Chapter 363: Pros And Cons And The Final Decision (I)

Early the next morning.

The sky had only just begun to brighten. Gu Ye and Meng Liuyuan stood atop Soaring Serpent Mountain, watching Lin Zheyu's departing figure, their expressions unreadable.

"Martial Uncle, didn't you also cultivate the Tortoise Breath True Technique? Can you change your appearance as easily as Junior Brother Lin?" Gu Ye asked.

Just now, to put them at ease, Lin Zheyu had demonstrated his consummate skill of altering his appearance before their very eyes, leaving Gu Ye filled with envy. To control the muscles and skin of the face and body so effortlessly, and to change one's appearance and maintain it steadily, required extraordinarily powerful control. Gu Ye had tried to manipulate the muscles and skin of her face as Lin Zheyu had done, but she simply could not succeed.

"..."

Meng Liuyuan's old face flushed at her words. Though he too had cultivated the Tortoise Breath True Technique, he had not yet mastered it. While this true technique was widely circulated, it was by no means an ordinary health-preserving art. On the contrary, it was quite rare. Among the many longevity-enhancing techniques, the Tortoise Breath True Technique could rank within the top ten.

"

Ahem...

Since Lin Zheyu has gone back, your burden will be heavier. Go patrol and check if there are any weak points in the defense line."

Meng Liuyuan changed the subject, waving his hand as he gave the order. After speaking, he fled as if escaping.

That kid's natural talent is far too monstrous. Being this strong is one thing, but at such a young age, he has already cultivated the Tortoise Breath True Technique to an amazing level. How is anyone supposed to live with that...?

He had cultivated the Tortoise Breath True Technique for over a decade and still had not developed the Tortoise Breath true intent. His control over his body had yet to meet the required standard.

"If you can't do it, then you can't. What's there to be embarrassed about?" Gu Ye muttered softly, pouting as she watched Martial Uncle Meng's hurried steps.

"Should I also cultivate the Tortoise Breath True Technique? It can prolong life and revitalize the body. Junior Brother Lin looks so young. Perhaps it has something to do with the Tortoise Breath True Technique," Gu Ye murmured.

Though she appeared fierce, she was still a woman with a love of beauty, and Gu Ye was no exception.

Meanwhile, Lin Zheyu altered his appearance and left Soaring Serpent Mountain. Breathing in the earthy scent of the forest, he felt as though he had cast off his shackles and left a cage behind. The sky was vast, and he was free to soar.

Whoosh.

Before he had gone far, a lean ferocious beast resembling a wild boar burst from the dense forest. It opened its gaping maw, its savage fangs lunging toward Lin Zheyu's throat. Lin Zheyu did not even glance at it. He casually struck backward with his palm. With a loud bang, the beast flew back at several times the speed it had charged. From the spot where his palm struck, cracking sounds rang out as the bones within it shattered instantly.

"So weak..." Lin Zheyu muttered.

He felt unprecedentedly powerful. After cultivating the Furnace Tempering Body Technique, his physique had grown to a terrifying level. Even if he stood still and allowed a Marrow Refining realm martial artist to attack him, they might not be able to break through his defense.

Rustle, rustle.

After traveling several kilometers and confirming no one was following, Lin Zheyu's facial features shifted again. His robust physique shrank and grew lean. Within a dozen seconds, he transformed from a well-built young man into an ordinary, thin middle-aged figure.

This should keep anyone from recognizing me,

Lin Zheyu said inwardly as he touched his face.

He did not hurry back. Instead, he planned to test his strength in the forest and see what level he had reached. Lin Zheyu spread his arms and stretched. The golden blood qi within his body flowed slowly.

Boom!

His blood qi erupted in an instant. Lin Zheyu shot forward like a cannonball. At a terrifying speed that surpassed the speed of sound, he had rushed forward several hundred meters. The astonishing speed stirred violent gusts, and wherever his feet struck, massive craters were left behind.

Boom!

Suddenly, unable to turn in time, Lin Zheyu slammed heavily into a large tree ahead. The tree exploded with a loud crash, shattering into fragments that scattered everywhere. He halted his momentum and brushed the debris from his body. Aside from his clothes being dirtied, he was uninjured. He barely felt any pain at all, as if he had been lightly bitten by a mosquito.

When my speed surpasses the sound barrier, the air resistance becomes too strong. Even with my level of control and perception, I could not react in time.

To wield such terrifying speed at the level of the sound barrier and bring his lightness and movement techniques back to a state of consummate mastery would require far more Origin Force than before. Even then, success was not guaranteed. Once speed surpassed the sound barrier, the demands on a martial artist's perception and reaction became extraordinarily high. These were not things that could be improved simply by cultivating movement techniques. The spiritual soul would have to advance as well.

Speed beyond the sound barrier is enough for fleeing or pursuit. There is no need to waste too much time on it. Otherwise, once I advance to the Force Transformation realm, I will have to spend Origin Force to cultivate it all over again

.

