First Attempt at the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill

In the study.

Jiang Ning

He once again came to the bookcase on one side, took out two books related to the Imperial Examination, and also took the book he had just seen about the Introduction to Basic Martial Dao Knowledge.

His knowledge of the Introduction to Basic Martial Dao Knowledge was still sorely lacking.

For example, what exactly was the Martial Dao Ninth Rank?

How great was the gap between him and the Martial Saint?

Why was the Martial Saint so terrifying, leaving behind countless legends over several hundred years?

He was not very clear about any of this.

Aside from that, he still had his sights set on next year's Imperial Examination.

With honors to his name, he could obtain the protection of the Great Xia Imperial Court.

With some distinction, it would also be easier for him to receive greater recognition in the Patrol Office, an official institution.

After all, the Patrol Office had the authority to monitor the people, encircle and suppress the God Worshipping Sect and other such cults, incite the people, and execute first and report later when dealing with those who stirred up rebellion.

Handling such matters could not be resolved through simple fighting and killing alone.

Naturally, the people above would place greater importance on talents skilled in both civil and martial affairs.

"Moreover, with honors to my name, I can enter the Saint Temple in the Prefecture City to worship. Receiving the baptism of Literary Qi can strengthen my Spirit Soul and enhance my Spiritual Power. It will also be of immense help to my Martial Path."

Jiang Ning carried the three books in his hands and then walked out of the study.

"It's already Zi Time!"

He looked up at the bright, crystal-clear moonlight overhead and muttered to himself.

"I should go back to sleep!"

The next morning.

[Name]: Jiang Ning

[Source Energy]: 6.0

[Skills]:

Literacy (First Breakthrough 196/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)

Five Animal Frolics Fist (Proficiency 17/200)

Firewood Chopping Blade Technique (Great Completion 109/1000)

Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill (Not Initiated 0/100)

After opening the Panel, Jiang Ning saw that his Source Energy Points had changed once again.

"Source Energy increased by 0.6 yesterday. This undoubtedly confirms my previous deduction."

Remembering that he had eaten three-tenths of the Wild Ginseng in a single day yesterday, he became even more certain of his earlier judgment.

The increase in Source Energy Points was related to the energy he took in.

The more energy he absorbed, and the higher its quality, the more obvious the increase in Source Energy Points would be.

During the more than two months since he had first arrived in this world, he had spent two months recuperating at home. He had mostly eaten plain meals, only getting meat later, so the Source Energy Points he gained each day fluctuated between 0.1 and 0.2.

In the vast majority of cases, his Source Energy Points increased by 0.1.

Only on days when his meals improved and he could eat meat did the increase become 0.2.

He had already made this deduction back then, but the sample size had been too small, so he had not dared to confirm it.

Now, with his martial training, increased appetite, improved food, and the medicinal nourishment of the Wild Ginseng, his Source Energy Points had increased by 0.5 each day after the first day of training, when they had only increased by 0.3.

Yesterday, his intake had increased again. He had eaten, in one day, the amount of Wild Ginseng he had previously consumed in a day and a half. As a result, the amount of Source Energy he obtained broke through its previous record and created a new increase.

It had increased by 0.6 in a single day!

"Unfortunately, starting today, I no longer have the nourishment of Wild Ginseng, so the rate at which I obtain Source Energy Points will begin to slow. If they continue increasing by 0.6, I'll be able to accumulate more than ten Source Energy Points in another week."

"Ten Source Energy Points will be enough to trigger a Breakthrough in the Firewood Chopping Blade Technique!"

"A Breakthrough in blade techniques will definitely grant a Trait that increases my combat strength! As Wang Jin said, joining the Patrol Office will involve trials and bloodshed. It's not enough merely to reach Martial Dao Entry Rank—combat strength is unquestionably extremely important as well."

Jiang Ning completely understood the Patrol Office's entry examination.

After all, judging from its authority, the Patrol Office was clearly a violent institution!

So it was perfectly normal for joining it to involve conflict and trials!

Merely reaching Martial Dao Entry Rank could not represent outstanding combat strength!

It was not particularly rare for some people who had entered the Martial Dao ranks to spend their entire lives practicing techniques without ever experiencing a life-or-death battle.

If such a person joined the Patrol Office, how could they pass?

How could they be competent?

After washing up.

Jiang Ning quietly sat cross-legged in the Courtyard, waiting for the rising sun.

That was because the time to practice the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill was the period when the sun was just rising and before it had completely risen.

According to the records on that fragment, before reaching Initiation in the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill, one could only circulate the Breathing and Exhalation Method recorded within it at this time.

At this moment, the sun had just risen, and a certain energy in the heavens and earth would be exceptionally active. Though scorching, it was also gentle. Only at this time could one breathe in and absorb that energy into the abdomen to temper the Five Viscera and Six Bowels.

Once the sun had fully risen, that energy would instantly become extremely terrifying. Absorbing even a wisp would cause the Five Viscera and Six Bowels to burn completely.

Only after advancing the technique further could one initially attempt to absorb the energy of heaven and earth from sunrise until Mao Hour.

To make the technique reach the Perfected Realm and forge the Inner Alchemy Pellet, one had to absorb the energy of heaven and earth at noon—hence the saying, "the furnace fire refines the Golden Elixir."

When Jiang Ning had seen these explanations, he had felt that this was practically a cultivation technique for becoming an Immortal, it was so mysterious.

But when he thought of the records in the many miscellaneous books he had read before, describing how Immortals and Gods had stood everywhere and Great Demons had run rampant during Ancient Times—

Great Xia was the first dynasty after the end of Ancient Times.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning felt more and more that this world contained countless secrets.

Just then.

Golden Light illuminated the myriad clouds, and the distant sky was shrouded in clouds of every color.

Jiang Ning immediately gathered his mind, raised his head, and fixed his eyes on the Fire Red Great Sun that had just appeared in the distance.

He then began circulating the Breathing and Exhalation Method from the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill.

With each breath in and out, Jiang Ning felt a thread of warmth enter his abdomen through his nostrils along with his breathing.

The warmth seeped into his organs, and he immediately felt as though his entire body were soaking in a hot spring.

"The first time I circulated the Breathing and Exhalation Method, I captured that energy hidden in the Netherworld. Is my talent really this high? Or is it the Panel's contribution?"

This stray thought flashed through Jiang Ning's mind.

He then slowly exhaled the stream of waste qi that had passed through his Five Viscera and Six Bowels.

[Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill Experience Points +1]

He then used the Breathing and Exhalation Method again, firmly watching the continuously rising Fire Red Great Sun as he inhaled.

In an instant, he once again felt a thread of warmth surge into his abdomen through his nostrils, following the clear qi he inhaled into his body.

[Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill Experience Points +1]

[Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill Experience Points +1]

[Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill Experience Points +2]

[...]

From the Great Sun's first appearance until it had fully risen, only forty breaths had passed.

Two breaths before the Great Sun was about to rise completely, Jiang Ning stopped circulating the Breathing and Exhalation Method of the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill.

At that moment, Jiang Ning felt as though his Five Viscera and Six Bowels were soaking in a hot spring. Warmth spread from his Five Viscera and Six Bowels throughout his body, while his Blood Qi began circulating through him of its own accord.

His body temperature was now far higher than that of an ordinary person, and his skin felt somewhat hot.

Jiang Ning closed his eyes and quietly sensed the changes in his body.

After several dozen more breaths, his body returned to normal.

Only then did he slowly open his eyes.