C9 He Chose the Martial Skill.

As Lu Shaoyou spoke, Uncle Nan gave a slight nod before cautioning, "Remember, you must never use the Yin Yang Spirit Martial Art to devour others in public."

"Why not? Can't I devour those who are utterly evil?" Lu Shaoyou inquired.

"You're welcome to try, as long as you're not afraid of every Martial Artist and Spiritual Cultivator in the world hunting you down," Uncle Nan replied.

A wry smile crossed Lu Shaoyou's face. He was well aware that if other Spiritual Cultivators and Martial Artists discovered such a formidable technique, they would certainly claim it for themselves and eliminate him. Possessing such a technique would make him the target and threat to every Spiritual Cultivator and Martial Artist worldwide.

"Is there another advantage, then?" Lu Shaoyou asked.

"There is," Uncle Nan said, pausing to gather his thoughts. "By cultivating the Yin Yang Spirit Martial Art with your Yin and Yang Physique, you can become an All Attribute Martial Artist."

"What exactly is an All Attribute Martial Artist?" Lu Shaoyou pressed.

"We'll go over that in time; it's too much to take in all at once. Though not quite as formidable as dual cultivation of spirit and martial power, the All Attribute Martial Artist comes close. You'll understand the benefits eventually. Frankly, your fortune even makes me envious," Uncle Nan explained.

"Uncle Nan, what's the other downside?" Lu Shaoyou asked, recalling Uncle Nan's mention of two drawbacks to the Yin Yang Spirit Martial Art—the first being the exceedingly slow pace of his normal cultivation.

"The other downside is that to make a breakthrough, you must simultaneously advance in both spirit energy and martial power. The Yin Yang Spirit Martial Art requires a balance of the two for a concurrent breakthrough. Otherwise, forget about advancing," Uncle Nan elaborated.

"That's quite demanding," Lu Shaoyou muttered, feeling disheartened. "So, how should I go about my cultivation?"

"Given your current situation, if you're looking to boost your strength, your best bet is to seek out Demonic Pills and Spirit Pills to consume," Uncle Nan suggested with a smile.

"Uncle Nan, you must be joking, right? Demonic Pills, Spirit Pills... those are only found in Fourth Rank Demonic Beasts and Spirit Beasts. Even the entire Lu family might not afford many of those. How am I supposed to find and consume them?" Lu Shaoyou challenged, his glare intensifying. The idea was ludicrous! As a powerless young master, where would he find the funds to purchase such items?

"You'll have to figure that out on your own. You're not my disciple, after all. Did you really think I'd have the answers for you?" Uncle Nan retorted, meeting Lu Shaoyou's gaze.

"Uncle Nan, maybe you could lend me some gold coins?" Lu Shaoyou ventured, a sly smile flickering across his face. Uncle Nan was no ordinary man; surely, he had some money to spare.

"Do you honestly believe an old man like me would lend you gold coins?" Uncle Nan responded, his expression firmly conveying to Lu Shaoyou that he had none to offer.

"Uncle Nan, I've already bowed before you. Won't you help me?" Lu Shaoyou pleaded, desperate for assistance.

"Don't push your luck," Uncle Nan warned, fixing his eyes on Lu Shaoyou. "I may not be able to help you directly, but I can certainly try to think of a solution for you."

"It's good that you have a solution," Lu Shaoyou said with a smile, relieved that Uncle Nan had a plan. It was a stroke of luck that he had become someone who practiced both spiritual and martial arts, and he had high hopes for his future. But if his progress was as slow as a snail's, what kind of future could he expect?

"Don't forget, you're not just a Martial Artist; you're a Spiritual Cultivator too. Spiritual Cultivators can earn a fortune through various means, like refining Spirit Pills, cultivating spirit herbs, and crafting weapons. And let me tell you, weapons crafted by a Spiritual Cultivator fetch a much higher price," Uncle Nan explained.

