Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

Chapter 104: Chapter 31: Refreshing Wang Jin’s Understanding

Afternoon.

After dinner, Jiang Ning left his home alone and headed to the Martial Arts Hall.

Wang Jin was his teacher, and given Jiang Ning’s sudden disappearance for more than ten days, it was only proper, both emotionally and rationally, to visit the Martial Arts Hall first after his return today.

This was the respect that was due!

Wang Jin’s previous actions also lived up to the name of teacher and merited the respect that Jiang Ning had for him.

Furthermore, the training resources that Wang Jin had left for him were still at the Martial Arts Hall.

Excluding the Wild Ginseng he had taken with him, there were more Wild Ginseng in the room he used to live in, as well as those unused Qi Blood Pills.

The path of Martial Arts is about strengthening the physique and nourishing the Qi-Blood.

The growth of Qi-Blood is a lifelong pursuit for anyone who practices Martial Arts.

At the beginning of Martial Arts, one must achieve Qi Blood Perfection throughout the body.

Only then can one begin Refining Skin and step into the ranks of Martial Arts Ninth Grade.

Every subsequent improvement requires the growth of Qi-Blood and certain prerequisites must be met for the subsequent breakthroughs in Martial Arts.

Just like now, he had already formed his skin membrane. If he wanted to transform his skin membrane further and reach the small success stage, it was closely related to the strength of his Qi-Blood.

Without the increase of Qi-Blood, it would be impossible to shed the skin membrane and achieve the small success stage where the membrane is as hard as stone.

Thus, those who practice martial arts and become old and weak, with declining Qi-Blood, lose the possibility of further progress!

Therefore, even though he has now entered Martial Arts Ninth Grade, he still cannot neglect the growth of Qi-Blood.

Those Qi Blood Pills are naturally very important.

Not to mention, digesting the Medicinal Power of the Qi Blood Pills could bring him extra improvements in his Source Energy Points.

After entering the Inner City, Jiang Ning took a carriage.

…

Canglang Martial Arts Hall.

Jiang Ning paid the fare and disembarked.

As for the money, it was the two taels of broken silver he had kept on himself.

As soon as Jiang Ning stepped off the carriage, the two disciples guarding the gate of the Martial Arts Hall immediately changed their expressions.

And then they immediately bowed with clasped fists.

“Brother Jiang!”

“Greetings to Brother Jiang!”

Jiang Ning smiled and greeted them, then walked toward the gate of the Martial Arts Hall.

Just as he stepped through the hall’s gate, many disciples spotted him. They were overjoyed to see Jiang Ning’s figure.

“Brother Jiang!”

“Greetings to Brother Jiang!!”

“Where has Brother Jiang been!!!”

“…”

Everyone facing Jiang Ning showed an extremely friendly demeanor.

Because Jiang Ning’s presence was now related to their interests.

They had observed Jiang Ning’s boxing training for several days in a row, which greatly helped the progress of their own Boxing.

After Jiang Ning suddenly disappeared, their progress with the Five Animals Fist also fell back to the previous state.

Now that Jiang Ning had reappeared, it meant that they could return to that previously efficient rate of progress. How could they not be happy?

Jiang Ning smiled at everyone and then said, “Fellow disciples, continue with your business. I am going to visit Master Wang in the backyard.”

“Brother Jiang, go ahead, it is as it should be!” someone spoke up.

Seeing this, the others also spoke and conveyed their understanding.

Especially a few who were particularly well-informed, their looks toward Jiang Ning were filled with respect.

Naturally, they knew what Jiang Ning’s safe return indicated.

Soon after.

Jiang Ning arrived at the gate of the backyard.

Thump—

Thump—

Thump—

He knocked on the gate.

“Who is it?” Wang Jin’s voice came through the backyard, resoundingly reaching Jiang Ning’s ears.

“Master, it’s me!” Jiang Ning said.

Hearing this, it suddenly became silent behind the door.

Then Wang Jin’s voice rose again slightly.

“Zhou Xing, go open the door.”

Immediately it was Zhou Xing’s voice that echoed: “Yes, Master!”

Hearing this voice, Jiang Ning’s face showed a hint of surprise.

Zhou Xing was here too?

How coincidental?

A few breaths later.

Creak—

The gate to the backyard opened.

“Brother Jiang!” Zhou Xing greeted Jiang Ning, and a complex look also flashed through his eyes as he saw him.

In his heart, there was a tinge of regret.

On the first day Jiang Ning joined the Martial Arts Hall, he had noticed that Jiang Ning had a bit of Talent.

Immediately, he sighed to himself.

He had underestimated his younger brother after all.

These thoughts quickly passed through his mind, and then he showed a warm smile.

“Please come in, Brother Jiang.” As he spoke, he also stood aside, making enough space for Jiang Ning to pass.

“Good afternoon, Brother Zhou!” Jiang Ning smiled.

Immediately, he walked into the backyard and saw Wang Jin, shirtless, wiping sweat from his body.

“Master, your disciple has returned!” Jiang Ning bowed with clasped hands.

Wang Jin appraised Jiang Ning from top to bottom, then slowly nodded his head, “Not bad, safe and sound!”

He then continued, “Have you encountered Hong Chengtao?”

Jiang Ning replied, “I have!”

Hearing Jiang Ning’s affirmative response, a sharp light suddenly flashed in Wang Jin’s eyes.

He appraised Jiang Ning from top to bottom once again, and then burst into laughter.

“Good lad, what a tactic!!”

“To counter-kill Hong Chengtao and emerge unscathed, this is far beyond my expectations!”

