Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 160: Intelligent (I)

"I don't plan to join the Golden Wing Sect."

Lin Zheyu shook his head, and disappointment flickered in the eyes of Xu Qinyi and the others. Had Lin Zheyu joined the Golden Wing Sect, his natural talent would have given him a great chance to become a Force Transformation Realm expert. By then, the Feihong Gang would have gained a powerful backer in Bafang City. Unfortunately, Lin Zheyu had no desire to join the Golden Wing Sect.

"I can understand if Brother Lin doesn't wish to join the Golden Wing Sect. If I had Brother Lin's natural talent, I wouldn't join the Golden Wing Sect either. I'd head to the Central Plains to fight for my own future! That's the stage of the strong, the true paradise of geniuses," said Ren Qingfeng with emotion.

"Haha, it's fine. If you don't want to join, then don't. No matter what Brother Lin chooses, we'll always be brothers. Come, let's drink!" Xu Qinyi raised his cup with a hearty laugh.

Lin Zheyu lifted his cup and clinked glasses with them, smiling. Xu Yuxiang stared blankly at Lin Zheyu, lost in thought. If Lin Zheyu refused to join the Golden Wing Sect and set off for the Central Plains, would they ever see each other again?

Ren Qingying glanced at Xu Yuxiang, patted her hand, and whispered beside her ear, "Why not confess your feelings now? Maybe Young Master Lin feels the same way."

Xu Yuxiang rolled her eyes at her and chose to ignore her nosy friend.

"If Brother Lin ever faces any trouble, just say the word. Though the Feihong Gang doesn't have much power in Bafang City, our brothers are here. Handling a few problems is no issue. If you lack money for cultivation, I can lend some as well," said Chen Xihong with a smile.

"I appreciate everyone's kindness. If I truly run into trouble, I'll be sure to come seek your help," said Lin Zheyu with a smile.

After food and drink, Xu Yuxiang suggested a walk along Flower Street, and Lin Zheyu did not refuse. Flower Street and Willow Alley were the most prosperous areas of Bafang City. Beyond brothels, pleasure houses, and gambling halls, there were flower markets, snack stalls, street performances, and river cruises. The rise of those establishments drew crowds, attracting countless vendors and gradually turning Flower Street into the city's most bustling district.

Strolling with the others, Lin Zheyu said little, quietly admiring the scenery and soaking in the vibrant human atmosphere unique to Bafang City. Amid the lively Flower Street, he felt a nostalgic sensation, as though he were back in his previous life attending a bustling fair.

Xu Qinyi and the others tried several times to create moments for him and Xu Yuxiang to talk, but Lin Zheyu remained calm and indifferent. Gradually, Xu Yuxiang let go of her wishful thoughts.

***

Time passed quickly, and five days went by[1]. After Xu Qinyi and the others joined the Golden Wing Sect, they became much busier, and since the gathering that happened three days ago, they hadn't been seen again. They needed to quickly improve their Golden Wing Codex to compete for one of the few true disciple positions.

Meanwhile, Lin Zheyu remained idle. The Feihong Gang held only a small amount of territory in Bafang City and had more than enough manpower, unlike in Songyi City where vast areas required constant garrisons.

Lin Zheyu felt that until the day he left Bafang City, he would likely remain in this idle state. He didn't want to take wages for nothing, and the amount hardly meant anything to him anyway. So two days ago, Lin Zheyu went to the Xu Family to resign from his position in the Feihong Gang, but Xu Yinghao rejected the request.

Xu Yinghao didn't care in the slightest about the small amount of silver paid to Lin Zheyu. To them, spending a little silver to gain the favor of a genius like Lin Zheyu was more than worth it. Though Lin Zheyu had yet to rise in power, as long as even one of the geniuses they supported succeeded, the Xu Family would profit immensely.

In fact, the Xu Family's rise to become one of Songyi City's three esteemed families had been thanks to a powerful cultivator who once owed them a favor. They had aided many talented martial artists, and the reclusive expert whom Xu Jingwu had once sent Lin Zheyu to find was one such beneficiary. Unfortunately, Lin Zheyu had never managed to find that senior.

At noon, the blazing sunlight poured down, and waves of heat shimmered off the bluestone pavement. Standing beneath the shade of a tree, Lin Zheyu kept his right hand submerged in a wooden basin of clear water, eyes tightly closed.

