If Not Obsessed, Then Not Alive

Zhou Yan looked at the four empty Yin-Nurturing Coffins and couldn't help but mutter, "What a waste of resources! It seems I need to refine four more zombies quickly; I can't let these coffins go to waste."

Previously, his cultivation was shallow and his funds were limited, so he had to pour all his energy into refining his first zombie.

Now that he had accumulated nearly half of the Profound Yin Essence Blood within his body and had sufficient funds, it was indeed time to refine a few more.

In any case, he had spent a significant amount of time grinding his Corpse Refining and Corpse Controlling skills lately; it wouldn't take long for both arts to reach the Proficiency stage.

Once that happened, not only would the zombies he refined be stronger and more agile, but he would also be able to command multiple zombies in battle simultaneously, leading to a massive surge in his combat power.

Having made up his mind, Zhou Yan sat cross-legged between the coffins and began to practice the Mystic Yin Art.

[Mystic Yin Art proficiency +11]

[Mystic Yin Art proficiency +17]

[Mystic Yin Art proficiency +22]

"Hmm."

Zhou Yan snapped his eyes open, a flash of surprise crossing his gaze.

The proficiency gained from practicing the Mystic Yin Art today was nearly a fifth higher than usual, and the same held true for the amount of Yin energy absorbed into his body.

For a moment, he was caught off guard.

The massive influx of Yin energy into his body caused his blood and qi to nearly freeze, leaving his skin a pale, ghostly white.

Looking closely, it was as if his body were shrouded in a layer of frost.

Zhou Yan looked at the Yin-Nurturing Coffins; he hadn't expected them to have such an effect. It was a pleasant surprise.

However, this meant that the recovery rate of his physical blood and qi would likely fail to keep pace with his Mystic Yin Art cultivation, breaking the balance he had maintained.

"It seems I need to increase the time spent on the Five Animal Frolics and the Shennong Health Cultivation Method. I should also see if I can find some more advanced health cultivation techniques..."

As Zhou Yan thought this, the speed at which the Mystic Yin Art circulated within him showed no signs of slowing down.

Don't be ridiculous; as a cultivator, one only complains that their progress isn't fast enough—who would ever voluntarily slow down?

Cultivation is a struggle against heaven for one's life; it relies entirely on that spirit of "striving."

Without that kind of resolve, one is better off not cultivating at all!

The sensation of his cultivation level rising rapidly made Zhou Yan somewhat addicted.

By the second half of the night, still feeling it wasn't enough, he actually climbed into one of the Yin-Nurturing Coffins and lay down.

Sure enough, his cultivation speed increased even further.

[Mystic Yin Art proficiency +29]

[Mystic Yin Art proficiency +31]

[Mystic Yin Art proficiency +26]

As the saying goes: If you aren't obsessed, you won't succeed!

By the time dawn broke and Zhou Yan opened his eyes again, his Mystic Yin Art had broken through to the Proficiency stage, and his control over the Profound Yin Essence Blood in his body had become far more intuitive.

Mystic Yin Art (First Layer) (Proficiency 107/400).

However, such madness was not without its drawbacks...

"You... what happened to you?"

Ma Yan looked at Zhou Yan's pale, frail appearance, his eyes widening as if he had recalled something.

If it were anyone else looking like this, Ma Yan would have assumed they had exhausted their Yang energy in a brothel and been nearly drained dry.

But seeing Zhou Yan in this state, his first reaction was to ask, "Has something gone wrong with your cultivation?"

Because this was exactly how Zhou Yan had looked when he first began his training.

Later, after practicing the Shennong Health Cultivation Method, his condition had improved, though he could never quite return to his former muscular self, remaining soft and weak, looking more like a scholar who couldn't even truss a chicken.

But now, he had reverted to that previous state, which made Ma Yan's heart skip a beat.

This cultivation method was far too sinister!

"Cough, cough... It's nothing. My cultivation has just been advancing a bit too quickly lately, so some side effects are inevitable."

As soon as Zhou Yan spoke, he couldn't help but cough lightly.

Still, he tried to reassure Ma Yan, telling him not to worry.

If even Ma Yan were to panic, Mother Zhou and Zhou Li would only be even more concerned.

"Are you really okay?" Ma Yan asked, still worried.

Zhou Yan nodded slightly, which finally allowed Ma Yan to relax a little.

"Do you want me to go find some more health cultivation techniques for you?" Ma Yan asked.

Zhou Yan shook his head and said, "No need. The Shennong Health Cultivation Method is effective enough, and combined with the Five Animal Frolics, it should suffice. It's just that as my cultivation level rises, the quality and quantity of the Yin energy increase as well, and the health techniques alone are no longer enough to fully neutralize it."

This was the reason why his body had undergone such a drastic transformation after a single night of cultivation.

When it came down to it, health cultivation methods were only meant for nourishing the body; they could do nothing more than that.

As Zhou Yan's cultivation level improved, the effects of the health cultivation method would only grow weaker and weaker.

This was also because Zhou Yan had been unable to find a true internal martial arts technique, forcing him to use the health cultivation method as a temporary substitute, which was now gradually beginning to fail him.

"What should we do then?" Ma Yan asked with concern.

Zhou Yan took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I need a true internal martial arts technique capable of circulating qi and blood, preferably one from the Buddhist school."

Internal martial arts techniques were different from external ones; their greatest strength lay in regulating and increasing one's own qi and blood, thereby strengthening the foundation of the physique.

In that way, it would not only facilitate the maintenance of his body but might even resolve the drawbacks of the Yaksha Ghost-Swallowing.

During this period, whenever Zhou Yan practiced the Yakshas Meditation Method, he often felt whispers echoing in his ears.

By the time he stopped, those voices would vanish once again.

Zhou Yan understood in his heart that this was the drawback caused by the Yaksha Ghost-Swallowing.

Even though he could forcibly suppress it for now, it was ultimately a hidden danger that needed to be resolved as soon as possible.

Ma Yan felt a chill run down his scalp; internal martial arts techniques were not so easily found.

There were certainly many internal martial arts experts in Shen City, but these people either held high status or possessed immense strength, making them difficult to approach.

Furthermore, internal martial arts techniques were extremely precious and rarely passed on to outsiders.

"Focus on your recovery; I will go and ask around for you."

Nevertheless, Ma Yan agreed without hesitation; no matter how difficult it might be, he had to try.

After Ma Yan left, Zhou Yan slowly stretched his body and began to practice the Five Animal Frolics and the Shennong Health Cultivation Method.

In the past, whenever he practiced, he could always feel a warm current moving through his body, stimulating his qi and blood and nourishing his physique.

But today, that warm current was gone, replaced by what felt like a block of ice moving within him, causing his complexion to grow increasingly pale.

Zhou Yan knew clearly that this was because the yin energy in his body was too overwhelming, even causing stagnation.

Thus, the effects of the health cultivation method were nearly non-existent.

However, he still persisted in completing the Shennong Health Cultivation Method and practiced the Five Animal Frolics several times, only then did his body gradually begin to warm up.

After a long while, Zhou Yan slowly finished his practice and exhaled a long breath.

As that breath was released, it emitted a chilling cold, leaving a distinct trail in the air.

In the climate of early summer, it lingered for a long time without dissipating.