Chapter 255: The Five of Them, Side by Side, Second Only to the World

Chapter 255: The Five of Them, Side by Side, Second Only to the World

On the banks of the Luo River.

In front of Jiang Ning's residence.

A luxurious carriage slowly came to a halt.

"Sister-in-law, is this the home you mentioned where Jiang Ning lives?" From the side of the carriage, a curtain was drawn aside, and a beautiful young girl poked her head out, gazing upon the vast expanse of the lake and the snowy landscape beneath the blanket of snow. Her eyes lit up with wonder.

"Yes!" Lin Qingyi's voice slowly emerged from inside the carriage, "After he made his fortune, he bought this lakeside mansion and moved his older brother and sister-in-law here from the outer city!"

At the same time.

A man emerged from the carriage, bending down to look at the scenery ahead.

He slowly nodded, "It seems that Sister-in-law's Jiang Ning is a man of loyalty and righteousness. The inner city is far safer than the outer city."

Yesterday afternoon, he had visited the outer city with his own sister and witnessed the occasional frozen corpses on the streets. It deeply struck him how difficult life was for ordinary commoners.

The frozen corpses were no longer just words on paper but a reality he witnessed with his own eyes.

According to his understanding, Luoshui County was considered one of the more peaceful places in Great Xia.

In some places, it was like hell on earth, with the suffering of the people a hundred times worse than here.

But even with this knowledge, he felt helpless.

The overwhelming tide of events was not something that an ordinary person could change.

Even as the eighth prince of Great Xia, he had no solution.

All he could do was a drop in the ocean.

As the man stepped out of the carriage, Lin Qingyi and the young girl also emerged.

In the howling cold wind, the girl's delicate nose immediately turned red.

"It's so cold!" She stamped her feet and quickly blew into her hands.

Seeing this, Lin Qingyi quickly removed her white fox fur coat and draped it over the girl.

"I told you to dress warmer, but you didn't listen! It's so open and exposed by the lake, how can you not feel cold?"

The girl giggled at Lin Qingyi, "Sister-in-law is spoiling me."

At this moment.

The man standing beside them glanced at Lin Qingyi with a hint of surprise.

Lin Qingyi's current attire was not thick; on the contrary, it was rather thin, no different from what ordinary people would wear in autumn.

Now, as the three of them stood by the Luo River, even though it was approaching noon, the temperature was still several degrees colder than at night.

It was cold enough to freeze water, and there was continuous snowfall above, with icy winds blowing from the frozen lake in the distance.

In this bitter cold, Lin Qingyi's dress fluttered, but her face showed no discomfort.

This display was not something an ordinary person could maintain.

Despite the cold, her body showed no signs of shivering.

Lin Qingyi's behavior clearly demonstrated her immunity to the cold.

"Could it be that Sister-in-law's martial arts surpass even mine?" The man couldn't help but wonder.

Beside him, the girl, now wrapped in Lin Qingyi's fox fur coat, felt a wave of warmth.

"Sister-in-law, aren't you cold?" the girl asked.

Lin Qingyi smiled, "I'm not cold!"

"I'm not cold!" The girl shook her head, pulling her hand out of the thick fox fur and holding Lin Qingyi's soft and delicate left hand. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Sister-in-law's hand is so warm!"

Lin Qingyi smiled and said, "Let's go! I'll take you to see Jiang Ning!"

"Yes!" The girl's excitement grew.

Yesterday, she had heard about Jiang Ning's recent achievements when she visited the outer city with her brother.

He had punished evildoers, eradicated a gang that was poisoning the county, and saved many children who had been harmed and left with disabilities.

After seeing those disabled children, she felt even more admiration for Jiang Ning, whom she had never met.

His youthful spirit and chivalry had left a deep impression on her.

She had read about such deeds in books, and for a caged bird like her, they were a source of great admiration.

Meanwhile.

Jiang Ning stood in the courtyard.

He moved like a white ape, leaping and darting through the air, his figure shifting unpredictably, leaving behind faint shadows.

Around the courtyard, torches stood tall, and weapons were planted in the snowy ground.

This was the ideal environment he had created for practicing the Five Beasts Fist.

The earth beneath his feet was imbued with the essence of earth.

The artificial pond within the courtyard contained the essence of water.

The flowers and trees in the courtyard held the essence of wood.

