Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

This made her involuntarily think of Jiang Ning's actions at the moment.

Jiang Ning: "..."

Watching as the Dragon Carp repeatedly shook its head and hearing her nearly cry from fear, he was filled with waves of speechlessness in his heart.

"Master, don't bother with this little carp anymore, let me do it!" Old Turtle leaped in front of the Dragon Carp.

Stretching out his forelimb, the Dragon Carp was firmly locked in its grasp.

"No, no!!" The Dragon Carp became even more frightened, desperately struggling in Old Turtle's grip, flailing its rosy-hued tail fins.

By this time, Old Turtle had already understood Jiang Ning's intention.

It held the Dragon Carp, pressing it onto the tip of Jiang Ning's bleeding finger.

"Ow—" The Dragon Carp clutched Jiang Ning's finger, eyes wide.

At that moment, the blood entered her mouth and rapidly seeped into her body.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning continued to circulate his Inner Breath, forcing the blood from his vessels, drop by drop integrating into the Dragon Carp's body.

He had fed the Dragon Carp about a dozen drops of blood.

That should be about enough!

He then ceased his action.

At this moment.

As he withdrew his hand from the Dragon Carp's mouth, the Dragon Carp was rolling in the water.

"It's so hot!"

"It's so hot!!"

"The fish is going to die from the heat!!"

"I'm going to be cooked!!!"

The Dragon Carp rolled frantically, one moment burrowing into the soil with a "whoosh," and the next shooting up above Jiang Ning's head.

It appeared like a gorgeous cloud of rosy light swirling in the water.

"Master, this Dragon Carp's bloodline is really pure!" exclaimed Old Turtle, landing on Jiang Ning's shoulder, his tone filled with admiration.

"Old Turtle, you're quite generous," Jiang Ning said.

As he spoke, he produced a few drops of blood and sent them flying in front of Old Turtle.

Old Turtle instantly stretched its neck with several "whooshes."

As its neck stretched out, the drops of blood were swiftly drawn into his mouth.

"The Master's thoughts are Old Turtle's thoughts!" it said, bobbing its head, thoroughly enjoying itself.

Swallowing Jiang Ning's blood, and with its refining, it could feel its Dao growing.

After a long time.

The Dragon Carp staggered up to Jiang Ning.

At this time, her scales glowed more brilliantly, gold and red intertwining, shining dazzlingly in the dim lake depths, exceptionally beautiful.

Her rosy tail fins also shimmered with a faint glow.

"Thank you, you are a good person!!" the Dragon Carp timidly spoke.

She approached Jiang Ning curiously.

At this point, she felt a sense of kinship exuding from Jiang Ning. Being near Jiang Ning, she felt at ease and not the slightest bit afraid.

Hearing the Dragon Carp's words, the corners of Jiang Ning's mouth turned up in a smile.

He extended his finger, and the Dragon Carp immediately came forward, understanding his gesture.

Then she nuzzled his fingertips with her head.

Under Jiang Ning's gentle touch, she immediately squinted her eyes, feeling peaceful.

Jiang Ning was also quietly sensing the Dragon Carp's emotions at this moment.

Relying on the mark of the Divine Descendants, he could feel the Dragon Carp's peaceful emotions, perceiving her growing faint trust in him.

Such changes did not surprise Jiang Ning.

The authority of the Divine Descendants naturally made the favored feel closeness and trust towards him, it was a subtle and gradual change.

Just like most creatures, upon birth, innate attraction to the first being they see is normal.

"Do you have a name?" Jiang Ning asked.

"I do!" the Dragon Carp looked up, her expression proud: "Grandpa Turtle gave me a beautiful name, I'm called Linglong."

"Linglong?" Jiang Ning chuckled: "Indeed, it sounds lovely!"

Hearing the praise, the Dragon Carp joyfully swished her rosy tail fins.

Feeling the happiness in Linglong's heart, Jiang Ning couldn't help but show a slight smile.

Then.

"Linglong, who is this Grandpa Turtle you mentioned?" Jiang Ning asked.

"Grandpa Turtle..." Linglong muttered, her lively eyes suddenly filled with sadness, her tone involuntarily filled with sorrow.

She seemed to have sunk into deep memories.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning was not in a hurry and quietly waited for Linglong to process her sadness.

After a moment.

Linglong raised her head, her bright eyes now shadowed with a rosy hue.

"Father, Grandpa Turtle is—"

"Stop! Stop! Stop!!!" Jiang Ning hastily interrupted Linglong.

Seeing Linglong's puzzled eyes, Jiang Ning said, "Linglong, let's use another term!"

"Another term..." Linglong looked up at Jiang Ning: "Master, may I?"

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded.

He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart.

He hadn't even married yet!

