Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 175: It Became Shorter (II)

The next morning, Lin Zheyu bought ten sets of Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder and began a new round of enhancement. After a night's rest, his mind had recovered greatly, pulling itself out from the endless torment.

Phew.

Standing in the courtyard, Lin Zheyu let out a long breath. Yesterday's training had left a shadow in his heart; he needed to steel his mind before using Origin Force again. He took out five sets of the Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder ingredients, poured four and a half into a wooden basin, and set aside the remaining half. He still had 3 units of Origin Force left, so four and a half sets of herbs would be sufficient.

Use 3 units of Origin Force to enhance the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual.

As the thought echoed outward, Lin Zheyu's mind once again fell into unbearable agony. In the space of consciousness, he followed the enhanced version of the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual's method, tempering his muscles, tendons, skin, and bones over and over again.

Outside in the courtyard, his body, under the influence of mysterious energy, began to transform at an astonishing speed. The toughness and strength of his muscles, tendons, skin, and bones increased rapidly, and beneath his fair skin, new layers of tough membranes formed, growing ever stronger.

Crack, snap, crackle...

At the same time, a chorus of bones cracking rang out from within his body. It was the sound of his entire skeletal structure undergoing a second metamorphosis.

A few breaths later, the transformation ended. Lin Zheyu regained his senses from the daze and opened his weary eyes. Using 3 units of Origin Force at once to strengthen a body-refining technique like the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual placed tremendous strain on his spirit. Even after leaving the consciousness space, he still felt endless pain lingering in his mind.

"It's finally over..." Lin Zheyu let out a long sigh.

It was over; he had finally escaped from the endless torment. That ceaseless, unending training, where he seemed doomed to eternal torment, was truly horrifying beyond words.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 0]

[Skills: Raging Wind Slash (Perfection), Golden Goose Technique (Ninth Stage: 100%), Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual (Third Stage: 1%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 100%)]

Lin Zheyu looked at the data within his consciousness and murmured to himself, "I've reached the third stage. My physique should now be about 80% as strong as Little Black's, or enough to unleash the Raging Wind Slash at ninefold power."

He took out a dagger and drew it across his skin, gradually increasing the force. Only when he reached nearly 90% of his strength did the blade finally cut through his skin.

No, my physique should be on par with Little Black's now, or perhaps even a bit stronger. After advancing the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual to the third stage, my strength has increased by at least 30%. 90% of my current strength is already greater than my full strength from before.

He slowly stood, took a step forward, and threw out a powerful punch. A tremendous surge of blood qi exploded forth, and the gust from his fist roared with a sharp hiss.

The Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual mainly enhanced his defense; its effect on raw physical power was modest. Fortunately, martial artists who cultivated blood qi relied more on blood qi power than pure physical strength. With his muscles, tendons, skin, and bones strengthened, the amount of blood qi power Lin Zheyu could withstand increased by roughly 30%.

Now, without using the blood qi burst technique, his full-force strikes had about 30% more power. When using the blood qi burst technique, the blood qi he could channel reached four times his former limit.

"My overall combat strength has soared. Raging Wind Slash can now unleash twelve times its original power!"

A trace of joy appeared on Lin Zheyu's face. Yet, he couldn't help but sigh.

Damn it! I've become 40% of a real man now...

His strengthened physique barely increased the total blood qi his body could hold—less than 5%. The body's capacity for blood qi depended less on toughness and more on constitution, bone structure, and bloodline.

Since his total amount of blood qi hadn't increased, using the burst technique to unleash four times the usual power would consume far more blood qi. The blood qi burst technique was extremely violent, so releasing four times the force required at least six or even seven times the blood qi consumption.

I'll test my strength the next time I leave the city on that terrifying beast, to see if I can beat it.

Though he had become 40% of a real man, his offensive power had increased. As long as his attack was strong enough to kill in a single strike, even being a three-second man would hardly matter. As long as he could slay the enemy, nothing else mattered.

That beast's physique was terrifyingly strong. Even with the burst technique, I couldn't cut through its defense. I doubt even mastering the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual to the third stage's Perfection could allow me to reach that level. That beast must be a powerful one at the Marrow Refining Realm.

He had never fought a Marrow Refining Realm martial artist. Or perhaps he had, but hadn't realized their realm. Thus, he had no clear sense of how powerful a Marrow Refining Realm cultivator truly was.

Lin Zheyu categorized beast realms by comparing their combat strength to human cultivation realms, like first or second blood qi transformations. If that beast's power truly matched a Marrow Refining Realm martial artist, then such cultivators were indeed frighteningly strong. Fortunately, he now had the means to contend with them.

