Long Imprisoned in the Cage

True Martial Mountain lay at the border between Qing Province and Yun Province, jutting straight into the heavens like a sharp sword.

After Dragon Mountain Daoist had chosen to rebuild the True Martial Sect there, he had thoroughly cleared out the mountain. Although some wild beasts remained, none posed much of a threat, and they could even serve as training for the sect's disciples.

But the Mountain Range on the outskirts of True Martial Mountain, where Ning Qi was headed today, was somewhat more dangerous.

In this world, powerful beasts were known as Exotic Beasts. The mightiest among them could even rival Heavenly Humans, moving mountains and summoning rain. They could be called Beast Kings.

Although there were no beasts quite that exaggerated outside True Martial Mountain, it was still safer to have an expert accompanying him, just in case.

The two leaped through the mountain forests.

A strange light appeared in Ye Qinghe's eyes.

She felt that her Junior Brother's movements were swift, graceful, and airy. He could actually keep up with her completely without losing any of his poise. Although that was partly because she was not using her full strength, it was still astonishing enough.

"Little Nine, did Master secretly give you another special lesson?" Ye Qinghe pouted.

Ning Qi smiled faintly. "I created it myself. If you want to learn, I can teach you."

Ye Qinghe giggled, taking it only as a joke.

The two stopped at the edge of a cliff.

The cliff was bottomless, clouds and mist billowing through it as sunlight threaded between them, shimmering with seven colors.

Ning Qi's eyes lit up. Under Ye Qinghe's astonished gaze, he slowly sat down cross-legged, then became absorbed in watching the clouds roll and drift.

"Clouds have no form or shape. They gather with the Wind and scatter with the Wind..."

Ye Qinghe watched from the side, baffled. She imitated Ning Qi and studied the clouds, but no matter how she looked at them, they were merely ordinary clouds and mist. They were pretty, but that was all.

She wanted to ask, but was afraid of disturbing Ning Qi.

After a long while.

Ning Qi's body shook. He slowly rose, and there seemed to be Spiritual Light in his eyes.

Ye Qinghe hurriedly asked, "Little Nine, what are you doing?"

"Watching the clouds."

"The clouds by the cliffs of True Martial Mountain are much prettier than these. Why did you come all the way here to watch them?"

"Some things are the same, and some are different."

"All I see are clouds. What's different about them?"

"Your Comprehension is lacking."

Ye Qinghe was instantly rendered speechless with anger.

Sometimes, her Junior Brother was truly infuriating, yet she could not refute him.

Seeing Ning Qi head off, she hurriedly followed.

But soon, she saw Ning Qi sit down again before an unusual stone.

The stone was several people tall and seemed to have a Human Form.

"What is he doing this time?" she wondered with a Wry smile.

After a moment, Ning Qi rose again, and the Spiritual Light in his mind had grown even brighter.

This time, Ye Qinghe did not ask. Her Junior Brother had always been unconventional.

She merely chatted with Ning Qi about other things.

After that.

Ning Qi stopped from time to time to observe something.

Sometimes it was a cloud between the cliffs, sometimes a strangely shaped stone, sometimes dew on a root, sometimes the Wind in the mountains, and sometimes even a leaf or a lump of mud...

The things that seemed perfectly ordinary to Ye Qinghe would all make Ning Qi stop and linger, sometimes even sitting down cross-legged and becoming absorbed in them.

All she could do was Press her forehead and offer a Wry smile.

She could not understand it. She simply could not understand the world of a Genius.

She knew that Ning Qi certainly was not doing anything meaningless.

And Ning Qi had indeed gained a great deal.

Long imprisoned in a cage, he had once more returned to nature.

The things here were not much different from those atop True Martial Mountain, but the key lay in one's state of mind. The change in his surroundings had given Ning Qi completely different feelings.

He felt that coming out this time had been the right decision.

That Supreme Posture Technique had nearly taken shape in his mind.

"Little Nine, why don't we go look at something a little more interesting?" Ye Qinghe asked softly after Ning Qi came back to himself.

Although she sensed that Ning Qi was comprehending something, she was also a little worried that her Junior Brother had spent too long alone and developed some sort of problem.

Ning Qi returned fully to his senses. Looking at Ye Qinghe, who was bored half to death, he smiled. "All right!"

