Jiang Ning Lends a Hand

Roar--

A beast-like roar suddenly rang out from the place where the battle was taking place.

Jiang Ning immediately saw Xiao Peng enter within a single arm's reach of Cheng Ran. Accompanied by the roar from his mouth, Xiao Peng stomped his right foot heavily against the ground.

Bang--

The stone slabs beneath his foot instantly cracked. Under the recoil from that stomp, his body also slammed fiercely toward Cheng Ran's chest.

Faced with this collision, Cheng Ran was like a mad bull's victim, sent flying in a parabola toward the enclosing wall on Jiang Ning's side.

At that moment, Jiang Ning had no time to be surprised.

After being rammed by Xiao Peng, if Cheng Ran truly crashed into the wall, he would have to lie in bed for ten days to half a month, or even longer.

In the entire Canglang Martial Hall, Cheng Ran was also his closest friend. Naturally, Jiang Ning could not simply stand by and watch Cheng Ran crash into the wall and suffer serious injuries.

The next moment.

Jiang Ning leaped up, like a White Ape Pounce, and went straight to the path Cheng Ran was bound to take as he was sent flying.

He immediately reached out his right hand toward Cheng Ran flying overhead and grabbed the ribbon around his waist. He sank his lower body, drawing strength from the soles of his feet, as the Jin Force throughout his body fused together as one.

Cheng Ran's flying body immediately changed direction, and Jiang Ning pulled him down from the air.

Jiang Ning's palm then moved to Cheng Ran's back and exerted force upward, like a Fierce Bear Supports the Sky.

A breath later.

Cheng Ran landed on the ground with a thud, kicking up a ring of dust.

By then, everyone in the distance had already been left dumbfounded by the battle.

"Senior Brother Xiao Peng is actually this powerful! His use of Blind Man Leans on Tree has reached Peak Mastery—completely unexpected, and that one strike established the victor."

"No wonder he's Senior Brother Xiao Peng! His Blood Qi is a step behind, yet he managed to win despite being weaker. He truly deserves to be Master Wang's Direct Disciple!"

"Exactly! For Senior Brother Xiao Peng to accomplish this, his Bear Form Fist must have reached Proficiency, or perhaps even the Minor Achievement Realm, right?"

"It should be. From Senior Brother Xiao Peng and Senior Brother Cheng Ran's conversation just now, we learned that Senior Brother Xiao Peng's strength exceeds four hundred jin. Compared with Senior Brother Cheng Ran, whose Blood Qi has reached Completion and who has achieved Penetrating the Whole Body, he is only about a hundred jin weaker. That should be the benefit of Senior Brother Xiao Peng's Bear Form Fist reaching a certain level."

"Looking at it that way, Senior Brother Xiao Peng's comprehension is truly extraordinary!"

"Who says it isn't? He has only been apprenticed for four months, yet at least one fist technique has reached Great Completion, one has reached Minor Completion, and another has reached Proficiency or Minor Completion. That efficiency is unrivaled here, isn't it?"

"Not necessarily! Don't forget Jiang Ning. They say that on the second day after his Initiation, he cultivated all Five Forms Simultaneous Cultivation to the Initiation Realm and achieved Nascent Blood Qi. And now..."

As he spoke, that person's gaze also fell on Jiang Ning. At that moment, Cheng Ran had just climbed up from the ground.

That person continued, "Judging from Jiang Ning's help just now, it's clear that his Five Animal Frolics Fist has certainly progressed well! These days, it's also obvious that Master Wang values him more than he values us."

"..."

The crowd continued talking, endlessly discussing the disturbance that had just occurred.

At the same time.

Xiao Peng was also looking at Jiang Ning in surprise.

Then, a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

"What an ingenious method of deflecting force. I truly underestimated this Junior Brother before."

Afterward, he turned to look at the crowd behind him.

"Junior Brothers, does anyone know that Junior Brother's name and family background?" Xiao Peng asked, pointing at Jiang Ning.

"I know!" someone called out as he squeezed his way forward.

"Junior Brother Qian, please tell me," Xiao Peng said.

That person continued, "That Junior Brother's name is Jiang Ning. He comes from an ordinary family in the Outer City!"

"So he's from an ordinary family. It's indeed quite impressive that he managed to reach this point!" Xiao Peng gave a slight nod, expressing his approval of Jiang Ning.

