The Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill he had always been proud of was worthless in Jiang Shuo's eyes, and Mo Xuanwu was so enraged that he spat blood.
"Why?" Mo Xuanwu could not understand. Could it be I slapped him too hard just now and knocked him silly?
"Fortune hides within misfortune, and misfortune leans upon fortune. Nothing in this world is absolute. Since the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill has such great benefits, it naturally has drawbacks unknown to others. Besides, a technique that absorbs other people's Inner Force is probably unacceptable by Jianghu's moral code. A thousand moves are inferior to one refined move. Rather than coveting other people's Martial Arts, it would be better to choose a respectable orthodox sect's Martial Arts and practice it. Given enough time, it naturally would not be inferior to the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill." Jiang Shuo remained neither servile nor overbearing. He gave Mo Xuanwu a slight bow to show his polite refusal. Jiang Shuo did not believe Mo Xuanwu's current plight had nothing to do with the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill. Especially when he had first met Mo Xuanwu, the man's savage, crazed appearance had been exactly like a beast that ate raw flesh and drank blood. That too was probably because of the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill. A gentleman walking the world ought to know what to take and what not to take. Though the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill was powerful, it was not indispensable to Jiang Shuo.
"You... you..." Mo Xuanwu's chest heaved violently as he said angrily, "Your thinking is just as pedantic as your father's. He is already dead. Looking at how stubborn you are, you definitely won't live long either."
In his anger, he actually childishly cursed Jiang Shuo.
Jiang Shuo did not feel he had done anything wrong and calmly said, "Senior Mo, even in your fury, you still haven't directly answered my question. What exactly are the dangers of this Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill?"
"Dangers? As long as you aren't greedy and don't practice that final move, there are no dangers at all." Mo Xuanwu's voice trembled violently when he spoke of this matter. He was clearly extremely agitated. "I know you're worried because of what I looked like just now. Hmph, if I hadn't been disturbed by my enemy at a crucial point in my cultivation back then, how could I have suffered cultivation deviation and become neither human nor ghost? Though I was lucky enough to survive, I ultimately ended up imprisoned and lost my freedom. I've told you everything I know. Believe it or not. Think about it yourself: both my legs are broken, and I'm already a cripple. What benefit would I gain from harming the son of an old friend?"
"Both your legs are broken?" Mo Xuanwu's legs had always been buried beneath the heavy chains, and with the dim light, they could not be seen clearly at all. Only now did Jiang Shuo look closely. Below the knees, they had withered into a pitiful state and were clearly ruined long ago. No wonder he had never moved before.
A trace of compassion flashed through Jiang Shuo's eyes, and he felt slightly guilty for repeatedly rejecting Mo Xuanwu's goodwill.
Mo Xuanwu glanced at Jiang Shuo. Seeing him waver, he immediately struck while the iron was hot. "As for the matter of morality you mentioned, although this skill absorbs other people's Inner Force, the person being drained doesn't become a cripple. Of course, since you possess the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill, you will inevitably arouse the covetousness of people in Jianghu. If you're afraid to learn it because of that, then I have no interest in teaching such a coward. But let me make this clear first: you infiltrated this place from outside, so you should know how tightly it is guarded. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been trapped here for ten years. If you want to get out, cultivating the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill is your only sliver of hope. Moreover, under my guidance, your Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill can reach mastery in a short time—enough to deal with the opponents you'll face at your current stage."
Jiang Shuo's eyes suddenly narrowed. His words had struck directly at his most sensitive point.
He had many things to do, and every one of them required powerful strength as a foundation. His current power was nowhere near enough.
And the prerequisite for all of it was escaping this Water Prison.
"I'll learn it." After careful deliberation, Jiang Shuo nodded.
"Good. Come here." Mo Xuanwu's furious expression eased slightly, and he beckoned Jiang Shuo over.
Jiang Shuo froze for a moment. The scene felt strangely familiar. When the thought flashed through his mind, he chuckled inwardly. I haven't offended him. How could I repeat the same mistake and take another slap?
At the Hundred Flowers Sect, Jiang Shuo had come into contact with many Martial Arts techniques, but most were only rudimentary entry-level skills. The Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill was the first cultivation technique he had decided to study seriously. Recalling Mo Xuanwu's various descriptions of it, Jiang Shuo could not help feeling uneasy.
"Bring your ear over. I'll tell you the formula for the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill." When Jiang Shuo came before him, Mo Xuanwu continued.
Without the slightest suspicion, Jiang Shuo turned his head and brought his ear close, completely off guard.
"Let me tell you, this Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill..." Apparently afraid that someone else might hear, Mo Xuanwu lowered his voice until it was almost inaudible.
Jiang Shuo frowned slightly and leaned closer.
Suddenly, Mo Xuanwu spread his arms and locked them around Jiang Shuo.
Powerful True Qi filled every part of Mo Xuanwu's body. His body was like steel and iron, leaving Jiang Shuo unable to move or break free.
The familiar trick left Jiang Shuo stunned. "Senior Mo, you... what are you doi—ah!"
Before he could finish speaking, Mo Xuanwu suddenly plunged his head into Jiang Shuo's neck, opened his mouth, and bit down viciously.
The wound that had just stopped bleeding and formed a thin film split open again, and the pain made Jiang Shuo's body convulse repeatedly.
Before you continue