Chapter 150: Disguise (I)

A gentle breeze brushed past. It was early summer, and the nights in the mountains had grown much cooler. Bright moonlight spilled over the forest as sweat soaked through Lin Zheyu's clothes. After over 4 hours of continuous training, his strength began to fade, and his punches grew weak and unsteady.

Huff, huff.

Lin Zheyu gasped for breath, gritting his teeth and forcing himself to continue. After another hour, he finally broke through his limit as his essence, qi, and spirit twisted together into one. Panting heavily, Lin Zheyu stopped and closed his eyes, savoring the surge of euphoria that came from pushing past his limits.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 1]

[Skills: Golden Goose Technique (Ninth Stage: 0%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 16%)]

"Just 9 more units of Origin Force, and I can bring the Tortoise Breath Grand Method to Perfection in the third stage. I'll finish it on the way to Bafang City," Lin Zheyu looked at the data within his consciousness and muttered to himself.

The last unit of Origin Force he had used previously had increased the Tortoise Breath Grand Method's progress by 10% in one go. That meant he still needed 9 more units of Origin Force to reach 100%. After deducting the unit gained today, only 8 more units of Origin Force were required.

At his current pace of breaking his limit once every four days, accumulating 4 units of Origin Force in twelve days, he would have enough within a month. There was no denying that the Tortoise Breath Grand Method was exceedingly difficult to cultivate. Even with Lin Zheyu's natural talent and comprehension, it would still take more than 10 or 20 units of Origin Force to bring it to Perfection.

For ordinary people, reaching Perfection in the third stage would require tremendous time—at least twenty to thirty years. During those decades, one would need to devote all their vitality daily to the Tortoise Breath Grand Method, giving up on other techniques entirely. Except for martial artists whose strength had already plateaued, almost no one would waste their time on such a method.

Lin Zheyu rested for about ten minutes as threads of blood qi circulated through his body, quickly restoring his stamina. After regaining some strength, he walked to a tree nearby and dipped his hands into the wooden basin he had prepared beforehand.

The basin contained powdered herbs from four sets of Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction ingredients. Improving the Tortoise Breath Grand Method did not greatly enhance physical strength; instead, it refined the body, strengthening the control over muscles, tendons, skin, and blood qi metabolism. Therefore, the required medicinal power was not great.

The cool sensation spread through his palms as Lin Zheyu closed his eyes and sent out a thought.

Use 1 unit of Origin Force to improve the Tortoise Breath Grand Method!

In an instant, mysterious energy welled up from deep within his cells, drawing the medicinal power from the basin to nourish and strengthen his muscles, tendons, skin, and five viscera.

Lin Zheyu's chest rose and fell steadily. With each cycle of the Tortoise Breath Grand Method's breathing technique, his internal organs grew stronger and more refined. To gain complete control over the body, over the flow of qi, blood, and the tension of muscles and skin, required extremely strong internal organs.

At the same time, Lin Zheyu's mind entered a special consciousness space, where he began ceaseless, frenzied cultivation. His understanding of the Tortoise Breath Grand Method deepened, and his control over his body improved rapidly along with it.

A few breaths later, Lin Zheyu opened his eyes.

Huff~.

He exhaled a long breath of impure air, his aura calm and far-reaching.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 0]

[Skills: Golden Goose Technique (Ninth Stage: 0%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 26%)]

Lin Zheyu glanced at the data within his consciousness. The Tortoise Breath Grand Method had advanced to 26% of the third stage. He rose to his feet as his blood qi burst forth, splattering the mud beneath him and propelling his body forward like a fired cannonball.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Zheyu had dashed over three hundred meters and came to an abrupt stop before a large tree. However, his footing slipped, and he nearly crashed into it.

Bang!

He turned around and activated the Golden Goose Technique once more, shooting forward like lightning. He sprinted two hundred meters before stopping. Then he changed direction and continued sprinting. After more than an hour of practice, his straight-line sprints grew increasingly precise, and he could now control his body perfectly, avoiding all obstacles ahead.

