Chapter 53: Refining Inner Power! The Fall of the Wuliang Sword Sect
Near Wuliang Mountain, in a secluded valley, there was a tranquil courtyard. According to Zhong Ling, this place belonged to her family. Originally, when Mu Wanqing and her master came to visit, they were arranged to stay here temporarily. Now, bringing Mu Wanqing back to recuperate was quite fitting.
Cheng Lingsu went to assist Mu Wanqing with her injuries. As Mu Wanqing’s friend, Zhong Ling naturally wanted to help, so she assisted from the side.
Meanwhile, Fang Han took this opportunity to find a quiet room and sat cross-legged in meditation. He closed his eyes, focused his mind, and began to regulate his breathing.
In his chest’s “Shanzhong” acupoint, he had stored the inner power of more than twenty people, including Zuo Zimu, the head of the Eastern Sect of the Wuliang Sword Sect, his disciples, and several members of the Shennong Gang who had sought trouble. Although none of them were particularly powerful individually, their combined inner power was substantial.
If he could gradually refine and convert this into “Beiming Zhenqi,” it would undoubtedly greatly enhance his cultivation of the “Beiming Divine Art.”
Even without refining, this absorbed inner power was already at his disposal. However, since it was mixed and impure, using it extensively could lead to conflicts within his meridians. In the original story, Duan Yu absorbed a large amount of inner power without practicing the foundational “Beiming Zhenqi” method, leading to inner conflicts and deviation. It was only with the help of his family’s “Yiyang Finger” technique and the “Six Meridians Divine Sword” that he stabilized his condition.
But Fang Han had the “Beiming Zhenqi” method, so he chose the proper path of thorough refinement.
With this in mind, he began to draw out a portion of the stored inner power, guiding it through the “Beiming Zhenqi” method. After several cycles, the inner power became purer and gradually transformed into “Beiming Zhenqi.” He continued this process, integrating the refined energy into his dantian, merging it with his own “Beiming Zhenqi.”
However, this was just the beginning. He had absorbed the inner power of over twenty individuals, more than Duan Yu had. Refining all of it would take time and effort. Fortunately, these individuals weren’t exceptionally powerful, so the process wouldn’t be overly arduous.
Fang Han wasn’t in a hurry. Once he fully refined this energy, his “Beiming Zhenqi” would become even more profound, elevating his strength to new heights.
As he continued his breathing exercises, his focus deepened, and a faint warmth began to emanate from him.
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Meanwhile, at the Wuliang Sword Sect’s Jianhu Palace, the sounds of battle echoed throughout. The Shennong Gang had launched an assault, accusing the sect of killing their members. Using their expertise in poison, they released toxic smoke, incapacitating many of the sect’s members. Previously, due to various conflicts, the Eastern Sect’s head, Zuo Zimu, and many of his disciples had died. With the sect’s top experts gone, the Shennong Gang’s attack caused chaos and heavy casualties.
By nightfall, in the Jianhu Palace, the Shennong Gang’s leader, Sikong Xuan, knelt before several women dressed in green robes adorned with black vulture emblems. He respectfully bowed and said, “Greetings to the Holy Envoy and esteemed messengers! Sikong Xuan has successfully eradicated the Wuliang Sword Sect and welcomes the Holy Envoy to take over the Jianhu Palace!”
Sikong Xuan was pleased, thinking he had fulfilled the Holy Envoy’s orders. Unbeknownst to him, in the original storyline, he would have been poisoned by Zhong Ling’s lightning mink, leading to the loss of his arm and eventual suicide. However, with Zuo Zimu and the Eastern Sect’s experts dead, and the Western Sect unable to unite, the Shennong Gang’s attack was unopposed.
The woman referred to as the “Holy Envoy” responded indifferently, “I heard the head of the Wuliang Sword Sect’s Eastern Sect is dead?”
Sikong Xuan’s joyful expression faltered, and he quickly replied, “Yes! He was said to have died from a shattered heart due to a martial conflict.” He was secretly apprehensive, knowing Zuo Zimu’s swordsmanship was exceptional. Facing someone who could defeat Zuo Zimu made him wary.
After a pause, he added, “Thanks to this individual, we could eliminate a major threat! However, some of our members were also killed by him. Holy Envoy, what do you think…”
The Holy Envoy didn’t respond directly. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “Where is the Wuliang Jade Wall? Take me there immediately!”
Her mission from Tianshan was to investigate the Wuliang Jade Wall. Other matters, like the deaths of certain men, were irrelevant to her and the Lingjiu Palace.
Sikong Xuan, realizing her focus, quickly complied, setting aside his concerns.
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Footnotes:
- Shanzhong (膻中): Pinyin: shān zhōng. An acupuncture point located on the chest, associated with the pericardium meridian in traditional Chinese medicine.
- Beiming Zhenqi (北冥真气): Pinyin: běi míng zhēn qì. Translates to “Northern Darkness True Qi,” a powerful internal energy cultivated through the “Beiming Divine Art.”
- Beiming Divine Art (北冥神功): Pinyin: běi míng shén gōng. A martial arts technique from Jin Yong’s novels that allows the user to absorb others’ internal energy.
- Yiyang Finger (一阳指): Pinyin: yī yáng zhǐ. A martial arts technique from the Duan family in Dali, known for its healing and offensive capabilities.
- Six Meridians Divine Sword (六脉神剑): Pinyin: liù mài shén jiàn. A legendary sword technique that channels internal energy through the body’s meridians.
- Lingjiu Palace (灵鹫宫): Pinyin: líng jiù gōng. A fictional martial arts sect in Jin Yong’s novels, led by Tianshan Tonglao.
- Tianshan Tonglao (天山童姥): Pinyin: tiān shān tóng lǎo. A powerful and ancient martial artist, leader of the Lingjiu Palace.
- Wuliang Jade Wall (无量玉壁): Pinyin: wú liàng yù bì. A significant artifact or location within the Wuliang Sword Sect, often associated with martial arts secrets.
- Jianhu Palace (剑湖宫): Pinyin: jiàn hú gōng. The main hall or headquarters of the Wuliang Sword Sect.
- Shennong Gang (神农帮): Pinyin: shén nóng bāng. A fictional gang known for their expertise in poisons and herbal medicine.
- Zuo Zimu (左子穆): Pinyin: zuǒ zǐ mù. The head of the Eastern Sect of the Wuliang Sword Sect.
- Sikong Xuan (司空玄): Pinyin: sī kōng xuán. The leader of the Shennong Gang.
- Holy Envoy (符圣使): Pinyin: fú shèng shǐ. A title for a high-ranking female emissary from the Lingjiu Palace.
- Lightning Mink (闪电貂): Pinyin: shǎn diàn diāo. A fictional creature used by Zhong Ling, known for its speed and venomous bite.
- Deviation (走火入魔): Pinyin: zǒu huǒ rù mó. A term in martial arts fiction referring to a practitioner losing control of their internal energy, leading to madness or death.
- Dantian (丹田): Pinyin: dān tián. A focal point in the body where internal energy is cultivated and stored in traditional Chinese practices.
- Meridians (经脉): Pinyin: jīng mài. Pathways in traditional Chinese medicine through which qi (energy) flows.
- Inner Power (内力): Pinyin: nèi lì. Internal energy cultivated by martial artists to enhance their physical abilities.
- Refining (炼化): Pinyin: liàn huà. The process of purifying and converting absorbed energy into one’s own internal energy.
- Beiming Zhenqi Method (北冥真气之法): Pinyin: běi míng zhēn qì zhī fǎ. The technique used to refine and control the “