Chapter 388: Breaking Limits, A Mind Like a Clear Mirror, The Grandmaster in the Fourth Layer of the

Chapter 388: Breaking Limits, A Mind Like a Clear Mirror, The Grandmaster in the Fourth Layer of the County Prison

January 22, 2025

County Prison.

After passing through the dim and damp second floor, they arrived at the third floor.

As they opened the door, an even more unpleasant odor greeted them.

It was like the smell of pickled herring, causing Jiang Ning's head to spin slightly.

At this moment, he suddenly felt that having overly developed senses might not be a good thing.

The more sensitive his sense of smell, the more intense the stench became.

One of the men took out a fire starter and lit the oil lamp on the wall, casting a faint glow over the third floor of the prison.

The dim light revealed a damp and gloomy environment, with pits on the ground filled with stagnant water and decaying matter.

There were only four cells on either side.

Compared to the second floor, the third floor of the prison seemed much smaller.

"Commander Jiang, this is the cleanest cell on the third floor. What do you think?" one of them asked as he opened the door to an unlocked cell.

"It'll do," Jiang Ning nodded.

He didn't bother to compare the cells.

In his eyes, there wasn't much difference between the cells on the third floor.

The foul smell had already permeated every corner of the third floor.

Clang!

As the heavy metal lock was lowered, the thick cell door slowly opened.

"Commander Jiang, please!" one of them said, gesturing for Jiang Ning to enter the cell.

"Okay," Jiang Ning nodded.

He stepped forward, his hand resting on the cold iron pillar of the cell.

In an instant, a surge of power erupted from his five fingers.

Feeling the iron cell deform under his grasp, Jiang Ning finally felt a bit relieved and stepped into the cell.

"Commander Jiang, please excuse our rudeness!" the man who had locked the cell door apologized, then proceeded to lock the iron lock in his hand.

Click!

With the sound of metal closing, the cell door was locked.

"It's been a bit of an inconvenience for Commander Jiang these past few days!" the man spoke again.

As his voice trailed off, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Due to locking the cell door and being close to the iron cell, even in the dim light of the third floor, he could see the five distinct fingerprints on the iron bars.

"Fresh marks!"

"Did Commander Jiang just leave those fingerprints with his right hand?"

The thought flashed through the man's mind.

Immediately, he found it absurd.

The third floor of the county prison could detain any martial artist below the Grandmaster realm, even without any protective measures.

Yet, Jiang Ning had inadvertently left five clear fingerprints on the iron bars with just a casual grip.

This undoubtedly meant that whoever left those fingerprints could tear through the iron bars and escape the prison.

In other words, the third-floor county prison in Dongling City couldn't hold this person captive!

At this moment, Jiang Ning didn't notice the man's change in expression.

He glanced around the cell and spoke, "No problem."

He wasn't concerned about the situation at the moment.

It was just a slightly unpleasant environment, and he could tolerate it.

Moreover, he had tested the cell door before entering.

Such an iron cell couldn't possibly hold him back.

With the power in his fingers, he could deform the cell door.

It meant that he could leave the cell whenever he wanted.

This cell couldn't confine him either.

With an escape route in mind, he felt much more at ease, and even being in the cell didn't bother him.

"Commander Jiang, farewell!" The two men bowed slightly.

As they were about to leave, the man's peripheral vision caught the fingerprints on the iron pillar of the cell door once again.

Then, he followed the footsteps of the man in front.

"He must have noticed it!" Jiang Ning muttered to himself as he watched the two men's departing figures.

He didn't mind this either.

He wouldn't do anything excessive.

After all, he had the support of the Inspection Office.

Moreover, with Zhao Yulong's intervention and Bai Luoyu's assistance, Xiao Bieli would have to give him some face.

Especially since both of them held exceptional positions, with Zhao Yulong being one of the few Grandmasters in Dongling County.

"However, relying on others' strength will only get you so far. To truly stand tall, one must rely on their own abilities!"

At that moment, Jiang Ning's mind flashed back to Liu Birmingham, whom he had encountered on the first floor of the prison.

On the day the Martial Academy opened, Liu Birmingham wasn't the only one brought in.

There was also someone from the Qinghe Commander's estate.

