Beginning with the Five Animals Fist to Become a Saint

Chapter 706 Breaking Limits Again!

Above the capital.

The starlight twinkled from time to time.

Inside the Imperial Preceptor's residence, the courtyard where Jiang Ning was located was quiet. Su Qingying, dressed in a light blue dress, looked at Jiang Ning with sparkling eyes.

suddenly.

Jiang Ning opened his eyes.

hum-

A deep sword cry suddenly echoed in the void.

An invisible sword intent burst forth from his body.

"What a pity!" He shook his head inwardly as he looked at his current stats.

[Source Energy]: 138585
[Skill]: Seven Star Demon-Subduing Sword (8 times breaking limits 433/9000) (Trait: Turning Misfortune into Good Fortune (Light Purple↑))
With the breakthrough of the Seven Star Demon-Subduing Sword, the resulting enhancement of its characteristics this time focused on the "turning misfortune into good fortune" effect, which had no substantial effect.

This made him secretly feel regretful.

His swordsmanship talent did not improve again despite the breakthrough in the Seven Star Demon-Subduing Sword technique.

"But it's alright! At least we didn't lose money!"

He comforted himself for a moment, then closed the panel.

"Congratulations, sir! You've made another breakthrough in swordsmanship!" Su Qingying saw Jiang Ning come back to his senses and immediately stepped forward to congratulate him.

"Congratulations are certainly in order!" Jiang Ning smiled.

Then he raised his hand: "I've got something for you!"

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Su Qingying's eyes flickered slightly, revealing a hint of curiosity.

She opened her palm; her slender fingers were small and delicate, showing no signs of someone who had been wielding a sword for a long time.

Jiang Ning then placed his palm on her hand, and when Jiang Ning raised his hand, a look of surprise flashed in Su Qingying's eyes.

"Do you recognize this?" Jiang Ning asked Su Qingying.

At this moment, in Su Qingying's palm, there was a withered seed, no bigger than a soybean.

"This is... a withered sword seed?!" Su Qingying looked at her palm, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if she couldn't believe it.

Then, she looked up at Jiang Ning.

"My lord, this item is precious! If you possess the Spring of Life, you could soak this sword seed in it and give it a chance to regain its vitality."

"What good would it do to restore vitality?" Jiang Ning asked.

"With this sword seed restored, those without immortal roots can embark on the path of sword cultivation. Those with immortal roots can have both paths," Su Qingying replied.

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Qingying handed the sword seed back to Jiang Ning.

"I don't know where you obtained this sword seed from, sir! But it is extremely precious, so please take it back!"

"Take it! I don't need it!" Jiang Ning shook his head.

Their eyes met, and Su Qingying slowly nodded: "Okay!"

As she responded, a flash of light appeared in her hand, and the sword seed disappeared from her grasp.

"A spatial storage item!" The thought flashed through Jiang Ning's mind.

His gaze fell on the azure bracelet on Su Qingying's wrist.

"Does Your Excellency intend to continue your cultivation?" Su Qingying asked again.

"No!" Jiang Ning shook his head, then looked up at the sky above, where the warm sun was about to hang high in the sky.

“How about we go out and have a stroll together?” he asked again.

"Okay!" Su Qingying nodded immediately, her eyes bright, and said, "I need to change my clothes first!"

“Okay! I’ll wait for you here!” Jiang Ning nodded.

Qionglou.

"It's been a long time since I've come out for some fresh air." Jiang Ning sat by the window on the second floor, watching the bustling crowds and traffic on Zhuque Street outside, a faint smile on his face.

“If you like, sir, I can accompany you out for walks often!” Su Qingying said.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning's gaze shifted from looking out the window to Su Qingying.

At this moment, Su Qingying was dressed in a plain white dress, just like when they first met.

"Let's go for a walk later! I haven't really seen the sights of the capital yet."

"Okay!" Su Qingying nodded.

at this time.

The conversation taking place on the second floor suddenly caught Jiang Ning's attention.

"Brother Xu, have you been invited to the Lin Yuan gathering tonight?"

“That’s natural!” the young man’s voice rang out.

Jiang Ning glanced over and saw a smug look on the young man's face.

He noticed Jiang Ning's gaze and his expression was filled with pride.

"Look, this is the invitation to the Lin Yuan Gathering." As he spoke, the young man took an invitation out of his pocket.

"Brother Xu is truly amazing!" His tablemate exclaimed in quiet admiration.

Jiang Ning glanced over it, then looked away.

That invitation was different from the one Ji Minghao had given him.

"Brother Xu, won't you be able to meet Wan Jianyi, the number one on the Heavenly Ranking, tonight?!"

