Grinding to Become the Martial Saint of the Mortal World

Clap! Clap! Clap! 

Zhou Xing, standing to the side, applauded. 

"Senior Brother Zhou!" Jiangning smiled. 

Zhou Xing also wore a warm smile. "Junior Brother Jiang, your learning ability is impressive. You've just started today, and your Five Beast Fist already looks quite polished." 

Jiangning smiled modestly. "Senior Brother Zhou, you flatter me. I just have a good memory and can recall things after seeing them once. I'm merely copying the tiger's movements." 

"I see. Otherwise, it would be quite demoralizing for me," Zhou Xing nodded with a gentle smile. Jiangning's answer didn't surprise him. 

Being able to perform such a standard fist technique on the first day was primarily due to memory and learning ability. 

This had nothing to do with martial talent. 

No matter how high one's martial talent or comprehension, one still needed to memorize the fist techniques, movements, and breathing methods before showcasing their talent and understanding. 

So, in Zhou Xing's view, Jiangning's performance today only proved that his memory and learning ability were exceptionally high, far beyond ordinary people. It didn't prove anything else. 

Then Zhou Xing added, "Even so, Junior Brother Jiang's talent is quite remarkable! At the very least, your starting point is much higher than most people's." 

Zhou Xing's expression turned nostalgic. "I remember it took me three days and nights just to memorize the essence of the Five Beast Fist manual. I'm genuinely envious of your talent, Junior Brother." 

Jiangning smiled. 

Zhou Xing continued, "It's getting late. I should head back. Junior Brother Jiang, don't push yourself too hard while practicing. Don't exhaust your body." 

Jiangning nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Zhou. I understand." 

Before leaving, Zhou Xing added, "Junior Brother Jiang, are you satisfied with the effects of the wild ginseng?" 

"Very satisfied!" Jiangning nodded. 

"Good to hear!" Zhou Xing smiled and then walked out of the martial arts school. 

Outside the school, a carriage had been waiting for some time. 

"Young Master, why did you stay at the martial arts school for so long today?" a man in black martial attire, with a long sword at his waist, asked. 

Zhou Xing smiled habitually. "I saw a new disciple with considerable talent, so I stayed a bit longer." 

"Does the Young Master intend to recruit him?" the black-clad man asked. 

Zhou Xing shook his head. "Although my family's business needs skilled hands, we'd rather go without than settle for mediocrity. Let's see if he can become a true disciple of the school first. For someone from an ordinary family, achieving the rank of a martial artist isn't easy." 

"Didn't the Young Master say he has considerable talent? Could he still fail the test?" the black-clad man asked. 

"It's hard to say. From the way he was practicing earlier, it's clear he's relying on his exceptional memory to practice all five forms simultaneously. If he doesn't realize the difficulty soon, there's a 95% chance he'll fail." 

"In that case, why doesn't the Young Master offer him some guidance?" 

Zhou Xing shook his head. "Everyone has their fate. There's no need to interfere forcefully. It's easy to cause unnecessary trouble and resentment." 

Inside the martial arts school. 

Jiangning imitated the deer-resting posture described in the manual, breathing in a pattern of three short breaths followed by one long breath, quietly recovering his strength. 

After a while, as the effects of the wild ginseng continued to take effect, he felt his energy and stamina replenishing. 

Then, he began practicing the fist technique again. 

With the panel, every complete practice session increased his experience points by one. 

And with ten experience points, he could raise the Five Beast Fist to the beginner level. 

This goal, so close at hand, filled Jiangning with motivation. 

[Five Beast Fist Experience +1] 

After completing another round of practice, Jiangning rested for a while, allowing the remaining medicinal effects to gradually dissipate in his body. 

Once his energy and stamina were restored, he began another round of practice. 

[Five Beast Fist Experience +1] 

[Skills]: Five Beast Fist (Not Started 6/10) 

"Just four more rounds!" Looking at the steadily increasing experience points on the panel, Jiangning felt even more excited. 

Jiangning rested for another half an hour. By now, the sun was setting. 

In the afterglow of the sunset, he once again performed the complete Five Beast Fist from start to finish. 

Following the images in his memory, he continuously corrected his movements to match Master Wang's demonstration as closely as possible. 

