Grinding Experience

Grinding Experience

Hearing what Senior Sister Li Qing said, Jiang Ning merely smiled and said nothing.

From the Five Animals Fist manual just now, he had already learned that cultivating all five forms together and advancing them side by side was the proper way to practice this martial art.

Only by cultivating all five forms together could one rapidly condense one's qi and blood. Once qi and blood grew strong and flowed through the entire body, one could enter the ranks of martial artists. Only then would one avoid squandering this foundational martial art manual.

Focusing on a single form would indeed make it easier to improve in that form, but it would be of little help on the path of martial arts.

Even if one cultivated Tiger Form Fist to great mastery, delivering a punch with both spirit and form, mobilizing the strength of the entire body to unleash several times an ordinary person's power—so what?

If the physique remained untempered and qi and blood did not grow stronger, one's physical condition would ultimately not surpass that of ordinary people by much.

Before martial artists whose qi and blood flowed through all four limbs, so-called fist techniques were no more than children at play.

Absolute physical strength could crush all technique.

A martial artist whose qi and blood flowed through the entire body could overwhelm others with sheer force. With a casual punch, they could kill an ordinary person.

So how could Jiang Ning possibly listen to Li Qing and abandon the root to chase the branches?

With the panel, as long as he worked hard and grinded experience, he could make the Five Animals Fist break through without encountering any bottlenecks.

Every breakthrough in the fist art would bring its qi-and-blood-condensing effect to a higher level.

That was the source of his growing strength.

With the panel as his backing, why would he waste time like those people, cultivating a single fist art or a single form merely to pass the assessment and become a true disciple of the martial academy?

Cultivating all five forms together and advancing the five animal forms in unison would allow his strength to rise rapidly. Only by becoming stronger could he face the threats posed by Xu Yunfeng and the others without fear.

Afterward.

Standing in the front courtyard, Jiang Ning assumed a stance and adjusted his condition, preparing to practice the Five Animals Fist and grind experience points so that he could bring this fist art to the beginner level as soon as possible.

At that moment, when the men in the front courtyard saw Jiang Ning begin practicing, they all stopped their own training and looked over curiously.

As Jiang Ning began to practice, someone's eyes immediately widened.

"Didn't this kid join the martial academy only at noon? Has he already memorized the essentials of the manual?"

"Don't jump to conclusions. Keep watching!" someone said, still holding to his previous view.

The others watched Jiang Ning practice even more intently.

Ever since watching Old Wang demonstrate the fist art, they had been secretly discussing Jiang Ning.

Some of them remembered that Jiang Ning had only joined at noon, yet it was now merely afternoon and Old Wang had personally demonstrated the Five Animals Fist once. They could not help but feel puzzled.

New disciples of the martial academy could only qualify to have Old Wang personally demonstrate the Five Animals Fist after they had memorized the entire manual.

Yet as Jiang Ning practiced move by move, their disbelief gradually turned into belief.

"Unbelievable. He really memorized the entire manual in such a short time!"

"It truly is unbelievable. And every one of his moves, as well as the rhythm with which he used the breathing method, perfectly matches what is recorded in the manual. That talent is a little frightening!"

The burly men all voiced their amazement at the sight.

Meanwhile, Li Qing, dressed in a fitted blue martial outfit, frowned slightly. Jiang Ning was clearly practicing the complete Five Animals Fist rather than just Tiger Form Fist.

After watching for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she shook her head slightly.

He had only begun practicing martial arts at around eighteen, already more than three years behind the prime age for martial training, yet he still did not know how to seize the opportunity! He had a fairly handsome face, but did not know how to grasp the chance to change his fate.

At that moment, she was filled with disappointment toward Jiang Ning.

Then she turned and left.

At that moment, others noticed Li Qing's expression as well.

After all, a woman so tall and slender, with such fine bearing, would inevitably draw many gazes in the martial academy—and even secret admiration.

But they also knew that this woman's status was surely immensely noble, far beyond their reach. She was not someone they could covet, so none of them entertained thoughts of pursuing her. They could only steal occasional glances in secret.

"Why did Senior Sister Li shake her head?" someone asked quietly.

"Can't you tell? Senior Sister Li is somewhat disappointed in this junior brother," someone explained.

"Why is she disappointed?" the man asked, looking puzzled.

"Still can't tell? Although this newly admitted junior brother has decent talent and must possess an excellent memory, he clearly does not understand his own circumstances. He is already around seventeen or eighteen, several years past the prime age for martial training. Instead of specializing in Tiger Form Fist within the Five Animals Fist, he is practicing all five animals at once!"

