On a deserted island, Jiang Ning stood on a reef and glanced at his panel.
[Divinity]: 4
[Authority]: Flesh and Blood Regeneration (Half-Deficient 13.12%), Divine Scion (Fragment, Extremely Deficient)
He still had four points of divinity, and the Flesh and Blood Regeneration authority had further evolved from its previous state of being deficient to now being half-deficient.
His gaze then fell upon the Divine Scion.
Add Points!
As his mind moved, a prompt immediately appeared before him.
[The Divine Scion authority is too fragmented to be restored with divinity.]
Seeing this, Jiang Ning shook his head slightly.
Then, he added more points.
The four points of divinity instantly vanished.
The Flesh and Blood Regeneration authority advanced further.
[Authority]: Flesh and Blood Regeneration (Half-Deficient 13.12%), Divine Scion (Fragment, Extremely Deficient)
"Still need around eighty to ninety points of divinity!"
After doing some quick calculations, Jiang Ning shook his head.
A single severed finger from the God of Flesh had only yielded five points of divinity.
The idol enshrined in the City God Temple had only provided one point of divinity.
Even the golden box containing a godly statue nurtured with the blood of a hundred spirits had only granted him five points of divinity.
Eighty to ninety points…
That would require slaying a god to achieve.
[Divine Scion]: The blessing of flesh enhances the physical progress of a Scion, allowing control over divine Scions. (Note: This authority is extremely deficient, and its effect is weak. Additional fragments must be collected from other deities.)
After glancing at the description of Divine Scion, he closed the panel.
"Weak effect still means it has an effect!"
"If that's the case, I should test it on someone!"
With his decision made, a smile appeared on his face.
"This harvest is quite good!"
He then set off, preparing for his return.
After a long while, he arrived back at the rocky shore.
Turning to look in the direction of the deserted island, he slowly withdrew his gaze.
No one knew that in the depths of Luo River Lake, a battle of the pinnacle had just taken place.
Two Fifth-Grade Internal Strength Realm martial artists from the Worshipers Sect had perished in the depths of the lake.
Either one of them, if placed in the county, would have been an absolute powerhouse.
Even Hong Minghu, the country's most powerful martial artist, might not have been able to defeat just one of them.
These two Fifth-Grade martial artists were Divine Scions of the God of Flesh. Once they transformed, they were invincible below the peak of the Fifth Grade.
Jiang Ning now knew that after this battle, he had become the strongest in Luo County.
Even if Hong Minghu came, he wouldn't be his match.
He had slain the Six-Armed Divine Scion, the Wind God Emissary of the Worshipers Sect, and forced the Star Guardian to willingly offer his neck.
How could Hong Minghu possibly be stronger?
Suddenly, a figure surfaced in his mind.
That elderly woman from the Surveillance Bureau's Internal Affairs Division the one whom Hong Minghu respectfully called White Granny.
"Perhaps… she is the strongest!"
Jiang Ning murmured to himself.
Then, he chuckled.
"First place, second place it doesn't matter."
"What matters is that my strength has advanced significantly!"
"Below the peak of the Fifth Grade, I am unbeatable!"
"In my domain, even the peak of the Fifth Grade cannot threaten me!"
After this battle, Jiang Ning was filled with confidence.
Especially when fighting underwater, where he was in his element.
Even if a Fifth-Grade Internal Strength Realm warrior unleashed their inner energy to withstand water pressure, they would still be severely restricted by the currents.
This gave Jiang Ning a tremendous geographical advantage.
As for whether he could defeat a peak Fifth-Grade warrior underwater, he wasn't entirely certain.
After all, he had only ever encountered one such individual Lu Qingshan, the master of Medicine King Valley.
Lu Qingshan was a peak Fifth-Grade martial artist renowned throughout Dongling Prefecture.
Across the entire Dongling Prefecture, only about ten people were stronger than him.
As for Martial Grandmasters, according to the Surveillance Bureau's intelligence, there was only one Grandmaster in all of Dongling Prefecture.
Such elusive figures were not worth worrying about.
The real concern was peak Fifth-Grade experts.
In Jiang Ning's view, if the Qinghe Marquis' Mansion truly wanted him dead, the strongest warrior they could realistically send would be someone at the peak of the Fifth Grade.
As for those above the Fifth Rank...
Nowadays, the Qinghe Marquis Manor has long since declined.
To invite such a figure would require an enormous cost in both favors and resources.
Even though his killing of He Jinyun was an undeniable fact, it was highly unlikely that such a figure would be called upon.
The most probable opponent he would face would be a Fifth Rank Peak expert.
As for Fifth Rank Peak, Jiang Ning had never personally witnessed such a master in action. He had no concrete understanding of their actual strength.
He only knew a few things from written records.
"A single strike can cut down a thousand troops!"
If this statement were true, it would describe the terrifying destructive power of a Fifth Rank Peak expert.
A thousand armored warriors wielding sharp weapons, when spread out on the battlefield, would cover at least two or three hundred meters.
The phrase "a single strike" did not refer to a mere breath but rather a single sword energy attack.
