But in certain worlds with no chakra at all, it might just be the key to unlocking a new system.
"For the first exchange, I can't be too greedy, but I can't be too stingy either."
Fang Xu took a deep breath and took out paper and a pen.
He did not start writing immediately.
In his original self's memories, he had already memorized the Chakra Refinement Technique thoroughly, but his understanding had been shallow. For many details, he had merely followed the instructions.
But after awakening his memories of his previous life, he distinctly felt that his mind had become faster.
It was not that his intelligence had skyrocketed out of nowhere, but that his mental strength had grown.
The fusion of two sets of soul memories had at least doubled his mental strength.
Previously, when refining chakra, he could only vaguely sense physical energy mixing with mental energy. Controlling it had been like trying to grasp a handful of loose sand.
Now, thinking back, many things that had been hazy became clear.
The benefits of stronger mental strength were immediate.
His chakra control would improve.
He would learn ninjutsu faster, too.
At least he would no longer practice ten times and fail to get a feel for it eight times, as he had in the past.
"This counts as the first benefit of awakening my past-life wisdom."
Fang Xu let out a breath, finally feeling somewhat steadier.
He spread out the blank paper and began transcribing the Chakra Refinement Technique.
He carefully wrote down every instruction and every point requiring attention.
He was not simply copying it.
He also added plainly worded notes in the margins about the pitfalls his original self had encountered during practice.
For instance, overly strong mental energy would cause chakra to become unstable.
Forcing refinement when physical energy was insufficient would only drain one's stamina.
Beginners should not blindly pursue quantity, but focus on stability first.
To Konoha Ninja, these were merely basic lessons from experience, but to someone from another world, they might be more useful than the original text.
One page, two pages, three pages.
Only the sound of the pen scratching across paper remained in the room.
After writing the final word, Fang Xu rubbed his aching wrist and put the transcript in order.
He did not rush to make the exchange.
Instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed and formed a basic training hand seal.
Chakra was refined from within his body, little by little.
The process was not fast.
His chakra reserves were already on the low side. He could not squander it freely like those with an Uzumaki or Senju constitution.
But this time, he distinctly felt that it went much more smoothly.
His mental energy was like a steadier hand, slowly kneading his physical energy together, no longer scattering at the slightest touch as before.
Soon, a faint but stable mass of chakra gathered in his palm.
Its pale blue glow was faint, like a tiny flame that might go out at any moment.
Fang Xu stared at it, his heartbeat quickening.
"A transcript of the Chakra Refinement Technique, plus a mass of chakra."
"Theory, a sample, an energy seed."
"I'll use these for the first attempt."
He placed the transcript before him while keeping the chakra in his palm stable.
The Exchange Talent in his mind was like a switch that had been waiting for a long time.
Fang Xu did not hesitate. "Exchange!"
The instant the thought took shape, the transcript on the table vanished.
The mass of chakra in his palm disappeared without a sound as well.
No light burst forth, and no sound rang out.
Yet Fang Xu's consciousness was suddenly pulled upward, as though an invisible hand had dragged him into boundless darkness.
The next second, the darkness split open.
An image appeared within his perception.
It was a battlefield high in the sky.
The enormous Golden Bell hung among the clouds, its golden body dazzlingly bright in the sunlight.
A boy wearing a straw hat had an enormous golden ball wrapped around his arm. Using the elasticity of rubber, he spun at high speed, like a cannonball drawn all the way back, and blasted forward.
"Rubber Golden Rotation Bullet!"
Luffy's roar tore through the sea of clouds.
The golden ball's terrifying weight and speed compressed the surrounding air until it cracked explosively.
Across from him, Enel stood before the Golden Bell, his face still bearing a godlike arrogance.
As far as he knew, apart from that damned rubber brat, no one could truly hurt him.
The power granted to him by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was proof of his divinity.
With Elementalization, he could turn into lightning and evade any attack.
No matter how heavy this punch was, it meant nothing if it could not hit him.
"Fool."
Enel lifted his chin, his mouth curling as he moved a finger slightly.
He prepared to turn into a flash of lightning and dodge.
But in the next instant, the arrogance froze on his face.
There was no lightning, no Elementalization.
His body remained flesh and blood.
The power within him that controlled thunder and lightning seemed to have been forcibly gouged out, leaving not even a trace behind.
Enel's pupils contracted sharply.
"What's going on?"
For the first time, he panicked.
It was not anger, but fear.
The fear of being dragged down from his divine pedestal.
He desperately tried to summon his power, wanting to turn his body into lightning, to call down bolts, to vanish effortlessly from the spot as he always had.
But nothing happened.
Everyone around him who witnessed this was dumbfounded as well.
Nami covered her mouth, her voice trembling. "He... he didn't turn into lightning?"
Both of Usopp's legs were shaking, but he shouted with wide eyes, "Hey, hey, hey! That monster's power stopped working?!"
The Shandia warriors gaped in utter disbelief.
This man who called himself a god had left Skypiea struggling to breathe.
Lightning, judgment, untouchable.
Everyone had thought he was truly invincible.
But now, Luffy's fist was already upon him, yet he had not turned into lightning.
Enel tried to dodge, but it was too late.
The fist wrapped in the golden ball slammed into him.
Boom!
The force carried by the golden ball erupted in full.
Enel's chest caved in, his arrogant expression twisting. As though struck by a gigantic beast, he hurtled backward, his body beyond his control.
The sound of snapping bones mingled with the roar.
He opened his mouth to cry out, but only spat out blood.
The next moment, he slammed violently into the Golden Bell.
Dong-!
The Golden Bell's toll erupted above Skypiea, deep and resounding, like a heavy hammer striking everyone in the chest.
The sea of clouds churned as the sound spread in waves.
The White-White Sea trembled, and even the distant sky seemed awakened by the bell's toll.
The Shandians standing among the cloudborne ruins froze where they stood.
Some trembled as they gripped their weapons.
Some looked up at the Golden Bell, their lips quivering for a long time without managing a single word.
"The bell..."
"That's the bell of our ancestors!"
"We really heard it! Four hundred years! It really rang!"
One Shandia warrior's knees buckled, and he dropped straight to the ground, clutching the soil with both hands, his eyes reddening.
Those beside him could no longer hold themselves together either.
They had shed blood for this land and fought the Skypieans for far too long, so long that many had almost forgotten what they were holding on for.
But that single toll brought forth every obsession buried in their blood.
Wyper stood high above, his wounds still bleeding, yet he seemed unable to feel the pain as he stared fixedly at the Golden Bell.
"It rang..."
His voice was terribly hoarse.
"It really rang."