A few days later, deep within the Black Snake Forest, Ning found himself standing waist-deep in an unnamed river. There were large rocks tied to his legs, as he engaged in a focused and rigorous training routine. His expression remained solemn, his movements precise and deliberate.

Ning was training his shadow steps with a 'unique' method. It was a method he had emulated from his numerous novel experiences. Particularly, he drew inspiration from a certain individual with a distinctive bowl cut, bushy eyebrows, and a penchant for green suits, but that was a topic best left untouched.

Ah! How he wished there was a simple gravity-increasing chamber here.

But alas, there was no such convenient thing, and even if there were, he could not access it currently.

While there were talismans available that could regulate one's body weight, they were exorbitantly expensive, with prices nearing a staggering thousand spirit stones.

So, he did the next best thing and tied some rocks to his feet and began training. After all, as the wise saying goes, "Work harder, not smarter"... Wait.

Well, in the end, Ning didn't mind the training as he watched the number rise. He was addicted to it, and it gave him a sense of fulfillment seeing his progress in numerical form. He simply liked watching his number go brrr.

For several hours, Ning persevered in his rigorous river training, pushing his body and cultivating his Qi to their limits. The intensity of the exercise left him drained, both physically and mentally. Sensing the weariness creeping into every fiber of his being, he decided it was time to conclude his session.

With deliberate movements, Ning emerged from the depths of the river, water cascading off his body as he ascended onto the riverbank. Seeking respite, he settled upon a large rock, finding a comfortable seat on its surface. He carefully untied the rocks that had been weighing him down, relieving himself of the added burden.

As he sat there, water droplets trickling down his skin, Ning took a moment to catch his breath and recuperate. He closed his eyes, allowing his body to regain its strength, and his Qi to stabilize. It was during these moments of rest that he reflected on the progress he made and made further minute changes.

A little tired, Ning almost wanted to sleep after the intense workout before he slapped himself in the face.

"What kind of idiot sleeps near a river in the middle of the forest?" The river was a source of water, even though it was relatively near the edge of the forest, it was almost certain some animals would come to drink water.

After thinking like this, Ning opened his panel and grinned wide.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

[Shadow Steps (Small Accomplishment) -> (Great Accomplishment)]

As he had expected, Shadow Steps was the first martial art of his to reach the great accomplishment stage. Great Accomplishment meant he was extremely familiar with the martial art and was an expert.

Ning used the shadow steps and walked above the water; his footsteps were as light as a feather and produced only the slightest ripples when he shifted from place to place in the river. After reaching the Great Accomplishment, not only was his speed greatly increased, but his movements made almost no disturbances.

It felt as if he was weightless and could move in an instant. It was like having lived on a planet with high gravity and got into one with low gravity; Ning's body had gotten accustomed to running inside water and adapting to it too.

Truly, such novel-like logic is applied in this world.

"I wonder if I were to throw a billion punches, would I attain enlightenment in the Tao of Power?" Ning's thoughts wandered momentarily, contemplating the endless possibilities.

However, he swiftly redirected his focus, realizing that such considerations could be explored at a later time.

For now, he shifted his training focus towards honing his fighting manipulation. It was a crucial aspect of combat that he needed to master, regardless of his speed. After all, speed alone would make him predictable, and predictability equated to vulnerability. Crushing opponents solely with brute strength would only take him so far. He needed to develop tactics and strategies to outmaneuver his opponents.

Ning practiced his martial arts at varying speeds and intensities, fluidly transitioning between slow and accurate attacks to lightning-fast strikes. This minor tactic aimed to deceive opponents into underestimating his true capabilities. By leading them to believe that his fastest attack had been unleashed, he could catch them off guard with an unexpected burst of speed.

"I need every advantage I can get since I have never fought a human cultivator before," Ning muttered, contemplating the challenges that lay ahead. While he had honed his skills through countless encounters with beasts, it was now time to adapt and learn how to engage human opponents effectively.

...

"Finally, it's tomorrow, huh?" Ning was in his cave, resting this time; he did not cultivate but just let his mind wander a bit before opening his panel.

[

Name: Ji Ning

Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Spiritual Root.

Attributes: Five Elemental Attributes

Talent: Extreme Space-Time Sensitivity

Realm: Small circle of the 3rd Stage of Qi Condensation

Cultivation Method: Pure Qi Sutra (2nd Floor: 106/400)

Martial Arts: Bone Forging Fist (Small Accomplishment: 356/400), Shadow Steps (Great Accomplishment: 412/600), Turtle Breathing (Small Accomplishment: 392/400), Eyes of the Hawk (Small Accomplishment: 246/400)

Buff: Blessing Of Heavenly Dao. Cultivation speed increased by 99%, and Comprehension increased by 99%. Duration: 1 day, 2 hours, 23 minutes, 06 seconds

]

These last few weeks were filled with intense cultivation, and his stats had changed a lot.

Since his cultivation was only a step away from the small circle, Ning was easily able to reach the small circle just the day before.

It was the final stretch, so he had to give it his all after all.

While there was regrettably no breakthrough in Bone Forging Fist, even though he used the waterfall method to train, the numbers still went up by a lot.

He was ready for the outer sect competition tomorrow since he had done his best to increase his strength. So, he decided to rest for today to be in perfect condition.

"I guess this will be my first eight hours of sleep in months." Ning chuckled at the thought as he rested on his mat, and he drifted into his favorite type of relationship.

Death without commitment. He slept.