Zhou Xing, standing by the side, also felt a surge of shock.

Born and raised in Luoshui County, how could he not have heard of the great name of Hong Chengtao.

Even within the whole of Luoshui County, Hong Chengtao was a legend in his own right.

From a mere commoner to a Deputy Gang Leader of the Green Snake Gang that made commoners tremble with fear.

His Iron Sand Palm was capable of bending metal and breaking gold, and it too had a fearsome reputation.

Who would have thought that such a figure, known throughout Luoshui County, would fall to a junior?

“How exactly did he pull this off?” Zhou Xing marveled inwardly as he looked at Jiang Ning’s serene face.

Jiang Ning asked, “Does Master know about this?”

Wang Jin smiled and nodded, “How could I not? By now, this matter has probably become known among all the major forces in Luoshui County. I reckon that the various powers are aware of your safe return to the city!”@@novelbin@@

With that said, Wang Jin spoke with interest, “I’m quite curious as to what choice Cao Bin will make? With Cao Rong gone, the strongest person in the Cao family is now his third uncle, Cao Guangyan.”

“Although Cao Guangyan is at Martial Arts Seventh Grade and has achieved great success in muscle fortification, he is old and in declining health, far from being a match for me!”

Hearing this, Jiang Ning understood the meaning behind Wang Jin’s words.

Wang Jin mentioning the Cao family’s strongest member, Cao Guangyan, and speaking of his old age and declining health in comparison to himself, meant that if the Cao family were to take action over this mater, he would intervene.

Having understood this,

Jiang Ning immediately bowed respectfully and said earnestly, “Thank you, Master!”

Upon seeing this, Wang Jin let out a hearty laugh.

“Since I have taken you as my disciple, how could I allow others to bully you with their power.”

Zhou Xing, watching from the side, couldn’t help but reveal an envious look in his eyes.

Jiang Ning had been in the Martial Arts Hall for less than two months, yet he had gained Wang Jin’s high regard.

“This is the influence of talent!” Zhou Xing sighed inwardly once again.

He considered how respectfully he had always treated Wang Jin.

Even after having reached Martial Arts Ninth Grade and having established himself,

he would visit the Martial Arts Hall every three to five days, or at most every half a month, to pay respects to Wang Jin.

Moreover, he was theoretically the senior disciple of the Martial Arts Hall.

Yet, the way Wang Jin treated him was far different from the way he treated Jiang Ning.

Thinking of this, a sour feeling couldn’t help but rise in Zhou Xing’s heart.

At this time.

Even after knowing that Hong Chengtao and Xu Yunfeng were killed by Jiang Ning, Wang Jin did not inquire further into the details.

A trump card.

Once exposed, its effect would surely diminish greatly.

As a teacher, how could he not understand this principle.

In his view, there was no true secret in the world.

The only secrets that could be considered true were those that no second person on earth knew about.

With that, Wang Jin changed the subject, “Since you’ve counter-killed Hong Chengtao, why did you linger outside the city for so long? Do you have other matters to attend to?”

Jiang Ning answered, “Your disciple wanted to observe the living habits and fighting of the tiger, bear, ape, and other animals of the Five Animals in the mountains and forests, to fathom the essence of the Five Animals Fist. Thus, I stayed for more than ten days.”

“I see!” Wang Jin nodded, then asked, “Did you gain anything from this?”

Jiang Ning nodded confidently and said, “I have gained a little.”

“Oh?” Hearing Jiang Ning’s words, Wang Jin’s eyes flashed with brilliance once again.

He then calmly appraised Jiang Ning, “It seems you truly have made some gains.”

At this moment, although Wang Jin appeared calm, his heart was filled with amazement.

He hadn’t forgotten that previously, his disciple’s Five Animals Fist had already reached the state of Great Success, with all five stances achieving Great Success.

On top of that foundation, Jiang Ning now claimed to have gained a little.

Having spent time with Jiang Ning, how could he not see that Jiang Ning was always one to understate his achievements?

To say he had gained a little meant that the gains must have been significant.

Significant gains on top of the foundation of Great Success in all five stances,

That would be a further breakthrough, reaching Perfection.

And it was precisely this thought that so startled Wang Jin.

If it were anyone else who said this, he might not think this way, but Jiang Ning was different.

He knew well that his own disciple, Jiang Ning, had already mastered the basics of the Canglang Blade Skill more than ten days ago.

Considering the difficulty, mastering the Canglang Blade Skill was far tougher than advancing from Great Success to Perfection in the Five Animals Fist.

Since Jiang Ning had managed to master the Canglang Blade Skill before leaving the Martial Arts Hall, it wasn’t impossible for him to have advanced the Five Animals Fist to Perfection over these past ten-plus days.

Thinking of this,

Wang Jin immediately said to Zhou Xing, “Zhou Xing!”

“Your disciple is here!” Zhou Xing promptly regained focus and bowed his hands in salute.

“You can go back now! Go digest what I’ve taught you today about boxing insights, and remember the feeling of the power flowing through your body when the Five Animals come together,” Wang Jin instructed, then continued, “I need to assess your junior brother’s boxing technique.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xing understood.

Wang Jin was asking him to step aside for a moment.

He bowed his hands again, “Then your disciple will take his leave! Tomorrow I will report back my gains to Master.”

“Good!” Wang Jin nodded slightly.

Afterward,

Zhou Xing cast a glance at Jiang Ning again, with his gaze lingering briefly before turning to leave the backyard.

When the backyard gate closed,

Wang Jin then looked solemnly at Jiang Ning.

“The gains you mentioned just now, have you achieved Perfection in the Five Animals Fist?”