18: Chapter 18 The First Appearance of the Nine Yin Manual

A black crystal the size of a fist was embedded in the center of the stone slab.

The crystal was pitch black, yet its surface shimmered with a ghostly blue luster, like the still waters of a deep pool; one glance was enough to feel a bone-chilling cold. As the tip of He Shan's hunting knife touched the crystal's surface, the entire blade was instantly covered in white frost. With a soft "crack," fine cracks actually froze into the metal.

"Hiss—" He Shan hurriedly withdrew his knife and retreated two steps, his hand holding the blade already numb from the cold.

Yan Meng squatted down to examine the crystal closely. The runes on the stone slab radiated outward from the crystal, every line deeply carved into the stone with smooth edges, definitely not naturally formed.

"yin-shattered crystal." Yan Meng's voice was low. "When I was in the army, I heard old soldiers mention that such a thing could only condense in a place of extreme Yin after a hundred years. A piece the size of a fist is worth at least... fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones in the Black Mountain City market."

Fifty stones!

It was exactly the amount of the fine Wang Tong had imposed.

He Shan's eyes lit up, but then dimmed. "But this thing's chill is too heavy; we can't even touch it. How do we take it? How do we sell it?"

Lu Zhao remained silent.

He stared at the crystal. Within his spiritual sea, that malevolent throbbing that had been dormant for three days surfaced once again.

But unlike before, this time the sensation was less violent and more... longing?

It was as if this crystal held a great attraction for something inside his body.

Was it the Nine Yang True Qi?

No. The Nine Yang True Qi was supremely Yang and rigid, which clashed with the attributes of this yin-shattered crystal; they should naturally repel each other.

Then it was...

He suddenly remembered the Martial Seal pebble in his breast pocket.

Three days ago, it was this pebble that grew hot and displayed golden runes, helping him suppress and seal the fiend spirit.

And now, the pebble was faintly heating up again, generating a weak resonance with the crystal.

Could it be that the Martial Seal required Yin Fiend Qi for nourishment?

With a thought, Lu Zhao leaned forward and reached out, but instead of grabbing the crystal, he held his palm suspended three inches above it.

The ghostly blue light of the crystal flared slightly.

A tiny thread of extreme Yin cold Qi drilled in through the Laogong point in his palm, like an ice needle piercing his Meridians. Everywhere it passed, his blood almost froze.

But in the next moment, the cluster of golden flame in his Dantian circulated of its own accord, wrapping around this thread of cold Qi. With a "chi" sound, it was refined, turning into a strand of pure coolness that dispersed into his limbs and bones.

Lu Zhao's spirits lifted.

This feeling... was actually somewhat similar to the sense of comfort after True Qi traveled through the Meridians while practicing the Nine Yang Divine Skill.

Except the nature was diametrically opposite: one hot, one cold; one Yang, one Yin.

The mutual assistance of Yin and Yang?

A thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

The Nine Yang Divine Skill was a supreme Yang technique. To reach a profound Realm, one needed "Yang reaching its limit to give birth to Yin" to achieve Perfection.

But his current cultivation was still shallow, far from that Realm. However, if the extreme Yin Qi contained within this yin-shattered crystal could be refined and absorbed through a special method, perhaps he could gain an early realization of the wonders of Yin and Yang generating each other?

Perhaps... even compensate for the deficiencies of the Nine Yang Divine Skill?

He withdrew his hand and looked at Yan Meng and He Shan.

"This item cannot be sold."

"What?" He Shan was stunned.

"The appearance of a yin-shattered crystal will surely attract the greed of all parties," Lu Zhao said slowly. "With Yangjiao Ravine's current strength, possessing such a treasure is a crime. Even if we're lucky enough to sell it, a fatal disaster will strike before the Spirit Stones even get warm in our pockets."

Yan Meng frowned. "Then Teacher's fine..."

"I have my own ways." Lu Zhao's gaze fell on the crystal again. "I want to use this thing for cultivation."

