Lewis was startled and hastily turned around, only to find a corpulent figure standing under a nearby tree, eating dates while sneering coldly.

Witnessing this, Lewis secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The newcomer was named Lee, an internal guard who shared the duty of guarding the backyard with him. To others, Lee might appear as a peculiar-looking middle-aged man with a quirky temperament, but in Lewis's eyes, Lee possessed remarkable skills, yet willingly served as a guard for an aristocratic family, a fact that intrigued Lewis.

Lee often spoke sharply and sarcastically, displaying a somewhat snobbish demeanor, yet he treated Lewis relatively well.

"He is seriously injured, and most likely, he has already succumbed," Lee said with a strange tone after spitting out the date pit.

"Lee, Brother Lee, I..."

"Humph, do you think I am unaware? Over these seven days, you've secretly been sending him food. What benefits has he given you to make you act as if possessed by a ghost?" Lee glared fiercely at Lewis, and with a prominent cheekbone, he displayed an expression of justified anger. "If I hadn't covered for you, do you think you could have hidden it from the other mansion guards?"

"Ah... Thank you, Brother Lee," the youth scratched his head, expressing gratitude.

"You, oh you, I truly don't understand what you're thinking." Lee sighed deeply, pointing at the iron window pensively. "Why bother saving a wretch? Besides, you can't save him."

"Master Chuan is not that kind of person," Lewis said with a flushed face.

"Not that kind of person?" Lee's tone suddenly rose, and his murky eyes shot out a thick layer of mockery. "Even if he's not, what benefits do you gain by saving him? Damn it, you, this little stutterer, just can't see the bigger picture. I, Lee, am forty-eight this year, yet I am still the lapdog of an aristocratic family. Do you know why? If it weren't for me helping the wrong person and offending the wrong people years ago, you would now be addressing me as Lord Lee!"

"I..."

"In serving an aristocratic family, the key is to learn to read between the lines, discern right from wrong. If Shuro offended the Third Young Master, his death is certain. If others find out that you've been secretly giving food to Shuro and the news reaches the ears of the Third Young Master, will you even have your life? Even if you don't care for yourself, think about your little sister!"

"Brother Lee..."

"From today onwards, if you dare to send him food again, don't blame me for turning hostile. Hmph!" Annoyed, Lee kicked Lewis and swaggered out of the courtyard. Lewis, with a lowered head, followed Lee at a leisurely pace. Just before leaving the courtyard, he turned back to glance at the secret room, his gaze complex.

The courtyard, located in the deepest part of the mansion, contained nothing but the secret room and a lone ancient tree amid the pure white snow.

A ball of strange fire descended from the treetop, transforming into human form upon touching the ground.

"Tired of living, these two little internal guards, actually daring to gossip about the Third Young Master." Pang Guan muttered to himself with a dark expression.

He closed his eyes, seemingly listening to something. After a while, he opened his eyes. "He's still alive! This troublesome little stutterer!"

Staring at the secret room, Pang Guan's eyes flashed with murderous intent. With hands behind his back, he stood under the tree, uttering with resentment, "Forget it. I'll report back to the Young Master and deal with these few small fry later."

Licking his lips, Pang Guan turned into a ball of strange fire and drifted away.

In the secret room, Shuro was oblivious to everything happening in the courtyard.

At this moment, he was immersed in a wondrous state that transcended his previous experiences.

Initially, he could still hear his own breathing. Gradually, the sound of breathing faded away, replaced by the rushing flow of blood in his veins, resembling the surging waves of a mighty river. Later, even the sound of blood flowing slowed down and finally ceased.

Time became slow, then eventually came to a standstill.

The entire world quieted down, leaving only Shuro alone.

The principle of "Emptiness"!

Shuro had an epiphany, but suddenly, he realized that he couldn't open his eyes, speak, or escape this "empty" world.

Had he ultimately failed?

Enveloped by boundless emptiness, Shuro felt lost and despondent.

In the next moment, he felt himself rapidly descending, falling into an endless abyss of darkness. Soon after, he shattered into fragments, his feeble body disintegrating into powder in the strong wind.

Within the concealed chamber, Shuro remained oblivious to the occurrences in the small courtyard.

At this precise moment, he found himself immersed in an unprecedented and marvelous state of consciousness. Initially, he could still perceive the sound of his own breath. Gradually, however, the inhalations faded away, replaced by the rhythmic coursing of blood through his veins, akin to the surging waves of a river in tumult. Subsequently, even the sounds of the flowing blood became unhurried, static, and eventually ceased altogether.

Time became languid, ultimately coming to a standstill. The entire world embraced tranquility, leaving only Shuro in solitary contemplation.

The "Void" technique! Shuro had a realization, yet, he suddenly discovered an incapacity to open his eyes, speak, or extricate himself from this "void" realm.

Had he, in the end, met with failure? Enshrouded by boundless emptiness, confusion and desolation gripped his heart.

In the next moment, he sensed himself rapidly plummeting, descending into an infinite abyss of profound darkness. Shortly thereafter, he fragmented into pieces, his feeble form dispersing into fragments in the gusty wind.

Time quietly slipped away as evening approached. If there were a second person within the secret chamber, they would witness a peculiar scene:

A youth lay on a stone couch, curled into a ball, as if in slumber yet not quite, resembling an infant in amniotic fluid—serene and tranquil. He existed in a mysterious and enigmatic state, devoid of audible breaths from mouth or nose, only the occasional gentle rise and fall of his abdomen.

