Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

But the world harbors no absolutes.

According to his knowledge, within the Martial Saint's treasury, there existed a sacred medicine that could allow him to shed his mortal shell and reverse his innate deficiencies, a medicine that could solve his current problems.

It would qualify him to ascend to higher echelons of martial arts.

But the Contribution Points required for that medicine were frighteningly substantial.

Yet, no matter how daunting, he wanted to give it a try—self-interest was not absent from his mind.

...

On the other hand,

Ye Qiu and Jiang Ning left the attic, stepping onto the soft snowy ground.

"Brother Jiang, I admire you!" Ye Qiu looked back, ensuring they were at a safe distance before speaking.

Jiang Ning shook his head and sighed lightly.

Ye Qiu said, "Brother Jiang, you did all that was in your power today, but your actions were doomed to be fruitless. Do you know... even Master Hong participated in the splitting of Contribution Points?"

"Master Hong was involved too?" Jiang Ning was startled, his gaze filled with surprise.

"Indeed!" Ye Qiu nodded. "As far as I know, that's the case! Three-tenths of the Contribution Points go directly to the Residence Master. Furthermore, throughout Luoshui County's Inspection Office, everyone below the Residence Master, including Commanders of our status, must yield an additional one-tenth of any earned Contribution Points to the Residence Master."

"Therefore, Master Hong will surely turn a blind eye."

"That Master Hong, he really embodies vested interests!"

"Moreover," Ye Qiu quickly shifted his tone, "You're aware of He Jinyun, aren't you? What the Master said was true! Some people can't lightly be tampered with, even by the likes of us."

"A person like He Jinyun commands enough respect that both I and the Residence Master must give him his due."

"Although that Young Master's family is currently fallen, their position remains exceedingly revered, with hereditary nobles unchallenged in status. In their house, they have leading First-grade experts of our time, and a number of Fifth Grade strong people among their followers."

"Therefore, such individuals are difficult to deal with!"

"You'd better hold yourself back; it's not worth stirring trouble with the real power bloc over some common folk."

Heeding Ye Qiu's demeanor, Jiang Ning nodded.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Ye, I understand!"

"As long as you understand!" Ye Qiu sighed, "Individual strength pales in the face of the greater current. If there were a choice, I wouldn't be urging you this way!"

"But you presently have no choice, taking care of yourself is truly the greatest kindness you can do."

Jiang Ning watched Ye Qiu, his face breaking into a smile.

...

Moments later,

Jiang Ning returned to his own residence.

"My lord!" Xie Xiaojiu saw Jiang Ning and hurriedly stood up to meet him.

After draping a fur coat over Jiang Ning, she quickly brought him a cup of pre-warmed tea from the stove.

"My lord, please have some tea first!"

Taking the tea Xie Xiaojiu handed him, Jiang Ning drank a few sips and felt the chill leave his body.

"My lord, what did the Residence Master say?" Xie Xiaojiu's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Jiang Ning shook his head, "There was no gain at all!"

"I understand!" The light in Xie Xiaojiu's eyes instantly faded.

She was well aware that the credits and Contribution Points received by the captains and their men, as well as the Commanders for the people they caught or killed, were all from the ordinary citizens of the city.

Although she was not born a commoner, she was a native of Luoshui County and did not wish to witness such a scene.

But as an ordinary captain in the Inspection Office,

Even though captains appeared to the outside world as having real power and privileges,

Within the Inspection Office, captains had no say; they only had the power to implement decisions.

Thus, she was helpless.

Now, seeing Jiang Ning's response, her heart was filled with helplessness and resignation.

If Jiang Ning couldn't achieve a thing even when he intervened, there was even less she could do.

After a short while,

The only sounds in the room were Jiang Ning quietly flipping through pages, and occasionally, the crackling of sparks in the charcoal stove.

In the process of reading,

[Literacy and Judgment Experience +1]

[Literacy and Judgment Experience +1]

[Literacy and Judgment Experience +1]

[...]

The experience points for the Literacy and Judgment skill steadily increased.

And time kept slipping away...

...

Evening.

The snow had stopped.

Under the gloomy sky, night fell exceptionally fast.

