Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 223: Auction (I)

Morning sunlight spilled down, bringing a trace of heat. Spring had passed, and midsummer had arrived. The summer of Wuling City was not as scorching as that of Songyi City, carrying a faint coolness in the air.

Lin Zheyu strolled along Nanming Street, where peddlers and laborers lined both sides, pushing carts and hawking goods. The loud cries of vendors filled the street, imbuing the bustling city with a lively and noisy atmosphere. This was one of the most prosperous streets in all of Wuling City.

Lin Zheyu rented a small courtyard for 1500 taels of silver near Nanming Street and settled there. After over a month of gathering information, he gained a deeper understanding of Wuling City's situation. When Xu Shixin had introduced the customs of the Central Plains, it had been a mere overview, enough only for a general sense of the region's landscape. To truly understand the factions around a specific city or area, one had to inquire from the locals.

"This way, Sir. Please come in." Upon arriving at Martial Honor Restaurant, the attendant standing at the entrance greeted Lin Zheyu enthusiastically. Martial Honor Restaurant was a well-known restaurant in Wuling City. Rumor had it that the owner behind the establishment was a Grandmaster Realm expert.

The restaurant often hosted sparring matches between martial artists, attracting a large gathering of them daily. Since arriving in Wuling City over a month ago, Lin Zheyu would come to Martial Honor Restaurant almost every day, ordering a bottle of wine and a few side dishes while listening for news. In a place frequented by martial artists, it was easy to hear plenty of useful information related to martial cultivation.

"Brother Lin, you're here too. Come, sit over here," a man called out with a smile as soon as Lin Zheyu entered the restaurant.

His appearance had returned to normal; he was no longer concealing himself with the Tortoise Breath Grand Method. A short beard covered Lin Zheyu's youthful face, making him appear far more mature. This was his third year in this world, and the body he inhabited was now eighteen years old.

At this age, men were still growing, and martial training only accelerated that growth. Lin Zheyu now stood at 187 centimeters. In just under three years, he had gone from a frail scholar who had newly crossed over into this world to a burly man of immense strength. After cultivating the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual, his physique had grown even more robust. If Jia Yanyong and the others saw him again, they probably would not recognize him.

"Brother Wang, I haven't seen you for several days. How have you been? Have you joined any faction yet?" Lin Zheyu asked with a smile as he sat opposite the man.

The man's name was Wang Jing, from Xishan City in the northern lands. He appeared to be around forty, though he claimed to be only thirty. Apparently, his looks simply made him seem older. Lin Zheyu, on the other hand, was truly eighteen but told others he was twenty-seven, as his youthful face often gave him away.

"Ah, if only it were that easy. I wouldn't even dare dream of joining the War God Sect; it's one of the top ten sects in the entire Guanghua Region. They're extremely strict in choosing disciples. For people like us, outsiders and a bit older, they won't even consider it. But those other sects are blind fools, too.

"Three days ago, I took the entry examination for the Yang Returning Sect. I passed every test, but they only made me an outer disciple. Damn it, that old examiner said I was too old and that my potential was used up. Nonsense! I only look a bit aged, that's all! I'm thirty years old, damn it. Even in the Central Plains, that'd still make me a young genius! Blind fools, all of them! And what's worse, age isn't hard to verify. It's not like I'm some nobody without records. I've got family roots in the north!" Wang Jing cursed bitterly, venting his frustration.

He had taken several sect entry examinations, but none allowed him into the inner sect; he could only become an outer disciple. Yet being an outer disciple was nearly useless; without qualification to inherit the sect's powerful techniques, one had to buy everything, from techniques to resources, with contribution points or silver. Lin Zheyu glanced at Wang Jing's prematurely aged face and silently took a sip of tea. To say he looked forty was probably flattering him.

"Brother Lin, you're lucky as you've got that baby face. Shave your beard, and no one would doubt you were under twenty," Wang Jing said enviously. If he had such a youthful appearance, he thought, he would have long been accepted by his ideal sect.

"Can't those sects determine a martial artist's age?" Lin Zheyu asked. Having started late on the martial path, there were still many things he didn't understand. From the stories and novels he had read, age was something masters could tell just by touching one's wrist; it always sounded quite mystical.

