Ask for Longevity

Ask for Longevity

Although Ning Qi was not an impatient person, the thought of having to wait another full seven and a half years before he could touch the Martial Dao still felt far too long.

After all.

He possessed Max Level Comprehension. Once he set foot on the Martial Path, he would surely advance by leaps and bounds with each passing day.

Ning Qi had not forgotten the extermination of his family half a year ago.

He did not want to be like Huang Shang, only to find that by the day his divine arts were perfected, all his enemies had already died.

These days.

He had begun pondering how to speed up the formation of his Bone Structure. The dense Innate Qi within him seemed to have a rather good effect, but he had yet to uncover its greatest potential. Everyone in the True Martial Sect knew Ning Qi was a prodigy and feared that if he came into contact with the Martial Dao too early, he would stray onto the wrong path. Thus, they would not let him read any books related to the Martial Dao.

What Ning Qi knew had been pieced together from Miscellaneous Studies, so there might be inaccuracies.

"Why not ask Master?"

Ning Qi made up his mind.

He feared that he had misunderstood something. He wanted to know what the so-called Bone Structure truly was, so that he could create a secret art to accelerate its formation and put the Innate Qi he had intercepted back then to use.

He took step after step, his little arms and legs swinging as he walked in an utterly adorable manner. Coupled with his delicately carved, jade-like features, he was even more lovable.

Along the way.

Whenever the outer and inner disciples of the True Martial Sect saw Ning Qi, they respectfully bowed and addressed him as Ninth Senior Brother.

That was the rule. True Disciples took precedence.

Ning Qi clasped his hands behind his back and nodded with the air of an old man. "Greetings, Junior Brothers and Sisters."

All the disciples secretly laughed, though inwardly they were also astonished. This Ninth Senior Brother truly was no ordinary child. At merely half a year old, his mind was already so mature, and his steps were steady and distinct from others.

It was just that the way his little arms and legs swung about was far too amusing.

Ning Qi continued walking.

A pair of strong arms scooped him up.

"Little Nine, you're running around again!"

Hearing the laughter, Ning Qi knew who it was without even turning around. It was Fifth Senior Brother Jiang Baishan. Ning Qi struggled to get down.

"Fifth Senior Brother, put me down. I can walk by myself!"

The fair and handsome young man laughed heartily, his eyes brimming with affection.

"Easy, easy. Don't fall. I'll put you down."

"Fifth Senior Brother, are you going to see Master?"

"That's right. I've stayed on the mountain for so long that I need to go down and gain some experience, lest others look down on our True Martial Sect."

Anticipation shone in Jiang Baishan's eyes.

Before Qin Yun entered the sect, he had possessed the greatest talent. Now, his strength was already close to that of Eldest Senior Brother Luo Wentian.

"Fifth Senior Brother, you're amazing! Then what realm are you at now?"

"Of course your Fifth Senior Brother is amazing. At only twenty-five, I've already... Pah! Little Ning Qi, you're trying to trick me into revealing it. I'm not telling you! You little imp, you'll naturally know when you grow up."

"If you won't tell me, I'll ask Master myself!"

This scene had played out many times. His Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters would not even tell him about Martial Dao realms. Ning Qi curled his lips, swung his arms, and ran into the Bright Martial Pavilion.

Jiang Baishan could not help but laugh.

Shaking his head, he followed closely behind.

Inside the attic.

Dragon Mountain Daoist was meditating with his eyes closed. Only after quite a while did he slowly open them.

"Disciple pays respects to Master!"

Ning Qi and Jiang Baishan saluted respectfully.

Dragon Mountain Daoist smiled at his two disciples, especially Ning Qi. The fondness in his eyes was wholly undisguised. This disciple was simply too lovable. He learned everything quickly, and Dragon Mountain Daoist had already begun looking forward to the day Ning Qi set foot on the Martial Dao.

Perhaps the future of the True Martial Sect rested upon this disciple.

"Master, this disciple wishes to descend the mountain for training and spread the might of our True Martial Sect," Jiang Baishan stated his purpose.

Dragon Mountain Daoist looked gratified.

"Descending the mountain for training is a good thing. Spreading our might is secondary; broadening your horizons is what matters most. You must take care of your own safety. In recent years, the Demonic Path has shown signs of rekindling, so remember well not to become entangled in it."

