A Big Shot

A Big Shot

After summing up the lessons from that battle, Jiang Ning continued practicing his fist techniques in his courtyard.

Ever since he had begun living at the martial academy and gained his own small courtyard, he had spent most of his time practicing there.

Especially after his fist technique had achieved some success, he rarely went to the martial academy's front courtyard anymore.

Ordinary disciples could not really tell the difference between beginner and proficient mastery of Five Animals Fist.

But once a fist technique reached minor accomplishment, every move began to brim with agility. Moreover, as one's qi and blood gradually grew stronger, the powerful flow of qi and blood could easily be sensed while practicing.

Under such circumstances, any martial academy disciple with decent strength, someone like Xiao Peng, could detect some clues.

He did not want to reveal his progress to people like Xiao Peng too early. That would only invite trouble.

Cheng Ran was different. After dealing with him over the past few days, Jiang Ning had developed a certain degree of trust in him. He knew Cheng Ran's character was fairly good and that he was worth befriending.

[Five Animals Fist experience +1]

After finishing a round of fist practice, Jiang Ning opened his panel and took a look.

[Name]: Jiang Ning

[Source Energy]: 9.2

[Skills]:

Literacy (first limit break 568/2000) (Trait: photographic memory)

Five Animals Fist (minor accomplishment 50/500)

Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (complete mastery 1000/1000)

Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique (beginner 18/1000)

By today, he had made considerable progress again.

The power of his qi and blood had flowed through more than one arm, and he was already over halfway toward opening the second.

The refinement of qi and blood also brought increases in strength and physique.

After the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique reached beginner level, however, he could only draw in the essence of the great sun from sunrise until the eighth quarter of the hour of the Rabbit.

As a result, his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique had gained only twelve experience points today. Although that was still less than the experience gained on the first day from drawing in the essence at sunrise—

—he could feel that his improvement was quite obvious. Drawing in the more intense radiance of the sun had a more pronounced effect on strengthening his internal organs. His organs had become stronger, and his stamina seemed to have grown more enduring.

Every day, Jiang Ning could feel himself improving.

Moreover, unlike others, his rate of improvement did not slow the farther he went, nor did it come to a standstill.

Whether in the early stages or later on, his progress did not slow in the slightest. Steady as ever, he advanced step by step, breaking through again and again.

"Just two more days. In two days, the energy I've accumulated will be enough to break the limit of my Wood-Chopping Saber Technique!"

"The addition of a saber technique trait should help improve my strength. Then my strength will rise another level."

"Besides that, Literacy has also passed one-quarter of its accumulated progress. I can't overlook this skill's new trait and the growth of my mental strength either."

As he looked at his panel, Jiang Ning muttered to himself.

"If I could supplement myself with precious medicinal herbs like wild ginseng again, my progress would be even faster!"

At that thought, Jiang Ning's heart filled with anticipation.

Zhou Xing would definitely appear today.

Once he saw Zhou Xing, he could buy wild ginseng from him, which would be of great help to him.

Outside, a ten-year wild ginseng root cost around fifteen taels of silver. From Zhou Xing, it cost only ten taels.

At such a low price and with such excellent value for money, he naturally chose to buy wild ginseng from Zhou Xing.

Though it seemed he would owe a favor, what did favors matter in Jiang Ning's eyes?

Immediate benefits were what mattered most.

He had to seize every opportunity to grow rapidly and acquire sufficient ability to protect himself.

Being able to protect himself and the people he cared about—that was the truth.

In his previous life, he had deeply understood the saying: dying for face and suffering for pride.

Afterward.

Jiang Ning continued practicing Five Animals Fist over and over in the courtyard.

Each round of practice increased his experience by one point. Five Animals Fist at minor accomplishment could also successfully refine three strands of qi and blood within his body.

Now that his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique had reached beginner level and strengthened his five viscera and six bowels, Jiang Ning could clearly feel that the number of times his body could support him practicing fist techniques each day was increasing.

Stronger internal organ function gave him greater endurance and allowed his stamina to recover faster.

At the same time, his appetite had grown larger than before.

For martial artists, being able to eat was a good thing.

Only by being able to eat, only by eating more, could one take in enough energy to fuel one's own growth.

When he had eaten with Wang Jin last night, Jiang Ning had noticed that Wang Jin had already realized his appetite was unusual. Yet Wang Jin had said nothing at the time, merely telling him not to be restrained—eat more, eat freely.

At lunchtime.

Everyone gathered around a table. The dining table was rectangular, with people seated on either side, while Wang Jin sat upright at the head of the long table.

Basin after basin of large white steamed buns sat on the table, along with vegetables and a bowl of fatty and lean meat before each person. This was the daily lunch provided by Blue-Wave Martial Academy.

The steamed buns were unlimited, and so were the vegetables, but each person had only one bowl of meat. This ensured that the martial academy's disciples got some meat and fat every day.

Only then would they not easily train their bodies into ruin.

After practicing fist techniques all morning, everyone was ravenous.

