Chapter 320: Breaking Limits

Chapter 320: Breaking Limits



November 18, 2024

At the entrance.

As Lin Qingyi was about to knock on the door, she felt a strange discomfort.

"Strange!" She looked around but found nothing unusual, then quickly averted her eyes.

On the other side.

Jiang Ning rubbed his nose and couldn't help but smile.

Then he stood up and said,

"Dong!"

"Dong!"

"Dong!"

The front courtyard door was knocked by Lin Qingyi.

Then the door was opened.

"Sister Qingyi!" Seeing the woman in a long blue skirt outside in the snow, her skirt dragging on the ground, she seemed to merge with the snowy ground.

Jiang Ning's face revealed a faint smile.

Seeing Jiang Ning, Lin Qingyi gave him a suspicious look.

"How did you know I was here?"

"I don't know!" Jiang Ning replied.

"If you didn't know, how did you appear so timely?" Lin Qingyi stared at Jiang Ning's eyes, their gazes locked.

Jiang Ning rubbed his nose.

Seeing this, Lin Qingyi glared at Jiang Ning.

Her intuition told her that the strangeness she had just sensed was not an illusion but came from Jiang Ning's prying.

Jiang Ning's timely appearance also confirmed this in her mind.

"Help me hold up my skirt, it's too dirty dragging on the ground!" Lin Qingyi said to Jiang Ning, who was standing beside her.

Hearing this, Jiang Ning casually lifted Lin Qingyi's skirt, and as he glanced down, he saw her smooth, bare legs beneath the skirt.

"Isn't Sister Lin cold? Showing her legs in this weather!"

"It looks good!" Lin Qingyi said.

Then she smiled slightly, "A grandmaster like me, how could I be afraid of the cold?"

"Grandmaster?" Jiang Ning's eyes widened.

Seeing Jiang Ning's expression, Lin Qingyi couldn't help but smile, her lips curling up slightly, seeming a bit proud.

"Let's go inside your room and talk, I came here today with something to discuss!" Lin Qingyi said again.

Jiang Ning, having snapped out of his surprise, nodded slowly. He held Lin Qingyi's skirt with his right hand and headed towards his eastern courtyard.

In the courtyard.

Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan heard the commotion in the front yard and came out of the house, just in time to witness this scene.

"Brother Li, judging by this, you don't need to worry about Aning at all. What's there to worry about when he's so popular with the girls?" Liu Wanwan said.

Jiang Li nodded in agreement, "That's right! Aning is indeed popular with the girls now, but I'm afraid he'll be spoiled for choice and won't know who to choose!"

Liu Wanwan said, "I think someone older is better. They know how to care for and treat people well!"

"The one Aning likes is the best!" Jiang Li said.

In the eastern courtyard.

Jiang Ning held Lin Qingyi's skirt, stepping over the threshold and entering the room, only then did he let go of the skirt.

The skirt fell, quickly covering Lin Qingyi's bare legs.

"Sister Lin, do you want to light a fire?" Jiang Ning picked up the tea he had just brewed and poured a cup for Lin Qingyi.

"Yes!" Lin Qingyi nodded, then glanced around, "Where's Lu Yi?"

Jiang Ning, holding the still-hot tea, came to Lin Qingyi and handed it to her, saying, "After lunch, she went out to buy books for me."

"Buy books?" Lin Qingyi looked puzzled.

She glanced around Jiang Ning's room and immediately saw the piles of books.

"You're..."

"I'm preparing to take the imperial examination," Jiang Ning explained.

"The imperial examination?" Lin Qingyi asked.

"I want to take both!"

"Impressive! Amazing!" Lin Qingyi exclaimed in admiration.

Jiang Ning smiled.

Then he walked to the charcoal stove in the corner, picked up a few pieces of charcoal, and placed them inside.

He waved his hand, and the Palm Control of Fire and Water technique was activated.

In less than two breaths, the black charcoal instantly turned crimson, burning vigorously and releasing a continuous stream of heat.

Lin Qingyi held the hot teacup in both hands and sat down, her gaze naturally drawn to Jiang Ning.

Seeing this, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Her gaze then moved upwards, landing on Jiang Ning's face.

At this moment.

After lighting the charcoal fire, Jiang Ning's mind stirred slightly, and his psychic energy left his body, moving the charcoal fire basin under his feet to Lin Qingyi's front.

"Psychic object manipulation!" Lin Qingyi exclaimed, then praised, "It seems your psychic energy is quite strong."

Jiang Ning smiled and nodded, then sat down beside the charcoal fire basin.

"It's not bad, I can control it from two hundred meters away."

"Two hundred meters?" Lin Qingyi looked at Jiang Ning in surprise, her eyes filled with deep astonishment.

As a grandmaster, she was well aware of the concept of psychic energy being able to leave the body and control objects from a distance of two hundred meters.

This was beyond the reach of ninety-nine percent of fifth-rank cultivators, and even among fourth-rank cultivators, those with such psychic energy were in the minority.

