The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

Chapter 168: I can't take it anymore!

Jiang Ning seemed to understand what he was hearing, nodded, and said nothing more.

What stage are you at in your training?

Yue Buqun suddenly asked.

Jiang Ning snapped out of his daze and said, "We're almost at the bottleneck."

After months of focused practice on the mountain, Jiang Ning's internal strength has been steadily increasing. His internal injuries have completely healed, and his physical condition is constantly improving under the daily tempering of his innate skill. The most direct manifestation of this is that his hearing and vision are getting stronger and stronger, and he can see many things more clearly, especially the tiny grains of sand floating in the air, which are clearly visible to him at times.

His hearing, in particular, became increasingly sensitive; after that night's battle, his hearing was more terrifying than his sight.

However, his training efficiency has gradually slowed down in the past few days. His body is like a container that is about to be filled, and his internal energy is growing more and more slowly. Based on Jiang Ning's previous experience, he knew that he was about to enter a bottleneck period.

In about two or three months, he will enter the bottleneck period of the third stage.

"..."

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Yue Buqun couldn't help but be startled.

According to his calculations, Jiangning should not reach the bottleneck period until next year, but he did not expect it to happen so early, several months earlier than he predicted.

"That's really unreasonable."

Yue Buqun couldn't help but make a comment.

Keep in mind that when he was eighteen, he was only a third-rate disciple of Mount Hua, while Jiang Ning was already a first-rate master.

He couldn't understand the other party's growth trajectory. After obtaining the Innate Skill, his skills soared all the way up. At this age, his martial arts had already surpassed most people in the martial arts world, and even some famous seniors.

"Sometimes it's not a bad thing to slow down a bit and not put too much pressure on yourself."

Yue Buqun originally wanted to remind Jiang Ning not to slack off, but after hearing about Jiang Ning's current progress, he paused for a long time before saying this.

"Yes, Master."

Jiang Ning smiled and said.

……

"drink!"

"what!"

Cliff of Repentance.

Linghu Chong held his longsword and practiced his swordsmanship in the open space in front of the Thinking Cliff. His movements were sometimes graceful and sometimes sharp, and his longsword danced in the air, creating streaks of sword shadows.

call out!

A burst of sword energy erupted from the sword and shot straight towards a large tree in the distance, snapping it in half with a loud bang.

"It's done!"

Linghu Chong's eyes lit up with delight upon seeing this.

For the past few months, he has been practicing the Zixia Divine Skill to enhance his internal strength, and he has also been practicing the Five Mountains Sword Technique to achieve mastery of it. The move he just made was the result of his efforts over this period of time.

In the past, his sword energy could only travel a short distance, but now it can reach such a great distance, estimated to be nearly twenty meters, and its power is not weak. This means that his internal strength and swordsmanship have made great progress.

"As expected, practicing on the Cliff of Contemplation is peaceful and quiet, and my martial arts have improved."

Looking at the results of the past few months, Linghu Chong was overjoyed.

Anyone can become a genius if they can calm their mind and practice.

Linghu Chong's improved martial arts skills made him want to shout loudly, but he held back the next second, covering his mouth and looking around.

Since Feng Qingyang appeared last time and told him to keep quiet, he hasn't shown up again, as if he had never appeared at all. He called out to Feng Qingyang several times during that time, but Feng Qingyang didn't appear, so he gave up and pretended that Feng Qingyang didn't exist, focusing on practicing his skills, but he didn't shout and yell like before.

"We can go down the mountain now!"

Linghu Chong couldn't hide his joy.

He couldn't wait to see Yue Lingshan.

In the past few months, Yue Lingshan wanted to come up the mountain to see him, but he refused. He was afraid that seeing Yue Lingshan would distract him and make him unable to calm down. During this time, Lu Dayou brought him meals every day.

Just thinking about his junior sister's pretty face made Linghu Chong smile.

"Down the mountain! Down the mountain!"

Linghu Chong prepared to pack his things and head down the mountain.

"You think you can go down the mountain after all this training? You're so smug after making a little progress, and you want to be all lovey-dovey with your junior sister. You can't even stand a little loneliness. You're swayed by your feelings for your lover. How will you ever become a master? If your junior sister is really romantic, that's fine. But if she's a deep and calculating person, you'll be led around by someone else for the rest of your life."

Just as Linghu Chong had packed his things and was preparing to go down the mountain, Feng Qingyang, whom he hadn't seen for several months, suddenly reappeared and launched into a tirade of abuse at Linghu Chong.

"Grand Uncle?"

Linghu Chong's face lit up with joy, and he was about to tell Feng Qingyang that he was preparing to go down the mountain, but he was stunned after hearing Feng Qingyang's scolding and couldn't help but feel aggrieved.

“I think that’s about enough. Practicing martial arts is a lifelong endeavor. Although it’s quiet and convenient to practice on the mountain, I can’t stay on the mountain forever.”

