Chapter 360: Inner Core Nourishing Art Mastery, Inner Breath Transformation!

Chapter 360: Inner Core Nourishing Art Mastery, Inner Breath Transformation!

December 26, 2024

In the courtyard.

A pill entered his stomach.

Jiang Ning immediately activated the Furnace Refining Secret Art.

In his mind, he visualized a furnace, transforming himself into one, and the energy within his body became the fuel for the furnace.

Under the unprecedented energy, the secret art became even more terrifying.

At this moment, he seemed to truly transform into a blazing furnace, radiating waves of heat.

In less than ten breaths, he felt the pill in his body completely refined.

Simultaneously, he perceived the growth of his inner breath.

The increase in quantity gave him the feeling of having cultivated for two to three months.

"Barely sufficient!"

His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he reopened his eyes.

The next moment, he swallowed all the remaining pills in the bottle in one go.

He once again employed the Furnace Refining Secret Art to refine them.

After a short while, the nine pills in his stomach were completely refined.

He slowly opened his eyes, licked his dry lips, and savored the taste of the Embryo Qi Pill.

"Using this to enhance my inner breath is indeed costly!"

He murmured, but a genuine smile appeared on his face.

With these ten pills, he had successfully reached the cultivation level of two hundred and forty years, just a step away from his previous level.

Two hundred and forty years of cultivation, that was the total amount of inner breath he now possessed.

Compared to the quality of his inner breath, the quantity had undoubtedly taken the lead.

"Not bad, the total amount surpasses the quality!"

He secretly circulated the inner breath in his dantian, then nodded slightly.

Afterward, Jiang Ning looked up at the sky.

As time passed, the sky became brighter, but the clouds did not disperse; instead, they thickened.

"Fortunately, I have the means to disperse the clouds; otherwise, with this weather, I wouldn't have been able to achieve mastery in the Inner Core Nourishing Art today!"

Jiang Ning smiled.

On the other side, in the Dongling Mountains, there was an ancient and serene Daoist temple covered in moss, with a wooden plaque hanging at its entrance.

Four large, charred characters were carved on the plaque.

Trinity Dao Temple.

The temple's dilapidated state and weathered appearance indicated that it lacked incense offerings.

At this moment, in the front courtyard of the temple, a ritual platform had been set up.

A yellow-robed Daoist ascended the platform, looked up at the sky above, which was shrouded in dark clouds, and smiled.

"Yesterday's rain clouds were dispersed by a fellow Daoist, and their purpose must have been the same as mine."

"Today, I will use this ritual platform to disperse the surrounding clouds and rain, informing that fellow Daoist of my existence!"

At this moment, the platform was filled with incense, offerings, talismans, and scriptures.

On the platform, a spirit position for the Rain God was erected.

The next moment, after making all the necessary preparations, he began to chant an invocation to summon the deity.

After a while, as the incantation concluded, a faint blue light flashed across the spirit position of the Rain God.

Seeing this, the yellow-robed Daoist's expression brightened.

He picked up a talisman that had been prepared earlier, rubbed it with two fingers, and it instantly ignited.

The burning talisman was a Rain Dispelling Talisman, as any high-level Daoist would easily recognize.

After completing the ritual to communicate with the deity, igniting the talisman would convey the request.

As the talisman's flames illuminated the Daoist's face, his expression became tense.

He had prayed for rain several times, and only half of his attempts were successful.

This was his first time attempting to disperse clouds.

However, faced with the orders from above, even a True Lord like him had no choice but to obey.

As the talisman was completely consumed by the flames, he felt a response from the divine realm and his eyes lit up with joy.

Then, he immediately lit three incense sticks and bowed three times to the spirit position on the platform.

After a while, the ritual concluded.

The yellow-robed Daoist lifted his head and looked up at the sky.

He saw the clouds that had covered the entire mountain range beginning to disperse.

At this moment, anyone with sufficient knowledge would recognize the yellow-robed Daoist as an extraordinary figure.

Whether a True Lord or a True Man, they held an extremely high position in the Daoist community.

Especially in this era, they were incredibly rare.

Such individuals, even in this age, could have the potential to become immortals in ancient times.

On the other side, Jiang Ning walked towards the main hall.

Behind him, Lu Yi followed closely, mimicking his every move.

Suddenly, Jiang Ning came to a halt, gazing up at the sky above.

"Young Master, what's wrong?" Lu Yi stopped in her tracks, following Jiang Ning's gaze upwards.

"Something feels off!" Jiang Ning replied.

"Young Master, what's wrong?" Lu Yi asked.

