NOVEL WEB 1.10 Thick Faces are the norm~
Ning peered down at the massive boar sprawled before him. Its size far surpassed that of the typical boars found on Earth, easily dwarfing any ordinary human. Yet, despite its imposing stature, the boar posed little threat to Ning.
A small wound marred its hide, rendering the creature temporarily incapacitated. Ning reached into his satchel, retrieving a notebook and a pen. He carefully jotted down the pertinent details of his observations, documenting his research for future reference.
Based on his findings and prior research, Ning deduced that the boar would remain incapacitated for approximately ten minutes before gradually regaining control of its body.
Ning was currently testing the poisonous effect of the Poisonous Lily, and the results were just as he had suspected. Poisonous lilies were a type of paralyzing poison, similar to the ones used by native South Americans in their blowguns or arrows for hunting prey.
For his experiments, he employed various methods to test its limits. The poison acted only upon entering the bloodstream of a creature. It took effect immediately upon contact with a wound and could even be dispersed as a gas, showcasing its versatility. Unfortunately, this particular lily only affected those in the early stages of Qi condensation. Nonetheless, Ning was already content. He had acquired another trump card up his sleeve.
Upon concluding his experiment, Ning released the boar, setting it free. He carefully used gloves to handle the remaining lilies, considering their paralyzing nature.
The only precaution he needed to take was to avoid getting scratched. Other than that, there were no issues, even if consumed. Not that he had any intention of doing so.
After meticulously covering his traces, Ning swiftly employed the shadow steps, vanishing as if he had never been present there.
...
For the next few weeks, Ning settled into a routine of dedicated cultivation, devoting himself to his practice day in and day out. As a result, even his panel began to reflect his progress and changes.
[
Name: Ji Ning
Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Spiritual Root.
Attributes: Five Elemental Attributes
Talent: Extreme Space-Time Sensitivity
Realm: Great Circle of 1st Stage of Qi Condensation
Cultivation Method: Pure Qi Sutra (1st Floor:49/100)
Martial Arts: Bone Forging Fist (Small Accomplishment: 113/400), Shadow Steps (Small Accomplishment:212/400), Turtle Breathing (Small Accomplishment:102/400)
]
The most significant improvement was in the Turtle Breathing Technique. Over the past few weeks, Ning had undertaken numerous missions, many of which involved foraging and gathering various materials within the confines of the Blue Snake Forest.
The Turtle Breathing Technique proved to be invaluable to the mission, almost akin to a cheat code. By exercising caution and refraining from provoking powerful beasts, Ning could freely navigate the forest and collect a plethora of valuable items. This favorable situation allowed him to dedicate substantial time and effort to refining the Turtle Breathing Technique, causing it to progress at an impressive rate. It even seemed to have faintly caught up to his bone-forging fist.
The next notable improvement was in the Shadow Steps technique, as it was used in conjunction with the Turtle Breathing. It would probably be his first martial art to reach great accomplishment at this rate.
Looking at the panel, it appeared that the Bone Forging Fist had been somewhat neglected. Ning had never truly engaged in a fair fight with the beasts he had encountered, as he deliberately avoided most confrontations.
Of course, Ning didn't neglect to train in the Bone Forging Fist technique. Every day, before his cultivation session, he dedicated himself to performing the precise set of movements, pushing his body to the point of exhaustion. He discovered that this rigorous training had an unexpected benefit—it enhanced his cultivation speed. By conditioning his body through intense physical exertion, his Qi absorption rate increased, allowing him to replenish his depleted Qi more efficiently. This was also one of the reasons why he reached the Great Circle of 1st stage quite quickly.
In a rare occurrence today, Ning ventured out of his secluded cave and found himself amidst a bustling market. It was a small-scale market that opened once every month, where the outer sect disciples gathered to trade various goods. Unlike the official market organized by the sect, this one was established by the disciples themselves, allowing for more flexible transactions.
The exchange hall within the sect has a no-bargain rule, so many disciples purchase resources from these small markets.
As Ning strolled through the lively market, his ears caught the enthusiastic cries of the disciples, each vying to attract potential buyers to their stalls.
"Behold! Feathers of the majestic Flamingo! A rare and coveted ingredient for fire practitioners. Get them now, only 5 spirit stones!" one disciple called out, showcasing a bundle of vibrant, fiery feathers.
"This brother, look at Cloud Pine Sword. Don't be fooled by its normal appearance, I am telling you this sword is virtually famous in the Eastern Region. I can see that your forehead is shining brightly, this sword must be destined for you."
"Sister, your beautiful appearance can only be matched by this dress made from the dragon silkworm. This is a high-grade material, it is very smooth... This handsome senior brother, do you want this dress for your lover? This dress is perfect as a gift -eh, you are single? Poor you~"
The senior brother, "...."
"Hair Growing Pill! Hair Growing Pill! This is the newest pill made by a renowned alchemist. This brother, I can see that you are growing bald, your exquisite temperament would be further pronounced with long smooth hair. Once you take this pill, a dragon among men will be born~"
"...I am sorry. This bald head is just a wig."
"?!?"
...
"Meditation incense! Increases speed of cultivation. Limited numbers left."
Ning stopped at the stall and shifted his attention to the array of meditation incense displayed on the mat. The slender, black incense sticks exuded a sweet aroma.
As Ning observed the products, the outer sect disciple swiftly approached him, his eyes gleaming with excitement. With a friendly smile, he began his sales pitch, his words filled with conviction. "Ah, Junior Brother, you have an astute eye! These meditation incense sticks are all meticulously crafted by a renowned elder from our outer sect. I can see that you are currently at the first stage of Qi condensation, and let me assure you, this meditation incense will be of great use to you. Seeing that you are quite pleasing to the eye, I'm willing to sell you a bundle of these incense sticks for just 8 spirit stones."
Listening to the disciple, Ning's lips couldn't help but twitch and he interjected, "Brother, I may be new to cultivation but I am not stupid. These incense sticks seem to be of subpar quality, as some of them are already withering. It would be akin to robbery if you expect me to pay eight spirit stones for them."
The disciple's expression turned slightly awkward, realizing that his promotional efforts had fallen flat. He attempted to salvage the situation by offering an explanation. "Ah, now that you mention it, it was true. You, my brother, have very keen eyes, I truly admire it. How about I sell you the bundle for 4 spirit stones?"
The disciple was shameless, even when told to the face that his product was a ruse, he maintained a straight face and continued his sale. Looking at this, Ning was speechless.
Truly, cultivators must have thick faces, no wonder there is so much face-slapping going on. It seems he still has much to learn...
...
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