Luoshui County.
Several patrolling constables gripped their long knives tightly, moving cautiously and quietly toward the source of the commotion.
When they saw Jiang Ning standing in the snow, their hearts, which had been stuck in their throats, finally settled.
"Commander Jiang!!"
One of them immediately called out.
Among them, one man's expression froze for a moment when he saw Jiang Ning, his face filled with complex emotions.
He remembered the last time he had seen Jiang Ning when he had followed Captain Feng to his home.
At that time, Jiang Ning was just beginning to make a name for himself in Luoshui County, far from being an important figure.
Now, several months later, the situation was completely different.
Jiang Ning had become a prominent figure in Luoshui County.
Who in the county government didn't know the name Jiang Ning?
A commoner who, in just a few months, had risen to become one of the most notable figures in Luoshui County something no one could have predicted.
At the same time.
Jiang Ning calmly glanced at them.
"Sorry to trouble you all with cleaning up the scene."
"No trouble at all! No trouble at all!!" one of them said with a smile.
He glanced at the flesh-and-blood monster beside Jiang Ning and the black blood melting the snow on the ground, then quickly added, "Commander Jiang has slain a demonic creature, protecting our safety. This kind of small task is exactly what we should do!"
"Exactly! Exactly! Brother Chen is right!" another chimed in.
Jiang Ning nodded, then crouched down beside the headless flesh monster, which showed no signs of life. He spread his fingers and pressed them into the flesh, feeling the bones.
Bone Tempering Realm!!
Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed sharply.
She was indeed at the sixth rank of martial arts!
She was a sixth-rank martial artist from the Worship God Sect.
Jiang Ning couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
Because a sixth-rank martial artist from the Worship God Sect was worth fifty thousand contribution points.
Fifty thousand contribution points, in terms of value, was equivalent to more than fifty thousand taels of silver.
The Dragon Ascension Pill he needed only cost fifty thousand contribution points.
With these fifty thousand contribution points, he could exchange for a Dragon Ascension Pill from the Patrol Bureau's internal affairs office to help him reach the level of Dragon Tendons.
Suddenly.
His gaze sharpened as he caught a glimpse of a faint golden color peeking out from the torn clothes of the flesh monster.
Gold?
Jiang Ning felt a surge of excitement.
He reached into the clothes and immediately felt the outline of the object that had emitted the golden light a small box about the size of a palm.
The next moment.
The item silently disappeared into his spatial ring.
After securing the item, Jiang Ning's hand brushed over the headless flesh monster, his spiritual energy enveloping it.
In an instant, the headless flesh monster's body vanished before the eyes of the onlookers.
Seeing this, their eyes widened in shock.
Jiang Ning thought for a moment, then walked over to the head he had severed earlier and also stored it in his spatial ring.
Bringing the body back to verify her identity and sixth-rank martial arts level would allow him to claim the fifty thousand contribution points reward. Naturally, he had to be cautious and take the head as well.
Moments later.
Watching Jiang Ning's retreating figure.
The constables exchanged glances.
"What kind of technique was that?"
"I don't know! It looked like an immortal's technique!"
"I think it's more like the legendary ability to store a universe within a mustard seed!"
"..."
While the constables were discussing, Jiang Ning had already arrived at the shore of Luoshui Lake.
This place was less than two hundred meters from where the battle had taken place.
At this time, after a heavy snowfall, the surface of Luoshui Lake was covered with a layer of ice.
Looking at the calm lake, Jiang Ning smiled. "It seems I underestimated my strength and the power of the Wind and Thunder Archery. This escape route wasn't needed."
Jiang Ning chuckled, then headed straight for his home.
As he walked, he felt much more at ease.
Being able to kill a sixth-rank martial artist, and one with an indestructible body at that.
This undoubtedly showed that his strength had improved significantly.
Especially his long-range attack capabilities.
The Wind and Thunder Arrow, mastered after three breakthroughs, had power and speed that left him pleasantly surprised.
With a single arrow, a sixth-rank martial artist was unable to react in time and was pierced through the chest.
If it weren't for the fact that the person was a member of the Worship God Sect and had transformation abilities.
Under normal circumstances, an ordinary sixth-rank martial artist would have been killed by his arrow. This effect left Jiang Ning extremely pleased.
It meant that his long-range attack capabilities had reached an outstanding level.
In an open area, with his current archery skills, facing an ordinary sixth-rank martial artist would be like a life-harvesting machine.
But what surprised Jiang Ning the most about tonight's battle was his blade intent.
The blade intent that could move the heavens and earth had displayed effects far beyond his expectations.
With just one strike, he had cleaved through the mutated flesh monster like cutting through melons and vegetables.
Moreover, the blade intent, which moved the heavens and earth, also had the effect of preventing the wound from healing.
