CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: TURTLE BREATH SKILL

After the battle ended, Lin Zheyu chatted with Mr. Han for a while before leaving.

Mr. Han’s position in the Songyi City garrison is that of a Centurion, commanding a hundred elite soldiers.

The city’s garrison consists of only over a thousand people, so for Han Mo to be a Centurion is considered quite impressive.

Through Han Mo, Lin Zheyu gained a deeper understanding of the military.

Martial Artists have little advantage when facing the military.

With a hundred elite soldiers and the aid of military formations, even Qi Blood Realm Martial Artists can be easily slaughtered, and Bone Marrow Cultivators dare to battle them.

Of course, this is when Martial Artists engage head-on with them.

If a Qi Blood Realm Martial Artist fled with all their might, Han Mo could not catch up.

...

After joining the Feihong Gang, Lin Zheyu’s life returned to its usual calm.

Every morning he goes to Mr. Liang to practice the Golden Swan Skill, writes two stories whenever he has free time, and spars with Mr. Han in the evening.

Mr. Han had just returned from bandit suppression and could stay in the city for half a month, with plenty of time.

They rotate every half month, going out to guard key roads and clear bandit threats.

Soon, four days passed.

"Mr. Lin, I wonder if the stories are finished?"

Lu Zhenfang looked at Lin Zheyu with anticipation as they were leaving early the next morning.

"They’re done."

Lin Zheyu nodded and took out two thick, bound volumes.

These were the result of four days of frenzied writing, the handwriting somewhat sloppy.

"Can I take a look first?" Lu Qihui asked.

"Of course."

Lin Zheyu handed over the books, and the two quickly started browsing.

They skimmed through; although the handwriting was a bit sloppy, it didn’t hinder readability.

Soon, both of their faces showed expressions of delight.

"Mr. Lin’s stories are indeed wonderful!"

"This is fifteen taels of gold, at the current market price, exactly one hundred and fifty taels of silver." Lu Qihui handed over a small package.

Lin Zheyu received the package, opened it, and saw fifteen gold ingots inside, each weighing one tael.

It was his first time receiving gold, as everyday market transactions mainly involved silver and officially minted currency.

However, compared to silver, gold is much more convenient to store.

"If Mr. Lu wants more exciting stories in the future, feel free to seek me out," Lin Zheyu said with a smile, as he put away the silver taels.

"Certainly."

"If Mr. Lin ever comes to Bafang City and has no place to go, you are welcome at our Lu Family."

"Our Lu Family also runs businesses like inns and tea houses; Mr. Lin can tell stories at our family’s tea house, and the price would definitely be higher than it is now."

Lu Qihui said with a smile.

...

Morning.

Jindong Street.

Lin Zheyu was panting heavily as he trained.

After several days of intensive training, Lin Zheyu’s strength improved rapidly, his body occasionally emitting sounds of tendon and bone resonance, and his bones becoming increasingly hard.

However, he was still far from the level of bone as hard as iron.

He hadn’t used precious medicines from a young age to refine tendons and bones and build a foundation; achieving bone as hard as iron was exceptionally difficult.

Luckily, Lin Zheyu had his Golden Finger; as long as he reached the level of bone as hard as iron in that special mental state, it could feedback onto his physical body.

Liang Song leisurely watered the plants with a kettle.

After watering, he carefully trimmed the flowers and plants with a small pair of scissors, putting all his thoughts into them.

Lin Zheyu practiced the Golden Swan Skill for two hours, then stopped, panting heavily.

[Heavenly Dao Rewards the Diligent]

Name: Lin Zheyu

Source Power: 7

Skills:

Wild Bull Fist (Mastery 4%)

Golden Swan Skill (First Layer 39%)

Looking at the data in his consciousness, the progress of the Golden Swan Skill reached 39%; it was estimated that in another half a month, he could achieve the First Layer Perfection and break through to the Second Layer.

The Golden Swan Skill’s First Layer is equivalent to Martial Artists at the bone training level. Lin Zheyu is already in the bone forging stage, so his progress would be much faster.

If not for the Wild Bull Fist being his main Fist Skill and the Golden Swan Skill being a main Leg Skill, with training in different areas, the speed would be even faster.

After practicing for more than two hours, Lin Zheyu sat casually with his mentor at the stone table chatting.

"By the way, Master, do you have any cultivation techniques that can hide an aura and conceal strength?"

Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

After trading with the Lu siblings, he suddenly became extremely wealthy.

With so many silver taels in his pocket and having accumulated 7 units of Source Power, he was itching not to use them.

But he dared not enhance his abilities recklessly.

Liang Song’s strength had reached the level of Qi Blood Three Transformations, so any enhancement would be easily detected.

Yet, if he had a cultivation technique that could conceal strength, he could boldly enhance his capabilities without fearing others discovering his powers and coveting whatever treasures he had.

"A cultivation technique to hide an aura?"

"Why do you want to learn that?"

"Such techniques are extremely difficult to learn, requiring much time and practice. Even with high perception, without seven or eight years of intense training, one can’t master them."

"If one’s aptitude is lacking, even after ten or twenty years, they might still not make much progress."

Liang Song advised, "Right now, your main task during this period of rapid growth is to focus on quickly improving your main cultivation skills, not wasting time on other things."

"Your advice is well taken, Master."

"I just thought, with the current chaotic times, learning to conceal my aura and strength might cause any enemies to lower their guard."

"In case anything goes wrong, it might serve as an extra card up my sleeve."

Lin Zheyu explained, "Don’t worry, Master; I won’t devote too much energy to it. I plan to ponder and explore it during spare moments after daily martial training."

Seeing Lin Zheyu’s reasoning was sound, Liang Song pondered for a moment.

"Alright, but remember, don’t waste too much time on it."

"The best way to handle danger and protect yourself is to become stronger, not to pretend to be weak,"

Liang Song advised, warning Lin Zheyu not to get sidetracked.

Lin Zheyu nodded in acknowledgment.

He mainly wanted to conceal the strength growth stemming from using Source Power.

"I have a Turtle Breath Skill, which can be used to hide the aura and conceal strength."

"This cultivation technique was created by a Grandmaster-level expert who in their later years was no longer at their Peak."

"They then devoted themselves to research, aiming to create a technique that could lock Qi Blood and slow aging, thus developing the Turtle Breath Skill."

"The main function of this cultivation technique is to lock in vitality and Qi Blood, preventing rapid declines in strength due to aging."

"Its ability to conceal aura and strength is just a side effect."

Liang Song elaborated, beginning to explain the cultivation technique to Lin Zheyu.

The technique was extremely mysterious, involving knowledge of Qi Blood, acupuncture points, and meridians.

"You can copy the technique to study and ponder on your own time."

"The Turtle Breath Skill involves Qi Blood, making it incredibly tough to master below the Qi Blood Realm. You might want to start practicing it after reaching the Qi Blood Realm; there’s no need to rush."

Liang Song said, before giving Lin Zheyu more insights on Refining the Organs and the Qi Blood Realm, then returning to savoring his tea quietly.

"This technique is much more challenging than I imagined,"

Lin Zheyu mused internally.

The knowledge involved — Qi Blood, organ refinement, internal organs, and meridians — was so extensive that fully understanding and memorizing it would require long study and contemplation.

...