Chapter 328: Eight Limit Breaks, The River Lord!

Chapter 328: Eight Limit Breaks, The River Lord!

Soon after, Jiang Ning returned home.

After a brief conversation with Lu Yi, he went to the pond in his courtyard and fished out the ancient turtle.

The ancient turtle was only the size of a palm, its head and limbs completely retracted into its shell, clearly different from an ordinary softshell turtle.

Ordinary softshell turtles couldn't do this.

Only turtles could retract their limbs and head into their shells.

"It can really sleep!"

After being pulled out of the water by Jiang Ning, the ancient turtle remained motionless.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning smiled and instantly summoned flames.

The flames roasted the ancient turtle's belly.

"It's on fire!"

The ancient turtle instantly sprang up, leaping several zhang high.

In the air, it stretched out its head, only then seeing Jiang Ning with a mischievous smile.

"Master!" The ancient turtle's tone was filled with flattery.

"How much has your cultivation increased?"

"One and a half years!" The ancient turtle landed on Jiang Ning's hand, its face full of excitement.

"One and a half years?" Jiang Ning muttered to himself, then nodded, "Not bad!"

Then he asked, "Is it that a thousand years of cultivation is required to be called a Great Demon?"

The ancient turtle nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Master! With a thousand years of cultivation, one can condense a Demon Core, and thus, a Great Demon is formed."

"Are there Great Demons in Luoshui Lake?" Jiang Ning casually asked upon hearing this.

"Yes!"

"Really?"

"Yes, Master! There is at least one Great Demon in the lake, and I have seen its two faces!" The ancient turtle spoke solemnly.

Upon hearing this, a flash of surprise appeared in Jiang Ning's eyes.

He had only asked casually.

But he didn't expect to receive an affirmative answer from the ancient turtle.

A Great Demon.

This was no ordinary being.

According to the records, in ancient times, any Great Demon was a formidable existence, far beyond the level of common foes.

After all, they possessed a thousand years of cultivation.

With a thousand years of cultivation, one could become a Great Demon and gain the ability to transform into a human form.

He never imagined that in this modern era, in this small Luoshui Lake, he would hear rumors of a Great Demon's existence.

Jiang Ning's expression turned solemn.

He had only heard about the power of Great Demons in books, and he didn't have a clear understanding of their true strength.

Based solely on the book's description, he believed there would be significant bias.

With this thought, Jiang Ning's gaze returned to the ancient turtle.

"Old Ghost, compared to martial artists, how powerful are Great Demons with a thousand years of cultivation?"

"At least a Mortal Grandmaster can be mentioned in the same breath as a Great Demon!" The ancient turtle affirmed.

"Mortal Grandmaster?" Jiang Ning's eyes slightly narrowed, then he nodded, "I understand!"

"What kind of Great Demon is it?" Jiang Ning asked again.

According to his knowledge, the Demon Race highly valued innate bloodlines.

For example, a thousand-year-old Great Demon with the bloodline of a Qiongqi, a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, or a Taotie, were not on the same level.

The difference in strength was like that of heaven and earth.

Therefore, knowing the type of Great Demon was crucial.

If it were one of those legendary bloodlines from myths and legends, it would have left a formidable reputation in the books.

Even with his current strength and abilities, he would have to carefully consider whether to enter Luoshui Lake or move his entire family away from the lake.

"It's a Great White Chi Demon with an ancient bloodline, possessing at least a thousand years of cultivation," the ancient turtle replied promptly and truthfully.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning instantly felt a headache coming on.

Chi, according to legend, was a dragon without horns.

A dragon without horns was called Chi.

This indicated that this White Chi Great Demon possessed the terrifying bloodline of the Dragon Race.

This extraordinary bloodline also granted the Great Demon strength far surpassing others of the same cultivation level.

With a thousand years of cultivation, even the ancient turtle, with its two thousand years of cultivation, might not be able to match it.

Jiang Ning couldn't help but fall into hesitation and contemplation.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Ning decided to continue with his original plan.

Firstly, the Great White Chi Demon mentioned by the ancient turtle was just one among many.

In the vast Luoshui Lake, the chances of him encountering it were slim.

Secondly, he had recently mastered a divine ability, the Grand Quintessence Water Teleportation Technique.

He had personally tested the profoundness of this ability.

By merging with water, he became invincible for an instant, covering thirty li and ensuring his survival.

With this top-tier life-saving ability, even if he encountered the Great White Chi Demon, he was confident in his ability to protect himself.

Moreover, yesterday's discovery made him realize that he had underestimated Luoshui Lake.

In such a large lake, there were numerous rare treasures and heavenly materials.

