Chapter 292: External Cultivation's Four Steps, The Terror of the Golden Body!

Chapter 292: External Cultivation's Four Steps, The Terror of the Golden Body!

The Inspection Office.

"Jiang Commander!" Two people at the entrance saw Jiang Ning and immediately saluted.

Jiang Ning nodded and then walked through the main gate, heading towards his own division.

At this moment, Lu Yi did not follow.

According to the rules, ordinary people were not allowed to enter the inner halls of the Inspection Office.

Although no one would say anything if Jiang Ning brought her in, he didn't want to break the rules, and there was no need to.

The next moment—

"Xiaojiu?" Jiang Ning looked at Xie Xiaojiu, who had just come out of his division, and was surprised.) "Adult!"

Xie Xiaojiu saw Jiang Ning and quickly cupped her hands in salute, "Your Excellency!"

"What a coincidence!" Jiang Ning smiled.

Xie Xiaojiu pursed her lips. She knew it wasn't a coincidence at all.

Because today she had come in and out of the office dozens of times.

This time, she had waited for Jiang Ning's arrival.

She quickly composed herself, "Your Excellency, it's been a long time!"

"Yes, it has been a long time!" Jiang Ning sighed.

After about a month's long vacation, neither of them had met.

On the first day of the New Year, Xie Xiaojiu had not come to visit him either.

At that time, Jiang Ning had some thoughts, but later he understood.

Xie Zhengtian had made such a big scene at the Xie Manor, and no matter what, he had done a lot of ideological work for Xie Xiaojiu, asking her to come and act as a mediator.

After all, Xie Xiaojiu was Xie Zhengtian's daughter, the Ninth Miss of the Xie family, and now she was working under Jiang Ning, which made their relationship relatively good.

But perhaps because of their relationship, Xie Xiaojiu didn't want to make things difficult for him, so they hadn't met during the holidays.

Xie Xiaojiu followed behind Jiang Ning, looking at his back, and suddenly spoke.

"Your Excellency, thank you!"

"What are you thanking me for?" Jiang Ning turned and smiled.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for giving the Xie family a chance!" Xie Xiaojiu's tone was low.

Jiang Ning said, "It's not that I gave the Xie family a chance, but that the Xie family gave themselves a chance! Xie Zhengtian had the heart to scrape the bone and heal the wound, killing those who should be killed and arresting those who should be arrested. I gave him a chance. By opening the granary and distributing food, his merits and demerits may not offset each other, but it is still considered a blessing to the people."

"If I were a few years younger, perhaps I wouldn't tolerate even a speck of sand in my eyes. Whether it's black or grey, after gaining power, I would have killed them all, and given the people of the city a clear and just world."

"Cut off the hand that reaches out, and chop off the head that dares to show itself! Only pure goodness is allowed, no evil or badness."

"This may satisfy personal grudges, but with the changing situation and frequent natural disasters, the people of the city will only suffer more, and more people will die."

"Moreover, this world is so vast, how can I possibly manage it all?"

"Besides, I'm not a saint. Doing good deeds and acts of kindness is just something I do when the opportunity arises."

At this point, Jiang Ning smiled.

Initially, he never thought that he would do anything to benefit the people and the common folk.

Now that he had reached this point, it was just something he did when the opportunity arose, a simple effort.

He also understood that allowing the relatively honest Xie family to survive, and letting them seek a new beginning after being struck down by him, was the best thing for the people of the city.

The Xie family was now opening their granary and distributing food, providing relief to the poor and needy during this cold winter, saving many lives.

If it were another family or power that rose to the status of the Cao, Liu, and Xie families, they would not do better than them, and it was more likely that they would do worse.

Just as the dragon slayer would eventually become evil.

This was the vortex of the ancient cycle, the vortex of human nature, impossible to escape or break free from.

Even he himself couldn't guarantee that he would maintain his original intentions in the future.

Let alone a family or power!

Unless he himself remained unchanged, and with absolute control over Luoshui County, only then could he truly bring happiness and health to the people of the city!

But he wasn't a nanny!

For such nanny-like behavior, he had no thoughts and certainly no obligation.

In any era, any world, any environment, and for any person, in the end, one could only rely on oneself.

Everything else was fate and destiny.

After a moment, Jiang Ning casually picked up a stack of documents from his desk, about ten pages thick.

He briefly glanced through them, and his heart understood.

These documents were a summary of various matters in Luoshui County over the past month, and there were no major events.

The main responsibility of the Inspection Office was to catch and punish anyone who dared to cause trouble, regardless of whether they were commoners, high officials, wealthy merchants, or members of sects and gangs.

The Worshipping God Sect was a typical example and potential trouble.

So, before this, the Inspection Office's main task was to eradicate the forces that the Worshipping God Sect had developed in the county town.

