Chapter 3: Turtle Breathing

“Rewards?” Li Yi’s interest sparked, a bright gleam flashing in his eyes.

“Third place is the ‘Samsara Shroud’, enchanted with ‘Heal’ and ‘Nourish’. Wear it on your body, and it strengthens your physique, fortifies your foundation, and compensates for the mage’s weaknesses.”

“Second place is the ‘Emptiness Hand Bangle’, which can summon two Air Servants.”

“Don’t underestimate the Air Servants. A form of Elemental Life, though low-level, each possesses a full three spell slots – ‘Cyclone Ring’, ‘Gale Blade’, and ‘Swift Wind Step’. One Air Servant’s combat power is equivalent to a half-step eighth-layer mage.”

“First place is the protective ring – ‘Grip of Serenity’!” The young woman with the slender waist acted like she was laying out the entire world, pointing casually.

“This ring is made from a fallen Fusang branch. Its effect is to calm the mind and stabilize the spirit, enhancing meditation efficiency. More importantly, its magical effect comes entirely from the material itself. Adding more enchantments, magic arrays, forbidden seals, and Rune Matrixes could double or triple its quality!” She paused, her sweet voice echoing softly. “Do you… want it?”

“I want it!” Perhaps it was the beautiful woman’s allure, perhaps the attraction of the three prizes, or more likely both, the crowd grew restless, their spirits high.

“Blind fools, how laughable!” From deep within the crowd, a red-haired youth snorted softly, sneering. “A fallen Fusang branch? That was nothing special! That ‘Samsara Shroud’, though…” The maiden smiled slightly and waved her hand, still swaying with every step, like a lotus flower, disappearing under the crowd’s fervent gazes. However, the crowd didn’t know that the moment she stepped off stage, her smile vanished, replaced by a face full of fierce anger.

Thump! Her jade-like fist slammed against the wall, leaving a deep fist imprint in the black obsidian surface. “Urgh, I hate pretending childishness the most! If it weren’t for the Molting Leaf… forget it, Bai Liangyu! There’s a next time, and I’ll twist your head off!” Her expression was ferocious, venomous as a single-head garlic bulb, worlds apart from her stage persona.

“Yes… Duanmu, Senior Sister,” a nearby young man stammered nervously.

“What ‘Senior Sister’? Call me Grandma!” The girl planted her hands on her hips, gesturing wildly.

…

On the platform below, checking Dawn Cliff badges, handing out Magic Crystals, tokens, Meditation Arts, and other items proceeded smoothly. Tempered by the ice and fire ordeals, the youths now wore solemn expressions or looked eager to prove themselves, much less lifeless than before.

“The Martial Display? I’ll take the top spot, but I also want that Samsara Shroud,” the red-haired youth snorted, his eyes fierce. “When I, Yu Qian, want something, I’ve never failed to get it…”

“Turtle Breathing Technique? I heard it’s one of the nine foundational Meditation Arts?” Yan Zhao unfolded a paper scroll, smiling faintly. “This one suits me better, at least it’s stronger than the ‘Sea Viewing Art’ from the Eastern Sea’s ‘Tidal Sound Spirit Valley’… though ten Magic Crystals? Pathetic amount. How should I spend them?”

“This chant is useless to me,” Zhangsun Shenji murmured expressionlessly, not even bothering to open his scroll. “The Magic Crystals are no different.”

“Li Yi, where are your Magic Crystals? Stashed them already? That fast?” Yan Zhao’s sharp eyes caught something.

“Of course I put them away safely! Don’t show your wealth!” Li Yi replied casually, not caring if he seemed stingy. Deep in his pupils, a trace of strangeness flowed. He had understood the meaning of equivalent exchange. The ten Magic Crystals, the moment they were in his hand, were absorbed by the Heavenly Prophecy Ring. Naturally, it wasn’t a free gift. In his consciousness, each word and line of the Turtle Breathing Technique’s chant drifted and shifted. As they reformed one by one, the chant became utterly transformed – heavens above, earth below. And a new name was settled upon it.

— Turtle Hibernation Art!

…

The full moon rose. A solitary tower stood tall. Known as the “Sky-Touching” Elemental Tower, it truly seemed like a pillar holding up the heavens, connecting sky and earth. Billions of starlight threads cascaded down, forming a nine-colored curtain of rain, magnificent and resplendent, gathering around the tower’s peak. At the top, intricate Magic Arcs shimmered, tracing countless complex and profound magic arrays. At the eyes of these arrays were materials like a Demon fang, an Angel’s broken wing, or an Abyssal whale heart — each, without exception, priceless magical treasures! The mystical formations resembled peony petals, seemingly independent yet arrayed in a pattern of Myriad Stars Surround the Moon, converging into a vast Magic Array of awe-inspiring scale. The key component of its Super Magic Array – “Well of Stars” was actually… a Star Beast’s Eye! One must know that Star Beasts, also called Star Devourers, were beings capable of obliterating entire dimensions!

