Chapter 16: Reflection
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“The Deduction Divine Power can be used to deduce martial arts, magical techniques, as well as talisman crafting, pill refining, weapon forging, array formation, and all sorts of skills. As long as I understand the principles and can comprehend them, I am able to deduce them.”
When Fang Yue focused his mind on the divine power, he instinctively grasped its functions.
This “Deduction” divine power was vastly different from what Fang Yue had imagined. He had thought that deduction meant, like the legendary sages, one could calculate all things in the world with a flick of the fingers. Yet now, this divine power’s capabilities were far more suited to Fang Yue’s needs—for what he lacked most was strength.
True, the divine power had its limitations: it required comprehension, understanding, and insight; deduction was only possible based on Fang Yue’s current knowledge. The arts and techniques deduced could never exceed his own understanding and experience.
But there was one great advantage: any technique deduced could be learned instantly by consuming merit points, saving him the time and effort of arduous practice.
“Excellent.”
Joy welled up in Fang Yue’s heart. This was like receiving a pillow when drowsy—just what he needed, for he lacked both power and time.
With this divine power, as long as one’s knowledge was sufficient and comprehension not lacking, even a mortal could gain immense strength. Moreover, as strength grew, so would one’s insight; the upper limit was exceedingly high.
“Spirits and monsters roam unchecked. If I wish to acquire power to oppose them, without doubt, magical arts are most suitable. For example, thunder techniques—under the might of thunder, all evil is banished, spirits and monsters reduced to ashes. But—”
Fang Yue shook his head. Deduction was based on his existing knowledge, and he knew nothing of supernatural arts or powers. How could he deduce them?
Moreover, employing the divine power and deducing techniques consumed merit points. Fang Yue glanced at his meager three-digit merit score—clearly far from enough. Even the simplest magical arts might be beyond his reach.
So, he could only settle for the next best thing: deducing martial arts.
“As for internal energy and true qi, I still know nothing and cannot even begin to comprehend them. So, what I can deduce now are only unarmed combat skills based on the physical body.”
“Fortunately, back on Earth, when national martial arts were all the rage, I learned some internal martial arts online—Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua, the three great internal styles. Though I practiced for barely a year, and only for fun and fitness, the basic principles of internal martial arts remain in my memory.”
“Internal martial arts spring from Daoism, rooted in the theory of yin and yang. Legend has it that, upon reaching the highest realms, internal energy is generated, and one may even enter the Dao through martial arts, becoming an immortal.”
“In the previous world, where the heavens were sealed and spiritual energy absent, this was merely legend. But in this world, with spirits rampant and monsters everywhere, the theory of cultivating qi and entering the Dao through martial arts becomes possible.”
Fang Yue was pondering this when strange sounds drifted in from outside, disturbing his thoughts.
The sounds came intermittently, faintly audible through the walls. Fang Yue walked to the window and opened it.
The evening wind swept in, causing the candle flames to sway and the light to flicker.
Fang Yue listened carefully and finally traced the source: the room two doors down to his right. Moreover, those sounds—
His expression turned peculiar. The cries, plaintive yet joyful, at times soft as pipes, at times loud as drums, were filled with ecstasy and pleasure—clearly the moans of women in the throes of passion.
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What was excessive was that the sounds were not from a single woman; Fang Yue discerned at least two or three, perhaps even more.
He glanced toward the room; its window tightly shut, but inside the lights burned bright, casting shadows on the panes.
Fang Yue shook his head, lamenting the decline of morals and the loss of virtue, then closed the window and paid it no more heed.
“The theory of internal martial arts remains in my mind, though in practice I only trained for a year, and self-taught at that. When it comes to real combat, it’s essentially useless—a half-baked amateur at best. But with the theory and principles as foundation, employing the divine power to deduce new martial arts is more than sufficient.”
“Deduce.”
Fang Yue silently intoned, and in his mind’s eye appeared an ancient diagram of Taiji: one black, one white, two yin-yang fish entwined, forming a circle.
An aura of primordial antiquity emanated, as if the heavens had just opened, all things newly born, wild and untamed, myriad creatures striving for a chance at life.
“My goal, naturally, is to enter the Dao through martial arts.”
Fang Yue’s expression was solemn. Of course, this was not yet possible; but to deduce arts and techniques, whether martial or magical, one needed a guiding principle—a clear direction to achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Having determined his goal, Fang Yue silently intoned again: “Sacrifice!”
His merit points began to slowly decrease, offered as nourishment to power the divine ability. The black and white yin-yang fish began to rotate, full of the flavor of the Great Dao.
“Deducing a martial art is clearly not something that can be accomplished in a short time.”
Fang Yue shifted his attention away from the yin-yang fish in his mind, and gazed toward the bronze mirror on the wooden table.
“The images on the mirror earlier were evidently not hallucinations. Could it be that this bronze mirror—”
He looked at his right little finger, which still oozed blood. Without hesitation, he let his blood drip onto the bronze mirror.
The crimson blood sank immediately into the dull yellow bronze.
The patina on the surface flaked away, and then the bronze began to soften and melt, turning into a light reddish-brown liquid, with wisps of blue smoke rising.
“Just as I thought.”
Fang Yue was delighted. He tentatively dipped his left index finger into the bronze liquid; instead of the expected heat, a profound coldness crept up his finger.
If the jade pendant melted with a mix of heat and cold, this bronze mirror melted with only chilling, bone-deep cold.
The bronze liquid flowed into Fang Yue’s flesh and blood through his fingertip.
In moments, the entire mirror vanished, transformed into bronze liquid and absorbed into his body. In the merit system in Fang Yue’s mind, something new appeared—
Fang Yue—
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Merit: 225 points
Divine Powers: Deduction, Revelation
“Revelation? What kind of divine power is this?”
Fang Yue was puzzled and focused his mind on the divine power.
“Revelation shows images of past, present, and future, of heaven, earth, humanity, and the underworld. So that’s what it is—no wonder the mirror showed such eerie visions earlier; it was a hint of the future’s mysterious aura.”
A thought stirred in Fang Yue’s mind; he wanted to use the divine power to glimpse the myriad possibilities of the future. Yet as soon as the idea arose, he had to abandon it.
The information attached to the divine power made it clear: peering into the future consumed terrifying amounts of merit, and carried dreadful consequences. Even so, what was revealed might not be true.
“If I cannot peer into the future, I should at least be able to examine the present.”
With that, Fang Yue silently intoned: “Revelation.”
A dull yellow bronze mirror abruptly appeared before him, suspended in midair.
In the mirror was Fang Yue’s own handsome face.
“Well, it’ll be convenient for checking my reflection in the future.”
Fang Yue was in good spirits—two divine powers, each with their own wonders. Now, he intended to use “Revelation” to investigate the red-clothed female ghost lurking in the Wang family’s rear courtyard.
Though he knew spirits and monsters were rampant in this world, and had plenty of evidence to support it, Fang Yue had yet to see and confirm one himself.
These supernatural beings would surely be among the dangers he must face in the future; if he could gather more information, he could better prepare.
“Sacrifice.”
With a low chant, merit points were consumed rapidly, and the yellowed mirror surface shimmered.
An ancient well appeared in the bronze mirror. Judging by the surroundings, it seemed to be the rear courtyard of a wealthy household.
The moonlight was deep and dim, making it ordinarily difficult to see, yet the ancient well and its surroundings were clearly visible in the mirror.
A massive stone blocked the well. Fang Yue’s heart stirred, recalling the strange deaths in the Wang family’s mansion. “Could it be that the red-clothed female ghost is beneath this ancient well?”
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