The sky was beginning to brighten, and the time was around five in the morning. Lin Zheyu came to a stop and looked once more at the data within his consciousness.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 0]

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

[Skills: Golden Goose Technique (Ninth Stage: 1%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 26%)]

In just an hour of training, the Golden Goose Technique's ninth stage had increased by 1%.

My guess was right. Improving the Tortoise Breath Grand Method greatly enhances control over the body's muscles, tendons, skin, and blood qi. Though it doesn't directly raise the Golden Goose Technique's ninth stage, it refines my mastery of blood qi burst techniques.

Lin Zheyu tested it several times and was quite satisfied. The rapid progress of the Golden Goose Technique's ninth stage was thanks to the Tortoise Breath Grand Method's improvement, which had also enhanced his control over essence, qi, and spirit.

The last time he used Origin Force to enhance the Tortoise Breath Grand Method, his control over essence, qi, and spirit had already improved. With another increase this time, his Golden Goose Technique had advanced by 1%.

Not only that, but my control over my muscles, tendons, and skin has also improved

.

Under his control, the muscles on the surface of his body began to twitch and flex. Even the skin on his face trembled as he tried to reshape it into a square-jawed appearance. But before the transformation was complete, he lost control and reverted to his original face.

His level of control was still insufficient to freely manipulate facial muscles and maintain the changes for long. However, Lin Zheyu believed that as his Tortoise Breath Grand Method continued to improve, his control over his facial muscles would also rise to a level where he could alter his appearance at will. By then, he would be able to change his features and disguise himself as another person.

After testing his strength, Lin Zheyu tidied himself up and walked toward his courtyard. It was departure day. He needed to pack up and head to the west gate to meet the others. After a quick wash and a hearty breakfast, it was almost time to leave. Although he hadn't slept the entire night, he didn't feel tired at all.

With his blood qi having reached the fourth transformation, he could go 7 days and nights without sleep and still be fine. Moreover, after using Origin Force, his body had recovered to its peak condition; any physical fatigue had long been erased under the influence of mysterious energy. Only mental fatigue remained.

On the journey, by circulating the Tortoise Breath Grand Method and entering its deep-breathing state, he could accelerate the recovery of his mind. Therefore, not sleeping had no effect on him at all.

***

Morning came, and the first rays of sunlight fell. Songyi City was bathed in golden light. The weather was fine that day, with clear skies and not a cloud in sight. Carrying only a small bundle, Lin Zheyu arrived at the meeting point, standing in stark contrast to the others weighed down by large packs and baggage.

"Senior Brother, Sister-in-law[1], Uncle, Aunt..." Lin Zheyu greeted his senior brother Han Mo, along with his wife, children, and parents.

"Junior Brother, I'll trouble you to help look after my parents and family on the way. Once you arrive in Bafang City, Tianshu will take my token and join the City Guard there. You won't have to worry about them after that," said Han Mo solemnly.

Han Tianshu was his eldest son, sixteen years old this year. Han Mo had five children in total; the eldest, Han Tianshu, was sixteen, while the youngest, Han Tianshun, was seven. At sixteen in this era, one was already considered an adult and could marry and start a family.

Han Mo specially asked the deputy commander for a token of recommendation to enroll his son Han Tianshu into the City Guard of Bafang City. It was only a recommendation spot; once inside, he would have to start as a low-ranking soldier and fight his way up by his own merit.

"I will protect your wife and family on the road," said Lin Zheyu.

He hesitated, then continued. "Senior Brother, I have a Toxicology Codex that records poisonous arts. May I pass it on to Tianshu and Tianmin?"

Lin Zheyu had already slain Zhao Guanbin, the man who had wronged Old Master Chen Peijun. He had also promised to find a successor to inherit the Toxicology Codex. After much thought and finding no suitable candidate, he decided not to give it to an outsider and to pass it to Senior Brother Han Mo's children. However, studying the Toxicology Codex had pros and cons, so he needed his senior brother's consent.

"The Toxicology Codex? When did you learn poisonous techniques?" Han Mo asked in surprise.

"By chance, from an old elder. You can take a look. It records recipes for many poisons, methods of administering and detoxifying them, training techniques for identifying poisons, and so on. But the Poison King Body technique is a different matter; its side effects are severe and not worth the cost."

1. Referring to Han Mo's wife. ☜