Traits After Breakthrough

[Your Literacy has reached the Perfected Realm. Consume 10 points of Source Energy to complete the Breakthrough of Literacy?]

The instant he saw this prompt, Jiang Ning suddenly understood.

"So that's it!! So this is what Source Energy Points are for!"

At that moment, he finally grasped it completely.

Before this, ever since the Panel had appeared, the Source Energy section had automatically increased by 0.1 to 0.3 every day at midnight as time passed.

He had tried many different ways before, yet had never figured out what effect the Source Energy Points on the Panel actually had.

Only now did he fully understand.

Once a Skill reached the Perfected Realm, further breakthroughs required the consumption of Source Energy Points.

Having understood this, Jiang Ning no longer hesitated. With a thought, he made his choice.

The Source Energy Points on the Panel instantly dropped by 10, and the Literacy Skill displayed on the Panel began to change.

At the same time, Jiang Ning sensed waves of clear, ethereal power flowing through his mind. His heart was as still as an Ancient Well, washed over by waves of emptiness and clarity.

He could not help closing his eyes to carefully sense the changes within him.

After a short while, all changes settled into stillness.

Jiang Ning opened his eyes, and the Panel appeared before him.

[Name]: Jiang Ning

[Source Energy]: 3.5

[Skill]: Literacy (First Breakthrough 0/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)

"Just as expected!!" he muttered inwardly.

This change had not gone beyond his expectations.

He had noticed the word "Trait" before.

As the Literacy Skill had continuously broken through from Initiation onward, the Trait section had remained empty with every breakthrough.

Once it reached the Perfected Realm, he had formed a suspicion: perhaps a Trait would appear after breaking through beyond the Perfected Realm. Now that his guess had become reality, he naturally was not too surprised.

[Photographic Memory]: Those with extraordinary memory never forget what they see.

He immediately swept his gaze rapidly across the surrounding scene. Less than a breath had passed.

Then he closed his eyes. In an instant, the view of the small courtyard he had just glanced over appeared vividly in his mind. Whether it was the wings of a bee fluttering or a leaf tumbling through the air as it fell, everything surfaced in his mind with crystalline clarity.

"This effect!!" Jiang Ning could not help marveling inwardly.

It far exceeded his expectations.

The Photographic Memory he possessed now was not merely for words, but for images—images clear down to their every texture, vivid and lifelike, images that could move.

"With the boost of Photographic Memory, learning martial arts will be immensely beneficial to me as well!!" Jiang Ning was instantly exhilarated.

In this world, studying literature and taking the Imperial Examination could let one rise from a farmer in the morning to the Hall of the Son of Heaven by night, becoming someone above all others.

The same was true of martial arts. By taking the Martial Examination, one could command armies of a million, be granted marquisates and kingships, even carve out new territory.

Moreover, on the Martial Path, one person could become an army, one person could stand against a nation, and all great power would belong to oneself.

One could even attain immortality!

According to the records in the books he had read these past days, Great Xia had succeeded in founding its dynasty because a Martial Saint had emerged—an invincible Martial Saint.

That Martial Saint had suppressed the fortune of the Great Xia Kingdom for eight hundred years.

In other words, that Martial Saint had lived from the founding of Great Xia until the present day, a myth and a legend.

In Jiang Ning's view, the current turmoil of the Great Xia Dynasty was also connected to the fact that this Martial Saint had not appeared for decades.

It was precisely because he understood these things that Jiang Ning had long since made his plans. He wanted both literature and martial arts.

Children made choices. Adults wanted it all.

He wanted both literature and martial arts, with martial arts as the main path and literature as its support.

To him, the two did not conflict. Instead, they complemented each other.

First of all, with a Trait such as Photographic Memory, obtaining scholarly honors through the Literary Path would be effortless for him.

If he did not study literature and understand everything about this world, how could he secure even a small corner for himself amid the surging tide of the Great Xia Dynasty's final years?

