to find a better technique to advance.

After perfecting the tenth stage of the Golden Goose Technique, he had accumulated 2 units of Origin Force. Though he was still at the fourth transformation of blood qi, his improved physique allowed each breakthrough to yield more Origin Force. Now, each time he broke his limit, he was granted roughly 1.5 units.

After resting for over ten minutes, he started to refine faint streams of blood qi. With their aid, much of his soreness faded. After that, he slowly sat up and walked to the corner of the courtyard.

In the corner, five cauldrons simmered over gentle flames, filling the air with thick medicinal fragrance. Each pot contained three sets of Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction herbs. Tomorrow would be his day of departure, and he planned to take these brews with him.

It was already noon, and much of the cloud cover had cleared. Soft sunlight filtered through the parting clouds, bringing a faint warmth to the cold winter day.

Knock, knock, knock.

A clear knocking sound echoed from outside the courtyard.

Lin Zheyu stopped what he was doing and then went to see who it was.

”Senior, this is a gift from Young Master Peng. He requests that you kindly accept it,” the visitor said respectfully.

Lin Zheyu frowned at the man.

Young Master Peng’s full name was Peng Yunlong, the second son of the Giant Spirit Gang’s leader. He was a smooth and sociable man who delighted in befriending the strong. Lin Zheyu had already made quite a name for himself in the marketplace at the foot of the mountains outside the city. The great powers of Bafang City all knew that a fierce cultivator had appeared there—one capable of hunting live Blood Qi Realm beasts, the strongest of which were comparable to a beast at the sixth transformation.

Previously, he had kept his identity hidden, appearing in the market only to sell his captured beasts. Those who wanted to find him had no choice but to wait there in vain. But ever since he revealed his current identity and rented a courtyard in Bafang City, the various factions had all come seeking him. Lin Zheyu rejected every invitation and visit, one after another. Only Peng Yunlong, the Giant Spirit Gang’s second young master, continued to persistently send gifts every few days.

”Take it back. Please thank Young Master Peng for his kindness, but I’m used to keeping to myself and have little taste for social entanglements,” Lin Zheyu said calmly.

”But the young master instructed us that if you refused...”

Bang.

Before the man could finish, Lin Zheyu shut the courtyard gate with a loud bang. Outside, the Giant Spirit Gang members exchanged glances, their eyes full of helplessness.

We’re going to get scolded again when we go back... Sigh...

If they failed to deliver the gift, punishment awaited them. Normally, a little pleading would persuade most experts to accept, but this senior was completely unyielding.

Ignoring the men outside, Lin Zheyu poured the finished decoction into five water pouches. The journey to the Central Plains would be long, and brewing medicine on the road was often impractical. He felt that it was far better to prepare a reserve in advance.