Apology

The sixth-stage evolution of the Thunder Sovereign Visualization Method.

It was also called Divine Transformation.

At this stage, one still lacked the supernatural abilities of Manifestation, but one could use the spirit to control things deep within, stimulating the body's cells and thereby promoting stomach digestion, the heart's circulation of blood, and the liver and gallbladder's detoxification. Through constant regulation, the Flesh Body could gradually approach flawless perfection.

In fact, martial arts could achieve the same abilities in their later stages. Martial artists who reached such a realm, possessing flawless, harmonious bodies, were called Flawless True Immortals. Extending their lifespans was a matter of course.

However, the two focused on different aspects. They complemented each other, making the result all the more effective.

"I spent a month and a half advancing from the fourth stage to the fifth, but nearly half a year going from the fifth to the sixth... At this rate, won't reaching the seventh stage take a year? And the eighth stage three years, the ninth ten years, and the tenth thirty?"

Too slow.

Baili Qingfeng felt somewhat regretful.

His talent was ultimately a little lacking, and he had no good cultivation method. If only he could have the same treatment as a protagonist and pick up an unparalleled divine art while leaving the house...

But...

A protagonist who picked up a divine art outside usually came with max-level taunt. Even people suffering serious injuries in the hospital would smell his aura, leap from their beds despite their wounds, and run hundreds of miles to provoke him to their deaths. Countless troubles and disturbances would inevitably follow. He still preferred living a peaceful life.

"Once the Thunder Sovereign Visualization Method reaches the sixth stage, I can precisely control my organs, muscles, and even cells..."

Baili Qingfeng tried controlling his breathing.

The human chest and abdomen contained the intercostal muscles and diaphragm. When they expanded, the lungs' volume increased, causing the air pressure inside them to fall below the outside atmospheric pressure. The external air pressure then forced air into the lungs, where the gases in the air diffused and exchanged with those in the blood, allowing the body to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.

Afterward, the intercostal muscles and diaphragm contracted, reducing the lungs' volume. The pressure inside the lungs rose above the external pressure, forcing the air out of the body.

The process of expanding and contracting completed one respiratory cycle.

At present, Baili Qingfeng precisely controlled his lungs' expansion, controlling his intercostal muscles and diaphragm and perfectly stopping his breathing. Then...

He nearly suffocated himself to death!

"Whew! Whew!"

Baili Qingfeng released his control over his lungs and panted continuously, his face faintly flushed.

Although this attempt seemed to have been of little significance, it indirectly proved one thing...

Humans truly could not hold their breath until they died.

A lack of oxygen in the brain would cause one's thoughts to scatter. At that point, the survival instinct would involuntarily make the lungs begin breathing, drawing in air and causing any plan to suffocate oneself to death to die in the cradle.

He simply did not know whether using the Heaven Demon Disintegration Art to break through the body's instincts would allow him to go as far as suffocating himself to death.

One night passed amid cultivation and study.

The next day was Saturday.

There was an elective course on the colonial history of The Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets.

Baili Qingfeng took one look and skipped class without hesitation.

He tidied himself up slightly in front of the mirror, slung his guqin over his back, left the courtyard, and headed for Shuiyun Yayun in the alley not far outside the school.

Just as Baili Qingfeng was about to reach the alley where Shuiyun Yayun was located, he saw three people walk out of a shop.

Those three...

Baili Qingfeng knew all of them.

Gule, Gude, and Su Wei.

When the three saw Baili Qingfeng, they were clearly startled, and their faces faintly paled.

Baili Qingfeng politely nodded to Gule, his roommate of more than a year, and continued forward.

At that moment, Gule gathered his courage and called out to Baili Qingfeng.

"Qingfeng..."

"Something wrong?"

Baili Qingfeng asked calmly.

"I..."

Gule glanced at Baili Qingfeng somewhat fearfully. "I'm apologizing to you. I-I shouldn't have bad-mouthed you behind your back."

