Inspection Bureau.
Jiang Ning followed behind Hong Minghu, the two of them entering Hong Minghu's bedroom one after the other.
"Commander Jiang, close the door," Hong Minghu said, his face ruddy.
Hearing this, Jiang Ning turned and shut the door.
The next moment
Pfft
He abruptly heard the sound of someone vomiting blood behind him.
Turning around, he saw a pool of dark red blood mixed with shattered internal organs on the floor in front of Hong Minghu.
At this moment, Hong Minghu's right hand was braced against a round table nearby, his steps unsteady, his complexion shifting from its earlier flush to a deathly pallor.
"Bureau Chief, what's wrong?" Jiang Ning stepped forward, supporting Hong Minghu with one hand.
"It's nothing!" Hong Minghu waved him off, then took several deep breaths, his expression easing considerably.
Then he continued, "That battle just now severely damaged my organs, ruptured many of my meridians, and displaced my bones. It's only thanks to you providing support from afar. If you hadn't been there, given Li Hong's bizarre methods at the time, we might have truly been wiped out!"
Jiang Ning smiled faintly but said nothing.
Others might not know his true strength, but he did.
His current power far surpassed Hong Minghu's by several times.
If Hong Minghu could hold out for so long, there was no reason he couldn't withstand it.
"Surviving today was largely thanks to you," Hong Minghu said, looking at Jiang Ning with sincere gratitude.
"You've already said that several times just now, Bureau Chief," Jiang Ning replied with a smile.
"Haha," Hong Minghu laughed as well.
But the next moment
His laughter abruptly cut off.
Cough
He clutched his chest, immediately coughing up dark blood.
After several coughs, his face turned red, clearly struggling to suppress the urge to keep coughing.
Seeing this, Jiang Ning slowly placed his palm on Hong Minghu's back.
With a surge of internal energy, a flash of astonishment crossed Hong Minghu's eyes.
As Jiang Ning's internal energy flowed into his body, he instantly felt his organs relax, his flushed complexion gradually returning to normal.
"Your internal energy… is extraordinary!" Hong Minghu exclaimed in surprise.
Jiang Ning smiled. "It's from a health-preserving technique. It doesn't have many advantages, but it's quite good at internal strengthening and healing."
"A health-preserving technique?" Hong Minghu praised, "That's a treasure! What martial artists fear most is the accumulation of hidden injuries and the decline of bodily functions, the weakening of qi and blood! A good health-preserving technique can extend one's prime by several years, giving one more opportunity to break through to the Grandmaster realm than others."
Then, Hong Minghu looked at Jiang Ning again. "For a martial prodigy like you, this kind of internal refining technique is the most suitable, not those focused on aggression and combat."
Jiang Ning said, "So, I've chosen the right path?"
"Indeed, you've chosen the right path," Hong Minghu nodded.
Then he added, "Alright, you can stop now. I feel much better."
Hearing this, Jiang Ning withdrew his hand from Hong Minghu's back.
Hong Minghu quickly walked to a cabinet in the room and took out a white ceramic jade bottle.
Pulling out the red stopper, he poured a round, gray pill into his palm and swallowed it.
After taking the pill, his complexion improved further.
"You asked earlier about the white tiger formed by my internal energy you want to learn it, don't you?" Hong Minghu put away the ceramic jade bottle and turned to Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning replied, "It's not that I want to learn it, but I'm curious. Is this what the texts refer to as the realm of 'technique'?"
"The realm of technique?" Hong Minghu repeated, then nodded. "That description isn't wrong."
As he spoke, he opened another cabinet and took out a small red brocade box the size of a palm from a hidden compartment inside.
Noticing Jiang Ning's gaze fixed on the red brocade box in his hand, Hong Minghu chuckled.
Then he said, "You want to understand this knowledge, which suggests your level of internal refinement is quite advanced."
Jiang Ning nodded. "It's not low, but it's not as good as yours, Bureau Chief."
Hong Minghu laughed and waved his hand. "I relied on external aids how could I compare to you?"
As they spoke, he walked to the table where Jiang Ning stood.
Placing the red brocade box on the table, he continued, "Take a look. This is a piece of tiger bone inscribed with divine patterns that I acquired at an auction."
At these words, Jiang Ning's gaze immediately fell on the red brocade box.
Soon, Hong Minghu opened it.
Inside lay a piece of bone as white as jade, covered in intricate patterns.
Hong Minghu glanced at Jiang Ning, noting his focused attention on the tiger bone, and chuckled.
Then he picked up the bone from the box. "See these patterns? They're called divine patterns. The white tiger formed by my internal energy earlier was derived from these patterns."
"In ancient times, the world's environment was entirely different from what it is now."
"Certain extraordinary beings would develop special patterns within their bones, patterns imbued with the laws and truths of heaven and earth."
