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Consume 3 units of energy to level up the Spring Breeze Tactic?

Yes/No

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"It takes 3 units of energy to reach the mortal realm first stage…"

Xu Ning smacked his lips.

3 energy units was the same as leveling up the Gale Knife Technique to the elementary realm—it was not much, making it totally acceptable.

But right now, his energy reserves had been used up, so he couldn't level up immediately, which was a pity.

"No."

Xu Ning reluctantly closed the Martial Arts Panel.

If he wanted to level up in the future, he would have to store energy first.

However, Xu Ning no longer worried about obtaining new energy units.

Since he had already reached the intermediate realm of the Gale Knife technique, he could now enter the inner circle of Yunze Mountains.

The wild resources he could obtain there would be much more abundant than before, and they would also be much more valuable.

The strength of his martial arts would be fully utilized at Yunze Mountains.

"I'll rest for two days, get ready, and enter the mountains again."

Xu Ning had made a plan.

Time slowly passed by.

Tao Yunchuan and Xu Lian went out to work. Because they were not at home, Xu Ning acted as a babysitter.

Inside the house yard.

Xu Ning and Tao Tao stood face to face.

Tao Tao was three years old this year, less than a meter tall.

She held a wooden stick used to herd chickens in her hand, as she looked at Xu Ning with a serious look on her face.

She was about to fight her uncle.

Tao Tao was normally a friendly kid in front of Xu Lian, but her personality was actually quite boisterous.

Usually when she played with her friends, she was the boss leader, and she would fight with boys, using power to solve problems.

The day before yesterday, Xu Ning passed the martial arts assessment, and this once again deepened Tao Tao's passion for martial arts.

Afterwards, Tao Tao began to follow Xu Ning to practice and learn martial arts.

Of course, Xu Ning did not teach her properly. Tao Tao was too young and had no resources to support her. It was easy to hurt her body if she practiced martial arts blindly.

Tao Tao refused to accept this and clamored for a duel with Xu Ning.

"Bring it on."

Xu Ning put his hands on his chest, lowered his head, and looked at Tao Tao.

Tao Tao frowned when she heard him.

She felt provoked.

"Ah~~"

Tao Tao shouted while rushing forward with her stick.

She wanted to let her uncle see her martial arts talent.

Xu Ning's eyes narrowed when he saw how frantic Tao Tao was.

When Tao Tao rushed towards him, Xu Ning raised his feet and pressed it against Tao Tao's belly, stopping her from moving.

Then, Xu Ning gently pushed.

Tao Tao stumbled and fell on the ground.

"Again!"

Tao Tao did not admit defeat. She stood up, patted the dirt off her body and rushed forward again.

And the same thing happened again.

Tao Tao fell on the ground again.

She was about to get up again, but she suddenly felt a huge hand pressing her to the ground.

Xu Ning squatted down and pressed on Tao Tao's stomach, making her unable to move.

"Now?"

Xu Ning looked at Tao Tao.

"No!"

Tao Tao was still struggling.

"Ah…"

Xu Ning laughed coldly.

He pressed Tao Tao with one hand and started tickling Tao Tao with the other.

"Now?"

Xu Ning asked again.

"No…"

Tao Tao's tone obviously softened.

Her voice trembled. She was very angry, yet she wanted to laugh.

"Now?"

Xu Ning asked.

"No… no, okay, I do!"

Tao Tao surrendered.

"Good."

Xu Ning let go of Tao Tao.

He glanced at the sun; it was almost noon.

Tao Yunchuan and Xu Lian both came back for lunch—it was time for him to cook.

Xu Ning went to the kitchen and took a look. He saw that there was not much firewood left, so he planned to chop some firewood first.

Tao Tao, who was defeated by Xu Ning, was full of frustration. She turned her eyes and looked at the old hen in the yard.

The old hen was agitated. It felt like it was being stared at by something terrifying, so it screamed and ran away.

"Stop!"

Tao Tao caught up with it.

While Tao Tao was still causing trouble, Xu Ning had already finished cutting the firewood.

Just as he was about to wash some vegetables, Xu Ning heard someone call him from outside the door.

"Xu Ning!"

Afterwards, the gate was pushed open.

Guo Ye walked in.

He was carrying a knife on his back and an oily paper package in his hand.

Guo Ye looked at Xu Ning and asked.

"Are you busy?"

"Busy making lunch."

Xu Ning glanced at Guo Ye. "You came here during noon for a free meal?"

"Nope."

