Leaving Luoshui County.

It only took a brief moment.

He went to Medicine King Valley once more.

He stayed in Medicine King Valley for less than thirty minutes before departing again.

On the attic.

A middle‑aged man with slightly graying temples watched Jiang Ning’s departing figure.

This man was none other than the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, Lu Qingshan.

At this moment, Lu Qingshan stared in the direction where Jiang Ning had disappeared, his gaze complicated.

"To arrive at Medicine King Valley from the Royal Capital in a single night—what kind of strength is that?!!"

Right now, the waves in his heart were surging, far greater than the turmoil shown on his face.

Although he hadn’t mentioned this point during his conversation with Jiang Ning just now.

He was very clear that it was impossible for Jiang Ning not to eat New Year’s Eve dinner at home.

He, Lu Qingshan, did not have that qualification, did not have the face to make Jiang Ning skip New Year’s Eve dinner just to visit him.

Jiang Ning coming here, at most, was because it was on the way, and out of remembrance for their past ties.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help looking in the direction of Luoshui County.

He knew that here, the only person worthy of Jiang Ning’s regard was Wang Jin of Luoshui County.

The Hall Master of Canglang Martial Arts Hall, Wang Jin.

"After the New Year, I must make more visits there!"

"As for who he is now—noble as the Dongling Marquis, Zeshan State Patrol Envoy—I am not qualified to draw closer to him, but through Wang Jin, there is an excellent path!"

"After all, I personally took action to treat Wang Jin before!"

Thinking of this, he felt a wave of ease in his heart, along with a touch of gratitude.

Looking back now, that single thought back then had been incomparably correct.

Within Dongling County, there were many forces stronger than Medicine King Valley.

Especially the Divine Sword Mountain Lord, the Five Sword Sect, the Mitian Sect—they had all once been colossus‑level forces in Dongling County.

Even the authorities did not dare to provoke them lightly.

Yet last year, some were annihilated, some forced to submit, and no great waves were stirred.

In front of those few colossi, Medicine King Valley was as weak as an egg.

"Fortunately—" Lu Qingshan stood in the darkness, letting out a long sigh.

...

On the other side.

Jiang Ning made a trip to Dongling City again, stayed in the Commandery Governor Mansion for an hour, then visited several other places before leaving once more.

By the time he had made a full circuit and returned to the Royal Capital, it was already midnight.

The night grew colder.

The entire Royal Capital had quieted down.

He passed through the invisible grand formation that covered the Royal Capital without stirring the slightest ripple.

When he appeared before the National Master Mansion.

He could hear sounds from the various courtyards ahead.

He could hear Little Dumpling’s tinkling laughter.

"Still not asleep." He smiled faintly.

Then he raised his knuckles and knocked on the vermilion‑lacquered main gate.

Dong dong dong—

The light tapping of his knuckles sent the sound far.

Then he stopped his hand.

Because he heard footsteps coming toward the front courtyard.

A moment later.

The main gate of the National Master Mansion opened, and under the glow of the red lanterns, a delicate little face like a lotus emerging from water appeared in his line of sight.

The newcomer was Qinghe.

Short and thin, with a small, delicate figure—Qinghe.

"Marquis!!" Seeing that it was Jiang Ning, Qinghe’s eyes immediately lit up.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly. "Has everyone gone to rest?"

Qinghe shook her head. "No one has gone to rest yet!"

Then she added, "Marquis, should I go tell them that you’ve returned?"

Jiang Ning shook his head. "No need. It’s too late! They should all be resting!"

"Then I’ll go prepare bath water for you, Marquis, and let you soak first?" Qinghe said.

"Alright." Jiang Ning nodded.

...

An hour later.

Jiang Ning appeared in the courtyard, dressed in a thin Practice robe.

His long hair hung loosely, still bearing a few drops of moisture.

Clearly, he had just finished his bath.

Yet at this moment, on the New Year’s Eve night, it was the depth of winter.

The night wind was especially biting, enough to condense vapor and freeze the surface of lakes, yet it could not freeze the droplets in his hair.

His own domain spread out, dividing him from the outside environment as if into two separate worlds.

The longer he remained in the First Grade Mixed Element Realm, the more clearly he could feel how inconceivable the First Grade Mixed Element Realm was.

Since stepping into the First Grade Mixed Element Realm, he had become a world unto himself; not a single strand of energy leaked out, Essence, Qi, and Spirit circulating in an endless cycle.

He could feel that as time passed, his strength was increasing every moment.

The next instant.

Without moving his body, his Heart Spirit had already sunk into his inner world.

The silver moon on his Spirit Platform and the golden sun in his Dantian lit up at the same time, the scene of sun and moon shining together in his inner world growing ever more real.

The Experience Value once again began to rise steadily and rapidly.

[Spirit Platform Cave Illumination True Self Method Experience Value +332]

[Spirit Platform Cave Illumination True Self Method Experience Value +335]

[...]

The efficiency seemed to have improved slightly again as his inner world stabilized and his spirit grew ever more lucid.

....

In the blink of an eye, one night passed, then another day.

Just after midnight.

The three flowers of red, gold, and silver within his body suddenly sped up.

[Spirit Platform Cave Illumination True Self Method Experience Value +337]

The Experience Value accumulated over several days suddenly reached a critical threshold at this moment, allowing him to feel a state of fullness overflowing.

He opened his eyes.

[Skill]: Spirit Platform Cave Illumination True Self Method + (Three times limit-breaking 40000/40000) (trait: True Self Unique (Light Gold), Insight into True Spirit (Deep Purple))

On the panel, he saw that familiar symbol once more.

As for the accumulation of Experience Value, it was already full.

Then, with a slight movement of thought, he looked at the Source Energy Points on the panel.

[Source Energy]: 398864

The previous few Break Limits had consumed over a hundred thousand, but the nearly four hundred thousand Source Energy that remained was still an astonishing fortune.

"The fourth Break Limit requires one hundred thousand points of Source Energy; it’s still sufficient."

He did not hesitate in the slightest and focused his consciousness on the plus sign behind the Spirit Platform Cave Illumination True Self Method.

The next instant.

Vast Source Energy surged like a flood through an opened gate, pouring with a roar into that Cultivation Technique realm which had already reached the limit of Perfection!