But in the end, that person from the Qinghe Commander's estate was released, and Jiang Ning had no idea how it happened.

"Forget it!" He shook his head. "Thinking about it won't help. Improving myself is the way to go! Borrowed strength is never truly one's own!"

Meanwhile, on the other side.

After the two men left the third-floor prison.

"Brother Zhao, did you see it just now?"

"See what?"

"The fingerprints, five fingerprints left on the iron bars of the cell!"

"Are you talking about Commander Jiang?"

"Yes! I locked the cell door, so I saw it clearly. And before leaving, I took one last look to confirm that I wasn't mistaken!"

"How is that possible?! The third floor of the county prison can hold any criminal below the Grandmaster realm. If Commander Jiang could leave those fingerprints without a sound, it means this prison can't hold him either?"

"Yes! If those fingerprints were indeed left by him, then this prison can't contain him! Unless Elder Xiao personally stops him, this prison is as good as nothing in his eyes!"

"How could Commander Jiang, at such a young age, possess the strength you speak of?"

"I was just thinking the same, but consider this, a Fourth Rank cultivator with an immortal physique and celestial bones will look younger. Take Senior Xiao, for instance, from his appearance, can you tell that he's already in his fifties? Didn't you notice it just now? That Jiang Commander seems to have an immortal physique too."

"I didn't pay attention to that! I need to go back and take a look!"

"Just like that?"

"What else can I do?"

"That's too straightforward. You should bring some food and a bottle of wine to Commander Jiang. It'll seem more natural that way!"

"Great idea! If what you say is true, we can't afford to offend Commander Jiang! Who knows, maybe one day we'll hear of him breaking through to the Third Rank and becoming a Grandmaster, earning the qualification to host a Grandmaster banquet!"

"Yes, we are but small fry, we can't afford to offend anyone. We must get along with everyone. For Commander Jiang to have connections with Grandmaster Zhao, he's definitely not an ordinary person!"

"Yes!"

---

Third Floor of the County Prison.

Jiang Ning detected the pungent smell in his cell and raised his hand.

Roar!

A tiger's roar echoed.

Intense flames instantly engulfed the cell, filling the cramped space of six square meters.

No one witnessed this scene.

Upon arriving at the third floor, Jiang Ning realized that this level had not held any serious criminals before his arrival.

Thus, the entire third floor of the county prison now held only him.

The tranquil environment suited his preferences perfectly.

In his mind, it was merely a change of venue for his cultivation.

He could cultivate in the county prison as well.

As the Tiger's Blaze erupted, the cell he was in became dry and clean, and the flames incinerated all impurities, turning them into toxic gases that filled the air.

After a moment, he waved his hand.

A gust of wind swept through, clearing away the charred ruins and the noxious gases instantly.

The cell was now transformed.

The soil was dry, no longer damp as before.

The cell was also much cleaner, and the foul stench from earlier had disappeared.

However, the smell from outside soon seeped into the cell.

As the nauseating odor, reminiscent of rotting fish in a sewage ditch, reached him, Jiang Ning frowned.

"Forget it!" He shook his head, "It's just a little stench, nothing I can't endure!"

He silently reassured himself and chose to ignore the smell.

At that moment, the third floor of the county prison, which had been silent, reverberated with the sound of clanging and scraping.

"Is that sound coming from the floor below?"

His gaze shifted to the dark iron gate leading to the fourth floor of the county prison.

Compared to the previous three floors, the gate on the fourth floor was even heavier, entirely dark iron, naturally exuding a heavy aura.

As he listened more intently, the clanging of the iron chains became more apparent.

"There's definitely someone down there!"

The remaining mercury-silver on the burly man's body reached above his waist.

The lighting on the fourth floor was no longer torches but several fist-sized peculiar stones embedded above, emitting a pale white glow.

"So cruel!"

Upon seeing this, Jiang Ning couldn't help but gasp in shock.

This method of restraint was not only a physical torment but also a mental one.

It was akin to confining someone in a tiny dark room.

For an ordinary person, it wouldn't take long before they went insane, their sanity shattered, let alone anything else.

"So ruthless!" he exclaimed again.

Then, he withdrew his gaze.

Even with his Heavenly Eye activated, he still couldn't recognize the Grandmaster below.

