Chapter 36: Jiang Ning's Assistance

Roar—!

In the midst of the battle, a beast-like roar suddenly erupted.

Jiang Ning saw Xiao Peng enter Cheng Ran's striking distance. Accompanied by a roar from his throat, Xiao Peng stomped his right foot heavily against the ground.

Thud—!

The stone slab beneath his foot cracked instantly. Driven by the reactionary force of the stomp, his body lunged violently toward Cheng Ran.

Facing this impact, Cheng Ran felt as if he had been gored by a frenzied bull. His body was sent flying in a parabolic arc, heading straight toward the perimeter wall where Jiang Ning stood.

At this moment, Jiang Ning could not afford to be surprised.

If Cheng Ran were truly struck by Xiao Peng's charge and hit that wall, he would undoubtedly be bedridden for ten days, half a month, or even longer.

Within the entire Canglang Martial Arts Hall, Cheng Ran was his closest friend; Jiang Ning naturally could not stand idly by and watch him crash into the wall and suffer heavy injuries.

In the next instant.

Jiang Ning leaped, lunging like a white ape, positioning himself directly in the path of the flying Cheng Ran.

As Cheng Ran soared overhead, Jiang Ning reached out his right hand and grabbed the silk sash at the man's waist. He sank his center of gravity, drawing strength from the soles of his feet until his entire body's internal force acted as one.

Cheng Ran's trajectory shifted instantly, and Jiang Ning pulled him down from the air.

Jiang Ning's palm shifted to Cheng Ran's back, exerting upward force like a primal bear supporting the heavens.

A breath later.

With a heavy thud, Cheng Ran landed on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

By now, the onlookers in the distance were already staring in stunned silence at the display of combat.

"Senior Brother Xiao Peng is actually this formidable! That move, 'Blind Man Leaning on a Tree,' was executed with such mastery. It was unexpected—he settled the victory in a single strike."

"As expected of Senior Brother Xiao Peng! Even with a slight deficit in blood qi, he can defeat a stronger opponent. He truly is the worthy successor of Master Wang!"

"Indeed! For Senior Brother Xiao Peng to achieve this, his Bear-Form Fist must have reached the Proficient or even Mastery stage, right?"

"Most likely. From the conversation between Senior Brother Xiao Peng and Senior Brother Cheng Ran just now, it seems Senior Brother Xiao Peng's strength exceeds four hundred jin. Compared to Senior Brother Cheng Ran, whose blood qi is perfected and flows through his entire body, he is only about a hundred jin short. This must be the result of Senior Brother Xiao Peng's success in cultivating the Bear-Form Fist."

"Looking at it this way, Senior Brother Xiao Peng's comprehension is truly extraordinary!"

"Tell me about it! After only four months of apprenticeship, he has at least one mastered fist technique, one at the minor success stage, and another at the proficient or minor success stage. His efficiency is unrivaled here!"

"Not necessarily! Don't forget Jiang Ning. It is said that on his second day of entry, he practiced five forms simultaneously and reached the entry-level stage with nascent blood qi. And now..."

As the man spoke, his gaze fell upon Jiang Ning. At that moment, Cheng Ran had just scrambled up from the ground.

The man continued, "Just look at how Jiang Ning stepped in to help; his progress with the Five Animals Fist must be excellent! It has also been obvious these past few days that Master Wang places more importance on him than on us."

"..."

The crowd continued to murmur, discussing the recent commotion incessantly.

Simultaneously.

Xiao Peng also looked at Jiang Ning with a hint of surprise.

Then, a slight smile played at the corners of his mouth.

"What sophisticated methods of controlling force. I truly underestimated this junior brother!"

He then turned to look at the crowd behind him.

"Junior brothers, does anyone know this junior brother's name or which family he hails from?" Xiao Peng asked, pointing at Jiang Ning.

"I know!" someone squeezed out a response.

"Junior Brother Qian, please speak," Xiao Peng prompted.

The man continued, "That junior brother is named Jiang Ning, and he comes from an ordinary family in the outer city!"

