First Attempt at the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique

First Attempt at the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique

In the study.

Jiang Ning

Once again went to the bookshelf at the side, taking out two books related to the imperial examinations and the book on the basic fundamentals of martial arts that he had just been reading.

He was still sorely lacking in basic martial arts knowledge.

For instance, what exactly were the nine ranks of martial arts?

How great was the gap between himself and a Martial Saint?

Why were Martial Saints so terrifying that they had left behind countless legends over the centuries?

He did not know much about any of it.

Besides that, he still had plans for next year's imperial examinations.

With official honors, he could receive the protection of the Great Xia court.

With scholarly honors, he would also find it easier to be valued by the Inspection Office, an official institution.

After all, the Inspection Office was responsible for monitoring the common people, suppressing sects like the God-Worship Cult, and had the authority to execute first and report afterward against those who stirred the people's hearts and incited rebellion.

Such matters could not be resolved through simple fighting and killing alone.

Naturally, those above would value talents accomplished in both letters and martial arts.

"Moreover, once I obtain scholarly honors, I can enter the Sacred Temple in the prefectural city to pay homage. The cleansing of literary qi can strengthen the soul and bolster my spiritual power, which will also be of immense help on my path of martial arts."

Jiang Ning held the three books in his hands and walked out of the study.

"It's already the Hour of the Rat!"

He looked up at the bright, brilliant moon overhead and muttered to himself.

"Time to go back and sleep!"

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 (Major Accomplishment 109/1000)

Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique (Not Initiated 0/100)

Upon opening the panel, Jiang Ning saw that his source energy points had changed again.

"Source energy 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 earlier 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 noticeable the growth in source energy points would be.

When he had first arrived in this world over two months ago, he had spent two months recovering at home, living on plain tea and simple meals before he could finally eat meat. Thus, his daily source energy growth had fluctuated between 0.1 and 0.2.

In the vast majority of cases, it had increased by 0.1 source energy points.

Only on days when the meals improved and he could eat meat did it rise by 0.2 source energy points.

He had formed this hypothesis back then, but there had not been enough samples for him to be certain.

Now, as he practiced martial arts, his appetite grew, his food improved, and he supplemented himself with wild ginseng. Aside from the first day of training, when his source energy had only increased by 0.3, it had risen by 0.5 every day afterward.

Yesterday, his intake had increased again. He had eaten in one day the amount of wild ginseng he could previously consume in a day and a half. As a result, the source energy he gained had broken through its previous record and reached a new high.

An increase of 0.6 in a single day!

"Unfortunately, starting today, without wild ginseng to supplement me, the rate at which I gain source energy will begin to slow. If it kept growing at 0.6 per day, then in another week, I could accumulate more than 10 source energy points."

"With 10 source energy points, the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique can break through its limit!"

"Once the saber technique breaks through its limit, the new trait will certainly improve my combat strength! As Wang Jin said, joining the Inspection Office will involve tests and killing. It isn't just about entering a martial rank—combat strength is unquestionably important as well."

Jiang Ning fully understood the Inspection Office's entrance examinations.

After all, judging by its duties, the Inspection Office was clearly a violent institution!

So it was perfectly normal for there to be contests and tests before joining!

Simply entering a martial rank did not mean one possessed outstanding combat strength!

Some martial-ranked individuals merely practiced day after day and had never fought for their lives even once in their entire lives. Such people were not uncommon.

If such a person joined the Inspection Office, how could they possibly qualify?

How could they possibly be competent?

After washing up.

Jiang Ning sat cross-legged in the courtyard, quietly waiting for the rising sun.

This was because the cultivation period for the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique was the span between the sun's first rise and its complete ascent.

According to the records on that fragmentary page, before the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique was initiated, one could only circulate the breathing method recorded within it during this time.

At this time, as the rising sun emerged, a certain energy in heaven and earth became exceptionally active. Though scorching, it was also gentle. Only then could one draw this energy in through breathing, into the abdomen, to temper the five viscera and six bowels.

Once the sun had fully risen, that energy would instantly become exceedingly terrifying. Inhaling even a single wisp would cause the five viscera and six bowels to burn to ashes.

Only after advancing further in the technique could one begin attempting to absorb this heaven-and-earth energy from sunrise until the Hour of the Rabbit.

To bring the technique to completion and forge an inner elixir, one had to absorb the heaven-and-earth energy at noon—just as a blazing furnace refined a golden elixir.

When Jiang Ning had first read those descriptions, he had felt that this was as mysterious as an immortal cultivation technique.

But then he recalled the records in many miscellaneous books he had read before: in ancient times, immortals and gods stood everywhere, while great demons ran rampant.

Great Xia was the first dynasty established after the end of that ancient era.

The more he considered it, the more Jiang Ning felt that this world was filled with countless secrets.

Just then.

Golden light illuminated myriad clouds, and the distant sky was blanketed by auspicious clouds of every hue.

Jiang Ning immediately gathered his mind, raised his head, and fixed his gaze firmly upon the fiery red sun that had just appeared in the distance.

Then he began circulating the breathing method of the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.

With a single inhale and exhale, Jiang Ning felt a thread of warmth enter his abdomen through his nostrils with his breath.

As the warmth seeped into his organs, he immediately felt as though his entire body had been immersed in a hot spring.

I captured that unseen energy on my first attempt at the breathing method. Is my talent really that high, or is it the panel's doing?

The stray thought flashed through Jiang Ning's mind.

He then slowly exhaled the stale air that had passed through his five viscera and six bowels.

[Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique Experience +1]

Then he performed the breathing method again, staring fixedly at the fiery red sun as it continued to rise, and inhaled.

In an instant, he felt another thread of warmth surge from his nostrils into his abdomen along with the fresh air he had drawn in.

[Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique Experience +1]

[Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique Experience +1]

[Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique Experience +2]

[.]

From its first appearance to its complete rise, the sun took only forty short breaths.

Two breaths before the sun was about to rise completely, 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 soaked in a hot spring. Warmth spread from within them throughout his entire body, while his qi and blood began circulating within him of their own accord.

At this moment, his body temperature was far higher than that of an ordinary person, and his skin was slightly 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 would be updated tomorrow at noon, twelve o'clock.

(End of chapter)