Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 364: Pros And Cons And The Final Decision (II)
"Not bad, not bad. Quite reminiscent of my own style back in the day," Elder Yang said without the slightest change in expression.
He leisurely lifted his wine gourd and took a sip to conceal the shock in his heart. Counting from the time Lin Zheyu joined Azure Tide Pavilion until now, it had only been a year, yet the boy had already cultivated the Boundless Azure Sea Body. Even if he was a Marrow Refining realm martial artist recultivating, such speed was truly astonishing.
"Ahem. Baizhong has gone out on a mission, so I will teach you the subsequent techniques. Have you planned out your martial cultivation path? For example, you excel at lightness and movement techniques, you cultivate the Dominance true intent, and you are skilled in fist techniques. You could cultivate the martial technique Heaven Shattering Dominance Flash. Of course, this is only my recommendation. Tell me your thoughts, and I will suggest something more suitable," Elder Yang said slowly after a moment of contemplation.
A top-tier sect like the Wuji Sect was different from ordinary sects. Their standards for disciples were higher. After cultivating their primary true technique, each disciple would focus on a powerful martial technique aligned with their strengths. The true intent contained within that martial technique would be condensed at the Marrow Refining realm. Once advancing to the Force Transformation realm, progress would be faster, and the condensed true strength would be far more powerful.
"Elder Yang, I wish to cultivate the Primordial Wuji True Technique," Lin Zheyu said directly.
"The Primordial Wuji True Technique? Hmm..." Elder Yang was not particularly surprised, but he found it difficult to decide.
He pondered for a moment. With Lin Zheyu's natural talent and comprehension, there was a high chance he could cultivate the Primordial Wuji True Technique to its peak. Yet when he thought of the talented disciples who had chosen this path before, he fell silent.
"Elder Yang, is there some problem?" Lin Zheyu asked when he saw the hesitation on Elder Yang's face.
"The Primordial Wuji True Technique is the most powerful technique of the Wuji Sect. Yet since the founding of the sect, only the founding patriarch has ever cultivated it to the peak and advanced to the Innate realm. Do you know why?" Elder Yang asked slowly as he looked at Lin Zheyu.
"Please enlighten me, Elder Yang."
"Because this technique is too complex. Although the Primordial Wuji True Technique is powerful, it contains eight formidable true intents and cultivates eight different physiques without leaving any weaknesses. The advantage is that once successful, a martial artist will become unprecedentedly powerful. But the drawbacks are equally obvious.
"Because there is too much to cultivate and a martial artist's vitality is limited, it leads to divided focus and a lack of refinement. Many geniuses of the Wuji Sect who believed their talent and comprehension were extraordinary chose the path of the Primordial Wuji True Technique. In the end, they either faded into mediocrity and stopped at the Grandmaster realm or switched to a different primary cultivation technique," Elder Yang said with a sigh.
"Is it because they cultivated too many true intents?" Lin Zheyu asked after thinking for a moment.
He did not know much about the Grandmaster realm. He only knew that the symbol of a Grandmaster was the Grandmaster Domain, which was the very foundation of a Grandmaster's strength.
"That is correct. Although the more true intents one cultivates, the stronger the true strength condensed in the end, the difficulty of advancing to Grandmaster also increases. A so-called Grandmaster is one who refines all that he has learned in his lifetime, comprehends the Grandmaster's will, achieves dual Perfection of body and spirit, and integrates spiritual consciousness into the field of life to form a unique Grandmaster Domain. But refining all that one has learned in a lifetime is no easy task. It includes every true intent one has comprehended."
Elder Yang said slowly, "You have already experienced how true intent in martial cultivation influences a martial artist. Because you condensed true intent before walking the path of tempering the heart and forming your martial conviction, you are deeply affected by it. Becoming a Grandmaster is the process of walking that heart tempering path anew, condensing martial conviction, breaking free from the influence of all true intents, and seeing through one's true self. The more true intents one has condensed, the greater the difficulty in advancing to the Grandmaster realm."
Through his explanation, Lin Zheyu gained a deeper understanding of the Grandmaster realm. A Grandmaster was like one who enters the world and then transcends it.
First, one enters the world and condenses true intent, enduring its influence. Then one transcends the world, condenses martial conviction, forms the Grandmaster's will, sees through the heart, and sheds the influence of true intent. The more true intents condensed in this process, the stronger their influence and the harder it becomes to break free.
"Elder Yang, the Heng Family cultivates the Vast Sun Heavenly Saber. Does it not contain many true intents? Are they not afraid of failing to advance to the Grandmaster realm?" Lin Zheyu recalled Heng Qiming's Vast Sun Heavenly Saber. That saber technique, practiced by the master of the saber intent above Heavenly Blade Peak, contained more than a dozen powerful true intents.
"Who said they comprehended all the saber intent contained within the Vast Sun Heavenly Saber from the beginning?" Elder Yang glanced at him and said, "Before the Grandmaster realm, they condense at most four or five true intents. Only after advancing to the Grandmaster realm, or when they have no hope of reaching it, do they attempt to comprehend more.
"Once one advances to the Grandmaster realm and forms martial conviction and the Grandmaster's will, there is no need to worry about being influenced by newly condensed true intents. As for those with no hope of reaching the Grandmaster realm, they have even less to worry about."
Elder Yang explained. He glanced at Lin Zheyu with a somewhat speechless expression.
