Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

Looking around, all that can be seen are green mountains and clear waters.

Xiao Emei quietly appeared at the door, her hair let down, wearing a thin off-shoulder long dress.

She watched Jiang Ning's sword practice, with a sparkle occasionally flashing in her eyes.

Once again, the swordsmanship practice was completed.

Jiang Ning swung his long sword, and the wave of energy spread like a tide, while the invisible airflow gathered around him instantly poured out, creating an astonishing momentum.

However, compared to the initial stage, both the sound and the power were somewhat weaker.

Relying on strong control, Jiang Ning's energy wave spread out more broadly, rather than being compressed into a small area.

He sheathed his sword and stood, his gaze sweeping over the panel.

[Skill]: Yin Yang Soft and Hard Sword (Four times Break Limit 898/5000) (trait: Balance of Soft and Hard (light green), Guard (light blue), Graceful as a Frightened Swan (light green))

"Progress is quickly reaching one-fifth!"

He felt satisfied in his heart.

With his current efficiency, he only needs about a day to successfully grind the experience required to break through the Yin Yang Soft and Hard Sword.

This efficiency is faster compared to the Seven Star Demon Suppression Sword.

"Are you hungry, sir?" Xiao Emei asked when she saw Jiang Ning stop practicing his sword.

"Not hungry!" Jiang Ning shook his head.

At his current level, he hardly feels hunger.

Only when his body consumes a lot will he feel a little hunger.

Ordinarily, eating is just a habit and a way to satisfy his appetite.

He lived in a country with extremely developed culinary arts in his past life.

He long ago developed the habit of eating not just to fill his stomach but as a form of enjoyment.

In his past life, as his income increased, so did his spending on food.

"Sir, shall we go to the treasure house now?" Xiao Emei asked.

"Alright!" Jiang Ning nodded.

"Then please allow me to tidy up. I'll wash and change clothes," Xiao Emei said again.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded.

Once Xiao Emei left, he resumed practicing his sword.

As the sword's momentum rose, the surrounding airflow gathered toward him.

In an instant.

A clearly visible circle enveloped him.

The Yin Yang Soft and Hard Swordsmanship combines softness and hardness, balancing attack and defense, attacking first and then defending, truly an exquisite sword technique.

His mastery of this sword technique became increasingly refined.

[Yin Yang Soft and Hard Sword experience +83]

[...]

As the airflow surged, the experience value of the Yin Yang Soft and Hard Sword also grew rapidly.

...

Moments later.

Xiao Emei came out again in formal attire, with a dot of vermilion on her forehead.

She stood at the door, watching Jiang Ning practice his sword, with a sparkle flashing in her eyes.

"What a strong sword technique!!" she secretly exclaimed in her heart.

Standing from a distance, she could feel that Jiang Ning had already gathered terrifying energy around him.

Once this energy erupts, it would instantly destroy everything in front like a tidal wave.

At that moment, she understood why she sometimes heard rumbling sounds outside while asleep.

Just then.

Jiang Ning raised his hand and launched a sword strike, drawing the gathered airflow around him.

In an instant.

Boom!!

The gathered energy suddenly erupted like a mountain torrent, rushing towards the high sky above Yingyue Lake.

For a moment, the energy wave surged like a white tide.

As far as the eye could see, it was clearly visible.

After releasing the last sword strike, triggering the gathered energy, Jiang Ning then sheathed his sword.

[Skill]: Yin Yang Soft and Hard Sword (Four times Break Limit 1237/5000) (trait: Balance of Soft and Hard (light green), Guard (light blue), Graceful as a Frightened Swan (light green))

His gaze swept over the panel, then closed it.

"Sir, I'm ready!" Xiao Emei spoke only when she saw Jiang Ning sheathing his sword.

Jiang Ning glanced at her and returned the long sword to its sheath.

"Let's go then!" Jiang Ning said.

Xiao Emei descended the steps and came to Jiang Ning's front.

"Sir, please follow me."

...

A moment later.

Rumble—

"Palace Master, Lord Jiang, please!" The elder guarding the treasure trove opened the large door, speaking calmly.

Xiao Emei showed no sign of surprise.

She also knew that, despite her rightful acquisition of her position, not many elders in the Sword Palace supported her.

Most elders believed she was unqualified to succeed as the Water Moon Sword Palace Master.

They thought her strength was insufficient to serve as the Palace Master.

She had long since remained calm and unperturbed by such attitudes.

