Hope for Revival

As Dragon Mountain Daoist explained at an unhurried pace, countless flashes of Spiritual Light surged into Ning Qi's mind. A single thought yielding a hundred insights was nothing more than this. Even some of the insights he had pondered over before fused into it at this moment.

Only after coming into contact with the Martial Dao did he understand what these things truly were. Compared with creating them out of thin air on his own, the difficulty was vastly, vastly lower.

But that was only for Ning Qi.

For example, Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi were currently looking on with amazement and reverence in their eyes.

They each specialized in one pile, though they had also dabbled in the others. Yet they were nowhere near as proficient in them as in their primary Stake Skill. Only a supreme expert like Dragon Mountain Daoist, one close to the Heavenly Human, could take in the whole view from a lofty height and bring out the essence of other Stake Skills.

"Master is probably not far from the Heaven-Human Realm."

Both disciples worshipped him in their hearts.

Dragon Mountain Daoist slowly came to a stop and said with rare solemnity, "Ning Qi, did you understand?"

Ning Qi nodded respectfully.

"Disciple understands."

Dragon Mountain Daoist stood off to one side, expressionless.

"Give it a try."

Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi looked at each other, both seeing the teasing amusement in the other's eyes. Back when they had first encountered Stake Skills, they too had been brimming with confidence, convinced they completely understood.

But Stake Skills were made to cure geniuses of their arrogance.

Even an inferior Stake Skill required coordination with a breathing method. Every move and stance contained subtle refinements. Merely imitating the motions did not have the slightest effect, let alone a superior Stake Skill like the True Martial Nine Piles. One even had to gradually comprehend the divine will within the Stake Skill.

Back then, which of their fellow disciples had not had his pride tempered by Master in this way? Even Qin Yun, the most talented among them, had merely performed a little better.

They knew that their master wanted to temper Junior Brother's character, to make him understand that practicing martial arts was no easy matter.

"Although Junior Brother has always been clever, even he must bow his head before a superior Stake Skill."

There was a good show to watch.

Naturally, Ning Qi did not know that Dragon Mountain Daoist had such thoughts.

As he recalled every movement Dragon Mountain Daoist had made earlier, his understanding deepened another layer.

"Please instruct me, Master."

As Ning Qi's words fell, he planted his feet apart, and his bearing suddenly changed.

Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi had not yet noticed, but Dragon Mountain Daoist's gaze jolted, uncertainty flashing in his eyes.

"This is... Qi Shi?!"

He had deliberately not mentioned this crucial point just now, yet Ning Qi had somehow grasped it without a teacher?

Before he could think further.

Ning Qi had already begun to move.

He exhaled with a shout, his expression solemn. Beginning with the first form, 'Bi'an Sitting Mountain,' he was still somewhat stiff, yet he made not the slightest mistake. From outside to within, everything was exactly so.

Bi An resembled a tiger, but was more majestic and ferocious.

At this moment, Ning Qi was like a young Bi An, sweeping freely across the field.

Behind the Martial Arena, the forceful wind stirred by his fists and feet gave off a faint whistle. White Mist had begun to rise from Ning Qi's body, caused by evaporating sweat. His skin had flushed red like a boiled shrimp, while the exposed Skin Membrane swelled and pulsed. He had clearly begun Body Tempering.

This was the first stage: Skin Refinement.

Dragon Mountain Daoist had not yet explained how to use the Stake Skill to temper every part of the body, yet Ning Qi had already comprehended it without instruction.

Knowing that the first stage was Skin Refinement, he guided the 'qi' produced by the Stake Skill to pulse back and forth through his Skin Membrane. This was simple for him, for he had prior experience guiding qi through the Innate Fetal Breathing Technique and the Innate Bone Forging Art.

Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with astonishment.

The two had originally folded their arms, ready to watch Junior Brother make a fool of himself.

But unexpectedly.

It truly was a good show!

The two were completely dumbfounded.

He could perform the entire Stake Skill after only a few repetitions, then begin Skin Refinement? What kind of monster was this?

Back when they had... forget it, better not mention it.

Compared to Ning Qi, they felt they were geniuses my ass.

