Chapter 37: Cheng Ran's Shock

Chapter 37: Cheng Ran's Shock

With a single arm, the force exerted exceeded two hundred and fifty pounds.

Although this number didn't seem terrifying to Cheng Ran, considering that after achieving Qi and Blood Perfection and circulating it throughout his body, his single-arm force had already surpassed five hundred pounds, more than double what Jiang Ning could currently muster.

However, for someone who had just started practicing martial arts, exerting over two hundred and fifty pounds of force was astonishing to Cheng Ran.

At this rate of progress, it wouldn't be long before Jiang Ning caught up to him.

Of course, actual progress couldn't be calculated so simply.

The more one advanced, the more challenging it became to increase force.

This was the reason why, despite achieving Qi and Blood Perfection and full-body circulation, Cheng Ran could only exert a force of five hundred pounds.

Nevertheless, the two hundred and fifty pounds of force gave Cheng Ran a rough estimate of Jiang Ning's Qi and Blood cultivation level.

Jiang Ning's Qi and Blood must have at least reached Minor Success, and even then, he might not have achieved full-body circulation.

Given their close relationship, Cheng Ran was well aware that Jiang Ning's only source of medicinal supplements was the wild ginseng from Zhou Xing and the herbal soup provided by the martial arts academy.

There was nothing else.

With such ordinary training conditions, the fact that Jiang Ning had achieved this level of force could only mean one thing to Cheng Ran.

Jiang Ning possessed an extraordinary martial talent, and by solely relying on the foundational Five Beasts Fist, he had condensed a substantial amount of Qi and Blood energy.

Furthermore, Jiang Ning's progress in fist techniques must have been incredibly rapid, likely reaching the Proficiency or even Minor Success level.

This realization made Cheng Ran's heart race.

Having personally experienced Jiang Ning's power, he knew Jiang Ning better than anyone.

He never imagined that a casual friend he made would have such an exaggerated martial talent.

This talent was unparalleled, and even in the entire Luoshui County, it was extremely rare.

At this moment, Cheng Ran decided to keep this information to himself.

He smiled and bowed again, "Thank you again, Junior Brother Jiang, for your assistance!"

"Senior Brother has already expressed his gratitude!" Jiang Ning smiled.

Cheng Ran chuckled, "As the saying goes, 'Injuries to muscles and bones take a hundred days to heal.' At this critical juncture, if my muscles and bones were injured, your help has spared me from a prolonged period of bed rest. A simple thank you cannot express my gratitude."

"Then this!" Cheng Ran reached into his pocket, took out a silver bill, and handed it to Jiang Ning, "Junior Brother Jiang, this is the only fifty taels of silver I have on me. It's not much, but it's a token of my sincerity. Please accept it."

Jiang Ning looked at Cheng Ran with a hint of surprise.

Then, a faint smile appeared on his face, "Since Senior Brother Cheng is so generous, how can I refuse? Don't regret it later!"

Cheng Ran laughed heartily, "I appreciate Junior Brother Jiang's straightforward and refreshing personality!"

As he spoke, Cheng Ran placed the silver bill into Jiang Ning's hand, "When I, Cheng Ran, give something, I genuinely mean it. How could I possibly regret it?"

"Moreover, although I'm not from a wealthy family, I can afford to be generous with my friends. Especially since Junior Brother Jiang has helped me avoid flesh wounds and bone pain, sparing me from a bedridden state, these fifty taels of silver are nothing."

"In this situation, refusing to accept them would be an insult to me!"

Jiang Ning smiled, "In that case, I won't be so rude as to decline."

And with that, the fifty tael silver bill was tucked away by Jiang Ning.

At that moment, the onlookers in the distance witnessed this scene.

They couldn't help but look on with envy, especially those from outside the city, whose admiration for Jiang Ning deepened.

"Fifty taels of silver without a second thought, Cheng Ran is indeed generous!"