"I understand now. No wonder Senior Sister Li is disappointed! Failing to recognize oneself will only waste time and waste the opportunity to change one's fate!"

"Exactly!" Someone nodded. "You can tell from this newly admitted junior brother's clothes that he comes from an ordinary family. For ordinary families in the outer city, gathering enough silver to enter a martial academy is no easy matter. The fact that he only joined the academy to learn martial arts at this age shows that his family circumstances are average. The best age to practice martial arts is when the body has matured, around fifteen. Yet he is clearly already seventeen or eighteen! Starting martial arts at such an age, yet not knowing how to seize this opportunity to change his fate!"

"Yes!" someone agreed strongly. "Within half a year, if one comprehends the spirit and form of a fierce tiger and pushes Tiger Form Fist to great mastery, one can become a true disciple of the martial academy. The status of a Blue-Wave Martial Academy disciple is immensely important to all of us, let alone ordinary people. It is an opportunity sufficient for them to cross social classes and change their own fate."

After discussing for a while, the burly men dispersed one after another and no longer paid much attention to Jiang Ning.

Meanwhile.

Following the images he had memorized in his mind and coordinating them with the breathing method, Jiang Ning continuously corrected his movements. The more he practiced, the more smoothly it flowed.

Streams of warmth surged from his abdomen to every part of his body. Not only did he no longer feel the exhaustion from before, but he became increasingly vigorous, as lively as a dragon and as fierce as a tiger, as though endless strength filled his entire body.

[Five Animals Fist experience +1]

After completing one round and seeing the familiar notification, his heart brimmed with excitement.

"After eight more rounds, my Five Animals Fist will reach the beginner level!"

Then, while the medicinal effects within his body were still active, he continued into the second round.

Zhou Xing emerged from the rear courtyard with a spring-breeze smile on his face. His gaze swept lightly across the people in the front courtyard before it was instantly drawn to Jiang Ning, who was practicing his fist art.

"This is..." His expression turned astonished, his eyes filled with a strange gleam.

As a true disciple of the martial academy who had long since entered the ranks of martial artists, he had already cultivated the Five Animals Fist to true great mastery. Among them, his Tiger Form Fist had even comprehended the true intent of the fist art and reached the perfected realm, the highest realm of Tiger Form Fist.

With such attainment in fist arts, he ranked among the very best in the entire martial academy.

A perfected fist art required not only exceptional comprehension, but also that flash of inspiration.

Thus, at a glance, he could see just how correct Jiang Ning's Five Animals Fist was. Though his movements were somewhat immature, every move matched the manual's records. His breathing rhythm in particular was flawlessly maintained.

Junior Brother Jiang's learning ability is incredibly strong! Zhou Xing was secretly shocked. He entered today, yet can already perform the fist art to such a standard. His memory and learning ability are simply too formidable!

Seeing this, he was in no hurry to leave. Instead, he remained where he was and continued watching Jiang Ning practice.

[Five Animals Fist experience +1]

Seeing the notification before him, Jiang Ning struck while the iron was hot and continued with the third round.

Meanwhile.

When Zhou Xing saw Jiang Ning reach the halfway point of his third round, streaks of brilliance flashed through his eyes.

Comparing it to the previous round, from the perspective of an observer and someone who had achieved great mastery in the Five Animals Fist, he could clearly see that Jiang Ning's fist art had improved somewhat.

The subtle details of his movements had become more precise, the breathing method circulated more smoothly, and each move was slightly faster than before, yet there were no major errors in his form.

[Five Animals Fist experience +1]

Only after finishing the third round did Jiang Ning feel slightly exhausted.

"Whew—"

He let out a soft breath of stale air and gave up on continuing with a fourth round.

[This training session increased Five Animals Fist experience by a total of three points.]

[Skill]: Five Animals Fist (Not yet initiated, 4/10)

"I only need to practice the Five Animals Fist six more times to successfully reach the beginner level!" Jiang Ning muttered to himself.

Then he clenched his fists. He immediately felt the taut muscles in his arms, while a sense of strength filled his entire body.

As expected of a true martial art. Just practicing it a few times has already brought me such obvious improvement! he praised silently again.

At this rate, I will definitely pass Wang Jin's test and become a true disciple of the martial academy! At that point, even if I stand openly before Xu Yunfeng, he will not dare make a move!

Even Cao Bin would not dare act unless he were a fool! In a struggle between dragon and snake, no one would choose to push a neutral party no weaker than themselves toward the other side. Even if there were only such a possibility, no one would take that risk!

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning's mood brightened completely.

(End of Chapter)