Chapter 57

North Darkness Divine Skill!

Master Uncle! Kang'er wants to learn North Darkness Divine Skill!

As soon as Niu Zhaizhu's words fell, Yang Kang's choice rang out, without a trace of hesitation.

Niu Dingtian heard this, his expression paused slightly; he was about to speak, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Yang Kang, who was excited beside him, suddenly thought of something; his eyes rolled, he furrowed his brows, then looked at Niu Dingtian and cautiously opened his mouth, asking:

Master Uncle, after Kang'er masters North Darkness Divine Skill, can he... can he...

Can he draw your power, Master Uncle?

Having said that, he wore a curious expression, tightly staring at Niu Dingtian, awaiting an answer.

Niu Dingtian was pondering when he suddenly heard his grand-nephew ask such a question; he snapped back to attention, his forehead full of black lines, he slightly narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly:

Kang'er, you'll know when you try it then; at that time, Master Uncle can let you absorb a few more times for a test.

Having said that, he wore a fake smile, still staring at this good nephew.

Yang Kang felt creepy under his uncle master's gaze, feeling a bit guilty; before he could speak, Niu Dingtian already smiled and opened his mouth again, saying:

However, if one absorbs power from an ordinary person it's still fine, but if one absorbs from someone with extremely deep internal energy and cannot bear it, then at that time...

After saying that, his gaze swept over Yang Kang's body, smiling without answering.

What then?

Yang Kang grabbed his arm tightly, urgently asking.

At that time, your body will become like this stone.

Having said that, Niu Dingtian's Nine Yang True Qi surged forth from his palm, he struck toward the side, and a stone made a 'Boom—' sound and was shattered into pieces.

After that, Niu Zhaizhu still gave him a fierce look and asked harshly:

Do you understand?

This grand-nephew still needs some discipline; if he isn't straightened out one day, he might go astray, so Niu Dingtian resolved to properly discipline him in the future.

After reacting, Yang Kang shuddered, lowered his head to glance at his own body, feeling some lingering fear.

I wonder if one day I'll explode like that?

Still choose it?

Niu Dingtian asked again.

Choose it!

After Yang Kang wrestled with his thoughts, his expression became resolute once more.

He had a feeling that this martial art was fated with him, and it would surely flourish on him in the future.

As for the impact, he is still a child,

He doesn't understand.

Good.

Seeing this, Niu Dingtian hesitated no more; the path he chose, even if he dies from exhaustion, he will walk it himself; having chosen this martial art, the jianghu will surely have some turmoil in the future.

Immediately, he sat cross-legged without minding the dirt on the ground, and Yang Kang followed suit, sitting beside him.

After a moment's consideration, Niu Dingtian slowly opened his mouth and softly said to Yang Kang:

North Darkness Divine Skill takes accumulating internal energy as its primary principle. With deep internal energy, all martial arts under heaven can be used by me, just as the North Sea can carry both large and small vessels and contain both large and small fish; therefore internal energy is the root, techniques are the branches.

Do you understand this? Niu Dingtian asked after saying it, seeing Yang Kang's brows furrowed in thought, half-understanding, he then continued to explain:

Since you practice North Darkness Divine Skill, absorbing internal energy is the primary goal; once your internal energy is deep, all martial arts in the world will naturally be at your disposal.

After hearing the explanation, Yang Kang's face showed sudden realization, then he became excited and slightly flushed:

Master Uncle, after I learn it, will I be able to go out and wander the jianghu?

He's not stupid; he knows practicing this martial art at home is useless—there aren't that many people at home for him to draw energy from.

Niu Dingtian nodded and continued speaking:

The vast waters of the North Darkness are not self-born; a hundred rivers flow into the sea, and the sea's water gains its capacity to hold a hundred rivers through accumulation, vast and boundless. This 'Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian' is the first lesson of North Darkness Divine Skill.

