The Endless Promise

41. Surpassing Limits

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After such a disastrous first mission, Luoyin was more than ready for some peace and quiet...

The first two weeks after he awoke, were spent on his healing and recovery, as he expended pills and resources to undo what the immortal technique had done.

The technique had been risky, but some good had come of it!

That sheer burst of power had fortified Zhang Luoyin's body somewhat, enhancing his flesh, bones and marrow. It had also opened a few more meridians, and Luoyin could feel the change in his qi absorption speed, and his ability to tolerate external pain.

Next came a part he wasn't looking forward to...

Physical training!

As a mortal, Zhang Luoyin's body was out of shape, and even Bailong as an immortal hadn't needed much combat, as he had been locked away for thirty thousand years!

So far, Luoyin had counted on sheer spirit power, and had only meditated before the mission, but if he was to surpass mortal limits, every aspect of his cultivation had to be near perfect.

'But must you surpass mortal limits...?' An inner voice asked. 'Nothing wrong with living a quiet, mortal life... A Physician? An Alchemist? You'll do well as an Alchemist...'

The thought of leaving a quiet life appealed to Bailong...

He had never been ambitious, even as an immortal. A lot of his accomplishments had come from extreme hard work, yes, but most of his reasons had been his own curiosity, and him simply being himself.

He had never sought to rank the highest, or get a title, or surpass anyone. He simply wanted to know what happened if one cultivated this way, or that. Or what happened if one mixed this herb with that, and so on.

But through the eyes of Luoyin was everything Luoyin had been through, and when added to the need to protect himself, if the immortals ever found out who he was, his answer to that question could only be,

Yes!

He needed to surpass mortal limits!

So he picked a sword again to begin training, and cursed every few minutes as unwilling bones and muscles were abused with almost every stance.

But he didn't let up... couldn't let up, and thanks to the fortification, his body adapted quickly to the strain.

He scoured 'Zhang Luoyin's' memories for every bit of cultivation he learned till fourteen, and he remastered them all as an adult. Then he delved into his own life, tweaking or using what he could from his immortal cultivation.

A month passed, and then two.

During that time, he went to the Xu Central Residence every four days, to check on the Light Tiger, and Yinying happily followed. Luoyin mischievously introduced Yinying as his mother's long lost uncle from Yunchi Sect, who had fallen on hard times and couldn't remember his way home!

Yinying glared at him, but it at least got him a 'visible' identity!

And not long afterward, Luoyin noted with some amusement that Yinying had neatly trimmed his hair and beards, generally appearing much more refined in dark grey robes embroidered with white lining, as opposed to his normal stark black plain robes!

Yinying and Yiguang seemed to have gotten closer, and Luoyin felt like the uninvited tea guest whenever they were together, both of them speaking through telepathy and locking him out.

"Ungrateful!" He often complained, but couldn't help a large smile in their direction.

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Luoyin spent other days mostly training, or cultivating, or reading, or refining pills, or enjoying tea or wine in his garden pagoda, staring up at the clouds of day, or the stars of night.