Gradually, Jiangning's fist technique became faster and smoother. The sleeves of his robe fluttered in the air, making a sharp rustling sound as his fists moved. 

By the time he finished, his technique was flowing seamlessly. 

As he concluded the routine, he let out a satisfied exhale. 

Ha! 

In that instant, his body pushed to its limit, felt a surge of energy and blood burst from his chest. Just as he was about to collapse from exhaustion, it was as if a refreshing rain had poured over him, instantly restoring some of his strength. 

[Five Beast Fist Experience +4] 

Four experience points? 

Jiangning was inwardly shocked. 

Then, his attention was drawn to the changes happening inside his body. He felt a faint, warm current emerging from his blood. 

"What is this?!" 

His eyes widened. 

Bathed in the last rays of the setting sun, Jiangning's eyes shone brightly. He could feel this warm current flowing through his body, wherever it passed was like bathing in a hot spring, extremely comfortable.

"Is this the 'qi and blood' energy described in the manual?" he wondered. 

"According to the manual, generating the first strand of qi and blood energy means touching the foundation of martial arts. Strengthening this energy and circulating it throughout the body is a prerequisite for achieving the rank of a martial artist." 

He closed his eyes and quietly felt the warm current flowing through his entire body, bringing strength wherever it passed. 

"This feeling... it's incredible!" 

He couldn't help but become somewhat entranced. 

Now he understood why so many people in his previous life were obsessed with fitness. The pleasure of physical enhancement was truly intoxicating. 

This was the first time he had genuinely felt the joy of martial arts training. The sense of physical improvement was far more pronounced than any fitness regimen from his past life. 

[Skills]: Five Beast Fist (Beginner 0/100) 

Looking at his panel, Jiangning was tempted to practice the fist technique again to vent his exhilaration. But he knew his body couldn't handle another round. 

Practicing martial arts was a matter of balance too much could be harmful. 

His body had already reached its limit. If not for the surge of energy and blood from his chest, he would have collapsed from exhaustion. 

Jiangning took out the brocade box from his pocket and opened it for a look. 

"I need to use this sparingly!" 

He then closed the box and put it back in his belt. 

"The poor pursue scholarship, while the rich practice martial arts!" 

At this moment, Jiangning deeply understood this saying. 

The reason he could practice the Five Beast Fist seven times in one afternoon was entirely due to the wild ginseng. 

He knew that if he took another piece of the ginseng, his energy and stamina would recover, allowing him to practice one more round and raise the Five Beast Fist to the beginner level. 

But he couldn't bear to use it. 

At this rate of consumption, a whole wild ginseng wouldn't last more than a few days. 

After recovering some strength, Jiangning thought for a moment and then assumed a stance again. 

This time, he wanted to experiment. 

He wanted to see if a half-hearted, careless practice could also increase his Five Beast Fist experience. 

The next moment. 

He began performing the moves casually, breathing normally without following the Five Beast Fist breathing techniques. 

After a while. 

A figure in a blue martial arts uniform walked out from the backyard. 

Her voice, clear and crisp, reached everyone in the front yard. 

"The medicinal soup is ready. You may come to the backyard to collect it!" 

As soon as she spoke, everyone stopped their training. 

"Let's go! Let's go get the medicinal soup!" someone exclaimed excitedly. 

After saying this, Li Qing looked at Jiangning, who was still practicing. 

Seeing Jiangning's sloppy stance and erratic breathing, she couldn't help but frown. 

"Junior Brother Jiang, you should also go to the backyard to collect the medicinal soup." 

"Not yet. Let me finish this round of practice first," Jiangning said, continuing to practice. 

As he spoke, Jiangning's movements became faster, and his breathing grew more hurried. 

Seeing this, Li Qing's frown deepened. 

His movements were weak, and his breathing was completely disorganized. In her eyes, it was no different from child's play. 

After watching for a while longer, she shook her head slightly and turned to leave. 

Jiangning also sped up and finished the round of practice. 

After concluding the routine, he stood still and waited for a few breaths, but no experience gain prompt appeared. 

"As expected, it doesn't work." 

Having confirmed his suspicion, Jiangning quickly rushed toward the kitchen at the back of the martial arts school. 

After experiencing the powerful effects of the wild ginseng Zhou Xing had given him, Jiangning now placed even greater importance on the medicinal soup Master Wang had mentioned earlier.