Chapter 33: Grinding Experience, Perfection of Blade Techniques is Imminent!

Night fell.

Returning to his small courtyard.

Jiang Ning opened his panel.

【Skills】

Literacy (Breakthrough once: 238/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)

Five Animals Boxing (Proficient: 52/200)

"Literacy experience increased by 42 points!"

"I practiced Five Animals Boxing eighteen times today. Aside from the first time which added one point of experience, the remaining seventeen repetitions each added two points. A total of 35 experience points gained for Five Animals Boxing today—not bad at all!"

Jiang Ning nodded in satisfaction.

Although he had lost the assistance of the wild ginseng today, which reduced the maximum number of times he could practice his boxing by about ten repetitions, he had mastered the essence of the Tiger Style—the balance of hardness within softness and softness within hardness.

As a result, every time he performed a repetition, his Five Animals Boxing experience increased by two points instead of one.

Thus, the growth rate of his boxing experience had not decreased but had actually increased; his efficiency had risen.

He was satisfied with this level of efficiency.

Calculating roughly, at this rate, it would take less than a week for his Five Animals Boxing to break through to the "Minor Success" realm.

By then, given his current progress, the Qi and blood he had accumulated would be more than enough to circulate through one arm.

Furthermore, the efficiency of condensing Qi and blood would increase once again.

The next day, the first thing he did upon waking was open his panel.

【Source Energy】: 6.4

"As expected, the rate of acquisition has slowed! Yesterday it increased by 0.6, but today it only increased by 0.4."

"It seems that medicinal supplements like wild ginseng truly provide a significant boost for me."

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning shook his head slightly. "Forget it, I won't consider it for now! A single wild ginseng is worth over ten taels of silver; where would I get that much money right now? Besides, I haven't seen Senior Brother Zhou Xing these past few days, so I don't even know the exact value of a single plant."

As he thought of Zhou Xing, another figure came to mind: Senior Sister Li Qing, whom he had seen on his first day at the martial arts hall.

"I haven't seen Senior Sister Li Qing these past few days either. I wonder where she's gone?"

In the blink of an eye, another day passed.

Yesterday had been an ordinary day for Jiang Ning.

In the early morning, taking advantage of the rising sun, he made haste to practice the Inner Elixir Health Cultivation technique, performing the breathing and circulation method toward the rising sun.

After a session of breathing exercises, the Inner Elixir Health Cultivation experience increased by 12 points, one point less than the previous day.

Jiang Ning suspected it was because he was absorbing slightly less energy from heaven and earth.

Aside from that, he spent the entire day practicing boxing, reading, and chopping wood to grind experience points.

Though it was monotonous, Jiang Ning found it endlessly enjoyable.

Watching the experience points of his mastered skills increase bit by bit, bringing him closer to his goals, gave him a sense of fulfillment.

In particular, feeling two strands of Qi and blood condense within his body with every repetition of his boxing, and feeling his physique grow stronger, brought him both mental and physical pleasure.

Consequently, both of these skills gained significant experience yesterday.

【Skills】

Literacy (Breakthrough once: 322/2000)

Five Animals Boxing (Proficient: 90/200)

Inner Elixir Health Cultivation (Not Started: 25/100)

In one day, Literacy went from 238 to 322, a total increase of 84 experience points.

Five Animals Boxing went from 52 to 90, meaning he was nearly halfway to the "Minor Success" realm.

"Yesterday, my boxing experience increased by 38 points. At this speed, it will take only three more days. In three days, my boxing will reach Minor Success, and my Qi and blood will be more than enough to circulate through an arm! I can call it 'Minor Success of Qi and Blood'!!"

"This efficiency is incredible! Seeking advice from Wang Jin on the essence of Five Animals Boxing's Minor Success was definitely the right move!"

"If I hadn't mastered the essence of the Tiger Style—the softness within hardness and hardness within softness—how could I have such efficiency?"

Jiang Ning was instantly filled with fighting spirit.

After waking up and washing, he sat cross-legged in his courtyard, quietly waiting for the sun to rise.

In the entire day, this brief twenty-second window was the only time he could perform the breathing and circulation method of the Inner Elixir Health Cultivation to gain experience.

Naturally, he would not waste a single day's opportunity.

A moment later, as the morning sun rose, Jiang Ning hurriedly began the breathing and circulation method.

【Inner Elixir Health Cultivation experience +2】

【Inner Elixir Health Cultivation experience +2】

【Inner Elixir Health Cultivation experience +1】

After finishing.

【Skills】: Inner Elixir Health Cultivation (Not Started: 40/100)

"Almost halfway!"

Jiang Ning glanced at his panel and then hurried toward the latrine.

Since the first day, he had gone to the latrine immediately after his morning breathing exercises.

Jiang Ning felt this was a way of detoxifying.

Over the past few days, he felt his internal organs becoming lighter and his energy more abundant every day, which was of great help to his boxing practice.

His physical recovery also seemed to be faster!

Clearly, although the Inner Elixir Health Cultivation had not yet reached the "Started" stage, it was already beginning to take effect.

Coming out of the latrine, he rested for a moment before heading straight to the small courtyard by the kitchen.

Yesterday, he had spent the whole day boxing and reading without chopping wood; he couldn't afford to be lazy today.

"And today is the day I grind my Wood-Chopping Saber Technique to Perfection!"

【Skills】: Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Great Success: 633/1000)

Looking at the progress of the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique on his panel, Jiang Ning's steps became even lighter.

He had originally intended to grind this technique to Perfection yesterday.

However, Auntie Sun had told him that because he worked too hard, there was too much chopped wood to use up at once!

She told him to come back and chop more the next day.

It was for this reason that he had waited until today to grind the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique to Perfection.

A moment later.

Jiang Ning arrived at the backyard of the kitchen.

The morning sun had long since risen.

In the sweltering mid-July, as the sun shone upon the world, Jiang Ning could feel the wind blowing against him carrying heat.

"This damn weather... it hasn't rained for two months, has it?"

Jiang Ning's murmur held a hint of hesitation, followed by a brief recollection.

"It has been two months!"

"Looking at this situation, this year's grain harvest probably won't be much better!"

"Whatever! What does it have to do with me?"

Jiang Ning shook his head, casting the stray thoughts from his mind.

He then gripped the wood-chopping saber, which weighed a full five catties.

"I'd better just focus on grinding my experience points!"

As the thought flashed through his mind, the saber fell.

*Swish—*

The sound of the blade cutting through the air rang out.

*Thud—*

The saber fell, and the heavy round log standing on the stump was split clean in two.

【Wood-Chopping Saber Technique experience +1】

"Heh, it really has become easier!"

A long time later.

Jiang Ning wiped the sweat dripping from his forehead.

Even with his current stamina, chopping hundreds of logs in succession inevitably brought fatigue.

【Skills】: Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Great Success: 990/1000)

"Only ten more!"

Seeing the progress on the panel, his fatigued body was instantly revitalized with motivation.

【Wood-Chopping Saber Technique experience +1】

【Wood-Chopping Saber Technique experience +1】

【...】

With his current efficiency, ten experience points were in his hands in the blink of an eye.

【Skills】: Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Great Success: 999/1000)

When the notification for the final point of experience appeared before him, the entry on his panel underwent a sudden change.