Feeling his master's concern, Jiang Baishan was moved.

"This disciple shall remember Master's teachings."

Dragon Mountain Daoist slowly nodded, then turned to Ning Qi with a gentle smile. "Little Nine, why have you come to see your master today? Did your Third Senior Sister tease you again, so you came here to complain?"

Jiang Baishan laughed as well.

Ye Qinghe was the one who loved teasing Ning Qi the most.

Yet Ning Qi shook his head. His small face wrinkled as he mysteriously leaned closer and said:

"Disciple discovered a strange matter. Every night, I feel a numb, itchy sensation deep within my body. Master, there aren't monsters on True Martial Mountain, are there?"

Dragon Mountain Daoist laughed and scolded, "Nonsense."

Yet after hearing Ning Qi's words, he fell into thought. He reached out and placed a hand on Ning Qi's shoulder. Ning Qi could feel a Mysterious Power seeming to surge through his body, and then a trace of surprise appeared on Dragon Mountain Daoist's face.

"This is... his Bone Structure is accelerating its formation. How could it be this early?"

Delight appeared on Ning Qi's face.

"Master, does that mean I can also practice martial arts early in the future, like Eighth Senior Brother?"

Jiang Baishan also looked at Dragon Mountain Daoist in delight, but Dragon Mountain Daoist merely smiled and tapped Ning Qi on the head.

"You little sly, trying to test your master by beating around the bush."

With the intelligence of his youngest disciple, how could Ning Qi possibly have failed to notice such a change? Talk of monsters was merely an excuse to make him reveal the matter.

Ning Qi chuckled and asked what he had always wanted to know. "Master, what exactly is Bone Structure?"

Dragon Mountain Daoist pondered slightly before saying, "Very well. I shall tell you about it today, so that you will not be full of doubts and grow restless with anxiety. Since your Bone Structure has already begun accelerating its formation, you must also pay attention to medicinal and dietary nourishment from now on."

Ning Qi sat upright.

"The so-called Bone Structure is neither the meridians nor the bones. It is not a tangible thing, but the Human Foundation, the Human Body Treasure. At Infant Birth, a seed falls. It needs time to be watered and nurtured. So long as one grows between Heaven and Earth and is nourished by Mysterious Power, it can continue growing."

"Countless Ancestors have studied this and reached a conclusion: for the vast majority of children, their Bone Structure Formed at Eight Years Old. A small number with abundant inborn qualities can form earlier. Take your Eighth Senior Brother, for instance. He set foot on the Martial Path at seven years old."

"As for you, perhaps you will be even faster."

Dragon Mountain Daoist stroked his beard and smiled. He recalled seeing Ning Qi in the Fire Sea Secret Compartment half a year ago. That Innate Qi had indeed been sufficiently dense, but he had never expected it to begin accelerating its growth when Ning Qi was only half a year old.

Generally speaking, those who practiced martial arts early could achieve considerable accomplishments and had a greater chance of reaching the High Martial Realm, though it was not absolute.

Naturally, he did not know that Ning Qi had already begun consciously directing his Innate Qi to merge into his body.

Ning Qi came to a sudden realization.

He had always believed that Bone Structure referred to things like the body's muscles and bones, which needed to develop to a certain degree before they could bear the Martial Dao.

Now, it seemed that was merely the surface.

The matter of Bone Structure was actually so mysterious, involving both the Human Foundation and the Power of Heaven and Earth.

His earlier attempts had been a case of stumbling into it by chance. He had merely happened to go From Surface to Inside.

Fortunately, he had clarified the direction in time. This was the advantage of having a master. Even though Ning Qi possessed Max Level Comprehension, while he was still weak in the early stages, proper guidance could help him avoid many detours.

"Thank you, Master, for resolving this disciple's doubts!" Ning Qi said respectfully.

Joy filled his heart. His confusion had been dispelled, and he had found his direction. So long as he was given some time, creating a secret art to accelerate the formation of his Bone Structure would not be difficult.

Six years old?

He still felt that was too long.

Dragon Mountain Daoist smiled.

"Since we have spoken of Bone Structure today, bring up any other questions you have as well, lest you, little imp, keep thinking about them day after day."

Ning Qi's eyes lit up, and he asked a question he dearly wished to know. "May I ask, Master, can the Martial Dao grant longevity?"

The longing in his eyes shone with incomparable brilliance.