Inside the room.
The cold wind blowing from the vast lake outside emitted a soft, mournful wail.
Yet, inside the room, the warm glow of candlelight filled the space.
From the charcoal stove, crackling sounds occasionally rang out, sparks flying.
Jiang Ning looked at the golden box in his hand as it slowly opened.
In the next moment.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed that the divine statue inside the golden box seemed to have changed somewhat. It appeared as though much of its vitality had faded.
"It must be due to the Hundred Spirit Blood!"
Jiang Ning thought to himself, suddenly realizing.
Previously, the divine statue inside the golden box had been soaked in Hundred Spirit Blood, and it was clear that this blood was the necessary sustenance to maintain the statue's vitality.
His thoughts turned, and Jiang Ning slowly extended his right hand, reaching into the golden box.
As his fingers made contact with the cold statue, a vivid vision suddenly appeared in his mind again.
In the boundless sea of blood, countless corpses floated, drifting in the Red Sea.
Above the blood sea stood a statue of a god.
The statue had three heads, six arms, and four legs.
But before the statue could open its eyes, Jiang Ning expanded his mental field, instantly shattering the illusion.
Immediately, a prompt appeared in front of him.
[Seven points of divinity detected, a new authority discovered. Do you wish to absorb it?]
"Just as I thought, the divine power gathered in the statue inside the golden box is greater!" Jiang Ning muttered inwardly.
Then, with a thought, he selected [Yes].
In an instant.
He felt a certain substance from the statue in front of him being drawn into his body.
Elsewhere.
In a void, the surroundings were engulfed in endless darkness and emptiness.
In this void, a stone lotus throne stood.
Upon the lotus throne sat a being with three heads, six arms, and four legs. Its body was at least twenty feet tall while seated.
One could imagine how immense this being would be if it stood up.
Suddenly.
Sss
Sss
Sss
The three heads of the statue-like being roared upward in unison, producing gusts of wind from their mouths that blew into the surrounding void.
"Who?"
"Who destroyed the divine fetus?!!"
The voice roared, tinged with immense pain.
At this moment.
Jiang Ning was unaware of the scene unfolding in the void.
[Divinity]: 7
[Authority]: Flesh and Blood Regeneration (12.17% incomplete)
Looking at his panel, Jiang Ning's gaze focused on the authority section.
[Flesh and Blood Regeneration (12.17% incomplete)]: Part of the authority has been completed, but a large portion is still missing. With this authority, any physical damage in this world can heal at a faster rate.
Reading the description on the panel, Jiang Ning recalled the explanation he had seen earlier that day.
[Flesh and Blood Regeneration (0% incomplete)]: An incomplete authority. With this authority, any physical damage in this world can heal relatively quickly.
"From incomplete to partially complete, and from the literal interpretation, it seems that once the authority is fully completed, the self-healing effect on the body should be stronger!" Jiang Ning pondered.
His gaze then shifted to the divinity section.
"A total of 7 points of divinity?"
"Then, let's add them!"
With a thought, the number recorded under the divinity section instantly dropped to zero.
And the Flesh and Blood Regeneration authority rapidly began to fill, its percentage rising steadily.
Soon, the percentage stopped fluctuating and settled.
[Authority]: Flesh and Blood Regeneration (82.17% incomplete)
After taking another look at the panel, Jiang Ning closed it.
With 82.17% progress, the next level was within reach, but all the divinity points on his panel had been used up.
The remaining progress could only be completed by waiting for time to gradually fill it.
The next moment.
His spiritual weapon reappeared in his hand.
With a slight force, he drew it across his arm, reopening the previously healed wound.
At that moment.
The wound, about five centimeters long, healed incredibly fast, as if an invisible zipper was closing it.
The skin around the wound quickly knitted together, and in the blink of an eye, the wound shrank from five centimeters to four, then to three centimeters.
In less than ten breaths, the wound was fully healed, and there was no trace left on his right arm.
"Such exaggerated results?" Jiang Ning's eyes widened slightly, filled with disbelief.
The healing speed had dramatically improved, from half a teacup's worth of time to under ten breaths. The recovery had stepped up a level.
Although this recovery speed was still nowhere near that of the transformed practitioners of the God Worshipping Sect, it was still quite extraordinary!
With such a healing effect, as long as the wound wasn't fatal, it could almost be ignored.
Even fatal wounds might no longer be fatal.
"If this authority evolves again, my self-healing ability will reach another level."
"Perhaps one day, I'll be able to regrow severed limbs or even resurrect from a drop of blood!"
Thinking of this, Jiang Ning's heart was filled with anticipation.
