Chapter 331: This is My Niece

Chapter 331: This is My Niece



November 29, 2024

The next morning, Jiang Ning opened his eyes.

【Essence Energy】: 3343.33

Seeing the number in the Essence Energy column on his status panel, his mood instantly improved.

With over 3,000 Essence Energy points, he could satisfy his needs for a while.

He then checked the Skills section.

【Skills】:

Literary Proficiency (6x Limit Break 511/7000) (Characteristics: Memorize at a Glance, Extraordinary Five Senses, Swift Mind, Outstanding Comprehension, Heavenly Eye Vision, Super Sixth Sense)



Firewood Chopping Blade Technique+ (6x Limit Break 7000/7000) (Characteristics: Broad Understanding, Blade Like Thunder, Blade Handling Like a God, Man and Blade As One, Innate Blade Bone)



Gale Thunder Arrow Technique (3x Limit Break 49/4000) (Characteristics: Wind-Thunder Breath, Heart's Arrow Technique, Wind-Thunder Arrow)



Water Fire True Power (2x Limit Break 48/3000) (Characteristics: Water Fire Divine Robe, Palm Control of Fire and Water)



With his current Essence Energy points, he could only afford to break through one of the four skills on his panel.

If he had to choose one skill to break through, it would undoubtedly be Literary Proficiency.

This skill enhanced his Mental Energy, making it of utmost importance.

The Firewood Chopping Blade Technique came second; breaking through its limit would increase his strength.

Now, both his Essence Energy points and the experience points in the blade technique had met the requirements for the seventh limit break.

Not only that, but with over 3,000 Essence Energy points, he could perform two consecutive limit breaks.

In an instant, the Firewood Chopping Blade Technique could leap from the sixth to the eighth limit break.

This would allow his strength to jump two small steps.

"No rush, no rush!" He shook his head.

After glancing at the Gale Thunder Arrow Technique and Water Fire True Power, he closed them.

For now, these two skills weren't urgent.

Strengthening his power and upgrading his blade technique was the simplest and most direct approach, and increasing experience points for the blade technique was also straightforward.

All he needed to do was chop firewood.

With his current efficiency, he could gain thousands of experience points in an hour, which wasn't a problem at all.

So, his experience points for the blade technique had already exceeded countless tens of thousands.

He pushed open the door.

The eastern sky was slightly hazy, and a faint crescent moon hung high, with the morning light just appearing.

A smile returned to his lips.

The weather was good, and he could proceed with his original plan.

He began washing up in the courtyard.

"Young Master, you're back?"

The noise Jiang Ning made quickly caught the attention of Lu Yi, who was in the neighboring courtyard.

She entered the main courtyard and saw Jiang Ning washing up, her eyes widening in surprise.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile.

"I came back last night!"

Then he added, "Did you hang the blanket out to dry yesterday?"

Last night, when Jiang Ning returned late, he had smelled the sunshine on the blanket as soon as he got into bed, hence his question.

Lu Yi nodded, "Young Master, the weather has been good these days, so I hung your blanket out to dry."

Speaking of this, Lu Yi stuck out her tongue.

"Good thing I didn't slack off."

Jiang Ning smiled, feeling satisfied.

Taking in Lu Yi was to ensure a more comfortable life and not worry about trivial matters.

Like hanging out the blanket.

The sun-dried blanket made him feel at ease and familiar.

In his previous life, he used to play in the sunshine-filled blanket as a child, a happy childhood memory.

Even now, when he recalled it, a smile would appear on his lips.

"Young Master, I'll take your clothes to wash and dry them, and there's a whole wardrobe of clothes that I haven't had time to rewash and dry these days." Lu Yi spoke again.

As she spoke, she headed towards Jiang Ning's room.

"No need," Jiang Ning shook his head.

"Of course!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Then, looking in the direction of Luoshui Lake, he said, "Soon, the area around Luoshui might not be safe."

From the terrible state of the two lake demon gatherings he had discovered these past two days, Jiang Ning guessed the madness of the Great Demon Bai Chi.

According to Long Li, there were only three known lake demon gatherings.

However, the two gatherings Jiang Ning had investigated had been destroyed by the Great Demon Bai Chi.

The lesser demons were refined by Bai Chi, contributing to her growth.

From the traces left at both gatherings, the time between the attacks was minimal, probably just a few days apart.

This showed the madness of the Great Demon Bai Chi.

