Chapter 20: Saber Technique, Minor Success!

In the courtyard.

Jiang Ning grabbed another heavy log and placed it on the chopping block.

He raised the knife and struck.

*Crack—*

The woodcutting knife sank nine-tenths of the way into the wood.

Jiang Ning exerted force with his arm once more, and only then was the heavy log split in two.

【Woodcutting Knife Technique Experience +1】

Jiang Ning kicked the scattered wood to the side and grabbed another heavy log.

"With this efficiency, I should be able to grind out these two hundred experience points tonight, right? A 'Small Success' level Woodcutting Knife Technique should be enough to let me split wood in a single stroke."

As this thought crossed his mind, the goal within arm's reach filled Jiang Ning with even more drive.

Compared to the Five Animals Fist, the Woodcutting Knife Technique was undoubtedly much easier to gain experience from.

Although the Woodcutting Knife Technique was quite mediocre and its effect on improving his strength was far inferior to the Five Animals Fist, the high speed of experience gain made its flaws entirely acceptable.

Jiang Ning also held certain expectations for this technique.

Because the previous breakthrough of his Literacy skill had granted him a special trait: Photographic Memory.

Therefore, Jiang Ning also looked forward to the breakthrough of the Woodcutting Knife Technique.

With such anticipation, Jiang Ning held the knife and struck, blow after blow.

【Woodcutting Knife Technique Experience +1】 【Woodcutting Knife Technique Experience +1】 [...] 【Skill】: Woodcutting Knife Technique (Proficient 86/200)

Glancing at the panel, Jiang Ning stopped to rest for a moment.

During this break, he picked up a book from beside him—a book he had brought with him today for the purpose of grinding Literacy experience during the intervals when he was recovering his physical strength.

This would not only increase his knowledge but also slowly strengthen his "Spirit," commonly known as mental power.

At the same time, he was equally expectant of the next breakthrough for Literacy.

Based on his deductions, every subsequent breakthrough would grant a new trait.

【Literacy Experience +1】 【Literacy Experience +1】 [...] 【Skill】: Literacy (One Breakthrough 93/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)

Looking at his panel, Jiang Ning nodded in satisfaction.

Being able to see himself improving bit by bit—especially when the goal was visible and tangible, where every ounce of effort brought a harvest and brought him one step closer to his goal—was somewhat addictive.

Ever since he learned that a breakthrough after reaching mastery would bring traits, his expectations had grown even higher.

After finishing his rest, Jiang Ning resumed his woodcutting work.

With every strike, as each piece of wood was split, he could feel a subtle, almost imperceptible change.

His hands grew steadier, his knife more accurate, and his power delivery smoother.

When the bright moon hung above the treetops, Jiang Ning looked at his panel with a hint of excitement.

【Skill】: Woodcutting Knife Technique (Proficient 199/200)

"Just one more point of experience!"

He placed a heavy log on the chopping block and straightened it.

Then, he gripped the woodcutting knife.

*Whoosh—*

The sound of the blade slicing through the air suddenly rang out.

*Crack—*

With a single strike, the heavy knife nearly split the entire log, leaving only a tiny connection. This undoubtedly represented that the strength in his arm was slightly greater than before.

Though the increase wasn't massive, it was visually obvious.

After all, having split nearly two hundred logs in a short period, his arms were somewhat fatigued and the webbing between his thumb and index finger was numb from the vibrations; he couldn't exert his full strength.

Yet, even under these circumstances, the cut from this strike was deeper than the previous ones, reaching nearly ninety-five percent of the way through.

Then, with a surge of strength from his arm, the log was completely split in two.

【Woodcutting Knife Technique Experience +1】

At that moment, as the notification appeared, a quantitative change triggered a qualitative leap. The Woodcutting Knife Technique on his panel shifted from "Proficient" to "Small Success."

【Skill】: Woodcutting Knife Technique (Small Success 0/500)

Simultaneously, the two hundred strikes he had just performed flashed through Jiang Ning's mind.

How to exert force with every strike, where every strike should land—everything was being continuously refined in his mind.

Finally, countless images merged into a single vision: the image of a single strike slicing through the air and landing upon a log.

Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of that blade's light seemed to flicker within them.

The next moment.

Holding the knife, he brought it down upon the wood on the block before him.

*Swish—*

The knife cut through the air, landing dead center on the wood.

*Crack—*

With the sound of breaking, the wood that had previously been difficult for him to sever was cleanly and decisively split in two by a single blow.

