[Literacy has reached perfection. Consume 10 points of source energy to complete Literacy's limit break?]
The instant he saw this prompt, Jiang Ning was struck by sudden realization.
"So that's it! So this is what source energy points are for!"
At that moment, he understood completely.
Before this, ever since the panel had appeared, the source energy field had automatically increased by 0.1 to 0.3 each day when midnight arrived.
He had tried every possible way before, yet had never figured out what exactly the source energy points on the panel were for.
Only now did he fully understand.
Once a skill reached perfection, continuing to break through required the consumption of source energy points.
Having understood this, Jiang Ning no longer hesitated. With a thought, he acted at once.
The source energy points on the panel instantly decreased by 10, while the skill Literacy displayed on the panel began to change as well.
Jiang Ning immediately sensed waves of clear, tranquil power coursing through his mind. His heart was like an ancient well without ripples, and his thoughts became crystal-clear.
He could not help closing his eyes to carefully feel the changes taking place within his body.
A short while later, all the 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 Limit Break 0/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)
"Just as expected!" he murmured inwardly.
This change had not surprised him.
Earlier, he had already noticed the word "trait."
As Literacy had continuously broken through from the beginner stage, the trait field had remained empty every single time.
When it reached perfection, he had formed a guess: perhaps breaking through after perfection would produce a trait. Now that guess had become reality, so naturally, he was not overly surprised.
[Photographic Memory]: Those with extraordinary memory cannot forget what they have seen.
He swiftly swept his gaze across the surrounding scene. Not even a breath had passed.
Then he closed his eyes. In an instant, the little courtyard he had just glanced over appeared vividly in his mind. Whether it was the bees beating their wings or the leaves tumbling as they drifted through the air, all of it emerged in his mind with perfect clarity.
"To think it has such an effect!" Jiang Ning inwardly marveled.
The effect had far exceeded his expectations.
The Photographic Memory he now possessed was not limited to words, but images—images as clear as every grain and texture, lifelike images that could move.
"With the aid of Photographic Memory, it will be immensely beneficial for my martial training as well!" Jiang Ning was instantly exhilarated.
In this world, studying literature and taking the imperial examinations could allow one to rise from a farmer in the morning to the Emperor's court by night, becoming someone above others.
The same was true of studying martial arts. Through the martial examinations, one could command armies of a million, be granted the title of marquis or king, or even open new frontiers and carve out territory.
Moreover, on the path of Martial Dao, one person could become an army, one person could stand against a nation, and all great power would return to oneself.
One could even gain immortality!
According to the records in the books he had read these past days, Great Xia had successfully founded its dynasty because a Martial Saint had emerged—an invincible Martial Saint.
That Martial Saint had suppressed Great Xia's national fortune for eight hundred years.
In other words, that Martial Saint had lived from the founding of Great Xia until the present day, a figure worthy of being called both myth and legend.
In Jiang Ning's view, the current turmoil of the Great Xia Dynasty was also related to the fact that this Martial Saint had not appeared for several decades.
It was precisely because he understood these things that Jiang Ning had long made his decision: 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 the support.
To him, the two did not conflict. Instead, they complemented each other.
First of all, with a trait like Photographic Memory, obtaining scholarly honors through the literary path would be easy beyond measure.
Without studying literature, without understanding everything about this world, how could he secure even a corner of land for himself amid the rolling tides of the Great Xia Dynasty's approaching end?
Before Martial Dao reached its peak, the importance of eyes that could see through everything was beyond question.
Furthermore, passing the imperial examinations and gaining scholarly honors would allow one to enter the Sacred Temple to worship and receive an empowerment of righteous qi.
The righteous qi of Confucianism could nourish the soul. Aside from the secret teachings of Buddhism and Daoism, it was the best method of nurturing the spirit.
Every lord in the imperial court possessed a powerful soul, their thoughts turning through countless changes in an instant. That was why they could sit firmly in court and lay out plans for the world.
Moreover, when one reached the end of the Martial Dao path, one needed not only to temper the body but also nurture the spirit.
The strengthening of the soul would also be of immense help to him in the future, when he sought to reach the pinnacle of Martial Dao and transcend the mortal world to enter sainthood.
Even more importantly, if he wanted to continue grinding experience for Literacy, he had to read extensively through ancient texts and classical doctrines. Only by constantly devouring a vast sea of books could he grind experience for the skill Literacy.
Since the first limit break had granted him the trait Photographic Memory, he believed the second limit break would surely grant even more traits.
The powerful effects of traits were beyond doubt!
Therefore, for him, obtaining scholarly honors through the imperial examinations was merely a convenient matter—and a good thing that killed several birds with one stone.
"Now I only hope I'm right, and that martial cultivation techniques can likewise yield experience points through grinding," Jiang Ning murmured inwardly. "Previously, because this body had been injured, I spent more than two months recovering and could not conveniently practice martial arts. It was the perfect chance 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 study martial arts!"
"With my current trait of Photographic Memory, along with the panel's miraculous effects, once I begin learning martial arts, I will surely advance at a tremendous pace."
"Later, I'll ask my elder brother first. As a constable at the yamen, perhaps he has a suitable martial cultivation technique for me to learn!"
As Jiang Ning's thoughts swirled, a deep, powerful voice came from the main house.
"Little brother, come eat lunch!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning placed the Comprehensive Explanation of Immortals and Gods in his hand on the chair, then rose and headed toward the main house.
The moment he stepped into the main house, he saw his elder brother and sister-in-law, as well as his nephew Jiang Yiming and his niece Little Doubao—Jiang Yuanyuan.
"Elder Brother, Sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning greeted them.
"Sit," said Jiang Li, the elder brother.
"Dudu, Dudu! Sit beside Doubao." Little Doubao, sitting on a stool and straining to prop herself up against the dining table, hurriedly invited Jiang Ning.
After Jiang Ning took his seat.
Jiang Li, his elder brother, picked up some food with his chopsticks and said, "I've noticed you've been studying very diligently lately. Are you thinking of taking the imperial examination route and earning scholarly honors?"
"I have considered it." Jiang Ning nodded slightly, then shook his head. "But I want to learn martial arts even more!"
"Martial arts?" Jiang Li looked at Jiang Ning in surprise, then his gaze turned serious. "Do you really want to learn martial arts?"
"I do!" Jiang Ning nodded heavily.
"Have you really thought it through? Learning martial arts is difficult and bitter! Have you truly made up your mind?" Jiang Li continued.
Jiang Ning nodded again. "I've made up my mind!"
"Good!" 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 his sister-in-law, Liu Wanwan. Noticing her subtle movement, he instantly understood. Liu Wanwan was secretly tugging at Jiang Li, as though she knew what he intended to say next.
Jiang Li shot Liu Wanwan a slight glare, then looked at Jiang Ning.
"Very well. Since that is the case, I will go find you a good teacher later."
(End of Chapter)
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