Chapter 100: Refreshing Wang Jin's Understanding

Chapter 100: Refreshing Wang Jin's Understanding

In the afternoon, after finishing his meal and leaving home, Jiang Ning set out alone towards the Martial Arts Academy.

Wang Jin was his master, and after his sudden disappearance for over ten days, it was only right and reasonable to visit the academy first upon his return.

This was the respect that was due!

Wang Jin's previous actions also deserved the respect of the two words "master," and Jiang Ning's reverence was well-deserved.

Moreover, the resources for assisting in martial arts practice that Wang Jin had left for him were still kept in the academy.

Aside from the ginseng that he had taken away before, there were also some ginseng stored in the room where he had previously stayed, along with unused Qi and Blood Pills.

In the path of martial arts, one must strengthen the body and cultivate Qi and Blood.

The cultivation of Qi and Blood is a lifelong pursuit for any martial artist.

At the beginning of martial arts training, one must achieve perfection and allow Qi and Blood to permeate the entire body.

Only then can one start tempering the skin membrane and enter the ranks of the Ninth Stage Martial Dao.

Each subsequent step of progress requires the augmentation of Qi and Blood, and meeting certain requirements as a prerequisite is essential for further breakthroughs in martial arts.

Just as he had already refined the skin membrane at this moment, if he wanted the membrane to undergo further transformation and reach the level of minor success, it would be closely related to the strength of his Qi and Blood.

If Qi and Blood do not increase, it would be impossible for the skin membrane to shed and reach the level of minor success, where the skin is as hard as stone.

Therefore, those who practice martial arts, when they grow old and their bodies decline, and their Qi and Blood wanes, lose the possibility of further advancement!

So, even though he has entered the Ninth Stage Martial Dao, strengthening his Qi and Blood remains crucial.

Those Qi and Blood Pills are naturally still extremely important.

Not to mention that digesting the medicinal power of the Qi and Blood Pills can also bring additional enhancement to his Essence Energy Points.

After entering the inner city, Jiang Ning boarded a carriage.

Canglang Martial Arts Academy.

Jiang Ning paid the fare and alighted from the carriage.

The money he used was the two taels of broken silver he had kept with him before.

As soon as Jiang Ning stepped down from the carriage, the two disciples guarding the academy's entrance immediately revealed a startled expression.

Then, they promptly clasped their fists in salute.

"Senior Apprentice Brother Jiang!!"

"Greetings, Senior Apprentice Brother Jiang!!"

Jiang Ning smiled, greeted them, and proceeded towards the academy's entrance.

As soon as he stepped into the academy, he was spotted by numerous disciples, and they were all delighted to see his appearance.

"Senior Apprentice Brother Jiang!"

"Greetings, Senior Apprentice Brother Jiang!!"

"Where has Senior Apprentice Brother Jiang been?!"

". . ."

Everyone showed an extremely friendly demeanor towards Jiang Ning.

Because Jiang Ning's presence was now related to their interests.

After observing Jiang Ning's live sparring sessions for several consecutive days, they had greatly benefited from his progress in their fist techniques.

When Jiang Ning suddenly disappeared, it also caused their Five Beasts Fist progress to regress to its former state.

Now that Jiang Ning has reappeared, it means they can return to their previous highly efficient progress, and how could they not be delighted?

Jiang Ning smiled at everyone, then spoke, "Fellow apprentices, continue with your tasks. I'll go to the backyard to visit Master Wang first."

"Senior Apprentice Brother Jiang, please go ahead. It's only natural!" someone spoke up.

Seeing this, everyone else also chimed in, expressing their understanding.

Especially among them, a few people with particularly well-informed sources, their eyes shone with even more respect.

Jiang Ning's safe return naturally indicated something significant to them.

Immediately.

Jiang Ning arrived at the backyard entrance.

Boom—

Boom—

Boom—

He knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Wang Jin's voice boomed from the backyard, echoing loudly in Jiang Ning's ears.

"Master, it's me!" Jiang Ning spoke up.

Upon hearing these words, the area behind the door suddenly fell silent.

Then, Wang Jin's voice echoed again.

"Zhou Xing, go and open the door."

Immediately, Zhou Xing's voice sounded, "Yes, Master!"

Hearing this voice, Jiang Ning's face showed a trace of surprise.

Zhou Xing is also here?

What a coincidence! After a few breaths.

Creak—

The backyard door opened.

"Senior Apprentice Brother Jiang!" Zhou Xing greeted Jiang Ning, and as he looked at Jiang Ning, a complex expression flashed through his eyes.

In his heart, there was also a hint of regret.

On the first day Jiang Ning joined the academy, he discovered that Jiang Ning had a bit of talent.

Instantly, he sighed inwardly.

He had ultimately underestimated this junior apprentice brother.

These thoughts flashed through his mind, and then he revealed a warm smile.

"Please come in, Senior Apprentice Brother Jiang." As he spoke, he also stepped aside, leaving enough space for Jiang Ning to pass through.

"Good afternoon, Senior Apprentice Brother Zhou!" Jiang Ning smiled.

Then, as he entered the backyard, he saw Wang Jin, bare-chested, wiping the sweat from his body.

"Master, I'm back!" Jiang Ning bowed respectfully.

Wang Jin examined Jiang Ning up and down and then slowly nodded, "Not bad, safe and sound!"

He then continued, "Have you seen Hong Chengtao?"

