The Nine Yang Illuminating Art and a Feline Remnant

‘The Nine Yang Illuminating Art.’

Within the quiet chamber.

Qin Yan murmured to himself, his eyes fluttering open.

He probed the divine sense left by the white-robed Venerable within his mind, discovering to his astonishment that it contained an immortal cultivation technique.

“The world is vast, and female cultivators are numerous.”

“For a male cultivator like yourself to reach this stage is truly no easy feat.”

“However, men are of Yang, and women are of Yin, and most cultivation techniques in this world are founded upon cultivating Yin energy.”

“Therefore, I specifically impart this immortal technique to you—the Nine Yang Illuminating Art.”

“The Nine Yang Illuminating Art, as it is known, takes the power of Nine Yang as its foundation, cultivating the path of Yang qi to achieve profound clarity.”

“This ‘profound clarity’ signifies the unity of mind and principle…”

This white-robed Venerable had truly bestowed a magnificent gift.

With this cultivation technique, reaching the Nascent Soul and Void Refinement stages in the future would pose no challenge.

It was well known that in this world, women inherently possessed a higher chance of having superior spiritual roots than men.

Consequently, the majority of cultivation methods were tailored for female practitioners.

Even the technique Qin Yan currently practiced had been specially sought out by his Shizun, designed specifically for male cultivation.

Should a man attempt to cultivate a female-oriented technique, it would be akin to inverting Yang into Yin, leading eventually to qi deviation, and potentially even transforming them into an effeminate male.

This was the sole legacy the white-robed Venerable had bequeathed to Qin Yan: an orthodox cultivation technique for men, and with it… a future.

Overjoyed, Qin Yan immediately began to delve into the technique.

Currently at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, he could at least cultivate to the power of Two Yangs.

As he circulated the technique, wisps of spiritual energy flowed into his meridians, then to his dantian, transforming into a power of ultimate Yang and utmost rigidity.

With this immortal technique, coupled with his Wind-Thunder Spear, his efforts would undoubtedly yield twice the results with half the exertion.

Just as Qin Yan was engrossed in his cultivation, he suddenly sensed a subtle anomaly.

His eyes snapped open, darting towards a corner of the quiet chamber, and then his full divine sense swept over the area.

“Who’s there?!” he roared.

When the hidden presence remained silent, he circulated his cultivation technique, unleashing his full Yang energy.

This display seemed to terrify the entity in the shadows, causing it to instantly reveal itself.

It was a… somewhat translucent tabby cat?

“Don’t… don’t kill me, meow~!”

Floating in the air, the tabby cat gazed at Qin Yan, whose body emanated Yang energy, its blue pupils wide with terror.

‘This…’

Qin Yan stared at the trembling tabby cat.

It spoke human words, bearing a striking resemblance to the deceased Elder True Monarch.

‘Could it be that fellow followed me out of the secret realm even after death?’

With a swift grab, Qin Yan seized the tabby cat, which instantly appeared in his hand.

Black energy wafted from its body as it cried out in pain.

“I can’t take it, meow~ I’m going to die, meow~!”

It seemed to be severely wounded by the potent Yang energy emanating from Qin Yan, who was still circulating his technique.

“You are that Elder True Monarch!”

Qin Yan watched the tabby cat struggle in agony, his eyes devoid of sympathy.

The fear the Elder True Monarch had instilled in him still lingered vividly in his memory.

“What Elder True Monarch, meow~!”

“I… I don’t even know why I was on your body.”

“It’s just that something on you made me uncomfortable, so I had no choice but to leave your body, meow~!”

A somewhat weak and timid voice emanated from the tabby cat’s mouth.

Qin Yan stared intently into the tabby cat’s eyes.

Seeing its genuine panic, which seemed utterly unfeigned, he concluded that this spirit-like tabby cat must be inextricably linked to the Elder True Monarch.

At that moment, he lost all desire to cultivate further.

Gazing at the tabby cat in his hand, he slowly ceased circulating his technique, then gripped it by the scruff of its neck.

“Come, you’re coming with me to see Shizun!”

“No, meow~!”

The tabby cat cried out, its mind feeling hazy and indistinct, yet it instinctively knew it was a demon beast, and thus inherently antagonistic to humans.

****

Within the main hall of the First Peak.

Qin Yan and Yu Qingxuan were both present, as was their Shizun, Qin Nianci.

Qin Nianci observed Qin Yan standing before her.

She had already learned the news that most of the Northern Land’s prodigies had perished within the secret treasury, having been informed by a frantic Yu Qingxuan.

Yu Qingxuan’s urgency, naturally, stemmed from her concern that Qin Yan might become a target for other sects.

As the direct participant, Qin Yan was undoubtedly the most knowledgeable about the events that transpired within the secret realm.

It was inevitable that other sects would seek him out to inquire about what exactly had occurred.

However, as Qin Nianci’s disciple, she would certainly not allow Qin Yan to recount these matters.

From both the sect’s perspective and her own, she had no desire for Qin Yan to be troubled by such affairs.

If anyone from other sects harbored grievances, Qin Nianci was quite prepared to ascertain the sharpness of their swords.

Qin Yan lowered his head, ready to await his Shizun’s inquiries about the events in the secret realm.

“You’ve worked hard, Yan’er…”

To his surprise, a pair of gentle hands caressed his head.

“You needn’t worry about anything else,” she continued.

“Focus on your cultivation, and if there’s anything you don’t understand, simply ask me.”

There were no questions, only simple, heartfelt concern.

“Shizun…”

Qin Yan lifted his head, meeting Qin Nianci’s gentle, smiling face, and his heart swelled with emotion.

With a gesture of his hand, the tabby cat appeared in his grasp.

“Shizun, this cat…”

He recounted the events that transpired in the secret realm, particularly the origin of this cat.

“This is quite interesting…”

Having listened to Qin Yan’s explanation, Qin Nianci observed the tabby cat dangling from his hand, finding it rather adorable.

She then spoke, “I’ve heard that their feline race possesses a ‘Nine Lives Technique,’ where each life is an independent entity.”

“It’s likely that a wisp of the Elder True Monarch’s residual soul remained on your body before her death, following you out of the secret realm.”

“Why don’t we just kill it?”

Yu Qingxuan stroked her chin, watching the cat sway precariously in Qin Yan’s hand, its face etched with profound fear.

Of course, the most crucial point was that this creature seemed to be female.

“Yan’er, what are your thoughts?”

Qin Nianci frowned slightly upon hearing this, thinking that her senior disciple’s murderous intent was truly too strong, and did she even need to be jealous of a mere cat?

She continued, “As the saying goes, ‘Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life.’ Let it become your spirit beast.”

“Our Yanqing Sect also has the Way of Beast Taming; we can simply place a restriction upon it.”

Upon hearing this, the tabby cat’s heart instantly chilled by half.

‘This is worse than being killed outright!’

“I think Senior Sister makes a valid point.”

Qin Yan replied.

At this, the tabby cat immediately retracted its previous thought.

As the adage went, ‘It’s better to live a wretched life than to die well,’ otherwise it wouldn’t have cultivated the Nine Lives Technique at all, and this was its very last life.

“However, since Shizun has spoken, I will follow Shizun’s wishes.”

Qin Yan continued, naturally choosing to agree with his Shizun’s words.

He gazed at the tabby cat he held, realizing that the Elder True Monarch was about to transform into a gentle cat-girl.

It would, however, require some time for training, and the first step, of course, was to place a restriction upon it.

After all, creatures like cats were notoriously temperamental.