My cultivation method shines upon all heavens.

Chapter 69 Live on your knees or die standing

Lu Ming bent down and pulled the yellowed book out from the bottom of the stone shelf.

The pages were tattered and curled at the edges; with a casual turn, tiny fragments would fall out in a flurry.

"It's so badly damaged, no wonder it was thrown into this remote corner."

He chuckled and shook his head, about to close the book and put it back, when his gaze suddenly paused.

On the title page of the book, two lines of familiar handwriting caught his attention: "When I was young, my mother took me to the North Sea to pay homage to the Xuanwu Daojun. I observed the black tortoise suppressing the water and thus comprehended this 'Secret of the Hidden Organs'."

"Although it is not a systematic work, it is the result of my hard work, so I record it to pass on to future generations."

The handwriting is exactly the same as the blood-written words on the title page of the "west Wang Jing" (The Scripture of the Western King), but it is less sloppy and unrestrained, and more upright and solemn.

At this moment, the long-absent notification sound of the Heavenly Heart Scroll rang out again:

[A Heart Imprint has been discovered, containing the low-grade spiritual scripture "The Hidden Organs Technique," which can be refined. Refine it now?]

Lu Ming was overjoyed.

I thought I would return empty-handed from this trip, but things took an unexpected turn for the better.

He is about to reach the final realm of the seven realms of martial arts.

Without the slightest hesitation, he decisively chose "yes".

"boom--!"

In an instant, the world spun around him, and a world of ice and snow suddenly enveloped him.

The vast, boundless icy sea stretches to the horizon before my eyes.

The ice surface reflected the grayish-white light of the sky, and the cold wind, carrying tiny ice crystals, scraped against the skin like blades.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed past beneath the ice.

"Bang--!"

A black tortoise, hundreds of feet in size, broke through the ice. Its shell rose up like a moving mountain, creating towering waves before suddenly calming down.

In the blink of an eye, the once turbulent sea surface became smooth as a mirror again, and the enormous object seemed to be just a silent reef.

Its shell is black, with naturally formed patterns that crisscross like an ancient celestial script, seemingly recording the most primordial Taoist principles between heaven and earth.

Time flowed slowly in the illusion, and in a daze, Lu Ming gradually began to feel the slow breathing of the Xuan Turtle.

Each breath lasts as long as a cup of tea, yet it subtly resonates with the ebb and flow of the tides and the expansion and contraction of the ice, as if the entire world is pulsating with its breath.

"The tortoise's breath inhales impurities, nourishing the body with gentle blood; the five internal organs become as strong as armor, the six viscera become solid and resilient. Stillness preserves vital energy, movement protects against injury; impervious to all poisons, one lives as long as heaven—"

As profound insights flowed through his mind, Lu Ming's breathing gradually became longer and more even.

His breath was as fine as silk, and his breath as deep as an abyss.

The vast, boundless energy and blood within the body subtly changed. The originally raging and surging momentum suddenly subsided, slowly transforming into a fine blood mist that, like spring rain, seeped into the internal organs.

Nourished by the blood mist, the internal organs gradually became as tough as armor, and fine tortoise shell patterns appeared on their surface.

A deep, resonant sound emanated from within his body with each breath, like the endless echoing of a distant mountain bell.

A moment later, Lu Ming suddenly opened his eyes, and the empty room was filled with light.

Two beams of light flashed from the depths of his pupils, like lightning breaking the dawn.

He suddenly stood up, feeling the increasingly vigorous energy and the profound vitality within his body, and felt refreshed.

He subconsciously glanced at the scroll beneath his eyes:

[Martial Arts: Hidden Organs Technique (Low-grade Spiritual Manual; Mastery 2000/3000)]

"This Wang family patriarch is quite interesting. He copied his own family's unique skills into a mess, but the martial arts he comprehended himself contained all his hard work."

He smiled and sighed, then strode away.

Now that he has the resources of the four major families under his control, he can slowly discover the good stuff, but he needs to clean up the mess outside.