"Of course, Cheng Ran is the only male heir in his family. Not only do they own thousands of acres of fertile land, but they also run an inn. It's no wonder Cheng Ran is so wealthy."

If not for this, how could Cheng Ran have reached the level of Qi and Blood Perfection, with Full Body Channeling? The silver taels spent on this are not a small amount!"

"Jiang Ning is truly lucky to befriend Senior Brother Cheng Ran and gain his favor."

"To gain Senior Brother Cheng Ran's favor is also his own merit. Allowing Senior Brother Cheng Ran to avoid severe injuries and recover within three months of the opening of the Luoshui County Inspection Bureau, if Cheng Ran wants to compete and join the Bureau, a few days of recovery won't be as important as fifty taels of silver."

"That's true. Joining the Inspection Bureau is like leaping over the dragon gate for us in Luoshui County, and our future will be vastly different."

". . ."

On the other side.

Jiang Ning naturally accepted the fifty taels of silver.

He wouldn't bother with the formality of refusing such a gesture.

Nowadays, fifty taels of silver are of great help to him, but they are insignificant to Cheng Ran.

He is currently in dire need of resources.

On the path of martial arts, the lack of resources greatly affects progress and efficiency.

Ever since he stopped using wild ginseng, the number of times he practiced his fists each day had decreased significantly, and his daily Essence Energy points income had also reduced.

With these fifty taels of silver, he could return to his previous efficiency.

This way, his fist technique progress would be faster, and the speed of accumulating Qi and Blood would also increase.

This would greatly increase his chances of joining the Inspection Bureau in three months.

All along, he had been determined to join the Inspection Bureau.

However, whether he could succeed or not was something he didn't know.

After all, he didn't have much time left, and three months was too short.

In three months, he had to achieve Qi and Blood Mastery, enter the Martial Dao Ascension, and pass the entry test for the Bureau.

For the first task, he was confident and had no major concerns.

But for the second task, the Martial Dao Ascension, he had no idea.

On the path of martial arts, even with Qi and Blood Perfection and Full Body Channeling, one could only be considered an ordinary person who hasn't broken the limits of the human body.

Only by entering the Martial Dao Ascension can one truly step onto the path of martial arts.

According to his knowledge, to ascend to the Nine Levels of Martial Arts, one must circulate Qi and Blood throughout the body, aided by secret techniques and external objects, refining both internally and externally, and forming a layer of skin membrane beneath the skin, connected to the muscles.

When this membrane is initially formed, and the body is without leaks, it is like the layer of skin peeled off by a cowhide, connecting the entire body's muscles.

Only when this step is achieved can one be considered to have entered the Martial Dao Ascension, becoming a Skin Refining Martial Artist, also known as a Nine Levels Martial Artist.

At the initial stage of the Nine Levels, the increase in strength is not significant. It only enhances Qi and Blood strength to a certain extent, increases force slightly, and slightly improves resistance to strikes. This improved resistance is still insufficient against weapons.

But once the Skin Refining Realm progresses to the next level, reaching Minor Mastery, and the skin membrane hardens like stone, becoming a Stone Skin, the difference is remarkable.

Not only do ordinary weapons find it difficult to inflict significant damage on Martial Artists at this level, but their resistance to strikes also increases significantly.

More importantly, Qi and Blood, and force, will be further enhanced.

If Martial Artists at this level were to form an army, clad in armor and wielding sharp weapons, they would be a nightmare on the battlefield. Ten of them could defeat a thousand ordinary soldiers, and a hundred could defeat ten thousand.

If one reaches Major Mastery in Skin Refining, they will undergo further transformation.

The skin membrane, connected to the muscles, rivals bronze, and ordinary swords and knives find it difficult to inflict harm.

At the Major Mastery level of Skin Refining, even in a single layer of clothing, it is equivalent to wearing armor.

This is the power of a Martial Dao Ascension practitioner.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end