Jiang Ning furrowed his brows, then shook his head slightly.

"I feel like there's something strange about these clouds, but I can't quite put my finger on it!"

Then, without further ado, he turned his gaze away, "Let's go! Forget about it!"

"Yes, Young Master!" Lu Yi hurriedly caught up with Jiang Ning, taking small, quick steps.

At this moment, the difference in their strides was evident; Jiang Ning's single step was equal to two of Lu Yi's.

After a short while, they passed through a circular archway, and Jiang Ning arrived in the front courtyard.

"Big Brother!" He saw Jiang Li practicing a set of martial arts moves with great vigor in the courtyard and couldn't help but call out with a smile.

Hearing this, Jiang Li paused his movements and turned towards Jiang Ning.

"Little Brother!!!"

His eyes lit up, and his expression brightened.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning smiled and quickly walked over.

"Big Brother, how's it going?"

"Good! Very good!!! Excellent!!!" Jiang Li's joy was evident in his words.

He clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked.

Whoosh!

As he punched, the wind howled with the force of his strike.

Jiang Li continued, "I've never felt my body as powerful as it is today! My entire being is brimming with energy, and I have nowhere to release it!!!"

Just then, Liu Wanwan came from the direction of the kitchen, carrying a pot.

"Big Sister-in-Law!" Jiang Ning looked in the direction of the voice and greeted her.

At the sight of Liu Wanwan, Jiang Ning's heart stirred slightly.

He felt that today, Liu Wanwan seemed especially radiant, as if she had been nourished by something.

He turned to look at Jiang Li, and it seemed he understood something.

"Little Brother, thank you! You've done so much for me and even helped me with the Marrow Washing and Sinew Severing!" Jiang Li spoke with sincerity.

Hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled.

"We're family; there's no need to say such things!"

"Big Brother, you've done so much for my martial arts training. What I did yesterday was only what I should have done, and those things are insignificant to me now!"

After a simple exchange, they went inside and finished their breakfast.

Stepping out of the front hall and into the courtyard, the sun's rays shone down upon them.

In the soft sunlight, the ground in the courtyard seemed to sparkle with Jiang Ning's presence.

"The sun is out?" He was slightly taken aback.

Then, he looked up at the sky.

The thick cloud layer that had been overhead was now extremely thin, and in some places, it had completely dispersed, revealing the deep blue sky above.

"It's really cleared up!"

His eyes narrowed, and he felt something was amiss.

He paused for a moment, deep in thought.

"Forget it, let's not worry about this! Whether it's man-made or not!"

Jiang Ning shook his head, putting the matter aside.

Returning to his own courtyard, Jiang Ning sat in the sun, reading a book, quietly awaiting the arrival of the fourth hour.

On the other side.

A young monk, clad in white, sat cross-legged before Zhao Yulong, with a chessboard between them.

"Master Zhao, it's your move," the young monk said, his fingers hovering over the chessboard.

The chessboard was already filled with pieces.

At this moment, Zhao Yulong's hand held a black piece, suspended in mid-air, but he hesitated to place it down.

Suddenly, he sighed, "Ahh..."

He slowly returned the black piece, held between his index and middle fingers, back to the chessboard.

"I've lost this game!"

"If I continue, no matter how I place my pieces, it's just a futile struggle before defeat."

Hearing this, the young monk smiled.

"Master Zhao, the path of martial arts is also a path of tempering the mind."

"Facing death and seeking life, there may be a glimmer of hope, and then there's a possibility of a miracle!"

As he finished speaking, the young monk waved his hand, and a black piece from the chessboard beside Zhao Yulong instantly moved to a spot that Zhao Yulong hadn't noticed.

Seeing the black piece's position, chosen by the young monk, Zhao Yulong was stunned.

After a long while, he sighed.

"I've lost..."

These three words came from the depths of his heart.

The young monk smiled again.

Then, he looked up and saw the morning sun shining through the thin cloud layer.

"Master Zhao, do you feel there's something strange about this weather?"

Hearing this, Zhao Yulong snapped out of his daze and also looked up at the sky.

"What's strange about it?" he asked.

"It was just overcast, but now the clouds have dispersed, and the sun is high in the sky. This sudden change must be the work of a demon!"

The fourth hour.

At the sundial within the courtyard, the time was just the fourth hour.

Jiang Ning slowly exhaled a breath, then began to adjust his state, and in an instant, his mind became clear and free from distractions, his thoughts vanishing.

He focused on the Grand Sun above his head.

In a flash, a strand of crimson Grand Sun Essence Energy entered his nasal cavity.

