Chapter 9

Ding Dian saw Feng Yi not agreeing, and didn't elaborate, saying: "This Divine Illumination Skill is merely internal energy; if you want to defeat enemies and win, you must have superb martial arts."

Feng Yi's heart stirred; finally got to the point.

This is my biggest shortcoming at present, urgently needing resolution.

Ding Dian continued: "My Shadowless Divine Fist, with your aptitude, won't take long; you'll be able to roam the world!"

Saying, he gestured with his hand, saying: "Come, attack me!"

Feng Yi clasped his fists, saying: "Junior, I accept your instruction!"

Ding Dian said: "Gladly!"

Before his words finished, Feng Yi exhaled and struck a palm straight at his head.

Ding Dian smiled slightly, yet did not dodge; only when Feng Yi's palm was less than a foot from his shoulder did he suddenly shift his body, throwing a straight punch at Feng Yi's elbow—evading and attacking as one.

At this moment Feng Yi's arm was already extended, his force spent; with a thud, he was hit immediately.

Feng Yi felt a strange force surge up his arm, his whole body as if electrified; he hastily retreated.

This is also due to his internal energy's progress; for an ordinary person, that punch would have broken his arm.

But Ding Dian, with linked steps, surged forward, throwing a left punch; before the first move finished, his right followed, swift as a gale, extraordinarily fierce.

For a moment, the dungeon heard only the clanking of chains.

Ding Dian's moves flowed continuously, the essence of the Shadowless Divine Fist. Though Feng Yi's Divine Illumination Skill had achieved minor success, his internal strength paled beside Ding Dian's, and his martial arts were far inferior; he involuntarily retreated several steps to avoid the onslaught.

Yet Ding Dian's fists came like sudden wind and rain, leaving Feng Yi dazzled, unable to block; he could only resort to the Opening Mountain Palm, exchanging blows for blows, but if Ding Dian were struck, what face would he have? Ding Dian suddenly shouted: "Be careful!" and unleashed a straight chopping punch.

This punch's force was extremely fierce; Feng Yi raised a horizontal palm to block, and as fist and palm met, Ding Dian turned his wrist, followed the motion to deflect Feng Yi's palm outward, then his right fist flashed like lightning to strike the opponent's face; Feng Yi waved his left hand, just managing to hook it aside.

Unexpectedly, Ding Dian's left fist came like a startled lightning, aimed at Feng Yi's chest.

At that moment Feng Yi's both hands were sealed outside, unable to return in time; evasion was impossible, and with a thud.

Feng Yi took the punch to his chest, retreated three steps, his qi and blood surged, his face flushed.

Ding Dian laughed heartily: "Sorry, I hit too hard; spit it out for a week, don't suffer internal injury."

Feng Yi hurriedly closed his eyes to circulate his qi, while thinking: "My martial arts are inferior to his; I've already been extra careful, not exerting full force when I strike, yet his attacks blend false and real, and I still cannot withstand them."

But in the martial way, false and true are common; yet which move is false, which is true, and how to judge?"

Thinking thus, Feng Yi again showed a doubtful expression and asked: "Senior Ding, I know the principle of false and true in martial arts; but even if I can distinguish them, the opponent's speed exceeds mine—how should I respond?"

Ding Dian saw him meditating with closed eyes, knew he had gained insight, yet hearing this question he felt surprised, smiling slightly: "You can think of this level; that's rare."

However, what you said is the way to overcome strength with weakness; only by anticipating the enemy's moves can one possibly cope."

Feng Yi nodded: "I've heard the principle of anticipating the enemy; but how to achieve it, I must ask you to teach me."

In his previous life, Feng Yi was also a martial arts enthusiast; the essence of the metal-system divine arts "Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms" and "Nine Swords of Dugu" lies in anticipating the enemy and attacking his weaknesses, which he still knows.

Ding Dian smiled: "Anticipating the enemy, for the Divine Illumination Classic, is actually not that difficult."

The Classic says: "The spirit wanders the Great Void; at present, I meet with the spirit, not with the eyes."

The meaning of this sentence is: do not be confused by what the eyes see; instead, use the mind's eye to anticipate his intention.

Because no matter how strange the martial arts variations, the ultimate goal is still to injure; as the saying goes, "the official knows when to stop, the spirit wishes to act," following heavenly principle, to split the great, to guide the great opening, due to its nature.

His actions are slow, his movements minute, yet already understood, like earth entrusted to the ground, lifted and standing, looking in all directions, hesitating with full ambition.

In martial terms, this sentence means: if you have anticipated the opponent's intention, no matter how fast he is, you only need to strike at his weakness, like a butcher dissecting an ox with ease; once you achieve this, even if his speed is greater, you can remain invincible, naturally at ease.

