"Xiaowan?!"
Han Yan was momentarily stunned before memories of Xiaowan flooded his mind.
He reached out, gently ruffling her hair with a smile. "It's fine."
Three years ago, when he was still at his peak, he had encountered Xiaowan begging on the streets while traveling. Moved by pity, he had taken her in and raised her in his courtyard.
Now, at just thirteen years old, she already showed the grace of a young woman—her delicate features were pure and beautiful, enough to make anyone adore her. Even her body, still developing, hinted at an extraordinary future.
For three years, she had remained by his side, even as his cultivation declined and his status in the Han family plummeted. She never abandoned him.
This loyalty had deeply touched the former Han Yan. He had long since considered her his little sister.
Now, she might be the only family he had left in this world—just as he was the only one Xiaowan had.
"How many times have I told you? Call me 'Big Brother.'"
Han Yan spoke gently, pulling her into his arms to comfort her.
"Got it, Brother..."
On the surface, Han Yan appeared calm and warm, but inside, his heart was in turmoil.
The moment he touched Xiaowan, the memories of his past life as Sword Sovereign Muyang told him that her origins were anything but simple.
She had no trace of spiritual energy flowing through her!
A one-meter radius around her was completely devoid of spirit energy, forming a vacuum.
Any object infused with spiritual energy that touched her would quickly wither.
At that moment, a terrifying realization struck Han Yan.
Absolute Spirit Physique!
One of the Ten Ancient Divine Physiques!
His heart sank. So this was why his cultivation had regressed!
He had unknowingly been raising a 'spiritual energy vampire' beside him! How could he have advanced in cultivation when all his energy was being drained?!
It was said that those born with the Absolute Spirit Physique would constantly devour the spiritual energy of everything around them from birth.
Looking at his courtyard, Han Yan noticed that the spiritual energy in the surroundings was unusually thin. He also realized that the closer he got to Xiaowan, the faster his own internal spiritual energy drained away.
Damn it. I've been playing the ultimate fool!
I lifted a rock only to crush my own foot!
Raising a "child bride" without knowing his own strength had come back to bite him—if the real Han Yan had known the truth before dying, he might have slapped himself!
"Xiaowan, how many months until your fourteenth birthday?"
Han Yan pretended to be casual as he asked.
"Brother, how could you forget? Nine months left!"
Xiaowan pouted, pushing him away with an adorably resentful look in her eyes.
"Haha, my mistake. I won't forget now."
But deep inside, Han Yan's heart dropped.
Less than a year and a half…
There was another terrifying truth about the Absolute Spirit Physique.
When the physique awakened at fifteen, it wouldn't just be a passive absorption of spiritual energy anymore.
At that time, it would require an external source of Origin Power to complete its awakening!
If the gap wasn't filled, Xiaowan's life force would quickly drain away—and she would die instantly.
But on the Nine Heavens, there was only one known source of Origin Power—Yunling Beasts.
These were celestial beasts, only found in the Nine Heavens Realm, and even there, they were extremely rare.
But they were not supposed to exist on the Yuanling Continent.
How was he supposed to find one in time?
Could he return to the Nine Heavens within a year and a half? That was impossible.
But… wait.
The Yuanling Continent was once an Ancient Battlefield of the Gods.
Perhaps...
A sliver of hope flickered in Han Yan's heart.
But before he could even think about that, he had a bigger problem—as long as Xiaowan was near him, he couldn't cultivate!
His spiritual energy would constantly drain. It was a death sentence for a cultivator.
But there was a way.
As Muyang Sword Sovereign, he had read records about the Absolute Spirit Physique before.
In ancient times, a powerful family once had a child born with the Absolute Spirit Physique.
To prevent them from draining the energy of their loved ones, the clan's great elders created a special technique.
A divine-level cultivation art known as—
Yunling Art.
Named after the Yunling Beasts, this technique was a God-Tier Cultivation Art—one of the rarest in existence.
According to the records, once a person with the Absolute Spirit Physique practiced Yunling Art, they would stop absorbing spirit energy uncontrollably before reaching fifteen.
Not only that, their cultivation speed would skyrocket, surpassing all peers of their generation.
The Absolute Spirit Physique would turn from a curse into a blessing.
But at fifteen, if the awakening gap wasn't filled, the same tragic fate awaited them.
Han Yan smirked.
Fortunately, Yunling Art was already engraved in his memory.
If he could pass it on to Xiaowan, his problem would be solved!
With that thought, Han Yan gently reassured Xiaowan and stepped into his room.
He pulled out a Spirit Jade Scroll—a basic artifact for storing cultivation techniques.
Though the scroll itself was not rare, the value lay in the technique it recorded.
As he transferred Yunling Art into the scroll, an unusual glow began to radiate.
The color of the light signified the rank of the technique.
Green: Yellow Rank Blue: Profound Rank Purple: Earth Rank Red: Heaven Rank
But this time—
A dazzling golden light erupted from the Spirit Jade Scroll!
God-Tier Cultivation Art!
After an hour, Han Yan handed the glowing scroll to Xiaowan.
"Brother… what is this?"
Xiaowan stared in shock. She knew what Spirit Jade Scrolls were, but she had never seen one glow gold.
Even Heaven-Tier techniques only glowed red. What was this?!
"This is a Profound Rank technique I accidentally obtained three days ago. It's special, so the light is different."
"You're old enough now—it's time to begin cultivation."
Han Yan lied smoothly.
A God-Tier technique would be too shocking for Xiaowan to accept.
"Profound Rank…?"
Xiaowan's eyes widened, disbelief all over her face.
Then, tears welled up.
"Brother, isn't this too valuable?! Your cultivation regressed so much… You should keep it for yourself!"
She tried to reject it, thinking only of Han Yan's well-being.
"Don't worry, Xiaowan."
"I already have another Profound Rank technique for myself. It's just as good as yours."
"My cultivation problems are already solved. From now on, I'll only get stronger."
"So don't hold back—you must cultivate hard. Don't drag me down."
Han Yan smiled, though internally, he thought—
If it weren't for you, my cultivation wouldn't have regressed in the first place…
"Mm! I won't let you down, Brother!"
Xiaowan excitedly took the scroll and ran to her room.
Watching her go, Han Yan smiled.
Soon, his spiritual energy would stop leaking.
Finally, he could begin cultivating again.