130: Chapter 10 Nine Yin White Bone Claw

The human skin was from Chen Xuanfeng's body, say no more.

That dagger...

Meng Li thought back carefully and vaguely remembered it belonged to Guo Jing; it was a token for him and Yang Kang to recognize each other.

The reason it ended up in Mei Chaofeng's hands was likely due to the battle where Chen Xuanfeng was killed.

To remember her hatred, Mei Chaofeng wrapped it in human skin and kept it in her bosom.

According to the original plot, later on, Zhu Cong, the "Scholar with Magic Hands" and one of the Jiangnan Seven Monsters, would find an opportunity to retrieve it using his ultimate skill, "Empty Hands of the Magic Touch." The human skin recording The Lower Volume of the Nine Yin Manual would then end up in Guo Jing's hands.

However, at first, Guo Jing didn't understand the contents on it until he met the trapped Old Imp on Peach Blossom Island and figured it out, thus learning most of the Nine Yin Manual.

Should I return it together with the rest?

Meng Li thought for a moment, wrapped the dagger in the human skin, and pushed the door open to go out.

Swish, swish!

Several streaks of finger force were fired through the air, unsealing Mei Chaofeng's acupoints.

Mei Chaofeng immediately felt her body relax, then heard Meng Li speak: "Here, returning this to you."

With that, the sound of something cutting through the air was heard.

Mei Chaofeng caught it instinctively, then felt it with her hands. Confirming the items were correct, her heart finally settled, and she hurriedly tucked the human skin and dagger into her bosom.

The next second, Meng Li asked, "How much do you know about Daoist Martial Arts?"

Mei Chaofeng was stunned.

After what just happened, she felt it was already a blessing that Meng Li returned the human skin as promised; she had even been prepared to fight.

As for the matter of teaching Internal Skill, she hadn't even thought about it.

Hearing this now, it seemed to be true?

For a moment, Mei Chaofeng couldn't help but feel conflicted: after what happened just now, should she fight or not?

Quickly, she made a decision: "Your Excellency will know once you try."

Meng Li smiled: "That works too."

"Since you said earlier that I was bullying you for being blind, you make the first Move this time. Let me see the power of the Nine Yin White Bone Claw."

Mei Chaofeng didn't answer, leaping directly at Meng Li while forming her hand into a claw, lunging for the crown of his head.

Under the empowerment of the Nine Yin White Bone Claw technique, a cold white spectral light condensed at her fingertips. An apparition of skeletal claws appeared over her fingers and palms. Her movements carried a sinister, evil aura, making her look eerie and menacing, even more like a ghost.

Facing this "Destroying the Enemy's Brain" claw strike, Meng Li ducked to avoid it, simultaneously taking the opportunity to strike with a palm, hitting Mei Chaofeng's lower abdomen.

Mei Chaofeng was knocked back on the spot, but she stopped after only a few steps and was not injured.

Because Meng Li wanted to test her Martial Arts, he had held back.

Immediately after, he moved in closer, attacking Mei Chaofeng with ordinary fist and kick Moves.

Mei Chaofeng countered his Moves by listening to his position, and for a while, she and Meng Li fought back and forth.

After a few rounds, Meng Li felt it was enough. He seized a weakness to knock Mei Chaofeng back, then shook his head and said, "'Destroying the Enemy's Brain' refers to attacking the enemy's vital points, not literally grabbing someone's head. You've completely misunderstood it."

With that, he performed the Nine Yin White Bone Claw on the spot and attacked Mei Chaofeng.

The Yi Hua Jie Mu Version of the Marrying Clothes Divine Skill is not a Daoist Internal Skill, but it is domineering and powerful. Its True Qi has the property of controlling and assimilating other True Qi, which is why it can absorb others' power for one's own use.

Correspondingly, its compatibility and adaptability are extremely strong.

Using it to perform the Nine Yin White Bone Claw, the compatibility might not match the Nine Yin Manual's dedicated Internal Skill, but it wasn't far off, far surpassing the Internal Skills of Peach Blossom Island.

At the same time, Meng Li's Martial Arts attainment was far higher than Mei Chaofeng's.

Therefore, when the Nine Yin White Bone Claw was used by him, its power at least doubled.

Furthermore, because he took the right path, although the Moves Meng Li used were the same, they were righteous rather than evil. There were also more variations, leaning towards being sharp and uncanny.

After a few rounds, Mei Chaofeng was terrified, her spine chilled, and cold sweat poured down.

