Blood Qi Awakened, Fist Technique Initiated

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Zhou Xing, standing nearby, applauded with both hands.

"Senior Brother Zhou!" Jiang Ning smiled.

Zhou Xing's face was also full of smiles. "Junior Brother Jiang, your learning ability is impressive. You only started today, yet your Five Animal Frolics Fist already looks quite convincing."

Jiang Ning smiled faintly. "Senior Brother Zhou, you flatter me. I was merely born with a strong memory—Photographic Memory. I was only drawing a cat by looking at a tiger!"

"I see. Otherwise, that would have been rather discouraging for me!" Zhou Xing nodded and smiled gently. Jiang Ning's answer did not surprise him.

To perform such standard fist techniques on the very day of Initiation, the most crucial factors were memory and the ability to learn and imitate.

This had absolutely nothing to do with Martial Talent.

No matter how high one's Martial Talent or comprehension was, one first had to memorize the fist techniques, movements, and breathing principles before displaying one's talent and comprehension.

Thus, in his eyes, Jiang Ning's performance today merely proved that his memory and learning ability were extraordinarily high, far beyond ordinary people. It proved nothing else.

Then Zhou Xing spoke again. "Even so, Junior Brother Jiang's talent is still remarkable! At the very least, your starting point is far higher than that of ordinary people!"

A trace of wistfulness suddenly appeared on Zhou Xing's face. "I still remember that, just to memorize the essential principles of the Five Animal Frolics Fist manual, I recited it for three days and three nights straight! I truly envy Junior Brother Jiang's talent!"

Jiang Ning smiled.

Zhou Xing continued, "It's getting late. I should head back! Junior Brother Jiang, don't be too hasty in practicing your fists. Do not wear your body down."

Jiang Ning nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Zhou. I understand!"

Before leaving, Zhou Xing added, "Junior Brother Jiang, are you satisfied with the effect of the Wild Ginseng?"

"Very satisfied!" Jiang Ning nodded.

"That's good!" Zhou Xing smiled, then walked toward the exit of the Martial Arts Hall.

Outside the Martial Arts Hall, a Carriage had long been waiting at the entrance.

"Young Master, why did you stay at the Martial Arts Hall for so long today?" asked a man dressed in a Black Uniform, with a long saber tucked at his waist.

Zhou Xing revealed his customary smile. "I saw a disciple who had just joined the Martial Arts Hall and seemed quite talented, so I stayed a little longer."

"Does Young Master intend to recruit him?" the Black-clad Man asked.

Zhou Xing shook his head. "Although my family business needs capable hands, we would rather go without than settle for the inferior. We can discuss it after he becomes a true disciple of the Martial Arts Hall. If he fails to become one, then for someone born into an ordinary family, achieving Martial Dao Entry Rank will not be so simple!"

"Did Young Master not say he was rather talented? Could even he fail the test?" the Black-clad Man asked.

"Hard to say. From the way he practiced just now, he was clearly relying on his outstanding memory and attempting to practice all five fist techniques at once. If he cannot quickly realize the difficulty in this, there is over a ninety-five percent chance that he will fail!"

"If so, why does Young Master not offer him some guidance?"

Zhou Xing shook his head. "Everyone has their own fate. There is no need to forcefully interfere! It only easily breeds needless trouble and resentment!"

Inside the Martial Arts Hall.

Jiang Ning imitated the Deer Rest recorded in the Fist Manual, breathing three short breaths and one long breath as he quietly recovered his strength.

After a short while, as the medicinal effect of the Wild Ginseng continued to take effect within him, he felt his energy and strength become abundant once more.

Then he resumed practicing his fists.

With the Panel, every complete run through the fist technique increased his Experience Points by one.

And ten Experience Points would allow the Five Animal Frolics Fist to reach Initiation.

With that goal right before his eyes, so close he could almost touch it, Jiang Ning was filled with motivation.

[Five Animal Frolics Fist Experience Points +1]

After completing another round of the fist technique, Jiang Ning rested for another quarter of an hour, allowing the remaining medicinal power to slowly disperse through his body.

Only after his strength and energy had recovered did he begin the next round of practice.

[Five Animal Frolics Fist Experience Points +1]

[Skills]: Five Animal Frolics Fist (Not Initiated 6/10)

"Four more rounds!" Watching the Experience Points on the Panel steadily rise, Jiang Ning felt increasingly exhilarated.

Jiang Ning rested for a full Half an Hour. By then, the Setting Sun was gradually sinking.

Amid the afterglow of the setting sun, he once again performed the complete Five Animal Frolics Fist from beginning to end.

Following the remembered images in his mind, he continually corrected the Five Animal Frolics Fist he had practiced against the version Wang Jin had previously demonstrated for him, trying to make them match as closely as possible.

