In the courtyard.
He glanced at his panel once more.
[Source Energy]: 1513.65
[Skills]:
Literacy (Fifth Breakthrough 766/6000) (Traits: Photographic Memory, Enhanced Senses, Quick Thinking, Exceptional Comprehension, Heavenly Eye)
Five Animals Fist (Fourth Breakthrough 911/5000) (Traits: Essence Stored in the Five Organs, Five Elements Spirit, Grandmaster of Fist Techniques, Bear-Tiger Physique)
Inner Alchemy Nourishing Technique (Minor Achievement 2344/5000)
A few days had passed, bringing slight progress to his Literacy, Five Animals Fist, and Inner Alchemy Nourishing Technique.
His Source Energy points had also surpassed 1,500, less than 500 points away from his goal of 2,000.
After reviewing his panel, Jiang Ning continued practicing his fist techniques.
In the next moment, a fiery tiger enveloped Jiang Ning's figure.
At the center of the snowy ground, the fiery tiger pounced, bit, and swept, occasionally emitting waves of scorching heat, its imposing aura terrifying.
As Jiang Ning's fist momentum shifted, other phenomena emerged.
When the white ape appeared, the courtyard filled with a sharp, murderous intent, and illusory blades of the Five Elements flashed through the air.
When the spirit deer appeared, the courtyard became tranquil and harmonious, and the withered branches seemed to sprout green buds as if spring had returned to the earth.
When the savage bear appeared, the air in the courtyard grew heavy, as if gravity had suddenly intensified, making it hard to breathe.
When the roc appeared, illusory waves manifested three feet above the courtyard, accompanied by the sound of crashing tides.
As the fist technique concluded, the fish transformed into a roc, soaring into the sky.
The fist momentum dissipated without a trace, and the roar of the waves vanished completely.
Once all the phenomena faded, Jiang Ning appeared in mid-air, one zhang (about 3.3 meters) above the ground, hovering briefly before slowly descending.
"The fish transforms into a roc, breaking free from its cage to witness the vastness of heaven and earth!"
"This concept is indeed correct!"
Jiang Ning murmured to himself, his face filled with joy.
Since acquiring the Fist Technique Grandmaster trait, he felt as though he had unlocked a new world, constantly gaining fresh insights into fist techniques.
He had also been refining the finer details of the Five Animals Fist.
The current version of the Five Animals Fist, after countless minor adjustments, was now entirely different from before.
Both in its conceptual depth and its intricacies, it far surpassed its previous state.
[Five Animals Fist Experience +5]
Seeing this prompt, a smile spread across his face.
This was the first time since he began practicing the Five Animals Fist that he had gained five experience points from a single session.
It also meant that, from this moment onward, his efficiency in accumulating experience points for the Five Animals Fist could increase even further.
He continued practicing.
Since he possessed extraordinary talent in fist techniques, he would seize this advantage and hone his strengths.
Moreover, progress in the Five Animals Fist wouldn't just enhance his combat prowess it would also deepen his martial foundation, boost his qi and blood, and nourish his five organs.
The nourishment of his organs would, in turn, accelerate his internal strengthening and the growth of his inner energy.
It was a win-win situation.
[Five Animals Fist Experience +3]
[Five Animals Fist Experience +5]
[Five Animals Fist Experience +5]
As he practiced the fist techniques repeatedly, the experience points for the Five Animals Fist soared, far more efficiently than before.
In the blink of an eye, two more days passed.
When he woke up, Jiang Ning felt the changes in his physique had come to an end.
This meant the most intense phase of forging Jade Bones was over.
From now on, the changes would be gradual, subtly influencing his body over time.
After getting out of bed, he clenched his fists and mobilized the strength of his entire body.
His powerful mental energy had long imprinted the state of his newly achieved Jade Bones from days ago.
"My strength has increased by about 20 to 30 percent!"
"I should go outside and test my speed!"
With this thought, he pushed open the door.
The sky was still dim, the first light of dawn just appearing.
From the adjacent courtyard came the sound of rushing fist wind it was Lü Yi practicing her fist techniques.
He glanced briefly before turning away.
Over the past few days, he had witnessed Lü Yi's dedication to martial training.
She was even more diligent than he was, which was truly remarkable.
After all, his motivation and discipline stemmed from being able to see the rewards of every effort he made.
Every bit of hard work yielded immediate, visible results.
This feedback mechanism was crucial.
It was why top students in his previous life became addicted to studying because they could see the fruits of their labor right away.
Unlike those who toiled day after day without sensing any progress, leading to frustration and eventual resignation.
But he had no such worries.
Thanks to the miraculous nature of his panel, every effort he made was rewarded instantly.
And once achieved, it was permanent never to regress.
Unlike other martial artists and scholars, if you don't advance, you regress like sailing against the current.
The gap between them is as vast as heaven and earth.
This is also the key reason he has been able to reach his current level in less than a year.
"Two days ago, Lü Yi officially stepped into the ninth rank of martial arts."
