In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

The power of the Dragon Balls was overwhelming and irresistible. In just an instant, Shi Long felt all his power being sealed by the Dragon Balls.

Indeed, not only did he not gain any power, but all his strength was sealed away.

Pfft!

Immediately, Shi Long's vision went black, and he fainted, or rather, he fell into a state of suspended animation.

A state of apparent death is not actual death.

This is also known as the state of fetal breathing.

Zhang Xiaoshan used the Pure Yang Finger to put the stone dragon into a state of suspended animation, allowing the power of the Dragon Pearl to work in conjunction with the medicinal effects of the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup to unleash the stone dragon's potential and bring it back to its original, 'natural' state.

It is known that Shi Long was able to cultivate the Longevity Technique because of his rare Yin-Yang constitution.

Previously, because Shi Long did not know how to use it, he went astray, and the Yin and Yang energies were worn away.

Zhang Xiaoshan's current solution is to reboot the device.

As time passed, Zhang Xiaoshan looked at the stone dragon in its feigned death state, then gazed into the distance, and couldn't help but chuckle:

"Now that Lady Xuan Nu has arrived, why hide?"

"Did you kill him? Or did you fail?"

Xuan Nu looked at the stone dragon, who was feigning death, with a look of doubt in her eyes.

She came to see how Zhang Xiaoshan would save people, but she never expected to witness this scene.

“He is not dead. Xuan Nu, do you remember those great monks of Tibet? At this moment, Daoist Shi Long is just like them.”

However, his state of suspended animation is also known as fetal breathing. Combined with the potent medicinal power of the previous Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup and the assistance of the Dragon Ball's power, under the fetal breathing state, his body can reach the state of 'returning to its original state' and recover completely.

This is also why he couldn't break through to the peerless realm before.

This fundamentally solved his problem of cultivating longevity, bringing immeasurable benefits.

Chapter 482 Stone Dragon Breakthrough: Identity Exposed

"Embryo breathing state? Returning to simplicity?"

Xuan Nu looked at Zhang Xiaoshan, never expecting that the seemingly simple treatment contained such profound power.

No wonder even the medically savvy Murong Jiu couldn't see his problem, but Zhang Xiaoshan could see through it at a glance. Zhang Xiaoshan's mastery of the Pure Yang Finger and martial arts had reached a transcendent level.

How long will it take him to wake up?

"At the latest I'll wake up tomorrow morning. Since Miss Xuan Nu is here, I'll go rest on the boat!"

The beautiful woman was waiting for him on the boat, and Zhang Xiaoshan didn't want to be fed mosquitoes here.

Before Xuan Nu could respond, Zhang Xiaoshan had already turned and leaped away, his figure disappearing like a ghost, leaving Xuan Nu looking bewildered.

Xuan Nu never expected Zhang Xiaoshan to be so unethical, handing over the patient to her while he went to enjoy a romantic encounter. It took her a long time to realize what he had done.

She was merely curious and had no intention of becoming Shi Long's protector.

However, looking at the empty and desolate mountains and fields, Xuan Nu knew that Shi Long was in a state of feigned death at this time. If she left, he might be fed to wild beasts at any time.

"Damn bastard!"

Left with no other choice, Xuan Nu could only sit cross-legged and meditate here to cultivate the Nine Yin Divine Skill.

In just one year, her cultivation level had already reached the peak of the ninth level.

However, due to the lack of the tenth level of the mental cultivation method, he has been unable to break through to the Pure Yin realm.

However, even with the profoundness of the Ninefold Heart Method, she benefited greatly, and the true qi she condensed was in no way inferior to her previous true qi.

This is the true qi of Taoism. Therefore, although true qi is extremely yin and cold, it is also pure and gentle.

The true qi nourishes the body's blood and qi. Although it cannot completely solve her problem, the Mysterious Woman can feel that this true qi is at least effective and can minimize the damage to the body.

Moreover, the first nine levels are named Lesser Yin, Nine Yin, and Greater Yin, while the tenth level of mental cultivation is named Pure Yin, so the true Qi will inevitably rise to another level.

Unfortunately, Zhang Xiaoshan wouldn't act until he saw a clear benefit.

Even Huang Rong and the other women did not have the tenth level of the mental cultivation method, which shows how deep Zhang Xiaoshan's defenses were.

