Chapter 8

Of course, Yan knew this effect only came from his first time cultivating it. It definitely would not be this intense afterward.

After all, the further one progressed, the harder it became to improve spiritual power. Once both its quality and quantity reached a certain level, advancing further would require tremendous effort.

Still, it was enough.

After all, the Ninja World simply had no proper meditation method for improving spiritual power.

Even clans like the Yamanaka Clan and the Nara Clan, which specialized in Yin Release secret arts, could not produce such a complete Spirit Refining Method.

After obtaining the Spirit-Refining Meditation Method, cultivating both the quality and quantity of his spiritual power became one of Yan's daily mandatory tasks.

That night, the whole family was gathered. Yan had specifically called Mikoto over as well. He took a bamboo scroll from his clothes and placed it on the table. Sweeping his gaze over everyone, he said, "This is a Spirit-Refining Meditation Method I came up with recently. Practicing it every day can improve both the quality and quantity of spiritual power. Memorize it quickly and start cultivating it as soon as possible."

"What? It can increase spiritual power?"

Yan's family and Mikoto were all stunned.

Uchiha Senichi and Meixin immediately grabbed the scroll and spread it open to examine it carefully.

After reading it, Uchiha Senichi stared solemnly at his son and asked, "Who else knows about this?"

Yan rolled his eyes. "I'm not stupid. How could I let outsiders get their hands on something of this level? You're the first people to know. For a long time to come, I have no intention of letting anyone else find out."

"Unless one day, I have enough strength to protect myself."

He understood better than anyone that an ordinary man could be punished simply for possessing a treasure.

This thing was a devastating weapon.

The foundation of a ninja's strength was chakra. The amount of chakra directly determined a ninja's upper limit.

And chakra was formed by combining spiritual power with the energy within one's cells in a certain ratio.

A Spirit Refining Method could improve spiritual power, which meant it could indirectly increase one's chakra reserves.

Of course, spiritual power alone was not enough to increase chakra reserves; cellular energy was also needed. But cellular energy could be replenished through physical training, good food and drink, and medicinal baths. That was far easier than improving and recovering spiritual power.

"Whew, that's good."

Uchiha Senichi and Meixin finally relaxed after hearing that.

"Dad, Mom, is this thing really that incredible? It scared you two this badly?" Uchiha Hao could not help leaning closer to ask.

His parents answered him with synchronized glares.

Uchiha Senichi directly scolded, "Nonsense! Remember this, brat: you are not allowed to leak even half a word of this. Otherwise, I'll deal with you personally! Hmph!"

Beside him, Meixin smiled with narrowed eyes as she stared at Uchiha Hao and nodded. "What your father means is what I mean."

Uchiha Hao: "..."

So love could disappear, right?

Before, it had only been Dad. Now even Mom was like this. Could he still live in this house?

"Fine, fine, I get it. Don't worry, my lips are sealed."

After being glared at by his parents, Uchiha Hao could only lower his head obediently and mime zipping his mouth shut.

Then, Uchiha Senichi and Meixin both turned to look at Mikoto.

Mikoto: "..."

Mikoto immediately raised one hand and swore solemnly, "I guarantee I won't tell anyone a single word about this. Otherwise, may I...!"

After saying that, she turned to Yan, a gentle smile in her eyes, and said softly, "You know it too. He's the one I've chosen for the rest of my life."

After several months together, many things had already changed.

"Hahaha, that's wonderful! From now on, you're one of the family! Come on, Mikoto, don't stand on ceremony. Take a look at this Spirit Refining Method first!"

Uchiha Senichi and Meixin laughed as they handed the scroll over.

"Yes, yes, hurry and eat!"

Meixin even took the initiative to place some food in Mikoto's bowl.

The way she looked at Mikoto was exactly how one would look at her own daughter-in-law.

The sight made Yan want to laugh.

Uchiha Hao was even more dumbfounded. Since when had his parents learned to change their attitude so quickly?

