Ink-Clad Creator

Li Xian looked as instructed and saw an inconspicuous cabinet door under the stone table slide open silently, and a sliver of emerald green light slowly floated out and hovered in front of him.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a miniature pine tree! Although it was only the size of a thumb, the roots, trunk, needles, and even the texture of the bark were clearly visible, as exquisite as a top-notch miniature sculpture, lush and vibrant with life—yet something was missing.

He reached out his hand, and the sapling gently fell into his palm. It felt cool to the touch and had a strange, inanimate texture, like the finest plastic or resin, but far denser than those materials.

"This is also something I 'thought' about," the brain explained, its tone carrying the rigor of a scientist. "Its structure is the same as that of a naturally growing pine tree, but there is no life activity inside, and it cannot perform photosynthesis, so... it will not grow, nor will it die; it is simply a perfect 'structural model'."

Li examined it carefully. The little pine tree was lovely, emerald green, but it lacked the vibrant life force of a natural creation; it was more like a top-notch, incredibly realistic model. "So, the experiment is to...bring it to life?"

"You could understand it that way. I've observed that cultivators in your world generate a bio-energy called 'true qi' or 'internal force' within their bodies." The brain shifted its tone, its voice now brimming with scientific curiosity. "This energy nourishes the human body and stimulates vigorous vitality. I'm wondering, if we used it as a special 'active catalyst' and infused it into this fully-structured biomimetic model… what wondrous 'chemical reaction' would occur? Could it 'ignite' its life program?"

"That's a cool idea!" Li Xian's eyes lit up. This was practically creating life! But then his shoulders slumped. "But boss, my dantian is empty. I don't have a single trace of internal energy. I can't help you..." He felt like a three-year-old holding the nuclear launch button.

"It's alright. My consciousness database contains a large amount of information on martial arts techniques from your world." The brain's voice was calm and even, as if saying, "I have several terabytes of learning materials on my cloud drive," and "Among them happen to be several methods for absorbing the internal energy of others. Now, I will transfer them to you."

"Transfer? How do you transfer it..." Before Li could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a throbbing in his head!

A vast and unfamiliar flow of information, like a high-speed USB drive being directly plugged into his brain, forcefully poured into the depths of his consciousness. There were no words, no images, but a direct "understanding"—a profound comprehension of qi sensation, meridians, acupoints, and methods of energy cultivation. After a brief moment of dizziness, he regained his senses and discovered that he indeed had complete information on two sets of cultivation techniques in his mind, as profound as if they were innate:

The Carefree Sect's Northern Darkness Divine Art (All-Encompassing, Inclusive Version)

Sun Moon Cult's Star Absorbing Technique (Overbearing Absorption, Side Effect Warning Version)

"..." Li Xian was silent for two seconds, then roared inwardly, "It's actually true! Jin Yong didn't lie! No, is there a Jin Yong in this world? Or are these martial arts techniques manifestations of some universal 'truth'?" The information even detailed the hidden dangers of the Star Absorbing Technique—the conflict of different types of true energy, the risk of dantian rupture, and the relatively mild and reverse-transferable characteristics of the Northern Darkness Divine Art. His brain even made optimization annotations.

"Start practicing now." The brain issued the command without question. "The cave entrance defenses are under attack. That old earth-elemental leader is quite powerful, and he has several other allies of the same element. My energy is being depleted in the outside world, and it's not unlimited even in this 'base station.' You must acquire self-defense capabilities as soon as possible, otherwise I may not be able to fully protect you in the next wave of attacks."

The life-or-death threat jolted Li Xian. He dared not be careless, and immediately adopted the starting stance of the Northern Darkness Divine Skill, mimicking its movements. Thanks to the direct "infusion" of information, he had mastered all the essentials, techniques for channeling energy, and acupoints, understanding them at a speed comparable to having a cheat code. It felt as if he had suddenly gained the lifelong cultivation experience and insights of a peerless master.

