Beginning with the Five Animals Fist to Become a Saint

Imperial Prefecture.

"Ah Ning!!" Liu Wanwan's eyes widened when she saw Jiang Ning appear.

"Sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning smiled.

"What's on your body?" Liu Wanwan's breath hitched.

"The top scholar's robe!" Jiang Ning smiled slightly again.

Upon hearing these three affirmative words, Liu Wanwan's pupils contracted slightly.

"Brother Li! Brother Li!! Come out quickly, come out and see Aning!!"

In less than two breaths, a tall figure burst out of the house.

The visitor was Jiang Li.

He stopped in front of Jiang Ning, and his breathing became a little more rapid.

"Brother, what is this?"

"A scholar's robe!" Jiang Ning smiled.

"My brother has really become the top martial arts champion!!" Jiang Li's eyes widened, like a pair of copper bells.

"It's a piece of cake!" Jiang Ning said with a smile.

"You little brat!!" Jiang Li laughed and punched Jiang Ning's chest twice, the punches making a loud thud.

"How about having a few drinks with my brother later?" Jiang Li asked again.

"Of course I'll play along to the end!" Jiang Ning said with a smile.

"If our parents were still alive, they would be so happy to see my brother like this today!" Jiang Li suddenly said with a look of emotion.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled but did not take up the topic.

"Alright! Let's not talk about this anymore!" Jiang Li's expression brightened. "Little brother, you should rest well first. Your sister-in-law and I will have lunch ready soon! We'll have a good drink together later!"

"Brother, why don't you wait a little longer?" Jiang Ning suddenly said.

"Wait for what?" Jiang Li asked, looking puzzled.

"Brother, listen carefully to what's going on outside!" Jiang Ning said.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li immediately perked up his ears and listened intently to the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

Then, his eyes gradually widened.

"The sound of gongs and drums, what's that???"

"Someone from the palace has arrived!" Jiang Ning said. "They should be bringing me the scholar's robes and plaque!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li's eyes lit up immediately.

"An imperial plaque bestowed upon the top scholar?"

"Okay!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li grinned, revealing all his teeth.

"From now on, we are a legitimate family of top scholars! My younger brother will be the top martial arts scholar in Changning for eighty-three years!"

After a while.

Jiang Ning and his entourage arrived at the front courtyard of the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

Jiang Ning was in front, followed by Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan.

Jiang Yiming followed behind.

Jiang Yuanyuan was led by Qinghe and followed closely behind.

Hearing the sounds of gongs and drums outside, Jiang Ning came to the gate and then pushed open the gate of the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion.

As the gates of the Imperial Preceptor's residence opened, a ceremonial guard from the Ministry of Rites stood in solemn formation outside.

The leader was dressed in a scarlet official robe and had a jade belt around his waist.

Upon seeing Jiang Ning appear, the man's pupils dilated, and he quickly adjusted his state.

He then stepped forward three times, cupped his hands, and said, "Congratulations to Scholar Jiang for surpassing all others and winning the top prize! I am Zhou Qian, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and I have been ordered by the Emperor to present Scholar Jiang with the imperial robes, gold-lacquered waist badge, and imperial plaque!"

"So it's Lord Zhou!" Jiang Ning cupped his hands in thanks. "Thank you, Lord Zhou."

"You're too kind, Scholar Jiang!" Zhou Qian said with a cupped-hands gesture and a smile.

As the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, he was a high-ranking official of the third rank.

But he understood that the martial arts champion in front of him was no ordinary person.

That was the greatest prodigy in the more than eight hundred years since the Great Xia Dynasty established its rule over the world.

This was something the emperor had sternly instructed him to treat with utmost courtesy and not to be disrespectful.

Moreover, as he was leaving, the emperor reminded him that the martial arts champion was a second-rank grandmaster.

He was greatly shocked when he heard this.

Under the age of thirty, one can become a second-rank Grandmaster.

It is highly likely that he will be enfeoffed as a king in the future.

He was even more shocked when he learned the age of the new champion.

Upon seeing Jiang Ning, and finding that his description was accurate, the emotions surging within me were beyond words.

At such a young age, with such strength, what terrifying potential!

He knew everything clearly in his heart. Although he was a high-ranking official of the fourth rank in the imperial court, how could he dare to be disrespectful?

next moment.

Zhou Qian turned to the side and raised his hand to signal Jiang Ning.

"Please look, Scholar Jiang, this is the scholar's robe that the Silk Weaving Bureau prepared long ago."

Jiang Ning looked over and saw that the attendant behind him was carrying a vermilion lacquered tray.

On the tray lay neatly folded red scholar's robes, embroidered with gold thread depicting a roc spreading its wings and soaring through the sky, the roc gleaming in the sunlight.

"This is the plaque for the top scholar, personally inscribed by His Majesty!" Zhou Qian added, pointing to the side.

