Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

”What is the Shamanic Dao...”

”It is a path that emulates the legendary chaos gods and demons. Its practitioners take the Great Dao of Chaos into their bodies and condense shamanic patterns to forcibly transform their human forms, evolving toward chaos gods and demons...”

”Although the Immortal Dao differs greatly from shamanic arts, the two also share certain similarities.”

”The Three Thousand Great Daos may follow different paths, but they all lead to the same destination.”

”Immortal cultivators study the myriad Daos of heaven and earth, comprehend the source of all things, and embrace the boundless phenomena of creation. The Great Dao of Chaos within the Shamanic Dao is likewise one of the Great Daos of heaven and earth, so it can also serve as one of the paths explored through the Immortal Dao.”

”The Immortal Dao does not cultivate the physical body, but...”

Inside the Discussion Pavilion, the Wei Family cultivator stood on the highest platform and spoke at length, expounding on his understanding of the Immortal Dao, his insights into the Shamanic Dao, and how an immortal cultivator might wield the tremendous power once held by the mighty experts of the ancient Shamanic Clan. Much of what he said was novel and intriguing, and even Lin Zheyu found it somewhat interesting.

”This is rather interesting...” Lin Zheyu gained some insights as he listened to the man’s lecture.

It was obvious that much of the Wei Family cultivator’s lecture had been drawn from his clan’s ancient texts. With his strength and cultivation realm, he could not possibly have comprehended these ideas on his own, even if he possessed the Shamanic Clan’s legacy.

Lin Zheyu himself truly possessed such a legacy, yet even he found it difficult to derive particularly profound insights from it. The Shamanic Dao was a path of evolution. Without embarking upon that path and experiencing it firsthand, reading the later portions of its legacy was like trying to decipher an incomprehensible celestial script.

After listening for a long while, Lin Zheyu could not help feeling somewhat disappointed. ”Unfortunately, his strength is a little lacking, so he hasn’t managed to comprehend anything particularly profound.”

Regardless of where the Wei Family cultivator had acquired this knowledge or how he had reached these conclusions, his insights remained far too shallow. He was forever hovering outside the threshold, never touching upon the true essence of the subject. To Lin Zheyu, listening to him was like scratching an itch through a boot.

After concluding his lecture, the Wei Family cultivator addressed Lin Zheyu in a resonant voice. ”May I ask whether this fellow friend has any comments on what I just discussed?”

The Wei Family cultivator was named Wei Lixin. Perhaps because he also practiced shamanic arts, he had an exceptionally burly build and a full beard, giving him the bearing of a martial artist. Lin Zheyu had made no deliberate attempt to conceal his aura, so Wei Lixin had noticed him the moment he entered the discussion hall. Wei Lixin could sense that Lin Zheyu seemed unimpressed by his lecture, which left him rather displeased.

Lin Zheyu smiled and cupped his hands toward the surrounding cultivators. ”I would not presume to offer instruction. What Fellow Wei just shared has benefited me greatly. I am Xiao Yu of the Martial Alliance. Greetings, fellow friend.

”I am merely a martial artist and know little about cultivating the Immortal Dao, but I have conducted some research into the relationship between Martial Dao and the Shamanic Dao. Next, I would like to discuss my understanding of the Shamanic Dao from the perspective of martial cultivation. I hope Fellow Wei will offer me your guidance.” Lin Zheyu smiled at Wei Lixin.

After so many years in this world, Lin Zheyu had come to understand one truth deeply: connections and influence were tremendously important. In this age, even a genius could fade into obscurity without a powerful background. Wei Lixin came from the Wei Family. Using the Shamanic Dao as an opportunity to establish a friendly relationship with him might prove worthwhile. Better still, Lin Zheyu might even obtain some texts from Wei Lixin that analyzed the Shamanic Dao.

”Oh? Then I shall listen with great interest. This platform is yours, fellow friend.” Wei Lixin was briefly taken aback, then smiled and cupped his hands. He leaped down from the platform and yielded it to Lin Zheyu.

Wei Lixin sneered inwardly. Let’s see just how profound a lecture you can deliver.

