Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 217: Ink Fox (I)

Inside the inn, cold moonlight poured through the window.

Lin Zheyu sat cross-legged on the bed, his face flushed red. According to the cultivation method of the Forbidden Reversal Method, the first circulation brought an intense sense of discomfort.

Huff.

After a long while, Lin Zheyu exhaled deeply, suppressing the surging blood within his body.

"It seems that younger Lai brother's natural talent wasn't bad. This forbidden method is complicated to cultivate and requires an exceptionally strong command over the power of blood qi. Even the slightest mistake during circulation would lead to complete ruin," Lin Zheyu muttered to himself.

He looked at the data in his consciousness. After more than two hours of cultivation, his progress had already reached 89% of Initiation. It was all thanks to his mastery of the Boiling Blood Secret Art.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu] 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

[Origin Force: 42]

[Skills: Raging Wind Slash (Perfection), Boiling Blood Secret Art (Perfection), Forbidden Reversal Method (Initiation: 89%), Spirit-Wondrous Movement Technique (Third Stage: 23%), Golden Goose Technique (Tenth Stage: 100%), Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual (Third Stage: 100%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 100%)]

It looks a little messy. Let's hide the unnecessary ones, Lin Zheyu thought as he examined the data in his mind.

As he cultivated more techniques, the list kept growing longer.

A single thought passed through his mind, and the data blurred for an instant before reappearing clearly.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 42]

[Skills: Boiling Blood Secret Art (Perfection), Forbidden Reversal Method (Initiation: 89%), Spirit-Wondrous Movement Technique (Third Stage: 23%), Golden Goose Technique (Tenth Stage: 100%)]

"This looks much better," Lin Zheyu said with satisfaction as he gazed at the new data list.

The Spirit-Wondrous Movement Technique had been acquired only a few days ago, and after some practice, he had already raised it to the third stage. The technique had five stages in total, each progressively harder, and the further he advanced, the less overlap there was with the improved Golden Goose Technique.

Lin Zheyu did not rush to use Origin Force to enhance it but instead focused on merging the two techniques. As for the Boiling Blood Secret Art and Forbidden Reversal Method, he wanted to strengthen them using Origin Force, but he worried that doing so might lead to severe mental exhaustion and weakness.

The Forbidden Reversal Method has given me many new ideas. If I can apply some of its concepts to the Boiling Blood Secret Art, perhaps it could serve as a way to halt the effects of the latter.

He did not rush to cultivate the Forbidden- Reversal Method again. Compared to the Boiling Blood Secret Art, it was far more violent, and recklessness during cultivation could easily result in injury. Instead, Lin Zheyu began experimenting, exploring the possibility of applying some of the Forbidden Reversal Method's techniques to the Boiling Blood Secret Art.

***

While Lin Zheyu was engrossed in cultivation, Lai Mao sat anxiously in his own room, filled with unease. Normally, a poison used to control someone would act up at regular intervals. Based on what Lin Zheyu said, unless something went wrong, the poison should activate today.

"It's coming!"

Lai Mao, who had been lying sleepless on the bed, suddenly paled and sat up abruptly. His chest convulsed violently, the heart seizing as if gripped by an invisible formation. Clutching his chest, Lai Mao gasped for breath. The poison's effect was brutally strong. What began as a mild pain escalated within a few breaths.

Enduring the agony, he staggered to his feet, pushed his door open, and stumbled to Lin Zheyu's room.

Knock, knock, knock.

Lai Mao pounded on the door with all his strength, unable to bear the pain wrenching his heart. It was not only heartache now; his entire body felt as if countless insects were crawling beneath his skin, the itch unbearable.

"S-senior Zhao, open the door!" Lai Mao shouted, his voice strained with urgency.

After about two minutes, the door finally opened.

"Oh? It finally activated?" A faint look of delight crossed Lin Zheyu's face.

Lai Mao's pallid complexion proved that even for a fourth transformation martial artist, the Corpse Insect Pill was remarkably effective. Lin Zheyu stepped aside and gestured for him to come in.

"What does it feel like now?" Lin Zheyu asked with curiosity.

"My heart feels like it's been stabbed by needles, and my muscles aren't any better. My whole body feels like it's being gnawed on by tens of thousands of worms. It's itching and agony mixed together," Lai Mao replied. His face remained pale, and cold sweat trickled down his cheeks. His body trembled uncontrollably, a clear sign that he was enduring immense suffering.

"Sit cross-legged and try using your blood qi to resist it," Lin Zheyu instructed. He wanted to see whether the power of a fourth transformation martial artist could alleviate the Corpse Insect Pill's torment.

"Alright!" Lai Mao nodded quickly and sat cross-legged.

He could have done this earlier, but he had come immediately to seek Lin Zheyu's favor, hoping that he would finally be forgiven.

Under Lai Mao's control, the power of blood qi surged quickly throughout his body. Each time the vast force flowed into his heart along with his blood, the pain eased considerably.

There's some effect, but let's see if he can endure to the end, Lin Zheyu thought, watching Lai Mao's every reaction.

