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

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



Inside the house.

Half a day had passed.

Haaah...

Jiang Ning exhaled softly, gazing at the five paintings spread out on the table before him.

Heartfire Tiger, a fierce tiger trapped within a cage.

Wood Deer, a spirit deer dwelling in the forest.

Earth Bear, a wild bear treading upon the earth.

Metal Ape, a white ape soaring through the mountain valley.

Water Phoenix, transforming into a phoenix within the 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—Heartfire Tiger, a fierce tiger trapped within a cage.

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

However, it was the one he poured his heart and soul into, and the painting contained a deeper essence than 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 Proficiency level.

This significantly improved his painting abilities.

Jiang Ning glanced at his panel and then closed it.

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

It had progressed from Beginner to Proficiency.

To break through the limit in the Dao of Painting, he needed to accumulate 200 experience points to reach Small Accomplishment, 500 points for Great Accomplishment, 1000 points for Perfection, and an additional 1000 points to break through the limit at Perfection.

In total, he required 2700 experience points.

At his current rate, it would take him ten days of dedicated painting.

"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, and he couldn't afford to be a jack of all trades.

His advantage lay in focusing on quality rather than quantity.

Every time he broke through the limit in any skill, it would bring him a new trait.

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

Take the simple Firewood Splitting Sword Technique, for example. After breaking through the limit several times, the force behind his sword strikes became incredibly terrifying.

Combined with his indestructible and all-conquering longsword, it became even more formidable.

Afterward,

Jiang Ning set down his brush,

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

Whenever the tea cooled down, Green Ripple would quietly refill the cup with fresh hot tea.

Jiang Ning felt very comfortable with her around.

With Green Ripple taking care of daily chores, he didn't have to worry about any trivial matters and could focus solely on his martial arts and skill cultivation.

This made him very satisfied.

He knew he had made the right decision in taking her in.

Previously, when he lived alone,

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

He still had to handle various chores himself.

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

Over time, it hindered his progress in training.

But now, things were completely different.

With Green Ripple, he was freed from the mundane tasks of daily life.

After sensing the Divine Descendant Mark in her mind, he knew he could trust her.

Through emotional perception, he felt no malice or negativity from her, only kindness.

Then, he put down his teacup.

"Let's go!"

"It's time for lunch!"

"After lunch, we'll head to the martial arts academy!"

"Whether you can learn this fist technique or not still depends on my master's approval!"

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words,

Green Ripple immediately knelt down with a 'plop'.

"Master, your kindness is beyond my ability to repay!"

Jiang Ning smiled, "You're already repaying me by taking care of my daily life."

Then he said, "Stand up! There's no need to kneel before me."

Hearing this, Green Ripple raised her head and looked at Jiang Ning, revealing her slender and fair neck.

Seeing the faint smile on Jiang Ning's lips, she nodded vigorously.

"Green Ripple understands!"

After lunch,

In the front yard,

Jiang Ning walked towards the front gate with empty hands, accompanied by Jiang Li.

Behind them, Green Ripple tightly clutched Jiang Ning's fist manual and the five scrolls of paintings, running to keep up with his pace.

Outside the gate,

"Brother Ning, will you be back for dinner?" Jiang Li asked.

Jiang Ning replied, "I might not make it back. If I don't, you and Sister-in-law can start eating without me. There's no need to wait!"

"Okay!" Jiang Li nodded.

Just then,

"Uncle—" a soft, sweet voice called out from behind them.

Jiang Ning turned around and saw Xiao Dou Bao, dressed in a furry outfit like a little brown bear, running towards him.

Seeing this, he smiled warmly, crouched down, and opened his arms.

A moment later,

Xiao Dou Bao threw herself into Jiang Ning's arms.

Jiang Ning picked her up, laughing, and gently scratched her nose. "Why did you call me uncle today?" he asked with a smile.

