Chapter 205: Breakthrough in Blade Technique, Further Progress in Blade Form!

Chapter 205: Breakthrough in Blade Technique, Further Progress in Blade Form!

Inside the room, Jiang Ning examined his status panel.

Source Energy: 687.33

Skills:

- Firewood Cutting Sword Technique+ (4 Breakthroughs, 5000/5000) (Traits: Analogous Understanding, Blade Like Gale, Blade Handling Like a Deity, Man and Blade as One)



- Water Proficiency+ (5 Breakthroughs, 6000/6000) (Traits: Underwater Breathing, Water Control Technique, Water Spirit Affinity, Cloud Walking and Rain Summoning, Water Spirit Form)



Jiang Ning contemplated as he reviewed his status panel once more.

Among his numerous skills, only two had reached the maximum experience value and fulfilled the requirements for a breakthrough.

One was the Firewood Cutting Sword Technique, which had completed four breakthroughs, and the fifth breakthrough required 200 Source Energy points.

The other was Water Proficiency, which had achieved five breakthroughs, and according to his estimation, the sixth breakthrough would require a full 500 Source Energy points.

In other words, breaking through in both skills would demand a total of 700 Source Energy points.

Jiang Ning currently possessed only 687 Source Energy points, and he chose to disregard the decimal values for now.

Thus, he had to select one skill for a breakthrough from these two options.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Jiang Ning decisively chose the Firewood Cutting Sword Technique.

He had other significant uses for his Source Energy, and the Gale Thunder Archery had only completed its first breakthrough.

At the rate of experience gain with the Gale Thunder Archery, even if he dedicated all his efforts, it would take no more than two to three days to accumulate the remaining 2,000 experience points.

The next moment, Jiang Ning's mind stirred, and his thoughts focused on the plus sign behind the Firewood Cutting Sword Technique.

He closed his eyes simultaneously.

With his eyes shut, darkness enveloped his vision.

Suddenly, a blade's glint appeared in the pitch-blackness.

The blade's light was dazzling white, approaching from afar, drawing ever closer.

The closer it came, the more intense the blade's light became.

Swiftly!

The entire field of vision was engulfed by this blade's radiance.

Everywhere he looked, it was as if a dazzling blade's light filled his eyes.

This blade's light pierced through the darkness in his eyes and seemed to cleave the very heavens and earth within his gaze.

Time passed.

Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes, regaining his vision.

But even now, he still saw two streaks of blade light floating in his pupils.

One on the left and one on the right, each with a distinct blade's glint.

The blades appeared vividly in his sight, but as time went by, Jiang Ning noticed the blade light gradually dissipating.

Source Energy: 487.33

Skills:

- Firewood Cutting Sword Technique (5 Breakthroughs, 6000/6000) (Traits: Analogous Understanding, Blade Like Gale, Blade Handling Like a Deity, Man and Blade as One, Innate Blade Bone)



- Water Proficiency (5 Breakthroughs, 6000/6000) (Traits: Underwater Breathing, Water Control Technique, Water Spirit Affinity, Cloud Walking and Rain Summoning, Water Spirit Form)



Innate Blade Bone: Possessing innate blade bones, one has an innate talent for reaching the pinnacle in the path of the blade.

Jiang Ning furrowed his brows slightly after reading the description on the panel.

"This time, it's a passive, innate trait!"

"It seems that relying on traits alone won't bring immediate results to my combat effectiveness."

Subsequently, Jiang Ning stepped into the center of the courtyard.

A long blade materialized in his hand.

Having just completed the breakthrough in his blade technique, the blade's light, though now dissipated, had already left a deep impression in the depths of his mind.

At this moment, he felt as if he could hold the blade and unleash that very blade's light.

Holding the blade in the center of the courtyard, Jiang Ning sensed a distinct change from before.

Previously, it was a union of man and blade.

But now, it was a fusion of man, blade, and the heavens, becoming one.

In this state, he seemed to perceive the rhythm and breath of the heavens and earth.

Jiang Ning closed his eyes and calmed his mind, quietly absorbing this rhythm.

After about half a cup of tea's worth of time.

Jiang Ning, standing in the center of the courtyard, abruptly opened his eyes and sprang into action.

He slashed downward.

Whoosh—

The blade's light hung upside down in midair.

Buzz—

The long blade standing in the air vibrated incessantly.

Jiang Ning's eyes widened slightly, revealing a glint of astonishment.

This slash of his had halted just in midair, not reaching the ground.

At this moment, his long blade hovered three feet above the ground.

Yet, on the ground, there appeared a blade mark as thick as a thumb.

Wherever the blade mark passed, all grass, wood, and stones were cleanly severed.

Several goose eggs-sized pebbles were also split in two by this blade mark.

