Chapter 31: First Attempt at the Neidan Health Cultivation Technique

In the study.

Jiang Ning walked to a side bookshelf again, took out two books related to the imperial examinations, and grabbed a book he had just seen regarding an introduction to basic martial arts knowledge.

He was still severely lacking in the "Introduction to Basic Martial Arts Knowledge."

For instance, the Nine Ranks of Martial Arts—what exactly did they entail?

Just how vast was the gap between himself and a Martial Saint?

Why were Martial Saints so terrifying, leaving behind countless legends over hundreds of years?

He was unclear about all of it.

Aside from this, he still had intentions regarding next year's imperial examinations.

Attaining official rank would grant him the protection of the Great Xia Imperial Court.

With official status, it would be easier to gain important positions within the Inspectorate, an official institution.

After all, the mandate of the Inspectorate was to supervise the masses, suppress cults like the God-Worshipping Sect, and deal with those inciting rebellion; they possessed the authority to execute first and report later.

Handling such matters could not be resolved through mere fighting and killing.

Thus, those in power would naturally favor talents who were proficient in both civil and martial arts.

"Furthermore, with official rank, I can enter the Saint Temple in the prefecture city to worship. Receiving the baptism of literary qi can strengthen my soul and my mental strength, which will be of immense help to my path of martial arts."

Jiang Ning held the three books in his hands and walked out of the study.

"It is already the Hour of the Rat!"

He looked up at the bright, clear moonlight above and muttered to himself.

"It is time to go back to sleep!"

The next morning.

[Name]: Jiang Ning

[Source Energy]: 6.0

[Skills] Literacy (Limit Break 1: 196/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory) Five Animal Frolics (Proficient: 17/200) Firewood Chopping Saber Technique (Great Success: 109/1000) Internal Alchemy Health Cultivation (Not Started: 0/100)

Opening the panel, Jiang Ning saw that his Source Energy points had undergone a new change.

"Source Energy actually increased by 0.6 yesterday. This undoubtedly confirms my previous deduction."

Recalling that he had consumed two-thirds of a wild ginseng in a single day yesterday, he once again confirmed his previous judgment.

The increase in Source Energy points was related to the energy he ingested.

The more energy ingested and the higher its quality, the more obvious the growth of Source Energy points would be.

For example, during the two months since he arrived in this world, while recovering at home, his diet consisted mostly of coarse grains and vegetables before he began eating meat. Consequently, his daily Source Energy growth fluctuated between 0.1 and 0.2.

In most cases, it was an increase of 0.1.

Only on days when his meals were improved and he could eat meat would the growth reach 0.2.

He had made this deduction back then, but due to an insufficient sample size, he had not dared to be certain.

Now, with the increase in food intake from martial training, the improvement in his diet, and the medicinal supplement of the wild ginseng, his Source Energy points—aside from the first day of martial training which only increased by 0.3—had been growing by 0.5 points in the following days.

And yesterday, his intake increased again; he ate a day and a half's worth of wild ginseng in one day, causing his Source Energy acquisition to break through historical records and create a new peak.

An increase of 0.6 in one day!

"A pity. Starting from today, without the supplement of wild ginseng, my rate of Source Energy acquisition will begin to slow down. If it continued at a growth of 0.6, in another week, I could accumulate over 10 Source Energy points."

"With 10 Source Energy points, I can break the limit of the Firewood Chopping Saber Technique!"

"Breaking the limit of a saber technique will surely add traits that enhance my combat power! Joining the Inspectorate, as Wang Jin said, will involve trials and slaughter. It is not just about entering a martial rank; combat effectiveness is undoubtedly extremely important."

Jiang Ning fully understood the entrance trials of the Inspectorate.

After all, based on its authority, the Inspectorate was clearly a violent institution!

Therefore, it was perfectly normal to have struggles and trials upon entry.

Simply reaching a martial rank did not represent outstanding combat power.

It was not uncommon to find those who had reached a martial rank but had spent their entire lives merely practicing techniques without ever engaging in actual combat.

If such people joined the Inspectorate, how could they be qualified?

How could they be competent?

After washing up.

Jiang Ning sat quietly in the courtyard, waiting for the rising morning sun.

This was because the cultivation time for the Internal Alchemy Health Cultivation was during the period when the sun first rises and until it has fully ascended.

According to the records on that tattered page, before reaching the entry level of the Internal Alchemy Health Cultivation, one could only practice the recorded breathing method during this time.

At this moment, as the sun rises, a certain type of energy becomes extremely active in heaven and earth. Though it is hot, it is gentle; only at this time can one inhale this energy into the abdomen to temper the internal organs.

Once the sun has fully risen, that energy becomes instantly terrifying. Inhaling even a single wisp would cause the internal organs to burn.

Only when the technique advances further can one attempt to absorb the heaven-and-earth energy from sunrise until the Hour of the Rabbit.

And to achieve perfection in the technique and forge the internal alchemy, one must absorb the heaven-and-earth energy of high noon—as the saying goes, "using the furnace fire to refine the golden elixir."

When Jiang Ning first saw these descriptions, he felt they were as mystical as immortal cultivation techniques.

But thinking of the records in many miscellaneous books he had seen, in ancient times, gods and immortals were numerous, and great demons ran rampant.

Great Xia was the first dynasty following the end of the ancient era.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning felt more and more that this world held many secrets.

Just then.

Golden light reflected off thousands of clouds, and the distant sky was shrouded in various auspicious clouds.

Jiang Ning immediately focused his mind, looked up, and stared fixedly at the fiery red sun emerging in the distance.

He then began to circulate the breathing method from the Internal Alchemy Health Cultivation.

With every breath, Jiang Ning felt a wisp of warmth entering his abdomen through his nasal cavity along with his respiration.

As the warmth merged into his organs, he suddenly felt as if his entire body were soaking in a hot spring.

"I captured the mysterious energy on my very first attempt at the breathing method. Is my talent this high, or is it the credit of the panel?"

This stray thought flashed through Jiang Ning's mind.

He then slowly exhaled the waste air flowing through his internal organs.

[Internal Alchemy Health Cultivation Experience +1]

He then performed the breathing method again, staring intently at the rising fiery red sun as he inhaled.

In an instant, he felt another wisp of warmth surge into his abdomen through the clear qi inhaled through his nose.

[Internal Alchemy Health Cultivation Experience +1]

[Internal Alchemy Health Cultivation Experience +1]

[Internal Alchemy Health Cultivation Experience +2]

[...]

The time from the sun's first appearance to its full ascent was only a brief forty breaths.

Two breaths before the sun was about to fully rise, Jiang Ning stopped the breathing method of the Internal Alchemy Health Cultivation.

At this moment, Jiang Ning felt as if his internal organs were soaking in a hot spring. The warmth spread from his organs to his entire body, and his blood circulated spontaneously within him.

Currently, his body temperature was much higher than that of an ordinary person, and his skin felt somewhat hot.

Jiang Ning closed his eyes and quietly felt the changes in his body.

After another several dozen breaths, his body returned to normal.

Only then did he slowly open his eyes.