If he gained that ability, it would be like living a myth.
He would have the best survival ability in the world.
"Perhaps, this is the true authority of the gods!"
After exploring the effects of the authority changes, Jiang Ning looked over the skills section of his panel.
His gaze fell on the "Five Animals Fist" entry.
[Skill]: Five Animals Fist (One Limit Break: 811/2000) (Trait: Five Organs Store Essence)
This skill was the foundational fist technique he had learned, a relatively low-level martial art.
However, to him, martial techniques could break their limits, and the difference between low-level and high-level martial arts wasn't that significant.
Just like his basic wood-chopping sword technique.
Though it only had one move just chopping.
But with each limit break, the power of the chop grew, and who could say his chop was any weaker than those of the top-tier sword techniques?
Because of this, Jiang Ning had no intention of switching out the Five Animals Fist, a foundational low-level martial art.
He glanced at the progress of the Five Animals Fist and decided to dedicate the next few days to gaining experience in this skill.
After forging his iron bones, the transformation of his body would still take some days.
During this period, he couldn't perform any bone-forging activities.
So, he could only focus on cultivating martial arts skills.
The Five Animals Fist was a foundational martial art that could refine vital energy and strengthen the body.
As he broke his limits, again and again, the effects of this fist technique became more apparent.
After one limit break, practicing the Five Animals Fist increased his vital energy by ten strands.
Compared to the initial increase of just one strand, the effect had increased tenfold.
Additionally, the efficiency of bone-forging was closely tied to the strength of one's vital energy.
The stronger the vital energy, the more condensed the energy hammers for refining the bones would be, resulting in better refining effects and better absorption.
Thus, sharpening the blade doesn't hinder the chopping of wood.
The improvement of the Five Animals Fist skill would also positively impact his bone-forging process.
Moreover, the first limit break of the Five Animals Fist granted him a very useful trait.
With the Five Organs Store Essence trait, his internal energy would grow a little each day.
As long as he gave it enough time, this trait alone would eventually allow his internal energy to reach the level of the world's strongest.
This demonstrated the power of the trait.
Therefore, gaining experience for the Five Animals Fist was a highly rewarding task.
It could increase his vital energy and improve his bone-forging effects.
It could also enhance his martial arts skills.
Furthermore, completing limit breaks would grant him new traits.
Jiang Ning was also eager to see what trait would come with the second limit break.
After making up his mind, Jiang Ning walked out of the room.
Outside.
The snow had begun to fall heavier.
Under the pitch-black night sky, no stars could be seen.
All he could see was the distant flickering of a few lights.
Jiang Ning stood in the middle of the yard. After just a brief moment, a thin layer of blood-red snow had gathered on his head and body.
The next moment.
He stomped his foot on the ground, releasing his internal energy. The snow beneath his feet immediately surged and rolled in all directions, revealing a wide, open space in an instant.
"It's ready!"
Jiang Ning glanced at the flat stone tiles that had been exposed beneath his feet.
Then, he took his stance and began practicing the fist technique.
His body moved, and his vital energy surged. With each strike, the wind seemed to rise from the ground.
After a cup of tea's time, he completed one round of the technique.
By then, he was emitting a great deal of heat, with mist rising from his head. The snow on his body had already melted away completely.
He glanced at the prompt that appeared before him.
[Five Animals Fist Experience +3]
"Not bad!"
Jiang Ning nodded.
He then removed his clothes, revealing his upper body, with the muscle lines visible.
With his clothes off, the heat radiating from his body became even more noticeable.
Snowflakes the size of fingernails fell on his exposed body, and it was as if they were landing on heated metal, melting away instantly from the warmth of his skin.
With the restriction of his clothes removed and after warming up, Jiang Ning's speed of practicing the fist technique increased rapidly.
With each move, as he twisted and shifted, violent winds were whipped up, and the snowflakes falling from the sky danced in the wind.
[Five Animals Fist Experience +2]
[Five Animals Fist Experience +3]
[Five Animals Fist Experience +3]
[.]
The speed of his training grew faster with each round, and the fierce wind became stronger. The experience for the Five Animals Fist continued to increase.
His vital energy was also growing by ten strands per round.
By midnight, the heavy snow had turned into light snow, and eventually, the snow stopped.
Jiang Ning stopped his fists and stood still.
"Hoo"
He let out a long breath, and the snow in front of him spread out in all directions.
[Skill]: (One Limit Break: 1088/2000) (Trait: Five Organs Store Essence)
"Not bad!"
Jiang Ning nodded in satisfaction after looking at his panel.
