Divine Sword Elder

True Martial Mountain had originally been named Divine Sword Mountain.

Divine Sword Elder was the master of Divine Sword Mountain.

Several decades ago.

Dragon Mountain Daoist traveled here and became acquainted with Divine Sword Elder. Divine Sword Elder had a fiery temper, and for reasons unknown, the two got into a dispute. Afterward, Divine Sword Elder even personally set a wager: if he lost, he would hand Divine Sword Mountain over to him.

Unexpectedly, he really was one move short in the game and lost to Dragon Mountain Daoist.

Dragon Mountain Daoist helplessly declined.

But Divine Sword Elder kept his promise and took the initiative to leave with his Servant.

In the end, Dragon Mountain Daoist simply rebuilt the True Martial Sect atop Divine Sword Mountain.

But the matter did not end there.

Divine Sword Elder was utterly unconvinced. After seeing Dragon Mountain Daoist establish the True Martial Sect, he created the Divine Sword Sect as if to compete with him, and the two set the Ten-Year Pact. From then on, every ten years, Divine Sword Elder would come up True Martial Mountain and fight Dragon Mountain Daoist.

If he won, he could take back True Martial Mountain.

The ties between the two families were thus formed from then on.

However, it was very obvious.

Dragon Mountain Daoist's natural talent was a notch above. In that battle several decades ago, Divine Sword Elder had only been one move short, but now, Dragon Mountain Daoist had already reached Core Formation Completion, with half a foot in the Heaven-Human Realm, while Divine Sword Elder had only just stepped into Core Formation not long ago.

In the previous few Ten-Year Pacts.

Divine Sword Elder had always left in a sulk.

But each time, he arrived as promised.

As Ning Qi thought about these matters, he could not help but smile.

In his view, his master and Divine Sword Elder might even have been close friends back then. It was just that Divine Sword Elder had an explosive temper and could not set aside his pride.

But now that Divine Sword Elder had once again come up the mountain to fulfill the pact, Ning Qi, as one of the True Martial Sect's True Disciples, naturally had to show himself.

Ning Qi's steps were steady and light, his hands clasped behind his back like a little adult.

Behind him followed White Ape. White Ape was now wearing a Daoist Robe, but the fur he exposed was white as snow, his eyes bright and lively, making anyone who looked at him feel he was extraordinary. Set off by him, Ning Qi appeared even more uncommon.

At this moment, the True Martial Sect disciples had gathered, and the True Disciples also arrived one after another.

"Is that Ninth Uncle-Master?"

"I didn't expect Ninth Uncle-Master to be so young. He's probably only seven or eight years old. I wonder if he's stepped onto the path of martial arts yet?"

Some newly initiated Third Generation Disciples discussed curiously.

When they saw White Ape, who was usually mischievous and troublemaking, now following so obediently behind Ning Qi, they were very surprised.

Some second-generation disciples smiled and greeted him.

They called him Ninth Senior Brother.

Ning Qi smiled and nodded to them all.

The True Martial Sect was of one mind from top to bottom, and there were rarely any sordid affairs.

Thanks to the Body Tempering Powder improved by Ning Qi, the True Martial Sect's Foundation had already begun to show. Each Body Tempering Realm disciple's cultivation surpassed those of their peers.

"Greetings, Master, and all Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters."

Ning Qi walked to the very front and bowed respectfully.

White Ape did the same.

Dragon Mountain Daoist stroked his beard and smiled.

When Luo Wentian and the others saw Ning Qi, smiles appeared on all their faces. Over nearly the past year, except for certain special days, they had rarely been able to see Ning Qi, and they missed him greatly.

"Little Nine, you've grown taller again!"

Fifth Senior Brother Jiang Baishan said.

"That's right. The little brat from back then is growing bigger and bigger now."

Everyone sighed with emotion. Time passed so quickly.

It felt as if Ning Qi had only just been carried up True Martial Mountain yesterday, yet unexpectedly, five years had already passed in the blink of an eye, and Ning Qi had grown so big.

After a short while.

The eighth disciple, Qin Yun, arrived.

He first apologized to Dragon Mountain Daoist, then also smiled and greeted his Fellow Disciples.

Over nearly the past two years, Qin Yun had practiced martial arts more and more diligently, almost becoming a Martial Fanatic.

His gaze fell on Ning Qi, and he smiled.

"Little Nine, you're here."

A trace of uncertain surprise rose in his heart. He actually could not see through Ning Qi's true level at all.

Ning Qi nodded and smiled.

"I originally thought I was already hardworking enough. I never imagined Eighth Senior Brother would arrive even later than me."

Qin Yun said helplessly, "No choice. If my aptitude isn't enough, I can only make up for it with effort."