Once they sat down, they began grabbing food from the table and wolfing it down.

At the seat of honor, Wang Jin drank tea after the meal to settle his stomach.

His expression remained calm as he watched everyone at the table devouring their food, but from time to time, he gave a slight nod, satisfaction appearing on his face.

Suddenly.

A disciple hurried into the hall from outside.

He came before Wang Jin, clasped his fists, and bowed.

"Headmaster, someone has come to visit outside. He says his name is Shen Congyun."

"Shen Congyun?"

A look of surprise appeared on Wang Jin's face as he abruptly rose to his feet.

The chair behind him slid backward with a series of bangs.

That commotion immediately drew everyone's attention, including Jiang Ning's.

Shen Congyun?

Hearing those three words, Jiang Ning was also slightly surprised.

Shen Congyun was one of the two deputy tower masters at Myriad Splendor Tower's Luoshui County branch.

Though he was merely a deputy tower master, Myriad Splendor Tower was a colossal force spread across the nine provinces of Great Xia. Nearly every provincial city, prefectural city, commandery city, and county seat in Great Xia had a Myriad Splendor Tower.

Myriad Splendor Tower's business was simple: it did business with martial artists.

It sold martial arts manuals, precious medicines and spirit pills, divine weapons and sharp armaments, protective armor, and all kinds of intelligence.

At Myriad Splendor Tower, as long as one had enough silver, one could buy most of the resources needed for martial cultivation.

From unranked cultivation manuals to foundational methods capable of producing Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters—

—so long as one had money, one could buy them at Myriad Splendor Tower.

With such an immense force behind him, even though Shen Congyun was only a deputy tower master of a Luoshui County branch, his status in Luoshui County was extremely high. In the eyes of powerful figures from all sides, he was unquestionably a big shot.

Whether it was Luoshui County's magistrate, an official of the seventh rank, or the three local great families—the Cao, Liu, and Xie families—they all had to give him some face.

The reason Myriad Splendor Tower could spread through every province, prefecture, and county was because it had always upheld the principle of doing business neutrally and making money through harmony. It never involved itself in conflicts between any factions.

Only absolute neutrality could earn the trust of every side.

In Great Xia, no matter how powerful someone might be, could they possibly be stronger than the Great Xia imperial court?

"Strange. Why has Shen Congyun come to visit Master?" Cheng Ran, seated beside Jiang Ning, spoke with a puzzled expression.

"Brother Jiang, do you know?" He then turned to ask Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning shook his head slightly. "How would I know?"

"Could it be because of that matter?" Cheng Ran said thoughtfully.

"What matter?" Jiang Ning asked.

Cheng Ran said, "I heard that because the Inspection Office is about to open, many forces in the county city have been investing everywhere in people who might enter the office. After all, Brother Jiang, you know that once we successfully enter the office, with the Inspection Office backed by a Martial Saint and holding the authority to execute first and report afterward, with life and death in our hands, it would be like a fish leaping through the dragon gate."

"Investing in someone before they enter the office and strengthening their martial ability is like delivering charcoal in a snowy winter. That is a favor, and many people are willing to make such an investment."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded in considerable agreement.

"This truly is a good investment. The value for money is very high."

Cheng Ran continued, "But what is strange is that, given Shen Congyun's position as deputy tower master of Myriad Splendor Tower, even if Myriad Splendor Tower wanted to invest, why would he personally step in?"

"And as far as I know, Myriad Splendor Tower does not casually invest in geniuses. Each time, it only invests in true martial arts prodigies."

"An Inspection Office in a single county city is not worth Myriad Splendor Tower going to such lengths to invest in, much less worth a big figure like Shen Congyun personally stepping in. Myriad Splendor Tower probably would not care for the returns—returns that would not even be that great to them, even if successful."

Elsewhere.

Wang Jin emerged from the hall.

Shen Congyun.

The thought of that man made Wang Jin's heart burn with excitement.

He had been stuck at the peak of the seventh rank for many years. With Shen Congyun's help, he had finally seen an opportunity to advance further.

He could not help quickening his pace as he hurried across the courtyard toward the martial academy gates.

After stepping over the threshold, Wang Jin saw the middle-aged man outside—a man dressed in a gray robe, with refined features and graying temples.

"Brother Shen!!"

Wang Jin walked toward Shen Congyun with both hands clasped in salute.

"Brother Wang!" The middle-aged man, who appeared to be a little over forty, also revealed an easygoing smile and returned Wang Jin's salute.

"Brother Shen, you came so suddenly. Why didn't you notify me in advance? I didn't even prepare good wine and meat to receive you!"

Shen Congyun smiled. "I arrived without warning. I was presumptuous."

"You're being too formal. Since we address each other as brothers, my home is Brother Shen's home. Come whenever you wish."

At those words, Shen Congyun smiled. "Will Brother Wang not invite me inside to sit?"

"Please, please, please, please do!!" Wang Jin raised a hand in invitation. Then the two walked side by side into the martial academy.

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(End of chapter)