On the lake surface.
Jiang Ning demonstrated the five fists stances one by one.
Tiger, Bear, Ape, Deer, and Crane.
Among them, the most formidable was the Caged Fire Tiger.
A fierce tiger breaking free from its cage represented the peak of Intent.
The towering flames carried the power to incinerate everything.
Not to mention its terrifying explosive Intent.
When manifesting the Bear Stance, Jiang Ning felt an immense surge of strength, as if he could move mountains.
However, standing on the ice layer made him feel as though he were treading on cotton, uneasy in his heart, and he could only exert sixty to seventy percent of his full strength.
When manifesting the Ape Stance, his body became agile and light. The white ape transformed from illusion to reality, its fur like countless divine swords, carrying an indomitable sharpness that could pierce through anything.
As for the Deer Stance, his mind became tranquil, his spirit clear and empty, free from joy or sorrow like a meditating monk or a Daoist in deep contemplation.
All emotions and desires seemed to vanish in that moment, achieving harmony between heaven and man, where all things coexisted. With each breath, he seemed to synchronize with the world.
When manifesting the Crane Stance, he leaped lightly into the air, hovering effortlessly as if riding the wind. Landing on the water, he could tread across its surface with ease.
From a distance, one could see the illusory silhouette of a crane, standing ten feet tall with a wingspan of fifty feet.
The silhouette flickered in and out, enveloping his entire body.
After testing the transformations of all five fist stances, Jiang Ning gently tapped the water surface with his right foot, soaring into the air and tracing an arc before landing on the ice layer nearby.
"Worth it!" He nodded in satisfaction.
The breakthrough in the Five Animals Fist Stances alone invested in 2,000 Source Energy Points worthwhile.
Not to mention that breaking the limits of the Five Animals Fist also granted new trait enhancements.
Thinking of this, he immediately opened his panel.
[Skill]: Five Animals Fist (Fifth Limit Break 189/6000) (Trait: Essence Stored in the Five Organs, Five Elements Spirit, Grandmaster of Fist Techniques, Bear-Tiger Physique, Five Elements Body)
[Five Elements Body]: A special physique, innately complete and balanced in the five elements. All Daoist spells and supernatural powers belonging to the five elements can be absorbed as long as they do not exceed the body's tolerance limit, mitigating the majority of their effects.
At this moment.
After reading the panel's description, Jiang Ning was stunned.
"Five Elements Body?"
"What a miraculous special physique!"
He lowered his head and glanced at his body. At this moment, he appeared no different from before.
However, according to the panel's description, his physique had transformed.
Complete and balanced in the five elements.
Most remarkably, any Daoist spells or supernatural powers based on the five elements could be neutralized to a great extent when they came into contact with him.
Such an effect was truly extraordinary.
But when he considered the world and environment he lived in, he couldn't help but smile wryly.
In a world where martial arts flourished, where would one find Daoist spells and supernatural powers based on the five elements?
As far as he knew, only in the ancient era, when immortals, gods, humans, and demons coexisted, did the Daoist path rely on the five elements as its foundation.
"Times have changed!"
"If this were the ancient era, this physique would undoubtedly be extraordinary, allowing one to practice martial arts without fear of the Daoist path."
"But where are the immortals now?"
Jiang Ning shook his head, then closed the panel and headed home.
Behind him.
A thick ice layer bore a hole over thirty meters in diameter.
As the snow melted, an area the size of a basketball court was exposed.
After returning home.
Finishing breakfast, he lay in his courtyard.
Basking in the sunlight, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"Young Master, why aren't you practicing fists today?" Lü Yi walked over, standing behind Jiang Ning and placing her hands on his shoulders, gently kneading them.
Jiang Ning narrowed his eyes further, thoroughly enjoying the moment.
"Taking a break today."
"The path of martial arts lies in balancing tension and relaxation. Being too rigid isn't good either!"
Jiang Ning spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Then I won't practice fists either!" Lü Yi said from behind, continuing to massage his shoulders.