"Cultivation?" He Shan's eyes widened. "Teacher, this is Yin Fiend Qi! Ordinary people would fall seriously ill just by touching a bit of it, and you..."

"My Cultivation Technique is special; I can give it a try," Lu Zhao interrupted him. "Brother Yan, Brother He, go outside first and guard the cave entrance. Don't let anyone in."

Yan Meng and He Shan exchanged a look. Though worried, they knew Lu Zhao always acted with deep purpose, so they could only nod and withdraw.

Within the fork in the tunnel, only Lu Zhao remained.

He sat cross-legged before the stone slab, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing. He circulated his Nine Yang True Qi for three full cycles to adjust his state to its peak. Then, he reached out again, pressing his palm against the crystal.

This time, it wasn't a probe.

It was true contact.

The moment his palm touched the crystal, a vast surge of Yin cold Qi, like a flood breaking a dam, surged into his Meridians!

Everywhere it passed, blood froze and Meridians stiffened; even his thoughts became sluggish.

Lu Zhao let out a muffled groan, his face instantly turning deathly pale. Fine frost condensed on his eyebrows and the tips of his hair.

He gritted his teeth and pushed his Nine Yang True Qi with all his might.

The golden flame in his Dantian rotated madly, transforming into a fire dragon that surged upward, violently colliding with that Yin cold torrent!

Boom—!

It was as if a thunderclap exploded inside his body!

Ice and fire intertwined, Yin and Yang clashed; his Meridians felt as if they were about to split from the intense pain. Blood seeped from the corner of Lu Zhao's mouth, but he didn't dare relax in the slightest. He held firmly to his mental clarity, using the Nine Yang Divine Skill Mind-Cultivation Technique to guide the two forces to resist and then blend with each other.

This was an extremely dangerous process.

A slight slip-up would result in shattered Meridians, ruined cultivation, or even freezing to death on the spot.

But Lu Zhao had no other choice.

Yangjiao Ravine needed strength—the kind of strength that could stand tall under the pressure of the immortal sects.

And strength was never gained by seeking ease and safety.

Time passed bit by bit.

Ice and fire waged a tug-of-war in his Meridians; every collision brought heart-wrenching pain.

Lu Zhao's entire body trembled. Sweat froze as soon as it seeped out, only to be melted by the Nine Yang True Qi, repeating in a cycle.

Gradually, he noticed something unusual.

Though the Yin cold Qi was violent, it was gradually being "tamed" under the suppression of the Nine Yang True Qi.

Even stranger, when a thread of Yin Qi was refined by the golden flame, the resulting coolness merged into his Meridians, actually adding a touch of flexibility and endurance to the originally scorching Nine Yang True Qi.

Yin and Yang assisting each other, endless and unceasing.

This Realm, which was originally far out of reach, actually allowed him to touch its threshold at this moment.

Just then—

Deep within his mind, everything suddenly cleared!

A segment of information, like an icy spring flowing through, clearly surfaced:

[Detected that the host is absorbing extreme Yin Qi, triggering the opportunity for 'Yin-Yang Mutual Assistance'.]

[The 'heart of the martial ancestor' resonates; the Legacy is opening—]

[The Nine Yin Manual, Volume One: 'Tendon Changing and Bone Tempering Chapter', Legacy initiation!]

Boom!

Countless profound mental formulas, Qi Circulation methods, and Move diagrams poured into his mind like a river flowing backward!

It was as if he had bitterly practiced this manual for decades; every formula and every key point was clear to his heart!

The Nine Yin Manual!

Equally famous as the Nine Yang Divine Skill, it was a top-tier Cultivation Technique of extreme Yin and softness in the world of Jin Yong's martial arts! Its first volume, the "Tendon Changing and Bone Tempering Chapter," was best at regulating Yin and Yang and tempering the muscles and bones, laying a supreme Foundation for subsequent cultivation!

Even better, Nine Yin belongs to Yin and Nine Yang belongs to Yang; the two were originally incompatible.

