Previously, we discussed several aspects of internal energies (IE), including the metrics, energy loss, and the difference between its origin and acquirement.
However, I'm still not sure about exactly how it works. This is an attempt to understand the overarching framework of internal energy.
Consider the example of Jiumozhi's internal energy AND martial arts depletion following Duan Yu's absorption of his internal power. It was said that his entire martial arts were eradicated. Yet, he seemed to suffer no health damage, which means his life force energy (LFE) was likely not affected by the absorption.
How exactly does one lose his internal energy forever -vs- momentarily? I imagine that if Beiming Shengong simply absorbed as much acquired internal energy as Jiu had, then he could still later build them up again (this is a normal practice after fighters lose much IE after a long fight). Did Beiming Shengong actually go one step further to remove the ports by which IE is generated (such as blocking the necessary meridians from utilizing IE)?
Which begs the question, how is internal energy stored and used? When one achieves a high level in "IE", does that mean they store a lot of it in their dantian, or that they are able to generate a lot of it on the fly, or both, or another way?