"But I don't know how to do any of that," Lu Shaoyou lamented. Despite being a Spiritual Cultivator, he lacked the skills to refine pills, cultivate spirit herbs, or forge weapons.

"You may not know, but that doesn't mean I don't," Uncle Nan replied, a touch of irritation in his voice.

"So, Uncle Nan, are you suggesting that you'll refine the pills and weapons for me to sell?" Lu Shaoyou asked, his face lighting up with excitement. But before he could finish, he felt a sharp knock on his head. Rubbing the sore spot, he looked up at Uncle Nan with a mix of confusion and hurt. "Why did you hit me?"

"Impossible! You think I'd refine pills and weapons for you?" Uncle Nan fixed Lu Shaoyou with a stern gaze. "I can teach you, though. There were Spirit Kings and Spirit Venerables who would have given anything for my instruction, and they got nothing. You're quite fortunate."

"Great," Lu Shaoyou said, his lips curving into a sly, mischievous smile.

"You've become a Martial Artist, but you don't have any Martial Skills yet. What kind of Martial Skill are you interested in learning?" Uncle Nan inquired, his eyes piercing.

"Uncle Nan, you mentioned there are six types of Martial Skills. Do you have any Heaven Level Martial Techniques?" Lu Shaoyou pondered, knowing that the higher the level, the better.

"Heaven Level Martial Techniques? You think they're just lying around everywhere?" Uncle Nan scoffed, giving Lu Shaoyou a stern look.

Lu Shaoyou blinked and then suggested, "How about an Earth Level Martial Skill?"

"Earth Level Martial Skill? With your current strength as a Martial Disciple, you think you can master that?" Uncle Nan challenged.

"Then, a Profound Level Martial Technique should be doable, right?" Lu Shaoyou ventured.

"I have a Martial Skill that's quite enigmatic. Interested?" Uncle Nan offered.

"Enigmatic? That sounds promising. I'll take it," Lu Shaoyou said with a grin. "Uncle Nan, what level is this Martial Skill?"

"It doesn't have a level," Uncle Nan replied.

"What do you mean it doesn't have a level?" Lu Shaoyou was utterly baffled. What was Uncle Nan up to?

"I don't know its level myself; I've never fully grasped it. Hopefully, you'll be able to make sense of it. Besides, given your current abilities, I'll provide you with two more Martial Skills—one offensive and one defensive. The offensive one is a mere Star Rank, but it's the most suitable for you at the moment. Anything more advanced would be beyond your capability to cultivate. The defensive skill was a gift from someone I did a favor for; it's got its own mysteries. And you, my boy, are in luck—you have a Spirit Emperor Beast with you," Uncle Nan explained.

"Uncle Nan, is that the little snake you're referring to? What kind of Spirit Emperor Beast is it?" inquired Lu Shaoyou.

"A little snake? You're quite fortunate. If the Martial Sovereigns and Spirit Venerables were aware of its lineage, they wouldn't hesitate to pursue you. Luckily, there aren't many who can recognize a Spirit Emperor Beast," replied Uncle Nan, the old servant, with a gleam of pride in his eyes. Having served the Lu family incognito for decades, he found a unique satisfaction in sharing tales of his former prowess and cultivation level with the young lad.

"That impressive?" Lu Shaoyou was taken aback. The ten-centimeter snake had a more significant heritage than he had realized.

"Steady your mind and concentrate. Stay still," Uncle Nan instructed. A soft glow seemed to emanate from his hand. He then brought his fingertips together and gently touched Lu Shaoyou's forehead.

Lu Shaoyou felt as though a long thread was being drawn from his mind, followed by a glowing mist that settled into Uncle Nan's palm. Simultaneously, a drop of blood from Lu Shaoyou's forehead dripped onto Uncle Nan's hand.

"Arise," Uncle Nan whispered, forming intricate hand seals. The pale yellow snake that had been on Lu Shaoyou's right hand now materialized in Uncle Nan's grasp.