After destroying the Worshipping God Sect's most important stronghold and finding the statue that had once been enshrined in the City God Temple, there were basically no traces of the Worshipping God Sect left in the county town.

The local forces, due to the Cao and Liu families' connections with the Worshipping God Sect, had already been eradicated.

Therefore, during this month-long break, there was nothing significant to report.

He quickly glanced over the documents in his hands and then put them down.

"Is the Manor Lord here?" Jiang Ning asked Xie Xiaojiu, who was following behind him.

"Yes, Lord Ye came to see you this morning, but since you hadn't started work, you didn't meet. Lord Ye told me to inform you to visit the Manor Lord when you were seen."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded immediately.

He had some thoughts. Hong Minghu finding him first thing likely wasn't a bad thing; in fact, it was probably a good one.

On New Year's Eve, he had guarded the city alone and, with his archery skills, quelled the rebellion of the Black Mountain Army. This was undoubtedly a significant achievement.

Since it was an achievement, it deserved a reward.

He guessed that Hong Minghu's immediate search for him was likely related to this.

He wasn't in a hurry about it.

What was rightfully his wouldn't slip away.

Even in the Inspection Office here, even the current Hong Minghu was far inferior to him in his eyes.

Over half a month ago, he could already face two opponents at once.

On the Luo River, he had slain two Fifth Stage Inner Fortification Realm Worshipping God Sect martial artists.

Not to mention now.

In martial cultivation, his Jade Bone forging had advanced significantly compared to half a month ago, and it wouldn't take long to completely forge the Jade Bone.

In terms of skills, he had made even greater breakthroughs.

His mental energy had transformed, allowing him to open the Celestial Eye.

Moreover, his blade technique had broken through its limits again, and his blade momentum had improved.

His current strength was incomparable to what it was over half a month ago.

The growth in his strength was extremely evident.

Especially the breakthrough in his blade technique, which significantly enhanced his combat power.

Blade technique was his strongest means of killing enemies, and its breakthrough made his strengths even more pronounced.

If he were to face those two Fifth Stage Inner Fortification Realm Worshipping God Sect martial artists from over a month ago again, he could kill them with a single strike at full power.

He was no longer the same as before!

So, in his current view, Hong Minghu, who relied on external means to reach the Fifth Stage Inner Fortification Realm, was far inferior to him in terms of strength.

In the current Luo Shui County, unless there were other hidden strong figures, the only one he wasn't sure about was the old woman from the Internal Affairs Office, the White Elder, as mentioned by Hong Minghu.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning asked, "Is the old woman from the Internal Affairs Office here?"

Hearing Jiang Ning's question, Xie Xiaojiu immediately replied, "Yes, she's been in the Internal Affairs Office since early morning, basking in the sun. Because the salaries were issued today, some subordinates went to the Internal Affairs Office to exchange for needed items this morning."

Jiang Ning said, "I'll go to the Internal Affairs Office!"

"Lord, I'll go with you!" Xie Xiaojiu quickly followed Jiang Ning.

She didn't mention the Xie Family's affairs again but was secretly grateful to Jiang Ning for sparing the Xie Family.

At the Internal Affairs Office.

As Jiang Ning stepped into the courtyard of the Internal Affairs Office, he saw an old woman, about fifty years old with a few silver strands in her hair, but looking like she was in her forties, sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun, looking very at ease with her eyes half-closed.

The noise of the two people entering the courtyard made the old woman slowly open her eyes.

"It's you?"

"Meeting you, Senior!" Jiang Ning bowed.

When he first saw the old woman, he thought about secretly activating his Celestial Eye to observe her.

But as soon as this thought arose, his body felt a chill, instinctively telling him it was impossible.

He immediately realized that this old woman was unfathomable and not to be underestimated.

His demeanor became more respectful.

"You're a good kid!" The old woman looked at Jiang Ning, nodded approvingly, and then said, "Luo Shui County was safe a few days ago, thanks to you!"

Jiang Ning humbly replied, "It's my duty. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Since I am referred to as 'Lord' by the people, I should shoulder the responsibility and obligation to protect them."

"Good, good!!" The old woman nodded again, very satisfied.

Then, a cloth bag appeared in her hand, and she threw it to Jiang Ning.

"This is your salary. Due to logistical reasons, I'm temporarily issuing it. As for your contributions in defending the city at a critical moment, someone will be sent to handle that."

Jiang Ning caught the flying cloth bag with a quick motion.

The cloth bag instantly disappeared from his hand, stored in his Infinite Storage Ring.

For him now, whether he received the salary or not was no longer important.

The amount of salary he received wouldn't even be enough to fill his teeth.

So there was no need to check it.

After placing the bag into the Infinite Storage Ring, Jiang Ning bowed again.

"Senior, am I not qualified to learn about the Fifth Stage Inner Fortification Realm of the Martial Dao?"

