Chapter 163: Superior Bone Structure

Western Outer City. 

Training Ground. 

"If I'm not mistaken, it should be him," Hong Minghu said slowly. 

"Oh?" Gongsun Yu looked at Hong Minghu in surprise. "Brother Hong, you know this person too?" 

Hong Minghu replied, "Since I've come to Luoshui County, it's only natural that I familiarize myself with all matters in the city. Otherwise, how can I carry out His Majesty's will?" 

Hearing this, Gongsun Yu gave Hong Minghu a deep look. 

"That makes sense," he nodded. 

Meanwhile. 

Jiang Ning felt an intense gaze fixed on him as if he were being watched by someone extremely powerful. 

He immediately followed the sensation and looked in that direction, his pupils contracting. 

Although the training ground was vast, his senses were extraordinary, and his vision far surpassed that of ordinary people. Even martial artists far stronger than him couldn't match his sensory abilities. 

He quickly spotted the gray-robed Gongsun Yu and noticed the emblem on his robe. 

It was the symbol of the Medicine King Valley. 

From the emblem, he could tell that this man was a member of the Medicine King Valley's Elder Council. 

Based on his knowledge, Medicine King Valley's influence spanned Dongling County and the surrounding regions, making it a formidable force. 

Although the Medicine King Valley wasn't known for its combat prowess, its strength was undeniable. 

The Elder Council consisted of the most powerful individuals in the valley, with even the weakest elder being at least at the peak of the seventh rank. 

What did "peak" mean? 

It referred to someone who had reached the absolute limit of their current realm, with no further room for advancement. 

Such individuals were far stronger than figures like Liu Qingsong, who was merely a deacon elder. 

"Most likely a sixth-rank martial artist, at the Bone Refinement stage!" 

"I'm no match for him!" 

"Indeed, once you provoke a martial sect, it's endless trouble. Defeat the weak, and the strong come. Defeat the small, and the old come. It's like an unending cycle!" 

Jiang Ning silently cursed as he observed Gongsun Yu. 

The arrival of Gongsun Yu, an elder from the Medicine King Valley's Elder Council, was both expected and unexpected. 

He hadn't anticipated that they would come after him so quickly, leaving him no time to catch his breath. 

A sense of deep crisis filled his heart. 

If his previous enemies could still be somewhat shielded by Wang Jin, this new adversary was beyond Wang Jin's ability to handle. 

The gap between the sixth rank and the peak of the seventh rank, though seemingly small, was undoubtedly significant. 

"This is trouble," Jiang Ning thought to himself. 

All these thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. 

"Begin!" 

The man on the high platform announced. 

With these words, Jiang Ning focused his mind. 

At this moment, nothing was more important than the Inspection Office's assessment. 

With that in mind, he stepped forward and approached the 800-jin iron lock. 

He placed his right hand on the lock. 

"Lift" 

Jiang Ning exhaled softly, and the 800-jin iron lock rose from the ground, hovering at shoulder height. 

Jiang Ning's expression remained unchanged his face wasn't flushed, his breathing wasn't labored, and his heart rate was steady. 

Seeing this, the man on the high platform narrowed his eyes. 

This strength... 

Impressive! 

He was inwardly shocked. 

Jiang Ning's performance was even more astonishing than Zhou Xing's earlier display. 

Without a doubt, someone who could lift an 800-jin iron lock so effortlessly had already reached the eighth rank, the Divine Strength Realm. 

Without refining their muscles, relying solely on skin refinement, it would be impossible to achieve such strength. 

Jiang Ning's youthful appearance made it clear that he was under twenty years old. 

Such a young age combined with the eighth rank of martial arts was truly remarkable. 

In a small county like Luoshui, resources were scarce, and martial guidance was limited. 

The poorer and more backward the area, the fewer strong martial artists there were. 

At eighteen or nineteen, even in a larger city, Jiang Ning could be considered a prodigy. 

"Excellent bone structure!" the man on the high platform thought to himself. 

Meanwhile. 

Gongsun Yu's arrival had also drawn Hong Minghu's attention to Jiang Ning. 

Seeing Jiang Ning's performance, Hong Minghu nodded slightly. 

"Not bad. A promising seedling." 

Gongsun Yu's expression also shifted slightly. He narrowed his eyes as he observed Jiang Ning. 

Suddenly, he spoke. "Brother Hong, could you have that young man come over later to answer a few questions? I suspect he knows something about Elder Liu Qingsong's death." 

"We'll see," Hong Minghu replied indifferently, not even lifting his eyes. 