By finding some of these heavenly materials, his Source Energy Points would increase rapidly.

Not to mention the occasional fortuitous encounters that led to sudden surges in his strength.

Like what happened yesterday.

In the azure waters of the lake.

Jiang Ning swiftly moved forward underwater.

The ancient turtle shrunk to the size of a palm and perched on Jiang Ning's shoulder, its limbs tightly gripping his clothes.

At this moment, as Jiang Ning unleashes his psychic energy, the waters within a five-li radius fall under his control.

With such a vast area to search, his efficiency in finding heavenly materials and treasures today is more than twice as high as yesterday.

The vast Luoshui Lake.

Not just the waters that span dozens of li.

Jiang Ning continues to delve deeper and search thoroughly.

Until the hour of the Snake arrives, and with the sunrise and clear skies, he comes to the ice layer to begin absorbing the essence of the sun.

[Inner Core Cultivation Technique Experience +1]



[Inner Core Cultivation Technique Experience +1]



[Experience +1]



As he continues to absorb, the experience of the Inner Core Cultivation Technique steadily increases.

This process lasts for a full two hours.

At noon.

He finally stops absorbing the essence of the sun.

[Technique]: Inner Core Cultivation Technique (Minor Accomplishment 3463/5000)



"With another half a month of good weather, my inner breath will transform, refining into Gang Qi!"

He closes the panel and continues to search for treasures in the lake.

The next morning.

Looking at the Taiyin Stone in his hand, which has grown larger again, a smile appears on Jiang Ning's face.

Yesterday's biggest gain was finding another piece of Taiyin Stone fragment. As for the other gains, they can only be considered minor.

They did not bring any essential improvement.

After finding the Taiyin Stone fragment yesterday, he placed the newly found Taiyin Stone fragment with the original Taiyin Stone.

After a whole night of integration, the two pieces have now completely fused together.

This also caused the original Taiyin Stone to grow larger again.

At this moment, he nods in satisfaction, puts the Taiyin Stone back into the wine flask, and lets it soak in the wine, allowing the silver elixir to slowly disperse.

After doing this, he carefully puts away the wine flask and opens the panel.

[Essence Energy]: 2313.81

[Technique]: Aquatic Proficiency + (7th Limit Break 8000/8000) (Characteristics: Underwater Breathing, Advanced Water Control, Water Spirit Affinity, Cloud and Rain Manipulation, Water Spirit Body, Grand Quintessence Water Teleportation)



Yesterday's harvest was as expected, so the growth in Essence Energy points was not much, just over five hundred points.

To increase by this much, it's a matter of quantity.

His improved search efficiency also allowed him to find more heavenly materials and treasures compared to the previous two days.

Moreover, as he delves deeper, the age of the heavenly materials and treasures hidden in the lake gradually increases.

Yesterday, he found several heavenly materials and treasures that were a century old.

Compared to the first day, yesterday's gain in Essence Energy points was more than double.

"I can break the limit!"

The thought arises.

The Essence Energy points instantly decrease rapidly.

In an instant, the process is complete.

[Essence Energy]: 313.81

On the panel, the Essence Energy points decreased by a full two thousand in an instant.

The sound of rushing water fills his ears.

He sees a thousand rivers originating from the snow-capped mountains, flowing together to form a grand river.

The river surges downward, its waves crashing against the shore, creating a thunderous roar.

He feels as if he has transformed into an unknown grand river, sensing the flow of the river's water, feeling its unstoppable momentum.

Passing through mountains, valleys, and forests, the river's water flows into a lake.

At this moment, he suddenly snaps back to reality.

[Technique]: Aquatic Proficiency (8th Limit Break 6967/9000) (Characteristics: Underwater Breathing, Advanced Water Control, Water Spirit Affinity, Cloud and Rain Manipulation, Water Spirit Body, Grand Quintessence Water Teleportation, River Lord)



He glances at the panel, and the experience required for the 9th Limit Break in Aquatic Proficiency is not yet satisfied, but he doesn't mind.

The 9th Limit Break in Aquatic Proficiency.

According to his prediction, it will require a full five thousand Essence Energy points.

Five thousand Essence Energy points, a daunting task for him at present.

Even with yesterday's efficiency, it would take ten days of thorough searching in Luoshui Lake to gather enough.

And there's a prerequisite: the naturally grown heavenly materials and treasures in the lake must be sufficient for him to search continuously.

But in reality, he can't find his bearings in the lake, nor does he know his position.

After these few days, he's unsure which directions he has searched.

Yesterday, he discovered traces of his previous presence in the waters he passed through, and he feels helpless about it.

