Jiang Ning Lends a Hand

Jiang Ning Lends a Hand

Roar—

From the battlefield came a sudden beast-like roar.

Jiang Ning immediately saw that after Xiao Peng stepped within Cheng Ran's reach, he let out a roar and stomped his right foot heavily against the ground.

Boom—

The stone slabs beneath his foot instantly cracked. Borrowing the recoil from that stomp, his body slammed fiercely into Cheng Ran's chest.

Faced with that blow, Cheng Ran seemed to have been gored by a maddened bull. His body flew in an arc toward the wall by Jiang Ning.

At that moment, Jiang Ning had no time to be surprised.

If Cheng Ran truly crashed into the wall after being rammed by Xiao Peng, he would be bedridden for at least ten days to half a month, perhaps even longer.

In all of Blue-Wave Martial Academy, Cheng Ran was Jiang Ning's closest friend. Naturally, he could not stand by and watch Cheng Ran smash into the wall and suffer severe injuries.

The next moment.

Jiang Ning leaped up like a white ape pouncing, arriving directly in Cheng Ran's path.

Then, he reached out with his right hand and seized the sash at Cheng Ran's waist. He sank into his stance, power rising from the soles of his feet, the strength of his entire body fused as one.

Cheng Ran's airborne body immediately changed direction and was pulled down from the air by Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning's palm then moved to Cheng Ran's back and exerted force upward, like a savage bear holding up the sky.

One breath later.

Cheng Ran landed on the ground with a thud, kicking up a ring of dust.

By then, everyone in the distance had long been left dumbstruck by the battle.

"Senior Brother Xiao Peng is actually this formidable! His use of Blind Man Leaning on a Tree is simply masterful—utterly unexpected, and one strike decided the outcome."

"As expected of Senior Brother Xiao Peng! Though his blood and vitality lagged behind by a fair margin, he still defeated the strong with the weak. He truly deserves to be Master Wang's direct disciple!"

"Exactly! For Senior Brother Xiao Peng to achieve this, his Bear Form Fist must have reached proficiency, or perhaps even minor mastery, right?"

"That should be it. From what Senior Brother Xiao Peng and Senior Brother Cheng Ran said just now, Senior Brother Xiao Peng's strength exceeds four hundred jin. Compared with Senior Brother Cheng Ran, whose blood and vitality have reached perfection and run through his entire body, he is only short by around a hundred jin. That must be the reward of successfully cultivating Bear Form Fist."

"Looking at it this way, Senior Brother Xiao Peng's comprehension is truly exceptional!"

"Who could deny it? In four months since taking a master, he has brought at least one fist art to great mastery, one to minor mastery, and another to proficiency or minor mastery. That efficiency is unmatched here, isn't it?"

"Not necessarily! Don't forget Jiang Ning. It is said that on his second day after entering, he cultivated all five forms together and reached the entry level, giving birth to blood and vitality. And now—"

As he spoke, that person's gaze also fell on Jiang Ning. At that moment, Cheng Ran had just climbed to his feet.

The man continued, "Seeing Jiang Ning step in to help now, it is clear that his Five Animals Fist has progressed quite well! These past few days, it has also been obvious that Master Wang values him more than he values us."

.

The crowd continued speaking, discussing the recent commotion without pause.

At the same time.

Xiao Peng was also somewhat surprised as he looked at Jiang Ning.

Then, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"What brilliant control of force. I had underestimated this junior brother before!"

Afterward, he turned to the crowd behind him.

"Junior brothers, does anyone know this junior brother's surname and given name, and what family he comes from?" Xiao Peng asked, pointing at Jiang Ning.

"I know!" someone called out from the crowd.

"Junior Brother Qian, please tell us," Xiao Peng said.

That man continued, "That junior brother is named Jiang Ning. He comes from an ordinary family in the outer city!"

"So he is a child of an ordinary family. For him to come this far is indeed not bad." Xiao Peng nodded slightly, showing his approval of Jiang Ning.