"Brother Hong, the theft of Prince Huai'an's tribute has already angered the valley greatly. Now, with Elder Liu's unexpected death, if this news spreads, the valley master might personally come to Luoshui County," Gongsun Yu said slowly. 

"Are you threatening me?" Hong Minghu's tone suddenly turned cold, and the air grew tense. 

"Of course not! Brother Hong, you are now a trusted confidant of that esteemed figure, having been sent to Luoshui County as the prefect. How could I dare threaten you?" Gongsun Yu's tone softened as if he had remembered something. 

He continued, "But this matter concerns Prince Huai'an's reputation. The valley master has ordered us to investigate thoroughly." 

"What does that have to do with me?" Hong Minghu said. "If you dare touch anyone from the Inspection Office, you die. Outside the Inspection Office, I don't care." 

"Brother Hong, you speak boldly!" Gongsun Yu's eyes sharpened like two swords piercing toward Hong Minghu. 

Hong Minghu chuckled. "What, do you want to fight me here?" 

Hearing this, Gongsun Yu's aura deflated. 

Fighting Hong Minghu here? Hong Minghu had reached the fifth rank, placing him among the top three in the valley. 

He was no longer the same as before. 

In their previous encounters, Hong Minghu had only been at the peak of the sixth rank, the Bone Refinement stage. 

A single rank difference was like heaven and earth compared to his current strength. 

Gongsun Yu was confident he could win, but even if he did, it would be meaningless. He wouldn't leave this training ground alive. 

At the sixth rank, one's body was as tough as forged bronze. 

Even with the might of the fifth rank, killing such an opponent wouldn't be easy. 

Moreover, once inner energy was exhausted, a fifth-rank martial artist wasn't much different from a sixth-rank one. 

Surrounded by numbers, he would inevitably perish. 

Meanwhile. 

Jiang Ning didn't hold back in displaying his strength. 

Since he aimed for the deputy commander position, he couldn't afford to hide his abilities. 

The founding of the Inspection Office presented the best opportunity for advancement, and he intended to seize it. 

If he missed this chance, even with the strength, it would be difficult to rise later, as positions would already be filled. 

"Pass!" 

The man on the high platform announced. 

Boom 

Jiang Ning gently tossed the iron lock to the ground, causing a slight tremor. 

In the wooden shed. 

Wang Jin laughed heartily. "Master Yu, what do you think? How's my disciple?" 

Wang Jin's face was flushed with pride. 

Yu Yuan's eyes showed a hint of envy. 

"You old fox, you hit the jackpot. To find such a talented disciple." 

"No wonder you were so confident earlier, trying to bait me into a bet. Good thing I didn't fall for it." 

Wang Jin's expression grew even more smug. 

He could sense the envy in Yu Yuan's tone. 

Behind Wang Jin, the disciples of the martial school watched the scene on the training ground. 

Their mouths hung open in astonishment. 

"Did I see that right? Junior Brother Jiang lifted the 800-jin iron lock so easily?" 

"You saw correctly. That's exactly what happened." 

"Does that mean Junior Brother Jiang might already be at the eighth rank?" 

"Most likely!" 

"Junior Brother Jiang is amazing!" 

For a moment, the disciples erupted in admiration. 

On the training ground. 

As Jiang Ning slowly stepped back, Li Qing's lips parted slightly, her eyes shining with admiration. 

She had met Jiang Ning on his first day at the martial school and had personally welcomed him. 

At the time, she had been impressed by his memory but hadn't expected this outwardly remarkable disciple to achieve such extraordinary feats. 

After all, while a good memory was helpful in martial arts, its benefits were limited. 

Martial arts emphasized bone structure and comprehension. 

Comprehension was hard to gauge, but bone structure could be assessed. 

On that first day, Wang Jin had evaluated Jiang Ning's bone structure as average. 

This suggested that, in the early stages of martial arts, those with average bone structure would progress slowly. 

Given the constraints of lifespan and the limited golden period for martial advancement, their future achievements would inevitably be limited. 

But now, Jiang Ning's performance had shattered her expectations. 

Effortlessly lifting an 800-jin iron lock. 

Such a display surpassed even Senior Brother Zhou Xing's performance. 

And Zhou Xing had already broken through to the eighth rank. 

This indicated that her junior brother had also crossed the threshold into the eighth rank, the Divine Strength Realm. 

To reach the eighth rank in just over three months of training was simply astonishing. 

Li Qing's eyes sparkled as she looked at Jiang Ning. 