Upon saying this, he turned his head to look at Yang Kang again; seeing the boy's face first clear, then furrowed, Niu Dingtian continued to explain patiently:

The Hand Taiyin meridian originates in the middle jiao, connects to the large intestine, also follows the mouth opening, goes up to the diaphragm belonging to the lung; from the lung system it extends outward to the armpit, then runs along the inner arm before the lesser yin heart-master, passes through the elbow, follows the inner arm bone's lower edge, enters the cun opening, goes up to the fish (thenar), follows the fish edge, emerges at the tip of the thumb; its branch, from the back of the wrist extends straight to the inner side of the index finger, emerges at its tip.

Seeing Yang Kang's face full of bewilderment, Niu Dingtian wore a look of disdain and silently cursed: 'Blockhead!'

But he still continued to explain patiently:

The points along the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian are: Zhongfu, Yunmen, Tianfu, Xiaobai, Chize, Kongzui, Lieque, Jingqu, Taiyuan, Yují, and Shaozhang.

In other words, after opening these many points and circulating according to them, one can naturally begin to absorb others' internal energy; at that point, North Darkness Divine Skill has crossed the threshold.

Understand?

Niu Dingtian explained in great detail; now, regarding meridians and points, he was no longer a novice like a Wu Xia Ameng, and after finishing his explanation he again asked Yang Kang beside him.

I understand, Master Uncle! Hehe

After hearing the explanation, Yang Kang suddenly understood; he had been studying martial arts for two years, although he had not yet entered the door, he still had some knowledge of simple meridians and points.

Thinking of those points, he glanced at Niu Zhaizhu nearby; for a moment he felt curious and eager to try, but then suddenly thought of something, and with an embarrassed smile he drew back.

He was afraid he might accidentally blow himself up.

Niu Dingtian saw this and didn't mind; he figured he would naturally let him taste the bitterness later, so he continued speaking:

Ordinary people cultivate from Yunmen to Shaozhang, but North Darkness Divine Skill does the opposite, going from Shaozhang to Yunmen; when the thumb touches another person, their internal energy enters my body and is stored in points such as Yunmen.

Having said that, Niu Dingtian did not wait for Yang Kang to ask; his face grew solemn, and he earnestly instructed:

The circulation route of North Darkness Divine Skill differs from other internal arts; therefore, after practicing North Darkness Divine Skill, before you find a way to reconcile the two incompatible internal energies, you cannot practice any other internal arts, understand?

What will happen if we practice it?

Yang Kang, looking curious, leaned forward to ask.

Niu Dingtian gave no reply, glanced at the broken stones beside him, and it was self‑evident.

Yang Kang, seeing this, was so frightened that he pulled his head back.

Although he said so, Niu Dingtian was not particularly concerned; he believed that among all martial arts under heaven there was no problem that could not be solved.

Regarding the North Darkness Divine Skill, he had already comprehended it thoroughly, but now he still dared not practice it recklessly. The last time, forced by circumstances, he siphoned some cold internal energy from the old eunuch, and then began some experiments, yet still failed.

Thinking of this, Niu Zhaizhu let out a soft sigh; the road ahead was long and its cultivation distant.

"However, if the opponent's internal energy surpasses mine, it would be like seawater flowing backward into a river—extremely perilous; be cautious, be cautious. Not having yet grasped the essential method, one can only dissipate the enemy's internal energy, not draw it to use for oneself, as if taking a thousand pieces of gold only to discard them on the ground—wasting precious treasures, truly contemptible."

"That is exactly what Uncle Shifu just said: when you encounter someone whose power far exceeds yours, unless it is a life‑or‑death moment, you must not forcibly siphon another's internal energy! Do you understand?"

"Understood! Uncle Shifu."

"Very well, now Uncle Shifu will test whether you have learned it, following the acupoint pathway I just taught you."

"Siphon me!"

Having said that, Niu Zhaizhu extended his right hand in front of Yang Kang.

(End of chapter)