Had the mansion lord been present, he would have undoubtedly been astonished. At this moment, Shuro embodied the coveted state that every half-step into the Dissipated Realm aspired to: a transformation from posterior to prior breathing, also known as fetal respiration. Mastering fetal respiration eliminated the need for oral or nasal breathing, marking a significant milestone in spiritual perception, emblematic of the Dissipated Realm.

Apart from fetal respiration, a strange fragrance emanated from Shuro's body, neither overpowering nor faint, inducing a sense of profound tranquility.

Even his skin took on an ethereal translucence, as soft and delicate as that of a newborn. Although his entire form had become considerably leaner, there was no jarring impression. Instead, anyone beholding Shuro would involuntarily conjure the phrase "ethereal grace."

As dusk descended, a tinge of residual glow passed through the iron window, caressing the youth's cheek. Sensing something, the young man furrowed his brow ever so slightly.

Shuro once again felt his own existence. Not only could he sense himself, but he also extended his perception beyond his own being. Despite closed eyes, changes in the sky outside the iron window, every blade of grass, every movement and stillness, permeated his consciousness with remarkable clarity—profound and wondrous. Yet, he remained unable to escape the "void" world, a state of anxious impotence.

Nine deaths for a second life! Having experienced nine deaths, where was that thread of vitality now?

Shuro roared within his heart.

Could this "Nine Deaths and One Life Technique" truly be unattainable? Just an ancient jest? No! This cultivation method could be perfected!

Shuro felt a glimmer of vitality but couldn't locate it. Before long, the twilight dimmed, and dusk arrived.

As day and night interchanged, it also marked the convergence of yin and yang in the cosmos. It was at this juncture that many cultivators of immortal and Daoist traditions comprehended profound principles, broke through constraints, and ascended to a higher realm.

Mysteriously, Shuro sensed a thread of vitality.

He turned his "gaze" and saw, amid the dry roots in the courtyard and beneath the thick snow, a tender shoot was bravely growing against the cold wind and dense snowfall. To sprout in deep winter was a violation of natural laws, yet this miraculous event unfolded before Shuro's eyes.

A chord in his heart was struck as Shuro gazed at the tender shoot unyieldingly growing amidst snow and ice. An unprecedented sense of emotion gradually evolved into profound enlightenment.

Nine deaths for a second life! That thread of vitality was not bestowed; it was earned through one's determination!

Much like that sprout beneath the snow, aware of the frigid weather and heavy snow, yet still daring to defy the natural order!

The so-called vitality persisted as long as one had unwavering faith.

In a sudden revelation, Shuro's mental barriers shattered, and the conviction for survival surged forth, akin to a playful yet fierce tiger and a rampant flood, swiftly filling his entire being.

"Swoosh!" Shuro heard a long-lost sound—the brisk flow of blood through his veins. Shortly after, the circulation of vital energy, the exchange of breath through pores, and even the sounds of respiration between mouth and nose became distinct.

In an instant, a warmth emanated from Shuro's abdomen, as if a flame had ignited within his lower dantian. Additionally, a pure, fragrant liquid, white as jade, surged from the base of Shuro's tongue and flowed downward.

True fire meeting true water, achieving alchemy within the human body!

"Boom!" The primal true fire and true water collided, not merging but tightly entwining. Above Shuro's dantian, they converged into a vortex of water and fire.

A warm and exceedingly pleasant sensation emanated from the vortex, spreading throughout Shuro's entire being. Feeling weightless, he sensed as if he could ascend like a feather, unable to contain a contented hum.

This sensation seemed familiar yet distant. With joy, Shuro realized that he had obtained vitality from death, symbolizing a rebirth. In a certain sense, the former him was dead, and the present him resembled a newborn infant.

The constitution of a newborn was pure, with heightened spiritual awareness and boundless potential!

"I've exchanged nine deaths for a new life, not only shedding my old self but also obtaining the great medicine within the human body—the true fire and true water."

At this moment, Shuro gradually comprehended the true essence of the "Nine Deaths and One Life Technique."

As the night deepened, the secret chamber became pitch-black, yet suddenly, a bolt of lightning tore through the darkness.

This lightning originated from Shuro's open eyes, flashing with ethereal electricity—a sign that would typically only manifest for those above the half-step into the Dissipated Realm. However, in this instance, it symbolized the integration of the true fire and true water within Shuro's body.

Moonlight streamed into the secret chamber, enveloping Shuro. His once-shed hair grew visibly, and his formerly emaciated physique gradually filled out.

All of this occurred due to the rapid rotation of the water and fire vortex within him, which stimulated the flow of Qi and primordial essence, activating latent energies within Shuro's body for repair and strengthening.

Muscles vibrated, blood surged, and the internal organs emitted a resonant "rumble," signifying an unprecedented level of activity.

Shuro understood that he was undergoing the first stage of the Foundation Establishment, the initial step into Foundation Building. It was a phase where the true fire and true water began to unlock his latent potential.

Time elapsed indeterminably. The rotation of the water and fire vortex grew increasingly full, and Shuro sensed an indescribable sensation of saturation within his body, a sense of fullness and expansion.

Radiant light sparkled in his eyes, and Shuro exhaled a long breath. He could hear the friction of air, akin to the bellows in a blacksmith's forge.

Between his arms, an infinite strength seemed to dwell. Glancing at the stone couch, he thoughtlessly threw a punch.