After returning from the martial arts school, Jiang Ning learned of Wang Jin's arrangements.
In three days, he would need to return to the martial arts school.
On that day, Wang Jin would make a public announcement, inviting prominent figures from all around to witness the formal acceptance of his five personal disciples.
Jiang Ning was one of them.
However, before that, he would need to settle the score with Xiao Peng.
Xiao Peng had recently met the requirements Wang Jin had previously set.
Jiang Ning wasn't particularly concerned about this.
In his view, it was only natural for Xiao Peng to challenge him.
Everyone knew that joining the Imperial Inspection Bureau was an opportunity to change one's fate.
Since Xiao Peng had met the conditions Wang Jin had laid out, it was inevitable that he would compete for the spot.
Whether the opportunity was big or small, anyone would fight for it. That was only natural.
When the time came, Jiang Ning would simply defeat Xiao Peng.
To Jiang Ning, this matter was nothing more than a minor episode.
What concerned him more was another piece of news.
According to Wang Jin, the high-ranking official from Guangning Prefecture would arrive in Luoshui County tomorrow.
This individual was a true heavyweight, the future head of the Luoshui County Imperial Inspection Bureau.
This person would wield real power, holding authority over life and death.
From high-ranking officials to commoners, this individual would have the authority to act decisively, even executing first and reporting later if necessary.
Jiang Ning had heard a brief mention of this from Manager Han earlier.
The arrival of this figure would undoubtedly be like a bombshell dropped into the waters of Luoshui County.
"That person is the real dragon crossing the river," Jiang Ning murmured to himself.
Then he added, "But this matter has little to do with me. Those who should be worried are the local powers and the big shots."
"For now, the key for me is to focus on improving my strength."
"With just over ten days left before the Imperial Inspection Bureau is established, I need to make significant progress in my strength during this time!"
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Jiang Ning walked through the corridor and pushed open the gate to the eastern courtyard.
A moment later, in the eastern courtyard.
Jiang Ning stood still, his eyes slightly closed.
The breeze from Luoshui Lake swept across the chaotic shores and brushed against his face, causing his black hair to flutter in the wind.
Since arriving in this world, Jiang Ning had adapted to local customs and kept his long hair, tying it up casually each day. Now, under the lake breeze, it looked slightly disheveled.
Using his mental energy to inspect his body, Jiang Ning saw the remnants of the Ox Demon Strength Fruit in his stomach.
"About 30% of this Ox Demon Strength Fruit remains," he thought to himself, opening his eyes.
Then he continued, "According to Manager Han, one Ox Demon Strength Fruit can temper my muscles and increase my strength by a hundred pounds."
"After digesting all three, my strength will increase by three hundred pounds."
"Today, I'll focus all my energy on refining the remaining Ox Demon Strength Fruit. If all goes well, my source energy points will skyrocket tomorrow."
Having made his decision, Jiang Ning found a clean rock and sat down cross-legged.
He then began circulating his internal energy and directing his blood flow.
Instantly, his blood energy began to boil, and his body temperature rose rapidly.
Under the dual catalysis, Jiang Ning felt his digestive capacity surge.
The remnants of the Ox Demon Strength Fruit in his stomach were quickly broken down, releasing a burst of potent medicinal energy.
This energy spread throughout his limbs and bones, flooding his 639 muscles.
Under the influence of the Ox Demon Strength Fruit, his muscles tightened continuously, sending waves of pain through his body.
At the same time, his internal energy flowed through his muscles.
Half an hour later, Jiang Ning opened his eyes.
He stood up from the rock and clenched his fist, feeling the powerful strength in his arm muscles.
"Manager Han was right! My strength has increased by nearly 10% compared to yesterday."
"That's more than a hundred pounds. The eight hundred taels were well spent!"
Feeling the changes in his body, Jiang Ning's expression brightened with joy.
The effects of the Ox Demon Strength Fruit were indeed miraculous. Although Manager Han had vouched for it, Jiang Ning had still harbored some doubts.
Now, having personally verified the effects of the spirit fruit, all his doubts were dispelled.
"I still have two Ox Demon Strength Fruits left. After refining them, my strength will increase by a total of three hundred pounds."
"In other words, those two thousand four hundred taels can increase my strength by nearly 30% in just one day."
"Is this the power of wealth?"
Jiang Ning asked himself this question.
At this moment, he understood the role of wealth more clearly than ever.
"Wealth's impact on martial arts is simply too great!" he couldn't help but exclaim, then murmured, "No wonder the descendants of top sects and wealthy families, who are never short of resources, progress so quickly in their martial arts."
"It's no wonder that even though my progress has been rapid, neither Wang Jin nor Manager Lin Qingyi seemed particularly impressed."
"There must be people in this world whose martial arts progress far surpasses mine."
After a brief moment of reflection, Jiang Ning regained his composure, not allowing himself to feel inferior.
He knew what his true advantage was.
It was the mysterious panel before him.