He slowly closed his eyes, attempting to guide the non-existent feeling of energy. Following the description of the cultivation method, he focused his mind on his dantian, visualizing his sea of ​​qi. Soon, thanks to the profound understanding brought by the "initiation," he actually entered a seemingly legitimate "cultivation state"—although his dantian was still empty, the "feeling" was right. (Of course, this was mainly due to perfect theoretical guidance and extremely strong psychological suggestion.)

Lying on the ground, Xiao Lingshan caught a glimpse of Li Xian's sudden "diligent" posture out of the corner of her eye, and alarm bells rang in her mind: "This little villain is cramming at the last minute, he must be trying to recover his strength, who knows what even more despicable means he will use next!" Fear and despair deepened. She tried to struggle, but the nanowires tightened more and more, digging painfully into her skin.

At the cave entrance, just as the brain had predicted, the situation was tense.

Young Master Han Yunyang, caught up in the moment of passion, was about to rush in when he was firmly held back by the experienced Elder Tian.

"Young Master, you mustn't! The situation inside the cave is unknown, and that thief's methods are unpredictable. Rushing in rashly could lead to disaster and endanger Miss Xiao!"

"Are we just going to stand by and watch our junior sister fall into the hands of thieves?!" Han Yunyang's eyes were bloodshot.

At this moment, the fortress lord Han Jinan, along with the other four elders, had rushed to the deep valley of Huachuan Mountain. This place belonged to Tonghai Prefecture of the Dagu Dynasty, located on the southeastern border. With high mountains and vast seas, the imperial court's jurisdiction was lax, and Han Family Fortress was like a local emperor, ruling over the "Number One Town" with a radius of several kilometers and a population of fifty to sixty thousand.

Recently, a small group of bandits has been causing trouble at Flower Boat Mountain. It was initially thought to be a training opportunity for the young master, and Elder Tian was sufficient to handle the situation. However, things took an unexpected turn; Elder Xiao's precious daughter was kidnapped by an unknown thief! And right in front of the young master and his disciples!

Elder Xiao was the first to rush to the cave entrance. This usually gentle and refined, handsome middle-aged man now had bulging veins on his temples, his face almost ferocious, and a faint blue aura emanated from his body—a sign of surging wood-elemental profound energy: "Where is everyone? Why haven't they gone in yet?!"

"Elder Xiao, please calm down!" Elder Tian quickly explained, "The situation inside the cave is strange. To be on the safe side, we want to wait for the Fortress Master's decision..."

"Strange? What's strange about a petty thief!" Elder Xiao roared, his joints cracking and popping as his body became incredibly flexible and flat, as if boneless. In a flash, he slipped into the narrow crevice that had been widened by the pursuers. The wonders of the wood-based technique in terms of movement were on full display.

"Wait for me!" Seeing this, the young master of the fortress, Han Yunyang, also struggled to squeeze into the crevice. He was burly and practiced a powerful style, and the stone wall creaked as he squeezed, with gravel falling down in a flurry, making the scene both comical and embarrassing.

"Lord of the Fortress!" Elder Tian rushed forward upon seeing the Lord of the Fortress arrive, pointing to the cave entrance with a solemn expression.

Lord Han stood with his hands behind his back, his black robes fluttering in the valley wind. His figure was as steady as a weathered rock, his gaze calm yet exuding an imposing aura, as if wherever he stood, that place became the territory of Han Family Fortress. Subtle arcs of electricity flickered around him, and the air seemed to become slightly scorching.

"Elder Tian," his voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying a metallic quality, "tell me in detail what exactly happened. I need to know every single detail."

"Alas, this is what happened..." Elder Tian began to report on all the bizarre events, from the strange changes at the execution ground to flying through the air, and then to his internal energy disappearing like a mud ox entering the sea. With each sentence, Lord Han's brows furrowed more, and the other three elders who had rushed over (the three elementalists of metal, water, and fire) looked at each other in astonishment and uncertainty.

Inside the cave, under the blessing of the "enlightenment," Li Xian had "preliminarily grasped" the theoretical essence of the Northern Darkness Divine Art—although he had zero practical experience.