"Through these patterns, those extraordinary beings could unleash terrifying combat techniques."
"From my estimation, this tiger bone comes from a powerful member of the White Tiger lineage."
"And the technique I used earlier was the materialization of internal energy, combined with visualizing the patterns on this bone and projecting them onto the white tiger's forehead, allowing it to manifest extraordinary effects."
As he spoke, Hong Minghu's right thumb remained pressed against the patterned side of the tiger bone, obscuring its markings.
At this moment, Jiang Ning understood after hearing these words.
He now realized why Hong Minghu had consistently used the technique of materializing his internal energy into a fierce tiger to attack Li Hong.
This was his unique method.
Then, he glanced at the tiger bone in Hong Minghu's hand, silently committing the explanation to memory, and asked another question.
"Bureau Chief, there's one more thing I don't understand."
"Go ahead," Hong Minghu said.
"Why is the efficiency of your internal energy eruption so high, like a floodgate opening, while mine is more like a slow trickle in a canal?"
"That's simple!" Hong Minghu looked at Jiang Ning and continued, "The human body has the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and the Twelve Primary Meridians, along with countless minor collateral pathways. If you locate these meridians and repeatedly temper them with internal energy, expanding the minor pathways, the efficiency of your internal energy eruption will naturally increase dramatically."
At this point, Hong Minghu added, "Your background is lacking, and you've missed too much foundational martial knowledge. You should visit the Martial Academy in Dongling City to fill in those gaps and deepen your understanding."
"Otherwise, with your current level of knowledge, your martial path will inevitably hit a ceiling, and you won't go far!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning looked surprised.
"I can also study at the Martial Academy?"
"Why not?" Hong Minghu's breathing had already stabilized, clearly showing the effectiveness of the pill he had taken earlier.
He continued, "With your martial talent, you've long qualified to enter the Martial Academy. Not just the Martial Academy you could even join the academies of Guangning Prefecture, or compete for a spot in the Royal Capital's Dao Palace."
"But for you right now, it doesn't need to be so complicated."
"The Inspection Bureau has the full support of the Martial Sage's Mansion, and whether it's the Martial Academy, the Prefecture Academies, or the Dao Palace, they all fall under the jurisdiction of the Martial Sage's Mansion."
"Members of the Inspection Bureau can spend contribution points to study at the Martial Academy, Prefecture Academies, or Dao Palace, enjoying all the privileges they offer."
"Contribution points can also be converted into academic credits for use in these institutions."
"Given your background, you desperately need to spend time there."
"Moreover, these places have many excellent resources that will greatly benefit you!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning's mind cleared.
"Thank you for your guidance, Bureau Chief!" He cupped his hands slightly in gratitude.
This thanks came from the heart.
"No need for that!" Hong Minghu waved his hand with a smile. "Today, you saved my life. A life-saving favor is beyond repayment. This is just verbal advice it's nothing."
As he finished speaking,
he held the tiger bone he had taken from the red brocade box and placed it in front of Jiang Ning, opening his palm.
"Commander Jiang, I'm giving this to you," Hong Minghu said.
"Giving it to me?" Jiang Ning looked astonished.
"Yes," Hong Minghu nodded. "You saved my life. If this can help you, then it's yours."
"Then I thank the Bureau Chief!" Jiang Ning cupped his hands again and accepted the jade-white tiger bone.
His gaze fell on the bone, its intricate patterns immediately capturing his attention.
He felt a profound sense of mystery.
"Memorize these patterns thoroughly. Once you can reproduce them flawlessly in your mind, you've succeeded. Then, materialize your internal energy into a fierce tiger and project these patterns onto its forehead. That will grant extraordinary enhancements."
As Hong Minghu's guidance echoed in his ears, Jiang Ning studied the patterns on the tiger bone intently.
Thanks to his eidetic memory, he instantly memorized them without missing a single detail.
Then, Jiang Ning closed his eyes.
Drawing on his prior experience visualizing the Five Animals Diagram, he effortlessly reconstructed the patterns in his mind just as flawlessly.
In just a breath's time, he reopened his eyes.
Under Hong Minghu's puzzled gaze,
he raised his hand, and internal energy surged forth, instantly materializing a fierce tiger one brimming with lifelike majesty.
Though its form was not meticulously detailed, like an ink painting, it exuded the aura of a king of animals, imposing and awe-inspiring without anger.
At the same time,
internal energy swirled within the tiger's forehead, instantly manifesting the jade-white tiger bone and its intricate patterns.
In that instant,
the formation of these patterns endowed the energy-formed tiger with a new characteristic one of savage ferocity.
This enhancement starkly contrasted with the previously neutral and steady nature of his internal energy.
"You!!" Hong Minghu's eyes widened in shock.