He ordered a pot of spirit tea and leisurely listened to Lin Zheyu’s lecture. At first, Wei Lixin was rather dismissive. Gradually, however, his eyes began to shine with increasing brilliance as a look of realization appeared within them. He could not help sitting up straight, his expression slowly turning solemn.

This man’s understanding of the Shamanic Dao is no weaker than mine! Wei Lixin thought.

Lin Zheyu smiled slightly when he saw this.

He took the bait!

Lin Zheyu had not shared everything he understood about the Shamanic Dao. He had merely reworked Wei Lixin’s earlier lecture from the perspective of martial cultivation, added a few insights of his own, and presented it anew.

***

”Please, have a seat,” Xiao Yiqing said with a smile inside the hall.

”Thank you.” Woo Qianqian sat down across from her.

She was a beautiful woman who exuded a faintly domineering air. Compared to Xiao Yiqing, she had a much more powerful build, with clearly defined muscles that gave her a strong and striking beauty.

”No need for such courtesy. What sort of deal did you have in mind?” Xiao Yiqing asked directly.

”Hand Xiao Yu over to me,” Woo Qianqian said calmly. She came from the Woo Family, who had recently contacted her and instructed her to demand Lin Zheyu from the Vermilion Bird Sect.

”Xiao Yu?” Xiao Yiqing was momentarily taken aback.

Although she was a disciple of the Vermilion Bird Sect, she was not responsible for liaising with the other factions in the Vermilion Bird Sect’s camp. None of the Martial Alliance’s martial artists had ever caught her attention apart from its alliance leader, Qin Hu, much less an insignificant Shackles realm martial artist who had only recently joined the Martial Alliance.

”A martial artist from the Martial Alliance. He caused the deaths of quite a few members of my Woo Family,” Woo Qianqian explained calmly.

”Oh.” Understanding dawned in Xiao Yiqing’s eyes.

No wonder she did not remember him. Since he came from the Martial Alliance, that was hardly surprising.

Xiao Yiqing shook her head and said indifferently, ”The Martial Alliance belongs to my Vermilion Bird Sect’s faction, and its alliance leader shares a close friendship with Senior Jing. This is not a decision I can make.”

”Ten Tigerflame Pills, along with a feather from an atavistic Blood Sparrow,” Woo Qianqian said calmly.

According to legend, Blood Sparrows possessed a faint trace of the Vermilion Bird bloodline. A Blood Sparrow that had undergone atavism and awakened its bloodline powers held tremendous value for cultivators of the Vermilion Bird Sect. Although this was only a single feather, it was still exceedingly rare.

”To think you would pay such an extravagant price for an insignificant Shackles realm martial artist...” Xiao Yiqing regarded Woo Qianqian with an enigmatic smile.

She leisurely sipped her spirit tea and said, ”I can find an opportunity for you. Whether you succeed will depend on your own abilities.”

Woo Qianqian nodded. ”Good. That will be enough.”

With a thought, a jade bottle and a blood-red feather radiating an astonishingly scorching aura flew out of her storage pouch.

”Deal. In two days, I will find a reason to make him participate in a life-or-death arena match,” Xiao Yiqing said calmly.

With a light beckoning motion of her right hand, the jade bottle and feather landed in her palm. Once the deal was concluded, Woo Qianqian took her leave. Xiao Yiqing toyed with the blood-red feather as she sensed the faint power of the Vermilion Bird contained within it.

”Even with the Woo Family’s strength, they failed to deal with Xiao Yu and had to ask Woo Qianqian to intervene. How interesting...” Xiao Yiqing murmured softly.

Still, she merely found the matter mildly interesting. With the great tribulation of heaven and earth approaching, fortuitous opportunities were appearing everywhere, and there was no shortage of cultivators blessed with great fortune and destiny. More than 99% of those opportunities paled in comparison to the cultivation resources available within the Vermilion Bird Sect, so Xiao Yiqing paid them no heed. She had agreed to help Woo Qianqian partly because of the Tigerflame Pills and Blood Sparrow feather, but her master was also a factor.

Xiao Yiqing’s master did not get along with Jing Xinyue. It was Jing Xinyue who shared close relations with the Martial Alliance, so what did that have to do with her? Not only would Xiao Yiqing face no consequences for doing this, but her master might even praise her upon finding out. That was precisely why Woo Qianqian had approached her.