Chapter 27: Tiger Strength

Under the moonlight, Jiang Ning began his fist training.

This time, his pace was quite slow, far from the speed at which he usually practiced the Five Animals Fist.

However, seeing this, Wang Jin was actually somewhat surprised.

This was because the texture of Jiang Ning's muscles was changing, as if they were mimicking the internal strength that had just circulated through his body.

One must understand that "Jin" (internal strength) is a power that can only be circulated and utilized as one wishes once the Five Animals Fist has reached perfection; its destructive potential during physical contact is extremely high.

In certain circumstances, the level of one's martial grade does not necessarily represent their actual combat strength.

A martial artist with great success in blood and qi, who has connected their four limbs, can completely hold their own for several rounds against a newly ranked martial artist by relying on the dominance of Jin once they master a specific technique.

Furthermore, if a martial artist has reached perfection in blood and qi and has connected it throughout their entire body, once they master Jin, they are capable of suppressing a newly ranked martial artist.

Beyond that, there are those with extraordinary talents—such as those born with divine strength. A person with perfected blood and qi can possess a strength of a thousand catties, which is twice the power of an ordinary martial artist of the same level. Such gifted individuals can likewise suppress ranked martial artists.

"One force overcomes ten skills"—this was precisely the case.

Regarding the birth of Jin, any lower-tier martial arts technique can master it once it reaches perfection.

This is also how the grades of lower-tier techniques are categorized.

As for the Five Animals Fist, if all five stances reach perfection, they can give rise to Tiger Jin, Ape Jin, Bear Jin, Crane Jin, and Deer Jin.

The strongest among them is the Tiger Jin. Once physical contact is made, the Jin injected into the opponent's body will cause their bones, muscles, and flesh to shatter.

This was also why he had specifically captured a tiger and placed it in an iron cage for the disciples to observe; he hoped that someone with exceptional comprehension might, in a flash of inspiration, master the perfected Tiger Stance. Once the technique reached perfection, the Tiger Jin would be formed.

A martial artist who has mastered Jin and one who has not can be said to exist in two different dimensions.

Just now, Jiang Ning had relied on the various Jins of the Five Animals circulating through his body to drive the changes in his muscle texture, thereby demonstrating the essence of achieving "Minor Success" in his technique.

Wang Jin did not hold much expectation as to whether Jiang Ning would gain any insight.

If the Five Animals Fist could be broken through so easily, then he wouldn't have only a handful of true disciples after running his martial arts school for two or three years.

The vast majority of apprentices who joined the school basically packed their bags and left once their six-month term expired.

While Wang Jin was lost in thought, Jiang Ning finished one set of the technique.

【Five Animals Fist Experience +1】

"How was it?" Wang Jin asked, snapping back to reality.

"This disciple has gained some insight!" Jiang Ning spoke up. "I want to try again!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he gathered his breath and began practicing again.

This time, he did not try to recall the images in his mind, but instead practiced according to his own understanding.

After letting go of the mental imagery and following the insights from the previous set, Jiang Ning felt a difference.

In a vague sense, he seemed to grasp a spark of inspiration regarding the concept of "hardness within softness, and softness within hardness."

The flow of power was as he desired; the explosive burst following the buildup of the Tiger Stance gave him a sense of pleasure, as if his strength were being poured out unrestrained.

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

Jiang Ning withdrew his fist.

【Five Animals Fist Experience +2】

【Skill】: Five Animals Fist (Proficient 17/200)

Looking at the prompt before him.

"It seems my comprehension can only be described as mediocre at best; I've at most grasped the superficial essence of Minor Success!"

At this moment, Jiang Ning knew very well that although this set of the technique had increased his experience by two points at once, it did not mean he had truly comprehended the essence of Minor Success in the Five Animals Fist.

According to his deduction, if he truly mastered the essence of the Five Animals Fist, he would be able to achieve the "hardness within softness and softness within hardness" of the Tiger Stance, and the "stability containing agility" of the Bear Stance.