Feng Yi, lost in thought, nodded: "This Divine Illumination Classic is indeed vast and profound, inferior to no divine art of ancient or modern times."

Ding Dian laughed openly: "Do you think mastering the Divine Illumination Classic makes you invincible under heaven, merely an empty reputation?"

The Divine Illumination Classic stresses regaining what is lost, reviving the dead, following nature's way, marvelous comprehension at ease; this is the Way of Heaven, human affairs—what humans cannot, Heaven can surely accomplish.

Feng Yi slightly nodded, saying: "It seems I still have much to cultivate; this is not merely about mastering the Divine Illumination Skill."

After exchanging a move with Ding Dian, he felt that what the system had implanted was ultimately not as deep as his own realization.

Ding Dian said: "That you can think of this is especially rare. The Divine Illumination Skill is merely the foundation of the Divine Illumination Classic; the Classic contains profound martial principles; only by fully comprehending it and applying what you learn can you act as you wish and be advantageous everywhere."

Saying with a look of longing: "But this step can only be grasped intuitively, not put into words."

Because I myself cannot do it; even if you are a heavenly genius, without three to five years, it's likely impossible!"

Feng Yi glanced at him, smiling: "Three to five years? I'm afraid I have the time, but you can't wait!"

Ding Dian sighed: "What's the point of saying this? Besides, you're young and have just begun the Divine Illumination Classic; I've trained eight years and still haven't brought the Divine Illumination Skill to great accomplishment. Better to teach you the Shadowless Divine Fist early; we'll... part ways after a pat!"

Feng Yi reached out and patted his shoulder, smiling: "Even if we must part after a pat, I must first fulfill what I promised you!"

Since Ding Dian received Mei Niansheng's legacy, he has always guarded against others scheming against him, engaging in intrigue. Someone like Feng Yi, who directly speaks openly about his own schemes—a "villain"—is the first time he's encountered.

Now being patted on the shoulder by Feng Yi, he felt no resistance, only a long-lost warmth.

But he showed no sign, only gave a faint smile, saying: "This Divine Illumination Skill is indeed formidable, but must be combined with the Shadowless Divine Fist to display its power."

If the Divine Illumination Skill is a reservoir, the Shadowless Fist is the sluice; storing water is hard, releasing it is simple.

Feng Yi understood his meaning; put simply, the Shadowless Divine Fist is an output skill, used to increase the damage rate of the Divine Illumination Skill.

"Remember this fist manual first."

Ding Dian softly recited the fist manual; it wasn't too long, just a few hundred characters.

After Ding Dian's detailed explanation, Feng Yi understood that the Shadowless Divine Fist is called "shadowless" because the punch is powerful yet swift and silent, leaving no chance to block.

Therefore this fist does not emphasize fixed forms; it must be based on the superior internal energy of the Divine Illumination Skill, and as one's cultivation gradually increases, incorporate one's own insights and creativity—truly endless learning.

However, this realm, Ding Dian himself has not yet attained.

Only then did Feng Yi understand why, in the original plot, Di Yun was not taught the Shadowless Divine Fist: because at that time his foundation in the Divine Illumination Skill was too poor; teaching it would have been useless.

Afterward, Ding Dian demonstrated the fist techniques; Feng Yi mirrored them with his hands, one teaching, one learning.

This fist's routine is very simple, consisting only of offensive and defensive techniques. The enemy has few real moves, many false; we advance straight to the center, forcing the opponent to meet head‑on—this is called direct assault.

If the opponent relies on hard‑on‑hard martial arts, then his real moves are many; we instead adopt a flanking, indirect approach, waiting for his strength to wane and a flaw to appear, or guiding him to reveal a flaw, then striking with thunder—this is called indirect pursuit.

Feng Yi immediately understood that all this contains profound martial truths; no wonder it's said that as cultivation rises, one can never finish learning.

Feng Yi checked the system midway and saw that the entry requirement for the Shadowless Divine Fist was only 10 achievement points; he still had 11, so he immediately clicked to upgrade.

In an instant, Feng Yi gained much understanding; he then circulated his qi as he wished and threw a punch.

With a whoosh, it struck the wall squarely; his punch was almost soundless, yet it left a fist imprint on the stone wall.

Even though Ding Dian thought he had met a once-in-a-millennium genius, he couldn't help but stare wide-eyed in shock.

Feng Yi, knowing his own situation, knew he had only just begun; the true Shadowless Fist should strike without sound yet still leave an imprint.

He then voiced the doubts that had been troubling him.

Feng Yi also felt he couldn't rely entirely on the system; without achievement points, could his martial arts not progress?

Ding Dian immediately explained. But later, Feng Yi, relying on martial principles he had understood from novels in his past life, went from "anticipate the enemy's move, strike at their weakness" to "respond after the opponent acts, the initiator is controlled by the responder" and "the weak overcome the strong, the supple overcome the firm—principles known to all under heaven but put into practice by none."