That single strike had secured his victory, leaving the mutated flesh monster with no ability to fight back.
"With my current strength, even if I'm not a match for Liu Linman, I should at least have some ability to fight back, right?" Jiang Ning thought to himself.
After a long while.
Jiang Ning stood in front of his house, his expression somewhat complicated.
"Finally, I don't have to hide anymore!"
Then a smile appeared on his lips.
Because through the laughter of Little Doubao that drifted over the wall and into his ears, he knew that his elder brother and sister-in-law's family was safe and sound.
The next moment.
Knock, knock, knock
Jiang Ning knocked on the door.
The sound of knocking caused the commotion inside the courtyard to suddenly stop.
"Who is it?" came a voice full of caution from inside the courtyard.
"It's me, sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning replied.
"It's Ah Ning!!" Liu Wanwan's voice, filled with surprise, came from inside the courtyard.
"Brother Li, Ah Ning is back!" Liu Wanwan's voice sounded again inside the courtyard.
Then she hurried to the door and after the sound of the door bolt being removed.
Liu Wanwan's face appeared in Jiang Ning's sight, looking noticeably haggard.
"Sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning immediately greeted her.
"Come in, come in, and have a cup of hot tea first!" Liu Wanwan's brows were now adorned with a kind smile.
These past few days, with Jiang Ning gone, her mind had been unable to find peace.
She was well aware that her brother-in-law had reached this point and had attracted the attention of some significant figures, inevitably some big shots.
Walking this path was like treading on thin ice, like standing on the edge of an abyss.
One misstep could lead to utter ruin, and she and Brother Li would not escape danger.
So, from the day Jiang Ning didn't return home, she knew that her brother-in-law had encountered trouble, and it was no small matter.
Otherwise, why would her brother-in-law be hiding outside?
But she didn't blame her brother-in-law.
She knew how dangerous the situation had been for their family before. If it weren't for her brother-in-law's sudden rise and the favor of that big shot from Wanhua Tower who had stepped in.
Their family would have long since met with misfortune, suffering unjust accusations and dying in prison.
Cao Bin, who had coveted her beauty, would have used Little Doubao and Ming'er to force her to submit.
At that time, death might have been a luxury, a form of release.
Compared to that situation, what was this current crisis?
"Ah Ning!!" At this moment, Jiang Li's voice, filled with surprise, came from behind Liu Wanwan.
Jiang Ning looked up and saw Jiang Li standing on the steps of the front yard.
At this moment, Jiang Li's face was covered with unkempt stubble, looking much older, as if he had aged several years in an instant.
Coming out of the house, Jiang Li was wrapped in a thick coat, his right sleeve still hanging limp and powerless.
Seeing the state of the two, Jiang Ning knew that during the time he had been away from home, both Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan had been deeply worried because of him.
Seeing Jiang Ning, Jiang Li quickly stepped forward.
He grabbed Jiang Ning's shoulders and checked him over. "Ah Ning, are you hurt?"
Jiang Ning grinned. "How could I be hurt?"
"That's good! That's good!!" Jiang Li's tense expression relaxed considerably.
"Daddy, you're blocking me!!" At this moment, a soft voice came from below.
Looking down, he saw Little Doubao, who wasn't even as tall as his thigh, lowering her head like a little bull and trying to squeeze her way to Jiang Ning.
Jiang Li stepped aside, and Little Doubao immediately clung to Jiang Ning's leg.
"Uncle! I missed you so much!!"
Jiang Ning smiled and crouched down, gently pinching her small nose.
"I missed you too!!"
"Uncle, I want to go up!" Seeing Jiang Ning crouch down, Little Doubao struggled to climb onto his shoulders.
Seeing this, both Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan smiled warmly.
Jiang Ning then picked up Little Doubao and placed her on his shoulders before standing up.
"Ah Ning, come inside and talk!" Jiang Li said.
Jiang Ning nodded and stepped over the threshold.
The two walked on the cleared stone path toward the house.
Behind them, Liu Wanwan closed the door and secured the bolt.
"Ah Ning, are you leaving again this time?" Jiang Li asked as they walked.
"Not for now," Jiang Ning replied.
Hearing this, Jiang Li's face lit up. "Then has your trouble been resolved?"
"It should be temporarily resolved," Jiang Ning said.
"Uncle, what trouble?" Sitting on Jiang Ning's shoulders, Little Doubao kicked her legs and asked curiously.
"Adult matters, children shouldn't ask!" Jiang Li glared at Little Doubao.
Little Doubao immediately pouted, hugging Jiang Ning's neck and on the verge of tears.
"Ah Ning, have some hot tea to warm up first." After entering the main hall, the wind and snow were blocked outside. Jiang Li poured a cup of steaming tea and handed it to Jiang Ning.
"Thank you, brother!" Jiang Ning took the tea and drank a few sips, feeling warmth spread through his body.
