Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 275: Dragon Transformation (I)

Well, whatever. It's still a decent body-refining technique. It uses the acupoints throughout the body as a furnace, nourishment, such as food, as fuel, the blood qi running through the body as fire, and flesh as iron, burning and forging a powerful physique comparable to cold weapons. What a wildly imaginative idea. Martial cultivation truly is profound and vast. There are all kinds of miraculous techniques. But it was still bought too expensively.

Lin Zheyu flipped through the technique. Thinking of how readily the stall owner had agreed just now left him feeling somewhat displeased.

His money did not come from thin air. Losing several thousand taels of silver just like that made Lin Zheyu feel some pain in his heart. This technique was indeed powerful, but its side effects were also obvious. The cultivation process was extremely violent, far beyond what ordinary people could endure.

With this technique, when blood qi circulated through the acupoints across the body, it could receive a temporary amplification, granting it the powerful effects normally only seen after six, seven, or even eight transformations. Its principle was not like the Boiling Blood Secret Art or the Forbidden Reversal Method, which refined blood qi and made it purer and stronger. Instead, it leaned more toward a blood qi burst technique, allowing one to erupt with greater and more powerful energy in an instant.

After confirming that there were no issues with the technique, Lin Zheyu tucked the manual into his robes and continued wandering through the market. He still needed to find a true technique related to concealing his aura. Otherwise, if one day the qualitative changes of his blood qi exceeded nine and were discovered by other powerful figures, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Hm? Is that not Xu Shixin? He actually came here as well?

Not far from him stood a refined man with delicate features and a scholarly air. He was precisely Xu Shixin, whom Lin Zheyu had encountered back when he left Bafang City and traveled toward the Central Plains.

Lin Zheyu had never expected to encounter him here. Back when they traveled toward the Central Plains, he had already felt that Xu Shixin was somewhat extraordinary. Although Xu Shixin claimed publicly to be at the Organ Forging realm, he had sensed an inexplicable aura from him.

Now, after more than half a year apart, Lin Zheyu was astonished after perceiving the dense blood qi power within Xu Shixin. That blood qi was extremely well concealed. If he had not relearned the Tortoise Breath Grand Method and further enhanced his perception, he truly would not have detected it.

He's at least at the fourth transformation. According to what he said, Xu Shixin abandoned scholarship for martial cultivation less than five years ago. To reach such a level in just five years is truly unbelievable. What kind of background does this guy have to hide so deeply?

Not only that, but there is also a strange aura about him that I cannot see through.

As Lin Zheyu observed Xu Shixin, Xu Shixin seemed to notice his gaze as well. He turned his head, glanced at Lin Zheyu, and revealed a refined smile. After a brief look, seeing that he was not someone he recognized, Xu Shixin turned away and continued strolling. Lin Zheyu had already changed his appearance and no longer looked like Zhao Hao, so Xu Shixin did not recognize him.

What a keen perception.

Lin Zheyu was slightly startled inwardly.

He had only observed Xu Shixin from afar, without revealing any hostile intent or emitting any aura. Yet Xu Shixin had still managed to sense him.

"There are far too many things in this world that I do not understand," murmured Lin Zheyu, shaking his head.

He looked at Xu Shixin from afar and had no intention of going up to greet him. After resuming his Zhao Hao identity, if they had a chance to meet again, he might secretly probe Xu Shixin's true depth.

***

Time passed slowly. He wandered through more than half of the market, yet still failed to find the technique he wanted.

There are still far too few concealment true techniques. Normal techniques are far too weak and have little effect. If only I could find a concealment true technique with flaws that was cheap yet effective... Lin Zheyu thought to himself as he continued searching through the market.

As Lin Zheyu approached a stall, the man selling techniques greeted him warmly. "Friend, are you buying techniques? These are all rare and hard-to-find techniques."

"Do you have any concealment techniques? Preferably something strong enough that would help me hide from Grandmaster realm experts," Lin Zheyu stopped and asked.

He had almost searched the entire market and still had not found anything suitable. If this still did not work, he could only try his luck later at the Li Family's private auction. Items auctioned there were of higher value, and good things appeared frequently.

