Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 311: Evernight Slumber (I)

The Library Pavilion was called Heavenly Blessing Pavilion and was located in the central area, where the guards were extremely strict. Along the way, because his face was unfamiliar, Lin Zheyu was subjected to stage-by-stage scrutiny. Fortunately, Liu Gang, who followed at his side, was well versed in the procedures and presented Elder Yang's token, the token from the beautiful woman at the registration desk, as well as his own new identity token, allowing them to pass smoothly.

Along the way, Liu Gang kept sizing up this young man who looked even younger than himself, his heart filled with envy and awe. From a young age, he had passed the selection process and become an outer sect disciple of the Azure Tide Pavilion within the Wuji Sect. Unfortunately, he later failed to display sufficiently strong latent potential and natural talent for martial cultivation, resulting in his failure to advance to an inner sect disciple, let alone a true disciple.

So this master is actually a disciple personally reserved by Sect Master Huang. To be exceptionally admitted and enter the Wuji Sect as a true disciple, his natural talent must be astonishing.

Liu Gang felt intense envy in his heart.

Previously, he had thought that Lin Zheyu was merely an ordinary inner sect disciple. Unexpectedly, at the registration desk, he heard astonishing news. He actually addressed Master Wu Xuan as martial aunt and was a true disciple reserved by Sect Master Huang. Inner sect disciples and true disciples received entirely different treatment. True disciples were the true core of the sect. Every true disciple, if they did not perish prematurely, would without exception grow into a terrifyingly powerful expert.

The two continued forward and arrived in front of Tianlu Pavilion.

"Stop. Please present your identity token."

Outside Tianlu Pavilion, a guarding Wuji Sect disciple stopped the two. He sized up Lin Zheyu, and a trace of suspicion appeared on his face. Immediately afterward, realization dawned on him as he said, "I have seen you before. You are the one who entered the sect together with Elder Yang that day!"

"Indeed. This is my identity token," Lin Zheyu replied with a nod.

He handed over his identity token, the beautiful woman's token, and Elder Yang's token together. Having just entered the sect and not yet being recognized by the disciples within made things rather troublesome, requiring the presentation of multiple tokens to enter certain important locations.

"So it is Junior Brother Lin. Mm, you may enter," the man said after checking the tokens.

Upon hearing this, Liu Gang could not help but grumble inwardly, What junior brother. This lord is not an ordinary inner sect disciple at all. His seniority is frighteningly high. He is your martial uncle!

However, he only dared to think this in his heart.

"My Lord, I cannot accompany you into Tianlu Pavilion. I will wait for you outside," Liu Gang said respectfully.

"No need. Go attend to your own matters." Lin Zheyu waved his hand, signaling Liu Gang to leave first. After finishing his sentence, he turned and entered Tianlu Pavilion. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Isn't this person a junior brother who just entered the inner sect? Why do you address him as 'My Lord'?" the man guarding Tianlu Pavilion asked in confusion.

He and Liu Gang had entered the Wuji Sect three years apart. Back then, Liu Gang had been his senior brother. Later, he displayed strong willpower and notable natural talent, successfully advancing to become an inner sect disciple and overtaking him. Now, Liu Gang had to address him as senior brother upon seeing him. In a few more years, once his position was promoted and he shed the status of an ordinary inner sect disciple, Liu Gang would even have to address him as "My Lord."

"Senior Brother, this lord is not an ordinary inner sect disciple. Just now at the identity registration desk, he addressed Master Wu Xuan as 'Martial Aunt'," said Liu Gang.

"Martial aunt! Ah?" the man exclaimed in shock.

***

Tianlu Pavilion had a total of four floors. The techniques on the first floor could be freely browsed by any inner sect disciple. The techniques on the second floor required inner sect disciples to exchange contribution points to obtain them. Only true disciples were qualified to ascend to the third floor. As for the fourth floor, it was said that only sect elders and the sect master could enter.

Lin Zheyu was currently only an ordinary inner sect disciple and could therefore only search for techniques on the first floor. Tianlu Pavilion possessed an extremely rich collection of books, with space roughly twice that of the Li Family's Library Pavilion. Inside, all kinds of techniques could be found. The first floor was arranged as a circular hall, with all the bookshelves made into rings, concentric circles layered one after another, each ring densely packed with volumes. All the books were made from slightly yellowed paper, and due to frequent browsing, some looked exceedingly worn.

Just as Lin Zheyu was about to go over to look for techniques, he was stopped by a Wuji Sect disciple on duty inside. Before browsing techniques, one had to wash their hands to prevent sweat stains from damaging the technique manuals.

Lin Zheyu nodded. He went to a corner, rinsed with the prepared clean water, wiped his hands with a dry towel, and then gently pressed them into a basin of powder resembling white limestone, absorbing all remaining moisture. Only after completing these preparations did he walk over to search for technique manuals.

Quite a few people were reading inside, all wearing inner court disciple attire. Most were men, with women accounting for only about thirty percent. Lin Zheyu observed the arrangement pattern of the technique manuals and came to the bookshelf he wished to examine. He was currently only in the Blood Qi realm and not at the peak of the Marrow Refining realm, as Elder Yang believed. At present, the techniques he most needed were higher efficiency blood qi condensing techniques and powerful concealment techniques.