In just one night, he had gained more than two hundred experience points for the Five Animals Fist, yielding a good result.
"At this rate, it won't take many days before the Five Animals Fist completes its second limit break!"
"The trait of exceptional comprehension helps me a lot!"
Jiang Ning withdrew his gaze and walked to the edge of the wall.
He climbed over the tall wall and arrived at the rocky beach.
At this moment, the lake's surface had completely frozen over, silent and still, with only the occasional cold wind blowing across the vast, empty lake.
In the cold wind, everything around him was pitch black.
For an ordinary person in this environment, it would be nearly impossible to see their hand in front of their face.
But for him, with the faint light spilling from his room and the reflection of light from the clouds, it was enough for him to see everything around him.
Then, facing the cold wind, he stood on the lake's surface. The sweat from his earlier practice was mostly dried by the chilly breeze.
Suddenly.
Boom
He stomped his foot, and the ice beneath him cracked open suddenly.
He stepped into the lake through the crack in the ice.
"Ah, this feels great!!"
His whole body submerged in the cold lake water, washing away the fatigue and sweat, giving him a sense of immense pleasure.
The next day.
Jiang Ning got out of bed.
[Source Energy]: 374.11
[Authority]: Flesh Regeneration (Deficient 82.21%)
After checking the two main sections of his status panel, Jiang Ning withdrew his gaze.
Both his source energy points and the Flesh Regeneration authority had experienced a slight increase.
After washing up, Jiang Ning continued to head to the courtyard to practice his fist techniques.
"Chief Xu, please come in!" Seeing Xu Zhengnan standing outside, Jiang Ning was slightly surprised.
Xu Zhengnan laughed heartily when he saw this.
"What's the matter? Didn't expect me to visit this early, did you?"
"Honestly, I didn't!" Jiang Ning smiled.
He then led Xu Zhengnan into the courtyard.
If Xu Zhengnan hadn't unexpectedly arrived at the door so early, Jiang Ning would have already been on his way to inspect the inspection office by now.
Soon after.
The two walked down the path, laughing and chatting.
In the East Courtyard.
After Xu Zhengnan sat down, his expression turned serious.
"Chief Jiang, is this place secure enough?"
"Naturally, it's secure enough!" Jiang Ning nodded.
Seeing this, Xu Zhengnan lowered his voice and spoke.
"Chief Jiang, what a method! You quietly took Liu Zhaonan away last night without a sound before leaving."
Jiang Ning smiled but neither confirmed nor denied it.
He waved his hand, and a set of tea utensils appeared on the table.
He picked up the teapot, and in the blink of an eye, steam began rising from the spout.
At the same time, Jiang Ning asked, "Chief Xu, what is the current situation at the Liu residence after last night?"
Xu Zhengnan's gaze shifted to Jiang Ning's hand, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.
Afterward, he withdrew his gaze, smiling, and responded to Jiang Ning's question.
"Rest assured, Chief Jiang!"
"Currently, all the important figures at the Liu residence were killed in last night's resistance. As for the few who survived, they're no longer of any consequence!"
"Even if someone tries to rescue them, they pose no threat to us!"
After hearing Xu Zhengnan's words, all of Jiang Ning's thoughts slowly condensed into two words.
"Impressive!!"
Aside from admiration, from his standpoint, he didn't feel the need to say anything more.
The Liu family had over three hundred people in total.
After last night, only a few dozen remained.
And they were all insignificant individuals.
Such methods could hardly be called anything but ruthless.
At this moment, hearing Jiang Ning's praise, Xu Zhengnan smiled.
"Don't worry, Chief Jiang!"
"I'll handle this matter beautifully."
"Whether it's the Four-House Merchant Guild or the Black Tiger Gang!"
"I will root out the three great tumors in Luoshui County once and for all!!"
"I will return a clear sky to Luoshui County!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning poured steaming tea from the teapot into Xu Zhengnan's cup.
The tea poured out in steady streams, with clouds of steam rising from the cup.
As he poured, Jiang Ning spoke.
"Then everything will be entrusted to you, Chief Xu!"
"Rest assured, Chief Jiang!" Xu Zhengnan patted his chest and continued, "As the Chief of the Luoshui County Patrol, with the safety of all the people in this city on my shoulders, this matter is naturally my duty!"
"This is my responsibility!"
Jiang Ning remained silent for a moment, and the two of them drank their tea.
After entertaining Xu Zhengnan and sending him out, Jiang Ning headed to the inspection office.
The reward that was due to him yesterday was waiting for him to collect, along with the rewards for the personnel under his command that needed to be distributed.
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