Hearing this, the Dragon Mountain Daoist frowned faintly in his heart.

These days, most of his energy had been focused on breaking through to Heavenly Human, and he had handed all matters great and small within the sect to his eldest disciple, Luo Wentian. As a result, he had not had as much energy to worry over his other disciples either. Previously, he had heard Luo Wentian mention Qin Yun's frenzied cultivation.

Now it seemed it might have been even more excessive than he had imagined.

The martial path lay in perseverance, in knowing when to tighten and when to loosen.

He planned to find a time to talk with Qin Yun.

With Qin Yun's talent, which was no inferior to his own, there was truly no need to be in such a hurry. If he proceeded step by step, his future achievements would only surpass his own.

As for Ning Qi, he was different.

The Dragon Mountain Daoist knew this youngest disciple could not be measured by common sense.

As he was pondering this, movement had already come from the foot of the mountain.

Everyone looked over.

Figure after figure in fitted martial garb, long swords on their backs, came racing over like divine swords shooting through the air. Their speed was extremely fast; they treated mountain and wilderness as though it were flat ground, and carried with them an edge of sharpness.

"The Divine Sword Steps created by the Divine Sword Elder? They really are extraordinary."

Ning Qi nodded to himself.

Out of habit, he observed the subtleties within them, and a few threads of inspiration flowed into his heart. These were all provisions and foundations for growth.

The Dragon Mountain Daoist laughed heartily and took the initiative to go meet them. "Divine Sword Brother truly is a man of his word. You never arrive early, and never arrive late."

A cold snort rang out:

"Dragon Mountain old bull's nose, spare me your sarcastic talk."

The disciples of the True Martial Sect all showed displeasure, but the Dragon Mountain Daoist was not the least bit unhappy and was still all smiles. He knew the Divine Sword Elder simply had this sort of temperament.

Ning Qi looked over.

He saw a vigorous, tiger-spirited, robust old man appear before everyone's eyes. His gaze was sharp, and he carried a long sword on his back. That sword was wider and longer than an ordinary sword, extremely domineering.

It was precisely the Divine Sword Elder.

Behind the Divine Sword Elder were disciples of the Divine Sword Sect, one after another.

These Divine Sword Sect disciples were all dressed in fitted martial garb, imposing and dignified, with the sharpness of swordsmen fully revealed. However, the looks they gave the True Martial Sect disciples were very unfriendly. Ning Qi was quite familiar with that appearance—if a little child had had his toy snatched by an older child and could not beat him, that was basically the expression he would wear.

However, one person did attract Ning Qi's gaze.

It was a fair, tender-looking Chubby Kid. He also carried a sword, but he kept looking all around, and his nose was running. He looked none too bright.

When his gaze met Ning Qi's, his eyes lit up, and he gave a silly hehe laugh, only to be tugged back by a Divine Sword Sect senior brother beside him.

Ning Qi returned a smile.

"Divine Sword Brother, we have not met in ten years, yet your bearing remains as glorious as ever."

The Dragon Mountain Daoist sighed with emotion.

The Divine Sword Elder's expression eased slightly. He sized up the Dragon Mountain Daoist, and his heart was faintly shaken. He could already no longer quite see through the other man's depths.

The Divine Sword Elder could not help asking, "You've taken that step?"

The Dragon Mountain Daoist shook his head.

"Still a bit short."

The Divine Sword Elder fell silent. After a moment, he could not help saying sourly, "You old bull's nose, you've been living quite well on True Martial Mountain these years."

The Dragon Mountain Daoist smiled and said, "Thanks to Divine Sword Brother's blessing, True Martial Mountain is indeed a blessed land."

The Divine Sword Elder's face darkened. He always felt that this fellow across from him spoke in a way that was infuriating beyond measure, yet he could not refute him.

He could only snort coldly and say:

"Don't get too pleased with yourself. True Martial Mountain is only in your care for the time being."

The Dragon Mountain Daoist shook his head and laughed despite himself. Sincerely, he said, "So long as Divine Sword Brother says the word, I will return this True Martial Mountain to you. I can seek another place."

"Stop, stop!"

The Divine Sword Elder shouted angrily.

"Don't try that act with me. In all my life, why would I ever need others pointing fingers at what I do? Since I lost True Martial Mountain to you back then, I will not go back on my word. Even if I am to take it back, I must do so openly and uprightly!"

"Dragon Mountain old bull's nose, could it be you think you are no match for me and want to hand it over first?"

"I'm telling you, impossible!"

"You couldn't have already forgotten the Ten-Year Pact, could you?"

The Divine Sword Elder's beard and hair all flared, his aura mighty and fierce, while the Divine Sword Sect disciples behind him lifted their heads and puffed out their chests.