The cuts were smooth and flawless, without a single imperfection.

Even the ground revealed the brown soil beneath the surface layer.

This display of power was entirely different from the results of his previous blade wind.

Before, when he held the blade and unleashed the blade wind, it could only cut through weeds.

This level of power, even against ordinary people, would, at most, only scratch a few shallow blood marks.

But now, it was entirely different.

This slash left a blade mark over half a zhang long.

Wherever the blade passed, not only were the weeds and bamboo cut, but even the hard stones were split in two.

This display of power was no less than an outburst of Inner Fortitude.

However, in this strike, Jiang Ning did not use any special means.

It was merely a simple downward chop.

In an instant, Jiang Ning swung his blade again.

Buzz—

The blade halted in mid-air.

The powerful kinetic energy was entirely absorbed by the blade in Jiang Ning's hand, and it emitted a trembling sound.

Within a zhang in front of him, a clear blade mark appeared once more.

This time, Jiang Ning carefully measured the mark with his eyes, and it was six chi and three cun long.

In other words, it was just over two meters in length.

Wherever this blade mark passed, grass, wood, bamboo, and stones were all cut, without exception.

Swish—

He raised his blade and waved it.

A moment later.

Boom—

A huge rock in front of him was split in half, and its smooth cut surface caused it to lose all support, directly sliding and falling to the ground.

Looking at the scene before him, Jiang Ning's eyes slightly narrowed.

"According to the book, when the blade's power reaches a certain level, it can resonate with heaven and earth, invoking their power, and unleash unimaginable might."

"Could this be the effect of the blade's power advancing further?" Jiang Ning muttered.

He dared not casually draw conclusions in his heart.

Because regarding this aspect, his understanding was not extensive.

He had only a superficial understanding of the blade's power.

According to the book, mastering the blade's power is a necessary condition for entering the Fourth Rank of the Martial Way.

At the Sixth Rank of the Martial Way, each subsequent rank is a new realm, and the gap between them grows ever wider, becoming increasingly beyond the reach of mortals.

For example, at the Fifth Rank, one can only initially touch upon and break through the limits of the human body.

But advancing further at the Fifth Rank is to master Inner Fortitude and discover the Dantian.

At this stage, with the support of Inner Fortitude, one's combat power directly rises to a new level. Before Inner Fortitude is exhausted, one can fight three or four against one against those who have just entered the Fifth Rank of the Martial Way.

If one advances further, Inner Fortitude can be refined into Gang.

Then, one's combat power becomes even more unimaginable.

With a single strike, the blade's Gang can easily cut through everything.

Even armored soldiers with sharp weapons can be easily cut down with a single blow.

Even at full power, it is difficult for ordinary Fifth Rank practitioners to achieve this.

After all, so-called armor is forged from fine iron.

And armor made of fine iron is not so easily cut.

Soldiers wearing such armor are all Ranked Warriors, formidable experts with skin as tough as copper.

Combined, they are like human tanks.

Not to mention cutting through both man and armor in one strike.

Even a simple kill is challenging.

Especially when these elite soldiers form battle formations, they can easily surround and kill martial artists far above their level.

Even Fifth Rank practitioners who have refined Inner Fortitude dare not easily fall into such battle formations.

Because human strength has its limits, and Inner Fortitude also has its limits.

No matter how much one bursts forth with full power, one can only fight for so long.

But an army's battle formation has an endless supply of killing power.

Moreover, according to Jiang Ning's knowledge, some elite legions in Daxia, like the Black Tortoise Army, are composed of soldiers at the Eighth Rank and above.

They are not lacking in Seventh Rank elite soldiers or even higher-ranked leaders.

This is one of the reasons why Daxia has been able to maintain control over the world for nearly a thousand years without major chaos.

However, all of this is not as effective against a Fourth Rank practitioner.

The Fourth Rank is far superior to the Fifth Rank.

Jiang Ning only knows that it is far superior and that only by mastering the 'Blade's Power' can one obtain the key to entering the Fourth Rank.

Aside from this, he knows nothing else.

Currently, the Fourth Rank is still far from him.

But he knows that he has already obtained the key to entering the Fourth Rank.

The next moment.

He experimented with several more strikes.

With each swing, it seemed to invoke the power of heaven and earth.

Each strike had the effect of the blade's Gang, able to cut through everything within two meters in front of him.

Even hard rocks, in the face of the blade's power invoking the might of heaven and earth, were as fragile as tofu.

"This should be the effect of the blade's power advancing further!" Jiang Ning muttered.

