The next day.
Jiang Ning woke up early.
As soon as the sky began to lighten, he stepped out of his room.
At this moment, the mist over the lake was blown by the breeze, creating a hazy, smoky atmosphere. Combined with the dim light of dawn, visibility was poor.
But it was exceptionally cool.
"The weather is finally starting to cool down!" Jiang Ning sighed.
If he remembered correctly, it was already late October.
Yet the days were still scorching hot, with only the early mornings and nights offering some relief.
As for the weather, apart from the few rainstorms he had summoned using his cloud and rain control ability, Luoshui County hadn't seen a drop of rain in months.
Such unusual weather was truly rare.
Jiang Ning had even suspected that it might be man-made.
After all, even he could summon clouds and rain, creating a downpour that covered most of Luoshui County.
And if the ancient records of this world were true, then anything was possible.
Especially after last night's strange events, he felt that this world was far more complex than he had previously imagined.
After a moment of reflection, Jiang Ning shook his head to clear his thoughts and opened his status panel.
[Name]: Jiang Ning
[Source Energy]: 31.7
[Skills]:
Literacy (Third Breakthrough 333/4000) (Traits: Photographic Memory, Enhanced Senses, Quick Thinking)
Five Animals Fist (First Breakthrough 463/2000) (Trait: Essence Stored in the Five Organs)
Woodchopping Blade Technique (Fourth Breakthrough 5000/5000) (Traits: Versatility, Swift as the Wind, Mastery of the Blade, Unity of Man and Blade)
Internal Alchemy Cultivation Technique (Proficiency 279/5000)
Indestructible Golden Body (Proficiency 453/5000)
Water Affinity (Fifth Breakthrough 6000/6000) (Traits: Underwater Breathing, Water Manipulation, Water Spirit Affinity, Cloud and Rain Control, Water Spirit Body)
Wind and Thunder Archery Technique (Perfection 2000/2000)
Water-Fire True Force (Proficiency 31/500)
After a day, his Source Energy points had increased by a few points, reaching just over 30.
At this rate, it wouldn't take a month for his Source Energy points to break 100.
This would allow his Wind and Thunder Archery Technique to break through.
But after last night's events, Jiang Ning felt an even more urgent need to improve his strength.
Currently, the only way to quickly boost his strength was to break through the skills that had already maxed out their experience.
Breaking through these skills would further enhance his combat power.
"Perfect. I'll go see Lin Qingyi later and convert my current wealth into Source Energy points, allowing my skills to break through," Jiang Ning thought to himself.
Then he continued his martial arts training.
In the blink of an eye.
The sun rose.
Jiang Ning took another bath, had breakfast, and immediately headed to the Wanhua Pavilion.
He was eager to understand the reason behind last night's strange events.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to rest easy.
Wanhua Pavilion.
"Master Jiang!" A young woman in a green dress greeted him as soon as he arrived.
This was Xiao Lü, a familiar face to Jiang Ning.
"Master Jiang, you're here early!" Xiao Lü smiled warmly.
Seeing this, Jiang Ning also smiled slightly.
"Miss Xiao Lü, you're early too!"
"Master Jiang, what brings you here today?" Xiao Lü curtsied and asked.
Jiang Ning replied, "I'd like to see Pavilion Master Lin Qingyi."
Hearing this, Xiao Lü's expression showed a hint of hesitation. "Master Jiang, according to the Pavilion Master's habits, usually doesn't wake up until noon."
Jiang Ning: "..."
He slapped his forehead, realizing he had forgotten.
Women, especially beautiful ones, loved their sleep, often calling it "beauty sleep."
After a moment of thought, Jiang Ning said, "Then I'll buy some things first. I'll see her when she wakes up."
"Please follow me, Master Jiang," Xiao Lü said respectfully.
At this hour, the Wanhua Pavilion was still quiet, with few visitors.
As they walked on the wooden floor, the boards creaked beneath their feet.
"Master Jiang, what would you like to buy today?"
Jiang Ning replied, "Natural treasures, anything that can enhance my martial arts strength."
"How much are you looking to spend, Master Jiang?" Xiao Lü asked.
Jiang Ning said, "Around forty thousand taels of silver."
Hearing this, Xiao Lü was startled and patted her chest.