One sword strike that could extend over two or three hundred meters, cutting down a thousand armored soldiers who were, in essence, like iron-clad warriors, their skin as tough as bronze due to their martial training.
Such warriors, if placed in Jiang Ning's previous world, would require a barrage of gunfire to take down.
Yet before a Fifth Rank Peak expert, they could be slaughtered in a single stroke.
Every time Jiang Ning recalled this description, he found it difficult to believe.
Especially after fighting two powerful martial artists who were just below the Fifth Rank Peak today, he found it even more astonishing.
Could a single step truly make such a vast difference?
Or perhaps, "A single strike to cut down a thousand troops" was not something that every Fifth Rank Peak expert could achieve?
Or maybe, condensing Inner Breath into True Qi was not yet the true threshold of Fifth Rank Peak?
After pondering for a while, Jiang Ning thought to himself:
"No, this won't do!"
"Once the new year passes and the Inspection Bureau resumes work, I must get promoted and gain more authority!"
"I know far too little about the Fifth Rank and those above it!"
"Besides, by the time the Inspection Bureau reopens, I should be close to forging my Jade Bones."
"At that point, my Bone Tempering stage will be near completion."
"As for achieving the Martial Saint's Divine Bones, I will need the Heaven's Firm Yang and the Earth's Nether Yin."
"These two materials even Lin Qingyi has never heard of them, nor does she have any leads!"
Jiang Ning shook his head.
For now, he could only rely on Lin Qingyi, hoping that she could use Wan Hua Pavilion's vast intelligence network to find any information regarding Heaven's Firm Yang and Earth's Nether Yin.
Whether or not she could find them was uncertain Jiang Ning did not hold high hopes.
Afterward, he leaped over the tall courtyard wall and returned home.
"Young Master!"
Seeing Jiang Ning suddenly appear before her, Lü Yi was startled.
Jiang Ning smiled in response.
The next moment, his gaze became serious as he looked at the young woman in front of him dressed in a green skirt, draped in a white rabbit fur cloak, clearly just finished tidying his room and had walked out.
"Why is Young Master looking at me like that?" Lü Yi pursed her lips slightly, appearing a little nervous.
Jiang Ning asked, "Do you want to learn martial arts?"
Lü Yi was momentarily stunned.
Then she immediately nodded vigorously.
"Yes!"
"Good!" Jiang Ning nodded slightly before continuing, "Follow me!"
With those words, he turned and walked toward his room.
Lü Yi quickly followed behind.
After opening the door and stepping inside, Jiang Ning walked to the other side of the room and opened the window to allow fresh air in.
Once he had completed these preparations, he turned to face Lü Yi.
At this moment, Lü Yi had already removed her white rabbit fur cloak and hung it on the wall beside her.
Though she was wearing a dress, its inner lining was made of warm, soft fur.
This alone showed that Lü Yi had lived well at Wan Hua Pavilion.
Much better than an ordinary person.
In the Great Xia Dynasty an era resembling ancient times, especially one at the decline of an empire, where commoners suffered hardships life was harsh.
Ordinary folks could not afford fur-lined garments.
Let alone such finely crafted, expensive dresses.
A winter dress with a warm inner lining, in this era, would cost at least several dozen taels of silver.
And a single tael of silver was enough to feed a family of three for a month.
This demonstrated that Lü Yi's living conditions at Wan Hua Pavilion were already on par with those of the upper class.
Jiang Ning then turned his gaze back to Lü Yi.
Earlier, he had already decided to find someone to test his newly acquired authority Divine's Scion.
According to what he knew, within the Worshipers Sect, followers who received the blessing of the Flesh God were given divine flesh to consume.
By doing so, they could enhance their physical strength. The stronger their body became, the faster their martial arts progress advanced.
The idea of "rapid martial advancement" would no longer be just a fantasy.
Some devotees, after receiving enough blessings, even gained the ability to transform achieving the so-called Divine Scion Form.
And today, by absorbing that severed divine finger, Jiang Ning had gained a similar authority.
Divine's Scion.
[Divine's Scion]: Grants the Flesh Blessing, allowing one to enhance the physical progress of chosen followers. Through this, the wielder gains control over their Divine Scion followers.
(Note: This authority is extremely incomplete, its effects are weak. Further fragments must be collected from other deities.)
Although the description indicated that what he obtained was merely a fragment, it still had some effect.
Jiang Ning wanted to test just how effective it was.
Seeing Lü Yi, he decided she would be the first test subject.
After all, Lü Yi had been by his side, attending to his daily needs.
With prolonged contact, she was bound to learn some of his secrets.
If he could turn Lü Yi into his follower, it would make things much more secure.
At the same time, it would also allow her to walk the martial path.
As Jiang Ning's power continued to grow, an ordinary person would not be suitable to remain by his side.
The next moment
A knife suddenly appeared in Jiang Ning's hand.
The cold gleam of the blade reflected throughout the room.
Lü Yi instinctively shrank back, her body reacting to the sharpness of the blade.
She then looked at Jiang Ning in confusion.
At that instant
Jiang Ning pressed the blade against his wrist.
