The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 383 A New Realm of Martial Arts
The Northern Darkness Divine Skill is a technique that absorbs the internal energy of others.

The essence is "the sea accepts all rivers, and the water of the sea contains the water of all rivers," meaning that one can absorb the internal energy of others with different attributes into one's own body and then transform it into the same attribute.

It is a unique and extraordinary skill, unparalleled in the world.

Compared to the Beiming Divine Skill, which can draw on the internal energy of others through all thirty-six acupoints on the body, the Star Absorbing Technique, which can only draw on the internal energy of others with both hands, is simply incomparable.

Xu Xingchen recalled the storyline where Duan Yu, after obtaining the Northern Darkness Divine Skill, only managed to master two diagrams before the scroll was destroyed.
I feel that if the Star Absorbing Skill is indeed a fragment of the Northern Darkness Divine Skill, it is a fragment of the fragment passed down from Duan Yu, and it has been modified by later generations, making it unrecognizable.

However, the worlds that Xu Xingchen experienced had completely severed the connection between these inheritances because each world had different rules of heaven and earth.

For example, in the previous world, he used the Orchid Finger Technique he learned from the world of Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber in front of Huang Yaoshi, and Huang Yaoshi only felt that it was similar but not quite the same, just slightly different.
Xu Xingchen gazed at the images of naked beauties on the scroll, carefully studying the diagrams of martial arts techniques marked on their bodies, and meticulously comprehending the profound principles of martial arts in this world by referring to the accompanying text.

He had already thoroughly studied the martial arts principles of the previous worlds. Although the rules of heaven and earth in this world were different, they were still of the same lineage. Even if there were changes, there were still traces to follow.

As one of the supreme divine arts of this world, the Northern Darkness Divine Art contains detailed explanations of the rules of this world.

As long as Xu Xingchen grasps even a single clue from this cultivation technique, he can gradually uncover the entire world's appearance.

After he finished looking at all thirty-six training diagrams, the veil that concealed the rules of this world was lifted, revealing the true situation behind them.

The martial arts in this world are still mainly based on internal energy.

For ordinary people practicing cultivation, internal energy naturally develops step by step, such as by closing their eyes and meditating.

However, the Northern Darkness Divine Art goes against the grain, starting by cultivating certain meridians and acupoints on the body, as if reinforcing ditches and channels to prepare for the scouring of the seawater when it floods in.
Once all thirty-six diagrams are mastered, thirty-six black hole-like acupoints will appear on the cultivator's body. No matter where an enemy strikes, the cultivator can absorb the opponent's internal energy into their own body.

This way.
It can both neutralize enemy attacks and increase one's own strength.

It can be said that it kills two birds with one stone!
Of course, if you encounter someone with an extremely solid and profound foundation in internal energy, even the Northern Darkness Divine Skill will be helpless against them.

This is something for later, let’s not mention it for now.

When the Northern Darkness Divine Art is cultivated to a certain level and the internal energy is accumulated to an extremely powerful degree, a magical talisman can be condensed within the body.

With this magical talisman, internal energy can manifest outside the body, thus forming various magical techniques.

Thaumaturgy!

It is the term used by martial artists in this world to describe the manifestation of their internal energy in the external world.
It resembles the martial arts deities of previous worlds, yet it is also different.

Based on the description of the extraordinary techniques in the Northern Darkness Divine Art, Xu Xingchen felt that it was more like the previous world, after his cultivation broke through to the fourth realm, his inner force, driven by the spirit of martial arts, condensed into a more powerful and stable attack mode.

But it seems to be a level above the state of martial arts spirit.

Xu Xingchen savored the experience, vaguely sensing that the final condensation of the Northern Darkness Divine Art's unique technique talisman should be an aggregate of martial arts spirit.

By nurturing the martial spirit within one's body to a certain degree, it is then condensed into a unique talisman.

Only in this way can one release internal energy externally to create various strange and powerful attacks.
"So, this is why my internal energy cannot be projected outwards in this world?!"

Now that Xu Xingchen understood this principle, she found a way to move forward.

If you stay in this world a little longer, you will surely be able to further improve your martial arts skills.

With his mind made up, Xu Xingchen continued to study the Northern Darkness Divine Art.

The text describes how, when a cultivator condenses the magical talisman of the Northern Darkness Divine Art, they can devour all kinds of magical attacks from enemies with a mere gesture, transforming them into a black sphere.

This black sphere can be absorbed into the body of a cultivator to replenish their internal energy and accumulate strength; it can also be thrown out to deliver a heavy blow to the enemy.

Incredibly wondrous and unparalleled in power!
At the end of the Northern Darkness Divine Art, the author further elaborated on the martial arts realms of this world, which are divided into three major realms: Heaven, Earth, and Man.

among them
Those who practice martial arts in the human realm, like Xu Xingchen now, can only circulate their internal energy within their bodies to increase the power and speed of their fists, palms, and weapons.

Those who practice martial arts in the Earth Realm can condense magical talismans within their bodies, thereby releasing their internal energy to unleash various magical attacks.

The Heavenly Realm is the highest realm that the vast majority of martial arts practitioners cannot reach!

A martial artist who has cultivated to the Heavenly Realm achieves harmony between inner and outer realms, and is in one with the universe.

From then on, his internal energy flowed continuously, and there was no longer any danger of it running out.