A moment later.

The two peered through the leaves with their eyes gleaming like Thieves. In the open space before them, two black snakes were frantically entwined—not fighting, but engaged in something even more intense.

Ye Qinghe was covered in speechless black lines.

"Little Nine, you think this is interesting?"

"Of course it's interesting. The origin of life lies right here."

Ning Qi spoke with perfect seriousness. He watched without blinking and became absorbed once more.

Ye Qinghe was helpless.

Still, it was a little more interesting than watching stones and the like. From time to time, she muttered under her breath, as if she were remotely controlling the two snakes.

After a while, Ning Qi was completely satisfied, and the two quietly left.

After that.

Ning Qi seemed to have started a grudge match with the beasts.

Ye Qinghe took him with her as they traveled through the mountain forests.

They continuously observed all kinds of fierce beasts up close, including even Exotic Beasts.

Tigers roared through the mountains.

A goshawk grappled with a rabbit.

Ants moved their nest.

A pack of wolves surrounded its prey.

Ning Qi watched all of this with great interest.

Of course, watching from such close range inevitably led to a few mishaps.

For example, they once encountered a Bloodhorn Wolf Exotic Beast powerful enough to contend with an Inner Yuan Realm martial artist. If Ning Qi had met it alone, he would probably have had to temporarily avoid its sharp edge.

They also encountered several Exotic Beasts that were somewhat weaker.

Fortunately, Ye Qinghe was there.

She subdued them with ease.

Ye Qinghe was exhausted, but when she saw the smile rippling across Ning Qi's Small Face, her resentment vanished. She merely gave his cheeks a hard rub, stopping just short of kissing him. In fact, she had kissed him when Ning Qi was a baby, but after he gained the ability to move, Ning Qi had firmly refused.

This filled Ye Qinghe with emotion.

Her Junior Brother had grown up so quickly.

Before they knew it.

The sun in the sky had already slanted westward.

Ning Qi raised his head, his eyes shining and his spirits soaring.

Ye Qinghe, by contrast, looked as if she had been completely drained.

It had been unbearably boring! If not for a mouthful of wine keeping her alive, she probably would have collapsed already.

Ning Qi smiled and said:

"Senior Sister, let's go back."

Today's objective had been achieved, and his gains were immense.

He was confident that this Supreme Posture Technique would be perfected within three days.

He only needed to return home and sort through it once more.

"Looks like I'll have to look around more when I get the chance. See the natural world and heavens, and see the vast mortal realm."

Ye Qinghe's eyes lit up. She sprang to her feet, pulled Ning Qi along, and set off.

Ning Qi could not help shaking his head and laughing. He casually drew Ye Qinghe a comforting picture.

"Senior Sister, don't worry. Once your Junior Brother becomes invincible beneath the heavens, I'll scour the world for the finest wine for you!"

Ye Qinghe laughed happily. "Then Senior Sister will remember that!"

Then.

She suddenly froze. The corners of her mouth slowly curled upward, and her eyes sparkled.

"I won't ask for the number-one Senior Sister beneath the heavens just yet. How about you first bring Senior Sister a jug of Monkey Wine?"

Ning Qi sensed the disturbance ahead as well.

That distinctive howling left no doubt as to the visitor's identity: a Long-Armed Ape.

Long-Armed Apes had nimble arms, and the Monkey Wine they brewed possessed a unique flavor. At the thought of it, Ye Qinghe's mouth glistened.

The two stopped.

Both were stunned.

As the leaves in the Dense Forest were pushed aside, the Long-Armed Ape they had imagined did not appear. Instead, a White Ape emerged, its entire body as white as snow. The White Ape was only a head taller than Ning Qi, with long arms. Upon seeing Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe, a humanlike panic appeared in its eyes.

A look of astonishment appeared in Ning Qi's eyes.

Then.

Several Long-Armed Apes covered in black fur charged out of the Dense Forest. Their eyes were vicious as they bared their teeth repeatedly at the White Ape. Even after seeing Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe, they showed not the slightest restraint, snarling ferociously and revealing their savage faces.

Ye Qinghe folded her arms across her chest, withdrew her gaze from the White Ape, and lazily looked at Ning Qi.

"Little Nine, Senior Sister is tired. How about you go educate these little monkeys?"