"Moreover, I feel that my martial arts skills have improved significantly."

Although Jiang Ning did put a lot of pressure on Linghu Chong, Linghu Chong knew that there were few people in the martial arts world besides Jiang Ning who could have such strength at his age. Moreover, he really missed Yue Lingshan, and he would go crazy if he didn't see her soon.

"Oh?"

Feng Qingyang sneered.

"Big progress? Let me try and see just how much progress you've made in the last few months."

Linghu Chong looked troubled.

"Grandmaster Uncle, I am a junior, this is not appropriate, I dare not make a move."

"Oh."

Feng Qingyang chuckled: "Don't dare to make a move? Weren't you quite swift when you first attacked? I couldn't subdue you no matter what I did. I used every trick in the book, from sneak attacks to provocations, and I didn't see you hesitate to make a move."

Linghu Chong's face flushed red: "Grandmaster Uncle, please don't be offended. At that time, I didn't know your true identity and thought you were being tricked by someone from the Demonic Sect, which is why I fought with you. Now that I know your identity, I naturally wouldn't dare to offend you again."

Feng Qingyang sneered: "Don't talk like that. Do you think I'm too old to beat you? Or are you afraid of getting beaten up by me again like last time?"

"Of course not!"

Linghu Chong argued loudly.

"I……"

"Alright, enough with the nonsense."

Before Linghu Chong could finish speaking, Feng Qingyang waved his hand and said directly, "If you really think you've improved, then prove it to me. Don't end up like last time, getting beaten and begging Grand Uncle to stop hitting me."

Linghu Chong wanted to say something more, but when he heard Feng Qingyang's last words, his face turned red, especially since Feng Qingyang used a mocking tone. Linghu Chong stood up abruptly.

"Since Grandmaster Uncle intends to test my martial arts skills, then I must offend you."

Although begging for forgiveness from one's elders is nothing unusual, Feng Qingyang's words still made him lose his composure.

Feng Qingyang sneered: "Do you always dawdle like this when you fight with others?"

I can't take it anymore!

Linghu Chong's expression darkened, and he thrust his sword forward.

Chapter 169: The Letter

Linghu Chong immediately used the Huashan Swordplay, "Welcoming Guests with Pine Trees".

Feng Qingyang just looked at him calmly, his face expressionless, his hands behind his back, motionless.

After months of diligent practice, Linghu Chong's swordsmanship has become increasingly proficient and swift; this strike was much faster than in the previous months.

"I've made a fool of myself, Grand Uncle!"

Linghu Chong shouted loudly, his movements incredibly swift.

A few months ago, he was hung up and beaten by Feng Qingyang. After these months of hard training, he was confident that even if he couldn't beat him, he wouldn't be beaten as badly as he was a few months ago.

A flash of sword light, and Linghu Chong's eyes blurred; Feng Qingyang, who had been motionless just moments before, had vanished.

"Ok?"

Linghu Chong was startled and was about to look around when a yawn came from not far behind him.

Where are you looking?

Linghu Chong quickly turned his head and saw Feng Qingyang propping his head up with one hand, lying on his side on a rock, looking quite relaxed.

I'm sleepy.

Feng Qingyang looked tired.

Linghu Chong felt his blood rush to his head, his hand trembled, and the tip of his sword pointed upwards, unleashing another white rainbow piercing the sun.

Feng Qingyang rolled over, dodging the sword, then lay flat, pressing Linghu Chong's sword to the ground with his body.

Seeing this, Linghu Chong tried to pull back his sword, but found it was rooted to the spot and he couldn't pull it back no matter what he did.

"You did a pretty good job of making a fool of yourself, but don't do it again next time."

Feng Qingyang chuckled.

Linghu Chong shut his mouth and remained silent; the other party had hurt his pride too much, and he was truly angry.

Linghu Chong exerted force in his arm and pulled his sword back sharply, finally managing to retrieve it. He then continued his offensive, but no matter how he attacked, he couldn't touch Feng Qingyang. Each time, he felt he was just a little bit away from success, but he always fell short by that one little bit.

"So close, so close, why is it always just a little bit short?"

Linghu Chong grew increasingly impatient, and his attacks became haphazard and driven by haste.

Feng Qingyang suddenly raised his leg and kicked Linghu Chong in the chest. Linghu Chong felt a pain in his chest and staggered backward.

"Almost?"

Feng Qingyang stood up and attacked Linghu Chong for the first time, striking with his left hand. Linghu Chong hurriedly defended, but Feng Qingyang was a step ahead, and Linghu Chong's left shoulder was struck, causing him to wince in pain.

Feng Qingyang's movements were incredibly fast, and Linghu Chong could never defend in time. He was always just a hair's breadth away from being hit by Feng Qingyang in multiple parts of his body, causing him pain all over his body.