What "the utmost softness under heaven can gallop over the utmost hardness under heaven."

"Perfect penetration and stabilizing wisdom, cultivating both essence and function—thus moving while still, though disturbed, remaining at peace."

What "the clear wind sweeps the hilltops, the bright moon shines upon the great river"

"He is fierce by nature, he is wicked by nature, I have a single breath of true qi enough," etc., he also offered some opinions; these are all theories he knew well from the supreme martial arts such as the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, the Dugu Nine Swords, the Nine Yin True Classic, and the Nine Yang Divine Art.

Ding Dian initially answered with ease, but as time went on he found Feng Yi's questions increasingly profound, and soon he could not answer them, so he had to ponder silently.

Feng Yi's martial arts foundation was far inferior to Ding Dian's, but his skill in theoretical discussion was something Ding Dian could not match.

One puts theory into practice, the other uses theory to seek how to practice; their conversation was like drinking fine wine, the more they drank, the more inexhaustible the flavor.

In the blink of an eye, several hours passed; it was already mid-morning, the sky was bright, sunlight streamed into the room, and only then did they stop.

Ding Dian couldn't help but exclaim: "Others learn one and apply to three; you can learn one and apply to ten, hear one and know a hundred. If it weren't for the fact that I just gave you a sound beating a few days ago, I would really think you were a deity descended to earth!"

"Perform it again, let me have a look!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Yi promptly assumed the stance of the Shadowless Divine Fist.

He activated the Shadowless Divine Fist with the Divine Illumination Skill, only then realizing its subtlety. He felt his inner energy like the Yangtze River's water, endless and ceaseless, and like spring rain nourishing every meridian, utterly comfortable; he executed the fist technique faster and faster, until suddenly he stumbled, and Feng Yi's heart startled—he knew that if this happened in a real fight against an expert, it would be tantamount to seeking his own death. Seeing Feng Yi's horrified expression, Ding Dian laughed and said, "You're wondering where you went wrong?"

Feng Yi nodded.

Ding Dian said: "Your fist technique and the circulation of your inner strength are correct; you're just overreaching!"

Feng Yi's thoughts flashed like lightning, and in an instant he grasped the crux; he laughed long and said: "Indeed, human strength has its limits; although this fist technique prizes speed, it must be backed by sufficient inner energy to be executed."

"With my current foundation, I can only go fast beyond the limit—like a toddler learning to run or a child wielding a hammer, it inevitably harms oneself."

Having said that, he sighed: "Therefore, one should know oneself and not attempt what exceeds one's ability, lest harm come to others and oneself."

Ding Dian heard this, fell silent for a moment, then gave a wry smile: "Indeed! Overreaching, one should know oneself..."

Ding Dian gazed out the window, a hint of pain in his eyes, and tears gradually welled up.

He was a man of utmost emotion and nature; reflecting on his own deeds, he couldn't help but feel moved.

Seeing Ding Dian in tears, Feng Yi's heart suddenly turned sorrowful: "What joy can there be for one who has come to such a pass for love? No wonder, after mastering the Divine Illumination Skill, he willingly stays in prison."

Thinking this, he said: "Great Hero Ding, don't be sad; tonight we'll break out together and take Miss Ling."

Upon hearing this, Ding Dian gradually calmed down; just then he suddenly heard footsteps and burst out cursing: "Damn it, even Grandpa could still be fooled by you."

"I was just messing with you, yet you took it seriously!"

Saying this, he threw a punch at Feng Yi.

Feng Yi also understood his intention, so he did not dodge or evade, but fell forward with the momentum, shouting, "Great Hero Ding, why be so obstinate and unenlightened?" Ding Dian then rained punches and kicks, hurling vulgar insults.

Then a voice called out: "All right, stop the fuss, it's time to eat!"

It turned out that dawn had broken; the jailer had brought the meal, and only then did Ding Dian shout loudly.

The jailer was already used to Ding Dian beating people; anyway, each month they beat Ding Dian, and Ding Dian beats his fellow inmates.

After the jailer left, Feng Yi picked up a bun, ate while speaking: "Great Hero Ding, tonight we'll escape prison; once out, we'll split up—you go and steal Miss Ling from her manor!"

Having said that, Feng Yi paused, his eyes narrowing and flashing with cold light: "I'll go see Ling Tui Si and kill that old brat!"

Hearing this, Ding Dian's heart pounded; he thought: "This kid really has extraordinary ambition. I could never get out of this prison, but the moment he makes up his mind, he wants to break out and kill Ling Tui Si!" Still, he shook his head and said: "This plan won't do!"

Feng Yi widened his eyes: "How come?"