At this moment, Jiang Ning could feel Lü Yi's slender fingers, now firmer after practicing martial arts.
The inner sides of her fingers pressed against the tendons of his shoulders, taut and powerful, clearly containing considerable strength.
With his eyes closed in relaxation, Jiang Ning asked, "How's your strength training progressing?"
"Young Master, I've achieved minor success in strength training. Nearly half of my muscle groups have been tempered."
"Good." Jiang Ning replied casually.
Then he said, "Open your mouth."
Hearing this, Lü Yi immediately parted her lips slightly.
The next moment.
A drop of crimson blood coalesced on Jiang Ning's fingertip as he channeled his inner energy to draw it from his blood vessels.
Then, the drop of blood rose into the air and flew straight into Lü Yi's mouth.
"Thank you, Young Master!" Lü Yi's face lit up with joy.
After all this time, she was well aware of the precious and miraculous properties of Jiang Ning's blood.
A single drop far surpassed the effects of any great medicinal herb.
With the aid of this drop of blood, her strength training progress could be significantly accelerated.
Afterward.
Jiang Ning lay on the recliner, quietly soaking up the sun.
"Xiao Lü, wake me at mid-morning!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
Lü Yi responded promptly.
She continued kneading Jiang Ning's shoulders before gently massaging his temples.
Meanwhile.
At the Inspection Bureau.
"Greetings, Inspector!" Hong Minghu bowed respectfully to Bai Luoyu.
As the head of the Luoshui County Patrol Office, he naturally knew the name of Bai Luoyu, one of the two chief inspectors of Dongling County.
Even the highest-ranking officials of the Dongling City Patrol Office the chief and two deputies had to treat Bai Luoyu with respect.
This was not only due to Bai Luoyu's remarkable achievements at a young age but also because of his authority as a chief inspector.
If the Patrol Office had the power and duty to oversee all officials and citizens of the realm, then the chief inspectors of each county had the authority to supervise all Patrol Offices within their jurisdiction.
Especially for the Patrol Offices of smaller counties, the arrival of a chief inspector was akin to the presence of an imperial envoy.
In the event of sudden emergencies, they could temporarily assume the role of the office head, take command of an entire Patrol Office, and mobilize all forces within the county.
During wartime, anyone who disobeyed their orders could be executed without prior approval.
Thus, upon seeing Bai Luoyu, Hong Minghu's expression turned respectful.
He then continued, "Chief Inspector, had you informed us of your arrival in advance, we could have made preparations to properly receive you."
Bai Luoyu waved his hand. "No need for formalities. We're both martial men let's speak plainly."
Hong Minghu chuckled. "Chief Inspector, you are a scholar with both literary and martial accomplishments. How could you call yourself a mere martial man?"
Bai Luoyu gave Hong Minghu a speechless look before waving again.
"Let's sit and talk."
"Chief Inspector, please!" Hong Minghu gestured politely.
Bai Luoyu stepped over the threshold, followed closely by Xiao Emei in her white dress, a sword in hand.
"Chief Inspector, this is…?" Hong Minghu hesitated, eyeing Xiao Emei with curiosity.
Bai Luoyu said, "This is the head disciple of the Moonwater Sword Palace, Xiao Emei."
"Miss Xiao, your reputation precedes you it's truly thunderous!" Hong Minghu clasped his hands in greeting.
Xiao Emei: "..."
"Magistrate Hong, you flatter me," Xiao Emei replied.
"I'm not exaggerating. Ranked third on the Hidden Dragon List and the top disciple under Xiao Qiushui your fame is indeed thunderous," Hong Minghu added.
Xiao Emei glanced at him in surprise.
She hadn't expected her reputation to reach such a small, remote county.
Soon, the three took their seats.
Bai Luoyu began, "Magistrate Hong, your report has been verified. Li Hong was indeed involved with the Worship Cult. Since the cult has been classified as a heretical sect, your team's eradication of them is a great merit."
"However, according to your report, the primary credit belongs to Jiang Ning?"
Hong Minghu nodded. "Indeed. If not for Commander Jiang's intervention, we would have been annihilated. The chief merit should be his."
