Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

By the banks of the Luoshui River.

In front of the Jiang Ning residence.

A luxurious carriage slowly came to a stop.

"Sister-in-law, is this the home of Jiang Ning you've been talking about?" The curtain beside the carriage was swept aside, and a girl with a charming face poked her head out. When she saw the expansive view of the lake and the snowy landscape under the vast snowfall, her eyes immediately filled with wonder.

"Yes!" Lin Qingyi's voice slowly came from the carriage: "After he made his fortune, he bought this waterfront residence right here and moved his brother and sister-in-law's family from the Outer City!"

At the same time.

A man bent over and walked out of the carriage, glancing at the scenery in front of him.

Then he slowly nodded: "It seems that Jiang Ning, whom my cousin speaks of, is quite loyal and righteous. The Inner City is indeed much safer than the Outer City."

The afternoon before, he and his sister had taken a walk to the Outer City and witnessed the current state of affairs there. Seeing the occasional frozen corpses on the streets, he came to a profound realization of how difficult life was for the ordinary common folk.

Bodies frozen on the roads!

It was no longer just a description in books but a reality unfolding before his eyes.

Moreover, according to his understanding, Luoshui County in present-day Great Xia was still considered a relatively peaceful place.

In some areas, life was akin to hell on earth, far more miserable than here by a hundredfold.

But even with this knowledge, he was helpless.

The overwhelming tide of the era was not something ordinary humans could reverse.

Even as the Eighth Prince of Great Xia, he had no solution.

All he could do was a drop in the ocean!

As the man stepped out of the carriage, Lin Qingyi and the girl also followed suit and exited the carriage.

In the howling cold wind, the girl's nose turned rosy with the chill.

"So cold!!" She stamped her feet and quickly rubbed her hands together, blowing on her palms to warm them.

Seeing this, Lin Qingyi quickly unfastened the white fox fur coat from her own body and draped it over the girl.

"I told you to wear more, you wouldn't listen! The lakeside is wide open without any shelter; how could it not be cold?"

The girl grinned at Lin Qingyi: "Cousin always spoils me."

At this moment.

The man glanced at Lin Qingyi with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Lin Qingyi was not wearing thick clothes; in fact, one might say she was dressed quite thinly, no different from ordinary people's autumn attire.

And now, by the Luoshui River, even though it was nearing noon and the temperature had risen a few degrees compared to the night,

it was still cold enough to freeze water, with heavy snow continually falling from above and icy winds blowing from the frozen lake in the distance.

Despite such cold winds, Lin Qingyi's dress fluttered about, yet her face showed no sign of discomfort.

This kind of display was not something ordinary people pretending to be tough could achieve.

When the cold pierces through, no matter how much one tries to bear it, the body will involuntarily shiver.

Lin Qingyi's behavior clearly indicated that she was immune to extreme temperatures.

"Could it be, my cousin is more proficient in Martial Arts than even I am?" The man couldn't help but entertain this doubtful thought.

Meanwhile, the girl felt a warm sensation overtake her body as soon as Lin Qingyi's fox fur covered her.

"Sister-in-law, aren't you cold?" the girl asked.

Lin Qingyi smiled: "I'm not cold!"

"I don't believe you!" The girl shook her head, extended her hand from within the thick fur, and grasped Lin Qingyi's soft and delicate left hand. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

"Sister-in-law, your hand is really warm!"

Lin Qingyi chuckled, saying: "Let's go! I'll take you to see Jiang Ning!"

"Okay!" The girl's face lit up with excitement.

She had walked to the Outer City with her brother the day before and heard about the deeds recently accomplished by Jiang Ning.

Punishing evildoers, eradicating the gangs that plagued the county, saving many children who were tormented into disability.

After seeing those physically mutilated children, she felt even more admiration for Jiang Ning, whom she had never met.

The spirit of youth, the bravery of a righteous hero.

She had read about many in books.

Such feats were something she longed for, being a caged bird herself.

...

Elsewhere.

Jiang Ning stood in the courtyard.

Like a white ape leaping through the mountains, his form shifted unpredictably, leaving traces of afterimages at times.

Around the courtyard, torches stood tall, and bladed weapons were planted upright in the snow.

This was the optimal environment he had created to practice the Five Animals Fist.

The ground beneath his feet was the source of the Earth Spirit Essence.

The artificial pond in the courtyard was the reason for the Water Spirit Essence.

The flowers and trees within were the origin of the Wood Spirit.

The surrounding fiery torches were the source of the Fire Spirit Essence.

The bladed weapons standing in the courtyard's snow were the source of the Metal Spirit Essence.

With all Five Elements Spirit present, it was the perfect environment for practicing the Five Animals Fist.

In such an environment, practicing the Five Animals Fist could also greatly enhance the Essence of his internal organs.

As he understood, the stronger the foundation of the organs, the more mighty and vast the Inner Breath they could nurture in the future.

The organs nourish the Inner Breath, and the Inner Breath resides in the Dantian.

A moment later.

A session of boxing was completed.

[Five Animals Fist Experience Value +4]

Jiang Ning ended his stance with a faint smile of satisfaction.

"Indeed it works!"

This time, by creating an environment with all Five Elements present, he felt that after completing a full session, a nourishing sensation emanated from his internal organs.

A faint sense of ease and pleasure spread from within, radiating throughout his body.

Unlike before, when practicing the Five Animals Fist without the intake of the Golden Spirit Essence, he distinctly felt a bit of discomfort in his organs.

Now, that sensation was gone.

After savoring the feeling for a moment, he began to practice his boxing again.

This time, as he moved, a punch thundered forth like a tiger descending a mountain, with a terrifying presence.

Clang—

A heavy metallic striking sound suddenly echoed within his body, and a powerful shockwave spread outward from within.