Chapter 5: The Northern Abyss Breath Devouring Technique

“All things in the world possess spirit and vitality. Through cultivation, one can prolong life and alter destiny. Different races have distinct paths of cultivation, but for humans there are mainly two: the first is ‘awakening the spirit’; the second is ‘bloodline awakening.’”

“The former refers to those who have a spiritual root or seed within them. By practicing certain methods, they can activate this potential and step onto the path of cultivation. The Ice Lotus, for instance, is a crucial medicinal material for planting a spiritual seed within the body!”

“Those with innate spiritual roots are naturally suited for cultivation. Those without must have a spiritual seed implanted… That’s why the Spiritual Seed Pill is the best-selling elixir at the Heavenly Stem Hall.”

“The latter path is for those with special bloodlines. They need neither spiritual root nor seed; their bloodline alone allows them to embark on the path of cultivation—just like you.”

Qin Yue understood well enough how his own cultivation had come about, but curiosity prompted him to ask, “Does everyone in our clan possess such a bloodline?”

The old madman shook his head. “Our clan must have had an extraordinary ancestor, or else our descendants would not be suppressed here. But not everyone can awaken the bloodline.”

“Even if one does awaken it, one must still learn the methods of cultivation. The body is like a leaky vessel—without the proper guidance of meridians, no matter how much spiritual energy one absorbs, it will quickly dissipate. Such a person may be stronger than the common folk, but they cannot be called true cultivators.”

Qin Yue remembered how, after absorbing the essence of three Ice Lotuses, he’d collapsed into exhaustion after a wild sprint—likely for this very reason.

Without a proper method, no matter how much energy one absorbs, it’s like that classic math problem: water flows in from one side, but drains out the other.

“I never had access to advanced cultivation techniques at Zhaoyang Sect, but their basic energy refining scripture is top-notch. I’ll teach it to you.”

“This method is called the ‘Northern Sea Swallowing Breath Technique.’ It’s a secret art not passed on lightly in Zhaoyang Sect, but unfortunately, I have only the foundational part. The reason I could learn it was because they were so sure I’d never escape, that I’d die soon enough. So you must never let anyone know you’ve learned it—otherwise, even if you change your appearance and skin color, you won’t escape their pursuit!”

“I understand, Master. Please teach me!” Qin Yue rose excitedly, preparing to kowtow and formally take the centenarian immortal as his teacher.

“I can’t be your master. If you wish, just call me ‘Teacher.’” The old madman stopped him and refused to accept a disciple.

He explained that too deep a bond would cloud emotions and judgment, just as he hoped Qin Yue would feign death for the same reason.

Once you set foot on the path of cultivation, the world of mortals and that of immortals diverge completely. It was enough for Qin Yue to care for his people.

Qin Yue could only yield.

As the old saying goes: “A true teaching is a single sentence; a false one fills ten thousand scrolls.”

The Northern Sea Swallowing Breath Technique’s incantation was simple; as the old madman put it: “Your bloodline is already awakened. You should learn at half the effort for twice the result.”

Qin Yue silently recited the formula; his spirit soon responded—

For the first time, while fully conscious, he “saw” the bronze wheel at his brow’s spiritual sea.

Ancient and solemn!

Far more vivid than in his dreams!

The mouse-headed glyph shone brilliantly, and at that instant, his consciousness was drawn into the world of the bronze giant rat.

In the midst of a chaotic grey void, the bronze giant rat stood motionless, exuding a terrifying pressure, unlike previous times when it had acted. In a corner of the void, Qin Yue saw the shadow of a great fish, floating unmoving, occupying a vast space.

But compared to the bronze giant rat that seemed to dominate the entire chaos, the fish appeared almost insignificant.

“Didn’t Master say the Northern Sea Swallowing Breath Technique is easy to start? Why is it… different for me?”

Though the old madman refused the title, in Qin Yue’s heart, he was still his master. A clan ancestor imparting teachings one-on-one—what else could he be?

The old madman had told Qin Yue to focus his mind, recite the incantation, and resonate with his bloodline. Soon he would sense the flow of energy—‘Qi sense.’

When one guides the ‘Qi’ to the dantian, it means successfully ‘drawing in the spirit’ and entering the first stage of cultivation.

Once one can clearly perceive and use the energy stored in the dantian, one enters the second stage—‘Qi absorption.’

If one can split the incoming spiritual energy—some to the dantian, some to the spiritual sea at the brow—one has reached the third realm: ‘Peering into the Void.’

Cultivators at this level are considered experts in the world.

According to Master, ‘drawing in the spirit’ and ‘Qi absorption’ are not difficult for those of good talent. The Zhaoyang Sect had a saying: ‘Ten days to draw in the spirit, a hundred to absorb Qi.’

But advancing to ‘Peering into the Void’ is much harder—requiring exceptional talent.

In any case, Master never mentioned that reciting the incantation would allow him to see an unmoving giant fish floating in his spiritual world. He hadn’t even mentioned the concept of a spiritual world.

“So what’s happening to me? Is it because I’m not a typical bloodline awakener? Or…” Qin Yue instinctively glanced at the bronze giant rat in the center.

He seemed to sense a complex, inexpressible emotion emanating from the giant rat—as if it glanced at him.