"Understood," Bai Luoyu said. "In that case, there's no dispute."
He continued, "Based on the evaluation from above, for eliminating Li Hong, the primary contributor will receive 400,000 merit points and an unconditional half-rank promotion."
Hearing this, Hong Minghu's eyes flashed with envy.
With 400,000 merit points, combined with his existing savings, he could exchange for the Dragon-Tiger Fetal Breath Pill produced by Longhu Mountain.
With this pill, he could resolve all his lingering ailments and even advance further from his current fifth-rank strength.
But the moment he recalled Jiang Ning's displayed prowess, he immediately dismissed any thoughts of coveting the reward.
Merit points were valuable, but forcibly seizing them would bring no blessings.
He didn't believe Jiang Ning would calmly accept being exploited.
More importantly, given Jiang Ning's martial talent, making an enemy of him would be terrifying.
In his view, short-term gains weren't worth it.
Bai Luoyu, seated nearby, smiled faintly at Hong Minghu's reaction.
"As for Magistrate Hong, the rest of you will be rewarded with 50,000 to 100,000 merit points or a seven-day study opportunity at the academy."
Hong Minghu said, "I'll take the merit points."
"No problem," Bai Luoyu nodded. With a wave of his hand, a small pouch appeared in his palm.
He added, "Inside are ten gold-inlaid jade tokens, totaling 100,000 merit points. This is your reward, Magistrate Hong."
"Thank you, Chief Inspector!" Hong Minghu clasped his hands in gratitude and accepted the pouch.
Bai Luoyu then said, "Magistrate Hong, please summon the others. As for Commander Jiang, there's no need I'll visit his residence personally later."
"Understood," Hong Minghu agreed.
The sun hung high in the sky.
The temperature continued to rise.
Lü Yi quietly brought out a parasol and set it up beside Jiang Ning to shield him from the glaring sunlight.
By the seventh mark of the Chen hour (around 8:45 AM).
"Master, the Si hour (9–11 AM) is almost here," Lü Yi's voice sounded softly beside Jiang Ning.
Hearing this, Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes.
He glanced at the sundial by the wall the Si hour was approaching.
Only then did he rise and stretch lazily.
"It seems you've been truly exhausted lately, Master," Lü Yi remarked.
Jiang Ning smiled. "Perhaps a little."
A moment later, he sat cross-legged on a cushion in the courtyard, adopting the five-point meditation posture.
As the sundial's shadow aligned with the Si hour, he began his breathing exercises under the ascending sun.
With each inhalation and exhalation, a wisp of crimson solar essence descended from the heavens, entering his body through his nostrils and flowing into his organs.
As the Great Sun Essence entered his internal organs, it triggered intense transformations within his body. The accumulated Five Elements spiritual energy in his organs seemed to ignite, rapidly depleting.
His organs were growing stronger.
His heart beat with powerful force, pumping blood like wild horses breaking free from their reins, like a mighty river surging forward.
[Internal Alchemy Cultivation Technique experience +1]
[Internal Alchemy Cultivation Technique experience +1]
[Internal Alchemy Cultivation Technique experience +1]
[...]
Outside Jiang Ning's residence.
"Thank you, Prefect Hong, for guiding us here!" Bai Luoyu said.
"It's my duty!" Hong Minghu replied.
Then he added, "Allow me to knock for you, Inspector Bai."
With that, Hong Minghu rapped on the gate of Jiang Ning's residence.
Knock
Knock
Knock
Three knocks sounded, and soon a gentle voice came from inside the front courtyard.
"Who is it? The gate isn't locked!"
Hearing this, Hong Minghu gave the gate a light push, and it swung open.
"This humble woman, Liu Wanwan, greets the Prefect!" Upon seeing Hong Minghu, Liu Wanwan's eyes flashed with surprise before she quickly bowed in respect.
"There's no need for such formalities, Madam Liu!" Hong Minghu smiled warmly.
