Chapter 276: Creating the Fist Manual, About to Break Limits Again!

Chapter 276: Creating the Fist Manual, About to Break Limits Again!



Inside the house.

Half a day had passed.

Hoo—

Jiang Ning exhaled softly and then looked at the five paintings spread out on the table before him.

They were the Heart Fire Tiger, a ferocious tiger trapped in a cage.

The Liver Wood Deer, a spirit deer dwelling in the mountains and forests.

The Spleen Earth Bear, a savage bear treading upon the earth.

The Lung Metal Ape, a white ape soaring through mountain gorges.

The Kidneywater Phoenix, transforming into a phoenix in water, yearning to soar through the nine heavens.

These were the five paintings he had just completed.

Each painting was better than the last, indicating his improving artistic skills.

"Not bad at all!" He nodded in satisfaction.

Among the five paintings, the one he was most pleased with was the first one, the Heart Fire Tiger trapped in the cage.

It was the first painting and also the one with his lowest artistic skill.

However, it was the painting he had poured his heart and soul into, and the divine essence within it surpassed the others.

[Skill]: Dao of Painting (Proficiency: 33/200)



With the completion of these five paintings, his skill in the Dao of Painting had reached the level of proficiency.

This significantly improved his painting skills.

Jiang Ning glanced at his own panel and then closed it.

After painting for half a day, this skill had only increased by 133 experience points.

It had taken him from the beginner to the proficient level.

To break the limits in the Dao of Painting,

He still needed to accumulate 200 experience points from proficiency to minor accomplishment,

500 experience points from minor to major accomplishment,

And 1,000 experience points from major accomplishment to perfection.

To break through the limits at perfection, he would need an additional 1,000 experience points.

In total, he required 2,700 experience points.

With his current efficiency, he would need to devote himself to painting for ten days.

"It's not worth it at all!"

Jiang Ning shook his head inwardly.

This was the reason he didn't want to add more skills to his panel.

Time was limited.

It was better to focus on quality rather than quantity.

His panel was extraordinary, and its advantage lay in quality over quantity.

Each time a skill broke through its limits, it would grant him new characteristics.

The importance of characteristics was self-evident, and the improvements gained from breaking skill limits were equally crucial.

For example, the simple Firewood Splitting Blade Art, after breaking through its limits several times, made his blade aura incredibly formidable.

Combined with his indestructible and unbreakable longsword, it became even more terrifying.

Afterward,

Jiang Ning put down his brush,

Picked up the teacup beside him, and took a sip of the scalding tea.

With Lu Yi around, whenever the tea was about to get cold, she would quietly take the teacup, pour out the cold tea, and refill it with steaming hot tea.

This made Jiang Ning feel very comfortable.

With Lu Yi's presence, he didn't have to worry about any trivial matters in his daily life. He only needed to focus on his martial arts and skill cultivation.

This made him feel very satisfied.

He knew he had made the right decision in taking Lu Yi under his care.

Before, when he lived alone,

Although his sister-in-law helped him with laundry and prepared meals and breakfast,

There were still daily chores he had to attend to personally.

This wasted a lot of time that could have been spent on cultivation.

Over time, it would hinder his progress.

Now, everything was different.

With Lu Yi, he could completely free himself from the complexities of daily life.

Moreover, after sensing the Divine Descendant Favor mark in Lu Yi's mind, he knew she could be trusted.

From the emotional perception, Lu Yi held no ill will or negative emotions towards him; only goodwill existed.

Then, Jiang Ning put down his teacup.

"Let's go!"

"Let's eat!"

"After eating, follow me to the martial arts hall!"

"Whether you can learn this fist technique also needs my master's approval!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yi immediately knelt down with a "plop."

"Young Master, your kindness and virtue are immense. Lu Yi is forever grateful!"

Jiang Ning smiled, "You take care of my daily life, and that's already enough. Stand up! There's no need to kneel."

Hearing this, Lu Yi raised her head to look at Jiang Ning, revealing her slender and fair neck.

Seeing the faint smile on Jiang Ning's lips, Lu Yi nodded repeatedly.

"Lu Yi understands!"

After lunch.

Jiang Ning, with empty hands, walked towards the door with Jiang Li.

Behind them, Lu Yi tightly hugged Jiang Ning's fist manual and the five scrolls of paintings, running to catch up with his steps.

Outside the door.

"Ning, will you be back for dinner?"

Jiang Ning replied, "I might not be able to return. If I don't come back, Brother and Sister-in-law, don't wait for me!"

"Okay!" Jiang Li nodded.

Just then, a soft and sticky voice called out from behind them.

