Inside the carriage
Jiang Ning carefully examined the Miao Yan Spirit Fruit in his hand.
Then
He picked it up and immediately felt alternating waves of cold and heat coursing through his palm.
"Impressive," Jiang Ning remarked before placing the fruit into his mouth.
Crunch!
The crisp sound of his bite echoed as juices burst forth.
He chewed twice and swallowed.
"Tastes pretty good," he praised once more.
The flesh was sweet and delicious, with a unique blend of refreshing coolness and soothing warmth a rare and exquisite sensation.
However, after swallowing the fruit, he didn't feel any immediate changes.
A flicker of disappointment flashed in his eyes, and he swiftly finished off the entire Miao Yan Spirit Fruit.
But then
After several dozen breaths, Jiang Ning's expression suddenly shifted.
He immediately closed his eyes, focusing inward.
Within his internal vision, he saw streaks of crimson and wisps of dark black dissipating inside his abdomen.
"Could it be…" His heart trembled in surprise.
Without hesitation, he activated Water-Fire True Force.
Instantly
As soon as the swirling energy of Water-Fire True Force began circulating, the crimson and black wisps were drawn toward it, merging into the spinning vortex of energy.
[Water-Fire True Force Experience +1]
[Water-Fire True Force Experience +1]
[Water-Fire True Force Experience +1]
[…]
One after another, system notifications flooded his vision.
The frequency of the alerts was astonishingly high.
Jiang Ning could sense his Water-Fire True Force rapidly growing stronger.
"This is indeed a pleasant surprise!" Jiang Ning rejoiced inwardly.
He quickly focused his mind and continued circulating Water-Fire True Force, allowing the vortex to absorb the lingering crimson and black energies.
Time passed slowly
Inside his body, the Water-Fire True Force surged like a rising tide, steadily strengthening.
When the carriage finally came to a stop
Jiang Ning remained seated for another short while before opening his eyes.
[After absorbing the spiritual essence of the Miao Yan Spirit Fruit, your Water-Fire True Force experience has increased by 1,637 points.]
[Skill: Water-Fire True Force (Second Limit Break – 1,685/3,000)]
[Traits: Water-Fire Immortal Robe, Mastery over Water and Fire]
Glancing at his skill panel, Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile.
A single spirit fruit had increased his Water-Fire True Force experience by 1,637 points.
This saved him several days of arduous cultivation.
"At this rate, spending 8,000 taels wasn't a loss at all," he murmured, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Unexpected gains always lift one's spirits.
Then
He lifted the carriage curtain and stepped down. "Apologies for keeping you waiting, old sir."
As he spoke, Jiang Ning handed the coachman a small piece of silver.
The elderly coachman, his face as wrinkled as tree bark, broke into a smile. He took the silver gratefully, his expression beaming with joy, and repeatedly thanked Jiang Ning.
Upon returning to the Eastern Courtyard
Jiang Ning didn't rush to refine the various rare treasures he had purchased earlier.
Instead, he chose to practice his fist techniques and wait for the following day.
By doing so, he could better assess how much the Miao Yan Spirit Fruit alone had contributed to his Source Energy growth.
More than an hour later
"Miss Luyi?" Jiang Ning looked at the girl, who had just been led in by his sister-in-law, his expression showing slight surprise.
Liu Wanwan smiled and said, "A-Ning, I'll leave you two to talk."
With that, she cast a meaningful glance at both Jiang Ning and Luyi before turning to leave.
Now
In the courtyard, Luyi performed a graceful bow. "Greetings, Young Master Jiang."
"Miss Luyi, are you here because Master Lin has business with me?" Jiang Ning asked.
Luyi immediately shook her head and looked at him. "No, I came to see you myself, Young Master Jiang."
"Oh?" Jiang Ning smiled. "Then, let's hear it."
The next moment
With a sudden thud, Luyi dropped to her knees before Jiang Ning. "Young Master Jiang, please take me in!"
"What do you mean by this?" Jiang Ning asked.
Kneeling before him, Luyi explained, "I am now a free person. Master Lin has instructed me to follow you to stay by your side, take care of your daily needs, and ensure you can focus on your martial training without being burdened by trivial matters."
"Lin Qingyi?" Jiang Ning looked at Luyi in surprise. "Is this your idea, or Master Lin's? Or did he send you to spy on me and report back to him regularly?"
Hearing this, Luyi raised her head and met Jiang Ning's gaze, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"Rest assured, Young Master! If I stay by your side, no matter how severe the torture, I will never reveal a single word about you!"