He then explained, "This is Inspector Bai, who has come from Dongling City. Commander Jiang has rendered outstanding service, and the Inspector has personally brought rewards from the higher authorities."
Hearing this, Liu Wanwan immediately understood.
But then her expression turned hesitant.
"Honored guests, could you please wait a moment? This is a crucial time for A-Ning's cultivation practice."
At this, Hong Minghu glanced at Bai Luoyu.
"Inspector, what do you think?"
At the same time, he noticed Bai Luoyu looking up at the sky above the eastern courtyard, his gaze sharpening.
"Great Sun Essence descending from the heavens what a pure and orthodox Daoist internal strengthening technique!" Bai Luoyu murmured in admiration.
"Inspector, what... Great Sun Essence?" Hong Minghu followed Bai Luoyu's gaze but saw nothing but an empty sky, his face blank with confusion.
Behind him, Xiao Emei also looked up but was equally bewildered.
Yet in Bai Luoyu's eyes, a strand of crimson Great Sun Essence was descending from the clouds, flowing directly into the eastern courtyard where Jiang Ning was.
"Inspector Bai, why can't I see it?" Xiao Emei finally asked.
Bai Luoyu withdrew his gaze and replied calmly, "Naturally. You lack spiritual roots and are not born with innate spiritual perception, so you cannot detect certain special energies in the world."
As he spoke, his eyes returned to the eastern courtyard.
He didn't need to guess the absorption of Great Sun Essence undoubtedly came from Jiang Ning, the man he had come to see today.
It was the only possible explanation.
And it also meant that Jiang Ning was a fellow practitioner, just like him.
At this realization, Bai Luoyu flicked open his folding fan with a light shake.
The breeze from the fan lifted the two strands of hair hanging over his forehead.
"Madam, it's no trouble. We'll wait here until Commander Jiang finishes his cultivation before we proceed."
Liu Wanwan looked apologetic. "I'm sorry for keeping such distinguished guests waiting. Please, come inside for some tea first!"
"Very well." Bai Luoyu smiled and nodded, stepping over the threshold with a light sway of his fan, clearly in good spirits.
Hong Minghu and Xiao Emei followed suit.
Noon.
Having refined the last wisp of Great Sun Essence in his organs
[Internal Alchemy Cultivation Technique experience +1]
Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes.
[Skill]: Internal Alchemy Cultivation Technique (Proficient 3333/5000)
After checking his panel and seeing the progress made from two hours of refinement, he closed it and walked out of the courtyard.
"Young Master!"
Lü Yi, who had been waiting outside, bowed respectfully upon seeing him.
"Let's go to the main hall. We have distinguished guests," Jiang Ning said.
"Yes, Young Master!" Lü Yi quickly followed.
At this moment, Jiang Ning felt a surge of excitement.
While absorbing the Great Sun Essence earlier, he had heard the commotion at the front gate.
He knew that Inspector Bai was a high-ranking official from Dongling City.
His arrival meant that the rewards for his previous merits had finally come.
Defending the city, slaying enemies, and killing Li Hong were three great achievements.
The rewards from the higher-ups would undoubtedly be substantial.
And for him at this stage, such rewards were crucial.
Though he had the panel, he still needed resources to fuel his growth.
Especially now, he could feel that his progress had slowed compared to before, requiring more time and effort.
With external assistance, however, his growth could accelerate significantly, and his strength could increase much faster.
Right now, Source Energy Points had long become the bottleneck restricting his progress.
On his panel, both Woodchopper's Blade Technique and Water Affinity had met the requirements for their next breakthrough long ago the only thing missing was Source Energy Points.
With enough Source Energy Points, his blade techniques would grow even stronger, gaining new attributes.
Improving his Water Affinity would further enhance his advantage in water.
Entering the water was his fallback plan, an ace card no one knew about.
If his normal combat power was rated as 1, then once he entered the water, the aquatic domain would become his territory able to trap and kill enemies.
He would fear no exhaustion, as his internal energy could sustain him for days and nights without running dry.
With all these enhancements, his combat power would at least double.
His survivability would multiply several times over.
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