Jiang Ning suspected that Bai Chi might not spare the Luoshui Lake's shores in the future.

At the same time...

Lu Yi heard Jiang Ning's words, and her curiosity piqued as she gazed at him.

After a moment's thought, she suppressed her curiosity and refrained from asking further questions.

After Jiang Ning finished his morning routine, he sat in the courtyard, where the morning sun was about to rise, and continued reading.

He preferred to use his Source Energy Points for the Literary Proficiency skill.

As for enhancing his combat power, he wasn't in a hurry.

Dongling City was built on a hilly terrain.

A river flowed through the city, dividing it into two parts: Hedong and Hexi.

Hedong was primarily inhabited by wealthy merchants and officials due to its higher and more strategic location.

With the river as a natural advantage and the fortified walls along its banks, defending Hedong was several times more challenging than Hexi.

If Dongling City were to fall under enemy siege, breaching Hedong's defenses would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Consequently, land prices in Hedong were several times higher than in Hexi.

Thus, Hexi was mainly populated by commoners.

Among all the information about Dongling City, what caught Jiang Ning's attention the most was not the city itself but the Nu River that flowed through it, dividing the city into two.

With this river, he would always have an escape route no matter what happened in Dongling City.

Once in the water, he would be in his element.

Not to mention the new attributes he gained after his eighth breakthrough in Water Control:

【Skill】: Water Control (8th Limit Break 7888/9000) (Attributes: Underwater Breathing, Advanced Water Control Technique, Water Spirit Affinity, Cloud Manipulation and Rainmaking, Water Spirit Body, Grand Elemental Water Escape, Master of Rivers)



The Master of Rivers attribute allowed him to receive the river's blessing when he was in its waters.

This blessing reminded him of the mountain and river gods from the myths and legends of his past life, who were bestowed divine positions by the heavens.

These divine beings could receive the blessing of the land where they were enshrined.

It was similar to the Master of Rivers attribute in its effect.

After his eighth breakthrough in Water Control, he had also tested the blessing of the Master of Rivers in the river.

It was a blessing he couldn't comprehend at all.

A casual punch could create a vacuum, and the river water would instantly evaporate in front of his fist.

This terrifying power made all the abilities he currently possessed seem feeble.

Because of this reliance, he wasn't anxious to improve his blade technique at the moment.

Once he entered the river, he would unleash an incomprehensible combat power.

As he read, a carp with golden-red scales and a tail like a red cloud floated quietly in the corner of the courtyard's pond, seemingly asleep.

Near the pond, a seemingly ordinary soft-shelled turtle lay on its back, motionless.

【Literary Proficiency Experience +1】

【Literary Proficiency Experience +1】

【Literary Proficiency Experience +1】

【End】

Jiang Ning quietly flipped through the book in his hand, enjoying the pleasant morning.

"Tea, Master!" Lu Yi quietly brought over a bowl of tea.

"Mhm!" Jiang Ning nodded, his gaze still on the book.

He took the bowl of tea from Lu Yi.

He took a small sip, and the fragrance of spring tea filled his mouth, while warmth spread through his body.

As time passed, the sky grew brighter.

However, there wasn't a trace of morning glow in the eastern sky.

Soon, a fiery red sun rose behind the eastern mountains.

The moment the sun appeared, the entire courtyard was bathed in a golden light.

Jiang Ning glanced at the rising sun, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

The sun had risen, but there were no morning clouds in the sky, indicating another day of clear weather.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

This meant not only that he could set off for Dongling City today but also that his Inner Core Nourishing Art would make significant progress, with experience points surpassing four thousand.

With this thought, he opened his panel to take a look.

【Skill】: Inner Core Nourishing Art (Minor Accomplishment 3941/5000)



The Inner Core Nourishing Art was now just a few dozen experience points away from reaching four thousand.

Once his experience points exceeded five thousand, his Inner Breath would undergo a transformation, reaching the level of condensation into a gale.

Combined with his nearly sixty years of cultivation, his combat power would undoubtedly increase significantly.

He closed the panel and continued reading, increasing his Literary Proficiency experience.

At 8:45 AM.

Tap, tap, tap—

The sound of small footsteps approached from a distance.

In just a moment, the footsteps reached the gate of the courtyard where Jiang Ning was.

The next moment, a small girl with two braided pigtails, barely over one meter tall, appeared before Jiang Ning.

