Grinding to Become the Martial Saint of the Mortal World

[Skill]: Firewood Chopping Technique (Perfected 0/1000) 

When this skill advanced from major mastery to perfection. 

In an instant. 

Jiang Ning felt the difference. 

In his mind, countless images flashed by, just as before. 

Each image was of every chop he had made during this period. 

Countless angles, countless overlapping lights, and shadows, ultimately refined to their essence. 

At the same time, Jiang Ning felt a tingling sensation in his arm, as if thousands of ants were crawling on it. 

After a few breaths. 

All the strange sensations disappeared. 

Jiang Ning gripped the firewood axe in his hand, a faint smile appearing on his face. 

"Is this the perfected level of the Firewood Chopping Technique?" 

"It has such an effect. Even though I'm holding a firewood axe, it feels like an extension of my body! I can control it as if it were my arm!" 

He casually swung the axe a couple of times. 

Swish 

Swish 

The sound of the blade cutting through the air rang out, and a faint smile reappeared on Jiang Ning's face. 

His swings were about 30% faster. 

And! 

Jiang Ning swung the axe down again. 

Thud 

As the axe fell, the thick log lying diagonally on the chopping block was cleanly severed in two. 

"Moreover, the force of my swings has increased by about 20-30%! This improvement is really good!!" 

He gripped the axe in his hand, nodding in satisfaction. 

"If I had a proper blade right now, my combat power would increase several times over!" 

At this moment, Jiang Ning felt a surge of ambition. 

He even wanted to go find Xu Yunfeng and have a showdown, cutting him down with a single strike. 

"Not yet! Not yet!!" 

Hoo 

Jiang Ning took a deep breath, calming his agitated heart. 

My current Qi and Blood strength is still far behind his. I need more time! 

He tightened his grip on the firewood axe. 

Then he checked his status panel again. 

[Skill]: Firewood Chopping Technique (Perfected 0/1000) 

Just 1,000 more experience points and the Firewood Chopping Technique will break through its limits! 

This isn't difficult for me! 

If necessary, I could grind out these 1,000 experience points in a single day. 

Unfortunately! 

Source Energy points limit my potential! 

[Source Energy]: 6.8 

Looking at the Source Energy points on his status panel, he felt a pang of regret. 

"To reach 10 Source Energy points, at my current rate of gaining 0.4 per day, it will take about eight more days! Grinding experience for the Firewood Chopping Technique isn't urgent. But if I go out, I should consider getting a proper blade for self-defense!" 

"For me right now, having a blade in hand and not having one are completely different!" 

"After all, an inch longer is an inch stronger. How can flesh and blood compare to steel weapons?" 

Jiang Ning's mind stirred, adding this to his list of priorities. 

In the blink of an eye, four days passed. 

After finishing a round of fist techniques. 

[Five Animal Forms Experience +1] 

[Skill]: Five Animal Forms (Minor Mastery 17/500) 

Jiang Ning looked at the notification in front of him and shook his head slightly. 

"To achieve major mastery in fist techniques, one must master both form and spirit. It seems my comprehension isn't enough to achieve this!" 

After trying for over a day, Jiang Ning was ready to give up. 

He gave up on trying to comprehend the essence of major mastery in the Five Animal Forms on his own. 

A few days ago, because he had asked Wang Jin for guidance and mastered the essence of minor mastery in the Tiger Form hardness within softness and softness within hardness his efficiency in grinding experience points for fist techniques had greatly increased in the days leading up to minor mastery. 

Each round of practice now gave him two experience points. 

This was why he had been able to grind the fist technique to minor mastery in just a few days. 

Then, Jiang Ning clenched his fists again. 

The Qi and Blood in his body surged, instantly circulating through one arm, with some to spare. 

"Now my Qi and Blood can be considered minor mastery. After reaching minor mastery in the Five Animal Forms, each round of practice now refines three strands of Qi and Blood. At this rate, it won't be long before my Qi and Blood reach major mastery and even perfection!" 

"But the opening of the Inspection Bureau isn't far off. Even perfect Qi and Blood isn't enough. I still need to attain a martial rank and excel in actual combat to join this prestigious institution." 

I can't slack off! 

He then checked his status panel again. 