The old woman glanced at Jiang Ning, instantly understanding his intention.

She nodded slightly, "Indeed, within the Ninth Stage Martial Dao, there is a division of influence. Below the Fifth Stage, it is about external cultivation, refining the skin, muscles, and bones."

"Achieving these four steps is not considered a secret. With money alone, one can easily obtain the related methods."

"Joining various sects can also easily grant access to these methods."

"Among these four steps of external cultivation, only a few crucial steps are truly secret. For instance, the Golden Body Method in the skin polishing step, which can achieve the highest level of skin polishing, is extremely rare in the world, with only a handful of methods, not exceeding the number of fingers on both hands."

"The Vajra Indestructible Body of Vajra Temple is the best among them. If one can cultivate the Vajra Indestructible Body, even at the Sixth Stage, they can fight against a Fifth Stage practitioner."

Jiang Ning stood before the old woman, listening intently to her words. When he heard this part, he couldn't help but react.

"Is it that exaggerated?" He showed a look of surprise.

"Exaggerated?" The old woman gave Jiang Ning a faint look, then shook her head. "Your perspective is still too narrow; you don't understand the terror of the Golden Body. You should know that the physical body is an integrated whole. If you can achieve the Golden Body, do you think the skin, muscles, and bones will be inferior?"

Hearing these words, Jiang Ning nodded in agreement.

"Indeed!"

He was quite convinced by the old woman's words.

This was also the case after forging the Iron Bone, Mystic Bone, and Jade Bone; the physical body's strength would undergo a metamorphosis.

If one were to compare the human body to a towering building, then the bones would be the load-bearing columns and steel frame structure of Daxia.

The more resilient the load-bearing columns and structure, the more magnificent the building.

Similarly, the metamorphosis of the bones would also elevate the strength of the physical body.

Therefore, Jiang Ning strongly agreed with the old woman's words.

A person's physical body is an integrated whole.

So, in these four steps of external cultivation, each step's enhancement and changes only have different focuses, rather than merely improving one aspect.

In the Ninth Stage Skin Polishing, the focus is on the defense of the skin's surface.

But at the same time, it also brings about an increase in strength and qi and blood.

As for the Eighth Stage Divine Power Realm, the strength-training stage, the focus is on power, which is the training of the human body's muscle groups.

Therefore, during this stage, strength increases significantly, but defense and other aspects also receive a certain level of improvement.

However, strength is the primary focus, and in this stage's enhancement, strength accounts for eight to nine-tenths of the improvement.

As for the Seventh Stage Sinew Training, the focus is on explosive power, the ultimate tempering of the human body's major sinews.

Hence, during this stage, explosive power increases significantly. With a casual punch, backed by the explosive power of the major sinews, it is like an arrow with a taut bowstring, terrifyingly explosive.

In this stage, the primary improvement is in explosive power, while other enhancements compared to the Eighth Stage are even fewer.

But the Sixth Stage is different.

The Sixth Stage Bone Forging focuses on enhancing the strength of the human body's bones.

It allows the bones to undergo a step-by-step metamorphosis, achieving the Iron Bone, with bone strength comparable to ten-fold refined steel.

Achieving the Mystic Bone, the bone strength is on par with a hundred-fold refined steel.

Achieving the Jade Bone, the bone strength rivals a thousand-fold refined steel.

The enhancement of bone strength is the primary focus of this step.

Once this step is completed, it is as if the human body has donned an inner protective garment.

With the Jade Bone, any bone in the human body has the strength of a thousand-fold refined steel.

It should be known that ordinary Seventh Stage martial practitioners typically possess thousand-fold refined weapons.

As for ten-thousand-fold refined divine weapons, they are already considered divine artifacts.

In the vast Luo Shui County, not a single ten-thousand-fold divine weapon can be found in the weapon shops.

Forging ten-thousand-fold refined steel requires an extremely powerful force and enduring stamina.

Luo Shui County simply cannot produce such powerful martial practitioners to take on the role of blacksmiths.

Therefore, upon achieving the Sixth Stage, those who forge the Jade Bone can be considered invincible in Luo Shui County, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Martial practitioners who have forged the Jade Bone can allow others to strike their necks with a thousand-fold divine weapon, and their heads will remain unharmed.

Their skulls alone can withstand the slashes of a thousand-fold divine weapon.

The two hundred and six bones almost entirely protect the human body's weak points.

This survivability is also the most terrifying aspect of Sixth Stage martial practitioners.

Moreover, the importance of bones in the human body is self-evident.

Therefore, in the Sixth Stage Bone Forging, each comprehensive metamorphosis of the bones significantly enhances the physical body.

The improvement is far greater than the previous three steps of body forging.

These facts further validate the White Granny's words.

The physical body is an integrated whole, and there has never been a solitary aspect that is solely enhanced; there are only differences in focus.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end