Jiang Ning looked over and saw four strongmen carrying a twelve-foot-long plaque made of golden nanmu wood. The four characters "Martial Champion Under Heaven" on a black background were written by Emperor Ning himself, and the vermilion seal was as red as blood.

The lower right corner of the plaque reads: "Changning's 83rd Martial Arts Champion."

Then, he took out a gilded waist plaque from the tray and presented it with both hands.

"Scholar Jiang, this is your waist token. Tomorrow at the fourth quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), I will personally prepare carriages and horses to welcome you to the palace. According to regulations, newly appointed scholars must wear this robe and token and enter the palace through the Meridian Gate to express their gratitude."

"Thank you for your trouble, Vice Minister Zhou!" Jiang Ning said, accepting the top scholar's badge.

“Your Excellency, there’s no need for such formalities. This is simply my duty!” Zhou Qian said.

“Lord Zhou must be tired from your journey. Why don’t you come in for a couple of cups of tea? It’s lunchtime, and the family feast is all set,” Jiang Ning said.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qian glanced at the plaque above his head.

The three large characters "Guoshifu" (National Preceptor's Residence) immediately came into view.

He immediately shook his head: "Thank you for your kindness, Scholar! However, I am very busy today and tomorrow and cannot afford to waste even a quarter of an hour. Let's have a proper get-together tomorrow when we have time!"

“Alright! Since Lord Zhou has other matters to attend to, then we won’t keep him any longer!” Jiang Ning said.

After a while.

The Ministry of Rites departed with their entourage, leaving behind only a tray containing the top scholar's robes and a plaque carved from golden nanmu wood.

Jiang Li stroked the patterns on the plaque, her eyes filled with fascination.

"Brother, when do you think we should go back to Luoshui County and hang this plaque in our home?"

"Let's wait a little longer, until the world is completely at peace, until a prosperous and peaceful era arrives!" Jiang Ning said.

"How long will it take?" Jiang Li's attention was still entirely focused on the plaque for the top scholar in front of him.

"It might be soon!" Jiang Ning recalled the figure shrouded in white light.

Although he knew that the closer he got to that person on that path, the greater the crisis he would face.

But he also knew he had to keep moving forward.

If growth is fast enough, exceeding everyone's expectations, then all crises will be easily resolved.

"Next, I have to lie low for now! I'll lie low until the day I'm invincible in the world!" The thought flashed through his mind.

After Ji Mingya's frank explanation, he realized that the crisis he faced now might not be the coming chaos, but rather much more intense resistance.

No one in the world would willingly accept having another sky above their head.

That martial saint was invincible in the world for over eight hundred years, and thus oppressed the world for over eight hundred years.

Those people were already suffocating from the pressure, and he could understand that now.

Nobody wants another eight hundred years or more.

But he also understands.

Apart from himself, no one really believed that he could catch up with the Martial Saint.

For over eight hundred years, countless geniuses have emerged, and countless powerful figures have stood out like the bright moon illuminating the night sky. But even the brightest moon can never become the great sun that shines through the ages.

He was like everyone else.

In this world today, there are quite a few powerful beings who are very close to that great sun.

Xiao Wuque, as the last disciple of the Martial Saint, was such a person.

Even with Xiao Wuque's strength, there are still many beings above him.

The crisis that Ji Mingya mentioned was merely a potential crisis that he should pay attention to.

After lunch.

Jiang Ning returned to his courtyard, and with a thought, the effects of the alcohol in his body instantly dissipated.

Standing in the courtyard, he began to analyze the current situation.

The Great Xia Dynasty was in turmoil.

It wasn't just the Yellow Heaven Sect's rebellion.

During his time in the capital, he witnessed Fu Yuan Shengjun causing a ruckus and forcing the Martial Saint to appear.

In the morning, I also saw that Emperor Ning was nearing the end of his life.

There were even people secretly plotting to reveal the face of that Emperor Ning to the world.

All these events made him realize that beneath the calm surface of the capital, undercurrents were surging.

It was already a powder keg.

Once Emperor Ning passes away and the heir apparent is not yet determined, the ensuing princes' struggle for the throne will also cause great chaos.

Beset by internal and external troubles, the situation is bound to collapse.

If that Martial Saint were to encounter another problem, the Great Xia Dynasty, which had been prosperous for over eight hundred years, might collapse.

But he understood that no matter how bad the situation got, a second-grade Grandmaster was enough to protect him.

Unless one actively participates in the power struggles between major forces.

Then, just like those two governors who died some time ago, they will die.

Therefore, the impact of the situation is not yet enough to threaten him.

Moreover, his family members are currently residing in the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

The Imperial Preceptor's residence is one of the safest places in the entire capital.

But thinking of what Ji Mingya had just said, he couldn't help but frown.

No one thought that yet another sky was pressing down on them.

He fully understands and agrees with this statement.

The more he learned, the more he realized just how terrifying that Martial Saint was.

