Chapter 293: Promotion to the Eighth Rank

Chapter 293: Promotion to the Eighth Rank



The Internal Affairs Office.

In the courtyard.

The old woman observed Jiang Ning's expression and immediately displayed a look that suggested he was teachable.

Then, she spoke again.

"The external cultivation method for forging the body has four steps, and there is a higher-level secret method for the ninth stage of skin polishing that is not commonly known."

"For the eighth stage of divine power, there is no such special method."

"For the seventh stage of sinew training, if there is one, it would be the Dragon Sinew."

"However, there are numerous external objects in the various sects and powers that can assist in achieving the Dragon Sinew."

"The Inspection Office's Rising Dragon Pill is one such example."

"For the sixth stage of bone forging, the secret method that is not commonly known is the creation of the legendary divine bone."

"The importance of divine bones is no less than that of a golden body."

"With the creation of divine bones, the physical body becomes extremely formidable."

"If a sixth-stage martial artist can create divine bones, not only will they be invincible at the sixth stage, but even fifth-stage peak practitioners would retreat upon seeing this."

"Even fourth-stage masters who have mastered the power of momentum would be greatly troubled."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning couldn't help but speak up.

"What if someone possesses both a golden body and divine bones?"

The old woman glanced at Jiang Ning upon hearing his question.

"If someone possesses both a golden body and divine bones, even without entering the stage of internal cultivation of the five viscera and still at the external cultivation stage, they can be called invincible beneath the grandmaster level."

"They can bathe in a rain of arrows, and on the battlefield, no one can kill them unless a grandmaster intervenes."

"Even if a grandmaster were to attack," the old woman hesitated for a moment, then continued, "it would still be difficult to kill them! The only way for a grandmaster to kill such an externally cultivated martial artist is to shatter their five viscera and six bowels!"

At this point, the old woman smiled.

"But in reality, if someone can truly achieve the creation of divine bones and a golden body, they would receive an abundance of resources, allowing them to quickly succeed in internal cultivation. There's no way they would leave their five viscera and six bowels as an obvious weakness."

"Moreover, as their martial arts realm advances, the divine bones and golden body will undergo further transformation, becoming even more formidable."

"In ancient times, such individuals could reach the pinnacle of the first stage and challenge those above them, claiming to rival gods and deities with their mortal flesh and blood, and mundane bodies."

Upon hearing the last sentence from White Granny, Jiang Ning's entire body trembled.

"Rivaling gods and deities?"

"Is this really possible?"

The old woman glanced at Jiang Ning indifferently, "What's there to doubt? In ancient times, such records of achievements already existed."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning gasped in astonishment.

At the pinnacle of the first stage, with divine bones and a golden body, one could rival gods and deities.

What about the Martial Sage?

At this thought, he hurriedly asked,

"Senior, if one can rival gods and deities at the pinnacle of the first stage with divine bones and a golden body, what about the Martial Sage?"

The old woman smiled, "In ancient times, the decline of that era didn't mean the complete disappearance of gods and deities. The Martial Sage has slain many remnant immortals and minor deities."

"Remnant immortals? Minor deities?" Jiang Ning's expression was one of astonishment.

The old woman looked at Jiang Ning with a hint of speechlessness, then seemed to think of something, and patiently explained,

"There are differences among immortals, and there are also differences among deities."

"The disparity between weak and strong immortals is no less than the difference between a beginner in martial arts and the Martial Sage."

"The same is true for deities!"

"The secrets of that era are too terrifying to hear, and I dare not delve too deeply into them."

"You only need to know that the end of that era also marked the end of immortals and deities, and the transformation of the heavenly earth."

"The transition between the two eras was like a fishing net being cast, leaving no escape for the big fish. Only the small fish and shrimp could slip through the net's holes."

"Due to the changes in the heavenly earth environment, the loss of divine ingenuity, and the severing of the immortal path. Immortals no longer possess the divine abilities they once had, and they are now referred to as remnant immortals."