“As long as Wan Jian makes an appearance, we will definitely see him! Besides, I have a slight connection with Brother Wan before.”

"I never imagined that Brother Xu had such a wide circle of friends, even Wan Jianyi is a good friend of yours."

"Not only Wan Jianyi, but I also had a Zen discussion with Master Mingxin before."

"Brother Xu, did you win?"

“Of course not!” The young man shook his head and said frankly, “Master Mingxin is such a person, his Buddhist teachings are so profound that they are astonishing! I was defeated by him.”

“Brother Xu is also quite remarkable. The fact that he can discuss Zen with Master Mingxin proves that Brother Xu and Master Mingxin are equals.”

"By the way, I wonder if Brother Xu has ever seen Jiang Ning from Dongling County? This person is quite mysterious. He appeared in the Dao Palace Library before, but there has been no news of him since then."

"Jiangning?" The young man smiled faintly. "Of course I've seen him before."

"Seen?"

"Yes, I've met him!" The young man nodded, then continued, "We've even fought each other."

Jiang Ning: "."

Hearing this, he was speechless.

He thought the young man was very knowledgeable and wanted to hear his thoughts on those young prodigies.

Only now do I realize that this young man was spouting complete nonsense.

When did I ever fight him?
"What was the result?" The person at the other table asked with great interest after hearing Xu's words.

"I lost by half a move! Jiang Ning from Dongling County is indeed a top-ranked expert on the Heavenly Ranking. He has a solid foundation and is very strong, even stronger than those recorded on the Heavenly Ranking."

“Brother Xu is also very strong. Jiang Ning from Dongling County is the most famous person in recent years, ranking fourth on the Heavenly Ranking. Brother Xu was defeated by half a move, which is enough to show that Brother Xu’s strength is even stronger than it appears.”

Upon hearing this, the young man laughed heartily.

"You always have to hide some of your shortcomings."

Afterwards, the young man, upon hearing the compliments and praise from his tablemate, appeared quite pleased with himself.

Jiang Ning lost interest in listening any further.

the other side.

The south gate of the capital city.

"This is the capital!!" Jiang Li stepped out of the carriage, looking exhausted.

But when he saw the towering, seemingly endless city walls ahead, his eyes gleamed with a bright light.

"Brother Li, shouldn't we go into the city first, find a place to settle down, and then write a letter to Aning to let her know we're safe?" Liu Wanwan stood next to Jiang Li.

The hairpin on her head swayed slightly.

She glanced at the towering city wall ahead, then looked at Jiang Li's resolute profile, a light seemingly shining in her eyes.

Noticing Liu Wanwan's gaze, Jiang Li turned her head and looked to the side, then smiled gently.

"That's right! But there's no need to find a place to settle down. My brother said we can go directly to the Imperial Preceptor's residence!"

"Will this work?" Liu Wanwan asked hesitantly. Along the way, they inquired and learned a lot about the capital.

They were fully aware of the Grand Preceptor's status in the capital.

The Imperial Preceptor's residence was a place where idlers were strictly forbidden from approaching; it was the secluded retreat of the Great Xia Imperial Preceptor.

“Since my brother has said so, then there’s definitely no problem!” Jiang Li said.

"Alright, then I'll follow Brother Li's arrangements!" Liu Wanwan nodded obediently.

After a while.

The city gate.

"From Dongling City?" The city guard took the travel permit and looked up at Jiang Li.

“Yes!” Jiang Li nodded repeatedly, then handed over the bronze plaque for “Shangjing Pass”.

The city guard took the bronze plaque, glanced at it casually, and then handed it back to Jiang Li.

Then, he glanced at the two carriages behind Jiang Li.

What's in the car?

“Family members, and some supplies,” Jiang Li said.

"We need to check, is everything alright?" the city guard asked again.

“No problem!” Jiang Li nodded, knowing that this was the rule for entering the city.

Seeing Jiang Li's cooperation, the soldier guarding the city remained expressionless, and then casually asked, "What's your name?"

"Jiang Li."

"Jiang Li?" The city guards suddenly stopped and looked at Jiang Li with surprise.

"Sir, is there a problem?" Jiang Li looked at the soldiers guarding the city and felt uneasy.

"Are you from Dongling County?" the city guard asked again.

“It’s from Dongling City, which belongs to Dongling Prefecture,” Jiang Li corrected.

"It matches up!" the city guard muttered.

Then he looked at Jiang Li and said, "Could you please wait here for a moment?"

After saying those words, he turned and ran into the small house in the middle of the city wall.

"Brother Li, what's going on?" Liu Wanwan, sitting in the carriage, lifted the curtain and peeked out to ask.

"It's still unclear!" Jiang Li shook his head.