As the Grand Sun Essence Energy entered his body, it immediately felt like a raging fire, beginning to temper his five viscera and six bowels.

[Inner Core Nourishing Art Experience +1]



With the Grand Sun Essence Energy completely refined and thoroughly consumed, his Inner Core Nourishing Art experience immediately increased by one point.

Subsequently, Jiang Ning gently exhaled a breath and then activated the Breathing Technique, drawing in another strand of crimson Grand Sun Essence Energy.

[Inner Core Nourishing Art Experience +1]



[Inner Core Nourishing Art Experience +1]



[Inner Core Nourishing Art Experience +1]



He was already extremely familiar with this process.

As his Inner Core Nourishing Art experience gradually increased, the moment of his technique's completion drew closer.

The Grand Sun slowly moved upwards.

The figure's shadow also gradually shortened.

Another strand of Grand Sun Essence Energy was completely refined within his body.

[Inner Core Nourishing Art Experience +1]



With this increase in experience, Jiang Ning's panel suddenly changed.

[Skills]: Inner Core Nourishing Art (Great Mastery 0/10000)



At this moment, the Inner Core Nourishing Art suddenly broke through from the Small Achievement realm to the Great Mastery realm.

In his energy core, Jiang Ning instantly felt a violent change.

The inner breath, which had been like smoke and mist, now seemed to surge like wind and clouds, condensing and gathering with intense fluctuations.

As the inner breath gathered and condensed, it transformed into droplets of water, falling like rain.

Witnessing this transformation in his energy core, Jiang Ning's heart filled with joy.

The transition from gaseous to liquid state symbolized the evolution of his inner breath.

Observing the changes in his energy core, he felt a sense of relief.

The evolution of his inner breath indicated that he had completed the final step of his cultivation at the Fifth Rank.

Combined with the two hundred and forty years of cultivation he had accumulated, he had reached an almost perfect state at this level.

For him, the next step was to undergo a Bone Marrow Washing and enter the Fourth Rank.

"It's almost here!"

He muttered to himself.

Sitting cross-legged in place, he quietly awaited the transformation of his body.

Time passed slowly.

The Grand Sun above his head continued to rise.

The temperature gradually increased, and Jiang Ning's shadow shortened inch by inch.

When his shadow completely disappeared, merging with his body, Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes seemed to reflect a glimmer of spiritual energy.

[Skills]: Inner Core Nourishing Art (Great Mastery 0/10000)



After checking his panel, he closed it.

Then, he slowly stood up.

The completion of the Inner Core Nourishing Art at the Great Mastery level undoubtedly proved that he had accomplished the most crucial step at the Fifth Rank—the evolution of his inner breath.

"Inner Breath condensed into Prana! Thunderous Sound of the Five Viscera!"

He muttered to himself.

Then, he slowly rose.

His chest swelled, and instantly, it seemed as if a thunderous roar emanated from within.

The Thunderous Sound of the Five Viscera described the unique resonance achieved when the five viscera and six bowels were tempered to a certain level.

Now, he had long been capable of reaching this stage.

Even before achieving the Great Mastery in Inner Core Nourishing Art, he had already mastered the Thunderous Sound of the Five Viscera.

The next moment, he raised his index finger, and his inner breath surged forth.

Instantly, he saw the air around his fingertip ripple with energy.

The purest inner breath was formless and colorless, and only by carefully observing the air's ripples could one vaguely discern the outline of the inner breath.

Whoosh—

Suddenly, a sound of piercing through the air rang out.

A strand of inner breath shot through the air, piercing the void, causing air currents to ripple and generating a strange sound of friction.

In Jiang Ning's perception, he clearly sensed that this casual burst of inner breath traveled a distance of one hundred and thirty zhang before gradually dissipating.

Subsequently, he pointed at the ground beneath his feet.

His inner breath erupted.

It penetrated several dozen zhang before completely dispersing.

"Single Breath Strike Thousand Armies! It's no wonder it can strike a thousand armies!"

With just two simple attempts, Jiang Ning's heart was filled with awe.

Only after the evolution of his inner breath did he truly comprehend the terror of condensing it into Prana.

The inner breath at this moment was completely different from before.

Previously, when his unevolved inner breath left his body, it would continuously dissipate.

But now, after the evolution, his inner breath...

When it erupted, it could travel a distance of one hundred and thirty zhang before gradually dissipating.

He dared not imagine how terrifying his inner breath would be if he unleashed it with all his strength!

A single strike to slay a thousand armies—it was indeed possible!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end