"As for following you, this is not only Master Lin's will but also my long-cherished wish!"
"In the past, I was not free and did not dare to speak. But now that I have said these words, please, Young Master Jiang, take me in!"
Jiang Ning looked at Luyi, deep in thought.
Daily chores didn't have a huge impact on him, but they did, indeed, interfere with his training efficiency.
There were times when trivial matters forced him to interrupt his practice prematurely.
So, having someone to handle such things was something he had considered before. However, he had never found a suitable candidate, so he never took action.
After all, whoever stayed by his side would inevitably become the person who knew him best second only to himself.
They would surely discover some of his secrets and the miraculous techniques he possessed.
He couldn't trust just anyone.
But Luyi…
Jiang Ning quietly studied her again.
Luyi also looked at him, slightly lifting her head.
Even though her eyelashes trembled furiously, she did not lower her gaze.
After a moment
She should still be trustworthy.
I'll observe her for a while longer!
Jiang Ning thought to himself.
Then, he spoke. "You may stay."
"Thank you, Young Master!" Luyi exclaimed and was about to kowtow.
But in the next moment, she felt an invisible force gently holding her head up.
"Get up. From now on, there's no need to kneel before me, nor to bow so frequently," Jiang Ning said.
"Yes, Young Master!" Luyi stood up immediately.
Her face bloomed into a bright smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons, making her even more charming.
The next day.
When Jiang Ning woke up, he immediately noticed that the temperature had dropped a few degrees.
As he lifted his blanket, he could feel strands of chilly wind brushing against his skin, sending shivers down his spine.
"The weather has turned even colder?" He looked toward the wall.
Closing his eyes slightly, he extended his mental energy outward.
In an instant
He saw the howling cold winds outside and heavy snowflakes falling like goose feathers.
The courtyard was already blanketed in thick snow.
Even the trees were laden with heavy layers of white.
"Such extreme weather could it be man-made?" Jiang Ning murmured.
Then
Sigh
A long sigh escaped his lips.
If this harsh winter was truly caused by humans…
How many common folk would freeze to death?
Such ruthless acts would surely bring immense suffering and countless deaths.
Unfortunately, as far as he knew, there was no such thing as divine retribution.
The cycle of heaven's justice never fails!
These words were nothing more than a means for ordinary people to comfort themselves.
Compared to that saying, another phrase seemed far more accurate:
"The good die young, while the wicked live for a thousand years."
At that moment, Jiang Ning's attention shifted to the soft rustling sounds of sweeping in the courtyard.
Luyi was there, diligently sweeping the snow.
The path she had cleared was already evident, and now she was using her broom to sweep away the remaining scattered snowflakes.
Seeing this, Jiang Ning frowned slightly.
The next moment
He opened the door, allowing the cold wind to rush into the room.
"Young Master, you're awake?" Luyi turned to him with a bright smile.
Jiang Ning could see her cheeks, flushed red from the cold.
Winter was already harsh, and the early morning was typically the coldest time of the day.
Just standing by the open door, Jiang Ning could feel the biting chill, estimating the outside temperature to be well below -10°C.
For someone like Luyi, who had no martial arts training, this was extremely cold.
After all, the clothes here did not have the insulation of those from his past life.
Even if such warm clothing existed, it was far beyond what Luyi could afford.
Those were garments made from rare, precious wool.
"Luyi, what are you doing?"
"Young Master, I'm sweeping the snow in front of your door!" Luyi blinked her large eyes.
Jiang Ning shook his head. "You don't need to do such things. Step aside!"
Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Lü Yi quickly grabbed the broom in her hands and ran to the corner by the wall.
Jiang Ning stepped out of the doorway at a slow pace.
Ever since his internal energy had surged and undergone a transformation, he had yet to unleash it.
Now, with the courtyard covered in snow, it was a perfect opportunity to test his current strength.
The next moment
He took a deep breath, sinking his energy into his dantian.
Facing the courtyard, he slowly pushed his right palm forward.
In an instant, the internal energy within his dantian erupted.
A terrifying wave of force swept forward, and in the blink of an eye, the accumulated snow at the entrance was lifted as if caught in a violent storm. Large chunks of compacted snow flew into the air, soaring higher than the courtyard walls.
Even the falling snowflakes above momentarily froze in place before being drawn skyward.
Several breaths later
The snowflakes once again drifted down, swirling gently into the courtyard.
But by now, the courtyard had been completely transformed.
The ground was free of snow, as pristine as if it had been freshly cleaned.
Even the thick layers of snow on the trees had been swept away, yet the trees themselves remained unharmed.
