Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

Morning came, and a ray of sunlight filtered down through the layers of clouds. The weather was somewhat gloomy today, with thick layers of dark clouds stacked upon one another, heralding the imminent arrival of fierce winds and torrential rain. In the height of summer, a soaking downpour could bring refreshing coolness to people’s overheated hearts.

Lin Zheyu pushed open the door as a cool breeze rushed toward him.

”Young Master, breakfast has already been prepared. Please come over to dine.”

Ya Lan had long been waiting outside and spoke respectfully.

It had to be said that having someone attend closely to one’s daily needs felt truly wonderful. Clothes were ready to be worn and meals ready to be eaten. There was nothing to worry about. Even his medicinal decoctions were prepared by others. If Lin Zheyu were willing, even the bed could be warmed for him.

”Mhm.” Lin Zheyu nodded lightly.

After breakfast, a fine drizzle began falling outside. As Lin Zheyu watched the rain, he grew curious about whether the martial artists at Heavenly Blade Peak were still climbing and seeking enlightenment.

Within the Li Residence, he only knew Li Mengqi and her younger brother, as well as Li Wensi[1]. All three had their own affairs and could not possibly stay around him all day. With no one to accompany him, Lin Zheyu had no interest in wandering about the Li Residence.

After eating, he returned directly to the courtyard. Sitting cross-legged outside the room, he felt the cool breeze and listened to the patter of rain as his mind settled into complete tranquility.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 42]

[Skills: Boiling Blood Secret Art (Perfection), Forbidden Reversal Method (Perfection), Primordial Origin Technique {Modified} (Perfection), Tortoise Breath True Technique (Fifth Stage: 0%), Golden Goose Technique (Tenth Stage: 100%), Spirit-Wondrous Movement Technique (Fifth Stage: 100%)]

Lin Zheyu looked at the data within his consciousness. After using 1 more unit of Origin Force last night, he had successfully cultivated the Tortoise Breath True Technique to Perfection at the fourth stage. As expected, it had advanced directly into the fifth stage. The fifth stage of the Tortoise Breath True Technique further tempered the body, bringing it closer to the essential nature of the elephant tortoise, while simultaneously helping him to comprehend the Tortoise Breath true intent, producing a state of unity between spirit and flesh.

1 unit of Origin Force raised about 32% of the fourth stage. That means re-cultivating the first three stages cost me roughly 3 units of Origin Force.

Spending 3 units of Origin Force to re-cultivate the first three stages was still within an acceptable range. Compared to the Tortoise Breath True Technique, the Tortoise Breath Grand Method had removed many high-difficulty cultivation components, making it far easier to practice. The price paid was a significant reduction in effectiveness. That was why Elder Wang had been able to see through Lin Zheyu’s true strength at a glance and discern his disguise.

I wonder whether, with my current attainment in the Tortoise Breath True Technique, I can still deceive Elder Wang, thought Lin Zheyu.

After cultivating the Tortoise Breath True Technique to the fifth stage, he felt that his control over his body, blood qi, essence, qi, and spirit had risen to an even higher level. The faint tendency toward losing control that had appeared as the number of qualitative transformations in his blood qi increased had now completely vanished. The vast blood qi energy within his body was firmly locked into his blood, flowing through his body along with it.

After condensing the Dominance true intent seed, the Dominance aura that unconsciously emanated from him also became much more restrained. Lin Zheyu now looked like an ordinary person who had never practiced martial arts. If he put on a blue scholar’s robe and returned to his appearance before training in martial arts, he would look exactly like a frail scholar.

Whether I can conceal myself from Elder Wang or not, raising the Tortoise Breath True Technique further is definitely the right move. In the future, I intend to walk the path of fusing multiple true intents. If I cultivate the Tortoise Breath True Technique to Perfection, the difficulty of fusing true intents and allowing true intent to transform will be greatly reduced.

With nearly half a year of quiet cultivation time while staying in the Li Residence, there was no need for him to rush to raise his Blood Qi realm. Half a year was enough for him to accumulate several dozen more units of Origin Force. He took out the Tortoise Breath True Technique manual and opened it to the page with the true intent diagram.

Lin Zheyu placed his hand on the true intent diagram, feeling its delicate and cool texture beneath his palm. The aura of the Tortoise Breath true intent surged along his arm and poured into his body, and the true intent diagram instantly came alive before his eyes.

”How truly wondrous!” Lin Zheyu could not help but exclaim as he looked at the living true intent diagram.

Even though it was not his first time witnessing it, he still felt astonished. This wondrous art allowed him to feel as if he had transformed into a real elephant tortoise, perceiving its breathing and experiencing the pulse of its life. Immersed in such a state, his mentality and spirit were influenced, deepening his comprehension of the Tortoise Breath true intent.

Even without tempering the corresponding martial cultivation conviction or possessing the matching mindset, under the influence of the true intent aura contained within the true intent diagram, one could still condense a true intent seed. As long as a true intent seed was condensed before the true intent aura within the diagram dissipated, the cultivation could be considered more or less successful.

But if a true intent seed was not condensed before the diagram lost its effect, and one wished to continue cultivating, then they would have to either follow the traditional path or purchase another copy of the same true technique and continue comprehending it.

Time slowly passed. Lin Zheyu’s mind was completely immersed in comprehending the true intent diagram and understanding the Tortoise Breath true intent, unaware of the passage of time. When he opened his eyes, he discovered that a torrential downpour had begun. The heavy rain cascaded onto the bluestone-paved ground, splashing water that soaked his clothes. Yet he was completely unaware of it.

”Young Master, the medicinal decoction is ready, but it has already cooled. Do you need me to heat it again?” Ya Lan asked softly.

”No need. The weather is so hot that it is better when it is cool,” Lin Zheyu said with a smile and took the decoction from Ya Lan.