As Lai Mao circulated his blood qi, the pain on his face lessened somewhat, though not completely. His complexion was still pale, but the trembling had ceased.

Time passed slowly.

An hour later, purplish veins began spreading across Lai Mao's body, tracing the paths of his blood vessels. His jaw was clenched tight, and his blood qi was being rapidly consumed.

It can only relieve the pain. It looks like, even without an antidote, he'd be able to endure it. He's only at the fourth transformation, too. If he undergoes a few more qualitative changes, his blood qi will become purer, and the Corpse Insect Pill will lose much of its effect.

Although Lai Mao was in pain, he could still bear it; it hadn't reached the point of unbearable agony.

Another two hours passed. His face was bloodless, his lips pale, and his aura rapidly weakened. By then, the Corpse Insect Pill's active period was nearly over.

Another hour passed. Lai Mao opened his eyes as the waves of pain and itching across his body finally receded. He let out a long sigh of relief. The moment his mind relaxed, his strength gave out, and he collapsed weakly to the ground, eyes hollow. It was clear just how terrifying the pain he had endured was.

"You've suffered enough. Drink some water and rest," Lin Zheyu said as he helped Lai Mao up and handed him a water pouch filled with medicinal broth.

After Lai Mao had caught his breath, Lin Zheyu continued, "How did it feel just now? Were you able to suppress it?"

Gulp, gulp.

Lai Mao took several more sips of the medicinal soup, exhaled deeply, and some color returned to his face.

"I could hold on, but it was extremely painful. And I think it damaged my body quite a bit; it'll take a few days to recover. If it flares up every seven days, it'll wear me down sooner or later. One day, I won't be able to take it anymore," Lai Mao said with a shake of his head. The experience he had just endured was worse than death itself.

"What kind of poison is this?" Lai Mao couldn't help asking.

"The Corpse Insect Pill," Lin Zheyu replied. "Seems it works quite well on a fourth transformation martial artist. If your strength improves and your blood qi undergoes another qualitative change, do you think you could suppress its poison outbreak?"

Lai Mao's firsthand experience as a test subject was a valuable reference. Since the Corpse Insect Pill worked this well, Lin Zheyu could refine more in the future to control subordinates and make them work for him.

"I'd say I have only 30% confidence," Lai Mao admitted, shaking his head. "After the fourth transformation of blood qi, every qualitative change brings a far greater increase in strength than before. That's why those who undergo five or more transformations before reaching the Marrow Refining Realm are called geniuses. Such geniuses are so powerful that they can even challenge and kill Marrow Refining experts while still at the Blood Qi Realm. Their strength is terrifying.

"But I've never met a genius of that level myself, so I can't say exactly how strong they are. That's why I only have 30% confidence. Still, I feel that once someone reaches the sixth transformation, this poison probably won't affect them anymore," Lai Mao said after some thought.

"Good work. Go back and rest. Come find me again in seven days, and I'll give you the antidote," Lin Zheyu said, patting Lai Mao's shoulder.

From Lai Mao's reaction, it was clear that the Corpse Insect Pill remained effective against fourth transformation martial artists. Beyond the fifth transformation, however, it would likely lose potency. Those who could reach the fifth transformation without yet breaking into the Marrow Refining Realm were usually geniuses backed by powerful forces, and Lin Zheyu had no intention of using the Corpse Insect Pill to control such people. Hearing his words, Lai Mao felt a flicker of joy in his heart.

"Thank you, Senior," he said respectfully, rising to his feet.

After sending Lai Mao away, Lin Zheyu quickly took out the Toxicology Codex and turned to the page on the Corpse Insect Pill.

"Azure Ghostgrass, White Ginseng Root, Ground Pepper... These herbs aren't easy to find. I wonder if they can be bought in Ruyang City," he muttered.

The reason he told Lai Mao to return in seven days was that the antidote wasn't finished yet. He had only half of a completed pill, missing several essential herbs. These ingredients were rare; even back in Bafang City, he hadn't been able to find them. Without access to official supply routes, he could only search the black market and hope for luck. If he couldn't get them, then so be it; Lai Mao's bad fortune would simply be his fate.

***

The next morning.

After receiving Lin Zheyu's assurance, Lai Mao had slept soundly through the night. When he woke up in the morning, he was in good spirits.

Sigh... Maybe I should go out for a walk. I've been in the Central Plains for so long and haven't really explored it properly.

He planned to pay his respects to Lai Chang first. Although Lai Chang's trouble had dragged him into disaster and nearly cost him his life, that foolish boy was still his younger brother after all.

"I never should have brought you to the Central Plains. With your temperament, even if Zhao Hao hadn't killed you, trouble would have found you sooner or later. It's not that I don't want to avenge you, it's just that an enemy of that level is far beyond what your brother can handle," Lai Mao murmured softly.

Life was full of helplessness and uncertainty. Back when they left Bafang City for the Central Plains, their hearts had been filled with hope and ambition, dreaming of finding the opportunity to reach the Marrow Refining Realm and making a name for themselves. Yet before they even entered Ruyang City, reality had struck them hard.

Lai Chang was killed outright, and as for whether Lai Mao himself would live, that still remained uncertain.