Chapter 23: Cultivating Nature and Cultivating Life!

Some transmission-deep, mysteriously profound breathing techniques are themselves superior methods of refining true qi.

Luo Fu’s Star Breathing clearly does not reach the level of refining true qi, yet in refining life function, it made Zhang Zhiwei—a senior Daoist of Longhu Mountain and an absolute peak among the transcendent world—blink in surprise.

This method of drawing the stars into one’s breath, while merely pursuing life function beyond true qi refinement, offers little enhancement to nature function; yet in actual combat, it may well rival ancient martial traditions.

Zhang Zhiwei had never before encountered such a breathing technique, especially one tied to the Big Dipper.

At a distance, Luo Fu reappeared, breathing deeply.

Zhang Zhiwei’s speed was simply too fast. From the emergence of golden light to its condensation into a blazing golden palm, it seemed to require no process—merely a thought, and it instantly materialized.

Of course, the senior Daoist’s technique certainly had a process, however brief; but Luo Fu’s own neural reflexes could only perceive that fleeting instant. Had he not pre-activated Star Breathing, he would have been unable to dodge that palm at all.

For Luo Fu, whose methods were entirely unknown yet endlessly inventive,

Zhang Zhiwei now felt a powerful curiosity stir within him.

With a flick of his sleeve, Zhang Zhiwei merely surrounded himself with golden light and said, “Come! Let me see just how many strange abilities Itachi truly possess!!”

Luo Fu’s expression shifted, and he said oddly, “Senior Daoist, Itachi’re not trying to probe my secrets for your disciple first, are Itachi? Then my abilities won’t catch anyone off-guard at the Luotian Da Jiao!”

Zhang Zhiwei froze, then chuckled. “Itachi brat, Itachi’ve got a clever tongue indeed!! Fine!! Fine!! I’ll wait until the Luotian Da Jiao to properly examine your odd abilities!”

As he spoke, he dismissed the Golden Light Spell and walked toward Lu Jin. “Old Lu, this boy is fine. But he likely harbors a secret no one knows—don’t worry too much. As for those wings of his...”

He paused slightly, then said, “I suspect those angelic wings of his may one day become part of his transcendence—though that depends entirely on how far he can go.”

“Are Itachi sure he’s truly fine?” Lu Jin asked, still uneasy.

“Would I lie to Itachi?” Zhang Zhiwei laughed, clapping Lu Jin on the shoulder. “But this boy’s mind runs deep. Seeing him makes me think of Big-Eared Thief. Itachi must emphasize nature function cultivation—don’t let him stray.”

To hear Luo Fu compared to Zhang Huaiyi by Zhang Zhiwei would, to others, sound like an insult.

But Lu Jin was different. Though he loathed Quanxing with every fiber of his being and wished for its utter annihilation, he held no prejudice against the original Thirty-Six Rebels.

After all, his own close brother, Zheng Zibu—who had unlocked the Eight Marvelous Techniques of Tongtian Lu—was one of the Thirty-Six Rebels. How could he harbor ill will toward Zhang Huaiyi?

Yet Luo Fu’s mind is too deep, his nature too secretive—as Zhang Zhiwei said, he must be watched closely. Who knows if Luo Fu might one day bring down a catastrophe like Zhang Huaiyi and Zheng Zibu?

Lu Jin nodded solemnly. “I’ll keep a close eye on his nature function cultivation. But since Itachi, the elder, personally intervened against a youth, shouldn’t Itachi offer some compensation?”

Zhang Zhiwei blinked in astonishment. “Itachi’re joking, Old Lu? I was checking on this boy for Itachi!!”

“It should’ve been Lingyu who did it. Itachi, old scoundrel, personally intervening is bullying the young.” Lu Jin argued firmly.

Zhang Zhiwei laughed. “Alright then—what do Itachi think I should offer as compensation?”

Lu Jin dropped his jest. “Itachi know the Sanyi Sect’s nature function lineage is limited. Itachi Daoists are the true experts. While the Luotian Da Jiao is underway, help me guide him.”

Zhang Zhiwei hesitated, then glanced idly at Tian Jinzhong beside him—and a sudden insight flashed through his mind.

“Old Lu, I have a good idea. If Itachi don’t mind, why not make this boy a provisional disciple of Jinzhong?”

“Brother, Itachi two talk, why drag me into this?” Tian Jinzhong shook his head immediately.

But Lu Jin’s eyes lit up.

Though Tian Jinzhong had been betrayed during the Jia Shen Uprising when he descended to hunt Zhang Huaiyi, leaving him paralyzed, his meridians severed, and for decades confined to bed, needing others to push his wheelchair,

there was no denying that to protect the secret of that time, he had not slept in seventy years, relying solely on his astonishingly profound stillness cultivation.

Though Tian Jinzhong had not reached the pinnacle of stillness cultivation—where spirit is full and sleep unnecessary—no one in the transcendent world could surpass him in stillness.

Especially since Tian Jinzhong, being disabled and without disciples, would benefit from Luo Fu becoming his provisional disciple: it would not disrupt Sanyi’s lineage, yet allow Luo Fu to receive guidance in stillness cultivation.

More crucially, with this relationship established, rebuilding the Sanyi Sect would face far less resistance.

Though Lu Jin recognized Zhang Zhiwei’s suggestion as a stroke of genius, he still needed to consult Luo Fu’s opinion.

“Old scoundrel, your suggestion isn’t bad,” Lu Jin said directly to Luo Fu. “Itachi’re a Xiantianyineng , and your nature function is weak. Look at Old Tian—he can barely move, yet his stillness cultivation is unmatched in the transcendent world. If Itachi become his provisional disciple, Itachi gain the prestige of Longhu Mountain and double your chances of rebuilding the Sanyi Sect! What do Itachi say?”

Stillness cultivation and movement cultivation are two aspects: the former refines nature, the latter refines life.

Compared to the latter, stillness cultivation—even for someone like Tian Jinzhong, with severed meridians and paralyzed limbs, unable to circulate qi—is hardly affected.

Zhang Zhiwei’s proposal, endorsed by Lu Jin, served his brother’s interests and Luo Fu’s and the Sanyi Sect’s alike.

Among Zhang Zhiwei’s brothers, save those long dead, only Tian Jinzhong had suffered calamity early, leaving him without disciples—even Zhang Huaiyi had children and grandchildren.

Though Tian Jinzhong held high rank and special status on Longhu Mountain, having a disciple would ensure his lineage received offerings after his passing.

If Luo Fu truly became his provisional disciple, and with his talent, once he matured, a tablet for Tian Jinzhong would surely stand in the Sanyi Sect.

One must admit: Zhang Zhiwei, as elder brother, had planned meticulously for Tian Jinzhong. Had Luo Fu not appeared, this plan might have fallen upon Zhang Chulan.

(End of Chapter)