Stance Like a Tiger, Stand Like a Pine—Secure the Investment and Keep Charging!

Stance like a tiger, stand like a pine.

Over the course of the afternoon, after finishing his stance training, Ning Wuque first did more than three hundred pull-ups.

Using both his hands and feet, he climbed onto a branch of the large tree beside him. Then, more than two meters above the ground, with no protective measures whatsoever, he began his training.

If it did not kill him, he would train until it did. He even used the risk of falling to his death to push his body, with its limitless potential, forcing it to unleash even greater strength under the threat of death!

Anyway, from such a low height, even if he injured his head in a fall, it would not be a big deal within the clan. He could just find a six-ring healing-type Soul Emperor to treat him, and he would be as good as new!

After exhausting himself once more and crashing to the ground, Ning Wuque climbed back up. He casually treated himself a couple of times, recovered a little stamina, then used the standing posture to further regulate the Soul Power within his body.

He stood ramrod straight between two large trees like a pine, pretending to be a tree and remaining motionless for over an hour.

Even when mosquitoes landed on his skin to suck his blood, he did not so much as frown.

Only an iron will could carry him forward through this cursed world!

"Ding-a-ling~~"

The dismissal bell echoed beside his ears.

Almost in an instant, an old man in a plain black cloak entered Ning Wuque's field of vision.

It was Grandpa Zhang, Zhang Can. As he slowly approached, his gaze upon Ning Wuque held both relief and heartache, along with deep regret.

He regretted that such a clever and hardworking child as Ning Wuque had not been granted a better starting point by heaven, and instead had to suffer so much for nothing!

"Wuque, come on. Go home with Grandpa. Grandpa has already asked about the matter you mentioned last time. I'll give you a surprise once we get back."

Zhang Can came to Ning Wuque's side and reached out with a broad, callused hand to stroke his forehead.

Feeling the sweat on his hand, a trace of determination flashed through Zhang Can's eyes, as though he had made some decision in his heart.

In around seven months, it would be Ning Wuque's seventh birthday—April 7th of next year. A... not especially auspicious day.

"Mm!"

Ending his standing training, Ning Wuque first let out a breath where he stood before replying.

Thus, grandfather and grandson left the academy grounds hand in hand, heading toward Zhang Can's Elder's Courtyard.

Along the way, Ning Wuque's heart brimmed with excitement and anticipation.

There was no other reason. What Zhang Can had just said meant that the matter he had previously asked Grandpa Zhang to handle had borne fruit!

As everyone knew, body training was not something that could be done recklessly. One had to eat well, drink well, and properly nourish oneself in order to keep climbing higher without damaging one's physical foundation!

But! Every part of that required money—a great deal of money!

Ning Wuque had calculated that the assets his parents left him could at most sustain him until he was thirteen or fourteen. That included the necessary high-quality daily food and medicinal herbs, expenses that would multiply as he grew older and stronger.

There were also medicinal baths twice a month, or even more often, along with one-third of his funds being used to purchase body-training equipment.

After all, blind training would eventually reach its limit. He had to plan for the future, such as more scientific and advanced soul tool exercise devices.

Before he turned thirteen or fourteen, things would be fine. He had money of his own. But what about afterward? If he had to work for money, he would likely no longer have enough time to maintain his extreme training regimen.

Asking Grandpa Zhang for help? That was not impossible, but what then? What would happen after that? This was a bottomless pit with no end in sight!

Grandpa Zhang could help Ning Wuque for a while, perhaps even for a lifetime, but Ning Wuque's upbringing would never allow him to accept Grandpa Zhang's lifelong support with a clear conscience.

Grandpa Zhang had practically raised him since childhood. He could not forget that kindness, nor could he exploit it without restraint!

So, Ning Wuque prepared to sell cultivation methods in exchange for investment.

He directly handed Zhang Can the secret method of "Ring Blasting," which he had gone from learning about to analyzing, then guessing at its possibilities and finally partially deciphering, along with the initial training stage of the "Ninefold Yama Gates" manual that he had spent fifteen days writing.

He asked Zhang Can to submit them to the clan for review and verification, intending to use these mature but unverified ideas and his Self-Created Soul Skill, which was still under development, in exchange for the clan's investment—or to let them buy out part of it.

He might very well lose out, because unfinished products always had to be heavily discounted. Furthermore, hardly anyone could cultivate either Ring Blasting or his "Ninefold Yama Gates," so their value was utterly crushed by most universally applicable Self-Created Soul Skills!

For example, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's "Distraction Control Method," as well as the various combat techniques of the Body Clan.

But! But!

Zhang Can was a clan elder with cultivation as high as Rank 82. With his guarantee, Ning Wuque could avoid most of the risk of being taken advantage of by unscrupulous people, and it would also make the clan personnel responsible for this matter take it seriously.

Moreover, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan lacked powerful experts and secret treasures such as soul bones, but it was never short on money for investment!

Perhaps the good impression Ning Wuque had left on the clan's higher-ups during the awakening ceremony could help him as well?

Right?

With that mindset, Ning Wuque sought out Zhang Can not long afterward. After explaining some of his thoughts, he asked for his help.

Zhang Can agreed. More than three months later, he brought back news—good news, as Ning Wuque could tell from his earlier words!

After returning home, Zhang Can first told the butler assigned to him by the clan to prepare dinner, then pulled Ning Wuque back to his study.

Zhang Can sat at his desk while Ning Wuque stood beside him, staring at a Storage Soul Tool and two contracts on the desk.

Zhang Can spoke.

"Wuque, the clan had a six-ring Battle Soul Master successfully conduct a Ring Blasting experiment. Just as your theory stated, everything from the prerequisites for Ring Blasting to the method behind it was nearly identical!

"The higher-ups want to buy out your ideas outright. From now on, aside from you, they do not wish to see a second original manuscript outside. You're a smart child. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Grandpa Zhang!"

Ning Wuque nodded in reply. It was within expectations. The value of Ring Blasting as a Self-Created Soul Skill was not all that great, to the point that he had been able to cobble together roughly eighty percent of the Clear Sky Sect's secret inheritance through guesses and deductions—perhaps even in a more understandable form.

He had even used that as a foundation to develop the more formidable "Ninefold Yama Gates," with a higher ceiling and lower requirements.

With a manuscript that was at least eighty percent entirely correct, there was no way the clan would not buy it out.

"However, this soul skill was tailor-made for top-tier combat-oriented Tool Souls and Beast Soul Spirits. If other Soul Masters cultivate it, they will only end up crippled. They cannot even use it as a trump card."

Zhang Can was saying this to prepare Ning Wuque mentally. There was no helping it. The limitations of this soul skill meant the clan could not offer a price that matched its level.

He had fought for a long time just to raise the original offer by around thirty percent. At the same time, he had secured an additional agreement. He only hoped Ning Wuque could accept it.