Passing Down the Divine Skill

The Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill, which he prided himself on, was worthless to Jiang Shuo. Mo Xuanwu was so enraged he spat blood.

"Why?" Mo Xuanwu couldn't understand, wondering if he had slapped the young man too hard and knocked him silly.

"Fortune lies on the side of misfortune, and misfortune leans on fortune. Nothing in this world is absolute. Since the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill has such great benefits, it naturally has hidden drawbacks. Moreover, a technique that absorbs others' internal energy is likely to be condemned by the martial world's code of honor. A thousand moves are not as good as one perfected move. Instead of coveting others' martial arts, it's better to choose a righteous sect's technique and practice it diligently. In time, it will be no worse than the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill," Jiang Shuo said, neither humble nor arrogant. He bowed slightly to Mo Xuanwu, indicating his polite refusal. He didn't believe that Mo Xuanwu's current plight had nothing to do with the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill. Especially when he first met Mo Xuanwu, the man's frenzied and ferocious demeanor, like a wild beast that ate raw meat, was likely also a result of the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill. A gentleman walks the world with principles, knowing what to take and what to leave. Although the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill was powerful, it was not essential for Jiang Shuo.

"You... you... you..." Mo Xuanwu's chest heaved violently. Angrily, he said, "Your way of thinking is just as pedantic as your father's. He's already dead, and seeing how stubborn you are, you won't live long either."

In his anger, he childishly cursed Jiang Shuo.

Jiang Shuo didn't feel he was wrong and calmly said, "Senior Mo, you're throwing a tantrum, but you still haven't addressed my question. What 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 as he spoke of this, clearly agitated. "I know you're worried after seeing me earlier. Hmph, if I hadn't been interrupted by an enemy while practicing a crucial stage back then, how could I have gone mad and become this half-human, half-ghost state? Although I was lucky to survive, I ended up imprisoned and lost my freedom. I've told you everything I know, believe it or not. You should also consider that my legs are broken, and I'm a cripple. What good would it do me to harm my old friend's son?"

"Broken legs?" Mo Xuanwu's legs had been hidden by heavy chains, and in the dim light, they were not clearly visible. Only now did Jiang Shuo look closely. He saw that his legs below the knees were shriveled and misshapen, clearly crippled long ago. No wonder he hadn't moved before.

A flicker of pity flashed in Jiang Shuo's eyes, and he felt a slight pang of guilt for repeatedly rejecting Mo Xuanwu's goodwill.

Mo Xuanwu glanced at Jiang Shuo. Seeing that he was wavering, he immediately pressed his advantage. "As for the matter of righteousness you mentioned, although this technique absorbs others' internal energy, the person who has their energy absorbed doesn't become a cripple. Of course, if you practice the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill, you'll inevitably attract the covetous eyes of people in the martial world. If you're too afraid to learn it because of this, then I have no interest in teaching a coward like you. But let's be clear: you snuck in here from outside, so you must know how heavily guarded this place is. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been trapped for ten years. If you want to get out, cultivating the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill is your only chance. Furthermore, under my guidance, you can achieve great mastery of the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill in a short period, enough to deal with the opponents you'll encounter at this stage."

Jiang Shuo's eyes suddenly narrowed. The other man's words struck directly at his most sensitive point.

He had many things to do, and each required a powerful backing. His current strength was nowhere near enough.

And the prerequisite for all of this was escaping this water dungeon.

"I'll learn it." After careful consideration, Jiang Shuo nodded.

"Good, come here." Mo Xuanwu's angry expression softened slightly, and he beckoned Jiang Shuo over.

Jiang Shuo was stunned for a moment. He felt as if this scene were familiar. The thought flashed through his mind, and he chuckled inwardly. He hadn't provoked the man, so why would he repeat his mistake and get slapped again?

At the Hundred Flowers Sect, Jiang Shuo had encountered many martial arts, but most were basic introductory levels. The Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill was the first technique he had decided to seriously learn. Recalling Mo Xuanwu's previous descriptions, Jiang Shuo couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Lean in and I'll tell you the cultivation method of the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill," Mo Xuanwu said to Jiang Shuo as he approached.

Jiang Shuo, without any suspicion, turned his head and leaned his ear closer, completely unguarded.

"I'll tell you, this Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill..." As if afraid of being overheard, Mo Xuanwu lowered his voice to a near whisper.

Jiang Shuo frowned slightly and leaned closer.

Suddenly, Mo Xuanwu spread his arms and wrapped them around Jiang Shuo.

A powerful true qi surged through Mo Xuanwu's limbs and bones. His body felt like steel, and Jiang Shuo couldn't move or break free.

The familiar pattern shocked Jiang Shuo. "Senior Mo, what are you... Ah!"

Before he could finish speaking, Mo Xuanwu's head shot forward and buried itself in Jiang Shuo's neck, opening his mouth and biting down hard.

The wound, which had just stopped bleeding and formed a thin film, tore open again. The pain caused Jiang Shuo's body to spasm.