"From this, it seems my flesh and blood are indeed of great help to others!"
"And this is with that Divine's Scion authority being too fragmented, not even counting as an incomplete fragment of authority."
"If the authority were fully restored, given my current martial arts level, I believe the effects of my flesh and blood would be even more pronounced."
At this thought, he couldn't help but shake his head.
Fragments of a Divine's Scion authority are far too rare.
The last time he obtained one, it was only by relying on that mysterious finger, which he speculated to be the finger of a deity specifically, the God of Flesh and Blood.
Now, obtaining another one would be extremely difficult.
Unless he could locate a hideout of the God-Worshipping Cult, there might be a slight possibility.
He had already asked Xie Xiaojiu to keep an eye out for any news about the God-Worshipping Cult.
But he didn't expect to receive any significant updates during this time.
The weather was too severe, with heavy snow sealing off the mountains and blocking the roads.
Communication and travel between cities and regions had almost completely ceased.
How could he possibly get news about the God-Worshipping Cult from other places?
As for another potential lead the Black Lotus Cult's Saintess based on experience, the Saintess was one of the Black Lotus Matriarch's incarnations, holding an extraordinary position within the cult and even receiving her direct attention.
Last time, the black-robed woman who claimed to be a candidate Saintess managed to summon a trace of the Black Lotus Matriarch's consciousness.
After that experience, he had no intention of provoking the Black Lotus Cult for the time being.
The Black Lotus Matriarch's methods were far too terrifying.
He might have fooled her once, but that didn't mean he could keep doing so.
Moreover, even a clay figurine has a temper, and a cornered rabbit will bite.
If he pushed the Black Lotus Matriarch too far, the consequences would be dire.
The Black Lotus Cult had incited rebellions spanning two prefectures and seven counties such a feat was beyond the capability of ordinary forces.
Though he wasn't particularly familiar with the remnants of the Black Lotus Cult, he wouldn't be surprised if they still had a Grandmaster among them.
At his current strength, he had no desire to face a Grandmaster head-on.
"For now, I can only pin my hopes on the God-Worshipping Cult. The God of Flesh and Blood is still someone I can afford to provoke, but the Black Lotus Matriarch? Not!"
Jiang Ning mused silently.
Then, with a leap, he vaulted over the high wall and landed on the desolate shore.
"Testing my strength isn't straightforward, but with my computational abilities, measuring my speed is all too easy!"
Gazing at the endless ice covered in snow, excitement flashed across his face.
Today, he intended to test just how fast he had become.
The next moment.
His figure blurred as the inner energy in his dantian erupted, propelling him forward like a roc riding the wind.
Thirty breaths later.
He came to a stop sixteen kilometers from his starting point.
Looking back, the vapor from his breath instantly condensed into white mist a result of the moisture in his body rapidly liquefying upon meeting the frigid air.
At this moment, his breathing had also quickened slightly.
Even as an Inner Strength Realm martial artist, maintaining full-speed bursts for thirty breaths left him slightly winded.
Thirty breaths amounted to just over a minute.
The fact that he only felt a slight change in his breathing after a full minute of all-out exertion was already a testament to the significant enhancement of his organ functions after reaching the Inner Strength Realm.
He estimated that, under his current physical condition, without using any other means, he could maintain peak speed for about fifteen minutes in a full-power burst. Beyond that, his performance would begin to decline.
But if he dialed it back to 70% effort, he could sustain it for two or three hours without issue.
That was the difference.
In his previous life, an average person, even with some training, would be utterly exhausted after just four breaths of full exertion like sprinting a hundred meters left gasping for air.
Olympic athletes, representing the pinnacle of human physicality, wouldn't fare much better under full exertion.
Yet, in terms of pure physicality, the gap between them was only a matter of multiples.
However, if an Olympic athlete were to move at an average person's pace, their endurance would be astonishing easily lasting seven, eight, or even ten times longer.
After a glance back and a quick calculation of the time and distance, Jiang Ning roughly estimated his speed.
Approximately 540 meters per breath or about 160 zhang per breath.
Once he had a rough estimate of his speed, his breathing returned to normal after this short recovery period.
Then, his figure flickered again.
Crackling arcs of electricity enveloped his body.
Now, with "Swift as Wind, Fierce as Thunder" activated, his speed instantly ascended to another level.
At this moment, it was as if he had merged with the wind, drastically reducing its resistance against him.
At such high speeds, minimizing wind resistance was crucial.
In just twenty breaths, he returned to his starting point.
"About 800 meters per breath or roughly 245 zhang per breath."
"On New Year's Eve, my full-power burst was about 200 zhang per breath."
A simple calculation told Jiang Ning that he had made significant progress.
His speed had increased by a full twenty percent.
For his current level of strength, a twenty percent improvement in just over half a month was an astonishing leap.
You must understand, that speed is different from strength.
The higher you climb, the harder each incremental improvement becomes the difficulty multiplies exponentially.
"My progress is remarkable!!" Jiang Ning murmured to himself, feeling reassured.