"A concealment technique that can help one hide from Grandmaster realm martial artists is quite difficult. Hmm, let me think... Right. There is a secret art. It is not meant for concealment, but it has an extremely strong concealment effect. Found it. This is the one." After hearing Lin Zheyu's request, the stall owner searched through his manuals for a while and took out a technique.

He cast a meaningful glance at Lin Zheyu and formed a few guesses about this man seeking a concealment technique. In his view, any martial artist who went to such lengths to obtain a technique capable of letting them hide from Grandmaster realm experts was likely planning something unspeakable. However, such schemes had nothing to do with him. He only needed to sell his merchandise. Coincidentally, he truly had one that fit the situation.

"This is the Ninefold Origin Lock Art. It is used to lock a martial artist's life origin qi, essence, and qi, preserving their peak state. With each additional turn, it locks away more life origin qi, essence, and qi. Upon reaching the ninth turn, it seals all powerful life essence and qi within the body.

"After the ninefold seal is completed, the sealed life origin qi, essence, and qi can no longer be used. This secret art has a concealment effect far beyond that of ordinary concealment techniques. Once the ninefold seal is complete, even grandmaster martial artists cannot sense the powerful life origin qi, essence, and qi that have been sealed."

"However, it also has severe side effects. It cannot be used many times in one's lifetime. Each time the Ninefold Origin Lock Art is used to seal peak life origin qi, essence, qi, and blood, it causes tremendous damage to the foundation. Usually, martial artists only resort to this secret art when they sense their life beginning to decline, and their family has no successors," the man explained in detail.

As Lin Zheyu listened and compared it with the manual description, his eyes grew brighter. This secret art was not a true technique and could not cultivate true intent like the Tortoise Breath True Technique. However, its effect was astonishing. If it truly could lock peak life origin qi, essence, qi, and blood as described, he would no longer need to worry about being discovered after his blood qi broke through to the Dragon Transformation.

As for the side effects, Lin Zheyu was not overly concerned. With Origin Force at his disposal, even damage to his foundation could be repaired. As long as there was sufficient energy, he would return to peak condition after entering and leaving the consciousness space.

"It effectively grants an aura-concealing effect, but the side effects are indeed too severe. Each time life origin qi, essence, qi, and blood are sealed and then released, the strain on the body will be immense and damage the foundation. Forget it. I will buy it as a backup option," Lin Zheyu murmured softly, deliberately putting on a disappointed expression.

He looked at the stall owner and asked casually, "What is the price of this technique?"

"Friend, you have a good eye. This technique can preserve peak combat strength as a martial artist weakens with age. This kind of secret art is extremely valuable. I will give you a favorable price, however. 50,000 taels of silver," the stall owner said enthusiastically with a broad smile.

"Too expensive. It only preserves strength for a single battle, and after that, the person will almost be crippled. 10,000 taels of silver. If you are willing, I will buy it. If not, forget it. I might find a more suitable concealment technique elsewhere," Lin Zheyu said as he shook his head.

"Friend, that is cutting the price far too harshly. This kind of rare secret art is not easy to come by. If you miss this opportunity, it will be very hard to buy again. Even if you do not cultivate it, it still has high reference value," the stall owner said with difficulty while watching Lin Zheyu's expression.

Seeing that Lin Zheyu remained unmoved and seemed ready to leave in disappointment, he gritted his teeth and said, "20,000. Not a single tael less. Any lower would break the rules."

"Alright." Seeing that the other party truly seemed unwilling to go lower, Lin Zheyu nodded in agreement.

20,000 taels of silver was far less than his original budget. After paying the silver and confirming the manual was correct, he turned and left. Acquiring the Ninefold Origin Lock Art was truly an unexpected delight. Not only was its effect stronger than concealment true techniques, but it was also extremely cheap. Buying two techniques for just over 20,000 taels was beyond his expectations. He had originally worried that his silver would not be enough, yet more than 40,000 taels remained.

The sky is getting dark, so I should head back first. This martial cultivation exchange conference lasts a full fifteen days. There is no need to rush. I can come to the market every day in my spare time and see if I can find more interesting technique manuals.