His lightness and movement techniques were sufficient for now. Speed beyond the sound barrier could serve as a life-saving trump card. At this point, he was already near the limit. To push further, he would have to cultivate true strength and rely on its ability to reduce air resistance.

Moreover, Lin Zheyu planned to cultivate the Primordial Wuji True Technique. It was a comprehensive true technique that included the Wind true intent for increasing speed. He could enhance everything together when that time came.

If I run into that half-yao again now, I could blow him apart with a single punch. It is a pity about the treasures he carried. Someone that strong must have had quite a few spirit stones on him,

Lin Zheyu mused inwardly.

He took out two irregular purple-black crystals from his chest and toyed with them in his hand. These were obtained from the yao martial artist who had attacked him. After absorbing the energy within that could be converted into Origin Force, the crystals had turned into their current purple-black color.

The so-called spirit liquid energy inside had long been drained. Even the useful energy hidden within the Baleful Yin force had been completely absorbed by Lin Zheyu, leaving behind only evil and impure energy that could not be utilized. Held in his palm, the crystals emitted a faintly sinister chill.

I do not know whether the remaining energy has any use. I will keep them for now and see if anyone collects this kind of spirit stone.

He slowed down and strolled leisurely through the forest, his figure graceful and detached. Yet his pace was far from slow. Even a Marrow Refining realm martial artist traveling at full speed might not match him now. Along the way, he saw several squads wearing Great Wei army armor roaming the forest. They were likely there to eliminate the demon puppets that had emerged from the space-time node. Besides the military, other martial artists had also formed small teams to hunt the demon puppets.

"Why has no one come to assassinate me? That last group was clearly targeting me. They lost two Force Transformation realm experts and simply gave up? That is far too incompetent," Lin Zheyu muttered softly.

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

He felt a trace of regret that no one was attempting to kill him. Lin Zheyu was now very interested in those yao martial artists. Most of them likely carried spirit stones. Unlike ordinary martial artists, they directly absorbed Baleful Yin force into their bodies and converted it for their own use. They did not need to refine them into purified spirit liquid before using them.

"There it is. Quick, stop it!"

"Surround it. Do not let it escape!"

Several cries rang out from the forest, followed by the roar of a ferocious demon puppet that echoed through the trees. Such scenes were constantly unfolding in the woods.

As Lin Zheyu passed by, he merely glanced from afar and had no interest in joining in. After his strength had increased, dealing with weak demon puppets was as easy as crushing ants. There was no excitement in it. He did not travel quickly. By the time he returned to the sect, it was already noon.

"Young Master, you are back!" Yu Qing said in surprise when she saw Lin Zheyu.

"Is Senior Sister Wenzi in the sect?" Lin Zheyu asked.

"Lady Wenzi went out on a mission. We have not seen her for more than half a month," Yu Qing replied.

Lin Zheyu nodded lightly and turned to leave. At the lakeside pavilion in Clear Water Garden, Elder Yang sat leisurely with a fishing rod in hand. After returning to the sect, Lin Zheyu had eagerly sought out Master Huang Baizhong to learn the Primordial Wuji True Technique. Unfortunately, Huang Baizhong had gone out on business and would likely not return for over a month.

With no other choice, Lin Zheyu came to find Elder Yang. As the oldest and most senior elder of Azure Tide Pavilion, Elder Yang rarely went out on missions and usually remained in the sect to guard it.

"Greetings, Elder Yang." Lin Zheyu bowed respectfully.

"

Mm

, sit. I heard a space-time node appeared near Soaring Serpent Mountain. Were you frightened?" Elder Yang asked with a chuckle.

"They are nothing more than ugly ants, and not worth worrying about," Lin Zheyu replied with a smile, his tone brimming with confidence.

"You brat, you're speaking more and more like Old Niu[1]. As expected, those who cultivate the Dominance true intent are all the same," Elder Yang said flatly, glancing at Lin Zheyu.

Lin Zheyu did not refute him. In truth, the influence of the Dominance true intent on him was minimal. After cultivating the Tortoise Breath true intent, and with the aid of the Great Strength Vajra Fist visualization diagram, he had initially fused the two true intents together. Their influence on him had been reduced to the weakest degree. The dominance and confidence he displayed now were mainly the result of his strength surging dramatically within a short period of time.

"Your assignment still has more than ten days before it ends. Why have you returned so early? Is there something important?" Elder Yang asked.

"Yes. I have already successfully cultivated the Boundless Azure Sea Body. With nothing to do at Soaring Serpent Mountain, I planned to return and seek Master to learn the subsequent techniques," Lin Zheyu replied with a nod.

"You have cultivated it successfully?" Elder Yang froze, his eyes filled with surprise.

Although he had previously guessed that Lin Zheyu would complete the Boundless Azure Sea Body ahead of time, he had not expected it to be this fast. Elder Yang had estimated it would take at least close to three months.

"Yes," Lin Zheyu confirmed again.

1. Should be referring to Niu Qinghe. ☜