Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

Chapter 140: Chapter 61 Officially Becomes a Direct Disciple!

Canglang Martial Arts Hall.

After Jiang Ning’s battle with Xiao Peng ended,

not much time passed.

It wasn’t until the last few distinguished guests arrived that the disciple ceremony was held.

“Disciple Zhou Xing!”

“Disciple Zhao Hu!”

“Disciple Zhang Tiesheng!”

“Disciple Li Qing!”

“Disciple Jiang Ning!”

“Please have tea, Master…” The five voices spoke in unison, offering tea to Wang Jin.

“Good! Good!! Good!!!” Wang Jin watched this scene with a face full of smiles.

Then he took the tea from each of their hands, taking a large sip from every cup.

Down below, Cheng Ran watched this scene with unparalleled envy.

He had initially believed that the fifth direct disciple of Wang Jin would be either himself or Xiao Peng; within the Martial Arts Hall, there was no third option.

As time went by and Jiang Ning refreshed his understanding time and again, he gradually realized that Jiang Ning was a more competitive choice than both of them.

Today,

this fact was undoubtedly confirmed.

Jiang Ning’s strength had long surpassed Xiao Peng’s and also his own.

Even though he had also stepped into the Martial Arts Ninth Grade, he clearly understood that the gap between himself and Jiang Ning would only grow wider.

Jiang Ning’s cut was not only a source of despair for Xiao Peng but also filled him with a sense of hopelessness.

Such an ordinary cut, yet Xiao Peng was unable to receive it.

Cheng Ran knew he wouldn’t have been able to receive it either.

There was no difference between the two.

…

With the disciple ceremony over, the crowd gradually dispersed.

On this day, in the presence of more than a dozen high-profile figures, Jiang Ning and the other four became the direct disciples of Wang Jin.

In Great Xia, the bond between teacher and student is no less than that between father and son.

Sometimes, inheritance is even more critical than the ties of blood.

Once the disciple ceremony was conducted, these five direct disciples represented the legacy of Wang Jin.

Normally, no one would dare to seriously harm a disciple who had undergone such a ceremony.

Because, should it happen, it would result in an irreconcilable enmity.

An enmity as profound as cutting off someone’s lineage.

However, today, Jiang Ning also realized that this status he had once deemed so essential seemed not as important to him anymore.

…

Welcome Pavilion.

In a room on the second floor by the lakeside.

“Brother Jiang, congratulations! You have become the direct disciple of Master Wang!” Cheng Ran raised his glass.

Jiang Ning also raised his glass, “Sorry, Brother Cheng! I’ve stolen this opportunity from you!”

At this moment, their glasses lightly clinked.

Cheng Ran shook his head slightly at these words, “Even without Brother Jiang’s sudden emergence, I couldn’t have competed with Xiao Peng! Although I entered the Martial Arts Ninth Grade a few days earlier than Xiao Peng, my skill in boxing is clearly inferior to his.”

“Currently, I have only achieved Great Success in Tiger Form Boxing, which has not yet met Master Wang’s requirements,” Cheng Ran said with a wry smile.

Then he drained his glass in one gulp.

Jiang Ning did the same.

Afterward,

while pouring drinks for them both, Cheng Ran expressed his admiration.

“Having seen Brother Jiang’s two cuts today, I now truly understand what a prodigy is.”

“I can’t predict Brother Jiang’s future martial arts path, but I know one thing; I can only look up to it.”

“I once prided myself on being a martial arts genius. Now I understand that my so-called genius, in front of a real prodigy, is just an ordinary person.”

Jiang Ning raised his glass and said, “Why has Brother Cheng suddenly become so sentimental? Everyone has their own fate. I’ve been lucky to receive help from several benefactors.”

Cheng Ran shook his head and then said, “I’ve figured it out! I won’t focus solely on pursuing martial arts anymore!”

Jiang Ning was taken aback at the words, his expression one of surprise as he said, “Not practicing martial arts, then what are you going to do?”

Cheng Ran replied, “These past few months, I have spent thousands of taels of my family’s savings to reach Martial Arts Nine Grade. Our financial reserves are not that substantial now!”