Even she, having reached the third rank and achieved the grandmaster realm, could not surpass Jiang Ning by much, only managing a distance of one li.

She was also well aware that her psychic energy was so strong at her age because of her unique physical constitution.

It was precisely because of this unique physique that she had caught the attention of that old Royal Highness.

Under the pretense of a joyous marriage, she was wedded into the royal family, becoming a nominal princess consort.

Thinking of this, a sense of annoyance welled up within Lin Qingyi's heart.

Then, she lifted her gaze towards Jiang Ning, and a smile involuntarily graced her lips, easing the annoyance in her heart.

Afterward, she lifted her long skirt, exposing a smooth and delicate section of her jade-like calf to the warmth of the charcoal brazier.

Jiang Ning took a sip of the tea he had just brewed, his gaze involuntarily drawn to her.

Lin Qingyi noticed his gaze and smiled enigmatically, "Do you like it?"

"It's quite beautiful!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Upon hearing this, a slight smile curved her lips, and she pretended to warm herself by the fire, lifting her skirt slightly once more.

Her face showed none of the shyness typical of a young girl.

"Look!" Lin Qingyi tilted her chin slightly, speaking with a hint of pride.

Jiang Ning smiled.

Then, he asked, "Lin Sister, what brings you to me today?"

"That's right!" Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Lin Qingyi snapped back to her senses.

She took out a letter from her sleeve and placed it beside Jiang Ning.

"Take it!"

"This..." Jiang Ning hesitated.

"The letter from Xiao Shiqu!"

"Princess Shiqu?"

Jiang Ning's mind instantly conjured the image of Ji Mingyue, who was half a head shorter than him.

He recalled the moment when Ji Mingyue had taken his hand, and his eyes betrayed a hint of complexity.

"What's wrong? Are you touched?" Lin Qingyi smiled and lowered her skirt, covering the exposed, smooth calf.

Jiang Ning didn't respond but tore open the letter, taking out the enclosed message.

He unfolded it.

He read through the lines.

The entire letter consisted of several hundred words, devoid of any flowery language, merely recounting her experiences and thoughts over the past month.

Amidst the plain words, the young girl's heart poured out.

After reading the entire letter, Jiang Ning sighed inwardly, folded the letter, and placed it back into the envelope.

"What are your thoughts?" Lin Qingyi asked from the side.

"I have no thoughts!" Jiang Ning's tone was indifferent.

Then, he changed the subject, "Lin Sister, you mentioned you've achieved the Grandmaster realm. Is it the Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster, the Heaven-Earth Grandmaster, or the Heaven-Bound Grandmaster?"

"I never thought you'd know about this!" Lin Qingyi held the teacup with both hands, took a sip, and then lifted her head to look at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning explained, "I heard a bit about it from White Prefectural Inspector a few days ago."

"Bai Luoyu?" Lin Qingyi asked.

"6◇9◇Book◇Bar"

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded.

"He's an extraordinary person!" Lin Qingyi exclaimed, "I've completed the first refinement with the Hundred Spirit Blood, so it's the Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster."

"Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster," Jiang Ning muttered, then asked, "Is it difficult to achieve the Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster?"

Lin Qingyi nodded slightly, "Very difficult! Extremely difficult!"

She continued, "In this world, among Grandmasters, only one becomes the Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster, the highest-ranked Grandmaster. The rest are all beneath this realm."

"For me, the biggest challenges in achieving the Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster are time constraints and insufficient foundation."

"The Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster either relies on certain cultivation techniques to attain the sensation of Heaven and Earth, or it's about attaining the unity of Heaven and Man."

"Or it's about achieving a profound state of mind, reaching the unity of Heaven and Man, and thus becoming the Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster."

Upon hearing Lin Qingyi's words, Jiang Ning asked, "Which of these two is more challenging?"

Lin Qingyi replied, "In terms of difficulty, of course, the first one is harder. It involves using powerful cultivation techniques to attain the sensation of Heaven and Earth, drawing in celestial vitality, completing a blood refinement, and achieving the Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster."

"The difficulty of this path lies not only in finding a suitable cultivation technique but more so in comprehending the technique to an extremely profound level."

"You should know that the more powerful the cultivation technique, the more challenging it is to cultivate."

"For ordinary martial artists, even entering this cultivation technique is difficult, let alone comprehending it to an extremely profound level."

Jiang Ning asked, "What about the second one?"

Lin Qingyi continued, "The second path, reaching the unity of Heaven and Man through one's state of mind, is also not easy. Moreover, it's more about opportunities and timing."

"When the opportunity and timing are right, a flash of insight in your mind may lead to the unity of Heaven and Man, allowing you to merge with Heaven and Earth and draw in celestial vitality."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning instantly understood.

The Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster.

It emphasizes natural talent and is the highest-ranked Grandmaster, as well as the Grandmaster with the most potential.

Just as Bai Luoyu had mentioned earlier, among the Grandmasters, five out of ten are based on the foundation of the Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster, while the remaining five are the other two types of Grandmasters.

