Chapter 204: Source Energy Points Surge

Chapter 204: Source Energy Points Surge

In the courtyard, Jiang Ning popped a piece of jade bamboo shoot into his mouth.

"It's quite refreshing!" He nodded in satisfaction.

In no time, the entire bamboo shoot was swallowed into his stomach.

The Water and Fire True Essence surged within his body.

In an instant, the originally hard-as-jade bamboo shoot was crushed into powder.

With his luck circulating, the powder released a powerful medicinal force.

As his vital energy transported the medicine, it slowly merged into his 206 bones.

Suddenly, Jiang Ning felt an itchy sensation deep within his bones, as if ants were crawling.

Several hours later, Jiang Ning opened his eyes and exhaled a turbid breath.

"After being crushed by the Water and Fire True Essence, the refining efficiency has indeed increased significantly!"

According to Ran Hongmei, a typical martial artist would need a day or two to refine this jade bamboo shoot.

But Jiang Ning had done it in less than three hours.

This efficiency was due to two factors: his abundant vital energy and his powerful Water and Fire True Essence.

Even the Wind and Thunder Force, after a breakthrough, couldn't compare to the Water and Fire True Essence.

In terms of destructive power, the Water and Fire True Essence, a combination of two extreme and incompatible forces, far surpassed the Wind and Thunder Force.

So, with the Water and Fire True Essence, a simple crush turned the hard-as-jade bamboo shoot into powder.

This was why his refining efficiency was so high.

The next moment, Jiang Ning closed his eyes and focused inward.

Instantly, the 206 bones within his body appeared in his vision.

The originally white bones now had a faint green glow.

The green glow gradually faded as time passed.

"From this, it's clear that the Green Wave Bamboo Shoot is indeed a skeletal treasure for the human body."

"This treasure will aid my journey to the Sixth Stage of the Martial Dao, and its main effect now is to provide me with Source Energy Points."

"I wonder how many Source Energy Points this Green Wave Bamboo Shoot, worth three thousand taels of silver, will ultimately grant me?"

Jiang Ning opened his eyes, pondering this question in his mind.

He couldn't possibly test this hypothesis by consuming different heavenly treasures every day.

Afterward, Jiang Ning clenched his fist.

A crisp cracking sound echoed from his fingers.

He immediately felt his bones were much harder than before.

The hardness of his bones indicated an enhanced resistance to strikes.

In martial combat, it's not just about ferocity but also about durability and defensive capabilities.

A robust physique meant that severe injuries could be reduced to minor ones, minor injuries to flesh wounds, and flesh wounds to mere scratches.

This was equally important.

After briefly experiencing the changes brought about by decades' worth of Green Wave Bamboo Shoots, Jiang Ning headed for his meal.

It was already past noon, and his stomach growled with hunger.

After lunch, Jiang Ning returned to his courtyard.

There were still many resources in his Narsimha Ring that needed to be absorbed, and once he finished, he could move on to breaking through other techniques.

Even within Luoshui County, there was a hidden threat in the form of Liu Lintang.

The previous day, the Earth King of the Yellow Heaven Sect had used Yin Spirit Departure to find him and left a mark.

With this, if Liu Lintang ever found him, opening his Heavenly Eye would reveal that the events of the previous night were his doing.

Even with his current position as the Deputy Commander of the Patrol Administration, Liu Lintang wouldn't dare to openly attack him, even with ten times the courage.

It was easy to dodge a spear in the front, but hard to guard against an arrow in the back.

In the dark of night, someone could sneak up, commit murder, and dispose of the body, and who would know who did it? Jiang Ning couldn't afford any slack in this situation.

Strength was the ultimate confidence booster.

Then, he took out another item from his storage ring.

A palm-sized seashell, acquired at a high cost of four thousand taels.

Within the shell were four drops of Earth Core Cold Marrow, a heavenly treasure found only in the deepest, coldest underground caverns.

Consuming and refining it would enhance one's psychic energy.

This treasure was highly sought after by true martial experts.

Jiang Ning purchased it, thinking of his psychic energy-related abilities.

Once his psychic energy broke through and reached a substantial, temporary out-of-body level, his abilities would significantly improve.

For this reason, Jiang Ning chose the Earth Core Cold Marrow.

Enhancing his psychic energy would strengthen his abilities and increase his Source Energy Points.

After exerting some force, the shell opened.

Instantly, a cold mist emerged, and within it, four droplets, like pearls, were suspended.

These droplets were as dense as mercury, incompatible with each other, and even when they collided due to the shell's vibration, they didn't merge like ordinary water droplets.