"Go, absorb the woman's inner energy, and then try to infuse it into the pine tree." The brain issued the experimental command, "This is the first step in verifying the compatibility between 'bioenergy' and 'bionic structures'."

Li Xian got up, walked to Xiao Lingshan who was tied up, squatted down next to her, and his gaze swept over her body, finally... landing on the area near the girl's chest where the silk threads outlined her beautiful curves.

(Brain Knowledge Base Helpful Tip: The three dantian points in the human body—Baihui at the top of the head, Tanzhong at the chest, and Qihai at the bottom of the abdomen—are key hubs for storing and transmitting internal energy. Manipulating the Baihui point is high-risk; Tanzhong and Qihai are more suitable.)

When Xiao Lingshan saw his gaze, her cheeks instantly turned red. She was both ashamed and angry. If her mouth hadn't been gagged (Li Qian brought her first aid knowledge from his previous life to prevent her from biting her tongue or screaming), she probably would have already cursed out loud. She could only glare at him with murderous eyes.

"Miss, let's make a deal," Li Xian tried to sound sincere and harmless. "I'll 'borrow' some of your internal energy for a small experiment. According to the instructions for this technique, it should be renewable, just like... donating blood. It won't damage your foundation. If you cooperate, I'll untie you and find a way to let you go. How about that?" He started making empty promises, even though he himself didn't quite believe them.

(Note: The Northern Darkness Divine Art in his consciousness has been modified and upgraded by his brain based on its vast knowledge base, and has the function of controllable and reversible transmission, which can be called "humanitarian absorption method".)

Xiao Lingshan's eyes were icy cold, conveying the message, "You'd be a fool to believe you."

Li scratched his head, his gaze shifting downwards to her feet, bound by silk threads and clad in embroidered shoes. He had what he considered a more "polite" and "safe" idea: the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of the foot is a major acupoint in the human body, connected to the kidney meridian, often used to guide qi back to its source or expel turbidity. And its location... isn't so awkward.

"Excuse me," he said, deftly removing one of her shoes and socks. A fair and delicate foot, with a beautiful arch and toes like pearls, was exposed to the air and gently held in his hand. It felt slightly cool to the touch, and the skin was smooth.

"!!!" Xiao Lingshan trembled violently, her face flushed crimson, her eyes filled with shame and indignation. The warm, slightly rough touch of a stranger's palm on the soles of her feet, mixed with an indescribable tingling and itching sensation and the humiliation of being violated, made her tremble uncontrollably, and tears welled up again.

"Miss, I'm sorry, it'll only be a moment, very quickly." Li Xian's tone remained sincere, as if he were asking to borrow a pen. After speaking, he composed himself and, following the guidance of the cultivation technique, placed the Laogong acupoint of his palm firmly against the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of her foot, carefully attempting to circulate the newly acquired, still warm pen—

Northern Darkness Divine Art: Humanitarian Trial Version!

At first, he felt nothing and thought he hadn't practiced correctly. But after a few breaths, he felt a cool sensation in his palm, which then turned warm. A gentle and pure warm current flowed along the meridians in his arm (he clearly "internalized" the route using his knowledge of "enlightenment") and slowly entered his empty dantian.

The warm current, initially as thin as a spider's thread, gradually became clearer, swirling in his dantian, bringing a strange sense of fullness and a slight warmth. At the same time, a fresh vitality, carrying the scent of grass and trees, seemed to seep into his limbs and bones along with the warm current, making his body, which was sore from tension and fatigue, feel lighter.

"This is... internal energy?" Li Xian was both amazed and shocked. "It feels like I've drunk a sip of top-grade ginseng tea, and my whole body feels comfortable!" Power, is this the feeling of power? Although it is still very weak, it is definitely there! He subconsciously clenched his fist and felt that his arm seemed to be stronger.

