Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

Today.

Facing this powerful individual from the Medicine King Valley, even though he had seized the position of Deputy Commander and was about to be appointed as a Secondary Eighth-Rank official of Great Xia,

Jiang Ning, in order to enhance his own safety, could only choose to estimate and implement, adding more safeguards.

"Hope it works," Jiang Ning said to himself.

In his eyes, the only people he could rely on now were just two.

One was the newly arrived Residence Master of Luoshui County, Hong Minghu.

Being able to undertake such a significant task, Hong Minghu's strength must certainly be extraordinary, possibly the foremost powerhouse in Luoshui County now.

Apart from him, there was only Lin Qingyi.

In Jiang Ning's view, Lin Qingyi remained full of mystery.

*During this period of contact, he even speculated that Lin Qingyi's strength might surpass that of Shen Congyun before.*

From how Lin Qingyi operated the Inner Breath so smoothly and comfortably, one could glimpse this aspect.

...

On the platform.

"Congratulations! Brother Jiang!" the man hosting the assessment congratulated him.

Then he continued, "I'm about ten years older than you, would you mind if I called you little brother?"

"I don't mind!" Jiang Ning smiled.

Seeing this, the man hosting the assessment also smiled slightly.

"Allow me to reintroduce myself," he said, "I am Ye Qiu, like the falling leaf predicting autumn in the world."

"I am Jiang Ning, nice to meet you, Brother Ye!" Jiang Ning cupped his hands in greeting.

"Haha, Brother Jiang, if you're free tonight, how about we gather?" Ye Qiu laughed heartily.

"Since Brother Ye has invited me, how could I not be free!" Jiang Ning replied.

Hearing this, Ye Qiu's face was filled with even more laughter.

Then.

He took out a solid gold token from his bosom, "I'll leave this item with you. When you have time, drop by the Inspection Office and have words representing your identity engraved on the back of the token. From then on, seeing your token will be as if you are personally present!"

"Understood!" Jiang Ning accepted the golden token handed over by Ye Qiu and nodded slightly.

Watching Jiang Ning accept the token, Ye Qiu couldn't help but smile.

"This dreadful weather is finally over, and I can go home and rest!"

At this point.

Jiang Ning also jumped down from the platform.

He landed in front of Xie Xiaojiu, "Does what was said before, about working under me, still count?"

"Of course, it counts!" Xie Xiaojiu nodded, the look in her eyes toward Jiang Ning filled with complexity.

Seeing Jiang Ning step by step reach this point, becoming the only one standing among the ten or so captains and seizing the sole Deputy Commander position,

*she finally understood how great the gap between herself and Jiang Ning actually was.*

*"It's no shame to lose to him!"* Xie Xiaojiu thought to herself.

At this moment.

Seeing Xie Xiaojiu nodding, Jiang Ning also nodded slightly, "In that case, in the next few days, once I've sorted out the workings of the Inspection Office, I'll transfer you under my command."

"Yes, Sir!" Xie Xiaojiu cupped her hands in acknowledgment and nodded slightly.

Seeing this woman in front of him bowing her head, Jiang Ning couldn't help but feel a bit of joy.

Since he chose the path of the Inspection Office, he naturally had to plan carefully, ensuring he had people at his command for assignments and tasks.

Entering the Inspection Office, he wasn't there to be a laborer.

His main mission was still to practice martial arts, continue breaking through in Martial Arts; that was his ultimate pursuit.

The Inspection Office was merely a towering tree that could shelter him for now.

After all, the Inspection Office represented the Martial Saint, represented the court, and stood for truth.

No matter what world, truth was always in the hands of a few.

These few had absolute power in their grasp.

Justice was the same.

Whoever had the power, that was the truth, that was justice.

Even though Great Xia was no longer as prosperous as it once was,

a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. Great Xia, even as it declined, wasn't something any one force could contend with.

The day Great Xia split apart would also be the day that legendary Martial Saint passed away.

With the passing of the Martial Saint, the power of absolute truth and absolute justice would cease to exist.

Great Xia would naturally find it difficult to maintain its absolute authority.

But before that day arrived, the Inspection Office, with the support of the Martial Saint, was the most powerful authority in Great Xia.

Since this was the case, it was also the safest place for Jiang Ning, the most suitable for his growth and development.