He would also be able to achieve the "agility and unpredictable movement" of the Ape Stance, the "combination of motion and stillness" of the Deer Stance, and the "soaring transcendence and movement of the mind" of the Crane Stance.

If he achieved these five points, then after practicing the technique just once, his experience points would likely skyrocket by 185 points, and the Five Animals Fist would immediately reach Minor Success.

It would not be like now, where it only increased by a mere two points.

"But thinking this far makes me a bit too greedy!" Jiang Ning mocked himself inwardly.

His mood turned to joy; this harvest was still quite good!

It verified his previous guess: having Wang Jin guide him in the Five Animals Fist meant that as long as he could grasp even the slightest hint of the Minor Success level, it would help his efficiency in grinding experience.

He clenched his fists, feeling quite invigorated.

Although it had only granted him one extra experience point for this set, it had verified his hypothesis, undoubtedly opening a path for him—a more efficient path for grinding experience.

He felt that as long as he could find and stabilize that sensation, his efficiency in grinding experience would double until the Five Animals Fist reached Minor Success.

If he gained insights into other stances, the efficiency of experience acquisition would increase even further.

At the same time.

Wang Jin also nodded slightly.

He spoke up immediately: "It seems you have gained something?"

Jiang Ning nodded: "I have gained some insight!"

Wang Jin said: "Actually, the best way to progress in the Five Animals Fist is to observe the every movement and even the combat of the tiger, bear, ape, crane, and deer. After all, this technique is derived from the movements and spirits of these five animals."

"In eight days, the tiger in the courtyard will be released to fight. You can go and observe it carefully then. This will be of great help to you in reaching the Great Success stage, and even the Perfection stage, of the Tiger Stance in the future."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning's eyes instantly lit up.

Setting everything else aside, as long as he mastered the form and spirit of the Tiger Stance, the increase in his experience-grinding efficiency for the Five Animals Fist would not just last until Minor Success.

He would be able to obtain multiple amounts of experience even before reaching the Great Success stage.

If he could achieve this, then before the Five Animals Fist reached Great Success, every time he practiced the technique, the experience gained would increase by two points, which was equivalent to doubling his efficiency.

Although gaining experience points did not increase the efficiency of blood and qi condensation.

Just like the set he had just practiced—although it increased his experience by two points at once, his blood and qi power did not double; it remained the same as before, condensing only two strands of blood and qi.

But that didn't matter. As long as his efficiency in grinding experience for his techniques was faster, his breakthroughs would also be faster.

After all, for him, there was no such thing as a bottleneck; as long as the experience points were filled, he could break through.

At the Entry level, one set of the Five Animals Fist could condense one strand of blood and qi, but at the Proficient level, one set could condense two strands, directly doubling the efficiency.

It was easy to imagine that after Minor Success, the efficiency of condensing blood and qi would be even higher.

As for Great Success, that would similarly increase the efficiency.

The efficiency of condensing blood and qi at the Great Success level would surely far exceed his current state.

In this way, the possibility of him entering the Inspectorate within three months would greatly increase.

Jiang Ning felt quite invigorated.

Looking at the expression on Jiang Ning's face, Wang Jin nodded with satisfaction.

"Good! If one wishes to advance fiercely in the martial arts, one must possess confidence and vitality!"

Jiang Ning snapped out of his thoughts and bowed with his hands clasped.

"This disciple thanks Master for his guidance!"

Wang Jin said with a chuckle, "Stop with all that formality! Practicing your fist well and reaching the Great Success stage as soon as possible is the best way to show it! Only then will you and I have a true bond as master and disciple. Although your luck is poor and you will miss the best opportunity to enter the Inspectorate, if you can pass my test, I will pass on everything I have learned in my life to you. Your future achievements might even surpass mine."

Jiang Ning smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

(End of Chapter)