Gradually, Jiang Ning's fist technique grew faster and faster. His swinging fists drove his sleeves through the air, producing fierce whistling sounds.

His fist technique also became ever smoother.

Until he withdrew his fists.

Hah—

A hearty, exhilarated cry escaped his lips.

In that instant.

His body, having reached its limit, felt as though a surge of Blood Qi burst forth from his chest. He had been on the verge of exhaustion, yet now it was as though sweet rain had watered parched earth, instantly restoring some of his strength.

[Five Animal Frolics Fist Experience Points +4]

Four Experience Points?

Jiang Ning was secretly startled.

Then his attention was drawn to the changes inside his body. At that moment, he felt a faint, elusive warm current emerge from his blood.

"This is!!"

His eyes widened.

Basking in the last trace of the Setting Sun's afterglow, Jiang Ning's gaze shone brightly. He could clearly feel this warm current moving through his body on its own. Wherever it passed felt like soaking in a hot spring, incomparably comfortable.

"Could this be the Qi and Blood Power recorded in the Fist Manual?" he asked himself.

"According to the Fist Manual, cultivating the first wisp of Qi and Blood Power means one has touched the foundation of the Martial Path. Strengthening one's Blood Qi and allowing it to empower the entire body is a necessary condition for Martial Dao Entry Rank."

He closed his eyes and quietly sensed the warm current flowing continuously through his body. Wherever it passed, strength arose of its own accord.

"This feeling! This feeling is incredible!"

An intoxicated look could not help appearing on his face.

At that moment, he somewhat understood why so many people in his previous life had become obsessed with fitness. The thrill of growing stronger physically was simply intoxicating and addictive.

This was the first time he had truly felt the pleasure of practicing martial arts. The thrill of his physique growing stronger was far more distinct than any fitness training from his previous life.

[Skills]: Five Animal Frolics Fist (Initiation 0/100)

Looking at his Panel, Jiang Ning desperately wanted to practice another round of the fist technique and vent the exhilaration in his heart. But he understood that his body could no longer support continued practice.

When practicing fists, excess was as bad as deficiency!

His body had already reached its limit just now. Had it not been for that surge of Blood Qi bursting from his chest, he would now be facing complete exhaustion.

Jiang Ning took the Brocade Box from his robes and opened it for a glance.

"I have to use this sparingly!"

He immediately closed the Brocade Box again and returned it to his waist.

"Poor scholars, rich martial artists!!"

At that moment, Jiang Ning deeply understood the meaning of those words.

The reason he had been able to practice the Five Animal Frolics Fist seven whole times that afternoon was precisely that Wild Ginseng.

He knew that as long as he ate another slice of Wild Ginseng, his strength and energy would recover fully once more, supporting him through one final round of the Five Animal Frolics Fist and allowing it to reach the Initiation level.

But he could not bear to do it.

With the level of consumption from that afternoon, even one whole Wild Ginseng would not last him many days.

Having recovered a little strength, Jiang Ning thought for a moment before taking up his stance again.

This time, he planned to conduct an experiment.

He wanted to see whether practicing with the Slacking Style could likewise increase the Five Animal Frolics Fist's Experience Points.

The next moment.

He casually threw out each move and stance, breathing as casually as usual without following the breathing method suited to the Five Animal Frolics Fist.

After a short while.

A figure clad in a Blue Uniform emerged from the Backyard.

She spoke softly, yet her voice clearly reached the ears of everyone in the Front Yard.

"The Medicinal Soup is ready. You may go to the Backyard to collect it!!"

At those words, everyone stopped their practice.

"Come on, come on!! Let's go to the Kitchen and collect the Medicinal Soup!!" someone said excitedly.

After saying this, Li Qing looked toward Jiang Ning, who was still practicing his fists.

Seeing his loose, sloppy stance and haphazard breathing rhythm, she could not help frowning.

"Junior Brother Jiang, you should also go to the Kitchen and collect your Medicinal Soup."

"No rush. I'll go after I finish this set!" Jiang Ning replied while continuing to practice.

As he spoke, Jiang Ning's punches grew faster, and his breathing became more hurried.

Seeing this, Li Qing's brow furrowed even more deeply.

His movements were weak, and his breathing lacked any pattern. In her eyes, it was no different from children playing house.

After watching for a little longer, she shook her head slightly and turned to leave.

Jiang Ning also sped up and finished one round of the fist technique.

Standing with his fists withdrawn, he waited quietly for several breaths, but no prompt appeared indicating that he had gained any Experience Points.

"So it really won't work!"

His suspicion confirmed.

The next moment, Jiang Ning rushed at top speed toward the Kitchen of the Martial Arts Hall.

After eating the Wild Ginseng Zhou Xing had given him and witnessing the strength of its medicinal effect, he attached even greater importance to the Medicinal Soup Wang Jin had mentioned earlier.