Chapter 222: Breakthrough, Achieving Dragon Sinew!

Chapter 222: Breakthrough, Achieving Dragon Sinew!

The Inspection Bureau.

Internal Affairs Department.

"Senior!" Jiang Ning looked respectfully at the old woman before him.

"You've come quite early!" The old woman glanced at Jiang Ning.

Then, a white light flashed in her hand, and she threw something towards Jiang Ning.

"Ascension Dragon Pill, take it!"

Jiang Ning quickly reached out to catch it.

The next moment, he opened the box in his hand, revealing a golden pill the size of a pigeon egg, floating before his eyes.

The golden pill was perfectly round, with a five-clawed dragon pattern on its surface.

"Is there a problem with the Ascension Dragon Pill?" The old woman asked.

"No problem!" Jiang Ning closed the lid of the pill box, nodding with satisfaction.

"If there's nothing else, don't disturb me further!" She continued, "By the way, if one Ascension Dragon Pill is insufficient to reach the Dragon Sinew level, you can come back to me, but remember that you'll need to gather 50,000 contribution points."

"Understood, Senior!" Jiang Ning bowed respectfully.

"I'll take my leave now!" Jiang Ning added.

After leaving the Internal Affairs Department hall, Jiang Ning opened his palm again, took out the Ascension Dragon Pill, and examined it with a joyful expression.

With the Ascension Dragon Pill in his possession, he could take another step forward on his martial path. How could he not be delighted?

Reaching the Dragon Sinew level, he could proceed with Bone Forging.

Once he achieved minor success in Bone Forging, he would attain the Sixth Rank.

As long as he completed the Sixth Rank Bone Forging process, attaining the Fifth Rank Inner Fortitude would be effortless for him.

Jiang Ning quickly put away the pill box and hurried towards his manor.

A moment later, he arrived at his manor and sat down in the courtyard, holding the pill box with the Ascension Dragon Pill.

Opening the box, the golden Ascension Dragon Pill floated before his eyes.

"According to my understanding, consuming this pill and harnessing its medicinal power will assist in transforming my body's sinews, greatly enhancing their resilience!"

Jiang Ning muttered to himself.

The next moment, he held the Ascension Dragon Pill in the air.

As saliva secreted, the pill's outer coating rapidly dissolved.

Instantly, a rich medicinal fragrance exploded in his mouth.

"Indeed, the medicinal fragrance is intense!" Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed, and he was amazed.

He swallowed the pill, the size of a pigeon egg, and it immediately dropped into his stomach.

The pill's effects were not intense, and Jiang Ning could only sense a slight warmth in his abdomen.

He then used his mental power to observe his body.

Instantly, he saw the golden Ascension Dragon Pill floating like a tiny sun within his stomach.

The floating sun continuously emitted strands of golden fluid, merging into his body and dissolving into his sinews.

After observing for a moment, Jiang Ning opened his eyes.

Just as he had understood, even without actively refining the pill's power, the combination of blood and energy, along with the medicinal power, would still enhance the resilience of his sinews as the pill's power dissipated.

However!

Indeed, actively refining its medicinal power and using blood and energy to temper his sinews would significantly increase efficiency and utilization of the pill's power.

"Let's give it a try!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.

He sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.

The next moment, he began to visualize a furnace.

The Furnace Refining Pill Technique was a secret technique of the Medicine King Valley.

Visualizing the furnace, using the body as the furnace, and the internal energy and blood as fuel.

This secret technique could assist in refining all pills, purifying their power, removing impurities, and reducing the accumulation of pill toxins.

As he performed this secret technique, his energy and blood burned intensely.

His body temperature rose sharply, and the spreading heat caused the surrounding snow to melt rapidly.

At the same time.

Humm—

A dragon's roar suddenly echoed within his body, and the Ascension Dragon Pill began to riot, violently shaking inside him.

It seemed to be accumulating some kind of power.

The next moment.

Countless strands of medicinal power, like golden light, shot into his body.

With this change, Jiang Ning abruptly stopped visualizing the Furnace Refining Pill Technique.

He quickly gathered his energy and blood to capture the rampaging medicinal power.

Half a tea ceremony later.

Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes.

He clenched his fist, feeling the pull of his body's power, and a glint of joy flashed in his eyes.

"The resilience of my body's sinews has indeed improved, and my explosive power has increased."

"However..." He clenched his fist again, stimulating his body's sinews, and muttered, "But I need to rest for a while! Such intense tempering of my body's sinews has caused them to ache slightly, indicating that the medicinal power has been well utilized."

Time passed in a flash.

During this time, Jiang Ning, apart from refining the Ascension Dragon Pill to enhance his body's sinews, spent his time reading to gain experience in scholarly skills and soaking in hot baths.

The reason for taking a hot bath is that the major sinews in his body had been tempered to the extreme, and the explosive force of his muscles and the impact of the medicine's energy had reached a state of overload.

In this situation, relying on his affinity with water, he could quickly restore his body while immersed in water.

This greatly accelerated the recovery of his major sinews.

At this moment, Jiang Ning stood in the snow, clenched his fist, and his expression suddenly became exhilarated.