[Name]: Jiang Ning
[Source Energy]: 37.8
[Skills]:
Literacy (Second Breakthrough Limit: 1133/3000) (Traits: Photographic Memory, Enhanced Senses)
Five Animals Fist (Perfected: 1000/1000)
Firewood Chopping Saber Technique (Fourth Breakthrough Limit: 5000/5000) (Traits: Versatility, Swift as the Wind, Mastery of the Saber, Unity of Man and Saber)
Inner Alchemy Life-Nurturing Technique (Proficient: 1243/2000)
Canglang Saber Technique (Advanced: 48/1000)
Indestructible Golden Body (Proficient: 266/2000)
Swimming (First Breakthrough Limit: 187/2000) (Trait: Underwater Breathing)
After glancing at his panel, Jiang Ning thought, "I hope that after digesting these three Ox Demon Strength Fruits today, my source energy points will exceed a hundred tomorrow."
He then took out another Ox Demon Strength Fruit wrapped in film.
He had asked Jiang Li to store the Golden Body Elixir packages in his room, but he kept the Ox Demon Strength Fruits on his person.
After all, these spirit fruits were small, each only the size of an egg, making them easy to carry.
In the next moment, he removed the film and popped the fruit into his mouth.
As he chewed, the juice burst in his mouth.
After a few moments of chewing, he swallowed the remnants, and they settled in his stomach.
He then began circulating his blood and internal energy to aid in the digestion and absorption of the fruit.
The night was hazy.
Clouds drifted across the sky, hiding the stars and causing the moon to flicker in and out of view.
"Success!"
Jiang Ning's eyes lit up with joy as he opened them.
He stood up and clenched his right fist, feeling the surging power in his arm.
Thanks to the breakthrough in his literacy skill, his enhanced mental energy, and the trait of heightened senses, Jiang Ning had an exceptional level of control over his body.
Even the slightest changes in his body were perceptible to him.
Thus, he could feel the increase in his muscle strength and flexibility.
His strength had increased by about 30%.
Based on his perception of his body, the increase was at least three hundred pounds, if not more.
In the next moment, he threw a punch into the air.
The force of sixteen hundred pounds, amplified by his technique, released a terrifying burst of power, creating a clear sound in the air.
"Incredible!"
Feeling his newfound strength, Jiang Ning was exhilarated.
In just one day, his strength had increased by 30%.
This explosive growth gave him an immense sense of satisfaction.
"With this strength, even someone who has just entered the eighth rank in martial arts would be no match for me!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.
Then, taking advantage of the fact that it wasn't too late and he wasn't feeling sleepy, he began practicing his fist techniques in the courtyard.
[Five Animals Fist Experience +1]
[Five Animals Fist Experience +1]
[Five Animals Fist Experience +1]
[...]
The next day, as his biological clock woke him, Jiang Ning opened his eyes.
He sat up and rubbed his face, dispelling the last traces of sleepiness.
Once fully awake, he immediately checked his panel.
[Source Energy]: 110.5
Looking at the numbers, Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed.
"Yesterday, I clearly remember having 37.8 source energy points. Today, it's 110.5."
"An increase of 72.7 points in one day. The Ox Demon Strength Fruits provided even more source energy than the fifty-year-old Blood Lotus!"
Jiang Ning's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
Yesterday, he had worried that even after refining the three Ox Demon Strength Fruits, his source energy points might not exceed a hundred.
Now, he realized he had underestimated the energy contained in these spirit fruits.
They surpassed the Blood Lotus in potency.
Each Ox Demon Strength Fruit had provided him with around twenty-three to twenty-four source energy points.
In the next moment, his gaze shifted downward.
[Skills]: Five Animals Fist+ (Perfected: 1000/1000)
"The plus sign has appeared. This fist technique can also break through its limits."
Jiang Ning's expression brightened with joy.
He exhaled slowly, calming his excited heart.
The Five Animals Fist was his first advanced technique that had met the requirements for a breakthrough.
His intuition told him that the traits gained from this breakthrough would be different from before.
A few breaths later, he focused his mind.
His source energy points plummeted, the numbers rapidly decreasing.
[Source Energy]: 10.5
When the number reached this point, the changes stopped.
In an instant, Jiang Ning closed his eyes and entered a mysterious state.
He saw five colors gathering toward his chest from the heavens and earth.
Red, black, white, yellow, and green.
These five colors were scattered throughout the world, some sparse, some dense.
At this moment, with his eyes closed and his vision plunged into darkness, Jiang Ning felt as though he were floating in the vast, boundless universe.
He couldn't tell up from down, east from west.
But all around him, from every direction, specks of five-colored light converged toward him.
The red light points entered his body, bringing a slight warmth.
The black light points entered his body, bringing a slight coolness.
The white light points entered his body, bringing a slight sharpness.
The yellow light points entered his body, bringing a slight heaviness.
The green light points entered his body, bringing a slight vitality.
"Is this the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth?"
Noticing this, Jiang Ning murmured to himself.
At this moment, although he had countless questions, he didn't dare to let his focus waver.
His instincts told him that this was a rare opportunity, one that would greatly benefit his future.
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