But at this moment, the extreme Yin Qi from the yin-shattered crystal in Lu Zhao's body had not yet been fully refined, making it the perfect "catalyst" for the Nine Yin Manual!

With a flash of inspiration, Lu Zhao immediately followed the Legacy's Mind-Cultivation Technique, guiding that refined thread of Yin Qi to run along specific Meridians.

One cycle.

Two cycles.

Three cycles.

With every cycle, the Yin Qi became a bit more pure, and its Fusion with the Nine Yang True Qi deepened.

The two forces that were originally like fire and water actually began to rotate slowly like a Taiji Yin-Yang symbol under the harmony of the Nine Yin Manual's Mind-Cultivation Technique, generating and assisting each other.

The aura around Lu Zhao's body began to undergo subtle changes.

The left half of his body was shrouded in cold mist, while the right half steamed with heat. One Yin and one Yang, clearly demarcated yet perfectly integrated.

Wisps of white gas rose from the top of his head—half condensing into frost, half turning into mist.

Under the washing of the Yin and Yang Qi, the Meridians in his body continuously widened and toughened.

The hidden injuries left by successive fierce battles were repaired and nourished bit by bit by this gentle yet resilient power.

He knew not how much time had passed.

Lu Zhao slowly opened his eyes.

A sharp light flashed in his eyes; the left eye was ghostly blue like a cold pool, and the right eye was golden-red like a fierce sun, before both returned to normal.

He looked down at his palm.

The crystal was still pitch black, but the ghostly blue luster on its surface had dimmed by about ten percent.

And within his own body, the total amount of Nine Yang True Qi had not increased, but its nature was more pure and condensed.

Furthermore, a thread of Nine Yin True Qi as thin as a strand of silk coexisted with the golden flame in his Dantian, circulating quietly like the Yin fish in a Taiji diagram.

He tried to circulate his True Qi.

He struck out a palm; the palm wind was first hot and then cold. It hit the rock wall, leaving behind a palm print that was half-charred and half-frozen with a "pu" sound.

The power hadn't increased much, but the changes in True Qi were more eerie and unpredictable.

If used against an enemy, the sudden alternation of heat and cold, Yin and Yang, would be enough to catch an opponent off guard.

Lu Zhao exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi; his breath was long and deep, carrying a faint sign of the convergence of dragon and tiger.

He stood up and stretched his limbs, feeling his whole body light and his power restrained. With every movement, his control over his strength had reached a new level.

This was the wonderful use of the Nine Yin Manual's "Tendon Changing and Bone Tempering Chapter"—it didn't directly increase cultivation, but it solidified the Foundation and regulated Yin and Yang, laying a perfect base for future Breakthroughs.

"Teacher!"

Yan Meng's anxious shout came from outside the fork in the tunnel.

Lu Zhao restrained his aura and walked out. Yan Meng and He Shan were guarding the cave entrance; seeing him emerge, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

"You were in there for four hours!" He Shan said urgently. "We heard it getting cold and then hot inside from out here, and we were afraid..."

"It's fine." Lu Zhao waved his hand and looked at Yan Meng. "Brother Yan, the crystal on the stone slab is of great use to me and cannot be taken away. However, the Yin Fiend Qi in this tunnel has been mostly neutralized by me. It may be put to other uses in the future."

Yan Meng nodded. "It's as Teacher decides."

The three of them walked out of the rock cave as the sky neared dusk.

Back in the village, dinner was being prepared in front of the ancestral hall. Qin Wan was leading several women in cooking porridge, and Granny Xue was distributing medicine. Seeing Lu Zhao return, everyone gathered around, their eyes filled with worry.

"Teacher, about the fine..." Wen Qian asked in a low voice.

Lu Zhao looked around at everyone and spoke slowly.

"Fifty Spirit Stones, a three-month deadline—I will not forget."

He paused.

"But the future of Yangjiao Ravine does not lie in paying fines to survive, but in self-strengthening."