Perhaps the tenth mental technique can greatly alleviate his physical condition.

The Mystic Maiden entered a meditative state. Within a three-zhang radius around her, a chilling aura, as cold as frost, enveloped the surrounding white expanse.

···

"Ok!"

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight shone on Shi Long Dao Ren, a soft groan was heard.

Even the Xuan Nu, who was cultivating, looked at the awakened Stone Dragon Taoist with her beautiful eyes full of curiosity, not expecting that the Taoist was really not dead.

"May I ask who you are, fairy?"

"My name is Xuan Nu. Which irresponsible bastard dumped you on me? Let me check your condition first."

A touch of ice-cold coldness landed on Shi Long's wrist, and Shi Long immediately felt a chill, like that of black ice, coursing through his body.

Soon, the Mystic Maiden nodded, full of surprise.

"Indeed, your body has recovered, returning to its original state. Excellent technique!"

Upon hearing Xuan Nu's exclamation, Daoist Shi Long hurriedly circulated his Longevity Technique, and his face immediately turned deathly pale.

Because his internal energy from the Longevity Technique had completely disappeared.

"Your current situation is that your true qi has been sealed by that bastard."

The Tibetan monks were like that before; they first went into a state of suspended animation, and when they woke up, their powers had disappeared.

"But that bastard was healing you. Your body is now in its most primitive state, which is what he meant by the reason you haven't been able to break through further. That fundamentally solves the problem."

"what?"

Upon hearing Xuan Nu's explanation, even Shi Long could not believe it.

This was nothing short of a miraculous resurrection, a reversal of fate. Although Shi Long had some doubts, he knew in his heart that what Xuan Nu said was almost certainly true.

Because he had absolutely nothing to offer that Zhang Xiaoshan could deceive him about.

Moreover, the legendary Pure Yang Finger is incredibly mysterious in itself, and with the addition of the Dragon Pearl and the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, it's not impossible.

"What's true and what's false, you'll have to figure it out for yourself later, Daoist Master!"

With a clear and confident voice, the two saw Zhang Xiaoshan, who appeared as if soaring through the air like a lone wild goose.

Xuan Nu was still angry about Zhang Xiaoshan's outrageous actions.

Daoist Shilong bowed respectfully, regardless of the outcome; success or failure hinged on this moment.

"Daoist Master, please eat something first, and then we'll proceed with the final fusion of true qi!"

At this moment, Zhang Xiaoshan took out two food boxes from his sleeve and handed them to Shi Long and Xuan Nu.

Shilong has delicious xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and a jar of aged wine.

In Xuan Nu's hands were bread, fried eggs, and milk tea.

Xuan Nu, moved by Zhang Xiaoshan's thoughtfulness, forgot all about causing him trouble and accepted the food to eat.

On the contrary, after carefully examining Shi Long, Zhang Xiaoshan nodded in approval, confirming that it had indeed achieved the effect he had envisioned.

After that, Shi Long's breakthrough was a natural outcome.

"Congratulations, Daoist Shilong! The hidden danger has been completely resolved. From now on, you will not only have no bottlenecks in breaking through to the peerless realm, but even becoming a Grandmaster will not be a problem!"

"Really?"

Shi Long, who was frantically eating steamed buns, suddenly lost the taste of the delicious food in his mouth. He looked at Zhang Xiaoshan in disbelief, thinking he had misheard.

"Taoist Master, there is no need to doubt. Your situation is similar to that of the Queen of the Underworld."

Because the Empress Yin lost her virginity too early, she was unable to break through the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Demon Great Art. However, with the help of the Pure Yang Finger and the Dragon Pearl, she still managed to break through to the eighteenth level.

Moreover, with Zhang's improved strength over the years, and the Dragon Ball having undergone a transformation, the Taoist priest's problem is not truly unsolvable.

"Shi Long thanks you, young master!"

Shi Long bowed deeply, considering it an act of immense grace.

"Since you are one of the Buddha's people, then you are one of us. There is no need to be so polite."

"Son!"

The two main rulers of Ghost Street are the Golden-Faced Buddha and the Zhang family.

At this time, Shi Long had received great kindness from everyone, so after this bow, Shi Long was completely loyal to Ghost Street.