Then, he continued silently:
"Skin, flesh, tendons, and bones are the four stages of external refinement I've nearly perfected them all."
"Looking back, only the 'Tempered Skin' stage can still be deepened further. Forging a Golden Body is the true completion."
"With the Indestructible Vajra Body technique, that shouldn't be too difficult for me."
"The real challenge lies in forging Divine Bone after Jade Bone."
At this thought, Jiang Ning couldn't help but frown slightly.
He already knew the method for forging Divine Bone.
The 108 Heavenly and Earthly Bone-Forging Method he possessed included the necessary techniques.
But what he lacked were the two rare materials: Heavenly Yang and Earthly Yin.
And he had no leads on where to find these two extraordinary substances.
Even with the intelligence network of Wanhua Pavilion, he hadn't uncovered any relevant information.
"I'll have to rely on the Inspectorate and the Martial Saint's Office!"
He muttered inwardly.
Having completed his tests, Jiang Ning returned to his courtyard and resumed practicing his fist techniques, steadily increasing his Five Animals Fist experience.
Dongling City
Ten-Mile Plum Blossom Grove
A man in a white robe, holding a folding fan, gazed into the distance with a faint smile.
A moment later, his eyes landed on a woman dressed in snow-white robes, her sword in hand.
Her figure was tall and graceful, her waist so slender it seemed no wider than a hand's span.
The man immediately strode forward to greet her.
"Miss Xiao, what brings you the leisure to invite me for snow-viewing and flower appreciation today?" He flicked open his fan with a refined motion, exuding an air of noble elegance.
The woman in white tightened her grip on her sword, her brows furrowing imperceptibly.
"Master Bai, it's been many days. You seem even more radiant than before."
Hearing this, the man snapped his fan shut with a crisp click.
He laughed heartily.
"Oh? So you've noticed that my inner energy has condensed into like steel?"
The woman in white: "..."
Then, she forced a smile.
"Congratulations! Congratulations!"
"Likewise, likewise!"
The man clasped his hands in a polite salute, fan tucked under his arm.
When he saw her blank expression as if asking what exactly am I being congratulated for?
The corners of his lips curled slightly.
Maintaining her faint smile, the woman spoke again.
"Inspector Bai, shall we walk?"
"Of course, let's walk." The man nodded.
The two stepped onto the soft snow, flanked by plum blossoms in full bloom. Occasionally, petals as white as snow drifted down, settling silently on the ground.
After only a few steps, the woman spoke again.
"Inspector Bai, I heard you'll soon be making a trip to Luoshui County?"
At this, Bai Luoyu turned to look at the woman beside him Xiao Emei.
Xiao Emei, the senior disciple of the Moonwater Sword Palace, and the most likely candidate to succeed as its next master.
She was also ranked third on the Hidden Dragon List's Human Ranking.
Third on the Human Ranking didn't mean she was the third strongest among the younger generation in Guangning Prefecture.
After all, those who had ascended to the Earth or Heaven Rankings were no longer included in the Human Ranking.
But it still meant that, in the vast expanse of Guangning Prefecture, there were few who surpassed her.
Meeting Bai Luoyu's gaze, Xiao Emei revealed her intentions.
"Inspector Bai, how about I accompany you on this trip?"
Bai Luoyu chuckled. "Miss Xiao, it seems the rumors circulating are true. He Jinyun died in Luoshui County, and you suspect Commander Jiang had a hand in it."
Xiao Emei nodded. "Inspector Bai is perceptive. After all, Young Master, He was our Palace Master's nephew. She has ordered me to visit Luoshui County and invite Commander Jiang to the palace as a guest."
"A guest?" Bai Luoyu smirked, and then his expression turned serious. "Miss Xiao, I hope you've thought this through. Don't bring ruin upon yourself."
Xiao Emei shook her head slightly. "How can I disobey my master's orders?"
With that, she bowed slightly to Bai Luoyu. "I ask for Inspector Bai's assistance!"
As she spoke, she lifted her gaze, her eyes shimmering with a pitiable, pleading look.
A short while later, Bai Luoyu watched Xiao Emei's retreating figure as she disappeared into the distance.
He couldn't help but laugh softly, murmuring to himself:
"Xiao Emei, you certainly know how to use your charms. No wonder you've climbed so high."
"Pity... With such a mindset, you'll never achieve greatness. A woman like you isn't fit to walk beside me."
"Seduction might work on others, but not on me. What kind of woman haven't I slept with?"
He shook his head with amusement.
She was clever she knew how to use her advantages.
But in his eyes, that was all she had.
This kind of cleverness was nothing more than petty scheming.
A mind preoccupied with such trivial manipulations would never achieve true greatness.
If she wanted to inherit the position of Moonwater Sword Palace's master, strength alone would be the deciding factor, not social maneuvering.
Having returned from his training at the Dao Palace, Bai Luoyu found himself completely disinterested in Xiao Emei.
She was smart but only in small ways.
And that kind of intelligence would never take her far.
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