CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: BREATHING THROUGH THE EARS

Rustle rustle...

A gentle breeze blew by, making the trees rustle.

The night’s temperature was somewhat chilly.

Lin Zheyu brought out herbs for replenishing Qi and nourishing the blood and began to brew them.

These past days, he had accumulated nearly two hundred taels of silver, and his Source Power had also reached 7 units.

Unfortunately, he didn’t dare to arbitrarily enhance his strength.

Liang Song planned to leave, not knowing where he would go.

During these days before his departure, Lin Zheyu needed to visit him daily for guidance and practical combat training. Carelessly increasing his power could easily lead to exposure.

By then, there would be no way to explain it at all.

Fortunately, now with the Turtle Breath Skill, Lin Zheyu planned to advance it first, which would allow him to safely enhance other martial arts without worrying about inexplicable power surges being discovered.

Taking advantage of the gap while brewing the medicinal decoction, he took out the paper documenting the Turtle Breath Skill and began to study it.

"Though a cow has ears, it breathes through its nose; though a turtle has a nose, it breathes through its ears. Therefore, when referring to Turtle Breathing, one should speak with ears."

"The Turtle Breath Guide, it must be performed by listening to the breath,..."

"..."

"When sleeping, the Qi exits through the ears, named Turtle Breathing, granting the long life of a great turtle."

Looking at the profound manual, complemented by Liang Song’s explanations, Lin Zheyu began to understand a bit.

The Turtle Breath Skill is a bionic martial art, imitating the breathing, Essence, Qi, and blood manipulation, and control of long-lived turtles, thereby achieving longevity.

The primary aim of this technique is longevity; hiding one’s breath and concealing power are just side effects.

"What a magical martial art! The expert who created this technique was indeed formidable!"

Lin Zheyu exclaimed in admiration.

He remembered there was a similar technique in his past life’s Taoism, but he didn’t know how effective it would be.

Unfortunately, Lin Zheyu had no exposure to these things in his previous life; otherwise, he could have tested whether martial arts from his past life worked in this world.

Sitting cross-legged as the technique described.

The upper body straight, the whole body naturally relaxed, with both hands clasped in the Wuzi clasp, both hands folded in front of the lower abdomen.

He vibrated his nasal cavity, breathing according to the requirements of the Turtle Breath Skill, his chest and abdomen rising and falling, making his breathing exceedingly long.

More than an hour passed, and Lin Zheyu gradually entered a state; his heartbeat began to lower, and his body temperature dropped slightly.

After over thirty minutes, he opened his eyes, unable to maintain the state any longer.

The Turtle Breath Skill requires martial artists to have an extremely high degree of control over their bodies to manage the flow of Qi and blood and heart rate, thereby achieving a reduced metabolic rate.

[Heaven rewards diligence]

Name: Lin Zheyu

Source Power: 7

Skills:

Wild Bull Fist (Proficient 4%)

Golden Swan Skill (First Layer 39%)

Turtle Breath Skill (Not Initiated 2%)

"I’ve trained for so long and made this little progress; even getting started is extremely difficult."

Lin Zheyu said to himself in thought.

He wanted to sit cross-legged again and continue cultivating the Turtle Breath Skill but felt a sharp discomfort in his heart and lungs, a sign that his internal organs were not strong enough to bear the Turtle Breath Skill.

After several hours of brewing, a rich aroma of medicinal herbs lingered in the courtyard.

Lin Zheyu took a deep breath, feeling somewhat more spirited.

This time he had used up fifteen doses of herbs for replenishing Qi and nourishing blood, divided amongst five pots for brewing.

"I need to ask Mr. Liang if there is a formula with stronger medicinal power. As strength increases, more herbs are needed.

In the future, I can’t possibly brew a hundred doses at once."

Lin Zheyu thought inwardly.

He poured out the brewed decoction, let it cool, and drank it.