Upon arriving at the concealment technique bookshelf, a single glance revealed many familiar technique names. Almost all of them were techniques he had seen in the marketplace during martial cultivation exchange gatherings.

"No wonder these are free for inner sect disciples. Truly powerful techniques probably only exist on the second floor of Tianlu Pavilion."

Lin Zheyu flipped through all the concealment techniques and felt somewhat disappointed. He changed locations and came to the primary cultivation technique bookshelf. After browsing all the techniques there, he felt even more disappointed. The techniques on the first floor of Tianlu Pavilion were all ordinary techniques that could be purchased in the outer sect with some silver. Truly powerful techniques likely required going up to the second floor. These ordinary techniques were made freely available to inner sect disciples mainly to broaden their martial cultivation knowledge, expand their horizons, and allow them to draw analogies.

This was the advantage of being a disciple of a top-tier sect. Techniques that required considerable silver to purchase in the outside world were directly opened for free here. If it had been when he had first arrived in Wuling City, Lin Zheyu would have regarded such techniques as priceless treasures. Unfortunately, he was no longer who he once was, and to the current Lin Zheyu, these ordinary techniques held little cultivation value.

In the Blood Qi realm path, Lin Zheyu had cultivated to a staggering stage, with his blood qi undergoing twelve qualitative changes, far surpassing the Dragon Transformation. Ordinary blood qi condensing techniques and concealment techniques were of little use to him now. If not for the unconventional technique known as the Ninefold Origin Lock Art, his efficiency in condensing blood qi would have been far, far inferior.

Relying solely on the Tortoise Breath True Technique was also insufficient to perfectly conceal the powerful blood qi that had undergone twelve qualitative changes. Among the techniques on the first floor, there were a few similar to the Ninefold Origin Lock Art, with effects not too different. However, they were not worth cultivating.

I will see if I can find a suitable technique on the incomplete technique bookshelf. If not, I can only go with Huang Youwei to that black market and try my luck.

While wandering earlier, he had discovered the bookshelf that stored incomplete technique manuals. These technique manuals were incomplete and could not be cultivated. Some lacked the necessary auxiliary medicine formulas. Some were missing the mental method. Others were placed on the incomplete technique bookshelf due to severe side effects. Although these techniques had various problems, the martial cultivation knowledge contained within them was extremely valuable and held high reference value. Thus, they were also placed on the first floor for sect disciples to browse freely.

***

In front of the incomplete technique bookshelf, a tall-looking woman stood quietly flipping through a technique manual. She appeared extremely gentle, carrying a trace of elegance and the bearing of a well-bred young lady. Upon seeing Lin Zheyu approach, she lifted her head to glance at him once, then lowered it again as if nothing had happened, continuing to read the technique in her hands.

At first, Lin Zheyu intended to greet her, but he gave up the idea seeing that she had no intention of acknowledging him. The incomplete technique bookshelf was likewise carefully categorized. There were body refining techniques, dispersal techniques, poison path techniques, saber techniques, sword techniques, and many other kinds of techniques.

Lin Zheyu went directly to the area related to concealment techniques. There were very few techniques on the shelf, with extremely few incomplete concealment techniques, totaling only four volumes. There was the Hidden Night Secret Art, Heavenly Ascension Secret Record...

Lin Zheyu flipped through them and found that the conceptual designs behind the techniques were all quite good, with some ideas being downright imaginative. Unfortunately, the techniques were severely incomplete. Some lacked the cultivation methods for key components and only retained rough concepts, while others required certain treasure herbs that had already gone extinct.

Although Lin Zheyu possessed the assistance of Origin Force, he could not conjure something out of nothing. Faced with techniques that required extinct treasure herbs as support, he was likewise powerless.

"The concept behind the Hidden Night Secret Art is not bad. If it were complete, it might truly be effective. Unfortunately, the technique is far too incomplete," Lin Zheyu muttered as he helplessly placed the technique manual back in its original spot.

Since concealment techniques would not work, he decided to look at other techniques instead. There were some life-extending techniques and special techniques similar to the Ninefold Origin Lock Art that might bring a pleasant surprise.

Time slowly passed. Lin Zheyu resumed his search along the bookshelves. This time, he expanded his scope and specifically looked for more unusual and peculiar techniques. After more than an hour, Lin Zheyu discovered an interesting technique.

"Eh? The Feigned Death Art, huh. This seems rather interesting." A look of curiosity appeared on Lin Zheyu's face.

The full name of the technique was Evernight Slumber Secret Art. It was a miraculous technique that allowed a martial artist to fall into slumber like a ferocious beast, reducing bodily metabolic consumption to the lowest level. It bore similarities to the Ninefold Origin Lock Art. He took out the technique and began to read through it.

"Animals hibernate, ferocious beasts feign death, and some exotic beasts can slumber for hundreds of years, yet humans who call themselves the spirit of all living things are naturally without such abilities."

"...The marvel of martial cultivation lies precisely in the fact that through different cultivation methods, it can grant martial artists all manner of powerful abilities."