Chapter 399: The Blade's Intent Soars, Unveiling a New Trait!

Chapter 399: The Blade's Intent Soars, Unveiling a New Trait!

February 2, 2025

In the backyard of the kitchen.

The blade's gleam flashed repeatedly.

The round log was split by the blade's radiance, transforming into firewood scattered on the ground.

【Pichai Knife Technique Experience +1】

【Pichai Knife Technique Experience +1】

【Pichai Knife Technique Experience +1】

【.】

Simultaneously, the experience points for the Pichai Knife Technique on the bread were rapidly increasing.

In a short while, Jiang Ning paused his movements.

【Technique】: Pichai Knife Technique + (8th Limit Break 9000/9000) (Trait: Extrapolation, Blade Like Thunder, Divine Blade Movement, Blade and Body as One, Innate Blade Bone (2nd Limit Break), Cook Ding's Ox Dissection)



He glanced at the panel and then looked up.

【Source Energy】: 6913

At this very moment, both the experience points and Source Energy points were sufficient for him to perform the next Limit Break for the Pichai Knife Technique.

"The 9th Limit Break, I hope it will further enhance my combat power!"

Jiang Ning silently made a vow to himself, without the slightest hesitation.

His mind stirred suddenly.

In an instant, Source Energy points diminished like a waterfall.

【Source Energy】: 1913 (6913→1913)



Various familiar scenes flashed through his mind.

Each scene depicted him practicing his knife skills.

Day after day, season after season, he tirelessly honed his knife techniques.

The only move he practiced was the chop, and with each strike, the blade's radiance tore through the sky, intensifying the blade's intent.

Then, at a certain moment.

The blade struck.

Boom—

The mountain trembled, and rocks tumbled.

All the scenes shattered at that instant, merging into his mind.

At this moment.

Lu Yi emerged from the kitchen, feeling that Jiang Ning resembled a freshly unsheathed blade, exuding a chilling aura and revealing its sharp edge.

Her eyes stung with a piercing pain.

Buzz!

A fly flapped its wings and approached Jiang Ning, instantly capturing her attention.

The next moment.

The fly, upon reaching a distance of ten feet around Jiang Ning, instantly disintegrated into scattered remains and fell.

Impressive!!!

Lu Yi's eyes widened in astonishment.

At that moment, Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes.

Two dazzling rays of blade light flashed in his eyes.

Two yards in front of him, a fallen leaf drifted.

As his gaze slightly intensified.

Sizzle!

A faint sound reverberated in the air.

The intact leaf instantly shattered into seven or eight pieces and fell.

Then, the blade light in his eyes faded, revealing deep pupils akin to a vast starry universe.

Incredible skill!

He nodded slightly.

Then he looked at his panel.

【Source Energy】: 1913

After enabling the Pichai Knife Technique to complete the 9th Limit Break, the Source Energy points sharply decreased by a full five thousand points.

With 1913 points remaining, they were practically useless to him now.

For a moment, he sighed inwardly.

Previously, his Source Energy points had exceeded sixteen thousand.

He felt that he wouldn't have to worry about Source Energy points for a long time.

But how much time had passed since then?

It hadn't even been a month, barely half a month.

Source Energy points depleted.

Not enough!

Far from enough!

He shook his head silently and looked down.

【Technique】: Pichai Knife Technique (9th Limit Break 3/10000) (Trait: Extrapolation, Blade Like Thunder, Divine Blade Movement, Blade and Body as One, Innate Blade Bone (2nd Limit Break), Cook Ding's Ox Dissection)



【Cook Ding's Ox Dissection】: Its technique approaches the Dao, reaching the pinnacle.

Its technique approaches the Dao, reaching the pinnacle?

Reading the eight-character description, Jiang Ning paused, deep in thought.

Then, he picked up the firewood knife and casually waved it twice.

"I don't understand!"

He shook his head silently.

He didn't feel the effect of this trait.

The explanation was ambiguous, stating that its technique approached the Dao and reached the pinnacle.

He could only speculate based on ancient records.

In the ancient books on the first floor of the Martial Academy, there was mention of 'entering the Dao' and 'unifying with the Dao.'

Unifying with the Dao leads to the ultimate realm, immortality, and eternal existence alongside the Dao.

However, in his opinion.

These records seemed to be exaggerated.

If such beings truly existed.

Immortal and eternal, existing alongside the Dao.

What kind of existence would they be? Moreover, if they were immortal and eternal, where are they now?

How could they have fallen to be overshadowed by that Martial Saint for over eight hundred years?

"Perhaps, this trait is related to the Dao!"

The thought flashed through his mind, and he closed the panel, refocusing his attention on the knife in his hand.

After the Pichai Knife Technique's 8th Limit Break, not only did it gain a new trait, but it also enhanced his blade intent, taking it to a higher level.

"I'll be right back!" Jiang Ning said to Lu Yi before leaving.

Jiang Ning's figure flickered, and a thunderous roar echoed through the air.