Beside her, Zhou Xing's expression also shifted slightly. 

Eighth rank? 

He exhaled softly. "The eighth rank is impressive. Good thing I didn't make an enemy of him." 

Meanwhile, Zhao Hu's reaction was different. 

His face darkened, and he inwardly regretted his earlier actions. 

At the same time, he subtly retreated half a step behind the others, making himself less conspicuous. 

On the viewing platform. 

Lin Qingyi, dressed in green, had appeared at some point. 

She watched the scene on the training ground without surprise, a faint smile on her lips. 

"It seems he's fully absorbed the Golden Body Pill. Reaching the eighth rank is no surprise." 

"But I wonder if that girl regrets her decision now?" 

Lin Qingyi's gaze shifted to Lin Jia'er on the nearby viewing platform. 

At that moment, Lin Jia'er's expression had changed slightly. Faced with the enthusiasm of the man beside her, her responses and smiles seemed perfunctory. 

At this moment, everyone on the training ground remembered Jiang Ning's face. 

An eighth-rank martial artist was a rare figure in Luoshui County. 

Coupled with his youth, he was someone worth remembering. 

On the training ground. 

Jiang Ning returned to his companions. 

"Junior Brother Jiang, your progress is truly astonishing!" Zhou Xing was the first to praise. 

Zhou Xing's demeanor was noticeably warmer than before. 

Jiang Ning replied, "Senior Brother Zhou, you flatter me. It's just luck." 

Hearing this, Zhou Xing couldn't help but feel envious. 

He didn't think Jiang Ning was being modest. 

Without luck and opportunities, it would be impossible to reach this level in such a short time. 

"Junior Brother Jiang, you're amazing!" Li Qing's eyes also shone with admiration. 

Seeing this, Zhou Xing couldn't help but smile. 

He could tell that Li Qing had taken a liking to Jiang Ning. 

Especially after today, her interest was even more apparent. 

Meanwhile, Zhao Hu felt a pang of jealousy. 

"Damn it, this kid hit the jackpot. Who knows what kind of opportunity he stumbled upon to reach this level." 

"And Li Qing is such a flirt. I've been chasing her for so long, and she never gave me a second glance. Now she's practically throwing herself at him." 

"Damn it!!!" 

Zhao Hu seethed with anger, but given the circumstances, he didn't dare show it. 

To act arrogantly when outmatched was the behavior of a fool! 

A moment later. 

Jiang Ning returned to the wooden shed. 

"Master, I didn't disappoint you," Zhou Xing said with a bow. 

"Good!" 

"Good!!" 

"Good!!!" 

Wang Jin looked at the four of them with approval. 

Four out of five passing the first round was already a satisfactory result. 

His gaze then fell on Li Qing. 

Li Qing's elimination was due to her lack of focus on strength and her recent entry into the ninth rank. 

With a couple more months of training, she wouldn't have been eliminated. 

"Li Qing, don't be discouraged. With your family background, joining a sect is also a good option. The Inspection Office isn't your only path." 

Li Qing bowed. "I understand, Master. I was already prepared for this." 

"Before coming here, my father secured a spot for me at the Sword Pavilion in Bashu County. Now that I've failed, I'll soon be heading there." 

"The Sword Pavilion?" Wang Jin nodded. "The Sword Pavilion is a first-rate sect, with a grandmaster overseeing it. It's an excellent choice. With your talent and family background, joining the Sword Pavilion will surely lead to achievements beyond mine." 

Li Qing bowed again. "Thank you for your encouragement, Master." 

Beside them, Jiang Ning was slightly surprised by their conversation. 

Bashu County? 

The Sword Pavilion? 

A grandmaster? 

It seemed Li Qing's father had significant connections to secure a spot in such a prestigious sect. 

Her father must be quite influential! 

After comforting Li Qing, Wang Jin looked at Zhou Xing, Zhao Hu, and the others. 

"You've done well!" 

Then his gaze settled on Jiang Ning. 

"You've also done well! Eighth rank. Your bone structure must have changed since your initial assessment, right?" 

Jiang Ning smiled. "Master, I don't know how to assess bone structure, so I'm not sure." 

"Come here. Let me see how your bone structure has changed," Wang Jin said. 

Jiang Ning stepped forward. 

Wang Jin stood up and placed a hand on Jiang Ning's shoulder. 

A surge of energy entered Jiang Ning's body, causing his bones to resonate and his entire frame to tremble. 

"Superior!!!" 

Wang Jin's eyes widened in astonishment as he looked at Jiang Ning. 

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