After getting used to his newfound strength, Lin Zheyu circulated the Tortoise Breath Grand Method again, quickly suppressing his aura. Advancing the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual had made his build noticeably sturdier. But once he fully activated the Tortoise Breath Grand Method, his solid frame returned to its previous lean and balanced form.

***

The rebel army continued its advance, but Bafang City remained as prosperous as ever, untouched by the chaos of war. Lin Zheyu spent all of his afternoons visiting teahouses, but he never found his master, Liang Song. He couldn't help but suspect that Liang Song might have heard he was looking for him and had deliberately stopped coming to the teahouses to listen to stories.

Night gradually fell. Lanterns were lit one after another across Xingluan District, illuminating every corner of the bustling streets. The streets were packed shoulder to shoulder with people, and carriages rolled endlessly along the main road. As darkness deepened, the liveliness only grew.

On the second floor of Yunhe Restaurant, Lin Zheyu gathered for drinks with Xu Qinyi, Ren Qingfeng, Chen Xihong, Xu Yuxiang, and Ren Qingying.

"It's been quite some time. Leader Xu and the others still haven't arrived from Songyi City?" asked Lin Zheyu curiously.

"They're already on the way. It'll probably take a little over a month for them to get here," replied Xu Qinyi with a smile.

Although Songyi City had fallen, the Feihong Gang and the few esteemed families behind it had departed in batches early on, so their losses weren't too severe. It was just a pity that their foundation, built over centuries in Songyi City, was gone for good.

After arriving in Bafang City, they had no choice but to seek shelter under the Golden Wing Sect and slowly rebuild amid fierce competition.

"That's good to hear. By the way, any news of the Xing Family? I remember hearing they were in league with the Nine Nether Sect," said Lin Zheyu with interest.

"The entire Xing Family defected. It was their betrayal that shattered Songyi City's grand formation from within, allowing the rebel army to take the city so easily. However, I heard the Xing Family suffered heavily this time. Their most powerful elder died, their family elder died, and many of their kin perished," said Chen Xihong with a sigh.

The greater the ambition, the heavier the price. The Xing Family's ambition had been far too great, and colluding with the rebel army was nothing short of courting death. The struggle between the nation and the rebel army was no affair for a minor family like theirs to meddle in.

"It wasn't just the Xing Family, Brother Lin. You probably don't know, but even the Zhao Family of the Nine Stars Gang got involved," said Ren Qingfeng.

"But they were crafty and evacuated most of their people ahead of time, so their losses weren't too bad," he added with a chuckle.

The group laughed and chatted together.

Xu Qinyi and the others shared their experiences training hard under the Golden Wing Sect. In half a month, the inner sect examination would take place. Only by passing the test could they formally enter the inner sect and become inner disciples.

"Brother Lin, what are you looking at?"

Seeing Lin Zheyu lost in thought, Xu Qinyi curiously followed his gaze. Aside from a few other guests gathered much like them, there was nothing unusual to see.

"Nothing, nothing. I was just thinking about something. Your lives sound exciting. I think in about a month, I'll be leaving Bafang City myself. I'll be heading to the Central Plains to try my luck," Lin Zheyu came back to his senses and said with a smile.

Casually, Lin Zheyu used the corner of his eye to observe the three new guests who had just arrived in the distance. They were three men dressed in crimson Daoist robes. Two of them concealed their auras well, yet Lin Zheyu could easily discern their strength. One was at the first transformation, and the other two were at the third transformation.

Could they be here for Master Liang Song? Lin Zheyu wondered to himself.

"Allow me to offer a toast, Young Master Lin. May you rise to prominence in the Central Plains and become a great leader in your own right!" Xu Yuxiang had mustered her courage to speak, her face slightly flushed.

"Miss Yuxiang flatters me. I'm merely getting by, so how could I dare dream of becoming any sort of overlord?" said Lin Zheyu with a laugh.

He raised his cup, clinked it gently against Xu Yuxiang's, and drained it in one go.

"There's no need for such modesty, Brother Lin. With your aptitude, achieving the Force Transformation Realm in the future should be no problem at all. If we ever can't make it here in Bafang City, we might just head to the Central Plains ourselves, and when that time comes, we'll have to cling to your coattails," Xu Qinyi teased with a grin.

"Fair enough. I'll go ahead and scout the road for you first." Lin Zheyu laughed heartily.

The group stayed together late into the night. Though Lin Zheyu chatted freely with Xu Qinyi and the others, most of his attention remained fixed on the three blood qi cultivators from Forest Net Temple.