Ding Dian said: "Ling Tui Si's martial arts are nothing to worry about, and he has no notable experts under him, but he has many followers and possesses a poison called 'Golden Wave Hibiscus'; since neither you nor I have completed our divine skills, we cannot act so rashly."

Moreover...

Having said that, he wanted to continue but stopped.

Feng Yi smiled faintly: "He is Miss Ling's father; you can't bear to see him die, right?"

Ding Dian gave a bitter laugh and said nothing.

Feng Yi took a bite of the bun, then said softly: "I know, you can't handle this!"

"If I let you take Miss Ling away, she wouldn't want to elope, and how could she believe that her father, so cruel, would strike her? She wouldn't go, and you wouldn't force her, so it would still be useless!"

Seeing this, Ding Dian realized in his heart: "Actually, he never intended for me to go look for Shuanghua from the start." He then coughed and said: "Nice kid, you're just messing with me!"

Feng Yi laughed heartily, wiped his hands, rose, bowed, and said: "I am indebted to Great Hero Ding for imparting his skills overnight; I have benefited immensely, and I could never repay it—how could I dare to mock you?"

Feng Yi added: "But if we brothers break out of prison, failure would mean becoming benevolent martyrs."

"'Failure would mean becoming benevolent martyrs?' Ding Dian stared, stunned."

Feng Yi said: "That is, if we fail, we have only a dead end!"

"Ling Tui Si and Xia San Dao are both crafty old foxes, yet in just one night I have made progress with the Divine Illumination Skill and the Shadowless Divine Fist—something they could never have imagined."

"Therefore, the current defenses are surely not overly tight; with our combined strength, escape will not be difficult."

"But to take Miss Ling out of Jingzhou will be extremely difficult, so you must obey my orders; if you make a mistake, we will surely regret it for the rest of our lives!"

He knew that when Ding Dian encountered Ling Shuanghua, his intelligence was too low, so he needed to give him a preventive measure beforehand to avoid mistakes.

Ding Dian sensed the deep meaning in his words and immediately thought: "What he says is correct; once we two break out of prison, if Ling Tui Si knows I can display martial arts and uses Shuanghua as leverage..."

Having reached that thought, he secretly admired Feng Yi's meticulous mind, reached out to help him up, and laughed: "This imparting of skills has benefited me greatly as well; what is there to repay? Tonight I will follow your arrangements!"

Only then did Feng Yi put his mind at ease.

The two again began to study martial arts in low voices; Ding Dian also told him what he had seen and heard in the martial world, as well as the famous figures of the martial world, and they chatted happily, finding even imprisonment enjoyable.

But as soon as the jailer brought food, Ding Dian started cursing and swearing at Feng Yi. Feng Yi just took it all in suffering silence, earnestly urging him to stop.

At night, after eating dinner, each lay down to rest and restore energy, until the middle of the night when they heard the night-watch bell sound "dik, dik, dong" marking one watch.

Feng Yi and Ding Dian slowly rose to their feet, needing no words; Feng Yi grabbed the iron bars of the cell, thick as a child's arm, and covertly exerted his inner power.

His whole body emitted a faint cracking sound as he twisted outward; the two iron bars bent instantly, opening a hole.

Ding Dian knew his power was not yet complete, yet even producing that sound was already remarkable.

He whispered praise, saying, "Hold the iron chain, don't make a sound."

Feng Yi grunted, picked up the iron chain at his feet, and slipped out through the hole; Ding Dian followed closely behind.

The two, holding the iron chain, one ahead of the other, walked along the passage toward the outside of the prison; this was the prefect's jail, where almost anyone who committed a crime in the city was detained in the Jiangling County office, so there were hardly any other inmates in the cells.

But Feng Yi had been on guard since the night before, when those hiding in the dark with crossbows; after walking several dozen meters, he saw none.

As they neared the prison gate, they heard the call "three-five-six, big."

Upon exiting the passage, they saw a dozen or so jailers sitting together, drinking, gambling, and enjoying themselves.

Originally, when Ding Dian was first locked up, there were guards inside and outside the prison, all diligent in their duties, after all, the prefect had ordered the detention of this "criminal," and no one dared be negligent.

But three years later, even the heavy guards outside the prison had been withdrawn, and those inside paid even less attention.

Last night it seemed heavily guarded, but it was only because Xia San Dao had come to take someone; the jailers were just putting on a show.

Today wasn't the fifteenth, so nobody cared at all.

The jailers were having fun, one preparing to get a drink, when he turned his head and suddenly saw Ding Dian and Feng Yi walking over, startling him.

Before he could shout, Feng Yi and Ding Dian rushed like a gust of wind, swinging their fists, making a light clatter.

All that could be seen was each jailer letting out a muffled groan, collapsing over the table, silent, unknown whether alive or dead.

(End of chapter)