In the underwater cave.
[Skill]: Water Affinity (First Breakthrough 1855/2000) (Trait: Underwater Breathing)
"In just a few dozen breaths, I gained over a hundred experience points!"
"This is indeed a treasure!"
Jiang Ning nodded in satisfaction.
The mere droplet-sized amount of water had already proven its worth by significantly boosting his Water Affinity experience.
Moreover, aside from the experience gained, he could feel subtle changes in his body.
However, the changes were too minor for him to pinpoint exactly what they were.
After a while, when Jiang Ning confirmed that his body showed no adverse reactions, he finally relaxed.
If it was beneficial and harmless, then it was truly a treasure.
With his mind at ease, Jiang Ning dipped his hand into the pool.
As his hand entered the silver-glowing water, he felt an intense chill, far colder than ice water.
But this level of cold was nothing to him now.
Next, he scooped up a small amount of the icy water.
This special water was different from ordinary lake water, denser and heavier.
He brought it to his mouth and drank it.
Gulp
As the water entered his stomach, a wave of cold erupted within him, as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar.
His body temperature dropped rapidly.
At the same time, notifications began to flood his vision.
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[...]
The frequency of these notifications was even faster than before.
Soon after.
[Skill]: Water Affinity (First Breakthrough 2000/2000) (Trait: Underwater Breathing)
The experience bar for this skill was now full, but the notifications didn't stop.
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[...]
Jiang Ning wasn't worried.
Even though the experience was maxed out, the excess wouldn't go to waste.
However, the cold in his body was intense, and he needed to circulate his blood to warm up.
Soon, the cold dissipated, indicating that his body had fully absorbed the special treasure.
"Phew"
Jiang Ning exhaled a breath of cold air, relieved.
Bubbles rose from his mouth, floating upward.
"Good thing I didn't overdo it earlier. If I had consumed more, the cold would've been harder to handle," he thought to himself.
He continued to circulate his blood, allowing it to flow through his limbs and dispel the remaining chill, warming his body.
Only then did Jiang Ning close his eyes, focusing inward to sense the changes in his body.
After a moment, he opened his eyes, understanding the effects of the special water.
This water not only increased his affinity with water but also improved his physical constitution, enhancing his innate talent.
"This must be the source of the White Dragon Fish's transformation," Jiang Ning thought.
The effects he experienced would, for a spirit fish like the White Dragon Fish, result in a life-level evolution.
Next, he turned his attention to his status panel.
[Skill]: Water Affinity (First Breakthrough 2000/2000) (Trait: Underwater Breathing)
The plus sign next to Water Affinity indicated that the skill was ready for a breakthrough.
[Source Energy]: 96.7
After checking his Source Energy, Jiang Ning focused his mind and clicked the plus sign.
Instantly, his Source Energy dropped by 20 points.
[Source Energy]: 76.7
The Water Affinity skill transformed.
[Skill]: Water Affinity (Second Breakthrough 899/3000) (Traits: Underwater Breathing, Water Manipulation)
[Water Manipulation]: A divine ability that grants innate, albeit weak, control over water.
"A divine ability?"
"Control over water?"
Jiang Ning's eyes widened in disbelief.
This trait was completely unexpected.
At that moment, he felt a profound difference.
He could sense that the surrounding water was now under his control.
With a thought, the previously calm water began to swirl, forming a vortex.
The vortex lifted sand and stones from the cave floor, moving left and right as Jiang Ning willed it.
"So it's true. I can now easily manipulate water!"
"And the effect is quite impressive!"
Jiang Ning watched as a rock weighing dozens of jin was lifted by the vortex, giving him a sense of the ability's power.
Though the description called it "weak," this was relative to divine abilities as a whole.
According to ancient myths, divine abilities could achieve earth-shattering feats, like moving mountains or parting seas.
Compared to those, his water manipulation was indeed minor.
But for Jiang Ning, it was already incredibly powerful.
The ability to lift heavy objects with water could be devastating if directed into a person's ears or nose.
Just imagining such applications made Jiang Ning realize how useful this ability could be.
Especially underwater, where it would be invaluable.
Being able to manipulate water meant he could use it to his advantage, significantly increasing his speed in the water.
With these thoughts, Jiang Ning grew even more excited.
The small amount of the unknown treasure he had absorbed had already given him a massive boost in the Water Affinity experience.
There was still plenty left.
If he absorbed the rest, he could likely gain thousands more experience points.
"Perhaps I can even achieve another breakthrough or two in Water Affinity today!"
Jiang Ning's heart raced.
The second breakthrough had already brought a surprise.
This made him even more eager to see what further breakthroughs might bring.
He released his control over the water, and the vortex quickly dissipated.
The rock that had been lifted fell back to the ground.
At the same time, he felt a change in his condition.
After stopping the water manipulation, he felt slightly fatigued, and his mind grew somewhat foggy.
"It seems using this divine ability consumes both physical energy and mental strength."
"That's why I feel tired and my mind is foggy."
Understanding this, Jiang Ning began to absorb more of the silver-glowing water.
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[...]
As his body absorbed the special water, his Water Affinity experience soared.
In no time.