"So, he is a disciple from an ordinary family. To have made it this far is indeed quite impressive!" Xiao Peng nodded slightly, expressing his approval of Jiang Ning.

A moment ago, he had felt a flicker of threat from Jiang Ning—the threat to his quota for entering the manor in three months.

But once he learned that Jiang Ning was merely an ordinary disciple from the outer city, that sense of threat vanished instantly.

Three months. No matter how heaven-defying his comprehension was, no matter how quickly he could learn and master a fist technique.

So what if he reached the entry-level in a single day? Even if he mastered a fist technique in a month, in Xiao Peng's eyes, Jiang Ning could never pose a threat to him.

Because Jiang Ning came from an ordinary family in the outer city, how could such a background afford the consumption required to perfect one's blood qi and circulate it through the entire body?

To reach his current level, Xiao Peng had consumed one Blood-Nourishing Pill every three days, never lacking any kind of medicinal supplement.

Even so, it had taken him nearly a year to reach Great Success in blood qi and circulate it through his limbs. How much wealth had he spent in the process?

*Scholarship is poor, martial arts are rich.*

The golden age for a normal person to practice martial arts is only about twenty years.

If one's foundation is not deep enough, the path of martial arts will ultimately be limited.

To achieve perfected blood qi, full circulation, and enter the martial ranks within three months...

He shook his head inwardly.

"I was overthinking it!"

"Only Cheng Ran poses a threat to my manor quota. During our exchange just now, his skin membrane was clearly different from mine. For him to refine his skin membrane and enter the martial ranks within three months will be easy!"

"As for mastering a fist technique, for him, it might just be a matter of a single breakthrough. I shouldn't underestimate him, though!"

"Three months isn't a long time. I must hurry as well!"

"I must perfect my blood qi as quickly as possible. Once the blood qi is perfected, refining the skin membrane will follow naturally."

"Refining the skin membrane means entering the martial ranks."

"When the time comes, if he meets the requirements just like I do, he will likely be tested on his actual combat and killing ability! The Inspectorate certainly requires martial experts skilled in slaughter. I cannot neglect my combat training during this period."

Xiao Peng stood in deep thought, his eyes flashing with calculation.

On the other side.

Cheng Ran climbed up from the ground.

"Senior Brother Cheng, are you alright?" Jiang Ning leaned down to assist him.

"Cough, cough—" Cheng Ran coughed lightly, and blood foam immediately bubbled from his mouth.

He waved his hand, signaling that he did not need Jiang Ning's help to stand.

"I'm fine! My skin membrane is nearly formed, so my resistance to impact has increased greatly. It's just a minor injury!"

"Does that mean Senior Brother Cheng is not far from entering the martial ranks?" Surprise appeared on Jiang Ning's face.

Cheng Ran nodded. "Indeed, not far. I will definitely enter the martial ranks within a month!"

He then took several deep breaths, exhaling slowly to suppress the surging blood qi within his body.

"Thank you for your help just now, Junior Brother Jiang!" Cheng Ran bowed toward Jiang Ning, his expression serious.

"Senior Brother Cheng, there is no need for that!" Jiang Ning hurriedly grabbed Cheng Ran's arms with both hands.

In that instant.

Jiang Ning felt the power contained within Cheng Ran's arms, and his own arms instinctively erupted with strength to counter it.

Then, the force vanished. Cheng Ran stood up, his gaze toward Jiang Ning filled with complexity and profound shock.

Just now, as his body was being pulled by Jiang Ning's force, his trajectory—which was originally headed for the wall—had been diverted downward.

As he fell, he had felt a strength as steady as a mountain erupt from the arm supporting his back. Although this strength was not as great as his own, it was not to be underestimated.

It was precisely because of Jiang Ning's assistance and that steadying force that he had avoided much more severe injuries.

The power Jiang Ning unleashed when he intervened had surprised him, which was why he had tested him.

After that test, he clearly sensed Jiang Ning's approximate strength.

His power exceeded two hundred jin!

(End of Chapter)