Last night, he had used another unit of Origin Force, and the medicinal power from the two Essence and Qi Pills he had consumed, along with the bowl of decoction he had drunk, was completely exhausted. Yet it was still not enough, as the powerful blood qi within Lin Zheyu’s body had also been almost entirely consumed.

The medicinal potency contained within the Essence and Qi Pills was somewhat weak. Although they were extremely easy to absorb and greatly aided the condensation of blood qi, the medicinal strength they contained was simply too low. It was comparable to the potency of Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder.

No, it seemed to be even weaker. However, considering the powerful effect of Essence and Qi Pills in condensing blood qi, their price was absolutely worth it. Only someone like Lin Zheyu, who could use extreme medicines such as Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder and Blazing Flame Blood-Burning Powder, with their enormous side effects and even the risk of death, would feel that Essence and Qi Pills lacked cost-effectiveness. For ordinary martial artists, Essence and Qi Pills were unquestionably the most cost-effective medicinal pills during training.

”You may go for now. Wait, does the Li Residence have heavy armor?” Lin Zheyu called out to stop Ya Lan as she was about to leave and asked curiously.

If there were no heavy armor, then breaking through his limits to obtain Origin Force would require ten or twelve hours.

”There is. May I ask how much weight you require? I will apply to the young master on your behalf,” Ya Lan replied.

”One thousand kilograms. It would be best if it were detachable, the kind that allows the load to be gradually reduced,” Lin Zheyu said after some thought.

As his strength increased, the strength of his physique had grown substantially. In particular, after his blood qi underwent more than six qualitative transformations and reached the seventh transformation, the enhancement to his physique became even more pronounced. Heavy armor weighing five hundred kilograms could no longer meet his current needs.

”Understood, Young Master.” Ya Lan responded, leaving the courtyard and closing the gate behind her.

Lin Zheyu rested for a while and did not continue comprehending the Tortoise Breath true intent. In real cultivation, unlike enhancement through Origin Force, unceasing training was not the best choice.

Within the consciousness space, because of the special nature of Origin Force, once one entered endless cultivation, there would be no fatigue from the consumption of essence, qi, and spirit, allowing cultivation to continue without end. In reality, however, cultivating for too long produced fatigue. After training for several hours, switching to another technique to refresh the mind could improve efficiency.

Rain fell in a steady drizzle as lightning streaked across the sky, instantly lighting up heaven and earth. A few seconds later, a rumbling peal of thunder followed.

Hearing the thunder, Lin Zheyu could not help but say with a smile, ”In this kind of atmosphere, cultivating the Violet Thunder Dominance Fist really suits the moment.”

He had just taken out the Violet Thunder Dominance Fist manual and had not even begun reading it when thunder sounded in the sky. It was a very good omen.

The Violet Thunder true intent, cultivated by the Violet Thunder Dominance Fist, is special, and even its breathing method is extremely unique. When it circulates, thunderous rumbling sounds emerge from the chest. Could it be that the creator of this technique trained on a rainy day, gained insight, and then created it? Lin Zheyu flipped through the manual and guessed curiously.

He already had solid attainment in fist techniques, and Barbaric Ox Fist had long reached a state of complete mastery. Now, starting training in the Violet Thunder Dominance Fist from the beginning, he picked it up very quickly. With his current physique strength, Lin Zheyu did not need to retrace the paths of Muscle Forging, Bone Forging, or Organ Forging realms.

The Organ Forging realm still needs to be retrained.

Lin Zheyu carefully read through the manual and committed the Organ Forging realm cultivation content to memory.

For a technique, the breathing method was extremely important and was not only used to temper the internal organs. Before true intent was comprehended, the breathing method was equivalent to the soul of the technique and could deepen one’s understanding of it.

What a creative breathing method. It is very different from the techniques I cultivated before, truly carving out a new path. A trace of amazement appeared on Lin Zheyu’s face.

Martial cultivation was vast and profound, yet the number of techniques he had encountered was small, and most were ordinary rather than superior. The Violet Thunder Dominance Fist had once been the sect-protecting technique of the Violet Thunder Sect. It was extremely profound, but lacking the true intent diagram, it could only be considered a fragment of a true technique.

However, the concepts and true intent contained within the technique were extremely valuable as a reference. Among all the techniques Lin Zheyu had encountered, it was the best. Tortoise Breath True Technique did not count, as that true technique was only an auxiliary one. After memorizing the breathing method’s cultivation process and details, he closed his eyes and began to cultivate.

His chest began to rise and fall with an indescribable rhythm. In less than an hour, faint thunderous sounds emerged from Lin Zheyu’s chest, echoing the thunder from the sky. After about another hour, he opened his eyes, yet the thunderous sounds from his chest continued.

After cultivating the Tortoise Breath True Technique to the fifth stage, his control over his body, blood qi, essence, qi, and spirit reached an astonishing level. As long as it did not involve true intent, Lin Zheyu cultivated extremely quickly. A breathing method that ordinary people needed days or even more than ten days of hard training to master was grasped by him in about two hours.

An impressive breathing method. Even with my current physical strength, the breathing method of Violet Thunder Dominance Fist can still temper the five viscera, Lin Zheyu thought to himself.

Rumble.

Faint thunderous sounds continuously emerged from his chest, endlessly tempering his five viscera and making them even stronger than before. Lin Zheyu removed his upper garment and stepped into the heavy rain.

Rumble.

Lightning flashed across the sky as thunder rolled, producing a resonant effect with the thunderous sounds generated by the breathing method within his body.

Pat pat.

Rain fell steadily, soaking Lin Zheyu’s body. He remained unmoved and continued cultivating in the rain.

1. The author wrote Li Siwen here, but I think it’s a typo and should be Li Wensi. ☜