Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Current Situation

At that moment,

Jiang Ning roughly understood what kind of power was being referred to in the fragmentary pages of the Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill about the eruption of hidden strength.

The human body, with its five organs and six viscera, inherently contains many secrets.

In his previous life, he had heard of a mother who, upon seeing her son pinned under a car, had an explosive release of potential, enabling her to lift the car and save her son.

Such examples are countless.

If the potential of the human body can be unleashed, it can exhibit far greater strength than usual.

These hidden powers, like adrenaline, are concealed within the five organs and six viscera.

Therefore, Jiang Ning was well aware that if he could achieve this, it would definitely add a powerful weapon to his arsenal.

“However, to fill these thousand experience points is not an overnight feat!”

Jiang Ning murmured to himself as he looked at the progress of the Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill on the panel.

Then,

after a brief rest, feeling no anomalies between the organs, he continued, taking advantage of the time before 5 a.m. and before 7 a.m.

Facing the newly risen sun, he practiced the Breathing and Exhaling Method recorded in the Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill.

[Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill EXP +1]

[Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill EXP +1]

[…]

Until it was almost 7 a.m., he finally stopped such act.

[Skill]: Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill (Beginner 6/1000)

…

That night,

Jiang Ning took out two silver ingots from his bosom, his expression complex.

This was a ten-tael silver ingot, totaling twenty taels.

These twenty silver taels were personally handed to him by a former constable colleague entrusted by his elder brother, Jiang Li, at the doorway of the Martial Arts Hall during the afternoon.

Jiang Ning’s eyes revealed some guilt.

“Twenty silver taels! I wonder where elder brother borrowed them from this time!”

He shook his head, his expression somewhat wistful.

“Let’s not dwell on this!”

“The priority now is to enhance my strength. Only by improving my strength can I change my own fate, as well as the fate of elder brother’s family!”

“Once I enter the Inspection Office as a confirmed Martial Artist, I will bring elder brother’s family to live in the Inner City!”

“I’ll repay elder brother and sister-in-law’s kindness in days to come!”

Jiang Ning made a resolute decision in his heart.

He then put the twenty silver taels into his pouch and continued grinding his Boxing Skill experience.

…

The day after,

At 8:00 a.m., after the Martial Arts Hall opened,

Cheng Ran entered the Martial Arts Hall and immediately left the front courtyard with Jiang Ning, heading toward the small courtyard where Jiang Ning lived.

Upon entering the small courtyard, Jiang Ning finally spoke.

“Brother Cheng, how did it go?”

Cheng Ran nodded, “You guessed right. There really were two people watching the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall. They are members of the Green Snake Gang.”

“Green Snake Gang?”

Cheng Ran nodded, “Luoshui County has three major gangs, the Green Snake Gang, the Black Tiger Gang, and the Bamboo Gang. Behind each of these gangs stand certain families, among which the Green Snake Gang is involved in grain transportation and human trafficking, backed by the Cao family.”

“Indeed!” Jiang Ning nodded, not feeling surprised at all.

Cheng Ran looked at Jiang Ning, “Regarding the other matter that Brother Jiang entrusted to me, I have also cleared it up.”

“In recent days, when the government office took the initiative to clamp down on the God Worship Sect, they actually suffered a setback, leading to the Sect growing even more influential in the Outer City.”

“However, your elder brother and his wife are still safe and sound. The patrol strength around their home has greatly increased during this period, with constables passing by every now and then, so there hasn’t been any unrest!”

Hearing that his elder brother and sister-in-law were still very peaceful up to now, Jiang Ning instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

“That’s good!”

Cheng Ran continued looking at Jiang Ning, “As for Xu Yunfeng, whom Brother Jiang asked me to investigate, there are also some results! Xu Yunfeng himself has not made a move, but his last record of action was when he single-handedly captured a fugitive criminal who was not weak in strength, a martial artist who had achieved Great Success in Qi-Blood and had successfully connected it through his limbs.”

Jiang Ning said, “So it seems that Xu Yunfeng is probably also a martial artist about to enter the Martial Arts Entry, close to achieving Qi Blood Perfection like Brother Cheng?”

Cheng Ran nodded slightly, “Probably so! He is a man of Cao Bin and stands behind the Cao family. If he achieves Martial Arts Entry, his position and status in the government office will surely be promoted. As they say, civilians should not contend with officials, and it’s really bad luck for Brother Jiang to be targeted by him.”

Jiang Ning said helplessly, “There’s nothing I can do about it!”