"Truly incredible!"

Jiang Ning exclaimed inwardly.

Then, he gently blew at the shell, and the cold mist inside suddenly surged like a tide, overflowing from the edges of the shell and then falling towards the ground like clouds from the nine heavens.

The mist passed through his palm, instantly making him feel a bone-chilling cold.

"No wonder Han Hongmei told me that it's best to dissolve this in water before drinking it. Although the effect of the Earth Core Cold Marrow will be slightly weakened, it can greatly reduce the accumulation of cold poison and prevent it from harming the five viscera and six bowels."

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning pondered for a moment and then shook his head.

"My five viscera and six bowels are tempered daily by the Great Sun Essence Qi, and I believe they can withstand the cold poison in the Earth Core Cold Marrow."

The next moment.

A drop of Earth Core Cold Marrow rose into the air.

Jiang Ning's mouth opened slightly.

Whoosh—

The drop of Earth Core Cold Marrow instantly shot into his mouth.

His psychic energy could leave his body, and controlling a drop of Earth Core Cold Marrow was effortless for Jiang Ning.

However, it only had these effects, and there were no other tangible benefits.

Unless he could break through again and further enhance himself.

Just then.

Jiang Ning's eyebrows furrowed.

As the Earth Core Cold Marrow entered his body, he suddenly felt a terrifying chill erupting within him.

This was a chill below zero degrees! In the face of this cold, he felt his blood gradually solidifying.

The moisture in his body began to crystalize.

Haa—

Jiang Ning exhaled, and a white mist emerged from his mouth.

"Such terrifying cold poison!" Jiang Ning muttered.

His complexion was already improving, gradually regaining its rosy hue from the previous pallor.

When the cold erupted, his heart suddenly surged like a volcano.

His vital energy boiled, and his body temperature rose.

The blood, with its increasing temperature, roared like a fire dragon through his veins.

Wherever it passed, the cold dissipated, and the ice crystals melted.

In less than ten breaths, the blood flowing through his body completed a full human circulation.

The cold dissipated from his body, and the drop of Earth Core Cold Marrow, now with its coldness contained, remained in his abdomen.

"The effect of this should be quite powerful," Jiang Ning thought to himself.

Then he began to refine the Earth Core Cold Marrow within his body.

Time passed.

Until the great sun set and night fell.

Huff—

Jiang Ning opened his eyes and exhaled a turbid breath from his abdomen.

This turbid breath, upon meeting the outside air, suddenly condensed into countless tiny ice crystals, transforming into white mist.

"Four drops of Earth Core Cold Marrow completely refined!" Jiang Ning muttered.

He raised his hand and gestured.

A leaf suspended in mid-air appeared a zhang away from him.

"Psychic energy can leave the body and extend about a zhang around me."

Then, Jiang Ning waved his hand.

The leaf lost its support and gently fell to the ground.

Jiang Ning closed his eyes again.

In an instant.

An invisible psychic energy net spread out, and within a zhang around him, a 360-degree view appeared in his mind, without any blind spots.

"Psychic energy has indeed become much stronger!" Jiang Ning felt delighted as he experienced this in his mind.

Reaching this step not only meant his various abilities would become more powerful.

But also, he would have a greater advantage in combat against others.

With the psychic energy net spread out, nothing within a zhang could escape his perception."

This means I can truly seize the initiative and act faster than others."

"This improvement alone makes the four thousand taels worth it."

Jiang Ning nodded in satisfaction.

Then, he maintained this state for dozens of breaths, until he felt a subtle pain in his brain and his spirit began to wane, before opening his eyes and retracting the psychic energy net.

The Earth Core Cold Marrow, in his eyes, had gained increased importance.

Compared to the enhancement from the Green Wave Bamboo Shoot, the effects of the Earth Core Cold Marrow were undoubtedly more apparent.

Next, Jiang Ning soaked quietly in the pool, closing his eyes to rest.

After half an incense stick's time, he opened his eyes, full of vigor.

At this moment, his body's condition had once again reached its peak.

He felt a surge of motivation.

"Continue!!!"

In the moonlight.

Jiang Ning gestured again, and a fruit like flames appeared in his hand.

This fruit was like a small tomato from his previous life, entirely red, as if it were burning with flames.

According to Han Hongmei, this was a Crimson Flame Red Fruit.

In ancient times, this was one of the spiritual fruits required by Immortal Path practitioners, capable of enhancing their cultivation.

However, it had little effect on Martial Artists, and it was merely rumored to have various benefits, such as strengthening the body, eliminating hidden ailments, and prolonging life.