“With limited talent, continuing to focus on martial arts practice, each step ahead will be harder than the last! It’s estimated that I will stop at Martial Arts Nine Grade. Continuing to focus on martial arts practice doesn’t hold much significance.”

“Better to engage in business thoroughly, inheriting the family’s enterprise, and get the business of the two taverns in the family up and running.”

“You see, this tavern is one of the foundations of my family’s property!”

“When the business is booming, and I have money, I can hire more martial masters!”

“By then, with money, perhaps I can donate some, secure a minor official position, and that wouldn’t be too bad!”

Listening to Cheng Ran’s plan, Jiang Ning asked, “Brother Cheng, are you serious about this?”

“Um,” Cheng Ran nodded, “I am clear about my talent and comprehension. No matter how much I strive, it is difficult to master power. Without mastering power, one’s life will stop at Martial Arts Nine Grade.”

“Martial Arts Nine Grade, although very impressive in the eyes of ordinary people.”

“But facing a well-equipped small squad, with the appearance of an armor-piercing crossbow, they can easily be killed. It doesn’t hold much significance.”

“If at my peak, I cannot withstand a few armor-piercing arrows, then what significance does it have!”

Hearing Cheng Ran’s earnest tone, Jiang Ning couldn’t help but sigh.

“Since Brother Cheng has thought it through, then I won’t offer much more advice.”

“I do have a few good recipes here. Brother Cheng, get me some paper and pen, and I’ll write them down for you.”

“Oh?” Cheng Ran looked at Jiang Ning with some surprise, then slowly nodded, “Then, I’ll thank Brother Jiang in advance!”

…

Not long after.

At the entrance of the Welcome Building.

“Brother Cheng, farewell!”

“Alright!” Cheng Ran clasped his hands, “Brother Jiang, take care!”

Jiang Ning said, “If there’s anything I can help with in the future, come to me! You and I are good friends!”

Hearing this, Cheng Ran smiled.

“Definitely!”

“With Brother Jiang’s words, I won’t be polite!”

The two of them then exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

…

After leaving the Welcome Building, Jiang Ning headed straight for Wanhua Building.

This time, he was planning to buy some more Plant Essence.

The fifty bottles of Plant Essence he had bought before were almost gone and wouldn’t last many more days.

As he broke through the limit with his Five Animals Fist.

Now, each time he practiced the boxing technique, he would condense ten strands of Qi Blood Power.

The efficiency of augmenting Qi-Blood had doubled compared to before, naturally increasing the consumption on his body as well.

Without the support of medicinal supplements, he wouldn’t be able to sustain it for many days.

Additionally, the efficiency of Refining Skin had also skyrocketed.

As such, the consumption of Plant Essence naturally increased considerably.

Therefore, to continue focusing on martial arts, Jiang Ning was also going to buy some medicinal supplements that greatly benefit the body today.

Walking on the road, Jiang Ning muttered to himself, “I previously exchanged all my gold leaves for silver notes, currently having nineteen hundred taels in silver notes!”

“I also have to go to the Weapon Forging Shop outside the town to buy a good quality knife!”

“According to what Manager Han said a few days ago, the best weapons in Luoshui County can be found in the Weapon Forging Shop outside the town.”

“A weapon cannot be subpar, so I must set aside at least a thousand taels of silver for the weapon, which means I can only spend nine hundred taels on Plant Essence.”

“According to Wanhua Building’s pricing, one bottle of Plant Essence cost thirty taels of silver.”

“With the Wanhua Building’s VIP card Shen Congyun left me, I get a twenty percent discount on all expenses, making it twenty-four taels per bottle.”

“So, I can get thirty-seven bottles.”

Thinking to this point, Jiang Ning murmured, “Then I’ll just round it up and buy forty bottles! The remaining nine hundred plus taels of silver should be just enough to buy a good knife!”

Not long after.

Coming out of Wanhua Building.

Jiang Ning’s hands were empty, but the forty bottles of Plant Essence he wanted had already been purchased.

Wanhua Building would send someone to deliver it to his residence later, so there was no need for him to worry.

Jiang Ning was also very confident in Wanhua Building.

Afterward, he took a carriage from the entrance and headed toward the Weapon Forging Shop outside the town.