Had a fifth-rank martial expert witnessed this scene, they would have been utterly shocked.
To clear the snow without damaging the trees in the slightest
Such precise control over internal energy signified mastery of the highest order.
Achieving this level of finesse required an extraordinary level of mental discipline.
At the side
Lü Yi stood wide-eyed, completely stunned by the display.
"That was amazing!" she exclaimed in awe.
Jiang Ning smiled and said, "You don't have to do this kind of hard labor anymore. It's freezing outside go back inside and warm up under the blankets!"
After making sure Lü Yi had gone inside
Jiang Ning also returned to his room.
Closing the door, he shut out the cold wind and gently closed his eyes.
A few breaths later
"Not bad. I cleared the snow in the courtyard, though it did consume about ten percent of my internal energy."
Opening his eyes, he nodded in satisfaction.
Then, he pulled up his status panel.
[Source Energy]: 563.71
[Techniques]: Five Animals Fist+ (Second Limit Break 3000/3000) (Traits: Essence Stored in Five Organs, Five Elements Spirit)
The moment he saw the panel, his gaze sharpened.
"An increase of over three hundred source energy points is impressive!"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Yesterday, after consuming a single Miao Yan Spirit Fruit, he had accumulated enough source energy to fulfill the requirements for the third limit break of Five Animals Fist.
Such effectiveness was an unexpected delight.
"Based on yesterday's experiment, it's clear that so-called immortal treasures are highly beneficial for me!"
"If that's the case, then I must get my hands on those five Five-Element Spirit Fruits!"
"One hundred thousand taels per fruit if I negotiate, I might get them for eighty thousand taels each."
"There has to be a way!"
Thinking of the Miao Yan Spirit Fruit, Jiang Ning also recalled Han Hongmei introducing the Five-Element Spirit Fruits to him the day before.
According to her
Back in ancient times, consuming them could alter a cultivator's constitution, greatly enhancing their affinity with the five elements.
However, due to changes in the environment, modern immortal treasures likely lacked certain components and no longer had that effect.
Moreover, for most martial artists, such treasures were completely useless.
Like when he ate the Red Flame Vermilion Fruit he merely felt a warm current flow through his body, but there were no other changes.
He wasn't sure why that was the case.
However, after yesterday's experience, he realized that immortal treasures weren't entirely ineffective for him.
For instance, after consuming the Miao Yan Spirit Fruit and activating his Water-Fire True Energy, he absorbed some essence from the fruit, strengthening his Water-Fire True Energy significantly.
This had given him 1,637 points of experience for Water-Fire True Energy, pushing its progress past the halfway mark and significantly reducing the effort required for his next breakthrough.
"Those Five-Element Spirit Fruits may work similarly!"
With that thought, Jiang Ning's determination grew.
After his second limit break in Five Animals Fist, he gained the ability to absorb five-element energy from the world.
Compared to the scattered five-element energy in nature, the concentrated essence within the Five-Element Spirit Fruits was likely far richer.
Absorbing five-element energy to nourish his five organs
This was the key to strengthening his body's foundation.
Having made up his mind, Jiang Ning temporarily set the matter aside.
For one hundred thousand taels per fruit
Even with a discount, it would still cost eighty thousand taels each.
That was an enormous sum, far beyond what he could afford at the moment.
Afterward
His gaze returned to his status panel.
[Source Energy]: 563.71
[Techniques]: Five Animals Fist+ (Second Limit Break 3000/3000) (Traits: Essence Stored in Five Organs, Five Elements Spirit)
"Since I've met the requirements, it's time for a breakthrough!"
As the thought arose, Jiang Ning willed it into action.
Instantly
His source energy points began depleting at an incredible rate.
In the blink of an eye, the number settled at 63.71.
Jiang Ning closed his eyes.
At that moment, it was as if he had traveled through endless time he saw himself training through the bitter cold of winter and the scorching heat of summer.
The golden sunset, the silver moon rose.
Over and over, the cycle continued, and he never ceased practicing his Fist techniques.
Through the passage of immeasurable time
He watched mountains erode into valleys and oceans transform into mulberry fields.
Yet, his silhouette remained unchanged always, he was there, practicing.
As his figure finally stilled
It was as if all the hardships of training had been etched into his very being, refined by the flow of time, culminating in this moment of transformation.
In that instant
He felt his arms undergo a subtle metamorphosis, and his mind was flooded with countless insights.
Not just insights into Five Animals Fist
But a far greater understanding of other realms of knowledge as well.
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