But for all of this, he needed to have a strong foundation within the Inspection Office.

So he needed capable people under his command to execute his orders and assignments.

With that, the various sundries would no longer trouble him, allowing him to focus on cultivating Martial Arts Skills and continuously advancing his strength.

Among all the people, although Xie Xiaojiu was not a captain, her strength surpassed that of many captains and she was, therefore, a very rare talent.

So Jiang Ning naturally valued Xie Xiaojiu.

Now, hearing Xie Xiaojiu address him as "Sir" and seeing her actions, Jiang Ning knew this matter was assured.

Then.

He safely headed towards the direction where Wang Jin was located.

...

"I'm glad I lived up to expectations," Jiang Ning said.

"I truly didn't expect it! You brat, to be able to come this far!" Wang Jin looked at Jiang Ning, his voice tinged with emotion.

"All thanks to Master's teaching!" Jiang Ning smiled.

"Don't say that!" Wang Jin waved his hand and continued, "I have enough self-awareness to know that you coming this far is mainly due to your own abilities. As for me, I can at best be considered your guide."

At that moment, Wang Jin sighed a bit, for as he spoke, he recalled all the incidents of the past few months.

Now seeing Jiang Ning reach this point, carefully reminiscing brought a touch of nostalgia to his expression.

Those events seemed as if they occurred long ago, but in reality, they were just a few short months past.

Just then.

A bodyguard, clad in full armor and with a sword tightly gripped at his waist, approached Jiang Ning and Wang Jin.

"Mr. Jiang!" The bodyguard immediately cupped his hands towards Jiang Ning, then added, "The Residence Master requests Mr. Jiang's presence."

*"Sure enough, it has come!"* Jiang Ning mused internally.

Then he nodded, "Lead the way up ahead!"

"Yes, Mr. Jiang!" The bodyguard cupped his hands again.

Subsequently, Jiang Ning turned to Wang Jin, "Master, the Residence Master has called for me, I must go."

"Go, but be cautious in all matters!" Wang Jin advised.

"Understood!" Jiang Ning nodded.

At that moment, as the sound of drums echoed, the assessment at the Inspection Office officially ended. The crowds around the training ground began to disperse and head home, while the various factions in the wooden stands also departed.

"Master, should we wait here for Brother Jiang?" Li Qing asked.

Wang Jin glanced at Jiang Ning's departing figure, then shook his head, "Let's not wait! We'll head back first!"

"Yes, Master!" Li Qing responded.

...

Above the stands.

Lin Qingyi came quietly, and left just as quietly.

The crowd began to disperse as well.

At this time, both Hong Minghu and Gongsun Yu were absent from the stands, instead arriving at a camp within the training ground.

Inside the camp.

Hong Minghu sat boldly, while Gongsun Yu stood beside him.

Upon realizing that Hong Minghu's strength was likely above his own, Gongsun Yu became very agreeable, having no objections whatsoever to the current situation.

A moment later.

A series of footsteps sounded from outside the camp.

He had arrived!

Hong Minghu's heart tensed slightly, as he was very interested in Jiang Ning at that moment.

The performance Jiang Ning just displayed had astounded him greatly.

Even the talents he had previously seen on the Hidden Dragon List did not impress him as much as Jiang Ning did today.

*"With that kid's performance today, he should be enough to be ranked among the people on the Human List of the Hidden Dragon List, right?"* Hong Minghu thought internally.

The Hidden Dragon List is divided into the Human List, Earth List, and Heavenly List.

The Human List is comprised of the top hundred powerhouses under thirty years old in a residence.

For anyone under thirty, regardless of age, only realms and strength are considered in the ranking.

Even just being on the Human List is an immense honor.

Consider that a residence is composed of over ten counties and hundreds of towns.

In such a vast area, the martial arts prodigies are numerous.

Making it into the top hundred already showcases extraordinary talent.

The Earth List refers to the top hundred under thirty in a state.

To make it onto the Earth List, even the last ranked is considered to possess the potential of a Grandmaster.

As for the Heavenly List, it encompasses the martial arts prodigies of the entire Nine Provinces of Great Xia.

Those who make it onto the Heavenly List are not lacking in those who might achieve the status of a Grandmaster.

Under thirty, achieving Grandmaster status, speaks to the extreme difficulty of ranking on the Heavenly List.