He hadn't even found a wife!

Yet, he had suddenly become a father—and to a fish at that. He just couldn't accept it.

At that moment,

Seeing Jiang Ning's consent, Dragon Carp continued without caring too much,

"Master, Grandpa Turtle is a turtle that has lived for over five hundred years. He was very kind to me, really, really kind!!"

"Some days ago, he told me to hide well in the ground, but he went to confront that Great Demon on his own."

Jiang Ning asked, "Was it the Great Demon White Chi?"

"Master, I don't know!" Linglong shook her head.

Then she continued, "All I saw was a huge white dragon."

"Did that white dragon have horns?" Jiang Ning inquired.

Upon hearing this, Linglong pondered for a moment, then shook her head, "It seemed not to have horns."

"Master, a white dragon without horns must be that White Chi Great Demon I saw before," Old Turtle suddenly spoke up.

"Uh-huh," Jiang Ning nodded, indicating agreement.

Then, after thinking for a moment, he took out a turtle shell from the Sumeru Ring which he had just stored inside.

"Linglong, do you recognize this turtle shell?"

"It's... it's Grandpa Turtle!" Dragon Carp, with her tail fins fluttering like a dawn cloud, pressed herself against the turtle shell, her voice revealing deep sorrow.

Suddenly, two teardrop-shaped, crystal-like tears slipped from her eyes.

Jiang Ning understood.

This place used to be a gathering spot for lesser demons who transformed, but some time ago, that White Chi Great Demon had invaded this place and slaughtered and devoured many.

A thousand-years of Dao Great Demon wasn't something these hundreds-years old lesser demons could withstand. That's why this gathering spot of lesser demons was destroyed overnight by the White Chi.

The fact that this Dragon Carp had survived

Was probably because she had hidden her body and her Dao was too low, so she hadn't attracted the attention of the White Chi.

"Linglong, what are your plans from now on?" Jiang Ning asked.

"Master, I want to take revenge for Grandpa Turtle!" Dragon Carp, propping herself on the turtle shell, looked up at Jiang Ning.

"There might come a day!" Jiang Ning thought of Dragon Carp's noble bloodline and said.

...

The next evening,

The bright moonlight showered down on Chaotic Beach.

The lake's surface rippled gently, seeming to bring up silver scales.

Jiang Ning stepped onto the lake shore from the water.

[Source Energy]: 2433.12

"I wonder if, when I wake up tomorrow, the Source Energy Points could break through three thousand."

He murmured to himself and then closed the panel.

These past two days had been very rewarding for him.

Not only had he subdued a Dragon Carp, but today he had also found several hundred-year-old Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Additionally, he had collected around two hundred thousand worth of gold and jewels.

These gold and jewels were found in two Demon Clan gathering spots at the bottom of the lake.

Apart from the gathering spot where Dragon Carp was, he had found another under her guidance.

Compared to Dragon Carp's gathering spot, the other gathering place at the bottom of the lake was even more tragic—

It had already become a pile of ruins.

From the traces left behind, it was clear that it was the handiwork of that Great Demon White Chi.

That Great Demon, evidently to increase his Dao, was frantically slaughtering the creatures of the lake bottom and refining them.

"This Great Demon White Chi, now rampaging at the bottom of the lake, this crazily; I wonder if he will eventually come ashore and wreak havoc on the banks of Luoshui Lake?"

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning suddenly felt it was possible.

Because according to the records in the books, in ancient times, the Demon Clan always used the Human Clan as blood food.

Not only because the taste of humans was delicious to them, but also because this was a way for the Demon Clan to increase their Dao.

Devouring living beings and refining them could increase their Dao.

This method was very popular in ancient times and was one of the fastest ways to increase and enhance Dao.

Like the gathering spot where Dragon Carp resided, those water creatures that had awakened their intelligence early and had become demons, because they feared the present-day strong humans, dared not devour and refine human beings for hundreds of years, lacking fortunes like Old Turtle and that electric eel.

Thus, individuals like Grandpa Turtle, who had lived for five to six hundred years, only had just over three hundred years of Dao.

This was with the help of various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures at the lake bottom.

Had it not been for the lake bottom's uniquely favorable, rarely disturbed environment, their Dao growth would have been even slower.

Just so happened, a few days ago, my brother and sister-in-law discussed with me that, as soon as the weather warmed up and the snow on the roads melted, they wanted to take Little Dumpling and Yiming to the County to visit relatives.

Now, after several days of clear weather, Luoshui Lake had completely thawed.

The official roads should also be clear.

It would be a good time to go to the County with my brother and sister-in-law.

Counting the days, about a month from now would be the imperial examination.

Before that, I still need to go to Martial Arts Garden for further studies.

Jiang Ning immediately hastened toward his home.