After a hearty meal, Shi Long sat cross-legged and began to practice the Longevity Mantra!

Zhang Xiaoshan then suspended the dragon pearl above the stone dragon's head, and as the stone dragon's sealed power gradually filled its meridians, it began its second round of cultivation.

The True Qi that he was once extremely familiar with was now being cultivated by Shi Long again, much like the Wedding Dress Divine Skill, bringing him a different kind of understanding.

However, the recovery period for cultivating the Wedding Dress Divine Skill is normally more than six months.

But at this moment, the true qi within Shi Long's body surged like a flood bursting its banks, coursing through his meridians. The yin and yang true qi merged, refined, and purified each other…

Although the true qi in Shi Long's body seemed to be extremely yin and yang, its actual strength was infinitely close, but still slightly lacking.

Now, with Shi Long's renewed cultivation, the True Qi of Longevity is constantly being refined and purified, increasingly approaching the attributes of ultimate Yin and ultimate Yang.

Once the tempering is complete, it will reach an unparalleled realm.

Martial arts cultivation involves opening the twelve regular meridians and eight extraordinary meridians from the third-rate, second-rate, and first-rate levels.

Once one passes through the gates of life and death and enters the Innate Realm, one becomes a top master, which is further divided into entry level (Qiu Qianren), minor achievement (the Four Great Masters of the Condor Heroes), and major achievement (the Four Great Masters of Tianlong).

The ultimate state is the innate limit, the pinnacle of internal cultivation. The ultimate state of true qi is extreme yin and cold, extreme yang and strong, extreme evil and extreme yin...

Or one can comprehend the power of heaven and earth, like the realm of a sword saint or a heavenly blade master.

At this point, Shi Long's breakthrough was a natural outcome.

The medicinal power accumulated in his body, along with the renewed surge of yin and yang energy, caused the stone dragon's face to alternate between red and black, radiating powerful energy.

"Fine, I'll help you one more time!"

Zhang Xiaoshan looked at the stone dragon. If he waited here for the stone dragon to break through, it would take at least three hours and at most three days. Zhang Xiaoshan didn't have that kind of patience.

Therefore, Zhang Xiaoshan used his Pure Yang Finger to press on the Dazhui acupoint of the stone dragon, using the pure Yang and Nine Yin true Qi to accelerate its refining and tempering process.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a surge of powerful energy caused the space to tremble.

However, Shi Long successfully broke through to the peerless realm, and a faint, ethereal divine aura was enhancing him.

The Longevity Formula is, after all, one of the highest internal cultivation techniques in Taoism.

At this time, Shi Long had also achieved some success in his cultivation, and his natural temperament was exceptional. When he cultivated the Cihang Sword Manual with Shi Feixuan, a spiritual aura enveloped him, making him appear like a fairy who had descended to earth, which was quite similar to Shi Long's.

"Shi Long thanks you for your great kindness, young master!"

Upon waking, Shi Long prostrated himself in worship once more, his expression one of intense excitement.

At this moment, Shi Long was not only grateful for Zhang Xiaoshan's help, but also learned Zhang Xiaoshan's true identity from the Pure Yang and Nine Yin True Qi that Zhang Xiaoshan had just revealed.

After all, Zhang Xiaoshan had spent a lot of effort helping him heal his internal injuries from his qi deviation back then.

This kind of true qi, which is even purer and more vast than the true qi of immortality, can only be found in Zhang Xiaoshan.

"Please rise, Daoist Master. You have now mastered the Longevity Technique and are considered one of the top experts in the martial arts world."

From now on, the management of Yangzhou's Ghost Street will be handed over to the Taoist priest!

"Rest assured, young master, as long as Shi Long is alive, Ghost Street will remain safe and sound."

"No need. Yangzhou Ghost Street is not important. What's important is the Zhang family's business and goods transit here."

"Shilong understands!"

The Ghost Street in Yangzhou is too chaotic, with many forces at play and people not united. It has little to do with the Zhang family, and what do they care about the Zhang family's life or death?

What Zhang Xiaoshan truly valued was the Zhang family's business and the transshipment of goods.

At this moment, Xuan Nu looked at the exceptionally respectful Shi Long and couldn't help but look at the master and servant in surprise.

Overnight, Zhang Xiaoshan gained another peerless master under his command.