"Ugh...!" Xiao Lingshan let out a painful groan, her face turning deathly pale at a visible speed, cold sweat beading on her forehead. She could clearly feel the internal energy of her years of painstaking cultivation of the *Qingling Technique* pouring out uncontrollably like a flood, flowing away through the Yongquan acupoints on the soles of her feet. Emptiness, powerlessness, and fear instantly gripped her. An even more terrifying thought surfaced in her mind, making her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

When Li Xian felt a slight fullness in his dantian (but it was far from full), he finished his practice according to the instructions. At that time, Xiao Lingshan was almost exhausted and her breathing was weak.

Li Xiansong released her hand, looking at her pale face with some apology. He wanted to say something, but felt that anything he said would be inadequate. He looked down at the small pine tree in his palm, the newly acquired internal energy flowing actively in his dantian, making him eager to try it out.

"Now, try to infuse your internal energy into it through the 'One-Finger Divine Skill' method." The brain timely transmitted new training information—the "One-Finger Divine Skill" cultivation method, which emphasizes precise control and energy projection. Having been "initiated" once again, he instantly grasped the essence.

Li Xian took a deep breath, recalling what he had gained from the "initiation," and guided the warm wood-elemental internal energy in his dantian along a specific meridian to his right index finger. He concentrated his mind, imagining the internal energy flowing slowly through his finger like a gentle stream, carrying a sense of nourishment and enlightenment, and gently touching the roots of the small pine tree.

A wisp of pale blue, almost imperceptible true energy slowly seeped into the "bionic structure" made of pure energy from his fingertips.

The One-Finger Divine Skill can be both forceful and gentle, capable of killing and healing. Li Xian was naturally filled with hope, anticipating that this little thing could absorb enough energy, regain its vitality, and complete the leap from "model" to "life." The intelligent brain was also quietly observing, filled with the rigorous expectations of a scientist.

however……

"Huh?" Li was stunned.

Instead of regaining its vitality, the pine tree's color faded at a visible speed, turning from emerald green to grayish-brown, and even its straight branches drooped listlessly, as if its last bit of energy had been drained away.

"Stop! You..." The voice in Li Xian's mind rang out, unusually tinged with a hint of exasperation, "Energy is dissipating! The structure is collapsing! Do you know how much effort I put into creating this tiny thing and how much cosmic radiation energy I condensed?! You have disappointed me greatly!" The tone was exactly like that of a mentor seeing a student mess up a hugely expensive experiment.

"I followed your instructions exactly..." Li Xian said, looking dejectedly at the even more wilted pine sapling in his hand, his heart sinking. His first experiment ended in failure. A sense of defeat welled up within him.

"Wait..." His brain suddenly stopped, as if sensing some abnormal data feedback. "Look at that woman."

Li Xian turned his head and saw that Xiao Lingshan, who had been pale and weak, had somehow regained some color in her face, and even had a strange, indescribable...focus on her face? She was staring intently, even with a hint of...instinctive longing? at the withered pine tree in Li Xian's hand? Her body was even leaning forward slightly, as if she wanted to get closer.

"Give her the pine tree," the brain commanded swiftly, its tone tinged with the excitement of discovering a new variable. "Get close to her, place it near her. If she can trigger any change, it will prove my other hypothesis might be correct—she might be the right 'catalyst.' If she can be saved, spare her life."

"Her?" Li Xian was skeptical, but he did as he was told. He walked to Xiao Lingshan's side, squatted down, and gently placed the small pine tree beside her bound hands.

Xiao Lingshan's gaze was completely drawn to the little pine tree, even temporarily ignoring her fear and hatred of Li Xian. Looking at the withered yet exquisitely structured "little tree," her nearly depleted inner energy from the *Qingling Jue* spontaneously and subtly began to fluctuate, producing a strange sense of resonance. She couldn't quite describe the feeling; it was like a lost child hearing a distant, familiar call.

"Untie her hands," the brain commanded.

Li Xian frantically tried to untangle the high-tech threads, only to find that the thing was more complicated than he had imagined. It took him a long time to finally loosen his grip on one hand.

Xiao Lingshan's freed hand trembled slightly, as if out of control, as she slowly and tentatively reached out towards the small pine tree.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch the tree trunk, a sudden change occurred!