In reality, these claims were mostly exaggerated.

Perhaps there were some effects, but they were extremely weak.

These were all things Han Hongmei had told him personally.

Jiang Ning was advised not to have high expectations for this fruit.

Even if the effects were mostly exaggerated, the value of the Crimson Flame Red Fruit was still incredibly high.

The single fruit in his hand had cost him eight thousand taels of silver.

And this was after he used the token given to him by Shen Congyun to get a twenty percent discount.

In other words, a single Crimson Flame Red Fruit, at its original price in the Wanhua Tower, was worth ten thousand taels.

This was equivalent to ten taels of gold or ten gold leaves.

Jiang Ning glanced at the Crimson Flame Red Fruit in his hand a few times.

Then, he popped it into his mouth.

With a gentle bite, juice splattered everywhere.

As the juice flowed down his throat and into his body, Jiang Ning instantly felt a warm sensation spreading throughout his body.

It was as if he was soaking in a warm pool.

After swallowing the fruit, Jiang Ning quietly sensed the changes in his body.

A warm current filled his limbs and bones, permeating every part of his body.

But that was all.

He couldn't perceive any transformation or improvement in his body.

It merely made him feel as if his body was being cleansed by some power, making him feel lighter and more agile.

This state lasted for half an hour before completely disappearing without a trace.

Jiang Ning closed his eyes and focused his inner vision on his body.

After a few breaths.

He helplessly opened his eyes.

Through his inner observation, he found that the Crimson Flame Red Fruit had indeed brought him no changes, just as Han Hongmei had said.

"It seems like eight thousand taels of silver have gone down the drain!" Jiang Ning shook his head with a bitter smile.

However, if given the chance to go back to yesterday, he would still choose to buy the Crimson Flame Red Fruit.

According to Han Hongmei, the Crimson Flame Red Fruit was an extremely rare spiritual plant from ancient times, and it was now incredibly scarce.

The Wanhua Tower only had one surviving Crimson Flame Red Fruit.

And even that was obtained by chance.

Given the opportunity, he would definitely acquire such a rare item.

He also wanted to see how many Source Energy Points this rare item could provide him.

After all, this fruit was considered a heavenly material and earthly treasure required by Immortals.

In theory, heavenly materials and earthly treasures required by Immortals should contain much more energy than those needed by Martial Artists.

This was also the reason he chose to spend eight thousand taels of silver to purchase it.

Source Energy Points were what he valued most at the moment.

They were crucial for breaking the limits of his skills.

Compared to the improvements brought about by breaking the limits of his skills, the enhancements from heavenly materials and earthly treasures were insignificant.

For example, the Earth Core Cold Marrow allowed him to extend his psychic energy throughout his body, which was a significant improvement.

But the true boost to his strength came from breaking the limits of the Wind and Thunder Arrow Technique, which increased his combat power by at least fifty percent.

The next day.

The sky was still dimly lit when he woke up.

The first thing he did after getting up was to open his personal panel.

【Name】: Jiang Ning

【Source Energy】: 687.33

【Skills】:

Literacy (Three Breaks 358/4000) (Characteristics: Photographic Memory, Extraordinary Senses, Quick Thinking)



Five Animals Play (One Break 501/2000) (Characteristics: Essence Stored in Five Viscera)



Enhanced Firewood Chopping Sword Technique (Four Breaks 5000/5000) (Characteristics: Lateral Thinking, Swift Sword, Divine Sword Control, Sword-Body Unity)



Inner Core Cultivation Technique (Lower Stage 319/5000)



Vajra Indestructibility Body (Lower Stage 453/5000)



Enhanced Water Skill (Five Breaks 6000/6000) (Characteristics: Underwater Breathing, Water Control Technique, Water Affinity, Cloud Summoning, Water Body)



Wind and Thunder Arrow Technique (One Break 1/2000) (Characteristics: Wind and Thunder Breath)



Water and Fire True Essence (Lower Stage 31/500)



Seeing this panel, Jiang Ning's breath became heavy.

687 Source Energy Points—this was completely beyond his expectations.

This was the first time he had so many Source Energy Points, and it made him feel like he had become rich overnight.

Hu—

Hu—

After two deep breaths, Jiang Ning's agitated heart calmed down.

"A sudden increase of nearly seven hundred points overnight!"

"It seems I made the right bet! Heavenly materials and earthly treasures required by Immortal Path practitioners contain much more energy than ordinary ones, allowing my Source Energy Points to reach a whopping 687 points."

Jiang Ning thought to himself.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end