Important Figure

After summing up the lessons from the battle just now, Jiang Ning continued practicing his fist techniques in his own 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 attaining success in his fist technique, he rarely went to the martial academy's front courtyard anymore.

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

But once a fist technique reached minor accomplishment, every move began to brim with agility. Moreover, one's qi and blood would gradually grow stronger, making it easy to sense the powerful qi and blood while practicing.

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

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

Cheng Ran, however, was different. After dealing with him over the past few days, Jiang Ning had come to trust him somewhat. He knew Cheng Ran's character was fairly good and that he was worth befriending.

[Five Animals Fist Experience +1]

After finishing a set of fist techniques, Jiang Ning opened his panel and took a look.

[Name]: Jiang Ning

[Source Energy]: 9.2

[Skills]:

Literacy (First Breakthrough 568/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)

Five Animals Fist (Minor Accomplishment 50/500)

Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Complete 1000/1000)

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

By today, he had improved considerably again.

The power of his qi and blood had circulated through more than one arm, and he was already more than halfway toward circulating it through his second arm.

The condensing of qi and blood also strengthened his force and physique.

Meanwhile, after the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique reached the beginner level, he could only draw in the essence of the great sun from sunrise until the eighth quarter of the Hour of the Hare.

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 his progress clearly. Drawing in the more intense radiance of the sun more noticeably enhanced his internal organs. His organs became stronger, and his stamina seemed more enduring.

Every day, Jiang Ning could feel himself improving.

Moreover, unlike others, his rate of progress did not slow the further he went, nor did he grind to a halt where he stood.

Whether in the early stages or the later ones, his rate of improvement did not slow in the slightest. It remained unwavering as he advanced step by step, breaking through ahead.

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

"The addition of a saber technique trait should help improve my strength. With that, my strength will rise another step."

"Besides that, the accumulation for Literacy has already passed one quarter. I can't overlook this skill's new trait, nor the strengthening of my spiritual power."

Looking at his panel, Jiang Ning muttered to himself.

"If I can supplement myself with precious medicinal ingredients like wild ginseng again, my rate of progress will become even faster!"

Thinking of that, 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 plant that cost around fifteen taels of silver could be bought from Zhou Xing for just ten taels.

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

Though it might seem as though he had to owe a favor, what did favors amount to in Jiang Ning's eyes?

Immediate benefits were what mattered most.

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

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

He had learned the saying "die for face, live in misery" deeply in his previous life!

Afterward.

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

Each set of fist techniques earned one experience point, while the Five Animals Fist at the minor accomplishment level could successfully condense three strands of qi and blood within his body.

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

Stronger organ functions gave him greater endurance, and his stamina recovered more quickly as well.

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

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

Only by eating well, only by eating more, could one consume enough energy to fuel one's 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 not said much at the time, merely telling him not to hold back, to eat more, and to eat his fill.

At lunchtime.

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

On the table were basins of large white steamed buns, vegetables, and a bowl of fatty and lean meat before each person. This was the daily lunch provided by Blue-Wave Martial Academy.

The buns were unlimited, and so were the vegetables, but each person only had the bowl of meat before them. This ensured that the martial academy disciples could have some meat and fat every day.

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

After practicing fists for the entire morning, everyone was ravenous.

Once they sat down, they grabbed the food on the table and wolfed it down.

At the head of the table, Wang Jin drank his after-meal tea to settle his stomach.

As he watched everyone wolf down their food, his expression remained calm, but he occasionally nodded slightly, satisfaction appearing on his face.

All of a sudden.

A disciple hurried into the main hall from outside.

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

"Academy Master, 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, and he abruptly rose to his feet.

The chair beneath him was pushed backward, producing a series of bangs.

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

Shen Congyun?

Hearing those three words, Jiang Ning was slightly surprised as well.

Shen Congyun was one of the two deputy tower masters of Myriad Splendor Tower stationed in Luoshui County.

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

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

It sold Martial Dao cultivation techniques and secret manuals, precious medicines and spirit pills, divine weapons and sharp tools, protective armor, and all kinds of intelligence.

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

From low-grade cultivation techniques and secret manuals to foundational methods capable of producing grandmasters and great grandmasters—

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

With such an enormous power behind him, even though Shen Congyun was merely the deputy tower master of a branch stationed in Luoshui County, his status was still exceedingly high within Luoshui County. In the eyes of powerful figures from every side, he was unquestionably an important figure.

Whether it was the seventh-rank county magistrate of Luoshui County or the local three great lineages—the Cao, Liu, and Xie lineages—they all had to give him some face.

The reason Myriad Splendor Tower could spread throughout every province, prefecture, and county was because it had always adhered to a neutral stance in business and the principle that harmony brought wealth. It never involved itself in disputes between any powers.

Only absolute neutrality could earn the trust of every faction.

In Great Xia, no matter how powerful one was, who could possibly be stronger than the Great Xia 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 pondered.

"What matter?" Jiang Ning asked.

Cheng Ran said, "I heard that because the Inspection Office is about to be established, many forces in the county city have been investing in people who may 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 later, to grant life and take death, it will be no different from a fish leaping over the dragon gate."

"Investing before they enter the office and strengthening their Martial Dao abilities is like sending charcoal in snowy weather. It is a favor, and many people are willing to make that investment."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded in strong agreement.

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

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

"Moreover, as far as I know, Myriad Splendor Tower does not easily invest in geniuses. Every time, it only invests in true Martial Dao prodigies."

"An Inspection Office in a county city is not worth Myriad Splendor Tower going to such great lengths to invest in, much less worth an important figure like Shen Congyun stepping in personally. Myriad Splendor Tower probably does not think much of such returns, even if the investment succeeds."

Elsewhere.

Wang Jin walked out of the main hall.

Shen Congyun.

Thinking of this man, Wang Jin could not help feeling a surge of excitement.

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

He could not help quickening his pace, swiftly crossing Qianyuan and heading toward the martial academy gates.

Stepping over the threshold, Wang Jin saw the middle-aged man outside, dressed in a gray long robe, refined in appearance, with graying temples.

"Brother Shen!!"

Wang Jin walked toward Shen Congyun with his hands clasped in greeting.

"Brother Wang!" The middle-aged man, who looked to be a little over forty, also revealed an easygoing smile and cupped his fists toward Wang Jin.

"Brother Shen, you've come so suddenly. Why didn't you notify me in advance? I haven't even prepared wine and meat to entertain you!"

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

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

Hearing that, Shen Congyun smiled. "Brother Wang, won't you 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.

A new week—please vote with your monthly tickets!! Many thanks!!!

(End of Chapter)