The effect of “Well of Stars” was to convert star power into magical energy. Thick magical energy coursed down like a roaring waterfall, illuminating every Energy Node on the tower’s body and activating another Super Magic Array – the “Void Lung”. The Void Lung cycled slowly, surging energy gathering elements, causing the entire tower to voraciously devour surrounding elements. Breathing out the old and taking in the new, it created a meditation environment fit for gods.

At the tower’s base…

One young man drooped his head wearily, nodding off. A strand of fragrant air drifted past his nose. “S-Senior Sister Bai Yun?” The youth twitched his nose, jolted awake. “You… it’s your turn on Ye Xun duty today? I… I wasn’t sleeping…” Before him stood a figure clad in a pure white dress, spotless and ethereal. The maiden was beautiful, her arched brows complementing her dark hair, her lips deep red and teeth white, her jade-like skin surpassing frost and snow, as if stepping out of an ink painting.

— Bai Yun. Alongside Duanmu, she was recognized as one of Dawn Cliff’s nine great beauties. Her snow-white jade skin was an elegant counterpart to Duanmu’s bewitching, slender waist. Originally, Bai Yun with her gentle refinement was meant to officiate the entrance ceremony. However, Bai Yun, also a cultivator, had her “Evil Karma Flower” bloom prematurely, forcing her to reluctantly let the notoriously recalcitrant Duanmu pinch her nose and take the stage. Bai Yun even paid the not-small price of a Molting Leaf for this.

“It’s fine. I’m just making a routine patrol. No need for formality,” Bai Yun smiled gently and waved her hand. The youth silently praised; Bai Yun truly was as approachable as the rumors said. He stood up, eager to please. “Senior Sister, allow me to escort you.”

“No need,” Bai Yun declined politely, her smile like a spring breeze. “You have a sentry duty. Don’t leave your post. Besides, I’m just walking around…” Under his regretful gaze, her snowy figure dissolved into the night.

Moving with familiar grace, Bai Yun glided to stand before a stone box. The effects of the Void Lung diminished progressively from top to bottom. At the peak, the residences of the Manor Lord and the Nine Great Elders were shrouded in elements so thick it formed clouds. Leave it vacant for half a month, and all manner of strange Elemental Life would spontaneously appear. Once, a Great Elder left for half a year to hunt an Outer Realm giant beast – the Star-chasing Manta Ray. Upon returning, he was greeted by a Storm Titan!

Of course, the base level couldn’t compare. But for apprentices, it felt like a giant beast pulling a small cart – far more than sufficient. The excess elements settled at the Energy Nodes of the arrays, condensing into elemental fluid. This fluid wasn’t absorbable by mages, yet it served as excellent fertilizer, particularly vital for deep abyssal crops like “Evil Karma Flowers” or “Prison Blood Grass”, which couldn’t go a day without it.

“What? Impossible!” Shock appeared on Bai Yun’s pure, jade-like face; her delicate hand instinctively covered her parted lips. Lifting the lid of the box, she saw only a thin layer of elemental fluid covering the bottom! Not only was there no accumulation, it actually seemed to be decreasing! This had never happened in recent years. “I did hear there were three cadets this year pre-elected for the ‘Heaven’s Pride’ position, considered exceptionally talented! But in previous years, we had enough to support ten people’s practice! The cultivation speed of these three… can it truly be that astonishing?” Thoughts raced. Curiosity bubbled up within the usually placid, apathetic cultivating cultivator. This time, the surprise was too great; she couldn’t help but want to investigate.

Meditation Chamber – Twenty-Four

Her footsteps halted. Bai Yun frowned but soon relaxed.

“Yu Qian?” Water sounds gurgled within the chamber before her – sometimes a stream’s tinkle, sometimes a river’s crash against the shore. At moments, calm and undisturbed; at others, like a torrent slamming into boulders, turbulent and roaring. Along the outer wall, the vast network of energy conduits echoed with wave sounds, echoing like some hidden river monster lurking within, inhaling voraciously.

“Expected…” Bai Yun checked the room number against her list and nodded. This cohort boasted three talents pre-ordained for “Heaven’s Pride”.

Yu Qian. Su Xuan’er. Zhangsun Shenji.

Yu Qian hailed from the “River Earl” Yu Clan. The renowned secret meditation method of his clan – “Nine Bends Meditation” – was infamous. It wasn’t hard to guess.

“Huh? And that is…”

Meditation Chamber – Twenty-Eight

Not far away, one chamber stood eerily silent. Yet, the energy conduits spread across its walls creaked under immense strain. The speed of element flow rushing through them was only a hair’s breadth behind Yu Qian’s.

“Who is this? The Turtle Breathing Technique? Cultivated to such a level?”

Bai Yun’s curiosity deepened.