Xiao Dou Bao wrinkled her nose. "Mother said that since the New Year is approaching and I've grown another year older, I shouldn't act cute anymore."

Jiang Ning burst into laughter upon hearing this. He then ruffled her black, shiny hair. "Xiao Dou Bao has grown another year older, so how old are you now?"

Xiao Dou Bao counted on her short fingers, "One, two, three, four, five!" Then, she looked upset. "I don't have enough fingers!"

Jiang Ning chuckled again. Xiao Dou Bao was turning five years old in virtual age, but in actual age, she was only four and a half years old.

He put Xiao Dou Bao down and patted her head. "Go play! I'll bring you sugar-coated hawthorn balls when I come back."

Xiao Dou Bao's eyes sparkled at the mention of sugar-coated hawthorn balls. "Uncle, I want two sugar-coated hawthorn balls, one for Snowman and one for myself."

Jiang Ning teased, "Don't you want to share with your father, mother, and brother?"

Xiao Dou Bao stuttered, "F-father and mother, and brother... that's three people!" She counted on her fingers again. "I only have two sugar-coated hawthorn balls."

Jiang Ning squatted down and scratched her nose. "What about you?"

Xiao Dou Bao looked up, her eyes pitiful. "Uncle, can you buy three sugar-coated hawthorn balls? That way, I can share with father, mother, and brother."

Jiang Ning smiled. "That you, what about you?"

Xiao Dou Bao said, "I don't like eating sugar-coated hawthorn balls; they're too sour and not delicious at all!" As she spoke, Jiang Ning noticed drool at the corner of her mouth.

He chuckled and scratched her nose again. "I'll buy five sugar-coated hawthorn balls for you later."

Xiao Dou Bao's face lit up. "Five sugar-coated hawthorn balls?" She seemed to think of something, and her eyes sparkled.

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

Xiao Dou Bao's face fell, and she hung her head. "Okay..."

Jiang Ning called out to Green Ripple, who was standing at the edge of the stairs, "Let's go, Little Green!"

He then turned to Jiang Li and said, "I'm going out, big brother!"

Jiang Li nodded and reminded him, "Be careful on the road!"

Jiang Ning nodded and followed Green Ripple down the stairs to the ground paved with stone bricks.

"Little Green, has the carriage been bought?" Jiang Ning asked.

"Yes, young master," Green Ripple replied. "It was bought yesterday and is now stored in the Wang family's carriage shed."

Previously, Jiang Ning had been renting carriages from the Wang family's carriage shed, which was only a hundred meters away. The Wang family's business was thriving, with many residents storing their carriages there since their own homes didn't have room for them.

Jiang Ning's current residence was no exception, with its high elevation and sixteen stairs leading to the entrance. There was no wide side door for carriages to enter, which was why he hadn't bought one until now. With Green Ripple handling the household chores and the Wang family's carriage shed nearby, Green Ripple had bought a carriage yesterday.

"I'll go get the carriage, young master," Green Ripple said.

"No need," Jiang Ning replied. "Let's go take a look at the new carriage instead."

A short while later, Jiang Ning and Green Ripple arrived at the Wang family's carriage shed. Despite the cold weather, the wide path outside was clear of snow. Inside the shed, two people sat by a fire, one roasting a sweet potato and the other smoking a dried smoke.

As Jiang Ning and Green Ripple entered, the two men noticed them and immediately stood up, startled. The old man smoking put down his pipe, and the other dropped the stick he was using to roast the sweet potato.

"Sir Jiang!"

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

The old man, still smiling, asked, "Sir, what brings you to this humble and dirty place?"

Jiang Ning replied, "I just wanted to take a look at my carriage."

The old man asked, "Which one is your carriage, sir?"

An old man with a pipe on his lips smiled warmly.

Behind Jiang Ning, Lu Yi suddenly produced a sign.

"Oh! So this young lady is the Master's person!" The old man suddenly realized.