The wind and thunder roared in unison as his body vanished from its original spot.

In the blink of an eye, he reappeared in the Dongling Mountains.

Before him, a mountain peak pierced the sky like a sharp blade, soaring over ten zhang high.

The cliff face was smooth, with only a few small trees rooted in the rocks swaying in the wind.

The morning breeze blew across the mountain, creating a mournful sound as it interacted with the mountain body.

Not far away, a waterfall cascaded from the heavens, its flow sparse, and the mountain wind scattered it, leaving barely half of it reaching the ground.

The remaining water droplets were blown away by the wind, turning into mist in the air and refracting a brilliant rainbow.

Jiang Ning looked up, scanning the entire mountain peak before him.

Narrow at the top and wide at the base, it resembled a sharp blade pointing towards the sky.

The next moment, he took a deep breath, clenching the firewood knife in his right hand.

Recalling the final strike that had merged with his mind, his gaze instantly turned sharp.

Hsss...

Hsss...

Hsss...

Within a zhang of his body, invisible air blades seemed to flash by, emitting a sound that pierced the air.

The energy around his body became incredibly sharp, and the strands of his black hair stood on end, like a sword about to leave its sheath.

Just then, a few leaves drifted down from above, landing within a zhang of his body.

In an instant, those leaves were as if sliced by countless air blades, instantly turning into shreds.

At that very moment, Jiang Ning, holding his firewood knife, slashed towards the mountain peak in front of him.

A deafening roar reverberated through the heavens and earth, and rocks tumbled down.

He witnessed the mountain peak slowly tilting, revealing a massive chasm at its center.

This strike, though it didn't split the ten-zhang-high peak in half, had directly breached the mountain's foundation and disrupted its structure.

What formidable Knife Intent!

As he watched the slowly collapsing mountain peak bearing down on him, a glint of astonishment flashed in his eyes.

This strike possessed the power to cleave mountains.

Far surpassing his previous burst of strength.

With this strike, he could not only cleave mountains but also breach city walls.

A single blow like this would be enough to cut through the walls of an ordinary county town.

There would be no need to enter through the city gates.

"The Knife Intent has clearly reached a higher level, but I wonder what level I've attained now!"

Jiang Ning's thoughts raced through his mind, and his figure flickered, vanishing from his original spot once more.

The tumbling rocks soon fell where he had just been standing.

The collapsing mountain body seemed to tilt the heavens, instantly engulfing the spot where he had been.

Standing at a distance, he glanced downward.

As the mountain peak crumbled, dust filled the air, and rocks tumbled.

The next moment, his figure disappeared again, leaving the scene of the incident.

This strike had severed a mountain peak over ten zhang high.

The commotion was too startling, and he could already sense the approach of powerful individuals from the city.

"Hiss! Who is this powerful cultivator who just practiced here?" A figure landed on the mountain peak, gazing at the collapsed mountain below, and couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

If Jiang Ning were there, he would recognize this person as the renowned Longhu Martial Arts Academy's headmaster in Dongling City.

This person was already on his list of notable figures before his arrival in Dongling.

The Longhu Headmaster, a top-tier cultivator of the fourth rank.

A Daoist emissary from Longhu Mountain, he had established the academy in Dongling County to select disciples with exceptional talent, extraordinary innate gifts, or those with a connection to the Dao.

Just then, another figure descended.

It was a young man with a cold and stern appearance, his features sharp like a sword.

He closed his eyes slightly, and his brows furrowed.

"The Knife Intent in the air is astonishing!"

"Chen, do you feel the same?" the Longhu Headmaster asked.

"Absolutely!" The young man opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as he stared at the remaining knife mark on the mountain below, and continued, "I once traveled far and witnessed two Heaven-Human Grandmasters fighting above Lake Taicang, each wielding a knife and a sword, both mastering Knife Intent and Sword Intent!"

"Are you saying this is the mark left by a Heaven-Human Grandmaster?" The Longhu Headmaster's expression was one of astonishment.

Even though he hailed from the Daoist Longhu Mountain, the mention of a Heaven-Human Grandmaster still left him in awe.

How could such a high-level existence appear in the secluded Dongling County?

Heaven-Human Grandmasters, even in Longhu Mountain, held a status akin to True Lords.

This status was only below the Grandmasters who led the Daoist sects.

While Longhu Mountain wasn't a top-tier power in Daxia, it was still considered a first-rate force.

It was only a notch below the Jingang Temple and Qingxu Observatory.

Of course, Longhu Mountain's status was primarily due to that old Grandmaster.

"Perhaps not just that!" The man named Chen shook his head. "The intensity of his Knife Intent surpasses even that of the Heaven-Human Grandmaster I witnessed, who had undergone three blood transformations!"

"Even stronger?" The Longhu Headmaster was taken aback.

A Heaven-Human Grandmaster who had undergone three blood transformations was the pinnacle of Grandmasters.

Such a person could single-handedly face thousands of soldiers.