【Essence Energy】: 487.33

【Skills】:

Firewood Chopping Blade Technique (Five Water Proficiency Breakthroughs 6000/6000) (Attributes: Analogous Understanding, Blade Like Gale, Blade Handling Like a Deity, Man and Blade as One, Innate Blade Bone)



Water Proficiency (Five Water Proficiency Breakthroughs 6000/6000) (Attributes: Underwater Breathing, Water Control Technique, Water Spirit Affinity, Cloud Walking and Rain Summoning, Water Spirit Form)



He looked at his panel once more, falling into a brief contemplation.

As skills advance and break through limits, the required Essence Energy points also gradually increase.

From the initial ten points needed for a breakthrough to now, nearly five hundred points are still insufficient to meet the breakthrough requirements.

Undoubtedly, both the Firewood Chopping Sword Technique and the sixth breakthrough in Water Proficiency required a full five hundred Energy Points.

This requirement was indeed somewhat excessive for him at present.

At his usual rate of accumulation, it would take nearly half a year to gather five hundred Energy Points.

And this was merely the sixth breakthrough.

One could only imagine how much more extravagant the demands would be for the seventh breakthrough.

"Forget it! I won't invest in the Firewood Chopping Sword Technique or Water Proficiency for now!"

"Gale Thunder Archery, with only 200 Energy Points needed for the second breakthrough, is the best choice for me right now."

After making up his mind, Jiang Ning glanced at the bottom of the panel.

【Skills】: Gale Thunder Archery (1/2000 for 2nd Breakthrough) (Attribute: Gale Thunder Breath)



Gale Thunder Archery was now just 1,999 experience points away from the second breakthrough.

For him, this was merely a matter of drawing the bow and shooting 1,999 arrows.

Even if the recovery of Gale Thunder Qi took some time underwater, it wasn't infinite.

But drawing the bow and shooting 1,999 arrows, without considering exhaustion or muscle strain, would take at most two to three days.

Although this time was short, Jiang Ning wasn't planning to grind experience for Gale Thunder Archery today.

His resources hadn't been fully depleted yet.

In the Sumeru Ring, there were still pills to assist in his Seventh Rank Martial Muscle Refinement.

In the courtyard.

Jiang Ning sat cross-legged on the ground and took out a golden brocade box from his storage ring.

Inside the box was the pill he had purchased the day before.

Dragon Tiger Sinew Pill.

Each of these pills cost five thousand taels.

Even after a 20% discount, each pill was still worth four thousand taels.

According to Han Hongmei, the Dragon Tiger Sinew Pill was the best pill for muscle refinement in the Wanhua Tower.

Its medicinal properties were undoubtedly powerful.

This time, Jiang Ning had purchased a full six pills.

Buying these six pills almost emptied his savings.

"I wonder, how far will my muscle refinement progress with these six Dragon Tiger Sinew Pills?"

"Will it be like a dragon or a giant python?"

Jiang Ning wondered silently.

As for his muscles becoming like a dragon, he didn't dare to even imagine it.

These six Dragon Tiger Sinew Pills alone couldn't possibly refine his muscles to that level.

To achieve muscles like a dragon, one would need extremely precious treasures.

Jiang Ning had only seen such treasures in the records of the Inspection Office, and acquiring them required a substantial amount of contribution points.

After a moment, Jiang Ning composed himself and opened the brocade box.

Instantly, a pill the size of a quail egg, with a swirling purple-gold body and intricate patterns resembling a dragon and tiger entwined, appeared before his eyes."

The moment you opened the box, the pill seemed to float out on its own and fly into your mouth."

"The thin, wing-like pill coating locked in the medicinal power and prevented it from dissipating or spoiling."

"That's why these precious pills don't require any special storage; a simple brocade box is enough."

"Any sealed container is less effective than the pill coating."

As Jiang Ning gazed at the pill, it seemed to float into his slightly parted lips.

The pill entered his mouth, moistened by saliva, and the thin pill coating quickly dissolved, releasing a rich medicinal fragrance.

The scent was like aged sandalwood, filling his nostrils and causing his entire body to tingle with heightened senses. His heartbeat quickened, and his blood flowed faster than usual.

The next moment, Jiang Ning's throat moved slightly, and the pill descended into his abdomen.

Then, his mind's eye ignited with a blazing fire.

He envisioned a crucible taking shape.

The secret technique from the Medicine King Valley, Furnace Refining Technique, took effect once more.

His body seemed to transform into a crucible, with his qi and blood serving as the fuel for the invisible flames within.

With his qi and blood now more vigorous than before, the flames in his body burned brighter and hotter.

His body radiated an astonishing amount of heat, causing the surrounding air to distort and deform.

Jiang Ning's skin flushed with a fiery red hue.

One breath... Two breaths... Three breaths...

Time passed.

The Dragon Tiger Sinew Pill within him was slowly refined, its essence burned by the invisible flames, leaving behind only the purest of medicinal essences.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end