"If you had only comprehended the Azure Tide true intent, I would recommend the Primordial Wuji True Technique without hesitation. With your natural talent and comprehension, you would have a high chance of success. But you have not only condensed the Azure Tide true intent, but you also possess the Dominance true intent and the Tortoise Breath true intent. If you cultivate the Primordial Wuji True Technique as well, you will possess ten true intents in total. Ten true intents![1] In my more than two hundred years of life, I have never seen anyone advance to the Grandmaster realm while cultivating ten true intents," Elder Yang said with exasperation.
If it were only eight true intents, Lin Zheyu's talent and comprehension might still give him a certain chance of success. But ten was far too excessive. This was the main reason for Elder Yang's hesitation.
"Is becoming a Grandmaster truly this difficult...?" Lin Zheyu muttered, feeling hesitant after hearing the explanation.
Cultivating martial conviction and forming the Grandmaster's will could not be achieved through Origin Force alone. It required experience, reflection, contemplation, and insight into life. Although the Great Strength Vajra Fist visualization diagram had allowed him to initially fuse the Dominance true intent and the Tortoise Breath true intent, reducing their influence to a minimum, he had not completely freed himself from them.
"Elder Yang, must one advance to the Grandmaster realm before breaking through to the Martial Innate realm?" Lin Zheyu asked after a moment of thought.
"Eh?" Elder Yang was stunned, puzzled as to why Lin Zheyu would ask such a question.
He still answered Lin Zheyu's question. "Of course. The so-called Martial Innate realm is reached only after one's essence, qi, and spirit grow strong to a certain level, allowing one to comprehend heaven and earth and find the Bridge of Heaven and Earth within the human body. Breaking open that bridge, connecting with heaven and earth, and transforming the acquired state into the innate state is the Martial Innate realm.
"To find the Bridge of Heaven and Earth within the body, not only must the physique be sufficiently strong, but one must also possess an extremely powerful spiritual will. Only after condensing the Grandmaster will and tempering it to an extraordinary level can one hope to find and connect that bridge. The Grandmaster's will is merely the starting point. It must be further refined until the spiritual will becomes even stronger. If one cannot even condense the Grandmaster's will, there is no need to think about what comes after."
Elder Yang explained. It was the first time he had spoken to Lin Zheyu about matters related to the Martial Innate realm.
"I see... In that case, I still wish to walk the path of the Primordial Wuji True Technique. Elder Yang, please grant me this chance," Lin Zheyu said solemnly.
As for an extremely powerful spiritual will, Lin Zheyu believed he might achieve it through the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art or a similar technique. It might not be necessary to follow the Grandmaster realm path. Perhaps he could even bypass the Grandmaster realm entirely and advance directly to the Martial Innate realm.
"Have you truly decided? This choice concerns your future path in martial cultivation and your prospects. Do you want to return and think about it for a few more days before making a decision?" Seeing Lin Zheyu so resolute, Elder Yang hesitated instead.
"No need. I have decided to cultivate the Primordial Wuji True Technique. I am confident I can bring it to its peak," Lin Zheyu said confidently.
Elder Yang fell silent.
Confident, my foot. Those who cultivate the Dominance true intent are often overly confident under its influence.
In his view, Lin Zheyu was exactly like that.
"Very well. However, I do not know the Primordial Wuji True Technique. Only the main sect possesses it. You will have to wait for Baizhong to return and have him take you to the main sect to exchange for the technique," said Elder Yang after pondering for a moment. For now, they could only delay the matter and discuss it again once Huang Baizhong returned.
"In your current state, it is not suitable for you to cultivate more true techniques. By the way, aside from the Dominance true intent, the Azure Tide true intent, and the Tortoise Breath true intent, you have not condensed any other true intents, have you?" Elder Yang asked hurriedly. He was genuinely worried that Lin Zheyu might have learned other primary true techniques from different branches while at Soaring Serpent Mountain.
"No. Other than those three true intents, I have not condensed any others," Lin Zheyu quickly denied.
If Elder Yang knew that, besides the Primordial Wuji True Technique, Lin Zheyu also planned to condense Fire true intent and Thunder true intent, and not just a single variation of each, he would probably be furious.
"That is good. You may go back first. Before Baizhong returns, you can either take on a mission to pass the time or visit the Heavenly Blessing Pavilion to read martial cultivation classics," said Elder Yang, waving his hand.
"Yes. I will take my leave," Lin Zheyu nodded and turned to leave.
He could tell that Elder Yang did not truly wish for him to cultivate the Primordial Wuji True Technique, fearing that he would ruin himself because of it. But Lin Zheyu had his own considerations. Following the conventional path to condense martial conviction and form the Grandmaster's will would require a great deal of time. This process could not be aided by Origin Force. It depended entirely on personal insight, experience, and understanding. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
Lin Zheyu knew himself best. His natural talent and comprehension were not as extraordinary as Elder Yang and the others believed. While he was talented, he was merely a minor genius and far from a true prodigy. If things did not go smoothly, he might not even reach the Grandmaster realm. In that case, he might as well seek a different path, strengthen himself as much as possible, and find a way to bypass the Grandmaster realm entirely. Once his spiritual will reached an unparalleled level, he could directly break open the Bridge of Heaven and Earth and advance to the Martial Innate realm.
"Sigh, such a restless boy... Those who cultivate the Dominance true intent are all stubborn. I must speak with Baizhong and see if there is a way to change Lin Zheyu's mind," Elder Yang muttered as he watched Lin Zheyu's departing figure. He still did not believe that Lin Zheyu could shed the influence of ten true intents, condense the Grandmaster's will, and advance to the Grandmaster realm.
1. Not sure how it is ten true intents. ☜