Before martial arts reached its pinnacle, the importance of eyes that could see through everything was beyond question.

Furthermore, obtaining scholarly honors through the Imperial Examination would allow him to enter the Saint Temple, pay homage, and receive an infusion of Righteous Qi.

The Righteous Qi of the Confucian School could nourish the Spirit Soul. Apart from the secret teachings of the Buddhist and Daoist Schools, it was the finest method for nurturing the spirit.

Every lord in the imperial court possessed a powerful Spirit Soul, their thoughts racing through countless turns in an instant. That was why they could sit firmly in court and lay plans across the realm.

Moreover, at the end of the Martial Path, one needed not only to temper the body, but also to nurture the spirit.

The strengthening of the Spirit Soul would also be of immense help to his future ascent to the pinnacle of the Martial Path, becoming a Transcendent Saint.

The other, even more important reason was that if he wanted to continue grinding Experience Points for Literacy, he had to read widely through ancient texts and classical teachings. Only by constantly devouring a vast sea of books could he grind Experience Points for the Literacy Skill.

Since the First Breakthrough had granted him the Trait of Photographic Memory, he believed the Second Breakthrough would surely grant him even more Traits.

The powerful effects of Traits were beyond doubt!

Therefore, obtaining scholarly honors through the Imperial Examination was merely a convenient move for him, and one that killed several birds with one stone.

"Now I only hope my guess is right—that Martial Arts Techniques can also gain Experience Points through grinding." Jiang Ning muttered inwardly. "Previously, because my former self was injured, I spent over two months recovering and could not conveniently practice martial arts. It was the perfect opportunity to study literature and test the Panel's effects!"

"Now that I have achieved something in literature and successfully tested all the Panel's effects, it is time to learn martial arts!"

"With my current Trait of Photographic Memory and the Panel's miraculous effects, once I begin learning martial arts, my progress will surely be swift as divine speed."

"I'll ask Eldest Brother later. As a constable at the Yamen, perhaps he has a suitable Martial Arts Technique for me to learn!"

Just as Jiang Ning's thoughts churned, a deep, powerful voice came from the main room.

"Little Brother, come eat lunch!"

Hearing that, Jiang Ning set the Xian Shen Tong Jie in his hand on the chair, then rose and headed toward the main room.

The moment he stepped inside, he saw his Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law, as well as his nephew Jiang Yiming and his niece Xiao Doubao—Jiang Yuanyuan.

"Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning greeted them.

"Sit!" Jiang Li, his Eldest Brother, said.

"Du Du, Du Du! Sit beside Doubao." Xiao Doubao, seated on a stool and straining to prop herself against the dining table, hurriedly invited Jiang Ning over.

After Jiang Ning took his seat.

Jiang Li, his Eldest Brother, picked up some food with his chopsticks and said, "You've been studying very diligently lately. Are you thinking of taking the Imperial Examination and seeking scholarly honors?"

"I've considered it." Jiang Ning nodded slightly, then shook his head. "But I want to learn martial arts even more!"

"Learn martial arts?" Jiang Li looked at Jiang Ning in surprise, then his expression turned serious. "Do you really want to learn martial arts?"

"I do!!" Jiang Ning nodded heavily.

"Have you truly thought it through? Learning martial arts is difficult and bitter! Have you really made up your mind?" Jiang Li continued.

Jiang Ning nodded again. "I've made up my mind!!"

"Alright!" Jiang Li slowly nodded. Just as he was about to speak, the corner of his mouth suddenly twitched.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning could not help glancing at Liu Wanwan, his Sister-in-law, beside him. Noticing the small movements of her body, Jiang Ning immediately understood. Liu Wanwan was secretly tugging on Jiang Li, seemingly aware of what he intended to say next.

Jiang Li also shot Liu Wanwan a slight glare before looking at Jiang Ning.

"Very well. Since that is the case, I'll go find you a good teacher later."