The next moment, he unleashed a punch, and his power surged through his entire body. The major sinews in his body went from relaxed to intensely taut, and suddenly, a sound resembling a dragon's roar reverberated within him.

As this punch exploded forth, the air in front of him instantly solidified, briefly turning into a white mist. The white mist flowed like water along his fist.

Boom—

The air exploded with a resounding boom, and the resulting shockwave spread out.

In an instant, the snow on the branches in front of him was shaken by the shockwave, falling gracefully.

"Dragon Sinews, success!!!" Jiang Ning exclaimed.

The Dragon Sinews level possessed five times the explosive power of the previous level.

This is the effect of the Dragon Sinews level.

Additionally, by pulling the major sinews in his body, he could faintly hear the sound of a dragon's roar, which was also a sign of reaching the Dragon Sinews level.

Having achieved both, there was no doubt that he had officially reached the Dragon Sinews level.

Sensing the changes within his body, Jiang Ning's face immediately showed a joyful expression.

"Just one Ascension Dragon Pill allowed me to reach the Dragon Sinews level, living up to its name!"

"And the Melting Furnace Technique of the Medicine King Valley is indeed useful!" Recalling the events of the past few days, Jiang Ning couldn't help but feel emotional.

If not for the Melting Furnace Technique, it would have been much less efficient for him to reach this stage, and it would have taken at least half a month or more.

Moreover, he might have needed more than one Ascension Dragon Pill, possibly requiring two or even more.

Just like the old woman had said before.

If one pill isn't enough, I can go find her again!

This indicates that normally, a single Ascension Dragon Pill may not be enough for a warrior to reach the Dragon Sinews level.

"Comfortable!!!"

As Jiang Ning soaked in the hot water, his face showed sheer enjoyment.

Even though his body was no longer susceptible to the cold, he could still feel the winter chill.

Taking a bath in the dead of winter is a Great Diversity:

The concept of 'Lust' in the context of the story is not related to sexual desire but rather an intense desire or craving for something, in this case, the power and strength that the protagonist seeks.

Different moral frameworks or ethical systems can lead to varying interpretations of the same action. For instance, some may view lust as a natural and healthy aspect of human nature, while others may consider it a destructive force that should be controlled or suppressed.

The Cultural Context:

The story's setting, which appears to be a fantasy world with elements of Chinese culture and mythology, likely influences how lust is perceived and portrayed. In traditional Chinese thought, the balance between Yin and Yang is essential, and excessive lust or desire can disrupt this balance, leading to negative consequences.

The Protagonist's Journey:

Jiang Ning's journey seems to involve overcoming various challenges and cultivating his power, including the development of his Dragon Sinews. His journey may be a metaphor for personal growth and the pursuit of strength, with lust representing a force that must be harnessed and controlled to achieve one's goals.

"Taking a bath in the winter is a great pleasure, and being able to restore my body in the water makes it even more enjoyable."

As Jiang Ning soaked in the hot water, he simultaneously opened his status panel.

【Name】: Jiang Ning

【Essence Energy】: 337.43

【Skills】:

Scholarly Skills (Three Limit Breaks 3874/4000) (Characteristics: Photographic Memory, Extraordinary Senses, Agile Mind)



After these days, his Essence Energy points have reached over three hundred.

The main reason for this increase is the refinement of the Ascension Dragon Pill.

During this time, his Scholarly Skills experience has also reached a relatively high value of 3874 points.

With only over a hundred points left to reach 4000 points of experience, he is almost there.

"With Scholarly Skills, I only need a hundred Essence Energy points to meet the requirements for four Limit Breaks."

"In other words, as long as the experience is full, this Scholarly Skills can immediately complete four Limit Breaks."

At this thought, Jiang Ning picked up the book he had placed beside him and slowly opened it.

【Scholarly Skills Experience +1】

【Scholarly Skills Experience +1】

As time passed slowly, the experience of Scholarly Skills continued to grow.

Suddenly—

Knock knock knock—

Jiang Ning heard a knock on the door.

"Is the Lord inside?" a voice asked.

Upon hearing this voice, Jiang Ning immediately understood that the person standing outside the door was Feng Jiuge, who had disappeared for several days.

Thinking of Feng Jiuge, Jiang Ning couldn't help but focus his mind.

A few days ago, Feng Jiuge had told him that the Cult of Malevolent Gods considered it a merit to capture ordinary people who were once followers of the Cult and had the scent of their aura, using them to gain Contribution Points.

"What is she looking for me for at this time?" Jiang Ning's mind flashed with curiosity.

Then he spoke, "I'm here!"

"Lord, I have important news to report, and it's about the military camp in Dongling City." Feng Jiuge's voice reached Jiang Ning's ears through the door.

Hearing these words, Jiang Ning's eyes flashed, and he immediately said, "Wait for me at the door for a moment!"

"Yes, Lord!" Feng Jiuge replied.

At this moment, Jiang Ning appeared in front of Feng Jiuge, fully dressed.

Through Jiang Ning's figure, Feng Jiuge secretly observed, "Lord, is it just you alone?"

"Who else would be with me?"

Jiang Ning spoke.

