After leaving the temple, Chu Ning jogged all the way to a cave.
The cave was something he passed by and took a fancy to during the day, and now it was just right for a rest.
[Nine Tigers Body Refining Art (0/100)]
As long as Chu Ning focused his thoughts, he could still see this display in his mind.
"Is this similar to a proficiency panel? I just wonder if it has other functions."
Chu Ning wondered in his heart, trying something like adding points, but he couldn't succeed.
Feeling completely awake, Chu Ning simply gathered some dry firewood, lit it with a flint, and by the firelight, took out the Nine Tigers Body Refining Art to study it carefully.
The book contained nine sets of action diagrams with corresponding textual explanations, claiming that if one practiced according to these nine sets of actions in sequence, one could achieve body refinement over time.
After reading, Chu Ning began to follow the first diagram to practice.
"Hiss!"
As soon as Chu Ning struck a pose, he gasped, feeling as though his hamstring was about to be torn.
Gritting his teeth, he continued to practice.
After staggering through the process in a somewhat clumsy and nonstandard way, Chu Ning felt as though his body had been beaten up.
[Nine Tigers Body Refining Art (0/100)]
There was no change; the proficiency remained at 0.
However, Chu Ning wasn't discouraged. As long as this thing existed, it must be useful, and repeated practice would definitely have an effect.
But at this moment, he had no intention of repeating it, as his body was overly sore.
Initially, after being tossed around so much today, Chu Ning thought he might not be able to sleep, yet he found himself feeling a bit sleepy and went straight to bed.
Early the next morning, Chu Ning woke up to find his body's soreness wasn't as severe.
So, he practiced again.
Hmm, a little better than yesterday, as a few movements seemed more precise.
However, Chu Ning noticed that there was still no change.
Feeling puzzled, he decided not to dwell on it, gathered his things, left the cave, and headed toward Cyan Creek City.
Thanks to Cai Fu having a map, Chu Ning could find his way.
As he walked, Chu Ning practiced the Nine Tigers Body Refining Art during morning and evening breaks.
It wasn't that Chu Ning wasn't diligent, he just felt that practicing twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, was pushing his body's limits.
Although the proficiency didn't increase, the fatigue lightened considerably.
After walking this way for four days, including the first night's session, Chu Ning practiced nine times altogether, and after practicing once more during a rest,
[Nine Tigers Body Refining Art (1/100)]
"Oh, the proficiency has become 1! Practicing more is indeed useful; practicing 10 times increases the proficiency by 1 point."
Having figured it out, Chu Ning felt a surge of energy.
In the past few days, after practicing, he was exhausted, but today he felt he still had some energy left.
If he continued practicing, he might not just practice twice a day; maybe even three or four times...
With such expectations, Chu Ning continued practicing on the road, and by the time he arrived at Cyan Creek City ten days later,
the proficiency of the Nine Tigers Body Refining Art had increased to 3.
After doing a little inquiry upon entering the city, Chu Ning learned that the Cyan Creek Sect's selection test would be held in half a year.
With the money he acquired from the master and servant, he had more than enough to cover normal expenses for half a year, so Chu Ning decided to stay and practice the Nine Tigers Body Refining Art while waiting for the selection test in six months.
He rented a small house in a remote part of the city, and for a time, Chu Ning stayed indoors, rarely going out.
He practiced the Nine Tigers Body Refining Art morning, noon, and night, and during his free time, he wandered the city to learn more about this world.
Cyan Creek City is a mortal city. Although there were no cultivators within the city, likely due to its proximity to cultivation sects, there was noticeably more information about cultivation immortality here.
Chu Ning also gained a deeper understanding of the Cyan Creek Sect, which was said to be located nearly a hundred miles away in the Cyan Gorge Mountain Range.
Every three years, the Cyan Creek Sect selects a group of individuals; those with top talents are directly nurtured in the inner sect, while those with exceptional talents cultivate in the outer sect, and those with average talents are taken in as servant disciples.
The determination of talent is mainly based on testing the spirit root.
Chu Ning didn't know what his spirit root was like, so he just didn't think about it and patiently awaited the selection six months later.
Time flies, and nearly half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
[Nine Tigers Body Refining Art (99/100)]
Looking at this prompt, Chu Ning's eyes revealed a hint of anticipation.
"With the proficiency increasing to 99, over the past two days, I've practiced 9 times. Just one more practice, and the proficiency will increase by 1 point, reaching 100."
Even though Chu Ning was eager to finish this practice immediately, he had already practiced four times that day, reaching his physical limit.
Initially, Chu Ning could only practice the body refining technique twice a day before reaching his limit; later, he could practice three times a day, and now, he could practice four times a day.
"Tomorrow morning is the day to go for the Cyan Creek Sect selection, and I can practice once more in the morning."
Suppressing his slight excitement, Chu Ning took a bath and went to bed.
Early the next morning, Chu Ning followed his usual routine, waking up early and starting to practice the Nine Tigers Body Refining Art.
The various movements were already ingrained in his memory. As Chu Ning smoothly struck what he once considered high-difficulty body refining poses, he quickly completed the nine action sets.
"Boom!"
Chu Ning only felt as if some shackle within his body had been released.
Looking at his body again, the clothes he had changed into just yesterday were now completely soaked, with layers of grime clinging to them.
He felt as if he had been reborn, invigorated and refreshed!
At the same time, Chu Ning's consciousness swiftly scanned his mind.
[Nine Tigers Body Refining Art (100/100)]
[Talent Refreshed, Reward: Talent "Yin Wood Spirit Body":
1. Significantly enhances Wood Attribute Spiritual Sensing Ability, improves the cultivation speed of Wood Element Techniques and Spells;
2. The Wood Attribute Magical Power cultivated can block detection and exhibit the strength of magical power at will.]
"Talent refreshed! Yin Wood Spirit Body!"
Seeing this newly appeared prompt, Chu Ning was overjoyed, knowing this was the reward for reaching full proficiency.
"Spirit Body Talent, I should have a spirit root, right?"
Chu Ning thought to himself, quickly leaving the house and heading outside the city.
Today is the day of the Cyan Creek Sect selection; whether or not he has a spirit root will be known once it's tested.
As for the two additional talents, he would only learn about them upon formally cultivating after joining a cultivation sect.
"Having stayed in this city for so long, I've only heard them talk about spirit roots, but never about spirit bodies."
Chu Ning muttered to himself, pondering what to do if nothing showed up during the test later.
As Chu Ning made his way to the street, there were already plenty of young people like him heading out of the city.
Over the past half month, Chu Ning saw many people coming to Cyan Creek City from other places, so he wasn't surprised and blended into the crowd.
Arriving at the eastern gate of the city, there were several young men and women in Cyan Creek Sect robes distributing test number plates.
Chu Ning approached a young woman; without lifting her head, she handed a plate to Chu Ning.
"Ding Shijiu"
Chu Ning took the plate and followed the crowd out of the city gate.
Outside the eastern gate, a spacious area already had many people standing, arranged according to different numbers.
Chu Ning joined the queue marked with 'Ding', and soon other people also joined the line behind him.
And at that moment, the three rows marked 'A', 'B', and 'C' seemed to have already begun testing.
"Oh no, he doesn't have a spirit root either!"
"Four Spirit Roots, I heard that's a pseudo spirit root, but it's still possible to cultivate and enter the sect as a servant disciple."
"Wow, Three Spirit Roots, they can enter the outer sect!"
...
Voices of regret or amazement intermittently arose.
After a little while, a voice rang out at the front of the queue.
"Line 'Ding', begin testing!"