"Starting tomorrow, all men in the village between the ages of sixteen and fifty will practice martial arts for one hour every morning. I will teach you the 'Basic Blood and Qi Circulation Method.' While it won't allow you to Cultivate toward immortality, it will strengthen your bodies and be more than enough to deal with ordinary bandits."

"Brother Yan, pick ten clever youths from the War Martial Hall to focus on combined attack techniques. Brother He, your archery is the best; take three apprentices and specialize in long-range shooting."

"Brother Zhong, lead some people to fell that old peach forest behind the village. Half of the timber will be used to reinforce the houses, and the other half... I have other uses for."

He gave out orders one by one, with clear logic.

As everyone listened, a light gradually ignited in their eyes.

In a desperate situation, what people fear most is not hardship, but the inability to see hope. And at this moment, what Lu Zhao gave them was a difficult but tangible hope.

After dinner, Lu Zhao went alone to the old locust tree at the village entrance.

The knife marks on the tree trunk were still there, like a hideous scar in the twilight.

He reached out to touch the scar; it felt rough to the touch, yet he could faintly feel the tree's tenacious vitality.

Just like Yangjiao Ravine.

The sounds of children chasing and laughing came from afar, mixed with the calls of women summoning them home. Wisps of cooking smoke rose, and the aroma of meat porridge drifted in the evening breeze.

This was what he had to protect.

Suddenly, a sensation stirred within his spiritual sea.

It wasn't a malevolent spirit, nor was it a Legacy.

It was a blurred image:

On a vast snowy plain, a merchant caravan was struggling forward. In the center of the convoy was a particularly luxurious carriage. The curtain was lifted a crack, revealing the pale and delicate profile of a young girl. The girl suddenly coughed, and the handkerchief was stained with spots of crimson.

The image flashed and vanished.

Lu Zhao frowned.

This sensation came abruptly, without any warning.

Was it a premonition? Or some kind of hint from the heart of the martial ancestor?

While he was pondering, the rapid sound of horse hooves suddenly came from the mountain path in the distance!

A rider flew like the wind, breaking through the twilight and heading straight for the village entrance. The rider leaned low, an arrow shaft still quivering in his back.

It was A-Fei!

Lu Zhao's expression changed, and he leaped forward to meet him.

A-Fei galloped to the village entrance and flipped off his horse, stumbling and nearly falling.

Lu Zhao supported him and saw that his face was deathly pale, an arrow in his shoulder, and half his body already stained red with blood.

"Te... Teacher..." A-Fei gasped for breath, his voice hoarse. "Black Mountain City... something has happened!"

"Speak slowly."

"The Liu Family... Liu Three-Knives died suddenly the night he returned to the city! Liu Zhenxiong is furious, convinced that Yangjiao Ravine poisoned him. He has ordered a blockade of three hundred li around Black Mountain, intending... intending to slaughter the village for revenge!"

A-Fei gritted his teeth and pulled a blood-stained piece of cloth from his breast pocket, stuffing it into Lu Zhao's hand.

"This is what I managed to get from a Liu Family scout... they will strike in three days, joining forces with the remnants of the Funiu Gang. Also... that Disciple left behind by the Qinglan Sect will act as an inside agent!"

On the cloth, a few words were written in blood:

"In three days, at the hour of the Rat, leave neither chicken nor dog."

The signature was a hideous Wolf Head Mark.

The Liu Family crest.

Lu Zhao gripped the cloth, his knuckles turning white.

A storm was brewing.

As the night deepened, Lu Zhao gathered everyone at the ancestral hall. The oil lamps flickered, reflecting a series of solemn faces.

He placed the cloth on the table and said slowly, "The Liu Family wants to slaughter the village in three days at the hour of the Rat." The crowd fell into a dead silence. He Shan suddenly stood up. "We'll fight them!" But Lu Zhao shook his head. "We can't win a direct fight. But we can... strike first." His gaze swept over everyone, and he said word by word, "Tomorrow, I am going to Black Mountain City."