Then he said, "Master, please wait here. I'll go and bring you the White Snow Crimson Flame horse that's kept here."

A moment later.

Whinny, whinny—

Two tall and majestic horses strode with steady steps, pulling a four-wheeled carriage in front of Jiang Ning.

The carriage was about two meters wide.

The two majestic horses had calm eyes, clearly well-trained.

The horses were about eight meters tall, their bodies pure white like snow.

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

Their tails and manes were also crimson, like blood.

Hence, the name White Snow Crimson Flame.

Their bodies were like snow, with crimson hooves, manes, and tails, like blood.

With just a glance, Jiang Ning knew these were fine horses, well-trained and tamed.

"Master Jiang, these are the two horses your maid left here yesterday," the old man with the pipe said with a smile.

Jiang Ning nodded upon hearing this.

Then, he approached the two White Snow Crimson Flame horses.

He reached out and rubbed their heads, seeing no spiritual light in their eyes, clearly completely tamed and devoid of any spirituality.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning's heart stirred, and an idea formed.

A moment later.

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

After turning a corner along the street.

Jiang Ning lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage.

In his palm, two drops of deep red blood were enveloped by his mental power.

"Young Master, why are you out here?" Lu Yi, seeing Jiang Ning, was surprised, her expression a little dazed.

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

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

Driving the carriage on the road, facing the cold wind and the biting chill, was naturally uncomfortable for ordinary people like Lu Yi.

"Let's stop here!" Jiang Ning spoke.

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

Then she pulled the reins, and the two White Snow Crimson Flame horses obediently slowed to a stop.

Once the carriage came to a complete stop.

"Wait here!" Jiang Ning instructed Lu Yi, then jumped down from the carriage.

Amid Lu Yi's puzzled expression, Jiang Ning approached the two White Snow Crimson Flame horses.

He pried open the mouth of one of the horses, bent his finger, and flicked a drop of blood he had prepared in the carriage into the horse's mouth.

He did the same with the other horse, flicking a drop of blood into its mouth.

As the blood was absorbed, the two White Snow Crimson Flame horses continuously made "hiss, hiss" sounds.

Hot air was exhaled from their noses, like white mist slowly dispersing.

"It works!" Jiang Ning rejoiced inwardly.

Then he jumped back into the carriage. "Lu Yi, let's stop here for a bit!"

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

Jiang Ning pushed aside the curtain and looked at her again. "Come in and wait! It's cold outside."

"Yes!" Lu Yi responded again, her expression gentle.

The two sat in the carriage, quietly waiting.

Jiang Ning slowly flipped through the book in his hand.

Yesterday, Lu Yi not only bought the carriage and the two White Snow Crimson Flame horses but also some ancient books he hadn't seen before.

Ancient book copies from Wanhua Tower.

They recorded much knowledge he hadn't previously understood.

As he flipped through these books.

He also gained experience in the art of Calligraphy Mastery.

[Art]: Calligraphy Mastery (4811/50000 experience points, Traits: Memorize at a Glance, Extraordinary Senses, Keen Mind, Exceptional Insight)



"Still over a hundred points short."

Looking at his panel, Jiang Ning thought to himself.

Then he refocused on the book in front of him, slowly flipping through the pages.

[Calligraphy Mastery Experience: +1]



[Calligraphy Mastery Experience: +1]



[Calligraphy Mastery Experience: +1]



[.]



As he read, his Calligraphy Mastery experience slowly increased, getting closer to the goal of 5000 experience points.

Meanwhile, the two White Snow Crimson Flame horses outside, having absorbed his blood, became his followers and slowly transformed.

A transformation of their physical bodies.

This was also one of Jiang Ning's tests.

From Lu Yi, he also realized that his Divine Descendant Authority was different from the Blood Deity of the Divine Worship Sect.

His Authority seemed purer.

The Authority of the Divine Worship Sect's deity was filled with distortion and evil, causing their Divine Descendant state to resemble monsters.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end