"Uncle—"

Jiang Ning turned around and saw a little girl, resembling a brown bear in her furry clothing, running towards him.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning smiled warmly and squatted down, opening his arms.

A moment later.

Little Bean Bun pounced into Jiang Ning's embrace.

Jiang Ning lifted her up and asked with a smile, "Why are you calling me uncle today?" He gently stroked her cute nose as he spoke.

Little Bean Bun scrunched up her nose.

"Mother said that the New Year is approaching, and I've grown another year older. I can't act cute anymore," she pouted.

Jiang Ning burst into laughter at her words.

He then ruffled her shiny black hair.

"Little Bean Bun has grown another year older. So, how old are you now?"

"One, two, three, four, five!" She counted on her short fingers, one finger for each year.

Then, with a frown, she said, "I don't have enough fingers!"

Seeing this, Jiang Ning laughed again.

Little Bean Bun had just turned five years old in terms of her nominal age, though she was only four and a half in real years.

Jiang Ning put her down and ruffled her head. "Go and play! I'll be back later with some candied hawthorn balls for you!"

At the mention of candied hawthorn balls, Little Bean Bun's eyes lit up.

"Uncle, I want two candied hawthorn balls. I'll give one to the snowman and eat the other myself."

"What about your father, mother, and brother? And what about your brother, Aming?" Jiang Ning teased.

"I... I have three people - Father, Mother, and Brother!" Little Bean Bun counted on her fingers again.

"I only have two candied hawthorn balls."

As she spoke, Little Bean Bun looked up at Jiang Ning with pleading eyes.

"Uncle, can't you buy three? That way, you can share with Father, Mother, and Brother!"

"What about you?" Jiang Ning squatted down, stroking her little nose.

"I don't like candied hawthorn balls. They're sour and not tasty at all!" As she spoke, a strand of drool slipped from the corner of her mouth.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile.

He stroked Little Bean Bun's nose and stood up. "Wait here. I'll buy five for you."

"Five candied hawthorn balls?!" Little Bean Bun's eyes widened in surprise, as if she had thought of something, and her eyes lit up.

"But you can only eat one!" Jiang Ning said.

At these words, Little Bean Bun's face fell, and she hung her head low.

"Okay!"

"Lu Yi, I'm leaving!" Jiang Ning called out to Lu Yi, who was standing at the edge of the doorstep.

Then, he turned to Jiang Li and said, "Brother, I'm heading out!"

"Alright!" Jiang Li nodded and added, "Be careful on your way!"

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded in response.

Then, he and Lu Yi walked down the steps to the ground paved with stone bricks.

"Lu Yi, did you buy the carriage?" Jiang Ning asked.

"Master, it was purchased yesterday and is currently stored in the Wang family's stable," Lu Yi replied, following Jiang Ning.

Before this, he had been renting a carriage.

The rental was from the Wang family's stable, located about a hundred meters away.

Jiang Ning's residence was surrounded by large courtyards and luxurious homes, inhabited by wealthy or influential families.

The Wang family's stable was thriving, as many residents in the area stored their carriages there due to the lack of stables in their own courtyards.

After all, many homes did not have the space to accommodate a stable.

This was the case with Jiang Ning's new residence.

The elevated terrain required him to climb sixteen steps every time he entered the mansion's main gate.

Consequently, the house did not have a spacious side entrance for carriages.

Due to this factor, Jiang Ning had not purchased a carriage before.

Now, with Lu Yi handling these trivial matters and the Wang family's stable nearby for storing the carriage, Lu Yi had taken the opportunity the previous day, when it hadn't snowed, to purchase a carriage from the horse market.

"Master, I'll go and bring the carriage over," Lu Yi offered.

"No need!" Jiang Ning shook his head. "Let's go and see how the new carriage looks."

A moment later, Jiang Ning and Lu Yi arrived at the Wang family's stable.

Despite the cold weather, the wide passage in front of the stable was clear of snow, though the place seemed a bit deserted.

As they stepped into the stable, they saw two people sitting by a fire pit, roasting something.

One of them was holding a piece of firewood and turning a sweet potato that was already charred on one side, while the other was smoking a pipe.

The sound of Jiang Ning and Lu Yi's footsteps caught the attention of the two men.

The next moment, as they recognized Jiang Ning's face, their bodies trembled.

The man smoking the pipe quickly put it down, and the other also dropped the firewood he was holding.

"Lord Jiang!"

"We pay our respects to Lord Jiang!" they exclaimed.

These two men were long-time workers at the Wang family's stable and could naturally recognize Jiang Ning.

"I came to see my carriage," Jiang Ning said.

"Which one is your carriage, sir?"

The old man smoking dried tobacco smiled warmly.

Behind Jiang Ning, Lu Yi immediately produced a sign.