The surrounding torches embodied the essence of fire.

The weapons standing in the snowy courtyard represented the essence of metal.

With all five essences present, it was the perfect environment for practicing the Five Animal Fist.

Training in such an environment, the Five Animal Fist practitioner could significantly enhance the foundation of their five organs.

According to his understanding, the stronger the foundation of the Five Organs, the more vast and profound the Inner Breath they could nurture in the future.

The Five Organs nurture the Inner Breath, and the Inner Breath is stored in the Dantian.

A moment later...

After completing a set of the Five Beasts Fist...

[Five Beasts Fist Experience +4]



Jiang Ning clenched his fists and stood, a faint look of joy on his face.

"It really works!"

This time, after creating an environment with all Five Elements, he felt that after practicing the fist technique, his Five Organs also conveyed a sense of being nourished.

A subtle sense of relaxation and pleasure emanated from within, permeating his entire body.

Unlike before, when he practiced the Five Beasts Fist without the absorption of the Metal Spirit, he clearly felt discomfort within his Five Organs.

But now, he no longer had that feeling.

After sensing this for a moment, he practiced the fist technique again.

This time, as he moved, his fist struck out like a ferocious tiger descending from the mountain, its might and sound were awe-inspiring.

Clang!

A loud sound of metal striking echoed within his body, and a powerful force spread from within.

"It works!"

He slightly concentrated his mind and continued practicing the fist technique.

After a breath...

He turned and swung his right hand, which was like a tiger whip striking...

Slap!

The air exploded.

Clang!

A second sound of metal striking echoed within his body.

At this moment, he was using his mind for two tasks, practicing the fist technique and forging his bones simultaneously.

He advanced both tasks, constantly adjusting the rhythm.

The rhythm of practicing the fist technique and the rhythm of forging his bones.

The Hundred and Eight Heavenly Trigram Earthly Stars Bone Forging Technique.

The most important aspect of this bone-forging technique was these four words: Hundred and Eight.

A hundred and eight represented one complete cycle.

One complete cycle was a full bone-forging process.

To advance both tasks simultaneously, using his mind for two purposes, he needed to find a comfortable rhythm that allowed the fist technique and the bone-forging technique to align perfectly. Completing the fist technique would also mean completing one cycle of bone forging.

"Lin Louzhu, please follow me!"

Walking on the shallow snow, Jiang Li led the way.

Behind him, Lin Qingyi and the man who accompanied her followed closely.

A moment later...

The group arrived outside the Eastern Yard.

Suddenly...

The man who followed them paused, his eyes filled with surprise.

"The sound of bone forging?"

"Minghao also heard it," Lin Qingyi said with a smile.

The sound of bone forging from the yard and Jiang Ning's fist technique practice had reached their ears before the Eighth Prince, who was behind them.

She wasn't surprised by this sound.

After all, the Iron Bone Pill, Mystic Bone Pill, and Jade Bone Pill that Jiang Ning held in his hands were all made by her.

At that time, Jiang Ning needed these three pills, indicating that he was about to step into the Sixth Rank Martial Path.

She didn't find it strange that he was already at this stage.

However, for the Eighth Prince, Ji Minghao, it was a great surprise.

The Sixth Rank Martial Path might not be a remarkable achievement in a larger place.

But in this small town, coupled with Jiang Ning's young age, it made Ji Minghao feel amazed.

The Sixth Rank Martial Path meant one could participate in the Martial Imperial Examination and gain official status.

At the very least, one could become a Martial Scholar.

If one could forge Jade Bones like Ji Minghao, becoming a Martial Scholar was almost a guaranteed achievement.

The Martial Examination was a path for young men under thirty to gain official status.

Not only could one become a Martial Scholar, but they would also be eligible for an official position in the county, at least an Eighth Rank Martial Official.

For most people, this was a life-changing opportunity to bring glory to their ancestors.

As for the Martial Scholar, it was an even more prestigious position.

One could join the military, starting as a middle-ranking officer.

With improved martial arts skills and a good understanding of military strategy, one could become a General, a position not easily attained.

Although it was a miscellaneous general, it was still a general.

When traveling, who wouldn't respectfully address someone as General?

Thus, the Sixth Rank Martial Path was a notable achievement throughout the land.

And here, Ji Minghao, the Eighth Prince of Great Xia,

had seen a young man forging his bones in a small county like Luoshuixian.