"The same is true for deities. In the midst of such changes, only minor deities could rely on incense offerings to barely survive, unlike the gods of the past who did not require faith."

"Many of these minor deities, sustained by incense offerings, were also poisoned by them, and some fell into the path of evil deities."

"The founding of the Daxia Dynasty and the establishment of the human realm was not as simple and smooth as it seemed."

"The Martial Sage has indeed killed many, including gods and deities."

"At the pinnacle of the first stage in ancient times, one reached the pinnacle of martial arts, the ultimate realm."

"At the pinnacle of martial arts, with divine bones and a golden body, one could slay even the Martial Sage, who is beyond the pinnacle."

As she spoke, the old woman's gaze once again swept over Jiang Ning's body.

She had been patient enough to explain so much because Jiang Ning had repeatedly amazed her.

She now even suspected that Jiang Ning was not who he claimed to be.

She was aware that the heavenly earth environment was beginning to recover, and she was a direct beneficiary of this.

She also knew that in ancient times, those with great divine abilities had all been caught, but some with minor divine abilities had managed to escape.

Some were seeking reincarnation, hoping to cultivate for another lifetime.

Just like the most renowned Daoist and Buddhist masters of the current era.

These two individuals, as far as she knew, were rare successful cases among those with minor spiritual abilities.

She now suspected that Jiang Ning might be one of them.

Otherwise, she would have started questioning her own life.

However, she did not sense that ancient, lingering aura from Jiang Ning.

So, this speculation was just a guess.

At the same time, Jiang Ning heard the old woman's words and instantly realized that the so-called immortal gods were not as powerful as he had thought.

The martial path was not as weak as he had imagined.

At the peak of the first rank, which was the pinnacle of the martial path, if one could forge a divine bone and golden body, they would create the strongest physique in the mortal realm.

With the power of the martial peak, one could rival ordinary immortal gods.

Nowadays, due to the times, immortal gods were weaker compared to the ancient era. This was because martial cultivators relied more on external environments, making them less powerful than the immortal gods of ancient times.

After learning this information, Jiang Ning's heart instantly calmed.

His greatest concern had been the Black Lotus Elder, who might come knocking on his door one day.

As for the Palace Master of the Water Moon Sword Palace, he wasn't too worried about her.

He was an official of the court, and the Palace Master of the Water Moon Sword Palace was not someone without connections. She had the Water Moon Sword Palace backing her.

No matter what, she would have to consider her status.

Moreover, the Daxia Dynasty had not yet fallen into complete chaos, and even if she was powerful, she could only be considered a master within the Dongling Prefecture.

In the vast Daxia Dynasty, there were countless stronger cultivators than her.

If she dared to be arrogant, the Water Moon Sword Palace might become a target, and it would be reduced to rubble.

Jiang Ning believed that the Palace Master, who had led the Water Moon Sword Palace to become the top power in Dongling Prefecture, was not a fool and would understand the risks involved.

Just like the previous Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley, Lu Qingshan.

What was his strength at the time, and what was the strength of the Valley Master Lu Qingshan?

But at that time, Lu Qingshan chose to settle the grudge between him and the Medicine King Valley when he was still weak.

The key point was his identity at the time.

As the Deputy Commander of the Inspection Office in Luoshui County, an eighth-rank official, anyone who dared to touch him would be openly provoking the Inspection Office and the Martial Sage Office.

The same logic applied to the Palace Master of the Water Moon Sword Palace.

Unless she was insane, why would she dare to act recklessly?

Moreover, her strength at the peak of the fourth rank did not make him feel like he was looking up to a towering mountain.

In three to eight days, after the forging of the Jade Bone was complete, his achievements in the ninth rank of the martial path would be equivalent to that of a fifth-rank cultivator.

If things went smoothly, with good weather, in about a month, he would reach the stage where his inner breath condensed into a firm qi, further narrowing the gap with the Palace Master of the Water Moon Sword Palace.