If they did not know their master's character, they might even have suspected that Master had secretly given Junior Brother special lessons beforehand.

The two stole glances at Dragon Mountain Daoist.

Dragon Mountain Daoist still wore an expressionless face, but Luo Wentian knew him well. His master was surely not calm inside—weren't those whiskers trembling slightly?

In truth.

Dragon Mountain Daoist was indeed far from calm.

He himself had been a genius, and the disciples he had taken in were likewise geniuses. He had lived for more than eighty years; what kind of genius had he not seen? Yet someone as outrageous as Ning Qi was a first.

After merely watching him demonstrate the Stake Skill a few times, Ning Qi had thoroughly grasped every hurdle and key point within it. He had even used several aspects Dragon Mountain Daoist had intentionally not pointed out, and now he had begun Skin Refinement as if he had taught himself.

If this was not monstrous talent, what was? A thought suddenly arose in Dragon Mountain Daoist's mind: if it had been this youngest disciple who obtained the True Martial Inheritance back then, he would likely have reached the Heavenly Human Realm long ago over those eighty-plus years. Perhaps... there might even have been a chance of reaching the Martial Saint Realm!

An incomparable heat surged through his heart.

He had never imagined that this youngest disciple, whom he had taken in through a twist of fate years ago, would bring him such a tremendous surprise.

Master and three disciples were all shocked.

Yet Ning Qi was completely immersed in his own world.

Every time he performed the Bi'an Pile, he gained something. Countless flashes of Spiritual Light appeared in his mind, leaving him unable to stop. Personal practice was far more profound than his earlier observation and contemplation.

"So this is the Martial Dao world—tempering the Skin Membrane?"

He could feel the changes within his body.

At the same time, he marveled at the wisdom of those who had come before him. Generation after generation had labored, eventually distilling such Martial Dao methods, capable of raising human strength to an unimaginable realm. If it were up to him, he would probably need several years to create such a Martial Dao.

It was better to stand on the shoulders of those who came before. There was no need to waste time on such matters.

Even after understanding it completely, his body still needed practice to keep up.

Fortunately, the foundation the Innate Bone Forging Art had laid for him was incomparably solid.

His first repetition was still somewhat stiff.

By the second, he was already extraordinarily proficient.

By the third, he moved as smoothly as flowing clouds and running water.

After two more repetitions, he had even begun to touch upon the Bi'an Divine Will.

Dragon Mountain Daoist and the other two had fallen completely silent. Even their breathing unconsciously slowed as they stood there dumbstruck.

Ning Qi felt utterly invigorated, but he still wisely stopped.

He feared that his performance would frighten Master and his two Senior Brothers. He felt that if he practiced a few more times, comprehending the Bi'an Divine Will would not be a problem. Still, it would be better to practice privately. Though he did not know the others' progress, he was very confident in himself.

"Master."

Ning Qi stopped and respectfully waited for instruction.

Dragon Mountain Daoist's body trembled, and a smile slowly forced its way onto his face. "Not bad. You are somewhat better than those useless Senior Brothers and Senior Sister of yours."

Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi staggered, covering their faces in shame.

They truly could not bear those words.

Dragon Mountain Daoist deliberately tried to find a few faults, but after thinking it over, he could not pick out a single problem. His teeth could not help aching. Having a disciple this monstrously gifted was not necessarily a good thing.

He could only start with Ning Qi's gaps in knowledge.

"Mm... from now on, practice your Stake Skill properly and begin Body Tempering. Right, after Body Tempering, you will need Medicinal Baths to accelerate your body's transformation. You must persevere diligently every day, but do not overexert yourself, lest you drain your foundation."

"This disciple will keep it firmly in mind."

Ning Qi bowed respectfully.

Dragon Mountain Daoist nodded slowly, already beginning to anticipate how long it would take his youngest disciple to complete Body Tempering.

Perhaps there was hope within five years!

By then, Ning Qi would only be Eight Years Old.

An Eight Years Old child in the Inner Yuan Realm—merely thinking of it made Dragon Mountain Daoist feel as though he were dreaming. Ordinary people only began Body Tempering at eight.

The True Martial Sect's revival was within sight!