Chapter 26: Effortless Success

At first, Meng Fan was slightly clumsy, but after two or three attempts, he mastered it with ease.

After repeating the movements a few more times, he seemed to transform into a phantom, drifting unpredictably within the mountain cave—moving left and right, rising and falling, advancing and retreating in any direction with total freedom.

This was largely because, years prior, Meng Fan had learned that the third star was the world of *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*. He had prepared accordingly, studying the *I Ching* and related texts so deeply that there was a time he feared he was becoming obsessed and might end up becoming a Taoist priest.

After a few more repetitions, Meng Fan clearly felt that his innate *Qi* had not been depleted; rather, it had increased by a tiny fraction. This discovery delighted him, as it meant the martial arts techniques of this world were perfectly compatible with his own cultivation.

The *North Dark Divine Art* was also well worth studying. It allowed one to absorb the internal energy of others without the risk of the internal conflicts typically associated with the *Star-Sucking Great Skill*. Instead, it converted the absorbed energy into "North Dark *Qi*" and stored it in the *Dantian*. The complete technique consisted of thirty-six diagrams, each pair corresponding to one another: one for absorbing power and the other for refining it, ultimately channeling the energy into the *Dantian*.

Duan Yu had only learned the absorption method for the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and the corresponding method for refining and storing it in the Ren Meridian, failing to grasp the core essence. This was why, despite absorbing vast amounts of power, he could never fully master it, leading to techniques that worked only sporadically. Had he learned the entire system and refined the energy after every absorption, he could have truly made that power his own.

Moreover, the *North Dark Divine Art* was inherently balanced in Yin and Yang from the start, making it truly profound. Even without absorbing others' energy, its efficiency in solo cultivation far surpassed ordinary methods.

Usually, one would have to disperse their existing power to begin practicing this art, as the circulation pathways of North Dark *Qi* were fundamentally different—sometimes even diametrically opposed—to other schools of internal energy. For instance, most techniques circulated energy from the Yunmen point to the Shaoshang point, whereas the Xiaoyao Sect’s method did the exact opposite. Because the pathways differed, the resulting *Qi* had its own unique characteristics.

To use the *North Dark Divine Art* to absorb and convert another’s energy, one needed a foundation of North Dark *Qi* within oneself to act as the catalyst. This would trigger the consumption and conversion of external energy, causing one's own to grow and enabling the absorption of even more.

It was like a game of big fish eating little fish. When one was still a "small fish," one could only consume those even smaller. If one encountered a larger fish, one risked being consumed instead. If one practiced other internal arts first, the newly formed strand of North Dark *Qi* would be worn away by the existing energy rather than absorbing it. This was the reason for the requirement to purge one's cultivation.

In short, North Dark *Qi* was like a black hole—forceful and domineering, incapable of coexisting with other energies—yet this black hole was not "invincible" at the start. One must accumulate small steps to reach a thousand miles, and small streams to form an ocean. Duan Yu began by cultivating only a tiny amount of North Dark *Qi*, and the first person he absorbed was a mere servant of the Wuliang Sword Sect, allowing him to play the "big fish" role and gradually grow. Had he encountered a master early on, he would have been consumed by their energy instead.

Xuzhu was a different case; he inherited seventy years of power from Wuyazi right at the start, granting him a top-tier foundation. Later, by absorbing Tianshan Tonglao and Li Qiushui, he gained over two hundred years of power. If Duan Yu’s journey was that of a small fish becoming a big one, Xuzhu was a whale consuming other whales from the very beginning.

As for why Meng Fan did not need to disperse his power, it was due to the nature of his innate *Qi*, which existed in a state of *Wuji*—the primordial chaos from which all things arise. He had long suspected that his innate *Qi* was of a higher order than the energy found in this martial world. Being of a higher grade, it was downward-compatible, allowing him to practice the *North Dark Divine Art* without purging his own cultivation. Furthermore, if he were to use his innate *Qi* to fuel the *North Dark Divine Art*, he might end up draining not just the energy, but the very essence and spirit of his opponents.

After fully comprehending the technique, Meng Fan prepared to leave to find someone to test it on, curious to see if the refined innate *Qi* would rival his own. Having secured his first opportunity in this world, he was in no hurry.

Exiting the valley and arriving at the Wuliang Sword Sect, he heard the sounds of fighting from the front mountain. "Could the plot have already begun?"

Meng Fan gestured for the three exotic beasts following him to hide. With a few light strides, he used the "Swallow Skimming the Water" technique from his Xingyi Fist, leaping onto the roof as nimbly as a swallow. A few bounds later, he reached the top of the main hall.

In the plaza below, disciples of the East and West branches of the Wuliang Sword Sect were engaged in a martial duel. The sect had once been unified but had split into three factions due to internal strife and war. Every five years, they held a tournament at the Sword Lake Palace, and the winners earned the right to reside there for the next five years.

Meng Fan watched with mild interest, pulling a bag of melon seeds from his pack and settling down on the roof to enjoy the show. After all, it was his first time witnessing such a spectacle.

Just then, a petite, delicate figure leaped onto the roof, seemingly also looking to watch the drama. The girl was startled to see someone already there. Upon realizing Meng Fan was roughly her age, she patted her chest in relief and asked softly, "Hey, are you here to watch the show too?"

Meng Fan nodded and teased, "Yes. Are you here to watch? Aren't you afraid of being caught?"

The girl puffed out her chest and replied indignantly, "Hmph, you're not afraid, so why should I be? I'm very capable, and I have my good friend here—it's very impressive." As she spoke, she patted a small cloth bag at her back, from which a small head—a white ferret—poked out.

It was obvious that this girl was Zhong Ling, and the spirited white ferret was the very thing Meng Fan had been looking for. Truly, one finds what one is looking for when not even searching! He had wondered where to find the Lightning Ferret, and here it was, delivered right to him.