Chapter 15: Obtaining Source Energy Points

The next morning.

【Name】: Jiang Ning

【Source Energy】: 3.9

【Skills】

Literacy (Breakthrough Level 1: 69/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)

Five Animals Fist (Beginner: 4/100)

When he opened his panel, he was momentarily stunned.

"Source Energy actually increased by 0.3 in a single day?"

"This is the only time in over two months that my Source Energy growth has reached 0.3!"

"Looking at it this way, my previous deduction was correct! The growth of Source Energy is related to my energy intake for that day!"

"Yesterday, I consumed one-tenth of a wild ginseng, along with a bowl of medicinal soup from the martial arts hall, meat, and a large amount of rice. That is why I was able to achieve a 0.3 increase in Source Energy in one day."

He fell into thought, gradually understanding the logic behind the growth of Source Energy.

"It seems I'll have to find a way to make money in a few days! Without money or supplements like wild ginseng to support my training, my Source Energy growth will slow down!"

His understanding of the phrase "the scholar is poor, but the martial artist is rich" had deepened.

Wealth was far too important for his martial pursuits!

【Five Animals Fist EXP +1】

【Five Animals Fist EXP +1】

【Through this training session, Five Animals Fist EXP has increased by a total of 2 points.】

【Skills】: Five Animals Fist (Beginner: 6/100)

"The progress from Beginner to Proficient in Five Animals Fist is already at five percent!"

Jiang Ning clenched his fists again, feeling the power of his blood and qi circulate and surge into his right fist.

"Connecting blood and qi through a single arm is called 'Minor Success.' I am still far from that!"

A new thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.

He wondered what kind of trait would be produced if he achieved a breakthrough in the Five Animals Fist.

Thinking of this, he shook his head slightly. "I'm overthinking it! Martial arts techniques also have five stages: Beginner, Proficient, Minor Success, Major Success, and Perfection. Only after Perfection can one achieve a breakthrough. Given my current efficiency in grinding Five Animals Fist experience, I don't know how long it will take!"

Afterward, Jiang Ning approached the stone lock again.

His right hand gripped the hundred-pound stone lock, and with a light lift, it left the ground.

"It's even easier than last night. It seems my physique has grown a bit more!"

Feeling the change in his strength, Jiang Ning felt a secret sense of satisfaction.

The feeling of making progress every single moment was somewhat addictive.

He wished he could spend all twenty-four hours of the day training and grinding experience.

"No rush! No rush!!" He shook his head inwardly. "Seeking quick success is unwise! The body's capacity for endurance is limited! My current rate of progress is already far beyond that of an ordinary person. Moreover, no bottleneck can stop me—that is one of my greatest advantages!!"

On the other side.

Jiang Li, who had just stepped out of the room, saw Jiang Ning lifting the stone lock to test his strength. His eyes constricted, and a flash of surprise crossed his gaze.

His younger brother's strength seemed to have improved again; it looked even easier than lifting the lock last night.

At this moment, Jiang Ning set down the hundred-pound stone lock and moved to the next one, which weighed one hundred and fifty pounds.

He exerted force with his right hand, and three corners of the lock instantly left the ground, but the final corner refused to lift.

"It seems I'm still quite far from a hundred and fifty pounds of strength! I must be between one hundred and ten and one hundred and twenty pounds! Strength really does grow quickly in the early stages!" Jiang Ning shook his head slightly and abandoned the attempt to continue testing his strength.

Then, while resting to recover his stamina, he picked up the book he hadn't finished reading last night and continued to flip through it slowly.

【Literacy EXP +1】

【Literacy EXP +1】

"Brother, come eat!"

A voice called out, and Jiang Ning stopped reading, closing the book in his hands.

【Through this reading session, a total of 6 EXP points have been added.】

【Skills】: Literacy (Breakthrough Level 1: 75/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)

"Literacy is still the easiest skill to grind EXP for!" Jiang Ning felt this deeply.

Arriving at the main room, steaming white porridge was already laid out on the wooden table, with bits of minced meat floating in it.

"Eat up, little brother! Once you're done, shall I take you to the martial arts hall?" Jiang Li skillfully ladled a bowl of porridge for his wife, Liu Wanwan, while speaking to Jiang Ning.

"Is Big Brother coming with me today?" Jiang Ning asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes!" Jiang Li nodded. "Xu Yunfeng followed you all the way home yesterday. I plan to escort you back and forth starting today. With me around, Xu Yunfeng won't dare touch you!"

"That won't do!" Jiang Ning shook his head and continued, "If you come with me, Big Brother, it won't be safe for Sister-in-law to be home alone with the two children."

Jiang Li spoke with full confidence, "You don't need to worry about that, little brother! I've already made arrangements. There are brothers in the yamen who have life-and-death bonds with me patrolling this area."

Liu Wanwan also spoke reasonably, "Little brother, don't worry about the three of us. Your brother is, after all, an official of the yamen and holds a registered position. Xu Yunfeng is a smart man; a smart man wouldn't do something as reckless as breaking into a residence!"

"Before the year-end assessment at the yamen, nothing will happen to the three of us, and nothing will happen to your brother. Only you are different! Any accident could happen on your daily commute to and from the martial arts hall!"

Jiang Li added with a smile, "Your sister-in-law is right. Besides, whether or not you can become a disciple of the martial arts hall is the most important thing right now. Your success concerns both me and your sister-in-law. Under these circumstances, how can your safety be overlooked?"

Jiang Ning listened quietly to his brother and sister-in-law's words, his heart filled with emotion.

How could he not understand that their words were certainly not spontaneous?

His brother and sister-in-law must have talked late into the night to reach this decision.

He shook his head firmly once more. "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, there is no need to say more. When I go to the martial arts hall today, I plan to stay there long-term!"

"Stay at the hall long-term?" Jiang Li looked up abruptly.

Jiang Ning nodded. "Yes. I plan to ask Hall Master Wang Jin for some work to do, and then I'll live at the hall for a while."

"Will that work?" Jiang Li asked hesitantly.

Jiang Ning also shook his head. "I don't know if it will work, but I want to try!"

"Alright then!!" Jiang Li nodded decisively. "There's no harm in trying. If you can stay at the hall, it will definitely help your martial arts training and save you the daily commute. Plus, it will indeed make you much safer. I'll escort you to the hall in a bit."

"Okay!" Jiang Ning nodded and did not argue further.

A moment later.

The group finished breakfast.

"Wait a moment, Big Brother!"

Before leaving, Jiang Ning returned to his room, emerging only a few breaths later.

"Little brother, what did you take?" Jiang Li looked at the bulge at Jiang Ning's waist.

Jiang Ning smiled. "A little means of self-defense!"

As he spoke, he patted his waist.

What he had placed there was nothing else but lime powder, something frequently seen in movies from his previous life.

Lime powder might seem like a trivial thing, but in close-quarters combat, it was undoubtedly a truly effective tool.

At the same time, he also carried a book—a book to be used for grinding Literacy EXP during his spare time between training.

An hour later.

The two appeared before the gates of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall.

No disturbances occurred along the way.

"Go back now," Jiang Ning said.

"Alright!" Jiang Li nodded, then added, "I will come by again this afternoon."

Jiang Ning smiled. "Don't worry, Big Brother! I will make sure the Hall Master lets me stay."

With that, he strode toward the entrance of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall.

Watching Jiang Ning's figure disappear through the gates, Jiang Li turned and left.

Next chapter at 8:00 PM.

(End of Chapter)