In the study.
Jiang Ning
Once again went to the bookshelf at the side, taking out two books related to the imperial examinations, along with the book on the basic overview of Martial Dao knowledge that he had just been reading.
He was still severely lacking in basic Martial Dao knowledge.
For instance, the ninth rank of Martial Dao—what exactly was it?
Just how vast was the gap between himself and a Martial Saint?
Why were Martial Saints so terrifying, leaving behind countless legends over the centuries?
He did not know much about any of it.
Besides that, he still had thoughts about next year's imperial examinations.
With scholarly honors upon him, he could gain the protection of the Great Xia Court.
With scholarly honors, it would also be easier for him to receive important assignments in the official institution that was the Inspection Office.
After all, the Inspection Office's duties were to monitor the common people, encircle and suppress sects like the God-Worship Cult, and deal with those who stirred up the hearts of the people and incited rebellion. It possessed the authority to execute first and report afterward.
Such matters could not be resolved through simple fighting and killing alone.
Naturally, those above would value talents who were accomplished in both letters and martial arts.
"Moreover, with scholarly honors, I can enter the Sacred Temple in the prefectural city to pay homage. The cleansing of literary qi can strengthen the divine soul and bolster my spiritual power, which would also be of immense help on my Martial Dao path."
Jiang Ning held the three books in his hands, then walked out of the study.
"It's already midnight!"
He raised his head, glanced at the bright, clear moonlight overhead, and muttered to himself.
"Time to go back and sleep!"
Early the next morning.
[Name]: Jiang Ning [Source Energy]: 6.0 [Skills]: Literacy (First Limit Break 196/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory) Five Animals Fist (Proficient 17/200) Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Mastery 109/1000) Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique (Uninitiated 0/100)
Opening the panel, Jiang Ning saw that his Source Energy points had changed once more.
"Source Energy actually increased by 0.6 yesterday. This undoubtedly confirms my previous deduction."
Thinking of how he had eaten three-tenths of the wild ginseng in a single day yesterday, he became even more certain of his previous judgment.
The increase in Source Energy points was related to the energy he consumed.
The more energy he consumed, and the higher its quality, the more obvious the increase in Source Energy points would be.
For example, during the more than two months since he had arrived in this world, especially the two months he spent recovering at home, he had mostly eaten coarse tea and plain meals. Only afterward had he begun eating meat, so his daily Source Energy gains had fluctuated between 0.1 and 0.2.
Most of the time, he gained 0.1 Source Energy points.
Only on days when the meals improved and he could eat meat did the gain rise to 0.2 Source Energy points.
He had already made such a deduction back then, but with too few samples, he had not dared to be certain.
Now, with his martial training, increased appetite, improved food, and the medicinal nourishment of wild ginseng, aside from the first day of martial training when he had gained only 0.3 Source Energy points, he had gained 0.5 points every day afterward.
Yesterday, his intake had increased again. He had consumed in one day the amount of wild ginseng he could previously eat over a day and a half, allowing his Source Energy gain to break through its previous record and reach a new high.
An increase of 0.6 in a single day!
"Unfortunately, starting today, without wild ginseng to nourish me, the speed at which I obtain Source Energy points will begin to slow. If I could keep gaining 0.6 points a day, then in another week, I could accumulate more than 10 Source Energy points."
"With 10 Source Energy points, I can break the limit of the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique!"
"Once the saber technique breaks its limit, the trait it gains will surely improve my combat strength! As Wang Jin said, joining the Inspection Office will involve tests and killing. It isn't just about entering the ranks of Martial Dao—combat strength is undoubtedly extremely important as well."
Jiang Ning could fully understand the Inspection Office's entrance assessment.
After all, judging by its authority, the Inspection Office was clearly a violent institution!
It was perfectly normal for there to be conflict and tests when entering it!
Merely entering the ranks of Martial Dao did not mean one possessed outstanding combat strength!
Some who had entered the ranks of Martial Dao did nothing but train all day and had never engaged in life-and-death combat in their entire lives. Such people were hardly rare.
If such people joined the Inspection Office, how could they be qualified?
How could they be competent?
After washing up.
Jiang Ning quietly sat cross-legged in the courtyard, waiting for the rising sun.
This was because the cultivation period for the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique was the interval between the sun's first rise and its complete ascent.
According to the record on that fragmentary page, before one had begun the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, one could only circulate the breathing method recorded within it at that time.
This was because when the sun first rose, a certain kind of energy in heaven and earth became exceptionally active. Though scorching, it was also gentle. Only at this time could one draw that energy in through breathing, absorb it into the abdomen, and temper the five viscera and six bowels.
Once the sun had fully risen, that energy would instantly become unimaginably terrifying. So long as one inhaled even a single wisp, one's five viscera and six bowels would be reduced to ashes.
Only after advancing further in the technique could one initially attempt to absorb the energy of heaven and earth from sunrise until the Hour of the Rabbit.
To bring the technique to completion and refine an inner elixir, one needed to absorb the energy of heaven and earth at noon—just as a furnace fire refined a golden elixir.
When Jiang Ning had read those descriptions, he had felt that it sounded as mysterious and fantastical as an immortal cultivation technique.
But when he thought of the records in the many miscellaneous books he had read before, which said that during the Primordial Era, immortals and gods stood in great numbers while great demons roamed unchecked.
Great Xia was the first dynasty established after the end of the Primordial Era.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ning felt more and more that this world held countless secrets.
Just then.
Golden light illuminated the myriad clouds, and the distant sky was blanketed by auspicious clouds of every hue.
Jiang Ning immediately gathered his thoughts, raised his head, and fixed his eyes on the fiery red sun that had just emerged in the distance.
Then he began circulating the breathing method of the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.
With each inhalation and exhalation, Jiang Ning felt a thread of warmth enter his abdomen through his nostrils along with his breath.
As the warmth seeped into his organs, he immediately felt as if his entire body were soaking in a hot spring.
Did I capture this unseen energy the very first time I circulated the breathing method because my talent is so high? Or is it the panel's doing?
The stray thought flashed through Jiang Ning's mind.
He then slowly exhaled the foul air that had passed through his five viscera and six bowels.
[Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique Experience +1]
Then he circulated the breathing method once more, staring fixedly at the ever-rising fiery red sun as he inhaled.
In an instant, he felt another thread of warmth follow the clear air he drew in, surging through his nostrils and into his abdomen.
[Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique Experience +1] [Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique Experience +1] [Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique Experience +2] [.]
From its initial rise to its complete ascent, the sun took only a brief forty breaths.
Two breaths before the sun completely rose, Jiang Ning stopped circulating the breathing method of the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.
At that moment, Jiang Ning felt as though his five viscera and six bowels were immersed in a hot spring. Warmth spread from his organs throughout his body, while his qi and blood began circulating through him of their own accord.
At that moment, his body temperature was far higher than normal, and his skin felt somewhat hot.
Jiang Ning closed his eyes and quietly sensed the changes in his body.
Only after several dozen more breaths did his body return to normal.
Then he slowly opened his eyes.
The next chapter will be updated tomorrow at noon, 12 o'clock.
(End of Chapter)
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