Subsequently, more figures appeared one after another.

Each figure was a top-tier powerhouse within Dongling City.

A single stomp from them could cause the ground to tremble, a display of their influence.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ning had returned to his own home.

Sipping the small bowl of porridge prepared by Lu Yi, he relished every moment.

In prison, although he wasn't mistreated, the three daily meals were still decent.

But how could they compare to home?

"Young Master, where did you just go?" Lu Yi sat beside him, propping her head with her hands as she asked.

"I went to test out my knife technique!" Jiang Ning replied.

"Has Young Master made progress again?" Lu Yi's eyes lit up.

"Mhm!" Jiang Ning nodded in affirmation.

The improvement in Knife Intent further bolstered his confidence.

However, he knew it probably wasn't enough.

The path of martial arts became more challenging as one progressed.

Currently, he was merely at the Fourth Grade, and his Bone Marrow Refinement was still far from perfection.

Even when compared to ordinary Grandmasters, the difference in the transformation of their life levels was significant.

Not to mention the gap between ordinary Grandmasters and Heaven Human Grandmasters.

The disparity between Fourth Grade and Grandmaster was already immense.

The gap between ordinary Grandmasters and Heaven Human Grandmasters was equally vast.

One could fly through the sky and escape into the earth, controlling the power of heaven and earth, while the other could only run on the ground.

The difference between the two was clear.

So, even with the improvement in his Knife Intent, he didn't have the confidence to surpass Xiao Qiushui, who had achieved the Heaven Human Grandmaster realm.

Of course, this was assuming Xiao Qiushui could achieve that realm.

But similarly, he wasn't overly fearful.

With such profound foundations, even if there were seemingly insurmountable challenges, he might still be able to overcome them.

He then looked at his panel.

【Rank】: Fourth Grade Bone Marrow Refinement (733/1999)



【Technique】: Gale Thunder Step (One Breaking the Limit 831/2000) (Attribute: Wind Breath)



"My strength can still break through!"

"Whether it's the progress in Bone Marrow Refinement or the improvement in Gale Thunder Step, both can enhance my strength!"

Jiang Ning thought to himself.

With each increment in Bone Marrow Refinement, his life level underwent a subtle transformation, and his physical body became stronger.

As for Gale Thunder Step, it was an exceptional martial art.

Not to mention its attributes after breaking the limit, just the improvement from breaking the limit as an exceptional martial art was significant.

One step of Gale Thunder Shock!

That was merely the perfection of Gale Thunder Step.

After reaching perfection, breaking the limit was like standing atop a mountain, ascending to the heavens.

Each step brought a transformation, a change.

With every step forward, he would stand taller and see further.

He would also progress further.

Morning Hours

Jiang Ning stepped out of the main gate.

"Young Master, where are we going?"

"To Bai Luoyu's mansion!" Jiang Ning looked up at the sun above.

It was still early, and the morning hours had just passed the halfway mark.

So, he planned to visit Bai Luoyu's mansion first.

The night before, Bai Luoyu had invited him over after acquiring a valuable item at the Wanbao Pavilion auction a few days ago.

Jiang Ning was also curious about the item Bai Luoyu mentioned.

After all, Bai Luoyu wasn't just anyone.

In Dongling City, he was a prominent figure with status and influence.

If he called something a valuable item, it was likely not an empty boast.

Moments later, Jiang Ning arrived at the entrance of Bai's mansion with Lu Yi.

The mansion's grand doors stood open, with vermillion doors on either side.

Below the steps, two imposing stone lions stood guard.

On the steps, two servants stood before and behind the doors.

The two in front held knives, guarding the mansion's security and preventing unauthorized entry.

The two behind were ordinary servants.

What an impressive display! Bai's reception is indeed grand!

Jiang Ning's mind registered this thought.

"Lord Jiang!" The two knife-wielding guards at the entrance greeted him upon his arrival.

After dealing with Bai Luoyu for so long, the servants in Bai's mansion had come to recognize him.

"Please inform him that I've come as invited!" Jiang Ning said.

"The master said there's no need to inform him of Lord Jiang's arrival!" One of the servants stepped forward and slightly bowed, "Please follow me, Lord Jiang!"

Jiang Ning nodded, "Please!"

At the same time, another servant hurried into the courtyard.

Apparently, they were going to inform Bai Luoyu of Jiang Ning's arrival.

Soon, led by the servant, Jiang Ning headed towards the courtyard where Bai Luoyu was.

Along the way, every ten steps revealed a new building, and every five steps presented a different scene.

Whether it was the layout, style, or level of luxury, all surpassed Jiang Ning's own mansion.

However, Jiang Ning didn't feel the slightest envy.

Such a scene required many servants to manage, which didn't align with his preferences.

He preferred simplicity.

After all, in both his previous and current lives, he came from an ordinary family background, and he wasn't accustomed to such lavish luxuries.

For him now, having someone take care of his daily life and not having to worry about mundane chores already made him feel comfortable.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end