The sign of reaching the Heavenly Realm is to fly.

They can leap dozens of feet into the air and travel over a thousand miles in a single day.
When one reaches that highest level of martial arts, one truly lives a carefree and unrestrained life, like an immortal.

As Xu Xingchen read the last paragraph, even with his composure, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion, and his eyes lit up.

In the previous world, although he could use the Cloud Escape Technique to travel a long distance in the sky, the rate at which his internal energy was consumed far exceeded the rate at which the energy of heaven and earth could replenish his internal energy.

Therefore, he cannot stay in the air for long periods of time.

Using the Yuan Magnetic Ring technique, one can levitate their body three feet above the ground, a sensation completely different from flying in the sky.

In today's world, if one cultivates to the Heavenly Realm and achieves oneness with Heaven and Man once again, the replenishment of one's inner strength by the energy of Heaven and Earth would likely reach an astonishing level.

At the very least, it should be equal to the energy consumed during flight. Otherwise, how can it still be called flying?!

The Chinese people's deep-seated desire for flight surpasses everything else.

If Xu Xingchen could realize his dream of flying in this world, it would be an extremely joyful thing!

With a joyful heart, Xu Xingchen pulled open the scroll behind her.

Above are a dense cluster of footprints, each marked with the direction of the Eight Trigrams of the I Ching, and connected by green lines to form a complex and varied set of footwork.

And ahead of these densely packed footsteps were the four large characters "Lingbo Weibu" (凌波微步).

Xu Xingchen glanced back at Duan Yu, who was still respectfully kowtowing. Seeing his slow movements and the sweat on his forehead, she knew that his body was already sore and aching, and he had reached a peak of fatigue.

But his kowtowing was still meticulous, and the look of infatuation on his face had not faded.

The counting in his mouth had reached "five hundred".
Xu Xingchen shook her head, not stopping Duan Yu from kowtowing, and turned her gaze back to the scroll, watching the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique).

He had learned the Dugu Nine Swords from his grandmaster Feng Qingyang, and also had a deep understanding of the I Ching, the Eight Trigrams, and Taoist classics.

He grasped the footwork and body transitions of the Lingbo Weibu technique very quickly.

In less than half an hour, he had a clear understanding of the sequence of the 365 steps and the many variations following each step.

Turn to the end, at the end of the scroll.
"With light, graceful steps, her silk stockings stirring up dust, ethereal as a fairy, her movements unpredictable."

"As one's skill increases, the illusions multiply, captivating the mind and confusing the enemy, allowing for endless and wondrous uses!"

After reading the last paragraph, Xu Xingchen thought to himself, "Judging from the description, it seems to also involve freely changing one's position amidst layers of illusions; I wonder, compared to Huang Yaoshi's Peach Blossom Illusion Technique, which is stronger and which is weaker?!"

Put the scroll away and wrap it in silk cloth.

Xu Xingchen glanced back at Duan Yu, who was still kowtowing, walked over, and gently placed the scroll beside him.

Then he walked to the eastern corner of the stone chamber and tried to practice the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique).

As for the Northern Darkness Divine Art, he temporarily set it aside.

He couldn't possibly dissipate all his internal energy to cultivate the Northern Darkness Divine Art.

However, some of the essential principles of the Northern Darkness Divine Art can still be used as a reference and incorporated into his own Yin-Yang Qigong.

This kind of thing requires long-term research and cannot be accomplished overnight.

During the practice of Lingbo Weibu
In the initial stages, he stumbled a bit as he walked.

In some places, the footwork transitions defy logic; it requires sudden turns and jumps, forward leaps followed by backward jumps, or swaying from side to side.
Their actions are often so strange that they take people by surprise.

But after walking it two or three times, Xu Xingchen became familiar with every step of the Lingbo Weibu, including turning, moving forward and backward, and shifting left and right.

As he smoothly completed the entire set of Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique), his internal energy circulated throughout his body.

Whether it was Xu Xingchen's imagination or not, he felt that the spiritual energy within his inner strength seemed to have increased.

Stop and reflect on it carefully.

Xu Xingchen quickly resumed her Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique).

This time, his movements were more skillful and fluid, and even without the outward manifestation of internal energy, his figure carried a sense of ethereal otherworldly grace.

And the spirituality within his inner strength seemed to have been enhanced.

However, that trace of spirituality was too weak, and even with some enhancement, the feeling was not clear.

Vague and indistinct, in a daze.

I don't know if it's real or an illusion.
Xu Xingchen raised an eyebrow and walked through it twice more, feeling that the spiritual energy within his inner force had become more active.

However, it is still uncertain whether there is any benefit.

He could only put it aside for the time being and leave it for future research.

If the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique) can truly enhance that trace of spirituality within one's inner strength.
Therefore, the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique) will be far more important to Xu Xingchen than the Beiming Divine Skill.

Click!

With another soft thud, there was no further sound.

When Xu Xingchen came to her senses, she saw Duan Yu kneeling on the ground in front of the jade carving, his head touching the ground, his waist stiff and unable to straighten up!

Xu Xingchen walked to his side, looked at his sweat-drenched temples, and asked curiously, "Brother Duan, are you alright? Have you finished kowtowing a thousand times?"

for a while
Duan Yu's voice stammered from below: "I...I've finished kowtowing!"

(End of this chapter)