[Name]: Jiang Ning 

[Source Energy]: 8.4 

[Skills]: 

Literacy and Comprehension (First Breakthrough 416/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory) 

Five Animal Forms (Minor Mastery 17/500) 

Firewood Chopping Technique (Perfected 1000/1000) 

Inner Elixir Nourishment Technique (Beginner 91/100) 

"Four more days, and I'll have enough Source Energy points to break through the limits of the Firewood Chopping Technique." 

"As for the Inner Elixir Nourishment Technique, tomorrow it will reach the beginner level. This is an internal strengthening method, something that normal martial artists only pursue at the fifth rank. I wonder what effects it will have after reaching the beginner level?" 

He then closed the status panel. 

In the afternoon. 

After finishing another round of fist techniques. 

[Five Animal Forms Experience +1] 

[Skill]: Five Animal Forms (Minor Mastery 18/500) 

Feeling the increase in Qi and Blood and his physique, Jiang Ning felt a sense of joy. He walked over to a bucket of cool well water and poured it over his head. 

"Refreshing!!" 

He shook his head, sending water droplets flying in all directions. 

"Junior Brother Jiang, you got water on me!" 

Hearing the voice behind him, Jiang Ning turned around. The person approaching was Cheng Ran, the only disciple in the front courtyard of the martial hall who had befriended him. 

Over the past few days, since arriving at the martial hall, Jiang Ning had spent every day grinding experience and practicing. 

After receiving Wang Jin's permission to stay at the martial hall long-term. 

Jiang Ning hadn't stepped outside the martial hall gates even once, so he hadn't participated in any of the social activities like group meals or drinking with the other disciples. 

As a result, he didn't have much interaction with the other disciples. 

Especially since Jiang Ning was so diligent in practicing fist techniques, he had no time to interact with them, and no one had any reason to cause him trouble. 

Seeing Cheng Ran approach, Jiang Ning smiled and continued to shake his head lightly, sending water droplets flying onto the dirt around him. In an instant, the water evaporated under the scorching heat of the ground. 

"Senior Brother Cheng, you came over yourself. You can't blame me for that!" 

Cheng Ran chuckled. "Hey! I'm just joking with you, Junior Brother Jiang!" 

As he spoke, he tossed a bucket into the deep well. 

"This damn weather is getting hotter and hotter!" Cheng Ran said. 

Jiang Ning looked up at the sky, clear and cloudless. 

He nodded in agreement. "It seems it hasn't rained for over two months!" 

"Exactly!" Cheng Ran confirmed. 

By now, the bucket he had dropped into the well was full of water. In a few quick motions, he pulled up the bucket filled with cool well water. 

"Not just these two months. It's barely rained at all in Luoshui County for the first half of the year!" Cheng Ran said. 

With that, Cheng Ran lifted the bucket and poured the water over his head. 

"Ahhh!!!" he exclaimed. 

Then, he continued to vent to Jiang Ning. "Junior Brother Jiang, do you know that July is the time for harvesting grain? A couple of days ago, when I went out to inspect, a bunch of tenant farmers were crying to me about how bad things were! I couldn't bear it, so I waited half a year's taxes for them. When I got back, my father gave me a good beating!" 

As he said this, Cheng Ran seemed to recall the pain of that day, his face twitching slightly. 

"Senior Brother Cheng, you have a kind heart," Jiang Ning said sincerely. 

Hearing this praise, Cheng Ran couldn't help but look a little pleased. 

Then, pretending to be unaffected, he said, "Let's not talk about that! Junior Brother Jiang, do you know about the big event happening at the martial hall in a few days?" 

"What big event?" Jiang Ning asked, slightly curious. 

"Have you seen the tiger in the cage?" Cheng Ran asked. 

Jiang Ning nodded. 

Cheng Ran pointed to the left side of the courtyard. 

"In six days, that tiger will be released into that courtyard!" 

"Then, the true disciples of the martial hall will step into the arena, allowing us to watch the tiger's combat up close. This will be a huge help for us in breaking through to major mastery in the Tiger Form!" 

"I heard that Senior Sister Li Qing is currently in seclusion at home, preparing for the final push to attain a martial rank. She'll probably step into the arena that day too!" 

As Cheng Ran said this, a hint of excitement appeared on his face. 

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