Traits After Breaking the Limit

Traits After Breaking the Limit

[Literacy had reached perfection. Would you like to consume 10 Source Energy to break Literacy's limit?]

The instant Jiang Ning saw this prompt, he was struck by a sudden realization.

"So that's it!! So this is what Source Energy points are for!"

At that moment, he understood completely.

Ever since the panel had appeared, the Source Energy field had automatically increased by 0.1 to 0.3 every day when midnight arrived.

He had tried every way he could before this, yet had never figured out what use the Source Energy points on the panel had.

Only now did he fully understand.

Once a skill had reached perfection, further breakthroughs required the expenditure of Source Energy points.

Having understood this, Jiang Ning no longer hesitated. With a thought, he made his choice.

The Source Energy on the panel instantly decreased by 10 points, and the Literacy skill displayed on the panel began to change.

At the same time, Jiang Ning sensed waves of clear, ethereal power flowing through his mind. His heart was as still as an ancient well, his thoughts vacant and lucid.

He could not help closing his eyes and quietly sensing the changes within his body.

A short while later, all the changes settled into calm.

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 I thought!!" he murmured inwardly.

This change had not surprised him.

He had noticed the word "Trait" before this.

As the Literacy skill had continuously broken through from Beginner, the Trait field had remained empty every time.

Once it reached perfection, he had formed a guess—that breaking through after perfection might produce a trait. Now that his guess had become reality, it was only natural that he was not overly surprised.

[Photographic Memory]: Those blessed with extraordinary memory could never forget what they had seen.

He swiftly swept his gaze across the surroundings. Less than a breath had passed.

Then he closed his eyes. In an instant, the scene of the small courtyard he had just glanced over appeared vividly in his mind. Whether it was the beating wings of a bee or the leaves falling through the air as they spun, every detail surfaced in his mind with perfect clarity.

"Such an effect!!" Jiang Ning silently marveled.

The effect far exceeded his expectations.

The Photographic Memory he now possessed did not merely apply to words, but to images—images as clear as every grain and pattern, lifelike images that could move.

"With Photographic Memory, learning martial arts will be immensely beneficial to me as well!!" Jiang Ning was immediately exhilarated.

In this world, studying literature and taking the imperial examinations could let one rise from a farmer in the morning to the Emperor's hall by evening, becoming someone above all others.

The same was true of martial arts. Through the martial examinations, one could command an army of a million, be granted the title of marquis or king, and even carve out new territory.

Moreover, the martial path allowed one person to become an army, one person to stand against a nation, with all great power gathered into one's own body.

It could even grant longevity!

According to the records in the books he had read these past days, the Great Xia Dynasty had successfully founded itself 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 survived from the very beginning of Great Xia's founding until today. He was nothing short of myth, nothing short of legend.

In Jiang Ning's view, the current turmoil within the Great Xia Dynasty was also related to the fact that this Martial Saint had not shown himself for decades.

It was precisely because he understood these things that Jiang Ning had long made up his mind: he wanted both literature and martial arts.

Only children made choices. Adults wanted it all.

He wanted both literature and martial arts, with martial arts as the main path and literature as its support.

To him, the two did not conflict. Instead, they complemented one another.

First of all, now that he possessed a trait like Photographic Memory, obtaining scholarly honors through the literary path would be effortless.

If he did not study literature and understand everything about this world, how could he secure even a corner of refuge amid the surging tides at the end of the Great Xia Dynasty?

Before he reached the pinnacle of martial arts, the importance of seeing through the whole situation was beyond question.

Furthermore, by obtaining scholarly honors through the imperial examinations, he could enter the Sacred Temple to worship and receive an infusion of vast righteous qi.

The Confucian vast righteous qi could nourish the soul. Aside from the secret teachings of Buddhism and Daoism, it was the finest method of nurturing the soul.

Every lord in the imperial court possessed a powerful soul, their thoughts turning through countless calculations in an instant. That was why they could sit firmly in court and lay out schemes across the realm.

And at the end of the martial path, one needed not only to temper the body, but also to nourish the soul.

The strengthening of his soul would also be of immense help in his future pursuit of martial supremacy, transcending the ordinary and entering sainthood.

More importantly, if he wanted to continue grinding experience for Literacy, he had to read widely through ancient texts and classical teachings. Only by constantly devouring books could he grind experience for the Literacy skill.

Since his first limit break had granted him the trait of Photographic Memory, he believed that a second limit break would surely grant him even more traits.

The formidable effects of traits were beyond doubt!

Thus, for him, obtaining scholarly honors through the imperial examinations was merely something to do along the way—and a matter that killed several birds with one stone.

"Now, I only hope my guess is correct, and that martial arts techniques can likewise be grinded for experience points," Jiang Ning murmured inwardly. "Because my former self was injured, I spent more than two months recovering and could not conveniently practice martial arts. That happened to give me the 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 functions, it is time to learn martial arts!"

"With my current Photographic Memory and the panel's miraculous effects, once I begin learning martial arts, my progress will surely be rapid."

"Later, I'll ask Big Brother first. As a constable at the yamen, perhaps he has a suitable martial arts technique for me to learn!"

As Jiang Ning's thoughts raced, 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 inside, he saw his elder brother and sister-in-law, as well as his nephew Jiang Yiming and niece Little Doubao—Jiang Yuanyuan.

"Big Brother, Sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning greeted them.

"Sit," said Jiang Li, his elder brother.

"Dudu, dudu! Sit next to Doubao." Little Doubao, sitting on a stool and straining to lean over the dining table, hurriedly invited Jiang Ning.

After Jiang Ning took his seat.

Jiang Li, his elder brother, picked up some food and said, "I've seen you studying very diligently lately. Are you thinking of taking the imperial examination route and earning scholarly honors?"

"I've 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 expression turned serious. "Do you truly want to learn martial arts?"

"I do!!" Jiang Ning nodded firmly.

"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!!"

"All right!" 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 the small movement of her body, Jiang Ning immediately understood. Liu Wanwan was secretly tugging at Jiang Li, as if she knew what he was planning to say next.

Jiang Li also shot Liu Wanwan a slight glare before turning back to Jiang Ning.

"All right. Since that is the case, I will go find you a good master later."