Because during these few rounds, she felt like she was wandering back and forth at the gates of hell.

Even though the Moves were the same, the opponent could target her vitals every time, making it impossible to defend against or withstand.

If the opponent hadn't held back, she would have died several times already.

This made Mei Chaofeng completely believe what Meng Li said: "Destroying the Enemy's Brain" meant attacking vitals, not grabbing heads.

When they stopped, she said respectfully, "Thank you for teaching me, Your Excellency!"

Meng Li chuckled softly: "It's not really teaching. I just recently acquired this martial art and, in a moment of joy, decided to test it out on you."

And incidentally "learn" the Peach Blossom Island Martial Arts from you.

Adding a thought to himself, Meng Li changed the subject: "Although your Nine Yin White Bone Claw went down the wrong path, the mastery of your Moves is decent. With a bit of correction, you can return to the right path. However, the Internal Skill you practice doesn't fit well with it, preventing the power of this claw technique from being fully unleashed."

"To solve this problem, the best way is to obtain the Nine Yin Manual - Upper Volume and practice the Internal Skill within it."

"The next best option is to learn a set of Daoist Internal Skills."

Mei Chaofeng said: "Your Excellency's insight is profound. In fact, I have already found a set of Daoist Internal Skills, but my knowledge is shallow, and I haven't fully understood its meaning."

"Is that so?" Meng Li let out a soft exclamation, then smiled: "Tell me what you don't understand. It just so happens that according to our deal, I owe you an Internal Skill. If I help you learn that one, it saves me from having to teach you another."

Mei Chaofeng: "..."

Hearing Meng Li say this, she felt like she was getting a bit of a raw deal, but considering her situation, she didn't dare say anything. Instead, she followed his lead and brought up the part she didn't understand: "What does 'Lead and Mercury Carefully Gathered' mean?"

"'Lead and Mercury Carefully Gathered'?" Meng Li thought for a moment and laughed: "It should be 'Lead and Mercury Carefully Stored away', right?"

Mei Chaofeng was stunned for a moment and didn't refute him.

Meng Li continued: "This is a term from Daoist Internal Alchemy. The Daoist Internal Alchemy theory likens the body to a heaven-and-earth Cauldron, with the five internal organs corresponding to the Five Elements: lead, mercury, silver, sand, and earth."

"Lead is heavy and sinking, comparing it to Kidney Water; Mercury is fluid and moving, likening it to Heart Fire."

"'Lead and Mercury Carefully Stored away' means one should stabilize the Kidney Water and calm the Heart Fire. Only then is the practice of quiet cultivation considered successful."

Mei Chaofeng was enlightened and then asked: "What about the 'Jade Maiden and Infant'?"

Meng Li said: "These are Daoist External Alchemy terms. 'Jade Maiden' refers to cinnabar, and 'Infant' refers to mercury. Comparing it with Internal Alchemy theory..."

...

Time passed in a series of questions and answers.

By the time the horizon turned white, Mei Chaofeng finally fully understood the meaning of the Daoist Internal Skill she had acquired.

Then, she thought of her own experiences, and a sense of sorrow rose in her heart.

If she had met the person before her earlier, how could she have fallen to such a state?

Perhaps her Bandit wouldn't have died either.

Unfortunately, there are no 'ifs' in this world.

After confirming there were no more issues, Mei Chaofeng composed herself and bowed to Meng Li: "Thank you for teaching me, Teacher!"

Meng Li waved his hand: "It was just a transaction, no need for thanks, and no need to call me 'Teacher'."

"If there's nothing else, you should leave. It's already dawn, and I need to get some more sleep."

Mei Chaofeng hurriedly said: "I shall take my leave."

With that, she picked a direction and leaped away.

Meng Li shook his head and turned to go back to his room.

Although he had guided Mei Chaofeng's Internal Skill, she wouldn't achieve much in the short term.

It wasn't that he had set a trap, nor was there anything wrong with the Internal Skill itself.

That Internal Skill was indeed a genuine Daoist Mind-Cultivation Technique, but its quality was average. Like most Daoist Internal Skills, it emphasized quiet cultivation, focusing on being balanced and peaceful. There was almost no risk of Qi Deviation, and it even had health-preserving effects, but its progress was a bit slow.

In short, this Cultivation Technique was suitable for the Late Stage.

It showed little power in the Early Stage or Middle Stage.

If Mei Chaofeng practiced it, at most it would make her Internal Energy more compatible with the Nine Yin White Bone Claw. Her strength would increase, but the extent of the improvement would be limited.

...