Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

In the courtyard.

The snow was falling heavily, like catkins.

"Excellent wine!" Ji Minghao exclaimed as he drank the exquisite wine from Jiang Ning, and just a few breaths later, he opened his eyes wide with admiration.

Then, he pointed to the half cup of wine left in his cup, which looked like the water of the Milky Way, and asked, "Brother Jiang, what is this wine? I've always enjoyed fine drinks, yet I cannot discern what this is!!"

"It's extremely cold on the palate, as if it could freeze one's thoughts!"

"Upon entering the stomach, a great heat surges up after the extreme cold, and in this icy and snowy environment, it even makes me break out in a fine sweat," Ji Minghao said, with a glint shining in his eyes.

Jiang Ning said, "Just an ordinary beverage!"

"Ordinary beverage?" Ji Minghao looked astounded: "How could an ordinary beverage be so miraculous?"

Jiang Ning said, "It contains a special kind of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures."

He then briefly described the form of the water he found in the underwater cave at the bottom of the lake.

Upon hearing this, Ji Minghao held his wine cup and slightly furrowed his brow, falling into deep thought.

After several breaths,

he relaxed his facial expression, and his previously unfocused eyes refocused on the gently swaying and rippling wine in his cup before him.

At this moment, the wine resembled the water of the Milky Way, with countless silver stars floating in the liquid, extraordinarily dazzling.

"I think I might have an idea!" Ji Minghao said lightly.

"What idea?" Jiang Ning inquired.

Ji Minghao said, "According to Brother Jiang's description, what you saw seems quite similar to the Emperor's Liquid."

"The Emperor's Liquid?" Jiang Ning's expression showed a slight surprise.

"Hmm," Ji Minghao nodded: "However, according to the records, the Emperor's Liquid is supposed to appear as myriad threads of golden silk. But there's also another record, which says that because the Emperor's Liquid is a manifestation of the moon's Essence Qi, when it's diluted, it shows a silver hue, like the water of the Heavenly River!"

"That does bear a certain resemblance to the wine in our hands right now!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning felt a little surprised in his heart.

Although this was just Ji Minghao's speculation, the memory of the almost demonically transformed White Dragon Fish he encountered in the sunken ship at the lake's bottom made him feel that Ji Minghao's guess was most likely true.

In the current environment of heaven and earth, it is not so easy to breed demons, let alone the most crucial step for a demon's transformation—gaining sentience.

And that White Dragon Fish undoubtedly possessed a certain level of intelligence.

If it was the Emperor's Liquid, that would make sense!

After all, the Emperor's Liquid is known to have the effect of awakening intelligence, offering great benefits to all beings in the world!

"That being the case, that piece of black stone must have a significant origin! For now, let's call it the Taiyin Stone," Jiang Ning silently mused.

...

Meanwhile.

At the front of Jiang Ning's residence.

Squish—

Squish—

Squish—

A man dressed in a white robe, with a topknot on his head, stepped on the snow, slowly approaching the front of Jiang Ning's house.

The man looked up indifferently at the plaque above the steps.

[Jiang Mansion]

"It should be here," the man smiled.

The cold wind blowing from the distant lake made his white robe flap noisily.

A few strands of hair not secured in the man's topknot also became disheveled in the wind.

Squish—

Squish—

Squish—

The man walked up the stone steps to the front door, crunching through the snow.

Knock knock knock—

He knocked on the front door.

After a moment,

the door slowly opened, and Jiang Li appeared at the door, looking puzzled at the white-robed man.

"Who are you?"

The man smiled, "My name is He Jinseng, and I've come specially to pay a visit to Commander Jiang Ning!"

"So, you're here for Ning too!" Jiang Li nodded.

"Please come in!" he then stepped aside to make way.

...

At the same time, Jiang Ning, who was conversing and drinking with Ji Minghao, suddenly felt a slight urgency within.

"Brother Jiang, what's the matter?" Seeing the change in Jiang Ning's expression, Ji Minghao showed his curiosity.

"Someone is at the door!" Jiang Ning said.

"An unexpected visitor?" Ji Minghao queried.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly in response.

He had already heard the crunching sound of snow being stepped on from outside his front door when He Jinsheng arrived.

As He Jinsheng knocked on the door and introduced himself to Jiang Li, Jiang Ning also understood.

He Jinseng, who had arrived in Luoshui County a few days ago, had chosen today to seek him out.

He Jinseng's arrival naturally meant no good.

Next to him,

Ji Minghao, upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, immediately strained his ears to listen.

However, amidst the heavy snow, hearing was naturally diminished, and the occasional snowfall from the trees greatly interfered with his auditory senses.

After listening intently for several breaths, he heard no sound.

He then looked at Jiang Ning doubtfully.

But in the next moment,

he heard a sound approaching from afar.

It was the "squish," "squish," of snow being trodden upon.

The sound grew from a distance to near, clearer and clearer.

Indeed, someone was coming!!

Ji Minghao was immediately astonished.

As one advances in Martial Arts, with the transformation of the flesh, the five senses also continually enhance, becoming exceptional compared to ordinary people.

Thus, typically, the higher the Martial Arts Grade, the deeper the transformation of the flesh, the stronger the strength, and the stronger the five senses.

"Could it be... Brother Jiang's strength is greater than mine?" Ji Minghao thought as he watched Jiang Ning, the idea suddenly dawning on him.

Then, he shook his head.

Impossible!

Ji Minghao immediately dismissed the thought.

"I have completed Bone Forging with jade-like bones, and in a few months, I will be able to cast Divine Bones capable of achieving the body of a Martial Saint!"

"Brother Jiang is still in the Bone Forging stage, how could his strength possibly be stronger than mine! His earlier detection of the distant commotion must be because his senses are extraordinary," he reasoned.

...

While both of them set their sights towards the open entrance of the small courtyard,

they soon saw Jiang Li leading a white-robed man to them.