But when he recalled the deep affection in Mikoto's eyes when she looked at Yan earlier, he quietly gave Yan a thumbs-up and leaned close to whisper, "You're incredible, kid! I don't admire anyone, but I admire you!"

He was only a little over one year old, yet he already had a girlfriend. Who would believe it if they heard?

He was genuinely envious.

Mikoto was famously beautiful within the clan.

Still, he had no interest in Mikoto.

For one thing, Mikoto was gentle as water toward Yan, but she had a completely different face toward everyone else.

Besides, Uchiha Hao already had someone he liked too, another girl from the clan.

"This secret art is too precious. I can't accept it."

At that moment, Mikoto roughly skimmed through the Spirit Refining Method, surprise appearing on her face as she looked seriously at Yan and Meixin.

She pushed the scroll back.

Meixin and Uchiha Senichi both turned their eyes toward Yan.

Yan directly stuffed the scroll into Mikoto's hands and said firmly, "I'm giving it to you, so take it."

"Haven't you always wanted to change your fate through your own efforts? Haven't you been cultivating desperately for that?"

"This cultivation method is the confidence I'm giving you. Keep it safe and cultivate it well. I'm still waiting for you to grow strong enough to protect me—and to break your own fate while you're at it!"

"As long as you're strong enough, even if First Elder Grandpa doesn't approve of us, he won't be able to stop you."

In truth, Yan had created the Spirit Refining Method and given it to his family not only because he wanted to help them improve their strength. He also wanted to verify some of his ideas and theories about the Sharingan.

He wanted to know what effect simply improving spiritual power would have on the Sharingan.

This concerned how he would awaken his eyes in the future, as well as how he would create a cultivation method for the Sharingan.

It could even affect the future awakening and transformation of the Mangekyo Sharingan and the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Ah..."

After hearing that, Mikoto's face instantly turned crimson. Under Uchiha Senichi and Meixin's gazes, she lowered her head shyly.

The girl's cheeks burned as she spoke in an extremely quiet voice. "I understand. I'll study it seriously. I won't let outsiders know. I'll work hard to become stronger, seize my own fate in my hands, and protect you too."

This was not merely a promise, but her determination at that moment.

Since meeting Yan, he had given her far too much.

At first, it was the Uchiha clan's Medicinal Bath Formula. Later, it was a medicinal bath recipe for tempering the body. Whenever she trained in taijutsu and ninjutsu, Yan often gave her guidance as well.

To be honest, Yan had not yet cultivated any of these things himself.

But he had gone through the clan's taijutsu scrolls and secret arts, and he had read plenty of ninjutsu texts as well. Combined with his absurd comprehension ability, guiding Mikoto's cultivation was more than easy for him.

Mikoto even felt that Yan explained things more thoroughly than her own grandfather—the Uchiha clan's First Elder. Every word struck directly at the crucial point.

"Heh heh..."

Uchiha Senichi, Meixin, and Uchiha Hao all burst into laughter, deliberately teasing her.

In the blink of an eye, several more months passed.

Yan turned two years old.

Yet his body was as sturdy as that of a five- or six-year-old child, perhaps even stronger.

The toughness of his muscles and bones, the resilience of his meridians, and the vigor of his vitality were simply beyond comparison with children his age.

"I can finally start body tempering. Now I need to create a Body-Tempering Technique for my own use."

Standing in the courtyard, Yan stretched his arms and legs, then performed a set of Tai Chi movements like the old men from his previous life practiced. His whole body felt refreshed as he muttered to himself.

He had waited for this day for two whole years.

Even though his body was now sturdier than that of a five- or six-year-old child, he had no intention of touching the Chakra Refinement Technique yet.

Refining chakra ultimately consumed the energy in one's own cells. One careless mistake could ruin one's foundation and potential.

He would not do something so foolish.

Before he developed a cultivation method that completely belonged to him and ensured that refining chakra would not harm his foundation, he would not touch that thing.