Chapter 18: Mastering a New Skill (PK, please keep reading!!!)

Standing before the wooden stump.

Jiang Ning gripped the wood-chopping knife tightly in his right hand and swung it forcefully against the log in front of him.

*Crack—*

The sound of splitting wood rang out.

Jiang Ning couldn't help but loosen his grip on the knife, shaking his right hand, which had gone numb from the vibration.

"Little guy, can you handle it?" Auntie Sun poked her head out from the kitchen window.

"Sister Sun, I'm fine!!" Jiang Ning smiled toward her.

He rubbed his palm, and as his blood circulated, the numbness quickly faded.

He immediately gripped the knife again, stepped on the log with one foot, and as his vital energy (Qi and Blood) surged, he exerted force with his right hand, instantly pulling the knife free from where it had wedged in the wood.

The next moment.

Holding the knife, Jiang Ning channeled his vital energy into his right arm once more and struck the log that had been partially split.

With one stroke.

*Crack—*

The log was instantly split in two.

"Not bad!!" A calm voice came from behind him, seemingly out of nowhere.

Jiang Ning turned around, immediately lowered his knife, and bowed deeply.

"Master!!"

"Don't mind me! Just keep chopping. Chopping wood is also a form of training! 'Canglang' is actually a saber technique!!" Wang Jin spoke slowly.

When Jiang Ning heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up. He understood instantly why Wang Jin had assigned him this task.

"It seems my performance this morning caught Wang Jin's eye!" Jiang Ning realized the situation.

He was instantly filled with renewed vigor.

Having caught Wang Jin's eye meant he wouldn't have to worry about his personal safety for the time being.

Especially since he could now reside long-term at the martial arts hall, his concerns were even further diminished.

Following this.

Jiang Ning lifted another thick log and channeled his vital energy into his right arm.

With one stroke.

*Crack—*

The log was instantly split in two.

"The power of vital energy is truly profound!" Jiang Ning marveled inwardly as he looked at the result of his strike.

With the first stroke just now, because he hadn't erupted his vital energy, a full-strength strike had only managed to split the log halfway.

Now, with the eruption of his vital energy, he could split the log cleanly and decisively in two.

This demonstrated the mystery and power of vital energy.

Wang Jin stood there watching for a moment, then nodded with satisfaction and walked toward the back kitchen where Auntie Sun was.

Arriving in the kitchen.

Wang Jin's nose twitched slightly.

"You've been quite good to this boy. You even put Earth Lingzhi in tonight's meat soup."

"Hall Master!!" Auntie Sun spoke up nervously, then added hesitantly, "Looking at this little guy, it makes me think of my own child. If nothing had happened, he should be about this age!"

Hearing this, Wang Jin fell into silence.

The kitchen was quiet for a few breaths, save for the "pop" of the burning firewood.

Then, Wang Jin's voice broke the silence.

"It's alright. Add more meat! I have high hopes for this boy!"

Auntie Sun's eyes brightened. "Are you saying, Hall Master Wang, that this little guy has the hope of inheriting your mantle?"

Wang Jin shook his head. "It's too early to say that! Whether he can seize this opportunity depends on his comprehension! If his comprehension is lacking, even if he receives my inheritance, he won't go far! But for now, we can start cultivating him!"

"Understood!!" Auntie Sun looked pleased. "The little guy is very polite; I quite like him!"

Wang Jin seemed to recall something as well. His expression softened, and a hint of a smile appeared. "He is indeed very polite!!"

On the other side.

While the two were talking.

Jiang Ning stood before the chopping stump, his eyes wide with shock.

[Skill]: Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Beginner 1/100)

"Chopping wood can actually grant a saber technique?" Jiang Ning was filled with astonishment.

Then, a look of joy appeared on his face.

"Let's try again!"

As the thought arose, he placed another log under the stump.

With an eruption of vital energy.

*Crack—*

The log was split in two.

[Wood-Chopping Saber Technique EXP +1] [Skill]: Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Beginner 2/100)

"It really works!"

He was overjoyed, a glint flashing in his eyes.

Immediately, he placed another log on the stump.

*Crack—*

As the knife fell, the log was split in two once more.

[Wood-Chopping Saber Technique EXP +1] [Skill]: Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Beginner 3/100)

"Good! Very good!"

