Chapter 27: The Fierce Tiger Force

Under the moonlight, Jiang Ning began practicing his fist techniques. 

This time, his movements were much slower than usual when performing the Five Animal Forms. 

However, Wang Jin, watching this, was slightly surprised. 

Jiang Ning's muscle fibers were subtly shifting as if mimicking the flow of force that Wang Jin had just demonstrated. 

It was important to note that force, or "Jin," was a power that could only be freely manipulated and unleashed when the Five Animal Forms reached perfection. When applied in physical combat, the destructive power of Jin was immense. 

In certain situations, the level of martial prowess did not necessarily determine actual combat strength. 

A martial artist who had achieved great mastery of Qi and Blood, with it circulating through all four limbs, could, upon mastering Jin, hold their own against a newly ranked martial artist for several rounds without losing ground. 

Moreover, a martial artist who had achieved perfect Qi and Blood circulation throughout their body, once they mastered Jin, could overpower a newly ranked martial artist. 

Additionally, there were those with exceptional natural talents, such as those born with immense strength. With perfect Qi and Blood, they could achieve a strength of a thousand pounds, double that of an ordinary martial artist of the same level. Such individuals could also dominate a ranked martial artist. 

The principle of "overwhelming force defeating skill" was precisely this. 

The birth of Jin could be achieved by mastering any lower-tier martial art to perfection. 

This was also the grading standard for lower-tier martial arts. 

As for the Five Animal Forms, if all five forms were perfected, one could develop the Fierce Tiger Force, White Ape Force, Savage Bear Force, Gray Crane Force, and Spirit Deer Force. 

Among these, the strongest was the Fierce Tiger Force. Once it made contact with an opponent's body, their bones, muscles, and flesh would shatter. 

This was why Wang Jin had specifically captured a live tiger and placed it in a cage for his disciples to observe. He hoped that someone with exceptional comprehension might, in a moment of inspiration, master the Tiger Form to perfection and thus achieve the Fierce Tiger Force. 

A martial artist who had mastered Jin and one who had not were essentially in two different dimensions. 

Earlier, Wang Jin had relied on the various forces of the Five Animal Forms circulating within his body, causing subtle shifts in his muscle fibers, to demonstrate the essence of minor mastery. 

He didn't hold much hope that Jiang Ning would gain any significant insight from this. 

If the Five Animal Forms could be broken through so easily, then in the two or three years he had run the martial hall, he wouldn't have had so few true disciples. 

Most of the students who joined the martial hall would pack up and leave after the six-month period ended. 

At this moment, as Wang Jin was lost in thought, Jiang Ning finished another round of fist techniques. 

[Five Animal Forms Experience +1] 

"How was it?" Wang Jin asked, snapping out of his thoughts. 

"I've gained some insight!" Jiang Ning replied. "I'd like to try again!" 

With that, he took a deep breath and began practicing again. 

This time, he didn't rely on recalling the images in his mind but instead practiced based on his understanding. 

Letting go of preconceptions and building on the insights from his previous practice, Jiang Ning felt something different. 

He seemed to have grasped a glimmer of understanding about the hardness within softness and the softness within hardness. 

The force flowed smoothly, and the explosive power of the Tiger Form after building up momentum gave him a sense of exhilarating release. 

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick. 

Jiang Ning retracted his stance. 

[Five Animal Forms Experience +2] 

[Skill]: Five Animal Forms (Proficient 17/200) 

Seeing this notification. 

"It seems my comprehension is only passable at best. At most, I've grasped a faint hint of the essence of minor mastery!" 

At this moment, Jiang Ning was fully aware that although this round of practice had given him two experience points at once. 

It didn't mean he had truly comprehended the essence of minor mastery in the Five Animal Forms. 

In his estimation, if he had truly grasped the essence of the Five Animal Forms, he would be able to achieve the hardness within softness and softness within hardness of the Tiger Form, the agility within stability of the Bear Form. 