“Indeed, there’s nothing to be done!” Cheng Ran agreed with a nod, “Cao Bin suddenly took a fancy to your sister-in-law, and it’s truly an undeserved disaster!”

He then continued, “It’s a pity that I, Cheng Ran, have little influence and cannot ask my father to intervene and persuade Cao Bin to spare your sister-in-law.”

“I appreciate Brother Cheng’s kindness!” said Jiang Ning, bowing in thanks.

Yet in his heart, he shook his head secretly. He had analyzed this matter numerous times, and regardless of Cao Bin’s personal desires, it was not that simple.

Most likely, it still involved the conflict between County Lord, the dragon crossing the river, and the local snakes.

His elder brother and sister-in-law being caught up in this whirlpool might partially be due to Cao Bin’s personal needs, but it mostly stemmed from the struggle between these two forces.

Since his own elder brother had been chosen as a pawn and involved in this contest, it was unthinkable for Cheng Ran to get his father to intervene, and even if his father did intervene, the Cao family would not just let it go.

“We must rely on ourselves!”

“Becoming Wang Jin’s True Disciple would alleviate the initial crisis.”

“Joining the Inspection Office, and having the backing of this major institution, would be the only way to completely untangle this situation.”

Jiang Ning muttered silently to himself.

Cheng Ran at this moment said, “Regarding the other task that Brother Jiang entrusted to me, finding suitable medicinal herbs for cultivation. I checked and found that ten-year-old Wild Ginseng is most suitable, offering the best value for money for Brother Jiang!”

“Wild Ginseng of ten years old is being sold on the market for fifteen silver taels a piece, but Brother Jiang would be better off going to Brother Zhou Xing.”

“I’ve heard previously that disciples of our Martial Arts Hall, who buy ten-year-old Wild Ginseng from Brother Zhou Xing, pay only ten silver taels, which is about five taels cheaper than the market price.”

“Brother Zhou Xing’s family is one of the largest medicinal herb merchants in Luoshui County, and the ten taels is probably also their cost price, which is quite a good deal.”

“This afternoon, when the fierce tiger emerges from its cage, Brother Zhou Xing will most likely come to the Martial Arts Hall, and then Brother Jiang can go to purchase Wild Ginseng from Brother Zhou Xing.”

After carefully listening to all this, Jiang Ning bowed again, “Brother Cheng, you’ve troubled yourself these past few days!”

Cheng Ran laughed heartily, “Brother Jiang, you are too courteous. If it hadn’t been for your help a few days ago, I wouldn’t be able to stand here today talking to you!”

“And my chances of getting a slot in the Inspection Office would be even slimmer! Brother Jiang, you truly did me a huge favor, allowing me to still compete with Xiao Peng for a spot in the Office.”

Seeing Cheng Ran speak with such vigor, Jiang Ning couldn’t help but express his curiosity, “Brother Cheng, you’re looking energetic. Has your injury healed?”

“That’s right!” Cheng Ran smiled and nodded, “My father heard that I wanted to join the Inspection Office, knowing it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so he spent a great deal of money to buy a Big Restoration Pill. In just one day, my injuries were healed, and my Qi-Blood grew significantly stronger!”

As he spoke, Cheng Ran clenched his fists, “If I have a chance, I must get back at what happened a few days ago and let Xiao Peng taste the pain of injury.”

“Brother Cheng has great spirit!” Jiang Ning praised.

Cheng Ran chuckled, “In any case, I can’t stand that Xiao Peng. He’s too cunning, keeping that trick hidden and nearly making me suffer a miserable defeat!”

“It’s a pity!” Looking at Jiang Ning, Cheng Ran soon showed a look of regret, “Brother Jiang, your talent in boxing is the best I’ve ever seen. Achieving so much in just a few days, if you could have started martial arts a year and a half earlier, the spot wouldn’t have gone to Xiao Peng. But then, it wouldn’t have gone to me either, which turns out to be to my advantage!”

Jiang Ning shook his head and smiled, “There’s nothing to regret! Who can say for sure about the future? Just being able to learn martial arts is already an escape from a common man’s fate. I’m very satisfied with this, and whatever steps I can take in the future will still depend on myself.”

“Brother Jiang is truly open-minded! I admire you!” said Cheng Ran, bowing with his fists clenched, then patting his chest, “Brother Jiang, rest assured, with me here, it won’t be so easy for that Xiao Peng kid to get the spot in the Office. I’ll certainly compete with him for it!”

Jiang Ning smiled and said nothing more.

Regarding the matter of competing for a spot in the Inspection Office, he had never mentioned it to anyone, and he wasn’t about to start now.