So, he wasn't too worried about this matter.

As for the trouble from the Worshipping God Sect, it was even simpler.

If the Flesh-and-Blood Deity could cause trouble for him, the Black Lotus Elder would have already come knocking.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning's heart instantly felt more at ease.

He also understood that he needed to advance his official rank and enhance his authority in the Inspection Office to gain access to more profound martial arts information.

"Senior!" Jiang Ning asked, "If I want to get promoted, do I just need enough contribution points?"

The old woman glanced at Jiang Ning and instantly understood his purpose for coming today.

She nodded slightly, "The contribution points in the Inspection Office represent the merits you've earned for the office. With sufficient merits, you can naturally get promoted."

"Senior, I want to know how much authority is needed to obtain information about the fifth-rank martial arts from the office?" Jiang Ning asked again.

"With your current eighth-rank official position, you just need to get promoted by half a rank," the old woman replied.

"How many contribution points are needed to get promoted by half a rank?" Jiang Ning asked again.

"Ten thousand!" the old woman answered.

Hearing this number, Jiang Ning couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

Ten thousand contribution points, even at the official exchange rate, was equivalent to spending ten thousand taels of silver to buy a promotion.

How many contribution points would be needed for future promotions?

Thinking of this, he felt a pang of pain in his heart.

Ten thousand taels of silver could bring him a significant increase in Yuan Energy Points if used to purchase heavenly treasures for absorption.

But now, he had to spend it on a promotion. It was hard to say he wasn't feeling the pain.

However, considering the importance of the official rank and authority enhancement, he knew this was a necessary sacrifice.

Just then, the old woman glanced at Jiang Ning again.

"You're feeling the pain, aren't you?" She already knew that Jiang Ning had accumulated over ten thousand contribution points and that he could afford to spend them.

"Indeed, it's a bit painful," Jiang Ning nodded sincerely.

Hearing this, the old woman said calmly, "Go and take the Martial Scholar Examination."

"Martial Scholar Examination?" Jiang Ning was a bit surprised by the old woman's suggestion.

The old woman nodded slightly, "With your strength, passing the Martial Scholar Examination shouldn't be difficult."

"If you obtain the title of Martial Scholar, the contribution points required for official promotion will be halved until you reach the seventh rank."

(End of Chapter)"If you can become a Martial Bachelor, the contribution points required for promotion to official positions will be halved until you reach the fifth rank."

"If you can become a Martial Doctor, the contribution points required for promotion to official positions will be halved until you reach the third rank."

"As for higher positions, it's no longer a matter of contribution points."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning's heart was filled with excitement.

He had already planned to participate in the Martial Imperial Examinations.

In Daxia, official titles are one of the best forms of protection.

Their importance is not inferior to having an official rank.

Therefore, he had already planned for this.

He intended to participate in both the Martial and Civil Imperial Examinations this spring, aiming to acquire dual titles and combine them with his position in the Inspection Office.

With these accomplishments, anyone wishing to harm him would have to think twice.

This was also why he wasn't overly concerned about the Water Moon Sword Palace.

Now, after hearing the old woman's words, he was even more determined.

When the Martial Imperial Examinations began, he would have to make a trip to Dongling City to participate.

The lowest rank in the Martial Imperial Examinations was Martial Scholar, which required him to go to Dongling City to compete.

The old woman saw the contemplative look on Jiang Ning's face and couldn't help but smile.

"How about waiting until spring to first obtain a title and then come to me to exchange contribution points for a higher position and authority?"

"No!" Jiang Ning shook his head and instantly produced ten gold-inlaid jade tokens in his hand.

Each gold-inlaid jade token represented ten thousand contribution points.

These ten tokens represented a total of one hundred thousand contribution points.

These ten gold-inlaid jade tokens were obtained from his previous meritorious service, where he directly eradicated the most important stronghold of the Worshipping God Sect in the outer city, killing several of their martial artists, including a sixth-End of Chapter-

Chapter end