Grinding Experience

Chapter 11: Grinding Experience

Hearing Senior Sister Li Qing's words, Jiang Ning merely smiled and said nothing.

He had already learned from the Five Animals Fist manual that cultivating all five forms together, advancing side by side, was the proper method of training.

Only by cultivating all five forms could one rapidly condense one's qi and blood. Only when qi and blood grew strong and flowed through the entire body could one enter the ranks of the Martial Dao. Only then would one not squander a heavenly gift and waste this foundational Martial Dao technique.

Training a single form alone did make it easier to improve in that form, but it was of little help on the path of Martial Dao.

Even if Tiger Form Fist were trained to great mastery, allowing one punch to possess both spirit and form, mobilize the strength of the entire body, and unleash several times an ordinary person's power, so what?

If the physique was not tempered and qi and blood did not grow stronger, one's physical qualities would ultimately not surpass ordinary people by much.

Before a martial artist whose qi and blood flowed through all four limbs, so-called fist techniques were nothing more than children at play.

Absolute physical qualities could crush all techniques.

A martial artist whose qi and blood flowed throughout their body could overpower others with sheer force. A casual punch was enough to kill an ordinary person.

So how could Jiang Ning possibly heed Li Qing's advice and abandon the root to chase the branches?

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

Every breakthrough in the fist technique would raise its qi-and-blood-condensing effects to another level.

That was the foundation of his strength.

With the panel as his support, how could he be like those people, wasting time cultivating a single fist technique and a single fist form just 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 tandem would rapidly increase his strength. Only by becoming stronger could he fear no threats from Xu Yunfeng and the others.

Afterward.

Standing in the front courtyard, Jiang Ning assumed his stance and adjusted his condition, preparing to practice Five Animals Fist and grind experience points so that this technique could reach the beginner level as quickly as possible.

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

The instant Jiang Ning began practicing, someone's eyes widened.

"This kid only joined the martial academy at noon, didn't he? Has he already memorized the essentials of the fist manual?"

"Don't rush. Keep watching!" someone said, still holding to his earlier opinion.

The others watched Jiang Ning practice even more intently.

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

Some of them remembered that Jiang Ning had only entered the academy at noon. Yet it was only afternoon now, and Old Wang had personally demonstrated Five Animals Fist once for him. They could not help but feel doubtful.

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

Now, as Jiang Ning practiced each move and stance, everyone gradually went from disbelief to belief.

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

"It truly is unbelievable. And every move, every stance, even the rhythm of his breathing method, perfectly matches the records in the fist manual. That talent is a little frightening!"

"..."

The burly men all exclaimed in amazement.

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

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

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

At that moment, she felt deeply disappointed in Jiang Ning.

Then she turned and left.

At this moment, someone else noticed Li Qing's expression as well.

After all, such a tall, slender woman with such an outstanding temperament would inevitably draw countless gazes in the martial academy, even stirring secret admiration.

Yet they also knew that this woman's status must be extremely lofty, far beyond their reach. She was not someone they could lay a finger on, 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 see it? Senior Sister Li is somewhat disappointed in this junior brother!" someone explained.

"Why is she disappointed?" The man looked puzzled.

"Still haven't figured it out? This junior brother who just entered the academy may have decent talent and must possess an excellent memory, but he clearly cannot see himself for what he is. He is already around seventeen or eighteen, several years past the golden age for martial training. Instead of specializing in Tiger Form Fist from the Five Animals Fist, he is training all five animals at once!"

"I understand now. No wonder Senior Sister Li is disappointed! Not knowing yourself will only waste time and waste the chance to change your fate!"

"Exactly!" Someone nodded. "From this newly admitted junior brother's clothes, it is obvious he comes from an ordinary family. For ordinary families in the outer city, even scraping together the silver to enter a martial academy is no easy task. The fact that he only joined a martial academy to train at this age shows his family circumstances are average. The best age to practice martial arts is when the body has matured, around fifteen. Yet he is clearly seventeen or eighteen now! Starting martial training at this age, yet not knowing how to seize the chance to change his fate!"

"Yes!" someone said in agreement. "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 extremely important to us, much less to ordinary people. It is an opportunity sufficient to cross social classes and change one's fate."

"..."

After discussing it for a while, the burly men dispersed and no longer paid Jiang Ning much attention.

Meanwhile.

Following the images he had memorized, Jiang Ning coordinated his breathing method and constantly corrected his movements. The more he practiced, the more invigorated he became.

Streams of warmth surged from his abdomen throughout his body. Not only did he no longer feel the exhaustion from before, he instead became increasingly vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger, as though every inch of him contained inexhaustible strength.

[Five Animals Fist Experience +1]

After completing one round and seeing that familiar notification, his heart filled with excitement.

"Eight more rounds, and my Five Animals Fist will reach the beginner level!"

Then, while the medicinal effects within his body were still active, he continued with 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 instantly being drawn to Jiang Ning, who was practicing his fists.

"This is..." His expression turned astonished, and a strange light filled his eyes.

As a true disciple of the martial academy who had long since entered the ranks of the Martial Dao, his Five Animals Fist had already reached true great mastery. His Tiger Form Fist in particular had comprehended the true intent of the technique, reaching the consummate realm—the highest realm of Tiger Form Fist.

At such a level of fist technique, he ranked among the very best in the entire martial academy.

A consummate fist technique required not only extremely high comprehension, but also the opportunity of a sudden flash of insight.

Thus, with one glance, he saw just how correct Jiang Ning's Five Animals Fist was. Though each move and stance was still somewhat immature, all matched the records in the fist manual. His breathing rhythm in particular was flawless.

Junior Brother Jiang has such formidable learning ability! Zhou Xing thought in secret, shocked. He entered the academy today, yet his fist technique has already reached this standard. His memory and learning ability are far too strong!

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, flashes of brilliance appeared in his eyes.

Comparing it to the previous round, and viewing it both as an observer and from the perspective of his own great mastery in Five Animals Fist, he could clearly see that Jiang Ning's fist technique had improved somewhat further.

The subtle details of his movements had become more precise, his breathing method flowed more smoothly, and each move was slightly faster than before, yet without any major errors.

[Five Animals Fist Experience +1]

Only after completing the third round did Jiang Ning finally feel a faint sense of exhaustion.

"Haa—"

He immediately exhaled a breath of stale air and abandoned the thought of practicing 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 six more rounds of Five Animals Fist to successfully reach the beginner level! Jiang Ning muttered inwardly.

Then he clenched his fists. At once, he could feel the slightly taut muscles in his arms, while a sense of power filled every part of his body.

As expected of a true martial art. Just a few rounds of practice have brought me such obvious improvement! he praised inwardly again.

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

Even Cao Bin would not dare act, unless he is an idiot! 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 it is only a possibility, no one would take that risk!

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning felt his spirits soar.

(End of Chapter)