By the time he finished reading the information on the Turtle Breath-holding Skill, half an hour had already passed.

——

[Turtle Breath-holding Skill]

Description: A Middle Level Martial Arts Inner Cultivation Method. Upon mastery, it grants the advantages of toughness, resilience, longevity, and endurance.

Grade: Middle Level (Blue)

Requirement: Must be a Martial Artist of the Middle Third Grades.

Points: 5,000

Note: Points can be used to upgrade its Grade!

——

Drawing on the cultivation experience and methods from his memories, Cheng Zongyang’s expression remained calm as he read the description, betraying nothing. Inwardly, however, his feelings were complicated.

It had its pros and cons. But overall, the pros outweighed the cons.

First, cultivating the Turtle Breath-holding Skill was divided into two parts: "Breath-holding" and "Exhaling."

When these two methods were combined, they would continuously widen and strengthen the meridians during cultivation. This would allow the meridians to withstand the impact of a greater flow of True Qi during the future Washing Marrow stage.

Second, it cultivated a long and steady breath. The breath-holding aspect would gradually strengthen his Five Viscera and Six Bowels and increase his vitality during the inner cultivation stages, making him far more durable. Combined with the results of his earlier Body Forging, it was natural that he would become tough and resilient. However, the Turtle Breath-holding Skill placed particular emphasis on making his Inner Strength long-lasting and enduring.

He had been wrong about one thing, though. The cultivation speed wasn’t at the turtle’s pace he had imagined.

The initial pace was slow only because the Beginner stage required a significant amount of time to master the breath-holding and exhaling techniques. In the later stages, however, its speed was no slower than other Inner Cultivation Methods like Cyan Netherworld, Pure Yang, or Five Elements.

The initial phase focused on Breath-holding Cultivation. While holding his breath, his Inner Strength would circulate, gradually adjusting his breathing rhythm and stabilizing his Inner Breath. At the same time, he would slowly increase how long he could hold his breath, aiming to stay submerged in water for extended periods without breathing, just like a turtle. Reaching the Beginner level meant being able to hold one’s breath for thirty minutes. Naturally, the longer, the better.

Exhaling also required a specific technique. It wasn’t about releasing the breath all at once, but rather exhaling in a fixed, controlled rhythm.

Mastering this exhaling rhythm and controlling the orderly circulation of one’s qi and blood also signified reaching the Beginner level.

It was similar to how singing has its own breathing rhythm, as do sprinting, long-distance running, marathons, swimming, and combat sports like Sanda. Each has its own distinct method.

When the methods of breath-holding and exhaling were combined and became as second nature as breathing, it was equivalent to cultivating automatically, anytime and anywhere. Naturally, the speed would be quite fast.

Using this special cultivation method, one’s Inner Strength, along with their qi and blood, would automatically temper the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, the viscera, and the Bone Marrow.

This was the process for the Middle Third Grades.

After reaching the Beginner level, cultivation with the Turtle Breath-holding Skill was a subtle and gradual process that wouldn’t cause any violent reactions.

One could say that although this cultivation method seemed difficult to start and otherwise unremarkable, its true strength lay in its long-term results and various benefits.

With lasting endurance, the one left standing at the end is the strongest!

With a clear understanding, Cheng Zongyang summoned his interface.

——

Name: Cheng Zongyang

Age: 16

Lifespan: 16/100 (-24 days)

Realm: Sixth Grade (Meridian Passage)

Points: 11,908

Skills: Archery (12,356/20,000, Specialization); Medicine (15/3,000, Middle Level);

Cultivation Technique:

Turtle Breath-holding Skill (1/12,000)

Martial Arts:

(Unchanged, omitted...)

——

’As expected, the benefits of switching Cultivation Techniques are already showing.’

The effect of that warm current hadn’t just raised his Realm Cultivation; it had also increased his Lifespan by two years.

’A long life! That’s a tangible effect!’

However, he didn’t know if breaking through to a new Realm would increase his Lifespan if he had used a different Cultivation Technique. He didn’t even know if the breakthroughs from Ninth to Eighth, or Eighth to Seventh Grade, granted any additional Lifespan at all.

After all, the Lifespan stat had only appeared after he acquired the Oath Contract.

Regardless, the two-year increase to his Lifespan more than compensated for the loss caused by the Oath Contract. It was a tangible benefit, so there was no need to overthink it. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Thus, he immediately drew upon the cultivation experience for the technique. Following its methods and tips, he began to adjust his breathing rhythm and start his Breath-holding Cultivation.

He took a deep breath, his abdomen swelling as he held it.

The first step was to practice holding his breath for an extended period.

Only by managing to hold his breath for thirty minutes would he have established the foundation for Breath-holding Cultivation.

But this required a long period of adaptation and practice; it wasn’t something that could be accomplished overnight. It was a strict requirement.

The second step was to adjust his exhaling rhythm. He had to change his natural way of breathing, form a new rhythm, and turn it into a habit.

The third step built upon the first two. He had to mobilize his qi and blood to circulate in sync with his breathing rhythm, creating a unique pulsation. As his Inner Strength and qi and blood circulated, this special rhythm would allow them to open the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, temper his Five Viscera and Six Bowels, and perform Washing Marrow and Chopping Bones. The effect was similar to how certain rhythmic sound waves could make a target vibrate through regular oscillations.

「An hour later.」

[Cultivated Turtle Breath-holding Skill, Proficiency +1]

As Cheng Zongyang opened his eyes, he let out a long, slow breath.

The exhale lasted for nearly thirty seconds.

Cheng Zongyang sighed and shook his head slightly.

’Only five minutes... Changing my breathing rhythm is truly difficult.’

Thirty minutes might not sound like much, but increasing the duration by even a single minute was extremely difficult.

After a full hour, he had only gained one point of proficiency. This meant that despite following the techniques, he had only managed one "effective" breath in the entire hour-long session.

But having chosen this Cultivation Technique, he was determined to see it through.

Toughness, resilience, longevity, and endurance—these four benefits were more than enough reason for him to persist.

For the next five days, Cheng Zongyang neither went to the County Town nor returned to the mountains. Instead, he remained in the Wilderness World, practicing the Breath-holding Technique.