Liu Wanwan, who had followed them in, now entered the room.
She glanced at the two and said, "You two brothers chat first. I'll go prepare some late-night snacks for you!"
"Wanwan, remember to heat some good wine!" Jiang Li quickly added.
"Don't worry! You'll get your wine today!" Liu Wanwan shot Jiang Li a reproachful look, then hurried off.
At this moment.
Another figure entered the main hall from the back door. It was Jiang Yiming.
"Uncle!"
Seeing Jiang Ning, Jiang Yiming immediately greeted him politely.
"You've grown a bit taller!" Jiang Ning looked at Jiang Yiming and nodded in satisfaction.
The entire night, Jiang Li engaged Jiang Ning in a long conversation.
That night, Jiang Ning did nothing but drink and chat with Jiang Li.
Early the next morning.
Jiang Ning woke up just as the sky was beginning to lighten.
His long-standing routine had conditioned his biological clock.
At this time, he would naturally wake up.
[Name]: Jiang Ning
[Source Energy]: 53.33
[Skills]:
Literacy (Third Breakthrough 873/4000) (Traits: Photographic Memory, Enhanced Senses, Quick Thinking)
Five Animals Fist (First Breakthrough 742/2000) (Trait: Essence Storage in Organs)
Firewood Chopping Saber Technique+ (Fifth Breakthrough 6000/6000) (Traits: Versatility, Swift as Wind, Mastery, Unity of Man and Saber, Natural Saber Talent)
Internal Alchemy Cultivation (Proficient 732/5000)
Indestructible Vajra Body (Proficient 453/5000)
Water Affinity+ (Fifth Breakthrough 6000/6000) (Traits: Underwater Breathing, Water Manipulation, Water Affinity, Cloud and Rain Control, Water Spirit Body)
Wind and Thunder Archery (Third Breakthrough 49/4000) (Traits: Wind and Thunder Breath, Heart's Archery, Wind and Thunder Arrows)
Water-Fire True Force (Proficient 45/500)
After glancing at his status panel, although he had mastered many skills, Jiang Ning had already decided what to focus on next.
Apart from primarily breaking through his martial arts realm to reach the level of Dragon Tendons.
He would focus on increasing the experience points for the Literacy and Water-Fire True Force skills.
As for the other skills, some lacked the source energy points needed for breakthroughs even if their experience was maxed, while others were too slow to gain experience.
For example, the Internal Alchemy Cultivation and Indestructible Vajra Body skills.
Internal Alchemy Cultivation mainly required persistence and daily absorption of solar energy. The experience gained for this skill couldn't be rushed.
As for the Indestructible Vajra Body skill, from what he understood, although it could reach the legendary Golden Body level, making the body's strength transcend the ordinary.
But now, while he was still rapidly progressing in martial arts, Jiang Ning didn't plan to spend time on this.
He planned to consider grinding this skill experience to enhance his body's strength only when his progress slowed down.
Then.
After a quick wash, Jiang Ning began to brew tea, enjoy the snow, and read in the courtyard.
[Literacy Experience +1]
[Literacy Experience +1]
[Literacy Experience +1]
[...]
After a long while.
The teapot boiled.
Jiang Ning suddenly felt a sense of nostalgia, missing the days when he lived at Xie Xiaojiu's place, where he was waited on hand and foot.
"Habits are indeed scary!!"
Jiang Ning shook his head and continued to drink tea and read.
Breaking through in Literacy could greatly enhance his mental strength.
Now that he had some self-preservation strength, he had to consider the threat of the Earth King from the Yellow Heaven Sect, who could project his spirit.
That Earth King was separated from him by thousands of miles, and such a distance wouldn't be crossed by that big shot just to deal with a small figure like him.
After all, travel in this world was troublesome. Even for martial artists, crossing a province was difficult.
No matter how fast one ran, they would still be limited by stamina and endurance, making it hard to travel day and night.
So, under normal circumstances, people still relied on horses for travel.
But with spirit projection, it was different.
One could travel thousands of miles in a night. That Earth King could travel back and forth between two places in a single night through spirit projection.
Strengthening mental strength was the best way to resist spirit projection.
Sitting in the courtyard, Jiang Ning drank tea, enjoyed the snow, and read, quietly waiting for time to pass.
When the Patrol Bureau opened, he would immediately head there.
He would hand over the sixth-rank martial artist from the Worship God Sect he had killed last night to the internal affairs office in exchange for fifty thousand contribution points to purchase the Dragon Ascension Pill, helping him reach the level of Dragon Tendons.
Reaching the level of Dragon Tendons, he could officially begin Bone Tempering, thus stepping into the sixth rank of martial arts.
Bone Tempering was the final step in the external refinement of skin, flesh, tendons, and bones.
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