Jiang Ning, who had just come of age, had already reached the sixth rank in the martial path. Such an achievement meant that he had a more than fifty percent chance of becoming a Grandmaster, in his opinion. With sufficient cultivation and guidance, he might even have the potential to attain the position of a Great Grandmaster.

"No wonder the Princess holds such high expectations for Jiang Ning," Ji Minghao suddenly realized, his admiration for Jiang Ning growing.

While Grandmasters were not uncommon in this vast world, Great Grandmasters were only counted in the tens. The world was so immense that even a Great Grandmaster held significant influence in the royal family. Even the eighth prince of Great Xia, Ji Minghao himself, would never dare to show any disrespect towards a Great Grandmaster. His own father, the esteemed presence who sat high in the hall, would also treat a Great Grandmaster with courtesy when they met.

At this moment, Ji Minghao, standing outside, couldn't help but show more respect for Jiang Ning.

Those with equal strength, rising from the grassroots, often had more potential than those born into nobility and high status. This was because the resources they enjoyed were vastly different! Furthermore, their steadfast minds often took them even further in the future.

At the same time, Jiang Li overheard the conversation between Lin Qingyi and Ji Minghao.

"Bone Forging?" He was slightly startled.

Then, as his thoughts turned, he stopped in his tracks and looked at Lin Qingyi and the others with hesitation.

"Respected guests, why don't you go to the front hall to rest? After my younger brother finishes his cultivation, I'll inform him, and he can come to meet you in the front hall."

"No problem," Lin Qingyi nodded slightly, indicating her agreement.

"No need!" Ji Minghao suddenly spoke up.

Seeing Lin Qingyi and Jiang Li looking at him, he smiled.

"I've come to Luoshui County and learned much about Jiang Ning's deeds, so I couldn't help but admire him," he explained.

"Since I've come to visit, I must show some sincerity."

"You can just wait here," Jiang Li said calmly. "Today, it's snowing heavily, and the lake wind is chilling. It's better to avoid the cold indoors."

Ji Minghao waved his hand dismissively. "This little snow is nothing! As martial practitioners, we're not afraid of the cold anymore."

Lin Qingyi smiled at his side.

Then she said, "Brother Li, no need to persuade him. If Minghao wants to wait here, let him wait."

At this moment, Lin Qingyi had already guessed some of Ji Minghao's thoughts.

Ji Minghao had always enjoyed making friends with martial heroes, often disregarding his status and showing respect to talented individuals.

As for his intentions, it depended on what each person had in mind.

At this moment, Jiang Li was slightly surprised by Lin Qingyi calling him 'Brother Li.'

He waved his hands repeatedly, "Madam, please don't call me that! I dare not accept such a title! Just call me Jiang Li."

Lin Qingyi smiled, "You're older than me, so what's wrong with calling you Brother Li?"

At the side, Ji Minghao, upon hearing their conversation, couldn't help but show surprise again as he looked at Lin Qingyi.

Lin Qingyi held a certain status.

As the eighth prince of Great Xia, he had to address her as 'Princess.'

Her status and position were that of a princess, and she was a princess he greatly respected.

This was because the old prince in the palace was his father's uncle and a pillar of the current royal family.

Previously, there were only four people known as the 'Second in the World,' and now, there was another, the leader of the Huangtian Sect, Huangtian Daoren.

There were five people considered 'Second in the World' in the current era, and only one person was considered 'First.'

That Martial Saint, even eight hundred years ago, was still the first among Martial Saints.

That Martial Saint was known for slaying demons, killing gods, and defeating immortal beings.

Some said that even in ancient times, when gods and immortals coexisted, this Martial Saint had the power to slay immortals.

That was why there could be many 'Second in the World,' but only one 'First,' the Martial Saint.

Why were there five people considered 'Second in the World'?

All five of them had reached the pinnacle of the first rank.

They were the pillars of their respective top-tier forces.

Before a fight, no one knew who was stronger or weaker, higher or lower.

This was why a balance was maintained, resulting in five people being considered 'Second in the World.'

At this stage, unless absolutely necessary, no one dared to act rashly.

Especially now, when everyone knew that chaos was about to engulf the world, no one dared to make a move easily.

If one's true strength was exposed and found to be inferior, it could bring about a devastating disaster.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end