Jiang Ning replied, "I have!"

Hearing Jiang Ning's affirmative answer, a flash of brilliance suddenly appeared in Wang Jin's eyes.

He examined Jiang Ning up and down again and then burst into laughter.

"Good lad, well done!!"

"To be able to counterattack and kill Hong Chengtao without a scratch is far beyond my expectations!"

Zhou Xing, standing by the side, was also startled upon hearing these words.

As a native of Luoshui County, how could he not have heard of Hong Chengtao's fame?

Even in the entire Luoshui County, Hong Chengtao was a man of legendary color.

From an ordinary commoner to the feared deputy leader of the Qingnian Gang, who instilled fear in the hearts of the common folk.

His Iron Sand Palm was renowned for its power, capable of crushing gold and severing iron.

Who would have thought that such a well-known figure in Luoshui County would be defeated by a younger generation?

"How did he manage that?" Zhou Xing looked at Jiang Ning's calm face and asked himself silently.

Jiang Ning replied, "Does Master know about it?"

Master Wang smiled and nodded, "How could I not know? This matter is likely known to all the major powers in Luoshui County. With your safe return to the city, all the factions must have already heard the news!"

Master Wang continued with interest, "I'm curious to see what choice Cao Bin will make. With Cao Rong gone, the strongest person in the Cao family is now his third uncle, Cao Guangyan."

"Although Cao Guangyan has reached the seventh rank in martial arts, he is still far inferior to me!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning understood Master Wang's implication.

By mentioning Cao Guangyan as the strongest in the Cao family and stating that he was far inferior, Master Wang was hinting that he would intervene if the Cao family took action.

Upon understanding this, Jiang Ning immediately bowed and said solemnly, "Thank you, Master!"

Master Wang laughed heartily at this.

"As your master, I won't allow them to bully you."

Zhou Xing, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel envious as he witnessed this scene.

Jiang Ning had only been Master Wang's disciple for less than two months, yet he had already earned such high regard.

"This is the power of talent!" Zhou Xing sighed inwardly.

He knew he had always treated Master Wang with respect, even after reaching the eighth rank in martial arts and establishing his own reputation.

However, he still visited the martial arts academy every three to five days, or at least once every half a month, to pay his respects and learn from Master Wang.

Although he was the theoretical senior apprentice brother in the academy, Master Wang's treatment of him and Jiang Ning was vastly different.

Thinking of this, a sour taste rose in Zhou Xing's mouth.

At that moment, Master Wang, aware that Hong Chengtao and Xu Yunfeng had been killed by Jiang Ning, chose not to inquire further.

A trump card.

If exposed, its effectiveness would be greatly diminished.

As a mentor, he understood this principle well.

In his eyes, there was no such thing as true secrecy in the world.

A secret was only truly a secret if no one else in the world knew about it.

Master Wang then changed the subject, "Since you've dealt with Hong Chengtao, why did you linger outside the city for so long? Do you have other matters to attend to?"

Jiang Ning replied, "Disciple wanted to observe the habits and fighting styles of the tiger, bear, ape, and other Five Beasts in the mountains and forests, to gain a deeper understanding of the essence of the Five Beasts Fist. That's why I stayed for over ten days."

"I see!" Master Wang nodded and asked, "So, did you have any breakthroughs?"

Jiang Ning nodded confidently, "I've made some progress."

"Oh?" Master Wang's eyes flashed with interest at Jiang Ning's words.

He then calmly examined Jiang Ning, "It seems you've made significant progress in the Five Beasts Fist."

Although Master Wang appeared calm, he was surprised.

He hadn't forgotten that his disciple had already reached the Great Success stage in the Five Beasts Fist, with all five forms at the Great Success level.

Given his interactions with Jiang Ning, he knew that Jiang Ning usually only revealed a fraction of the truth.

If Jiang Ning claimed to have made some progress, it likely meant a significant breakthrough.

Based on the foundation of the Five Forms Great Success, a significant breakthrough meant reaching the Perfect Realm.

This realization was the reason for Master Wang's astonishment.

If someone else had said this, he wouldn't have thought of it, but Jiang Ning was different.

He knew that his talented disciple, Jiang Ning, had already mastered the basics of the River Wave Blade Technique over ten days ago.

In terms of difficulty, mastering the River Wave Blade Technique was even more challenging than advancing from the Great Success stage to the Perfect Realm in the Five Beasts Fist.

Since Jiang Ning had already achieved this, it was likely that he had reached the Perfect Realm in the Five Beasts Fist during his absence from the academy.

Master Wang then turned to Zhou Xing and said, "Zhou Xing!"

"Yes, Master!" Zhou Xing snapped out of his thoughts and bowed.

"You may leave now. Go and digest the insights I shared about the fist technique today, and recall the flow of the Five Beasts Energy within your body after their unification." After saying this, Master Wang continued, "I want to test your junior apprentice brother's fist technique."

Zhou Xing understood Master Wang's intention—he wanted him to step aside.

He bowed and said, "I'll take my leave, Master! I'll report to you about my junior apprentice brother's progress later."

Master Wang nodded slightly.

Zhou Xing glanced at Jiang Ning once more, his gaze lingering for less than a breath, before turning and leaving the backyard.

Once the backyard gate closed.

Master Wang looked at Jiang Ning seriously and asked, "Did you truly reach the Perfect Realm in the Five Beasts Fist?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end