Chapter 17

Once again, it was a journey filled with unbearable pain, as the process of traversing the barriers between worlds once more cleansed Li She's body and mind. With the experience of his first transformation, this traversal further enhanced his body. The 'Divine Thief Order' was powerful in this way; with sufficient energy, each traversal was a process of purifying the body of impurities and reorganizing it. After being decomposed and reassembled, Li She's body had significantly improved compared to his form in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber." His meridians were reborn and refined, and his body was reshaped, making his potential even more formidable. At this point, Li She's physical body had surpassed the level of first-class experts and directly reached the peak of the acquired realm, comparable to Zhang Wuji. His physical condition was no less impressive than that of experts like Murong Fu and Qiao Feng in this world. Even more remarkable was that each traversal not only strengthened his body but also enhanced his innate talent.

Ignoring the turmoil in the capital, Li She now stood inside a cave. The statue of the fairy maiden that Duan Yu had longed for stood in the dimly lit cave. Having seen various Japanese, Korean, and Western romance action films and having long browsed forums for all kinds of goddesses, Li She was still taken aback. "Damn, this is too exaggerated! It's so lifelike!"

The statue described by Jin Yong in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" was so vivid that Duan Yu initially mistook it for a real person. Li She was initially skeptical, but when he saw the statue, he couldn't help but be amazed. "This old monster, Wuyazi, is truly amazing. If he entered the modern world and ventured into the inflatable doll industry, he would be unbeatable."

The fake eyelashes, made of some unknown material, were still clearly visible after so many years, and the pupils, inlaid with black zirconia, were exquisitely lifelike. The white, flawless arms, the figure, and the facial features were so perfect that it was no wonder Wuyazi couldn't help but fantasize about his creation. This was indeed an object that could captivate the imagination of young people. Even someone like Li She, who had experienced the pleasures of women, felt his blood boil.

"Big Brother Spirit, are there any innate realm experts in this 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' world? I don't want to be injured again and then be hit by the world's will, which could be fatal or leave me half-dead!" Li She asked cautiously.

"Don't worry, the martial arts in this world can project true qi externally, so there are naturally innate experts," the Spirit replied calmly.

"Oh, that's good, that's good!" Li She said.

Sitting cross-legged, Li She didn't rush to examine the "Beggar's Art" since it would be another ten years before Duan Yu entered this place. He felt his body and found that the internal injuries he had sustained in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" had already healed during the traversal.

Li She couldn't resist trying to run the "Nine Yang Divine Skill" again. The principle of movement lies in yin and yang, ultimately focusing the mind. When the mind is focused, the qi flows, refining the qi and returning it to the spirit. The qi moves, and the spirit is concentrated. The opening and closing are appropriate, and the real and the false are clear. If the left is empty, the right is solid; if the right is empty, the left is solid. The empty is not entirely powerless, and the qi must be flexible. The solid is not entirely rigid, and the spirit should be focused. The key is in the chest, waist, and legs, not on the outside. The force is borrowed from others, and the qi is emitted from the spine. How can the qi be emitted from the spine? The qi sinks downward, enters the spine from the shoulders, and gathers in the waist. This is the qi moving from top to bottom, called 'closing.' The qi then spreads from the waist to the spine, arms, and fingers. This is the qi moving from bottom to top, called 'opening.' Closing is gathering, and opening is releasing. Understanding opening and closing means understanding yin and yang. At this level, the Nine Yang Divine Skill can be practiced, and with each day of practice, the skill becomes more refined, gradually reaching the point where one can do as they please, moving smoothly and effortlessly, achieving whatever they desire.

The familiar "Nine Yang Divine Skill" text ran through his mind again, and this time he could feel the increase in his internal energy, unlike in the real world where running the internal skill for a long time yielded no results.

After running the skill for 81 cycles, his internal injuries were clearly much better. The "Nine Yang Divine Skill," whose origins are unknown but recorded in the "Kale Sutra," has some connection to Buddhist martial arts, so it naturally resonated with the "Sinew Purifying Classic." The feeling of breakthrough from the "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" world returned, and the sixth level of the "Sinew Purifying Classic," which had been unstable, seemed to break free like a tiger escaping from a cage, driving the "Sinew Purifying Classic" to run vigorously.

With a 'boom,' the meridians in Li She's body opened like a floodgate, and the internal energy flowed through his entire body like a turbulent river, filling every corner with power.

Li She knew this was the sign of the "Sinew Purifying Classic" reaching its peak. However, it was different from the peak described in the "Sinew Purifying Classic." The "Sinew Purifying Classic" transforms the body, making one reborn, and the internal energy is naturally the balanced and harmonious qi of Buddhism. But now, Li She's internal energy was as scorching as the "Nine Yang Divine Skill," flowing like a river of molten lava within him.

The endless internal energy made Li She feel full of power. He stood up and performed a set of the "Seven Injuries Fist," a powerful and mysterious technique that was unpredictable. Li She believed that if he faced the mysterious old man now, he could guarantee a knockout with one punch. Li She entered a mysterious state, and he casually performed the "Seven Injuries Fist," "Eagle and Snake Life and Death Struggle," "Shaolin Spring Leg," "Shadowless Leg," "One Yang Finger," and "Buddhist Light Illumination." Each move was incredibly powerful, and the "Adamantine Body Skill" had reached the level of the indestructible.