"Forget it! This has nothing to do with me; I don't want to pay attention anymore!"

Jiang Ning no longer dwelled on this issue.

Instead, he turned his attention to his panel.

【Essence Energy】: 11,198

【Skills】: Literacy + (8-Break Limit 9000/9000) (Attributes: Photographic Memory, Extraordinary Senses, Keen Mind, Exceptional Comprehension, Heavenly Eye (First Break), Transcendent Sixth Sense, Unity of Knowledge and Action)



Currently, he had over 11,000 Essence Energy points, an increase of more than a hundred points compared to three days ago.

The primary reason for this growth was the diluted Imperial Essence Juice he had absorbed from the wine with Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu a couple of days ago.

"If I don't have enough Essence Energy points, the Imperial Essence Juice in that wine can still earn me a considerable number of points!"

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, his gaze fixed on the Literacy skill.

This skill had already reached the 8-Break Limit, and its experience bar was full.

Now, both his Essence Energy points and experience were sufficient for breaking the limit.

Having fallen to this state, he became even more keenly aware of the importance of status and strength.

If it were Zhao Yulong in this situation...

Xiao Qiuyue's death would be considered a trivial matter, and he would never be imprisoned on the third floor of the county prison like this.

The so-called rules were only for the weak.

It was like the saying, 'The emperor and the commoner are equal before the law.'

Only a fool would truly believe in such slogans.

Afterward,

The miscellaneous thoughts in his mind dissipated, and with a thought,

In an instant,

His Essence Energy points decreased like a waterfall.

Eight breaks to nine, this was his first time breaking the ninth limit.

【Essence Energy】: 6,198 (11,198 → 6,198)



After glancing at the panel, he closed his eyes as his mind was stimulated by the clear spiritual energy that flowed into his brain.

His mind instantly became empty, devoid of sorrow or joy, and his heart was calm without any ripples.

In this moment, the seven emotions and six desires vanished, and he felt as cold as a machine.

His entire being returned to pure rationality.

In this state, he could clearly sense his brain absorbing the clear spiritual energy, and his mental energy was rapidly increasing.

After a long time,

He slowly opened his eyes.

In his eyes, a silver glow flashed.

"What just happened...?" Jiang Ning regained his senses, and his face immediately showed confusion.

Then he looked at his panel.

【Skills】: Literacy (9-Break Limit 2/10,000) (Attributes: Photographic Memory, Extraordinary Senses, Keen Mind, Exceptional Comprehension, Heavenly Eye (First Break), Transcendent Sixth Sense, Unity of Knowledge and Action, Mind Like a Clear Mirror)



【Mind Like a Clear Mirror】: A clear mirror is not a platform, where does dust gather? My mind is like a clear mirror, undisturbed and untroubled by miscellaneous thoughts, unburdened by the passing of time, always clear and unclouded.

"A clear mirror is not a platform, where does dust gather?" Jiang Ning muttered as he looked at his panel.

Then, as he read the analysis, he seemed to have an epiphany.

The longer one lives, the more miscellaneous thoughts and troubles accumulate in the heart.

These thoughts and troubles are like threads,

Constantly entwining and piling up in the mind, causing the brain to gradually become overwhelmed and less efficient than before.

It's like a mirror that, over time, becomes covered in dust, losing its initial brightness and clarity.

Or like a blank sheet of paper, initially easy to write on.

But as more words are written, it becomes increasingly difficult to add new ones, leaving only small gaps to fill.

In his understanding, this was also why students had the best memory during their school days.

Because at that time, their brains were empty, without the accumulation of too many memories.

As they grew older and gained more experiences, their brains accumulated too many memories and impurities.

Their minds were no longer as efficient as before.

"A mind like a clear mirror should be considered a pretty good attribute!"

He nodded slightly and looked down at his panel.

【Essence Energy】: 6,198

"Consuming 5,000 Essence Energy points at once is quite extravagant!"

"Following the pattern, the next break limit for Literacy will be 9-Break to 10, requiring 10,000 points."

"I wonder if there will be any additional changes when breaking the tenth limit?"

"Forget it!"

He shook his head, deciding not to dwell on these thoughts anymore.

10,000 Essence Energy points were too extravagant for him to afford at the moment.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end