In the lake, the scenery is similar everywhere, almost indistinguishable.

Using his photographic memory, he constantly completes the map in his mind.

He can now ensure that he won't search the same area twice.

By visiting the same area twice, he can complete the lake bottom map in his mind.

This affects the efficiency of searching for heavenly materials and treasures.

So, five thousand Essence Energy points, with yesterday's efficiency, unless there's a fortuitous encounter, will take at least ten days to gather.

Even if it's truly possible, it will take at least ten days to gather enough Essence Energy points for the 9th Limit Break.

As for the 9th Limit Break in Aquatic Proficiency, he currently has no ideas.

After a moment, his gaze moved down the panel and instantly locked onto the newly added trait, which had just increased due to breaking the limit of Aquatic Proficiency.

【River Lord】: While in a river, one can harness the power of the river for their own use.

"River Lord?"

"The power of the river?" he muttered.

Then, he looked outside the room.

Let's give it a try!

After making his decision, he pushed open the door and stepped into the courtyard.

Looking up, he saw a faint moon hanging in the eastern sky.

"It's still good weather!" A smile appeared on his face.

As long as the weather didn't suddenly change, being able to clearly see the moon in the early morning meant that the sky would remain clear and cloudless all day.

Nan Qiu Mountain.

Located ten miles north of Luoshui County.

This mountain range stretches for dozens of miles, with rivers and streams crisscrossing it. A great river flows through the valley, gathering the water sources from the numerous mountains of Nan Qiu.

One end of the great river in Nan Qiu Mountain leads directly to Luoshui Lake.

Rumble—

Jiang Ning arrived at the mouth of the river where it flows into the lake.

It was a waterfall over four zhang high.

Even during the dry season in winter, the river water falling from a height of four to five zhang created a deafening roar.

Especially after yesterday's clear sky, the snow in the mountains began to melt, and the river from Nan Qiu Mountain became abundant with water.

Looking up at the waterfall above him, Jiang Ning thought, "This river should be suitable!"

The next moment, Jiang Ning moved like a white ape, leaping nearly five zhang high onto a cliff.

Seeing the rushing river below, Jiang Ning jumped in.

Plop—

The sound of his entry into the water echoed, and a few ripples formed as he entered the river.

The moment he entered the water, he instantly felt a connection with this river originating from Nan Qiu Mountain. His spirit power spread from the river, rapidly extending upstream and downstream.

In an instant, he felt his spirit power merge with every corner and stretch of water in the river.

Wherever the river flowed, his perception followed.

Compared to being in Luoshui Lake, his perception ability surged at this moment.

In this instant, he saw everything about this river—its path, the countless creatures within, and the world of fish swimming in their thousands.

The next moment, a thought crossed his mind.

In a flash, he felt countless energies from the river gather within his body.

With his powerful spirit power controlling his body, he instantly felt these energies merge into every corner and cell of his body.

Jiang Ning stood in the river, as steady as a rock amidst the rushing waters.

"Is this the power of the river?" He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within. His heart was filled with awe.

With the river's power, he felt that a single punch from him could unleash the force of a river bursting its banks.

This was the power of nature, not something that human strength could resist.

Suddenly, he punched the air in front of him.

Boom—

The river water instantly exploded and vaporized.

Visible to the naked eye, a membrane of true energy formed and expanded from his body.

It dissipated only when it reached a width of twenty to thirty centimeters, unable to withstand the force of the river.

"So strong!" Jiang Ning's eyes lit up.

Turning the river water into vapor was a level he couldn't achieve before.

And it was just a casual punch.

He didn't know how powerful this strength had become.

Then, with a thought, his figure vanished, completely merging with the river water.

In the next instant, he appeared in Nan Qiu Mountain.

Using Grand Quintessence Water Teleportation, he instantly felt his body drained, his face turning pale.

But in less than a breath, his face regained its color.

After three breaths, he felt the exhaustion from using Grand Quintessence Water Teleportation completely replenished.

Then, he repeatedly explored this new ability.

Half a cup of tea later, he fully understood the effect of River Lord.

While in the river, he could harness the power of the river for his own use.

Every move was like the river bursting forth, possessing unimaginable strength.

In the face of this power, he felt nothing in this world could withstand his punch.

It was a force that could cause riverbanks to collapse.

Moreover, his perception multiplied, and all his exhaustion was replenished at a terrifying speed.

Even using the divine ability of Grand Quintessence Water Teleportation, which could drain him in an instant, was replenished in just a few breaths!

At the same time, his water control technique was greatly enhanced while in the river.

Compared to before, when water was his forte, now the river was his true domain.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end