Then, he walked to the table beside the main hall and poured a cup of tea, handing it to Feng Jiuge.

"Have a drink first, then tell me what's going on!"

"Thank you, Lord Jiang!" Feng Jiuge said.

She took the cup of tea that Jiang Ning passed to her and drank it all in one go, then said, "Lord, Cao Rong has already left the military camp, leading a team of a hundred cavalry towards Luoshui County."

"A hundred cavalry?" Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed.

"Yes!" Feng Jiuge nodded. "Cao Rong's mission this time is to surround and suppress the Black Mountain Army! Moreover, it is said that Cao Rong has gained the appreciation of a Marquis and has been bestowed with a treasure that helped him enter the Sixth Rank of the Martial Dao. Lord, you must be careful!"

Upon hearing these words, Jiang Ning's expression immediately showed surprise.

"The Black Mountain Army? Weren't they all killed by me when they were previously roaming around Beiling Mountain?"

As for the latter half of Feng Jiuge's words, Jiang Ning has the device, he can extract the information directly from it.

Not long ago, he had killed a powerful Sixth Rank Martial Dao practitioner, and this practitioner also possessed an indestructible body.

Nowadays, Cao Rong is at most just entering the Sixth Rank, and in Jiang Ning's eyes, he poses no threat.

Not to mention that his strength has now broken through, and his abilities have improved even further.

Feng Jiu heard the doubt in Jiang Ning's words and spoke up, "It was indeed Lord Jiang who killed that group of the Black Mountain Army. Now, another group of the Black Mountain Army has come to Luoshui County, and it is said that they are seeking revenge for their brothers!"

"So that's how it is!" Jiang Ning nodded.

"What does Lord Jiang plan to do?" Feng Jiuge asked, voicing her inner confusion.

She knew that her direct superior was the one who personally led the team to raid Cao's Manor, causing many deaths and injuries on the spot, while the rest were all thrown into prison.

Although this action was ordered by Hong Minghu, how dare Cao Rong cause trouble for Hong Minghu? So, naturally, he could only find his direct superior, causing trouble for Jiang Ning.

Moreover, according to her knowledge, there was already a rift between her direct superior and the Cao family.

At the same time.

Faced with Feng Jiuge's question, Jiang Ning did not give an answer.

Instead, he asked, "Do you have an approximate route of Cao Rong's march?"

"Yes!" Feng Jiuge nodded. "There is only one official road from Dongling City to Luoshui County, and it is the smoothest path. Since Cao Rong's team is all cavalry, they will definitely ride along the official road straight to Luoshui County."

"The official road?" Jiang Ning muttered, then nodded slightly. "I understand!"

Several hours later.

Jiang Ning had already left Luoshui County.

On the other side.

Yunlai Tower.

On the third floor, near the lake, there was a middle-aged man in a green robe, with slightly white temples but skin as smooth as a baby's. He slowly spoke.

"Is the news certain?"

"Reporting to the Valley Lord, the news is certain! Cao Rong has entered the Sixth Rank and is now leading a hundred cavalry. They have been traveling for three days since leaving the military camp. Calculating the time, they are only one day away from Luoshui County!"

"What about Jiang Ning?" asked the middle-aged man in the green robe, his skin as tender as a baby's.

"According to the latest news, that Jiang Ning has already left the city!" Gongsun Yu, standing next to the green-robed middle-aged man, respectfully spoke up.

"Then we're in for a good show!" The green-robed middle-aged man smiled and continued, "Cao Rong is an up-and-coming talent in Dongling County. Although he is not on the Dragon Soaring List, he is still not to be underestimated!"

"As for that young man named Jiang Ning, he is even more extraordinary. At such a young age, he holds the position of Deputy Commander in the Inspection Administration. He is also on the Dragon Soaring List."

Hearing the praise from the Valley Lord, Gongsun Yu spoke up again, "Valley Lord, do you think that Jiang Ning's initiative to attack indicates that he has the confidence to kill Cao Rong?"

"It's possible that he does, or maybe not!" The green-robed middle-aged man spoke indifferently.

He continued, "But if he can truly kill Cao Rong, then I will have to look at him with new respect and send him a grand gift!"

Yellow Heaven Sect Headquarters.

"Sect Leader, according to the intelligence, Jiang Ning has already left the city."

"He left the city?" Liu Lintang spoke indifferently. "It seems that tonight or tomorrow will be Cao Rong's time of death."

Thinking of Jiang Ning, he suddenly felt a severe headache.

After these days of investigation, he felt that it was highly likely that Sun Tanzhu was killed by Jiang Ning.

Sun Tanzhu's death caused the higher-ups' plan to bring the Yellow Heaven Sect under their command to fall through.

In recent days, the members of the Cult of Malevolent Gods who were originally hiding in the city have also been hunted down by the Inspection Administration.

Even if they were to be gathered, they would be of no use, and it would only attract the attention of the Inspection Administration.

This made Liu Lintang abandon his previous plans.

"This Jiang Ning is targeting the Cult of Malevolent Gods. Could it be that he has some grudge against them?" Recalling the previous events, Liu Lintang couldn't help but have this thought.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end