The following day, the Tiger Patrol Battalion launched a large-scale search and arrest operation in Yinhu County for the remaining members of the four major gangs.

Although Lu Ming wiped out the direct descendants of the four powerful clans, their influence outside their bloodlines still lingered in various places.

Gangs, taverns, teahouses, brothels—all businesses that had once been affiliated with the four major families underwent a thorough purge.

You either live on your knees or die standing; there are no exceptions.

In an instant, Yinhu County was teeming with people, and fresh heads hanging on the city gates swayed in the wind.

The city was filled with an atmosphere of panic; even the stray dogs on the street tucked their tails between their legs.

Dongshi Street is located right next to the Songyin River.

The streets were bustling with people, the shouts of vendors and the cries of dock workers rose and fell, mingled with the smell of river water and the aroma of fried noodles.

A man and a woman strolling down the street quickly attracted a lot of attention.

The man was in his early twenties, dressed in a blue shirt and holding a folding fan; he had a handsome face.

His peach blossom eyes held an arrogant air, and his gaze swept across the surroundings with disdain. Only when he looked at the woman in front of him did a hint of infatuation and awe flash in his eyes.

-

The woman's long hair cascaded down her back, loosely tied in a half-up bun. Her beauty was unparalleled; her eyes had a slight golden tint, with upturned corners that exuded a captivating charm.

She wore a moon-white long dress with dark patterns, and had a tall and slender figure with a prominent bust and buttocks.

As she walked, shimmering light seemed to appear beneath her skirt, her graceful figure captivating, each step feeling like a gentle touch on the heart.

At this moment, everyone on the street, regardless of age or gender, was staring at her intently, unwilling to look away even for a moment.

Many diners were so unaware that the buns in their hands had fallen to the ground that they didn't even notice.

The man in blue's eyes flashed with displeasure upon seeing this. He quickly took two steps closer to the woman and whispered, "Qing Si, these lowly people are far too presumptuous—should I intervene and discipline them?"

The woman felt the close presence behind her, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she turned to look at him: "Luo Ziyuan, are we—very familiar?"

Her gaze was cold and aloof, yet the curve of her eyes carried a hint of inexplicable allure.

Luo Ziyuan's face stiffened, and he subconsciously paused, taking several steps back to maintain distance before whispering, "Yes, Miss Su."

Knowing that his earlier abruptness had displeased Su Qingsi, he slowed his pace and changed the subject, asking, "Miss Su, why did you come to this desolate western region?"

While browsing the streets on both sides, Su Qingsi picked up a grasshopper woven from straw and examined it from all angles, then casually replied, "Why? Naturally, it's because the one from the Heavenly Mystery Sect who calculates the world is here."

Luo Ziyuan lowered his eyes and followed closely behind, showing no excessive excitement.

Because he knew that Su Qingsi's words did not refer to a romantic relationship.

Thinking of that man who was almost demonically intelligent, a trace of fear flashed in his eyes, and he hesitated, saying, "That demon's cultivation was unparalleled throughout history, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion brought untold suffering to countless lives."

"Lian Feng—does he really dare to interfere in this grand scheme?"

Su Qingsi held a hairpin up to the sun, gesturing with it, and her charming smile instantly captivated the stall owner.

She casually tossed aside the hairpin, and with a sway of her hips, gracefully walked forward: "Heh—dare not? Someone who dares to accept the title 'Even the Calculation of All Beings'—what wouldn't he dare to do?"

Luo Ziyuan casually pushed aside a burly man who tried to take advantage of him and glared at him coldly.

The burly man had intended to step forward and cause trouble, but the moment their eyes met, he lost all courage and fled in a disheveled state.

However, after taking only a few steps, he suddenly collapsed and died, bleeding from his mouth and nose, causing passersby to gasp in shock.

Luo Ziyuan followed closely behind as if nothing had happened, and asked casually, "So, what exactly is that evil Taoist priest up to? Why are all the sects in the world eagerly awaiting him, and why are all the geniuses descending the mountain to seek him out?"