Within his body, a vast mysterious energy surged, absorbing the medicinal essence from the herbs in the basin and rapidly strengthening the muscles, membranes, and bones of his waist and legs, making them tougher and more resilient. His mind, within that mysterious consciousness space, continued its unceasing training, gaining greater and greater control over his blood qi. The progress of the Golden Goose Technique's ninth stage was rising rapidly, and his martial cultivation experience and insights grew alongside it.

After a few breaths, Lin Zheyu opened his eyes. A momentary haze crossed them before clarity returned.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 0]

[Skills: Golden Goose Technique (Ninth Stage: 83%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 100%)]

Lin Zheyu glanced at the data within his consciousness. The Golden Goose Technique had reached 83% in its ninth stage.

"The power of my blood qi is just a trace away from reaching its peak. A set of Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder contains roughly the same medicinal potency as twelve sets[2] of Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The last time, by combining the remaining medicinal power of Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder with one set of Redfire Blood-Nourishing Powder and enhancing it with 2 units of Origin Force, his blood qi had nearly recovered to its peak. When he used only one set of Redfire Blood-Nourishing Powder, it restored about 10% of his blood qi.

That meant that the remaining potency of the Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder had been enough to restore 90% of his blood qi, roughly equivalent to the effect of two sets of Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction.

Compared to before, using Origin Force to enhance my strength now costs only half as much. In the future, I should seek more formulas like the Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder. Only those with severe side effects that other martial artists can't use offer the highest value.

A certain idea lingered in his mind, but he neither dared to try it nor had the chance to. It was about the living corpse he had seen back in Daba Mountain, the secret chamber where a mysterious formation gathered yin force to nurture the creature.

Lin Zheyu suspected that the yin force gathered by that formation might also be usable by the mysterious energy within Origin Force as a potential energy source. However, the yin force gathered through such formations was highly diffuse and of low concentration, though it had the advantage of being constant and inexhaustible. If he wanted to attempt it, he would have to find a way to condense the yin force into a concentrated form of sinister yin energy.

***

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed. Lin Zheyu had now been in Bafang City for nearly a month. Throughout the month, he spent his days cultivating, searching for his master Liang Song, and hunting fierce beasts. Life felt fulfilling.

Inside Tianxiang[3] Pavilion, Lin Zheyu found a seat by the window, leisurely sipping tea and listening to the storyteller. Tianxiang Pavilion was a well-known teahouse in Bafang City. It was not the most popular, but certainly the oldest.

In this teahouse, the storyteller was not reciting one of the stories he himself had written back in Songyi City, but a tale titled The Journey for Immortality. It was an old tale that had spread far and wide.

It told the story of a court official who, after being dismissed from his post and falling into despair, heard tales of immortals and set out on a journey to seek the Dao and pursue immortality. Though it was an old story, it was Lin Zheyu's first time hearing it, and he listened with great interest.

"Have you heard? Songyi City has fallen as well."

"So soon?"

"Exactly. The rebel army came in full force this time. Do you think that even Bafang City might not be able to hold?" someone asked worriedly.

"Impossible. Bafang City sits at a key crossroads. If even it falls, then most cities in the Southern Barbarian Region won't survive."

Listening to the other patrons' discussion, Lin Zheyu couldn't help but sigh.

So, Songyi City still couldn't be held; it has fallen to the rebel army as well.

He wondered how his senior brother was doing. With his Blood Qi Realm strength, he should be safe.

After listening to the storytelling for a while, Lin Zheyu glanced around but didn't see any trace of his master, Liang Song. Finishing the remaining wine, he rose to his feet and headed toward the next teahouse.

Lin Zheyu planned to stay in Bafang City for 3 months, hunting beasts to temper his martial conviction and earn money while searching for his master, Liang Song. If he couldn't find him, then so be it; he would have done his best. He couldn't stay in Bafang City indefinitely, as there were no cultivation techniques in Bafang City that he truly desired.

Lin Zheyu's ambition was vast; he aimed to reach the Dragon Transformation before seeking a breakthrough to the Marrow Refining Realm. But in Bafang City, powerful techniques were rare, let alone those capable of cultivating to the Dragon Transformation. Finding a technique in Bafang City that could lead to that level was nearly impossible.

1. I think this includes the days before the gathering happened. ☜

2. I think the author made a mistake here, in the previous chapter, the Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder equals at least 12 sets of Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction. I'm not sure why the author wrote 14 here, but I've corrected it to 12. ☜

3. 添 (tiān) means to add, to enhance, or to increase something. 香 (xiāng) means fragrance, aroma, or pleasant scent. Together, 添香 (Tiānxiāng) means "to add fragrance." ☜