Guo Ye shook his head. "Came here to practice martial arts."

"Let's talk about it after lunch."

Xu Ning evaded.

"No need to cook, eat this."

Guo Ye smiled and spread out the oily paper, revealing a few meat sausages wrapped in it. "My uncle bought it so I brought some over."

Guo Ye's uncle, Tao Yungang, traveled around Kangyun County and often brought back tasty treats for Guo Ye.

"Then thank you very much."

Xu Ning did not refuse. He took the meat sausage and said, "Then, I will steam the meat sausages and teach you how to practice the Gale Knife Technique."

"Okay!"

Guo Ye grinned.

Xu Ning entered the kitchen while Tao Tao greeted Guo Ye.

"Uncle Ye."

Tao Tao politely said.

"Hey…"

Guo Ye was seventeen years old this year; he was too young to be called uncle.

"Here."

Guo Ye took out a few lumps of candy from his pocket and handed them to Tao Tao.

He had also brought these from home.

"Thank you, Uncle Ye."

Tao Tao's eyes lit up and took it.

She stopped chasing the chicken and sat in the corner of the yard before beginning to eat the candies.

"Uncle Gang is a mortal realm third stage master, and also in the intermediate realm of the Gale Knife Technique, why don't you let him teach you?"

Xu Ning steamed the sausages and walked out of the kitchen.

"My uncle has been busy collecting medicinal materials in several nearby villages, so he doesn't have the time to teach me."

Guo Ye complained, "He was all enthusiastic when he asked me to help negotiate prices for him, but afterwards he doesn't care about me."

Xu Ning glanced at Guo Ye and did not answer.

Although Guo Ye didn't have much talent in martial arts, he still had a knack for trading goods.

He negotiated sales with other villages, and not only were the prices low, but their customer relationships were also strong.

It was precisely because of this ability that Guo Ye was able to stand up straight in front of his uncle and didn't feel ashamed.

"Enough, not more talking, show me your Gale Knife Technique first."

Xu Ning said to Guo Ye.

Regardless of whether Guo Ye really liked martial arts, since he wanted to make progress right now, Xu Ning would help him.

"Okay."

Guo Ye took out a steel knife from behind and held it firmly in his hand.

The material of his steel knife was one rank lower than the reward knife Xu Ning had received. It was only four or five pounds, about the size of a training knife.

"Ahh!"

Guo Ye quietly shouted, as if to encourage himself.

Afterwards, he began to display his Gale Knife Technique.

Xu Ning stood aside, watching Guo Ye's movements, and while doing so, he gently shook his head.

Just like Tao Yunmeng said before, he had not grasped the basic fundamentals of the Gale Knife Technique.

"How is it?"

After finishing the routine, Guo Ye asked for Xu Ning's opinion.

"Not so good."

Xu Ning did not show mercy. "Here, I'll show you."

Xu Ning was patient. He executed a routine for Guo Ye to see.

Then he pointed out the flaws in Guo Ye's Gale Knife Technique and gave him suggestions to improve.

Guo Ye was inspired by Xu Ning. He was obviously serious about learning.

After repeating the routine two to three times, Guo Ye actually corrected many mistakes.

"I feel like I have improved!"

Guo Ye seemed to be aware of this.

"That's right, you have made some progress."

Xu Ning nodded.

Guo Ye laughed. He then threw the knife and sat on a stone in the yard.

He was sweating profusely. "That's it for today, I'll rest for a while."

"Tao Tao, get us some water."

Xu Ning shouted to Tao Tao in the corner.

Tao Tao ran into the room and fetched some water from the tank. Instead of giving it to Guo Ye, she handed it to Xu Ning first. "Uncle, water."

"Give it to Uncle Ye."

Xu Ning waved his hand.

"Uncle Ye, water."

Tao Tao passed the water to Guo Ye.

"Thanks kid…" Guo Ye took the scoop of water and muttered, "I'm dying over here and you still gave the water to your uncle first, you really are his niece."

Guo Ye drank it and returned the water scoop to Tao Tao.

Tao Tao grinned at Guo Ye before turning around and running away.

"Xu Ning, you plan on taking care of Tao Tao these days?"

Guo Ye looked at Tao Tao running away and asked.

"No, I will enter the mountain in two days. My strength is higher now, so I can explore a wider range."

Xu Ning responded.

"Oh…"

Guo Ye nodded before suddenly pausing. He suddenly said, "Um… My uncle is going to the city to deliver goods in two days. Are you interested in escorting the carriages together?"