My Arts Evolve When Perfected

In a hazy trance, Snow’s soul entered a state of detachment from her body. It was as if she had glimpsed a beam of light from within a boundless void. Following the light’s path, she could gradually touch a power that did not belong to this world.

It was like a fish that had finally realized it was in water, struggling to leap out of the surface.

But alas, this feeling of transcendence lasted only for a moment. Her soul was forced back down, and when she opened her eyes, she saw her bedroom—and her Senior Brother.

"Senior Brother, I feel like I’ve gotten much stronger. I’ll be able to live much longer now."

A smile touched Snow’s lips, and the joyful surprise of a young girl once again filled her body. Her eyes sparkled just as they always did.

"Yes, very impressive. Your Cultivation speed is fast."

Jiang Qiu remarked with admiration, still studying the young woman before him. She seemed to have grown a few centimeters taller and her overall aura had improved, but that peculiar sensation from her last breakthrough was gone.

’Was it an illusion?’

’No, how could a normal person cultivate this quickly? Besides, this is the Yin Yang Great Realm, where lifespans are generally long and Cultivation isn’t as fast as on Blue Star.’

Snow’s speed was so fast, you’d think someone had poured power directly into her.

And yet, no one had given her such an infusion...

"There was also a fleeting moment of familiarity, as if I’ve encountered this power somewhere before," Jiang Qiu murmured, staring at Snow’s lively figure. "Forget it. I can’t figure anything out right now. Let’s just continue with your Cultivation."

"Snow, your Realm has increased, but you haven’t mastered any Secret Techniques. It’s like going into battle without a weapon. You pose too little of a threat to the Ghost Head."

Hearing Jiang Qiu speak, Snow’s bubbly spirit calmed. She blinked, meeting his gaze with pure eyes. "Is Senior Brother going to teach me a Secret Technique?"

The legacy of the Hundred Ghosts Communication Technique she had inherited was relatively complete, containing numerous Secret Techniques that were all compatible with the Hundred Ghosts Dao. However, given that she was actually a Cultivation Dish, her Cultivation was different from the norm.

Without Jiang Qiu’s permission, or rather, his cooperation, she had no way to cultivate.

"Yes. I’ll teach you this: Ghost Possession. When it’s time for your Duel with that Ghost Head, I’ll use this Secret Technique to guide your attacks." As his words fell, Jiang Qiu casually swiped through the air, and a thread of Nether Dark Spirit Charm touched Snow’s forehead. "SWISH—"

Ghost Possession was a Secret Technique with a low barrier to entry but a high skill ceiling. The degree of mastery depended mainly on the compatibility between the Cultivator and the Cultivation Dish.

In the initial stages of practicing this Secret Technique, one might only be able to unconsciously make the Cultivation Dish wiggle its fingers or swing a fist, resulting in limited attack power. After all, the scope of manipulation was very small.

But as one’s Cultivation of the technique deepened, the description said one could directly impose their will upon Snow’s body, gaining complete, all-around control as if it were their own. They could even mobilize her Spirit Charm and access her memories.

In other words, Ghost Possession would be enough to leave Snow completely exposed, enveloped by his Soul, with no privacy and no secrets.

That’s right. This was the very reason that Jiang Qiu had chosen to teach Snow this technique out of the many available Secret Techniques. As long as he mastered it to that degree, he would be able to see her face.

’A certain suspicion had been nagging at him, unresolved. He couldn’t just ignore it...’

"Mmph~"

As Jiang Qiu’s consciousness slipped into Snow’s body, it intertwined with her Soul in a lingering embrace, a forceful melding like two lumps of clay—one black, one white—being kneaded into one.

The light in her pupils quickly faded. Her brows furrowed tightly, her toes curled to grip the Jade floor, and her small hands clenched into fists.

’This state of Cultivation is so strange, but it also seems kind of fun—two different Souls needing to merge, permeate, and twist around each other.’

’And I get to cultivate a Secret Technique like this with Senior Brother.’

’I’m a little excited... If we cultivate this to its peak, could I enter Senior Brother’s body in return?’

Embracing this thought, Snow quickly accepted Jiang Qiu’s Soul, letting it do as it pleased, completely unguarded.

Then, her finger twitched lightly, and her eye blinked unconsciously. An unprecedented, mystical sensation swirled around her, wrapping her in a gentle embrace.

「Two days passed in the blink of an eye.」

[Ghost Possession]

[Description: Achieve a state of fusion with the Cultivation Dish, freely borrowing the other’s body to unleash the power contained within. Can resist some soul-level attacks. Soul resistance is greatly increased.]

"Whew~" Exhaling sharply, Jiang Qiu opened his eyes. "Was cultivating this Secret Technique really so easy?"

He had encountered almost no resistance, had achieved a partial fusion with Snow’s Soul, and could now make initial use of Ghost Possession.

The feeling was truly bizarre... no, it was absolutely extraordinary!

Snow’s body was different from the girlish form he had imagined. She was so pure, it was as if she were carved from snow, her body utterly immaculate.

Of course, although he hadn’t paid it too much mind, the memory of her soft, yielding form still lingered in his mind.

"Senior Brother, are we done cultivating?" Snow’s eyes were wide as she looked down at her hands, which were cupped over her chest. Her fingers pressed in, sinking slightly. "It feels so different from when I do it myself~"

"Ahem!"

Feigning a cough, Jiang Qiu’s expression turned serious. "I was merely curious about the structure of your body. A body created by Yin Yang is truly astonishing."

’I really was curious what a genderless body would be like. I probed a little... all the necessary organs are there, but it’s not quite like a human body.’

’I suppose you could say it’s incapable of sexual desire, and therefore also lacks the sensation of pleasure that serves such desires. The flesh is merely a vessel for the Soul.’

’As for the way it feels to the touch, it’s the same as a human’s. It’s just the feeling on a Soul level that’s different.’

"Mhm, I know. I’m also very curious about your body, Senior Brother. I fell asleep during our bath last time before I had the chance to..."

"That’s enough," Jiang Qiu interrupted Snow, his face stern. "Ever since you bathed with me that one time, you’ve completely lost all your inhibitions."

"Ah, my apologies, Senior Brother." Snow’s eyes widened as she bowed in apology. "I don’t know why, either. I just want to be close to you. It feels as if being ’together’ with you is my ultimate destiny."

"..."

After a brief silence, Jiang Qiu sighed and stroked her head. "Your destiny isn’t so one-dimensional. Once I get on the Yin Yang Celestial Pride List, I’ll take you to the Yang Realm and complete your true form. You’ll have higher aspirations then."

Some things are simply determined by fate and can’t be clearly explained.

Since his Cultivation and his very foothold in this world depended on Snow, it was only right that he eventually repay her with a corresponding "reward."

BEEP—

Suddenly, a message came through the Yin Net. It was a notice from an Elder: the Duel was about to begin. He was to bring Snow to the dueling grounds immediately!

If they failed to arrive within one day, it would be considered a forfeit. They would be captured, brought before the victor, and devoured.