Chapter 56: The Star-Absorbing Technique Has Its Flaws

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Chapter 56: "The Star-Absorbing Technique Has Flaws"

"In this way, it is inevitable that someone will resist. To resist, one must have enough strength, so he too begins to practice martial arts! Just like the rise and fall of dynasties, the martial world experiences its own cycles of prosperity and decline. In this process, you kill me, I kill you, or perhaps our ideals diverge and we part ways—hatred accumulates, disputes multiply. How many can truly maintain the original intent of strengthening themselves without harming others?"

"In my view, the so-called struggle between good and evil is merely a continuation and expansion of these conflicts. There is no absolute righteous path or absolute demonic way in this world. Among those who claim to follow righteousness, there are ruthless individuals who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, and hypocrites who do evil behind a façade of virtue. Conversely, there are those among the demonic sects who are noble and free-spirited, true to themselves. With such mingling of characters, how can there be anything absolute?"

Linghu Chong grew increasingly bewildered as he listened. He stared at Zheng Jian in a daze, as if seeing him for the first time.

Linghu Chong never expected that his usually flippant and sharp-tongued senior brother could voice such profound reasoning.

Seeing Linghu Chong's confusion, Zheng Jian smiled, "Enough talk for now. You lack experience, you wouldn't understand even if I explained further. But remember this: the Star-Absorbing Technique has a fatal flaw, so use it as little as possible."

Linghu Chong nodded. Honestly, among the disciples of Mount Hua, he trusted Zheng Jian the most. Since his senior brother said the technique was flawed, it must be so.

Otherwise, why would his senior brother, who had the opportunity to memorize the Star-Absorbing Technique, not even glance at it?

"Do you want to know what the flaw in the Star-Absorbing Technique really is?"

Linghu Chong's eyes lit up; of course he was curious. "I do!"

"Then think about it yourself." Zheng Jian burst into laughter.

Linghu Chong's face fell instantly. Yes, his senior brother was still the same old senior brother...

"Resentment value from Linghu Chong: +200."

"Just teasing you. I'll tell you, so you won't be tempted to recklessly absorb energy and end up losing your life," Zheng Jian said, his expression turning serious.

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"The Star-Absorbing Technique is said to have originated in the Northern Song era from the Carefree Sect. It was split into two branches: the Northern Darkness Divine Skill and the Energy-Transforming Technique. Later, it was passed down through the Duan family of Dali and the Star Sect, eventually merging as the Star-Absorbing Technique, mainly inheriting the Energy-Transforming branch. However, practitioners often fail to master its true method, resulting in significant flaws.

The Star-Absorbing Technique appears extremely domineering, allowing one to directly absorb an opponent's internal energy, stealing in an instant what they have cultivated for years. Yet, every person's internal energy is different—some are pure, some mixed, some cold, some hot. When you absorb these into your body, they inevitably clash violently with your own energy, creating immense hidden dangers."

"This is characteristic of most demonic arts: easy to master, fast track, quickly producing a peerless expert, but the consequences and price are severe!"

Linghu Chong suddenly understood, then was seized by fear, "Then... I just absorbed Black-and-White's internal energy. Will I become possessed or lose control?"

Zheng Jian looked at him as if he were a fool. "Of course not. Didn't you say you woke up having lost all your internal energy? In other words, your body now contains only Black-and-White's energy. What do you think?"

At this, Zheng Jian had his own suspicions. Perhaps, after deceiving Linghu Chong, Xiang Wentian felt guilty, which prompted Ren Woxing to purge Linghu Chong's internal energy, giving him the chance to cultivate the Star-Absorbing Technique. Otherwise, unlike the original story, Linghu Chong would surely have become possessed if he practiced the technique recklessly.

"What about after this? According to you, absorbing others' energy is impure and mixed. What should I do?" Linghu Chong asked blankly.

"It's up to you! Either continue to practice the Star-Absorbing Technique, absorb others' energy, and try to resolve the conflicting energies, making them your own; or disperse your energy again, abandon the technique altogether." Zheng Jian replied. There was no other way. In the original novel, Ren Woxing spent many years studying a method to resolve the issue of mixed energies, but in this timeline, it was clearly impossible for Linghu Chong to learn it.

Linghu Chong was deeply troubled. When he was imprisoned, every time he practiced the Star-Absorbing Technique, he felt indescribable pleasure, his whole body relaxed, as if soaring among the clouds. Now he realized it was the addictive nature of the technique; quitting it would not be easy...

Now, dispersing his energy was a difficult decision for Linghu Chong.

Seeing this, Zheng Jian said coldly, "I'm not trying to scare you. Feel for yourself! Take a deep breath and see if you notice anything unusual."

Linghu Chong did as told and his face changed dramatically. "Senior brother, I feel true energy surging between the Jade Pillow and Chest Center acupoints!" He now truly believed, regretting ever cultivating the demonic art, and even more regretting draining Black-and-White's energy in a moment of impulse. "What should I do? What should I do?"

"There is a solution!" Zheng Jian replied calmly.

"What solution?" Linghu Chong's heart surged with hope.

"First, you disperse all your internal energy again, rebuild your cultivation with Mount Hua's arts, abandon the Star-Absorbing Technique, and naturally resolve the conflict of foreign energies."

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Linghu Chong's face fell at once. Dispersing his energy and starting over? Once was painful enough, a second time?

"Don't worry, there's a second solution! The Shaolin Temple is the most renowned martial sect under heaven, and the Muscle-Altering Classic is its secret treasure. Practicing the Muscle-Altering Classic can also resolve the conflict of foreign energies. So, what do you think? Want to become a Shaolin monk?"

Actually, it's not necessarily just the Muscle-Altering Classic. In the original, Master Fangzheng of Shaolin knew the secret formulas to resolve the flaws of the Star-Absorbing Technique, but Zheng Jian did not mention this. To be honest, Zheng Jian had little respect for Shaolin in the world of Smile Proudly.

"...Betraying my sect? I'd rather disperse my energy and start over!" Linghu Chong immediately refused.

"Good, good, that's integrity! The third solution is to return to the mountain and report everything to Master. Ask him to teach you Mount Hua's ultimate skill, the Purple Mist Technique. As a genuine orthodox method, it can resolve conflicting energies and help you reach higher levels."

"Are there any other solutions?" Linghu Chong asked hopefully, gazing at Zheng Jian.

Zheng Jian smiled wryly, "No more! What do you think these are, cabbages growing everywhere? These three are the limit of what I can think of, and that's only because you're Linghu Chong. If it were someone else, I'd let them go to hell."

In fact, Zheng Jian himself possessed the Purple Mist Technique, but he could not directly teach it to Linghu Chong. After all, it was Mount Hua's supreme method, always reserved for the sect leader. Zheng Jian didn't care much about such rules, but he couldn't pass it on privately.

This was a matter of principle!

So, it was best to return to the mountain and ask Old Yue for permission. As long as he agreed, the problem would be solved.

"Let's go. This matter must be decided by Master. But don't worry, he'll definitely teach you the Purple Mist Technique," Zheng Jian comforted him.

...

(End of chapter)
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