[Skill]: Water Affinity (Second Breakthrough 3000/3000) (Traits: Underwater Breathing, Water Manipulation)
The experience bar was full again.
Without hesitation, Jiang Ning clicked the plus sign.
Instantly, his Source Energy dropped again.
After the transformation.
[Source Energy]: 26.7
"The third breakthrough indeed costs 50 Source Energy points," Jiang Ning noted.
He then looked at the updated skill.
[Skill]: Water Affinity (Third Breakthrough 23/4000) (Traits: Underwater Breathing, Water Manipulation, Water Spirit Affinity)
[Water Spirit Affinity]: Innate affinity with water. Enhances senses and doubles recovery rate while in water.
At this moment, Jiang Ning felt another change in his body.
Earlier, using the water manipulation ability had left him feeling fatigued and mentally drained.
But now, as he immersed himself in the water, he felt his energy rapidly recovering.
Not only that, but his mind also cleared, becoming more alert.
"So this is what 'doubled recovery rate' means!"
Jiang Ning's eyes lit up.
He also noticed another change.
The cave had been pitch dark earlier.
If not for the faint light emitted by some rocks and aquatic plants, he wouldn't have been able to see anything.
Even so, his vision had been extremely limited.
But now, it was completely different.
His vision had improved significantly.
Even in the dim light, he could see about five meters ahead.
This was a world of difference compared to before.
"Is this the effect of enhanced senses?"
Jiang Ning closed his eyes, focusing on the changes in his body.
Soon, he felt his condition peak.
He was full of energy, his body brimming with strength.
"This is incredible!!"
Jiang Ning opened his eyes, amazed.
Experiencing the recovery boost firsthand, he realized just how powerful it was.
With this level of recovery, his stamina and mental energy were virtually limitless in the water.
"Truly powerful!" he thought again.
Next, he had an idea.
He picked up his spirit weapon and drew the blade.
Then, he lightly ran the blade across his arm.
Despite his toughened skin, the sharpness of the blade left a clear cut.
Blood welled up from the wound.
Jiang Ning watched in surprise as the thin cut healed rapidly before his eyes.
The healing speed was visible to the naked eye.
While it wasn't as extreme as Shi Xiaoyuan's near-instant recovery, it was still remarkably fast.
A five to six-centimeter-long wound healed completely in less than ten breaths.
If not for the faint traces of blood, Jiang Ning might have thought he was hallucinating.
He wiped away the blood, revealing smooth, unblemished skin.
Without the blood as proof, the wound seemed like an illusion.
"This is insane!!" Jiang Ning marveled.
Through this test, he truly understood the power of this trait.
In water, he would never tire, with both his physical and mental energy recovering at an incredible rate.
At the same time, any injuries would heal just as quickly.
In water, he was at his strongest.
Next, Jiang Ning turned his attention back to the pool.
After his earlier absorption, a significant amount of the treasure remained.
"Absorbing all of this should give me a few thousand more Water Affinity experience points," Jiang Ning thought.
He continued to refine the water.
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[...]
As he refined the water, his Water Affinity experience continued to soar.
Soon after.
[Skill]: Water Affinity (Third Breakthrough 4000/4000) (Traits: Underwater Breathing, Water Manipulation, Water Spirit Affinity)
The experience bar was full once more.
Looking at his status panel, Jiang Ning felt immense satisfaction.
[Source Energy]: 26.7
Though he didn't have enough Source Energy for a fourth breakthrough which required 100 points he wasn't worried.
He was confident that after today, his Source Energy would skyrocket.
The massive amount of Water Affinity experience he had gained would surely provide a significant boost to his Source Energy.
Jiang Ning continued to refine the remaining water.
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[Water Affinity Experience +1]
[...]
The experience points kept rising.
Soon, the small pool was empty, and every last drop of the silver water was absorbed.
[Name]: Jiang Ning
[Source Energy]: 26.7
[Skills]:
Literacy (Second Breakthrough 1494/3000) (Traits: Photographic Memory, Enhanced Senses)
Five Animals Fist (First Breakthrough 235/2000) (Trait: Essence Storage)
Firewood Chopping Blade Technique (Fourth Breakthrough 5000/5000) (Traits: Versatility, Blade Like the Wind, Mastery of the Blade, Unity of Man and Blade)
Inner Alchemy Cultivation (Proficient 1513/2000)
Surging Waves Blade Technique (Mastery 48/1000)
Indestructible Vajra Body (Small Achievement 1/5000)
Water Affinity (Third Breakthrough 4000/4000) (Traits: Underwater Breathing, Water Manipulation, Water Spirit Affinity)
"This is amazing!" Jiang Ning looked at his status panel, thoroughly satisfied.
The gains from this trip had far exceeded his expectations.
Not only was he about to come into a large sum of wealth, but he had also obtained the transformed White Dragon Fish, which would greatly aid his martial arts progress.
Most importantly, his status panel had undergone significant changes.
In just a short time, his Water Affinity skill had broken through twice, granting him two new traits.
Both the Water Manipulation divine ability and the Water Spirit Affinity trait had made the trip entirely worthwhile.
Moreover, his Water Affinity experience was now ready for a fourth breakthrough.
All he needed was to accumulate 100 Source Energy points, and he could achieve the fourth breakthrough.
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