Chapter 19: Skill Breakthrough, Strength Increase

Standing before the wooden stump.

Jiang Ning gripped the wood-chopping knife again and placed a thick log onto the stump.

Just as he was preparing to strike, a loud voice suddenly rang in his ears.

"Little guy, dinner is ready! Come and eat!!"

"Coming, Big Sister!" Jiang Ning looked up and responded.

In the kitchen, Auntie Sun, who was holding a tray, couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth curl upward.

"This little guy certainly has a sweet tongue! With that handsome face, he'll have no trouble wooing girls in the future!"

On the other side.

Jiang Ning looked up to respond to Auntie Sun.

He remained gripping the wood-chopping knife in his hand.

The next moment.

The muscles in his arm surged instantly.

*Swish—*

The blade sliced through the air, producing a faint friction sound.

*Crack—*

As the knife fell, the sound of the thick log splitting instantly echoed.

Looking at the mark left by the knife, Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed slightly.

"It penetrated eight or nine tenths of the way! It really is different!"

A smile slowly spread across his face. He applied force with his palm, and the heavy blade of the knife lay wedged horizontally in the fracture of the wood.

*Crackle, crackle—*

The sound of wood fibers continuously tearing erupted from the timber before him.

Finally, under the leverage of the heavy blade, the entire piece of wood was successfully split in two, leaving irregular tearing marks beneath the halved log.

【Wood-Chopping Saber Technique Experience +1】

"When I swung with full strength just now, it only penetrated five or six tenths. Now that the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique has broken through to Proficiency, it can penetrate eight or nine tenths. I really have become stronger!"

Jiang Ning nodded in satisfaction. Such significant progress in such a short amount of time left him extremely pleased.

He then set the knife aside and walked toward the direction where Auntie Sun had gone.

Entering the main hall.

"Master!!"

"Sit!" Wang Jin stopped his movements and gestured toward Jiang Ning.

"Thank you, Master!!" Jiang Ning bowed in greeting.

Once Jiang Ning was seated, a bowl of meat soup emitting a rich aroma was placed before him by Auntie Sun.

"Thank you, Sister Sun!" Jiang Ning took the bowl and thanked her.

"Eat up, little guy! You worked so hard chopping wood just now, you must be hungry!" Jiang Ning nodded and gave a slightly bashful smile.

The next moment.

Taking a large mouthful of the meat soup, a look of satisfaction appeared on Jiang Ning's face. "Sister, your cooking is wonderful!"

Auntie Sun chuckled beside them.

Wang Jin spoke up at that moment: "Eat quickly. Once you're done, continue your training! Auntie Sun specially added Earth Lingzhi to today's meat soup. Earth Lingzhi is a good tonic; it will be quite helpful for your martial arts training."

"Earth Lingzhi?" Jiang Ning's eyes brightened. He was aware of this tonic; books he had read recently included introductions to medicinal herbs, so he knew the basics.

Although the value of Earth Lingzhi was not as high as wild ginseng, a single complete specimen would start at one or two taels of silver.

The purchasing power of one tael of silver was not low. By his estimation, it was roughly equivalent to the purchasing power of one thousand yuan in his previous life, enough to support a poor family of three or four for a month.

"It really is a good thing that I can stay long-term at the martial arts hall!!" Jiang Ning rejoiced inwardly.

He immediately looked up: "Thank you, Sister Sun!!"

Then he looked at Wang Jin, stood up, and bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Teacher, for taking me in."

Wang Jin nodded slightly. "Since I am not paying you a wage, I naturally cannot let you go without food and drink."

"Teacher, you jest!" Jiang Ning spoke with a serious expression. "In the face of a dinner prepared by Teacher, what does a wage even matter? Teacher has bestowed great kindness upon me, a debt I shall not forget in this lifetime!! One day, I will surely provide for you in your old age and see you through your final rites!!!"

In the hall at this moment.

There was an old man, a youth, and a sturdy middle-aged woman.

The elder was Wang Jin, the master of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall; the youth was Jiang Ning from Luoshui County; and the middle-aged woman was Auntie Sun, the cook of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall.

On the dining table sat a large amount of meat, alongside a basin of meat soup and a large bowl of rice. The rich aroma filled the entire hall.

Watching Jiang Ning's extremely serious expression and hearing those words, Wang Jin felt a sudden surge of emotion.

After a few seconds of silence.

He spoke in a steady tone, "Eat while it's hot! If it gets cold, the effects won't be as good, and the taste will suffer!"

"Yes, Master!!" Jiang Ning replied respectfully.

Afterward, the two ate their dinner in silence, but Wang Jin's mind was filled with myriad thoughts.

*Providing for one in old age and seeing them through their final rites!*

Those four words struck him deeply.

For a martial artist who had not yet reached the Internal Strength realm, progress slowed after thirty, and after forty, it was nothing but decline. Blood and Qi would begin to drop, internal injuries would flare up, and after fifty, one was like the setting sun, growing weaker day by day.

Having passed fifty, he could already feel his body like a candle, burning away bit by bit with the passage of time.

At this age, he did not desire wealth or glory, nor did he seek further advancement in martial arts. His only desires were legacy and a peaceful old age.

Jiang Ning's words had undoubtedly struck the deepest part of his heart.

Though he had heard similar words before, none had felt as sincere as this.

After secretly observing Jiang Ning for a few moments, Wang Jin quietly withdrew his gaze.

*Let's wait and see.*

On the other side.

Once Jiang Ning sat down, he ceased all politeness.

A large bowl of meat soup was emptied into his stomach in just a few gulps.

Then, he entered a mode of ravenous eating.

If he were in front of others, he might have maintained his image, but there was no need in front of Wang Jin.

He understood the temperament of martial artists very well and was familiar with Wang Jin's style.

Being uninhibited—eating meat in large bites and drinking wine heartily—would only earn more recognition from Wang Jin.

And while his appetite would be a headache for an ordinary family—eating enough for several people—it was completely negligible in Wang Jin's eyes.

Wang Jin operated such a large martial arts hall in the prime real estate of Luoshui County's inner city; his wealth was bound to far exceed his imagination.

His meager appetite was nothing to a man like Wang Jin, who was not known for being stingy.

In a short while, Jiang Ning was full and satisfied.

A warm current began to flow slowly through his limbs and bones, continuously replenishing the physical strength he had previously expended.

"Go chop some wood to digest, then go practice your fist techniques!" Wang Jin said, glancing at Jiang Ning's stomach.

"Yes, Teacher!!"

Returning to the small courtyard behind the kitchen.

The sky had darkened, and a bright crescent moon appeared overhead.

Jiang Ning went to the woodpile, grabbed the wood-chopping knife, and stood a heavy log on the stump.

The next moment.

He exerted force with his right arm, the bulging muscles on his arm clearly visible.

*Swish—*

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

This was followed by the "crack" of splitting wood.

This single strike penetrated eight or nine tenths of the way.

He immediately gripped the handle of the knife, applying force with his palm until the muscle fibers of his right arm were fully defined.

*Crackle, crackle—*

A series of wood fibers tearing sounded, and the log was completely split in two.

【Wood-Chopping Saber Technique Experience +1】

【Skill】: Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Proficiency 2/200)

"Now that the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique has reached Proficiency, I can split wood without even bursting my Qi and blood. This job is much easier!"

Jiang Ning smiled, feeling in high spirits.

Because this meant it would be even easier to grind experience for the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique; he only needed pure physical strength.

(End of Chapter)