At that very moment, he had sensed a faint trace of threat from Jiang Ning—a threat to the place in the Inspection Office three months from now.

But when he learned that Jiang Ning was from an ordinary family in the outer city, that trace of threat instantly vanished without a trace.

Three months. Even if Jiang Ning's comprehension reached the heavens and the earth, even if he grasped a fist art the moment he practiced it and understood it the moment he learned it.

What if he reached the entry level in a single day? Forget entering in a day—even if he achieved great mastery in a fist art within a month, Jiang Ning would pose no threat to him in Xiao Peng's eyes.

Because Jiang Ning came from an ordinary family in the outer city. How could such a background afford the consumption needed for blood and vitality to reach perfection and run through the entire body?

For Xiao Peng himself to reach his current level, he had taken one Blood-Nourishing Pill every three days, with all kinds of tonics never lacking.

Yet even so, reaching major accomplishment in blood and vitality and opening the flow through all four limbs had taken him nearly a year. How much wealth had been spent along the way?

Poor scholars, rich warriors.

An ordinary person's golden years for martial arts were only around twenty years.

If one's family foundation was not thick enough, the martial path would ultimately be limited.

Three months—to perfect blood and vitality, open the flow through the entire body, and attain martial rank.

He secretly shook his head.

I was overthinking it!

Only Cheng Ran poses any threat to my place in the Inspection Office. When I exchanged blows with him just now, his skin film was clearly different from mine. If he cultivates his skin film within three months, attaining martial rank will be as easy as turning his hand over.

As for bringing his fist art to great mastery, that may only take a single opportunity for him. I cannot underestimate him!

Three months is not long. I need to make the most of my time as well!

I must perfect my blood and vitality as soon as possible. Once my blood and vitality are perfected, cultivating my skin film will be a matter of course.

Once the skin film is cultivated, I will have attained martial rank.

If he meets the requirements just like me by then, it will likely come down to actual combat and fighting ability! The Inspection Office surely wants martial experts skilled in killing. I cannot neglect practical combat training during this time either.

Xiao Peng stood where he was, lost in thought, contemplation flashing through his eyes.

On the other side.

Cheng Ran climbed up from the ground.

"Senior Brother Cheng, are you all right?" Jiang Ning bent down to support him.

Cough, cough— Cheng Ran coughed several times, and flecks of blood immediately spilled from his mouth again.

He waved his hand, indicating that Jiang Ning did not need to support him.

"I'm fine! My skin film is about to take shape, so my ability to withstand blows has greatly improved. It is only a minor injury!"

"Then Senior Brother Cheng is not far from attaining martial rank?" Surprise appeared on Jiang Ning's face.

Cheng Ran nodded. "Indeed, not far. I will certainly attain martial rank within a month!"

Then he took several deep breaths and slowly exhaled before gradually suppressing the surging blood and vitality within him.

"Thank you for just now, Junior Brother Jiang!" Cheng Ran clasped his hands and bowed to Jiang Ning, his expression earnest.

"Senior Brother Cheng, there is no need for this!" Jiang Ning hurriedly grasped Cheng Ran's arms with both hands.

In an instant.

Jiang Ning felt the power contained in Cheng Ran's arms, and his own arms involuntarily erupted with strength to resist it.

Then that force vanished. Cheng Ran straightened up, his gaze toward Jiang Ning filled with complexity, his heart greatly shocked.

Just now, under the pull of Jiang Ning's strength, his body—which had originally been flying toward the wall—had fallen downward.

As his body dropped, he had also felt the arm supporting his back erupt with a force as steady as a mountain. Though that force was not equal to his own, it was not to be underestimated.

It was precisely with Jiang Ning's help, with that force supporting him, that he had avoided even graver injuries.

The strength Jiang Ning had unleashed when he intervened had surprised him, which was why he had made this test.

After testing him, he clearly sensed Jiang Ning's approximate strength.

More than two hundred jin!

(End of Chapter)