He would also be able to achieve the agility and unpredictability of the Ape Form, the combination of motion and stillness in the Deer Form, and the soaring into the clouds and moving with the heart's intent in the Crane Form. 

If he could achieve these five points, then practicing one round of fist techniques would immediately increase his experience by 185 points, and the Five Animal Forms would instantly reach minor mastery. 

Not like now, where he only gained two experience points. 

"Thinking about this, I'm being a bit greedy!" Jiang Ning mocked himself inwardly. 

His mood shifted to joy. This kind of progress was still good! 

It validated my earlier speculation. Having Wang Jin guide me in the Five Animal Forms, even if I only grasp a faint hint of the essence of minor mastery, would still help increase the efficiency of my experience grinding. 

He clenched his fists, feeling quite excited. 

Although this round of practice only gave him one extra experience point. 

It validated his hypothesis and undoubtedly opened up a new path for him a more efficient way to grind experience points. 

The feeling he had just experienced made him believe that if he could find and stabilize it, the efficiency of grinding experience points would double until the Five Animal Forms reached minor mastery. 

If he could gain insights into other forms, the efficiency of experience gained could increase even further. 

At the same time. 

Wang Jin also nodded slightly. 

He then spoke, "It seems you've gained some insight?" 

Jiang Ning nodded, "A little!" 

Wang Jin said, "Actually, the best way to improve in the Five Animal Forms is to observe the movements and even the fights of tigers, bears, apes, cranes, and deer. After all, this fist technique is derived from the movements and postures of these five animals." 

"In eight days, the tiger in the courtyard will be released to fight. You can go and observe it. This will be of great help to you in the future when you strive to reach major mastery and even perfection in the Tiger Form." 

Hearing this, Jiang Ning's eyes lit up. 

Leaving aside everything else, if he could master the form and spirit of the Tiger Form, the efficiency of grinding experience points for the Five Animal Forms wouldn't just be maintained until minor mastery. 

Even before reaching major mastery, he could gain multiple times the experience points. 

If he could achieve this, then before his Five Animal Forms reached major mastery, each round of practice would give him two experience points, effectively doubling his efficiency. 

However, the increase in experience points didn't translate to an increase in the efficiency of Qi and Blood refinement. 

For example, in the round of practice, he had just completed, although he gained two experience points at once, the amount of Qi and Blood refined wasn't doubled. It was still the same as before, with only two strands of Qi and Blood being refined. 

But that didn't matter. As long as the efficiency of grinding experience points for his fist techniques increased, his breakthroughs would come faster. 

After all, for him, there was no such thing as a bottleneck. As long as he ground enough experience points, he could break through smoothly. 

At the beginner level, one round of the Five Animal Forms could refine one strand of Qi and Blood. At the proficient level, one round could refine two strands, effectively doubling the efficiency. 

It was easy to imagine that after reaching minor mastery, the efficiency of refining Qi and Blood would be even higher. 

As for major mastery, it would also increase the efficiency of refining Qi and Blood. 

The efficiency of refining Qi and Blood at the major mastery level would far surpass the current level. 

In this way, the possibility of him meeting the requirements to join the Inspection Bureau within three months would greatly increase. 

Jiang Ning felt quite excited. 

Seeing the expression on Jiang Ning's face, Wang Jin nodded in satisfaction. 

"Good! To advance bravely in martial arts, one must have confidence and vitality!" 

Jiang Ning snapped out of his thoughts and clasped his hands in salute. 

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!" 

Wang Jin chuckled, "Enough of this formality! Focus on practicing your fist techniques and strive to reach major mastery as soon as possible. That would be the best way to show your gratitude. Only then will we have a true master-disciple relationship. Although you've missed the best opportunity to join the Inspection Bureau due to bad timing, if you can pass my tests, I will impart all my knowledge to you. Your future achievements might even surpass mine." 

Jiang Ning smiled, neither confirming nor denying this.