Li She exhaled a long breath, "It seems the 'Nine Yang Divine Skill' and the 'Sinew Purifying Classic' have merged. Haha, it seems the mutated version is the strongest. Let's call it the 'Nine Yang Sinew Purifying Skill.'"

Looking at the two cushions below the fairy maiden's statue, Li She had no intention of kneeling a thousand times and tore them open. The silk scroll containing the "Beggar's Art" fell out.

"In the north of the barren land is the Dark Sea, a natural pool. There is a fish there, several thousand miles wide, whose length is unknown. It is said, 'If the water is not deep enough, it cannot support a large ship. Pour a cup of water on the concave hall, and a blade of grass can be a boat; place a cup there, and it will stick, for the water is shallow and the boat is large.' Therefore, the first principle of our sect's martial arts is to accumulate internal energy. With sufficient internal energy, all martial arts in the world can be used, just as the Dark Sea can carry both large and small ships and accommodate both large and small fish. Therefore, internal energy is the foundation, and techniques are secondary. The 'Beggar's Art' draws the internal energy of others to make it our own. The vast waters of the Dark Sea do not arise on their own. As the saying goes, 'A hundred rivers flow into the sea, and the sea's water is due to its capacity to hold a hundred rivers.' The vast ocean is the result of accumulation. This 'Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian' is the first lesson of the 'Beggar's Art.' People practice from the Yunmen point to the Shaoshang point, but our sect does the opposite, from the Shaoshang point to the Yunmen point. When the thumb touches another person, their internal energy enters our body and is stored in the Yunmen and other points. However, if the enemy's internal energy is stronger than ours, it can flow back like a river into the sea, which is extremely dangerous. Be cautious, be cautious. The side branches of our sect can only neutralize the enemy's internal energy but cannot draw it for our own use, like taking a thousand gold coins and then throwing them away, wasting precious resources, which is laughable.' Our internal energy is the opposite of other sects, so those who have practiced internal energy must forget their previous learning and focus on the new skill. If there is any mixing or confusion, the two energies will clash, causing madness, vomiting blood, and the failure of all meridians, which is extremely dangerous. Future generations should practice carefully."

The text, along with thirty-six detailed illustrations and the energy flow routes, was clear and straightforward. Duan Yu had only mastered the thumb's energy absorption route. Now, these thirty-six illustrations covered the energy absorption routes for thirty-six major acupoints on the body.

"Big Brother Spirit, do I need to discard my previous internal energy if I want to practice the 'Beggar's Art'?" Li She asked silently.

"Damn, why are you bothering me with such trivial matters? I've already told you, you are an anomaly in this world, a loophole. Loopholes have their advantages, so you don't need to discard your previous internal energy," the Spirit explained impatiently.

Hearing the Spirit's words, Li She began to practice the "Beggar's Art" with peace of mind.

The Buddhist internal energy of the "Nine Yang Sinew Purifying Skill" initially resisted the Daoist method of the "Beggar's Art," but gradually, the two skills intertwined like a Tai Chi, complementing each other and generating endless energy. Since the "Beggar's Art" was still in its early stages, it was not as vigorous as the mutated "Nine Yang Sinew Purifying Skill," so it was always suppressed.

The "Beggar's Art" is a skill that can quickly achieve results, but it relies on absorbing others' internal energy. This process is full of variables. Different internal energy attributes and varying levels of refinement can pose certain risks to the absorber. Wuyazi lived to be over ninety years old, and his "Beggar's Art" internal energy was exceptionally pure, not just from absorbing others' energy but from rigorous refinement.

Li She was interested in the "Beggar's Art" not because of its ability to absorb others' internal energy but because of the nearly two hundred years of combined internal energy of Wuyazi, Wu Xingyun, and Li Qiushui.

Since the three had the same master, their internal energy attributes were the same, making Li She's goal to absorb their internal energy.

Li She did not waste any of the thirty-six illustrations, practicing until he completed the last one.

After finishing, Li She looked at the bookshelf, which was severely weathered and no longer contained any martial arts manuals. He used the "Buddhist Light Illumination" to destroy the bookshelf with a powerful palm strike.

Holding the silk scroll of the "Beggar's Art," he burned it with the scorching "Nine Yin Sinew Purifying Skill" and used the "Seven Injuries Fist" to shatter the statue of the fairy maiden.

After completing these tasks, the "Divine Thief Order" emitted a brilliant light, and the clouds in the sky formed a vortex, connecting to the "Divine Thief Order" like a dragon sucking water. A mysterious feeling arose, and the "Divine Thief Order" seemed to be nourished. The mountains, rivers, sun, and moon on the back of the "Divine Thief Order" glowed, and the hand that could reverse the world actually moved.

"Ha ha ha, kid, not bad! You've already stolen the qi of one of the main characters in this world! Impressive!" the Spirit said happily.

"Oh? Is this the effect of stealing qi? It seems I know how to steal more qi now!" Li She said with a smile.

What could be more thrilling than stealing someone's entire life's fortune? This feeling was like a deadly poison, making Li She even more addicted.

Looking at the only item he had brought from the real world, the jade seal, Li She decided to keep it. After all, he could still exchange it for a $50 million commission from the God of Wealth when he returned to the real world.

After tidying up, Li She left the cave, using a palm strike to seal the entrance with a boulder, and then turned and left.

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**End of Chapter**