Chapter 29: Fragment of the Neidan Health Cultivation Technique

In the study.

Jiang Ning walked slowly along the floor-standing bookcases, his gaze sweeping rapidly across the titles of the books arranged upon them.

One row, two rows, three rows.

By the time he had finished scanning the three rows of bookcases, he had gained a general understanding of Wang Jin's collection.

Among these three rows of bookcases, there were books on governance, statecraft, various classics, scholarly research for the imperial examinations, medicine and herbalism, and a row dedicated to martial arts.

He took a brief look at the martial arts books; they were mostly mediocre manuals, with only the top cabinet containing a few low-grade martial arts techniques.

He had just pulled one out to glance at it; if he studied it, it would certainly be of some help.

However, Jiang Ning knew that his way of cultivation should focus on specialization rather than being a jack-of-all-trades.

For him, biting off more than he could chew was a recipe for failure.

With his system, the most miraculous and profound aspect of any technique was what happened after reaching the state of Perfection and undergoing a Limit Break.

Not only would the effects be further enhanced, but he would also gain certain extraordinary traits.

Just like that particular skill, the Limit Break of "Literacy" had not only made his thinking faster and strengthened his mental power, but most crucially, it had granted him the trait of photographic memory.

This trait was of immense help to him.

Therefore, he would not give up grinding the experience points for the Literacy skill, and grinding Literacy did not conflict with his martial arts or boxing training in the slightest.

A person's physical capacity is, after all, limited!

If one overexerts themselves in training, even the most potent tonics cannot prevent a collapse.

Furthermore, reading expands wisdom and understanding.

Most importantly, it clarifies the Spirit.

"Spirit" refers to the *Shen* in the triad of Essence, Qi, and Spirit; it is mental power, and it is the soul.

To read the classics deeply and increase one's knowledge is to increase mental power and strengthen the soul—this was a rule of this world.

Great masters of the Confucian Dao could project their Yin Spirit to roam the heavens and earth, capable of traveling to Kunlun in the morning and returning to Changwu by dusk.

They could even use their souls to command the powers of heaven and earth, possessing strength that could not be underestimated.

This was also the reliance of the various officials in the imperial court.

At the same time, many books mentioned the importance of the Spirit, noting it as a mandatory path for those walking the martial arts road in its later stages.

However, few martial experts chose this path to strengthen their souls, because achieving mastery in literature required not only high talent but also decades of hard study.

Jiang Ning knew that if he did not possess this powerful panel, he would not be able to balance both martial arts and literature.

Now that he could study literature, he would not let it go.

As long as he continuously triggered Limit Breaks for the Literacy skill, he would eventually reach the Yin Spirit realm, which would be of immense help to his martial growth.

But for him, his time and energy each day were limited; specializing in one or two techniques and skills was his best choice.

Only in this way could he maximize his experience point grinding, allowing his skills to reach Perfection and undergo Limit Breaks as soon as possible.

Every Limit Break of any technique brought about massive changes, and among them, the traits were what Jiang Ning valued most.

As various thoughts raced through his mind, his gaze suddenly froze.

[Complete Intelligence Records of Luoshui County]

[Summary of Rebellions in Great Xia]

At the same time, beside these two volumes, he saw an especially eye-catching fragment of a page.

In the next moment.

He strode quickly to the desk, his gaze landing directly on that fragment. His intuition told him this page was extraordinary.

[Internal Alchemy Longevity Technique]

Upon seeing the five words on the fragment, his eyes quickly moved downward.

There were only a few hundred words on the fragment.

Yet, Jiang Ning spent the time it takes to drink a cup of tea just reading those few hundred words.

After a long time.

*Phew—*

He exhaled softly and set the fragment down.

"A golden elixir swallowed into the belly; my fate is mine to command, not heaven's!"

"What lofty intent! What a profound method of internal strengthening!"

"A pity!"

"A pity that it is merely a fragment."

Jiang Ning shook his head secretly.

After reading the fragment, he understood exactly what kind of technique the Internal Alchemy Longevity Technique was.

As far as he knew, within the martial arts system, there were realms of skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, as well as realms of internal strengthening where the five viscera and six organs generate internal breath.

The Internal Alchemy Longevity Technique was an internal strengthening method derived from Taoism.

If practiced long-term, it could prolong life and delay aging.

If successful, it could even derive internal breath, providing endless stamina and vitality.

If this technique reached Perfection, one would condense an internal elixir within the Dantian, achieving the intent of "a golden elixir swallowed into the belly; my fate is mine to command, not heaven's."

From then on, one could absorb the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, completing the transformation from skin, flesh, tendons, and bones to internal strengthening in just a few short months.

This was a cultivation method of certain Taoist branches: cultivating nature first, then cultivating life.

"A pity, it only records the methods of breathing and respiration. This can at most be considered the entry level. No wonder Wang Jin left this fragment lying carelessly on the desk."

After memorizing all the text on the fragment, Jiang Ning placed it back on Wang Jin's desk.

[Skill]: Internal Alchemy Longevity Technique (Not Started 0/100)

"One hundred points?"

Looking at his panel, Jiang Ning's gaze suddenly sharpened.

Just to reach the entry level required one hundred experience points? Was this Internal Alchemy Longevity Technique truly that extraordinary?

His expression was one of surprise.

It was likely due to it being a high-level technique; seeing it this way, he could not let this technique pass him by.

With the panel, perhaps the fact that it was a fragment would not prevent the technique from breaking through.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Ning felt this guess was highly likely to be true.

A Limit Break had the effect of breaking conventions and creating something from nothing.

Not to mention the effect of completing a fragment.

Comparing the two, the difficulty of completing a fragment was not even in the same league as a Limit Break.

Wang Jin could find this fragment just to extend his life and regulate his bodily functions; the existence of the fragment proved that a complete record of the Internal Alchemy Longevity Technique existed somewhere in the world.

A Limit Break was different; it broke the very perception of the world.

Immediately, his gaze shifted to the two volumes in front of him.

He picked up one of the volumes and scanned it.

[Summary of Rebellions in Great Xia]

Early January, Year 839 of the Xia Calendar, a rebellion occurred in Boshan County. Rebel forces breached the county seat and swept through three counties before being suppressed by the late-arriving Xuanjia Army.

Early January, Year 839 of the Xia Calendar, Baishan Village was massacred by rebel forces, and two towns were raided before being dispersed by the garrison of Shishan County.

Mid-January, Year 839 of the Xia Calendar...

As Jiang Ning read line by line, he became increasingly surprised.

Because several of the recorded incidents had occurred within Zeshan Province.

Zeshan Province was named so because of its abundance of water and mountains.

After a long time, having finished the volume, Jiang Ning slowly withdrew his gaze. He finally understood why Great Xia had stationed a Martial Saint and established an Inspection Office.

In the past year alone, a total of six rebellions, large and small, had occurred in Zeshan Province.

And this was only within the single province of Zeshan. Great Xia consisted of nine provinces in total, and in terms of rebellion frequency, Zeshan Province ranked in the lower-middle tier among them.

One could only imagine how many rebellions had occurred throughout the entirety of Great Xia last year.