Gude and Su Wei also edged forward, shrinking back as they said, "Student Qingfeng, we said quite a few offensive things the day before yesterday. We apologize to you. Please, Student Qingfeng, don't take it to heart..."

As he spoke, Su Wei also offered a small package. "This... this is a token of our apology... We hope Student Qingfeng can be magnanimous and not hold it against us..."

Their slightly trembling arms and haggard faces were a far cry from the swaggering way they had pointed fingers at Baili Qingfeng the day before yesterday.

Baili Qingfeng looked at the two and recalled the scene he had witnessed them in the night before. He vaguely guessed why they were suppressing their fear to apologize to him. He was not worried that they would spread that matter.

Because...

No one would believe them.

"What's past is past. It was only a minor matter. I won't take it to heart."

Baili Qingfeng looked at the three calmly. After a moment, considering that he and Gule had been roommates and that Gule was overly impulsive, he said earnestly, "Still, in the future, you need to understand what should be said and what shouldn't. I'm easy to get along with and won't fuss over a trivial matter like this, but that doesn't mean everyone is the same. I've encountered quite a few bad people before. Their tempers flared at the slightest provocation. Once, someone pushed me into blocking his path for no reason, and he tried to beat me to death. If you run into such a vicious man and keep chewing the fat behind his back, you might not even know how you died in the end."

Gude and Su Wei thought of the corpse they had seen at the abandoned construction site the day before yesterday. Hearing Baili Qingfeng's words, they immediately assumed he was warning them never to spread what had happened that day. Otherwise, he would beat them to death. Their faces turned even paler, and their bodies trembled.

"Understood, understood. Rest assured, Student Qingfeng. We absolutely won't say a word."

"That's right, that's right! I swear to heaven, if I spout any more nonsense, may the heavens strike me with five thunderbolts and have lightning split me to death!"

The two hurriedly swore solemn oaths.

"Good."

Seeing that they had taken his words to heart, Baili Qingfeng nodded in satisfaction.

He wanted to be a good student, to stand upright and conduct himself properly. Naturally, he hoped that the people around him would be equally upright and honorable, spreading no rumors and chewing no one's ear off behind their back.

"Student Qingfeng, please, you really must accept this token of our apology. Otherwise, we won't be able to sleep at night."

Seeing that Baili Qingfeng seemed about to leave, Su Wei hurried forward and held out the small package.

"Really, there's no need."

Baili Qingfeng pushed the package back. "Although I really am very poor and have to work part-time outside school, I truly can't accept these three thousand yuan."

"But..."

"That settles it."

Baili Qingfeng turned and left.

"We... we couldn't give it to him..."

Su Wei watched Baili Qingfeng leave, his face still deathly pale. "He... he wouldn't be holding a grudge and refusing to let us off, would he?"

Gule gritted his teeth. "It shouldn't come to that. I've known Baili Qingfeng for a year. He shouldn't be the petty sort..."

"You've lived with him for a year, so you understand him? Then do you dare believe that he could actually kill someone?"

"This..."

Gule fell silent.

For ordinary people like them, getting into a fight was the limit. Murder...

It was simply beyond their imagination.

"Three thousand is too little."

Gude suddenly spoke. "Baili Qingfeng doesn't even care about three thousand. Increase it—raise it to ten thousand. Then have Gule deliver it. After all, you and him shared a dormitory and have that bond between roommates. For your sake, he should accept the money and let this matter go."

"Ten thousand!?"

Su Wei shuddered. "I... where would I get ten thousand?"

"Then do you want to be beaten to death? Baili Qingfeng said he was so poor that he had to work part-time, yet he rejected your three thousand. Isn't his meaning obvious? We'll each contribute half of the ten thousand. Even if we have to eat steamed buns and serve dishes for the next year, we still have to scrape it together!"

Gude spoke, then let out a long sigh. "Spend money to avert disaster."

Su Wei nodded with a mournful expression.

Who told him to cause trouble for no reason? This time, he had kicked an iron plate.