"Oh! So, this young lady is the one who came with the young master!" The old man suddenly understood.

Then he said, "Please wait here, young master. I'll bring the Snowwhite Crimsonflame Steed that's kept here."

A moment later...

Neigh! Neigh!

Two tall and sturdy steeds, their steady strides pulling a four-wheeled carriage, appeared before Jiang Ning.

The carriage was about two meters wide and three meters long.

The two majestic horses had a calm look in their eyes, clearly well-trained.

The horses stood about eight feet tall, their bodies pure white as snow.

However, their four hooves were as if soaked in cinnabar, a vivid crimson like blood.

Their tails and manes shared this crimson hue, a striking contrast to their white bodies.

This unique coloration gave rise to the name Snowwhite Crimsonflame Steed.

Their bodies were snow-white, but their hooves, manes, and tails were crimson as blood.

With just a glance, Jiang Ning knew these were exceptional steeds, already well-trained by the horse merchant.

"Young Master Jiang, these are the two steeds your maid left here yesterday," the old man with the dried tobacco said with a smile.

Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded.

Then, he approached the two Snowwhite Crimsonflame Steeds.

He rubbed their heads, his eyes revealing no spiritual awareness, clearly indicating that they had been thoroughly tamed into mindless tools.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning's heart stirred, and an idea came to mind.

A moment later...

Jiang Ning and Lu Yi sat in the carriage, slowly driving out of the Wang family's stable.

After turning a corner along the street...

Jiang Ning lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out.

In his cupped palm, two bright red blood droplets were enveloped by his psychic energy.

"Young Master, why are you out here?" Lu Yi, seeing Jiang Ning, showed surprise, her expression slightly dazed.

Jiang Ning glanced at her, noticing her face reddened from the cold and her hands rubbing together.

Although it wasn't snowing today, the temperature remained below zero.

Driving the carriage in such weather, the biting cold wind and the frosty air were naturally uncomfortable for ordinary people like Lu Yi.

"Let's stop for a moment!" Jiang Ning spoke up.

"Yes, Young Master!" Hearing his instruction, Lu Yi quickly responded.

She pulled the reins, and the two Snowwhite Crimsonflame Steeds obediently slowed down, coming to a halt.

Once the carriage stopped...

"Wait here!" Jiang Ning instructed Lu Yi.

He jumped down from the carriage, leaving a bewildered Lu Yi behind.

Approaching the two Snowwhite Crimsonflame Steeds, Jiang Ning pried open the mouth of one of the steeds. With a flick of his finger, he shot a blood droplet he had prepared in the carriage into the steed's mouth.

Repeating the process, he fed the other Snowwhite Crimsonflame Steed with a blood droplet as well.

As the blood merged, the two steeds began to make continuous "hiss" sounds.

The hot breath they exhaled in the winter air was clearly visible, like a white mist slowly dissipating.

"It works!" Jiang Ning silently rejoiced.

Then, he jumped back into the carriage. "Little Lu, let's wait here!"

"Yes, Young Master!" Lu Yi quickly responded.

Jiang Ning lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at her again, and said, "Come in and wait! It's cold outside."

"Yes!" Lu Yi replied, her eyes gentle.

The two of them sat in the carriage, quietly waiting.

Jiang Ning slowly flipped through the books in his hand.

Yesterday, when Lu Yi went out, she not only bought the carriage and the two Snowwhite Crimsonflame Steeds, but she also brought back some ancient books that Jiang Ning hadn't seen before.

These were replicas of ancient books from the Ten Thousand Flowers Tower.

They contained a wealth of knowledge that Jiang Ning had never encountered before.

By reading these books...

He could also gain experience points for the skill 'Scholarly Insight'.

[Skill]: Scholarly Insight (Four Breakthroughs 4811/5000 - Extraordinary Senses, Keen Mind, Exceptional Insight)



"Just over a hundred points left."

Glancing at the skill, Jiang Ning thought to himself.

Then, he refocused on the books, slowly turning the pages.

[Scholarly Insight Experience +1]



[Scholarly Insight Experience +1]



[Scholarly Insight Experience +1]



[.]



As he read, his Scholarly Insight experience gradually increased, getting closer to the goal of 5000 points.

Meanwhile, the two Snowwhite Crimsonflame Steeds outside, having absorbed his blood, became his companions and underwent a gradual transformation.

A transformation of their physical bodies.

This was also one of Jiang Ning's tests.

On Lu Yi, he noticed that the divine descendant favor he possessed was different from the blood-and-flesh deity of the Worshipping God Sect.

The favor seemed purer.

The deity of the Worshipping God Sect had a twisted favor, causing their transformed disciples to resemble monsters.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end