Ryūmyaku

The Ryūmyaku (龍脈, "Dragon Veins") are the paths drawn by all in existence, from the interconnecting energy of  that brought forth both the worlds and the gods, to the individual Ki that composes each and every living entity. It surrounds and binds all beings, living and nonliving, connecting all of Ki together. From the start of all creation, which began with the forces of yin and yang interacting with one another, everything that was, is, and ever would come to be are connected together by the paths known as the Ryūmyaku. In the same sense that all worlds and all entities are united through the interconnecting paths of the Ryūmyaku, so too are the past, present, and future. These paths are likened to the veins or channels that reside within a living being, which connect the entirety of one's existence together, hence its name. Certain individuals that are conscious of Musuhi and attuned to its behaviors and characteristics, are sometimes capable of developing a sensitivity to the Ryūmyaku that enables them to perceive their paths to some degree. It is then possible for those that are sensitive to the dragon veins and have also managed to reach a significant level in to actually read them, utilize them, and perhaps even influence them.

Ryūmyaku no Kyūsho
Ryūmyaku no Kyūsho (龍脈の急所, "Vital Points of the Dragon Veins") are a certain phenomenon that occur along the paths of the Ryūmyaku. Just as there are pressure points along the channels of the body, due to the crossing of multiple paths at specific instances, the dragon veins themselves tend to form these sort of convergences. Sometimes, these intersections only last for brief moments at a time, while others last much longer, altering and changing over time as they could either involve only a few Ryūmyaku that crossed paths or present as a complex web of numerous Ryūmyaku resembling that of cracks along a sheet of glass or faults in a crystal. Even among those who can perceive the dragon veins, few ever manage to acquire the immense level of skill it demands to perceive these vital points. To those Hakuda Masters that are capable, they can pour their own Ki onto these vital points in order to influence them, in the same way that a martial artists strikes at the pressure points or weak spots of an opponent to tear them down. In the same way, by applying their Ki to these vital points, they can pressure them even to the point of breaking.

At a tangible level, this allows Hakudaka to effectively shatter constructs that would normally be invulnerable to assault. By finding the weak points of their target, even a structure like a mystical weapon or a magical barrier can be destroyed with a single strike, while living beings are also susceptible to being weakened, injured, or even killed from the dragon veins binding and penetrating them being influenced. Targets are shattered at the deepest level possible, the very Ki that binds their existence together, at the point where they are at their weakest, meaning that even the most well-developed constructs can be torn asunder like glass. However, the true potential hidden in the Ryūmyaku no Kyūsho is that a Hakuda Master can use them to influence fate itself. All things are connected by the Ryūmyaku, including that of spacetime, meaning that all events that have been or will be are interconnected by the dragon veins. Similarly, they too tend to converge at these vital points which can be perceived. Certain people or circumstances can be connected to others, creating a chain of instances and events leading from a centerpoint, in the same manner that all veins within a living body are connected to the heart, which serves as its center. Influencing these vital points are quite dangerous even for the most adept at the Ryūmyaku, as there can sometimes be no accurate prediction as to what consequences will stem from the act of striking them. By applying Ki at these points, a Hakuda Master can go so far as to direct the course of events in a manner that suits them, effectively directing fate itself, but if the situation is misread and the wrong points are struck, there is no telling what repercussions will occur as a result. If handled effectively, a single Hakudaka alone can seemingly control the tide of an entire battle or even an entire war, but if the wrong choices are made, it can lead to their downfall.

Behind the Scenes
This article focuses on a rendition of the dragon veins, or ley lines as most known them as, created by the author to tie into his concept of. Certain elements of this idea, especially regarding the Ryūmyaku no Kyūsho, were inspired by the Shatterpoint concept from the Star Wars franchise.