【Woodcutting Knife Technique Experience +1】

"It really is different!!" Jiang Ning gripped the knife and swung it casually a few more times.

He immediately grabbed another log, steadied it, and aimed at a dark grain line on its surface.

*Swish—*

The knife fell again.

It landed precisely upon that dark grain line.

*Crack—*

The log was once again cleanly split in two.

【Woodcutting Knife Technique Experience +1】

"The Small Success level of the Woodcutting Knife Technique is indeed different! Not only is the power delivery more sophisticated, but the hand follows the eye perfectly without a hint of deviation. With such efficiency, my rate of grinding experience for this skill will be even higher."

Jiang Ning nodded with extreme satisfaction.

Then, he glanced up at the high, bright moon.

"It's getting late!!" he murmured. "I can only manage two more sets of forms before I have to sleep!"

Under the pale moonlight, Jiang Ning simply found a wide, open space and began practicing the Five Animals Fist.

With the threats of Xu Yunfeng, Cao Bin, and potentially even the God-Worshipping Sect looming, Jiang Ning did not dare to slacken in the slightest.

Coming to this martial arts hall was only possible because his eldest brother had borrowed money by selling everything they owned, giving him this chance to leap through the dragon gate.

【Five Animals Fist Experience +1】 【Five Animals Fist Experience +1】

After completing two sets of forms, Jiang Ning's skin was slightly flushed, his short tunic was completely soaked with sweat, and steam was constantly rising from his head.

"The physical consumption of the Five Animals Fist is truly immense!!" Jiang Ning shook his head helplessly.

Despite having consumed a large amount of energy and some precious Earth-Zhi earlier that evening, the two additional sets of forms left him feeling waves of weakness, especially since he was already somewhat fatigued.

Clenching his fists, he felt the flow of Qi and blood within his body.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly. "I've condensed two more strands of Qi and blood. A low-tier cultivation method like the Five Animals Fist, used for laying the martial foundation, is indeed far beyond what the Woodcutting Knife Technique can compare to. Though the improvement is difficult, the feedback is entirely worth the effort."

【Skill】: Five Animals Fist (Beginner 28/100)

As he glanced at his progress, the panel vanished from his sight.

"More than a quarter of the way there. At this rate, I should be able to break through to 'Proficient' in about three days. By then, my Qi and blood will be even more abundant. However, after three days, the medicinal herbs will be an issue!"

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning felt a headache coming on.

The reason he had such high efficiency today was largely due to that wild ginseng.

The consumption of the wild ginseng and its medicinal effects were what allowed him to sustain practicing the Five Animals Fist over and over again.

Without the support of the wild ginseng, Jiang Ning felt his training frequency would have to be cut by at least half, or even reduced to one-third of today's efficiency.

This was not an unfounded assumption.

The increases in strength, agility, and constitution brought by practicing the forms were extremely rapid, far exceeding the "fitness" of his previous life.

More importantly, it could condense a unique power: Qi and blood.

Such an intense method of improvement inevitably placed a heavy load on the body.

Without the support of highly restorative medicines, one could only control the frequency and improve the physique through slow, steady effort to avoid breaking the body.

But in his current situation, how could Jiang Ning endure such a slow progression?

The threat of Xu Yunfeng was imminent.

Jiang Ning knew very well that in order to climb higher, to earn merit, and to join the behemoth of the Cao family, Xu Yunfeng would inevitably lose patience.

Especially once his eldest brother lost his official household registration one day, Xu Yunfeng's inhibitions would diminish even further.

While normally his brother would only lose his registration if he failed the year-end assessment, Xu Yunfeng had Cao Bin behind him, and Cao Bin had the Cao family behind him.

The Cao family controlled the mines, water transport, and household registrations of Luoshui County; as one of the local powers, their strength was unimaginable.

Once they moved, his brother's registration could be revoked within days under the pretext of "loss of duty," or he could even be thrown into prison.

Thus, Jiang Ning did not know how much time he had left.

Having been in this world for over two months, he had long since accepted his eldest brother, sister-in-law, and their family as his own.

He doted on little Doubao even more.

Even though his own safety was not an issue now that he could stay long-term at the Canglang Martial Arts Hall, he could not, under any circumstances, stand by and watch his family in this life face such a catastrophe.

*I must accelerate my progress. Only by achieving Great Success in my fist technique can I pass Wang Jin's assessment and become his true disciple. Only then can I protect my brother's family!*