"Master Jiang, that's too large an amount. I can't make that decision. I'll need to consult the manager."
"No problem," Jiang Ning nodded.
Soon after.
Xiao Lü led Jiang Ning to a VIP room.
After a short while, the door to the VIP room opened.
The person who entered was someone Jiang Ning recognized.
It was Manager Han Hongmei, whom he had met before.
The last time he had purchased herbal essences, it was Han Hongmei who had served him.
Later, it seemed Xiao Lü's authority had been upgraded.
She had taken over most of the transactions.
But this time was different. This was the wealthiest Jiang Ning had ever been, and it was also his largest purchase.
This time, he had brought over forty thousand taels of silver, ready to spend.
Absorbing natural treasures and digesting their energy could provide him with a massive boost in Source Energy points.
Like the time he found the fifty-year-old Blood Lotus in the lake, or the time he discovered the pool near the sunken ship at the bottom of the lake.
Each time, his Source Energy points had seen a significant increase in a short period.
Especially the pool near the sunken ship, which had provided a considerable amount of Source Energy.
"Greetings, Master Jiang!" Han Hongmei bowed respectfully as soon as she entered the VIP room.
"Manager Han, no need for formalities," Jiang Ning said.
"Master Jiang, what are your requirements?" Han Hongmei asked the same question Xiao Lü had earlier.
Jiang Ning replied, "Natural treasures or precious pills that can significantly enhance a seventh-grade martial artist. Or treasures like the Blood Lotus that can boost vitality and are easy to digest and absorb. Items that can increase spiritual power are also acceptable."
Hearing Jiang Ning's requirements, Han Hongmei pondered for a moment.
She had a good memory and understanding of the various goods in the Wanhua Pavilion.
Soon, she thought of some items that met Jiang Ning's needs.
"Master Jiang, please follow me," Han Hongmei said.
Jiang Ning nodded and followed.
Two hours later.
On the balcony of the Wanhua Pavilion.
Jiang Ning sat cross-legged, his spiritual power scanning the items in his ring. A smile crept onto his face.
This time, after careful selection, he had made a substantial haul.
He had spent a total of forty-two thousand three hundred taels of silver.
This was after using the token Shen Congyun had given him, which granted him a 20% discount.
At the original price, this trip would have cost him over fifty thousand taels of silver.
Such a massive sum could support at least five thousand households for a year.
Five thousand households meant over twenty thousand people.
It was no small amount.
At the same time.
With the items in his ring, he was even more confident in his ability to rapidly improve his strength.
Among the items were precious pills that could help him advance quickly as a seventh-grade martial artist.
In this category alone, he had spent nearly twenty thousand taels of silver.
There were also many other valuable natural treasures and medicinal herbs.
Looking at this batch of priceless natural treasures and medicinal herbs, Jiang Ning even felt the urge to return home immediately and fully absorb these resources to boost his strength.
But remembering last night's events, he temporarily dismissed the idea.
Improving his strength wasn't urgent.
Understanding the reason behind last night's strange events was the most critical.
But it was already mid-morning, and Lin Qingyi was still asleep. It wouldn't be appropriate to disturb her.
Since it was time for him to absorb solar essence, Jiang Ning sat down cross-legged and began to cultivate, increasing the experience of his Internal Alchemy Cultivation Technique, tempering his internal organs, and expanding the total amount of internal energy in his dantian.
With each breath.
A strand of solar essence, like a fiery snake, was drawn into his internal organs through his nostrils.
Jiang Ning immediately felt an intense burning sensation inside his body.
He was already accustomed to this feeling.
But soon, he noticed something different.
Previously, when he sat half-submerged in water, the burns on his internal organs would heal quickly due to the water's nourishment.
Now, sitting on the wooden balcony with no water to soothe him, the burns on his internal organs showed no signs of fading.
He then endured the burning sensation and absorbed a second strand of solar essence.
After digesting the second strand.
He opened his eyes, frowning.
Even after digesting the second strand of solar essence, the burning sensation in his internal organs hadn't lessened.
The searing pain continued to assault him.
Only now did Jiang Ning truly understand how difficult it was for ordinary people to cultivate the Internal Alchemy Cultivation Technique.
The burns caused by solar essence alone were a significant problem.
He had only absorbed two strands, yet he felt he couldn't continue any further.