"Du-du!!!" She widened her eyes and smiled.

"Little Beanbag!" Jiang Ning smiled, put down the book, and opened his arms.

Little Beanbag ran over and jumped into his embrace.

"Uncle is back! Beanbag missed you so much!"

She spoke in a coquettish and silly tone.

Jiang Ning also sensed the longing in Little Beanbag's heart, and he couldn't help but smile as he ruffled her hair.

"You really missed me?"

"Mm-hmm!" Little Beanbag nodded vigorously, looking up at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning smiled warmly.

He picked up his little niece and placed her on his lap.

Then, he pinched her chubby cheeks.

"Why did Little Beanbag suddenly come to my courtyard?"

Little Beanbag lifted her small head, her big eyes like two black grapes, and said, "Mom has already made breakfast. She sent me to see if Uncle has returned."

"Hehe!" Little Beanbag smiled happily. "I didn't expect Uncle to really come back today!"

Seeing Little Beanbag's sincere happiness, Jiang Ning pinched her chubby cheeks again.

"Did Little Beanbag come yesterday too?"

"Not just yesterday!" Little Beanbag looked up at Jiang Ning. "The day before yesterday, Beanbag came too!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning ruffled Little Beanbag's head.

Then, holding Little Beanbag, he stood up.

"Let's go have breakfast!"

"Uncle, don't carry me. I want to walk by myself. I've grown up!" Little Beanbag seemed to have been inspired by someone's motivational words.

Jiang Ning smiled warmly again.

Then, he put Little Beanbag down.

At that moment—

"Wow!"

Little Beanbag widened her eyes in surprise.

Following her gaze, Jiang Ning saw the Linglong Dragon Carp still sleeping in the pond.

Little Beanbag ran to the edge of the pond, skipping with excitement.

"Uncle, this goldfish is so beautiful!" Little Beanbag's eyes sparkled.

After saying this, she carefully reached out and touched the back of the dragon carp.

"Splash!" The dragon carp suddenly woke up, flicking its tail and splashing water everywhere.

"Why are you disturbing my sleep?" Linglong's tone became stern, as if filled with annoyance.

At this moment, Jiang Ning's voice also sounded in the dragon carp's ear.

"Linglong, this is my niece."

Upon hearing this, the dragon carp paused for a moment.

Then, it said, "Such a cute little girl."

"Carp, you're so beautiful!" Little Beanbag also exclaimed in awe, then continued, "Can I touch you?"

Linglong looked at Jiang Ning and then at Little Beanbag.

"I'm Linglong, a dragon carp, not a carp!" After introducing herself, she waved her tail fin, which resembled a red cloud, and poked her head out of the pond.

Seeing this, Little Beanbag reached out her tiny fingers again.

"Giggle—"

Little Beanbag widened her eyes in surprise.

"Uncle, is this Linglong?" Little Beanbag asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Of course! Uncle is the commander of the Patrol Office, and in Luo Water County, he's a well-known big shot. Who wouldn't give Uncle some face?"

"I'll come to you later! I'm going to have breakfast now! I'll come back to play with you later!" Little Beanbag waved repeatedly at the dragon carp in the pond.

"Goodbye, Little Beanbag!" Linglong also waved her red cloud-like tail fin in response.

"Oh, right, Linglong!" Little Beanbag, who had just prepared to leave the edge of the pond, stopped in her tracks, her face full of excitement. She invited the dragon carp in the pond, "Linglong, do you want to come with me for breakfast? There's a really, really, really delicious fish soup!"

Linglong: "..."

At this moment, she really wanted to say, "I'm just a fish."

Meanwhile, the ancient turtle, who had just woken up, seemed to remember something.

A drop of drool formed at the corner of its mouth.

It hadn't forgotten that just a few days ago, Jiang Ning had killed that electric eel with over two hundred years of cultivation.

After visiting the gathering places of the two lake demons, it also discovered from various clues that the lake demons didn't seem very powerful.

Even with its two hundred years of cultivation, it was considered extraordinary.

Among the lake demons, it hadn't sensed any aura that reached four hundred years of cultivation.

The strongest ones were only a few with over three hundred years of cultivation.

Most of the lesser demons had around a hundred years of cultivation.

After that, the ancient turtle flipped over and landed on the ground.

"Little Beanbag, I'm going."

"Little Turtle, it's you!" Little Beanbag was surprised and picked up the ancient turtle from the ground.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end