C125 Fourth Level of the Dragon-shape Prajna Arts

Having completed the refinement of a batch of Spiritual Nourishment Pills, Ning Qi's alchemy proficiency had soared past 100,000, making him a Fourth Rank alchemist. To reach the Fifth Rank, he would need one million mastery points—a feat not achievable in the short term.

He remembered the three unused days in the low-level practice training grounds within the system and decided it was time to advance his Dragon-shape Prajna Arts.

With 45,700 Dragon Slaying Coins at his disposal, purchasing access to the low-level training grounds would be a trivial expense.

With this in mind, he handed four bottles of Unique Battle Pills to Xinlian and Xinyi. "Once Xinche and Xinjing return, distribute these. Try to condense your Mutated Battle Power. I'll be in seclusion for over ten days. During this time, do not enter my room, understood?"

Xinlian and Xinyi joyfully accepted the pills, promising in unison, "We'll make sure to guard the door and prevent any disturbances while you cultivate!"

Pleased, Ning Qi affectionately pinched their cheeks and gave their behinds a playful pat. "Off you go now."

"Young Master, you're so naughty," they chided with a giggle, scampering out of the room.

Ning Qi caught a whiff of their scent and smiled to himself, "Ah, the fragrance of innocence."

"System, grant me access to the Low Level Training Ground."

Inside the training ground, three days would equate to three months. An hour of meditation for Ning Qi could enhance his Dragon-shape Prajna Arts proficiency by a single point. In a month, that would amount to roughly 720 points, and over three months, a total of 2,100 points. As his training time concluded, Ning Qi reviewed his attributes:

Host: Ning Qi

Rank: Peak Grand Battle Master

Experience: 500,000 / 500,000

Technique: Dragon-shape Prajna Arts, Third Level, 2,580 / 10,000

Martial Skills: Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, Fourth Level, 18,900 / 100,000; Profound Rank Supreme Five Tiger Broken Door Blade, Third Level, 7,820 / 10,000.

HP: 12,700.

Alchemy: Fourth Rank Alchemist, Proficiency 100/1,000,000.

Dragon Slaying Coins: 58,000.

"I'm still short by over 7,000 proficiency points, which means nearly a year's worth of work."

Ning Qi did some quick mental calculations before turning his attention to the Dragon Slaying Shop, perusing the description of the intermediate practice training grounds.

"The intermediate training grounds cost 1,000 Dragon Slaying Coins, with a time ratio to the outside world of 150:1. That doesn't seem as cost-effective as the Low Level Training Ground. I'd be spending the same amount of Dragon Slaying Coins but getting nearly half the cultivation time. However, it would save time on the Dragon Continent."

After some thought, Ning Qi decided against the intermediate training grounds. There was no rush, after all. There was no need to squander 1,000 Dragon Slaying Coins.

With that in mind, he purchased another ten days at the Low Level Training Ground from the System. He now had 44,700 Dragon Slaying Coins remaining.

Within the training grounds, he tirelessly practiced the Dragon-shape Prajna Arts. The routine was monotonous. If not for the occasional frolic with Purple, White, and Jin, he might have lost his mind from the relentless training.

Time marched on.

Before he knew it, three hundred days had flown by.

"Congratulations, you have advanced the Dragon-shape Prajna Arts to the Fourth Level!"

The system's charming notification chimed.

Ning Qi felt a tumultuous surge of blood and Qi within him, his strength multiplying several times over! He was suddenly overcome with a sense of invincibility. His HP had skyrocketed from 12,700 to 112,700!

This HP level now exceeded that of the majority of Battle Emperors!

Even Qin Zheng, the emperor of the Qintang Empire, had an HP of only 120,000. Ning Qi's HP was a mere 7,300 points shy of his!

This boost was a colossal enhancement to Ning Qi's power!

His ability to survive had increased more than tenfold!

Should he face Qiu Wanli again, his strategy wouldn't be to flee, but to leverage his HP advantage and grind his opponent down to defeat!

After a grueling year of cultivation, Ning Qi couldn't fathom how some could willingly seclude themselves for over a decade. Were they made of wood? How else could they not lose their minds?

All he needed was to secure twenty days at the intermediate practice training grounds, and he could emerge having elevated his Dragon-shape Prajna Arts to the fifth level. But the mere thought of a ten-year confinement quashed that plan instantly.

"Master Deng, the young master is in seclusion," came the voices of Xinlian and Xinyi from outside the door, tinged with a mix of fear and urgency.

"You can't enter. The young master has forbidden any disturbances to his cultivation," they added.

Xinche and Xinjing soon joined in, attempting to dissuade Deng San.

Then, Deng San's voice cut through, firm and resolute, "Step aside. I need to speak with Master Ning."

Ning Qi emerged, grinning broadly, and greeted Deng San warmly, "Brother Deng, what urgent matter brings you to me?"

Deng San, along with Xinche and the others, eyed Ning Qi with a hint of puzzlement. It had been barely a fortnight since they last met, yet Ning Qi's aura had undergone another transformation, as if he were a completely different person.

"Master Ning, have you achieved a breakthrough in the Pill Dao?" Deng San inquired, noting that Ning Qi retained his status as a Peak Grand Battle Master. He surmised that Ning Qi's advancements must lie elsewhere, for such a dramatic shift in his demeanor was unmistakable.

Ning Qi responded with a modest nod and a smile, "Indeed, I've had some modest gains."

Deng San chuckled heartily, "My congratulations, Master Ning." He then got down to business, "The princess has run out of her supply of Spiritual Nourishment Pills. What's our next move, Master Ning?"

"If the princess expects me to toil away like this, it hasn't even been a full month. Brother Deng, you might as well end my misery with a swift palm strike," Ning Qi said, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

Deng San was well aware that the princess's demands were excessive. An agreement for four thousand pills should stand at exactly that number. Yet, it was typical of the Ninth Princess to push boundaries. Sent by her to resolve this, he needed a satisfactory response.

With a wry smile, Deng San conceded, "I'm at a loss, Master Ning. I'm merely following the princess's orders and cannot defy them. Would you be so kind as to craft another batch of Spiritual Nourishment Pills?"

After he finished speaking, he gave Ning Qi's shoulder a reassuring pat, turned, and walked away.

"Young Master, why did they have you start refining pills right after you finished your seclusion?"

Xinlian and Xinyi were indignant on Ning Qi's behalf, but a sharp glance from Xinche had them playfully sticking out their tongues in response.

"If the princess hears you spouting such nonsense, you'll be in for a punishment!" Xinjing whispered.

"We get it, big sisters," the two girls said, laughing.

"It seems I'm destined to be a workhorse," Ning Qi lamented with a sigh.

"Young Master, how about you freshen up with a bath and a change of clothes? We four can give you a massage," Xinche suggested with a smile.

"I wasn't feeling tired before, but now that you mention it, my bones ache something fierce," Ning Qi replied at once.

When the group emerged from the room, Ning Qi looked invigorated, while the Clear Heart Four Girls' cheeks were flushed with color. The maidservants' imaginations inevitably wandered, though only the four girls knew the real story.

"By the way, have all of you managed to condense your Mutated Battle Power?" Ning Qi inquired, turning to them.

"Yes," Xinche and Xinjing said, sharing a smile as they simultaneously summoned the Battle Power within them.