The damage from just two strands of solar essence was already severe.
If he absorbed another strand, he felt his internal organs would suffer major damage.
Under these circumstances, he couldn't continue absorbing solar essence.
But without absorbing solar essence, he couldn't improve the Internal Alchemy Cultivation Technique, and his internal organs wouldn't grow stronger.
Thinking this, Jiang Ning sighed deeply.
With the nourishment of water, he could absorb solar essence over thirty times a day.
But without water, like an ordinary person, he could only manage two absorptions.
The efficiency gap was nearly twenty times.
In other words, with this technique, his daily progress in absorbing and refining solar essence was equivalent to a month's work for an ordinary person.
"The gap is too big!" Jiang Ning shook his head.
Since he couldn't continue absorbing solar essence to cultivate the Internal Alchemy Cultivation Technique, Jiang Ning decided to take out some items from his ring.
With a wave of his hand.
Five Blood Lotuses appeared before him.
Their ages ranged from thirty to fifty years, with one even reaching a hundred years.
This batch of Blood Lotuses alone had cost him over ten thousand taels of silver.
He was well aware of their effects: boosting vitality.
For any martial artist, increasing vitality was beneficial.
For him, it was no different.
But what Jiang Ning valued most was the Source Energy points the Blood Lotuses could provide.
Last time, a fifty-year-old Blood Lotus, worth about eight hundred taels, had given him over twenty Source Energy points.
In his eyes, this was an excellent value.
One lotus could provide over twenty Source Energy points, meaning five fifty-year-old Blood Lotuses could give him over a hundred Source Energy points.
A hundred Source Energy points would allow his Wind and Thunder Archery Technique to break through for the first time.
At the price of Blood Lotuses, this would cost around four thousand taels of silver.
Jiang Ning wasn't sure if other natural treasures offered such good value.
So he had bought all the Blood Lotuses available at the Wanhua Pavilion.
But there were only five in total.
Next, he took out the oldest one.
The hundred-year-old Blood Lotus had cost him a hefty five thousand taels of silver.
This was already a discounted price.
According to the lore, for every ten years added to the age of a Blood Lotus, the price would double.
Of course, if that were truly the case, no one could afford a hundred-year-old Blood Lotus, as its actual effects wouldn't justify such an exorbitant price.
But even at five thousand taels, Jiang Ning felt it was worth it.
Originally, he had thought it would cost at least twenty thousand taels if not over ten thousand.
In the next moment.
He plucked a leaf from the hundred-year-old Blood Lotus.
The leaf was blood-red, with veins that seemed to flow with blood-like sap.
This miraculous leaf was one of ten on the hundred-year-old Blood Lotus.
After plucking one, Jiang Ning immediately popped it into his mouth.
After chewing a few times, he swallowed it whole.
The sap and leaf residue entered his stomach.
Instantly, Jiang Ning felt his body temperature rise, his skin turning red.
The vitality in his body surged violently, boiling and rushing through his blood vessels like a roaring river.
The blood vessels on his skin bulged like dragons, clearly visible.
"Such potent medicinal power!" Jiang Ning was startled.
He quickly stood up and began practicing his fist techniques.
Using the exercises to digest the surging vitality and the immense medicinal power.
Over and over.
Jiang Ning sweated profusely, gradually absorbing the medicinal power.
[Five Animals Fist Experience +1]
[Five Animals Fist Experience +1]
[Five Animals Fist Experience +1]
After three rounds, his body temperature slowly returned to normal.
His breathing and heart rate also stabilized.
Clenching his fist.
Feeling the changes in his vitality, Jiang Ning couldn't help but feel pleased.
Just one leaf had given him a vitality boost almost equivalent to an entire fifty-year-old Blood Lotus.
"No wonder the price of Blood Lotuses is said to double for every ten years added to their age!"
"The increase in medicinal power is indeed staggering!"
Jiang Ning sighed inwardly.
Then he glanced at the pavilion where Lin Qingyi was staying. After withdrawing his gaze, he plucked another blood-red leaf.
His time was precious, and he wouldn't waste it waiting for Lin Qingyi to wake up.
He would use this time to absorb the medicinal power of the Blood Lotus.
His Spatial Ring was filled with natural treasures.
Just absorbing and digesting them would take him at least three to five days.
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