As for the Heaven-Earth Grandmaster, it is achieved through the foundation of heaven-bestowed treasures.

Compared to the Heaven-Mortal Grandmaster, it is slightly weaker and also extremely challenging.

This is because the heaven-bestowed treasures required for the Heaven-Earth Grandmaster are not readily available in the current world.

In ancient times, the remnants of powerful cultivators left behind a mystical realm.

Such realms are incredibly rare in this world, and he had never even heard of them until now.

The third type of Grandmaster, the most common one, is the Mortal Grandmaster, also known as the most prevalent Grandmaster.

Grandmasters like Lin Qingyi achieve this by using external substances like Hundred Spirit Blood, becoming Blood Grandmasters, and thus transforming their physical bodies.

At this moment, Lin Qingyi glanced at Jiang Ning, who seemed deep in thought, and she spoke up.

"What is it? Do you think achieving the Mortal Grandmaster is weak?"

"No!" Jiang Ning shook his head. "I was just thinking about the differences between these three types of Grandmasters."

"The Heaven-Attuned Grandmaster, the Earth-Bound Grandmaster, and the Mortal Grandmaster—do you understand them all?"

"I understand them all!" Jiang Ning continued, "The Heaven-Attuned Grandmaster is so named because they achieve the Grandmaster realm through Heaven-Earth Sensation. The Earth-Bound Grandmaster, on the other hand, achieves the realm through Heaven-Bestowed Treasures, hence the name."

"The Mortal Grandmaster is named as such because humans are the pinnacle of all sentient beings."

Hearing this, Lin Qingyi shook her head and smiled, causing the ornament in her hair to sway.

"What you said is mostly correct, but that's not what I asked."

"However, from what you said, I can tell that you should understand it all!"

Jiang Ning recalled for a moment, then nodded slightly. "I should understand it all!"

"Do you think that achieving the Mortal Grandmaster means I have no aspirations?" Lin Qingyi turned to look at Jiang Ning and asked.

As Jiang Ning met Lin Qingyi's gaze, he hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"A little."

He continued, "Sister Lin, you're still young and have plenty of time. Why rush to enter the Grandmaster realm?"

"I'm not young anymore!" Lin Qingyi sighed, her expression turning somber. "For women, it's all downhill after twenty-five. I'm already thirty."

Jiang Ning said, "Achieving the Grandmaster realm grants at least two sixty-year lifespans. In the face of such longevity, thirty is just the beginning, like a flower in full bloom."

"You sure know how to flatter!" Lin Qingyi's face lit up with a smile.

"I'm being sincere," Jiang Ning assured her.

Lin Qingyi's smile widened, and she said, "You don't understand. I don't have much time left!"

"Why do you say that?" Jiang Ning was taken aback and asked in confusion.

Lin Qingyi shook her head, clearly not wanting to delve deeper into the conversation.

She stood up and said, "I've accomplished my purpose for coming here today. I've also delivered Little Shiqi's letter to you. It's not good for a man and a woman to be alone in a room; it could ruin your reputation."

"I don't mind, but you're different. You're not married yet."

"So I should leave too!"

After saying this, Lin Qingyi turned and walked out of the room.

As Jiang Ning watched Lin Qingyi's figure disappear through the door, his gaze became more focused, and a contemplative look appeared on his face.

It was clear from Lin Qingyi's behavior that she harbored deep thoughts and was unwilling to share them with him.

Jiang Ning pondered for a moment.

He shook his head and picked up an unread book from the table beside him, continuing to flip through it.

Meanwhile, Lin Qingyi walked out of the main gate and glanced back at the eastern courtyard where Jiang Ning was.

"My affairs must not involve you!"

"The Grandmaster realm merely gives me a chance to defy fate!"

She shook her head, causing her hair ornament to sway, and then she walked down the steps.

The next day.

[Skill]: Literary Proficiency (5 Limit Breaks, 6000/6000) (Traits: Memorize at a Glance, Extraordinary Five Senses, Swift Thinking, Outstanding Comprehension, Heavenly Eye Vision)



Jiang Ning opened the panel and smiled at the display.

Through his diligent efforts, he had earned 6,000 experience points for Literary Proficiency, faster than he had planned.

In just the first half of the morning, he had already gained 6,000 experience points.

With 6,000 experience points and sufficient Essence Energy, he met the requirements for the next Limit Break in Literary Proficiency.

He checked his Essence Energy points again.

[Essence Energy]: 911.87

After accumulating slowly over these days, his Essence Energy points had exceeded 900.

According to his knowledge, the sixth Limit Break in Literary Proficiency required only 500 Essence Energy points.

He double-checked.

A thought crossed his mind.

In an instant.

His Essence Energy points plummeted like a waterfall.

In a flash, it stabilized.

[Essence Energy]: 411.87

At this moment, he closed his eyes and felt a sense of his soul leaving his body, an ethereal feeling.

His body became exceptionally light, as if it could float away with the air.

At the same time.

He also felt his psychic power instantly expand, covering a radius of 200 meters and rapidly growing.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end