But when he looked, the sensation vanished.

The next instant—

As if some mysterious law had been triggered, the world of the bronze giant rat suddenly changed. In the chaotic region where the great fish floated, a vast ocean surged into being without warning!

Thunderous waves arose from the ‘sea,’ towering and violent, as if drawn by an invisible hand toward the fish’s shadow.

The momentum was so immense it seemed it would swallow his consciousness whole.

Qin Yue instinctively recited the incantation Master taught him. The immense body of the ‘fish’ suddenly shuddered.

Its tail casually swept through the surging waves attacking it, shattering them instantly!

Then, twisted by a mysterious force, the water formed a whirlpool that the fish inhaled with a gulp.

In a flash, Qin Yue felt the same sensation as when he absorbed the essence of the Ice Lotus—though not as intense.

…

In the physical world, deep beneath the earth, strands of spiritual energy surged forth, invisible to the naked eye, threading their way through Qin Yue’s pores.

Part of the energy flowed toward his spiritual sea at the brow; the rest coursed through his meridians and pooled in his dantian.

The spiritual energy entering the spiritual sea merged smoothly with the bronze wheel, like a stream flowing into the sea.

The energy entering the dantian formed a small vortex, subtly transforming and strengthening Qin Yue’s body.

The old madman, acting as guardian, couldn’t see Qin Yue’s current state—but he could sense the agitation in the earth’s veins, the surging spiritual energy!

He was astonished and deeply moved, his eyes growing moist.

“This child… no wonder he possessed such speed once his bloodline awakened! He can even stir the earth’s veins and set spiritual energy boiling!”

“So fast into the first realm… Ancestors above, our clan has birthed a genius at last!”

…

Realizing he had succeeded in ‘drawing in the spirit,’ Qin Yue didn’t push further. With full clarity, he withdrew from the world of the bronze giant rat.

Since this didn’t match what Master had described, he wanted to ask—but seeing Master’s excited expression, he silently swallowed his words: ‘When I practice the Northern Sea Swallowing Breath Technique, it doesn’t go exactly as you described, sir.’

He dared not mention that he seemed to be cultivating at the third realm…

Of course, this didn’t mean he was already a ‘Peering into the Void’ cultivator—only that, with the help of the bronze wheel, his cultivation method and path were somewhat unique.

“Now that you’ve entered the path, I’ll teach you various martial techniques…” The old madman gazed at Qin Yue with kindly satisfaction, but didn’t say much more—lest the young man grow arrogant.

“Master, do you know any flashy divine techniques? A wave of the hand to split mountains, a flying sword to cleave the void?” Qin Yue asked hopefully.

“Call me ‘Teacher’!” the old man corrected, eyeing him askance. “What are you dreaming of? How could Zhaoyang Sect impart such advanced arts to me? All I learned were killing techniques—I can teach you only those!”

His tone was amused and unconcerned, but the phrase unsettled Qin Yue.

Such things, apart from watching military channels, he’d hardly even imagined before.

“Stay here for now. If you’re hungry, there’s meat in the kitchen; if you’re tired, sleep. I’ll go to the lake to handle something,” the old madman said.

“What are you handling?” Qin Yue asked reflexively.

“Your cause of death.” The old man answered as he shuffled away. At the door, he paused and added, “If the lamp on the wall is too bright, just blow it out…”

The bright room fell silent again. Qin Yue rubbed his head, staring blankly at the wall-hung pelt of the Frost Bear.

His mind replayed the events of the day.

…

At the time, that sentence—‘From now on, you are a dead man’—had frightened him terribly.

But then he understood Master’s intent—

“I know you worry about your family. After you leave, they may well suffer reprisals. Even if not, they’ll have to bear the burdens you left behind with the rest of the clan. But remember this: to change anything, you must learn to let go!”

“Only by ‘leaving’ do you have hope. If you try to bring your family, you yourself won’t escape!”

“You mustn’t let anyone know you’re cultivating. The guards here may be low-ranked in Zhaoyang Sect, banished to this post, but they’re not useless. Many crave the sect’s rewards and a chance to rise!”

“That’s the contradiction of the world. This isn’t betrayal or abandonment. Only if you leave and rise can there be hope. Even if your loved ones die, there is still hope—because you got out.”

“Better a quick pain than a lingering one. Any attachment will become a stumbling block on your path. Also, your death means nothing to Zhaoyang Sect. A few weak youths dying in the Frozen Abyss is normal. The one who leaves will be a new person, unconnected to the Abyss.”

“Remember them in your heart. Learn to endure and conceal. Don’t act rashly or let feelings rule you.”

“Zhaoyang Sect is a mighty mountain. Dreaming of toppling it alone is folly—you must have patience.”

“Only you, and others like you who escape, have a chance to change fate!”

In truth, from the moment he understood his predicament, Qin Yue had yearned fiercely to leave—whether for himself, his loved ones, or his people.

Even without Master, he’d have found a way, and in the future would do what he could for his kin.

The advice was harsh, cruel even, but in truth, death and escape was the best solution.

Sitting cross-legged on a wooden bed layered with Frost Bear pelts, he calmed his spirit and returned to meditate on the great fish in his spiritual world.