Like a sky, pressing down on all people, forcing countless powerful individuals to choose to lie low.

Therefore, no one wants to see another such being emerge.

His brows furrowed, and he fell into deep thought.

Immediately.

He looked down at himself.

So he simply took off his shirt and went to the edge of the pool.

The surface of the pool was like a mirror, reflecting a perfect body.

His body was well-defined, with long arms and a wasp waist, and without a single flaw.

As he clenched his fist slightly, the movement of the muscles in his arm could be seen.

"A complete body, almost innate?" he murmured.

He clenched his fist again, and with the pull of his muscles, his whole body bulged slightly, exuding a powerful and beautiful aura.

Every muscle line seems to have been meticulously sculpted.

"The best course of action now is to increase our strength as quickly as possible!"

"Even if I don't participate in this martial arts examination or beat the Kui Niu Drum, I believe it won't be long before they know that I am a second-rank Grandmaster."

"The breaths and exhales are in harmony with the rhythm of heaven and earth, and the spirit resonates with heaven and earth. This is difficult to conceal, and it is only a matter of time before it is discovered."

He muttered to himself that he did not regret his choice today.

Winning the top spot in the martial arts examination and becoming the martial arts champion of Changning in its eighty-third year was something he had long wanted to do.

Moreover, he was now in the public eye, attracting worldwide attention, which he didn't see as a bad thing.

After all, his true strength can no longer be measured by simple martial arts realms.

His Vajra Indestructible Body, which has broken through limits multiple times, has given him the characteristic of an indestructible golden body.

He himself is now unsure of just how strong his physical defenses are.

But he could sense that it was something extraordinary.

Because the heavenly lightning that was summoned by striking the Kui Niu Drum in the morning had a limited effect on tempering his body, the most important thing was that the heavenly lightning penetrated his body, which could only bring him a tingling sensation and could not harm his body in the slightest.

With such a powerful physique, if he were to unleash the Sixteen-Foot Golden Body technique...

He felt that his physical body alone was enough to rival that of a first-grade martial arts expert.

As for the mountain lord of Xuan Mountain mentioned earlier, he was a Grandmaster of the title level.

He felt that he could now crush that person with his physical body alone.

If he were to use other methods, along with the partially mastered Taixu Yin Yang Sword, his movements would be ghostly and elusive, giving him the ability to traverse space.

Upon entering the water, one can use supernatural powers to instantly escape to a distance of over a hundred miles.

Thinking of the various methods he possessed, he felt much more at ease.

In ordinary crises, even if one could kill a peak first-grade martial artist, it would be difficult to do anything to him.

Whether in direct combat or in terms of survival skills, he is now far beyond the reach of ordinary martial artists.

Her family now lives in the Imperial Preceptor's residence, under Su Qingying's protection.

Let him have no worries.

"I'll see who in this world won't tolerate me then!"

Looking at his reflection in the pool, a golden light flashed in his eyes.

next moment.

He stood by the pool, glancing at the panel.

[Skill]: Lingtai Cave Illumination of True Self Method (Minor Success 1122/5000)

"I'm less than four thousand experience points away from fusing the True Spirit Mark and taking another step forward."

"By then, according to the hierarchy, he should be a Grandmaster with a title!"

Looking at his panel, a thought flashed through his mind.

"It's fast! My mental strength has already surpassed that of an ordinary second-grade grandmaster. My progress in cultivating the Lingtai Cave Illumination True Self Method is rapid, and there is no need to slowly accumulate progress bit by bit."

He muttered to himself again.

Then, a flash of golden light appeared in his hand.

The small porcelain bottle of Dragon's Nest Elixir that Ji Minghao had given him earlier was now in his hands.

"This item can increase my cultivation speed by three times!"

He opened the cap of the small ceramic bottle containing the Dragon's Breath Elixir.

chant—

A deep dragon's roar suddenly came from the bottle.

The spiritual liquid in the bottle turned into mist, and the mist transformed into the shape of a dragon, which surged and churned within the bottle.

Then, he took a deep breath through his nose onto the small ceramic bottle.

A dragon-shaped creature formed from mist rose from the small ceramic bottle and entered his nasal cavity.

He immediately closed his eyes, and with a thought, time and space shifted instantly, and the world was turned upside down.

When he opened his eyes again, he was standing on a barren desert devoid of greenery, with a bright sun shining overhead, and white mist swirling and billowing around him, clearly divided into distinct sections.

Upon arriving at the interior location once more, he closed his eyes again.

Reflecting on the core concepts of the Lingtai Cave Illumination True Self Method.

All things in the world are illusions, only I am real, only I am eternal.

When this practice is perfected, one achieves a unity of spirit and self.

Completely integrate the mark of the true spirit with yourself, and fully master yourself and your true self.

Thoughts flashed through his mind, then he entered a state of complete tranquility. (End of Chapter)