Just now, he had vaguely sensed a trace of threat from Jiang Ning—the threat of losing the quota to enter the Patrol Office three months later.

But after learning that Jiang Ning came from an ordinary family in the Outer City, that trace of threat vanished without a trace.

Three months. Even if Jiang Ning possessed heaven-shaking comprehension, learning fist techniques at a glance and mastering them in a single practice...

So what if he reached Initiation in one day? Let alone Initiation in one day—even if he achieved Great Completion in a fist technique within a month, Jiang Ning still posed no threat to Xiao Peng in his eyes.

Because Jiang Ning came from an ordinary family in the Outer City. With such a background, how could he afford the expenditure required to reach Qi and Blood Completion and achieve Penetrating the Whole Body?

He himself had reached his current level by taking one Blood Accumulation Pill every three days, with all kinds of Tonics never in short supply.

But even so, it had taken him nearly a year to reach Great Accomplishment of Qi and Blood and achieve Penetrating Limbs. How much wealth had he spent along the way?

The poor pursued literature; the rich pursued martial arts.

For an ordinary person, the golden age for practicing martial arts lasted only about twenty years.

If one's family foundation was not thick enough, one's path in the Martial Path would ultimately be limited.

Three months to reach Qi and Blood Completion, achieve Penetrating the Whole Body, and enter the Martial Dao Entry Rank.

He secretly shook his head.

"I was overthinking it!"

"Only Cheng Ran poses a threat to my quota to enter the Patrol Office. From fighting him just now, I could clearly see that his Skin Membrane is different from mine. Within three months, he will certainly find it easy to refine his Skin Membrane and enter the Martial Dao Entry Rank!"

"As for achieving Great Completion in a fist technique, for him, that may only require a moment of inspiration. I must not underestimate him!"

"Three months isn't long. I have to seize the time as well!"

"Reach Qi and Blood Completion as soon as possible. Once I reach Qi and Blood Completion, refining the Skin Membrane will be as natural as water flowing into a channel."

"Refining the Skin Membrane means entering the Martial Dao Entry Rank."

"When the time comes, if he fulfills the requirements like me, they will probably test our real combat and killing abilities! The Patrol Office will certainly need Martial Path experts skilled in slaughter. I can't neglect my combat training during this period either."

Xiao Peng stood there deep in thought, waves of contemplation flashing through his eyes.

On the other side.

Cheng Ran climbed up from the ground.

"Senior Brother Cheng, are you all right?" Jiang Ning bent down to support him.

"Cough, cough--" Cheng Ran coughed lightly several times, and flecks of blood immediately spilled from his mouth.

He waved his hand, indicating that Jiang Ning did not need to support him.

"I'm fine! My Skin Membrane is about to take shape, so my resistance to blows has greatly increased. It's only a minor injury!"

"Then, Senior Brother Cheng, you're not far from entering the Martial Dao Entry Rank?" Surprise appeared on Jiang Ning's face.

Cheng Ran nodded. "Indeed, I'm not far. I'll certainly enter the Martial Dao Entry Rank within a month!"

Then he took several deep breaths and slowly exhaled them, only gradually suppressing the Blood Qi roiling within his body.

"Thank you for your help just now, Junior Brother Jiang!" Cheng Ran cupped his hands and bowed to Jiang Ning, his expression solemn.

"Senior Brother Cheng, there's no need for that!" Jiang Ning hurriedly seized both of Cheng Ran's arms.

In an instant.

Jiang Ning sensed the strength contained in Cheng Ran's arms, and his own arms involuntarily burst with force to resist it.

Then that force vanished. Cheng Ran straightened up, and his gaze toward Jiang Ning was filled with complicated emotions, while he was also deeply shocked inside.

Just now, with Jiang Ning's force drawing along his body, his body, which had originally been hurtling toward the enclosing wall, had fallen downward.

As his body fell, he also felt a steady, mountain-like force burst from the arm Jiang Ning had placed beneath his back. Though this force was inferior to his own, it was still not to be underestimated.

It was precisely with Jiang Ning's help, and with that force supporting him, that he had avoided suffering even heavier injuries.

The force that burst from Jiang Ning when he made his move had surprised him, which was why he had conducted this test.

After testing him, he clearly sensed Jiang Ning's approximate strength.

His strength exceeded two hundred jin!