Sitting cross-legged, adopting the Turtle Breath Skill’s posture, his thoughts conveyed,

’Use two units of Source Power to improve the Turtle Breath Skill.’

The Turtle Breath Skill primarily trains control over the muscles, skin, internal organs, and Qi and blood, with minimal direct enhancement to the body and power.

Thus, the energy required to alter the body is not substantial.

Source Power decreased by two units, and Lin Zheyu’s mind entered a special state.

He forgot everything, abandoned all else, and concentrated on cultivating the Turtle Breath Skill.

In this special mental state, it seemed like years passed, his understanding of the Turtle Breath Skill deepening more and more.

The progress of the Turtle Breath Skill advanced rapidly, from not initiated suddenly to the first layer, and moments later reached the second layer.

It stopped at 26%.

Meanwhile, mysterious energy flowed into his body, drawing the medicinal power to strengthen and remold the body.

Unlike the feeling when enhancing the Wild Bull Fist, the Turtle Breath Skill barely improved his strength or power, mainly boosting control over his body.

The mysterious energy guided the medicinal power from the decoction, immersing into muscles, bones, cells, blood, providing deep, meticulous nourishment and transformation.

Improvements were in subtle aspects, parts challenging to refine through martial training.

As his power increased, Lin Zheyu’s aura did not strengthen at all; in fact, it became weaker.

The sharp sensation cultivated by the Wild Bull Fist faded as the Turtle Breath Skill advanced, eventually disappearing entirely.

A few breaths later.

Lin Zheyu opened his eyes, a flicker of amazement crossing them: "The Turtle Breath Skill truly is magical."

This is indeed a skillful technique.

The Turtle Breath Skill’s purpose is not to enhance martial strength but to extend life.

To achieve a control over metabolism, Qi, and blood, and reduce cellular activity to extend life, requires an astounding understanding of the body.

Moreover, training it is incredibly tough.

It’s necessary to strengthen every subtle part of the body through exercise, muscle, internal organs, and enhance body control step by step.

After entering the second level of the Turtle Breath Skill, Lin Zheyu felt that his body control had reached a higher stage.

Although he was still far from the Qi Blood Realm, he gained a lot of insights into Qi and blood through the Turtle Breath Skill.

"Hoo~~"

Lin Zheyu performed the Turtle Breath Skill’s Breathing Skill, quickly reducing the energy on him.

With each breath, the energy on him rapidly declined to the level of an ordinary person who had not practiced martial arts, just with a stronger physique.

[Heaven rewards diligence]

Name: Lin Zheyu

Source Power: 5

Skills:

Wild Bull Fist (Proficient 4%)

Golden Swan Skill (First Layer 39%)

Turtle Breath Skill (Second Layer 13%)

"At the second layer now, all the medicinal power drank was consumed, and it consumed a bit of body energy too, though thankfully not much."

Lin Zheyu noted thoughtfully.

Just now, he had used up two units of Source Power at once, consuming quite a bit, roughly the medicinal power of 17 decoctions was needed to satisfy it.

"Unfortunately, there aren’t enough herbs at home, otherwise, I could directly advance to the third layer."

Lin Zheyu thought to himself.

The second layer of the Turtle Breath Skill wasn’t of much use to him.

The Turtle Breath Skill has three layers in total.

Reaching first layer perfection allows one to conceal strength within the same realm.

Reaching the second layer perfection means even martial artists two levels higher can’t discern your strength.

If one achieves third-layer perfection, the body becomes flawless, returning to the origin, reaching an unprecedented realm of control over Qi, blood, and Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

At that point, even a Martial Arts Grandmaster may not be able to see through your strength.

"I’ll ask Mr. Liang tomorrow if there is a formula with stronger medicinal power; otherwise, it’s extremely troublesome to brew so many herbs each time."

Lin Zheyu murmured to himself.

Based on the recent improvement progress, advancing to the third layer would require approximately three units of Source Power and nearly twenty-five doses of Qi and blood nourishing decoction.

...