Looking at the changes on the panel, he was extremely satisfied.

"This rate of experience gain is much faster than the Five Animals Fist! It might even be easier to gain experience than the Literacy skill!"

After finishing his experiment, Jiang Ning was more motivated than ever.

"One log after another were continuously split by his hands!"

[Wood-Chopping Saber Technique EXP +1] [Wood-Chopping Saber Technique EXP +1] [...]

When Wang Jin walked out of the kitchen, his gaze was immediately drawn to Jiang Ning.

"Is this kid crazy??" Wang Jin stared at Jiang Ning, his mouth slightly agape.

At that moment, seeing Wang Jin in his peripheral vision, Jiang Ning immediately put down the knife and, panting slightly, bowed to him.

"Master!!"

Wang Jin waved his hand. "Why are you working so hard at chopping wood?"

Jiang Ning spoke with a look of utmost seriousness. "Master allowed me to stay at the martial arts hall to protect my safety! I have no way to repay you, so I can only work hard to express my gratitude."

Hearing this, Wang Jin looked at Jiang Ning with a helpless expression. "There is no need for this. You must work in moderation! If you exhaust your physical strength, how will you practice your fist techniques?"

Jiang Ning shook his head. "Don't worry, Master. I have the wild ginseng Senior Brother Zhou gave me to sustain me."

"Using wild ginseng to recover strength just to chop wood... you're putting the cart before the horse!" Wang Jin looked at him, caught between laughter and tears.

"Master has given me the grace of teaching and the grace of protection! My gratitude is beyond words, and this is the only way I can express it! If I were to accept it too easily, my heart would be uneasy!" Jiang Ning said earnestly.

Wang Jin shook his head helplessly. "Fine, have it your way! Chopping wood can build strength and help you get a feel for the blade. Eye-coordination and hand-coordination—these are the fundamentals of saber techniques! If your comprehension meets the standard and you become my true disciple, these fundamentals will be essential!"

"Understood!" Jiang Ning was visibly excited.

Seeing this, Wang Jin couldn't help but smile.

"Young people are so straightforward; what they think shows right on their faces! Unlike an old man like me, who is so reserved!"

Afterward, Wang Jin secretly observed Jiang Ning for a short while.

"This kid is truly loyal and righteous!" Wang Jin nodded slightly, his gaze toward Jiang Ning gradually softening.

"Now, I only hope his comprehension is up to par! With his character, he could look after me in my old age without betraying his master! Thinking about it, he is indeed a good prospect! However, in the end, it depends on his own struggle! In the martial path, if one does not strive, their lifelong achievements will be limited."

[Wood-Chopping Saber Technique EXP +1] [Skill]: Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Beginner 99/100)

"Just a little more experience and I'll break through!"

Looking at his panel, Jiang Ning's exhausted body jolted, and he felt a sudden surge of strength.

He straightened the log and brought the knife down.

*Crack—*

With a crisp sound, the log split perfectly in two.

[Wood-Chopping Saber Technique EXP +1] [Skill]: Wood-Chopping Saber Technique (Proficient 0/200)

In an instant, that final bit of experience triggered a qualitative change, breaking the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique from Beginner to Proficient.

As Jiang Ning gripped the knife, he instantly felt a sense of familiarity.

He instinctively knew how to exert force to maximize cutting power, and how to strike with maximum efficiency to conserve stamina.

His arm muscles became tighter through this continuous accumulation of experience. Now, with the breakthrough of the technique, his arm muscles felt slightly warm before tightening even further.

Jiang Ning put down the knife and clenched his fist. Feeling the change in his arm's strength, he nodded with satisfaction.

"The breakthrough of the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique is indeed very cost-effective!"

"Reaching Proficient has given me initial results. The subsequent breakthroughs to Mastery, Great Success, and Perfection will only be even stronger!"

"And there is also the Limit Break!!!" A glint flashed in his eyes. Thinking of the changes after a Limit Break, his heart filled with anticipation. "The first Limit Break of Literacy gave me the 'Photographic Memory' trait. I wonder what trait the first Limit Break of the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique will give me?"

"With my current efficiency, it shouldn't take many days to grind this technique to a Limit Break!"