"You think this is like those storyteller tales? Ordinary folks who've never trained can have their age guessed accurately through bone-touching and facial observation. But once you start training in martial arts, your bones and features change depending on the techniques you cultivate and the realm you are in. For us, Blood Qi Realm martial artists, it's almost impossible to tell our true age that way." He shook his head in frustration. That was exactly why he was so angry. He was clearly only thirty, just unfortunate to look older, yet they insisted he was in his forties.

"I see." Lin Zheyu nodded in realization.

He had added a few years to his age and had been worried that the entry examination might expose him. Now, hearing this, he felt much more at ease.

The examinations were strict, and if one used cultivation techniques to alter their appearance, it could be detected upon close inspection.

Since Lin Zheyu could not disguise himself with another appearance, he could only join a sect using his real face. That, however, brought its own trouble. Even if he were accepted as an inner disciple, he would not be able to access all of the sect's techniques at once. Only by advancing to the next martial realm could he receive the corresponding manuals. This system allowed the sect to gradually observe a disciple's character and loyalty, preventing the premature spread of its secret arts.

By background, Lin Zheyu was only a martial artist who had trained for less than three years, albeit one of exceptional talent. But even a genius could not easily explain how he had advanced to the fourth transformation of blood qi in such a short time and forged such a powerful body. That meant if he used his true identity, he could only reveal the strength at the blood qi gauze stage and would have to wait several years before his real power naturally caught up. That was far too wasteful.

So, Lin Zheyu decided to use his real face but fabricate a new identity, claiming to be from a northern village destroyed by yaos and demons. Wuling City was far from Bafang City. He had traveled from winter through spring, only arriving in summer, and he believed none of his old acquaintances would ever come here. He wasn't worried about being recognized, only that his supposed background could no longer be verified.

"Brother Wang, if my background can't be verified, will that affect my chances of joining a sect?" Lin Zheyu asked uneasily. Sometimes, growing too strong too fast brought its own kind of trouble. It was a fortunate kind of trouble, but trouble nonetheless.

"Don't worry. As long as you don't have any criminal record with the authorities, it's usually fine. With that baby face of yours, shave your beard and say you're twenty; they'll believe it. A twenty-year-old at the fourth transformation of blood qi? Any sect would treat you like a treasure," Wang Jing said with a touch of envy. Who would've thought even martial artists needed good looks to get ahead?

Hearing his words, Lin Zheyu felt a bit relieved and replied with a smile, "If only I really were twenty. Unfortunately, I'm already twenty-seven. Don't worry. With your aptitude, some sect will surely recognize your worth."

"I know, but it still pisses me off," Wang Jing muttered, downing his cup of wine in frustration.

His background, unfortunately, was easy to verify. If any sect cared to check, they only had to send someone to his birthplace. But to those sects, a thirty-year-old martial artist at the fourth transformation of blood qi was merely average. At best, he might one day reach the fifth transformation and attempt the Marrow Refining Realm, but even that chance was slim.

Older recruits like him rarely developed true loyalty to a sect, and without outstanding talent, there was little reason for them to be accepted. Using his looks as an excuse was just a convenient pretext. Wang Jing knew this well, which made his frustration all the deeper.

Sigh, I suppose I'll just have to settle for a lesser sect, Wang Jing thought gloomily. To think that he, once the most talented of his generation in the Wang Family, would be dismissed by so many sects after arriving in the Central Plains.

"Brother Wang, on the first of next month, five days from now, the Blazing Yang Sect will hold its initiation exam. Are you interested in joining?" Lin Zheyu asked.

The Blazing Yang Sect was one of the well-known sects near Wuling City. It was said to have three Grandmaster Realm martial artists and ranked among the city's second-tier powers. With a history spanning several centuries, it had already existed even before the founding of Great Wei.

"Not going. I already tried two months ago, and they turned me down," Wang Jing said flatly, his mood sinking further.

"Ah..." Lin Zheyu winced awkwardly.

Realizing he had unintentionally touched a sore spot, Lin Zheyu felt embarrassed and raised his cup in apology.