"Sir, I'm heading back now!" Xie Xiaojiu mounted the carriage and turned to take one more look at Jiang Ning.

"Go ahead! The roads are slippery with the heavy snow, be careful on your way!" Jiang Ning said.

"Thank you for your concern, sir!" Hearing this, Xie Xiaojiu immediately beamed with a smile.

The next moment,

she crawled into the carriage, and as soon as she gave the command, the horses, already endowed with a spiritual nature, lifted their legs and pulled the carriage towards the direction of Xie Mansion.

Watching the carriage grow distant, Jiang Ning slowly retracted his gaze.

"Today, I can finally go home!"

He sighed to himself.

After the conversation with Liu Linmen earlier in the day, although he wasn't particularly clear on why Liu Linmen was so respectful towards him,

he could conclude that, for now, Liu Linmen wouldn't make a move against him, wouldn't pose a threat to him.

And even if he really faced off against Liu Linmen, Jiang Ning wasn't particularly scared now.

He believed that he had the power to fight Liu Linmen.

His strength had greatly increased compared to that night, it was incomparable to before.

His martial arts power had reached the level of the Jiao tendon, which could double the explosive power on top of the original foundation.

Furthermore, the Wind Thunder Arrow Skill had broken through limits in succession. Even without using a longbow, relying on his speed like wind and actions like thunder, his combat power showed exponential growth.

Not to mention the breakthrough of the Chopping Wood Blade Skill, which brought further enhancement to his sword force.

Any one of these changes could double his strength.

With the combination of these variations, his power differed vastly from that night; it was a completely different level.

All of these now formed the foundation of confidence in his heart, increasing his self-assurance significantly.

But when he thought back to the events that had transpired earlier in the day with Hong Minghu as well as Ye Qiu, Jiang Ning felt his vigor suddenly deflate.

His power had improved the fastest, but in the face of the overwhelming situation, he was still utterly helpless.

They were using lives to farm Contribution Points, and nearly everyone in the Inspection Office was involved.

Under such circumstances, he currently had no power to stop this behavior.

If he tried to stop it, he would be openly standing against the entire interest group.

The people he faced were not only those captains but also the world's sons like He Jinyun and Yuan Hua, who were Deputy Commanders.

As well as the heirs of influential families like Li Changkong who were Commanders.

Even Hong Minghu might take action.

Thinking about all this, Jiang Ning secretly shook his head: "Forget it! I am not the kind of person who worries about the country and the people, who harbors the world in my heart. As of now, being able to protect the people around me, the people I care about, is enough!"

While pondering, Jiang Ning also walked towards his own home.

...

Simultaneously,

among a pile of snow on a roof,

a pair of eyes peered through the thick snow, stealthily surveilling Jiang Ning.

Upon seeing Jiang Ning, excitement flooded her eyes.

At this moment, she was even more certain that the spiritual essence within Jiang Ning was the most exaggerated she had ever seen.

The mere thought of the benefits she could reap by sacrificing Jiang Ning as a tribute filled her with overwhelming excitement and agitation, making her body tremble with eagerness.

"Sacrifice him, and I will surely step into the Fifth Grade Internal Strength Realm in one fell swoop!!!"

Greed swelled in the middle-aged woman's eyes.

Immediately,

she quietly emerged from the snow pile, trying not to make any noise, and followed Jiang Ning secretly.

At the entrance of the Inspection Office, she didn't dare to make a move.

If she acted and attracted the attention of the Residence Master, she knew she had no power to resist in the face of Hong Minghu.

The difference between Sixth Rank and Fifth Grade, though it seemed like only one grade apart, was as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.

The gap of this one grade was much greater than any before it.

The Fifth Grade Internal Strength Realm was not only about stronger physique; it also meant that after tempering, the five organs were resilient, breath was long, stamina was enduring, and one knew no fatigue.

And when necessary, it could also stimulate the body's potential, bursting with far greater strength and speed than normal.

In addition to mastering the powerful and mysterious force of Inner Breath,

with the enhancement of Inner Breath, combat power would grow by multiples.

Combined, this gap was sufficient to make any Sixth Rank strong person feel a profound despair when facing a Fifth Grade strong person, making them feel invincible.