"Young Master, what are you doing?" Lü Yi hurriedly reached out to grab his arm.
She pursed her lips, furrowed her brows, and shook her head repeatedly as she looked at him with concerned eyes.
Jiang Ning could feel her slender fingers gripping his arm tightly, the tension in her tendons evident, her fingertips turning pale from the pressure.
From Lü Yi's anxious expression, he could sense her concern for him.
He smiled.
"No need to worry!"
Hearing Jiang Ning's reassuring words, Lü Yi slowly loosened her grip on his arm.
The bloodless fingers regained their color as circulation returned.
Then
Under Lü Yi's astonished gaze
Jiang Ning slashed his wrist with the blade he held.
Blood immediately gushed from the severed vein.
However, the wound five centimeters long began to heal at an astonishing speed.
Within just two or three breaths, the cut that had severed his vein had completely closed, and the blood that had spilled out now floated silently an inch above his wrist.
The blood gathered into a small cluster, about ten drops in total.
Seeing this, Jiang Ning put away his spirit weapon and looked at Lü Yi.
At that moment, Lü Yi's eyes were wide open, her mouth slightly agape completely stunned.
"Open your mouth," Jiang Ning said.
Upon hearing this
"Ah… ah…" Lü Yi immediately closed her eyes, raised her chin slightly, and obediently opened her mouth.
"…Why does this feel strangely suggestive?" Jiang Ning couldn't help but complain inwardly.
Then, with a mere thought
The cluster of blood floating above his wrist shot into Lü Yi's mouth.
"Swallow it," Jiang Ning commanded.
Hearing his words, Lü Yi's throat moved.
Then, she stuck out her tongue slightly.
Seeing Jiang Ning's puzzled expression, she quickly explained, "It's… hot!"
As soon as she spoke, her face flushed red.
Her complexion rapidly turned crimson.
Tiny beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
"Master, I feel so hot… It's uncomfortable!" Lü Yi tugged at the collar of her dress, letting the cold wind from the open window flow in to cool her down.
Seeing this
"It must be taking effect," Jiang Ning thought to himself.
"Master, it's still so hot!" Lü Yi continued tugging at her collar, fanning herself, her face now completely red as she looked at Jiang Ning.
At this, Jiang Ning suddenly expanded his mental field.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The windows around the room flew open, and the door swung wide.
Outside, the howling wind carried thick snowfall.
With the room now fully ventilated from north to south
Cold air mixed with snowflakes surged into the room.
The clothes on both of them fluttered violently in the frigid wind.
Jiang Ning instantly felt the temperature drop by at least five degrees, plunging below freezing.
"Does that feel better?" Jiang Ning asked.
Lü Yi still shook her head with an expression of discomfort.
"It's still too hot!"
Then, she looked at Jiang Ning with pleading eyes.
"Master, can I take off my outer dress?"
"This dress is too thick!"
Jiang Ning hesitated for a moment as he looked at Lü Yi's delicate figure, then nodded.
"You may."
Hearing his approval, Lü Yi untied the silk belt around her waist.
A few breaths later
The thick winter dress slid off her shoulders, revealing a white inner top and long pants.
The top was form-fitting, outlining the girl's graceful figure.
To become a maid in Wan Hua Pavilion to sell oneself to such a place one's appearance and posture had to be of the highest quality.
Every maid was trained from a young age in etiquette, poetry, and literature, ensuring they exuded elegance and refinement.
Thus, despite being born into an ordinary family, Lü Yi possessed exceptional literary knowledge, elegant manners, and a well-groomed physique.
"It's still a bit hot…" Lü Yi looked at Jiang Ning pitifully.
Seeing this, Jiang Ning said, "You can remove the outer layer as well."
Through the thin white top, he could faintly see a hint of green underneath.
This meant she was still wearing another layer beneath.
Looking at the scene before him, he found it surprisingly ordinary.
Moments that might seem suggestive
He had seen countless times online in his previous life.
However
Jiang Ning still found himself admiring the sight before him for a moment.
He had to admit he had underestimated the difference between seeing something through a screen and experiencing it firsthand.
Especially with Lü Yi's graceful demeanor, untainted by any vulgarity or artificial charm.
She fit this elegant attire perfectly.
Then
Jiang Ning closed his eyes.
He sensed something shifting within Lü Yi.
With his eyes shut, freed from external distractions, he could perceive the change even more clearly.
Within the boundless darkness of his mind
He saw a small point of light appearing a meter in front of him.
With a slight shift in his consciousness, he focused his mind on that tiny light.
In an instant
He sensed an imprint a mark that existed within Lü Yi's mind.
Touching the imprint, he suddenly felt Lü Yi's burning admiration for him
Her fervent emotions
And some inexplicable feelings mixed in.
Then
From touching the imprint, he instinctively understood what it was
It was the Divine Scion Mark.
Through this mark, he could perceive his Divine Scion's general emotions
He could also withdraw the divine power within her reclaiming his bestowed strength.
And if he wished he could shatter the imprint, fully restoring her freedom.
The strength he had given her would remain hers forever, no longer tied to him.
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