Jiang Ning felt the transformation in his internal energy and nodded repeatedly. "The Bureau Chief was right. With this change, the offensive power of my internal energy is indeed different. With the same expenditure, the force of this strike has multiplied."
"This level of 'technique' is effective! And extremely practical!"
Jiang Ning was thoroughly satisfied.
In just a few breaths, the might of his internal energy eruption had surged several times over.
This harvest is too great!
At this moment, Hong Minghu slowly suppressed the shock in his heart.
He looked at Jiang Ning with eyes wide as if beholding a deity.
"Commander Jiang, how did you accomplish this? The divine form you manifested is even more lifelike than the tiger I conjured with my inner energy."
"Simple!" Jiang Ning continued, "The patterns on the tiger bone number barely a hundred. I was born with a photographic memory, so I can memorize them all at a glance. Thus, it's effortless for me to visualize the divine patterns in my mind and imprint them onto the tiger's forehead formed by my inner energy."
"Moreover, the first martial art I practiced upon entering the path of martial cultivation was the Five Animals Fist, and the tiger stance is the very first form of the technique. Since stepping onto this path, I've observed countless tigers, and their essence and spirit are deeply ingrained in my understanding."
"So, achieving this level is quite simple for me!"
Hong Minghu: "..."
After a long pause, he let out a deep sigh.
"Meeting you has made me truly understand what it means to feel powerless, like a mayfly gazing upon the vast sky. Your talent is simply terrifying."
As he spoke, Hong Minghu took another deep look at the solid, inner energy-formed tiger in Jiang Ning's hand.
The tiger in his palm was only the size of a hand, barely over ten centimeters long.
Yet, it gave him an inexplicable sense of dread.
He knew full well that Jiang Ning, with just this burst of inner energy, possessed the ability to threaten his life.
This threat didn't stem from Jiang Ning's inner energy being stronger than his, but rather from Jiang Ning's mastery of "technique" far surpassing his own.
The divine patterns within the white tiger bone exerted a far greater effect on Jiang Ning's hands than they ever could in his.
This was primarily because Jiang Ning had achieved the same feat manifesting the divine patterns into the tiger formed by his inner energy in mere moments, accomplishing what would have taken Hong Minghu months.
Moreover, the tiger Jiang Ning conjured was even more vivid in both spirit and form. The more lifelike the manifestation, the greater the power it could unleash.
These divine patterns were, after all, an external manifestation of the laws and principles of heaven and earth.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ning remained unfazed by Hong Minghu's praise.
Given all the effort he had invested, if he couldn't even achieve this much, wouldn't that make him utterly useless?
"Though I hadn't expected my photographic memory to play such a crucial role here! Indeed, no trait should ever be underestimated!" he mused silently.
At this point, Hong Minghu also reined in his tumultuous emotions.
His gaze lingered on the tiger bone in Jiang Ning's hand.
"Prefect, I return this to you!" Jiang Ning said, extending the white tiger bone back to Hong Minghu.
From the look in Hong Minghu's eyes earlier, he could sense the man's reluctance to part with it.
And now, he also knew that this tiger bone was of no further use to him.
With his photographic memory, a single glance was enough to commit it to memory forever.
The tiger bone held no other value for him now.
Hong Minghu glanced at it once more but shook his head. "A gift once given cannot be taken back. Keep it."
Jiang Ning replied, "I no longer have any use for this. It seems the Prefect still needs it."
"Even if you don't need it now, hold onto it! I don't take back what I've given away. If you truly find no use for it in the future, you can sell it!" he insisted firmly.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Jiang Ning abandoned the idea of returning the tiger bone.
His opinion of Hong Minghu improved slightly.
A short while later, as he watched Jiang Ning leave, Hong Minghu felt a pang of heartache.
"Stubborn fool! Stubborn fool!"
He slapped himself lightly on the cheeks.
No one understood better than him just how much silver he had spent on that tiger bone.
Such artifacts wouldn't deteriorate even after a century and could be passed down through generations.
Moreover, since they could significantly enhance the combat power of fifth-rank inner-strength martial artists, their value was exceedingly high, often fetching inflated prices.
When he had acquired this tiger bone, it had cost him a staggering 110,000 taels of silver. Originally, he had planned to resell it once he no longer needed it, thereby recouping some of his investment.
But recalling past events and Jiang Ning's life-saving grace earlier that day, he gritted his teeth and chose to part with this treasure a symbol of his wealth to mend the rift between them.
"Forget it!"
"Forget it!"
"Gifting something worth 110,000 taels at least helps repair our relationship!"
"And after all, he did save my life today!"
"Such a life-saving favor deserves some reciprocation!"
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Thanks to his heightened senses, Jiang Ning overheard Hong Minghu's mutterings from inside the room.
He was instantly astonished.
"Worth 110,000 taels of silver?"
"This little thing is that expensive?!
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