"Sir, please!" Xiao Emei motioned for Jiang Ning to proceed.

"Palace Master, in front of outsiders, please do not lower your stance; you are the Palace Master and must display the dignity of a Palace Master," advised the elder guarding the treasure trove to Xiao Emei.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Emei cast a faint glance at her.

The elder instantly trembled all over, and a trace of panic flashed in her eyes as she looked at Xiao Emei.

"Sir, please!" Xiao Emei saw Jiang Ning's gaze and then smiled gently.

Then.

The two entered the treasure trove.

As the lamps were ignited.

Two fire snakes on the walls quickly spread along the walls.

In the blink of an eye, the airtight treasure trove was illuminated by the flames.

Jiang Ning immediately saw piles of ivory-colored boxes within the treasury.

With one glance, he realized they were all Cold Ice Jade Boxes, large Cold Ice Jade Boxes.

Within the Cold Ice Jade Boxes, heavenly materials and earthly treasures could maximize the reduction of the loss and evaporation of their medicinal effects, thus extending the preservation time.

If sealed with Jade Liquid, they could also be preserved for decades or even hundreds of years.

"Sir, the prepared heavenly materials and earthly treasures are in several Cold Ice Jade Boxes, you may inspect them," Xiao Emei stepped forward and gestured to a Cold Ice Jade Box.

The box instantly opened, and the frosty air gathered inside cascaded like a waterfall along the box wall.

Then it hit the ground and flowed gently in all directions.

As the chill dispersed, Jiang Ning immediately saw the heavenly materials and earthly treasures piled within—it's a box of Blood Lotus.

"Sir, all of these are century-old Blood Lotus, effective for enhancing Qi-Blood and strengthening the essence and energy."

"Excellent!" Jiang Ning nodded in satisfaction.

Water Moon Sword Palace had asked him to take action, not only resolving the crisis posed by the Five Sword Sect but also enabling Water Moon Sword Palace to absorb much of the Five Sword Sect's foundation.

In return, Water Moon Sword Palace was to offer him considerable resources.

This was his agreement with Xiao Emei and Water Moon Sword Palace.

Thus upon seeing the heavenly materials and earthly treasures before him, he accepted them with peace of mind.

Later, following Xiao Emei's brief introduction, he stored the prepared heavenly materials and earthly treasures into the Jiezhi Leaf.

They totaled three large boxes, along with more than ten Red Flame Blood Crystals.

Receiving these heavenly materials and earthly treasures, he felt utterly satisfied.

With these resources, he estimated that they would mostly meet the demands of his next Blood Exchange.

Compared to the original agreement, Water Moon Sword Palace's preparation exceeded expectations this time.

This left him even more pleased with Xiao Emei.

And assured him that his prior choice was exceptionally correct.

Without the support of Water Moon Sword Palace, merely relying on his modest identity as Dongling County Patrol Envoy would make acquiring the martial arts resources he needed much more difficult.

Especially when strictly adhering to duties and refraining from unjust acts, lacking any side income or bribes, it would be even harder.

"And there's Divine Sword Manor!" At that moment, Divine Sword Manor flashed in his mind.

Initially, the Clan Leader of the Shangguan family at Divine Sword Manor, Shangguan Feilong, had surrendered, and he spared Divine Sword Manor, leaving a way out for their family.

After the Mitian Sect's destruction, while Water Moon Sword Palace surrendered to him, Water Moon Sword Palace didn't have the foundation, nor the appetite to digest all of Mitian Sect's properties.

Forcibly swallowing them would break Mitian Sect.

Thus, Divine Sword Manor absorbed Mitian Sect's original foundation.

For this reason, Divine Sword Manor also needed to offer him a certain price.

"I hope they're prepared for their tribute today!" Jiang Ning's thoughts flashed.

Since he was already out, he planned to visit Divine Sword Manor.

With enough resources prepared, he could fully immerse himself in martial arts.

In another month's time, he'll head to the Royal Capital to participate in the Martial Examination.

While the Martial Examination is a sure bet for him.

But the Royal Capital is different.

In Dongling County, even a Great Grandmaster is a rare sight, whereas the Royal Capital is teeming with hidden talents.

It's unknown how many Martial Arts Peak experts exist there.

Even a formidable figure like Prince Huaian would have to tread carefully in the Royal Capital, devoid of any arrogance.

Before going to the Royal Capital, he wishes to enhance his strength as much as possible.

The stronger his power, the safer he is.