Just then, he saw a general wearing red scale armor emerge from a small house in the middle of the city wall.

"Greetings, General!" Jiang Li said respectfully as the man in red scale armor approached.

"Show me your travel permit," the man in red scales said.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li handed over the travel permit in her hand.

"Dongling County, Dongling City!" The man in red scale armor murmured, looking at the travel permit in his hand. Then he looked up at Jiang Li and asked, "Your surname is Jiang, and your given name is Li?"

“Yes!” Jiang Li nodded.

"Your wife's surname is Liu, and her given name is Wanwan?" the man in red scales asked again.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li looked surprised, then slowly nodded: "Yes."

"That matches up!" The man in red scales nodded with a smile.

His expression immediately became respectful: "Brother Jiang Li, please wait a moment at the city gate. I will send someone to the Imperial Preceptor's residence to invite Miss Qinghe over."

The Imperial Preceptor's Residence?
He looked somewhat surprised upon hearing those three words.

He immediately realized that this was an arrangement Jiang Ning had made long ago.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, General!" Jiang Li said, expressing his gratitude.

"No trouble at all! No trouble at all!" The man in red scales waved his hand. "It's just a small matter."

As he spoke, he gave a wink.

The soldiers guarding the city immediately walked towards the troops behind Jiang Li.

Subsequently, the side gate where Jiang Li was located was closed, and the long queue behind him was also directed to the side.

"Brother Jiang Li, please wait here for a moment while Miss Qinghe from the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion arrives."

"That feels so good!" Jiang Ning rubbed his stomach, looking satisfied.

"My lord, the food here tastes pretty good!" Su Qingying also secretly touched her protruding belly.

"It's really good!" Jiang Ning nodded. "I'll bookmark this and come back to try other dishes next time."

"My lord, what is a mark?" Su Qingying asked, looking puzzled.

"That's not important!" Jiang Ning waved his hand and then stood up.

Seeing this, Su Qingying also stood up.

Two striking figures, one tall and one short, walked down the aisle, instantly attracting the attention of many guests on the second floor.

"That's... the Imperial Advisor!!!"

"And Jiangning!!!"

At the table where they had just been talking, someone immediately recognized Jiang Ning and Su Qingying.

"I see!!"

"Understand what?"

"Now I understand why Jiang Ning from Dongling County hasn't shown up for so long. He must have been valued by the Imperial Preceptor and taken under his wing for personal instruction."

"If it's really as you say, then that's truly enviable."

"That must be the case, otherwise why would Jiang Ning come out with the Grand Preceptor to dine at Qionglou?"

"That's not right!" Just then, a young man at the table spoke up.

"Brother Li, what's wrong?"

"The two walked one in front of the other, with Jiang Ning in front and the Grand Preceptor behind. It was clear that Jiang Ning was the one in charge."

"Brother Li, you're overthinking it! A figure like the Imperial Preceptor wouldn't concern himself with worldly etiquette! Besides, who is the Imperial Preceptor? How could he possibly become an appendage of this Jiang Inspector?"

As the group talked, the two disappeared from their sight down the stairs.

The two of them came down the stairs.

“Next time we go out, we’ll have to cover up our appearance!” Jiang Ning said.

He figured it out after going out today.

Although he had not been active in the capital, many people had already recognized him.

“Whatever the master says, that’s what we’ll do!” Su Qingying said.

As they spoke, the two walked down the wooden staircase to the lobby on the first floor.

Then, passing through the corridor in the hall, one arrives outside the magnificent building.

The midday sun shines down from above, casting a dazzling white light on the ground.

"How lively!" Jiang Ning sighed as he looked at the bustling street ahead, where men and women with floral umbrellas were still coming and going.

“This is the most bustling side street of the entire Suzaku Avenue, so it’s naturally very lively!” Su Qingying said, then added, “Moreover, there should be a temple fair today!”

"I see!" Jiang Ning nodded.

He knew that in this era lacking entertainment, any interesting event like a temple fair would inevitably attract a large number of men and women to join in the fun.

Furthermore, the military examination has not yet begun, and the people from various prefectures and states are still in the capital.

"My lord, shall we go and take a look?" Su Qingying asked.

"No!" Jiang Ning shook his head: "I'll just wander around for a bit and then go back! I'm not entitled to enjoy myself yet."

"Why does Your Excellency feel such urgency?" Su Qingying asked.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning looked in the direction of Dongling County.

Lin Qingyi came to mind again, as did the Prince of Yizi, and he realized that he had been drawn into the vortex of the princes' struggle for the throne.

None of these things are things he can solve with his current strength.

And as time goes by, everything becomes more urgent.

Unable to escape, we have no choice but to confront it head-on.

(End of this chapter)