True Martial Nine Piles

Inside Bright Martial Pavilion.

A needle dropped could be heard.

Three pairs of eyes were fixed on Ning Qi, filled with disbelief.

Luo Wentian finally understood why Xiong Shi had been so rash, and why his master had yet to remove his palm.

Junior Brother's Bone Structure had formed!

His breathing abruptly quickened.

"Junior Brother is only three years old!"

He was the Eldest Senior Brother of the True Martial Sect and had already vaguely been groomed by the Dragon Mountain Daoist as his successor. His wish was likewise to revive True Martial. Now that he learned Ning Qi's Bone Structure had formed at the mere age of three, his shock was followed by boundless joy! Luo Wentian excitedly rubbed his hands together.

Xiong Shi, meanwhile, subconsciously puffed out his chest and chuckled. Now you knew why he had been in such a frantic hurry.

Both men looked toward the Dragon Mountain Daoist.

"Master, there shouldn't be any mistake, right..."

The Dragon Mountain Daoist ignored the two of them and merely looked kindly at Ning Qi.

"Little Nine, have you sensed anything unusual lately?"

Ning Qi said, "Disciple has felt as though my body has been itchy and numb these past few days, especially late at night, when the sensation becomes particularly intense. When I woke this morning, it seemed as if I had gained a little more connection with heaven and earth, but the feeling vanished quickly."

For the moment, he concealed the matter of the Innate Bone Forging Art. He planned to find a suitable opportunity after beginning martial training to speak with the Dragon Mountain Daoist alone.

The Dragon Mountain Daoist reproached him lightly. "Why didn't you tell Master about this sooner?"

Then, amazement appeared in his eyes.

"When one's Bone Structure is naturally formed and reaches perfection, one indeed develops a few connections with heaven and earth. They will awaken again in the future and help you climb the heights of the Martial Path. I had thought you would need to be six before your Bone Structure formed. I never expected it to happen so soon. This master misjudged you, Little Nine. You may begin training in martial arts!"

Ning Qi was overjoyed and respectfully bowed.

"Please teach me, Master!"

He had made every effort, even exhausting his mind to create such a peerless secret art as the Innate Bone Forging Art. Had it not all been so he could begin martial training early? Now, his goal was finally about to be achieved.

The Dragon Mountain Daoist stroked his beard and laughed heartily, while Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi smiled in delight as well.

Upon Ning Qi, they saw the rising future of the True Martial Sect.

"Find an opportunity to tell Qinghe and the others about this. As for everyone else, do not spread the news for now."

Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi both nodded respectfully.

"Little Nine, come with me."

The Dragon Mountain Daoist no longer had the heart to continue discussing matters with Luo Wentian. All he wanted now was to see Ning Qi's performance in the Martial Dao.

Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi were equally restless, as though cats were clawing at their hearts.

They looked at each other and followed.

Behind Bright Martial Pavilion.

There was a moderately sized Martial Arena, a place forbidden to Outer Disciples and Inner Disciples.

The Dragon Mountain Daoist stood with his hands behind his back.

"Little Nine, do you already fully understand the initial realms of the Martial Dao?"

Ning Qi nodded.

"The beginning of the Martial Dao is the Tempering Body Eight Realms: Skin Refinement, Flesh Refinement, Tendon Refinement, Bone Refinement, Organ Refinement, Marrow Refinement, Blood Refinement, and Spirit Refinement!"

"Once Blood Refinement is complete, one becomes free of all illness. If one then unifies it with divine will, Inner Strength will arise naturally, and one will step into the Inner Yuan Realm."

The Dragon Mountain Daoist's Daoist robe stirred without wind, and the bearing of a grandmaster arose naturally around him.

"The Martial Dao is arduous. Every step must be taken with one's feet firmly on the ground. It is entirely possible to waste decades in a single realm. Though your talent is passable, you must still be diligent and work hard. Otherwise, it will be difficult to achieve anything in the Martial Dao."

Ning Qi's expression was resolute. "Disciple will remember!"

The Dragon Mountain Daoist smiled. He felt somewhat moved as he recalled the scene of Ning Qi, only half a year old back then, asking whether the Martial Dao could grant longevity. This young disciple's mind was far more mature than that of ordinary people. He had likely resolved to climb the peak of the Martial Dao from that very time.

"The Body Tempering Realm is the beginning of the Martial Dao, but it is also its foundation. Only with a solid foundation can you advance with fierce momentum in the future. To temper the body, you need Stake Skills!"

Ning Qi's eyes shone brightly.

There was not the slightest surprise in them.

Although he had been unable to train in martial arts during these three years, he had considered whether he could forge a Martial Path no predecessor had ever walked. In the end, however, he abandoned the idea. It was not impossible, but the time required would be too great, and the gains would not outweigh the losses.

Even so, he had conceived several ideas.

Using Stake Skills to temper the body was one of them.

"The Stake Skills under heaven are divided into superior, middle, and lower grades. The more superior the skill, the firmer the foundation it lays."

"And our True Martial Sect possesses nine superior Stake Skills!"

"These are the True Martial Nine Piles!"

At this point.

A trace of pride flashed through the Dragon Mountain Daoist's eyes. Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi, standing to one side, also involuntarily straightened their chests. Outsiders did not know the True Martial Foundation; only a few True Disciples like them understood it.

"The dragon has nine sons, each different from the others."

"The True Martial Nine Piles correspond to the Nine Sons of the Dragon: Qiu Niu, Ya Zi, Chao Feng, Pu Lao, Suan Ni, Ba Xia, Bi An, Fu Xi, and Chi Wen."

"Your eight senior brothers and sisters have already chosen eight of the piles. Little Nine, you may cultivate the Bi An Pile."

His face was full of gratification.

Why had he accepted nine True Disciples? It was for the sake of these True Martial Nine Piles.

Whenever he accepted a disciple, he would see which Stake Skill suited that disciple. Naturally, some disciples were suited to multiple Stake Skills, such as Qin Yun and Ning Qi, but he had them choose skills that did not overlap.

Ning Qi asked,

"May I ask, Master, what is so special about these True Martial Nine Piles?"

The Dragon Mountain Daoist's voice carried a trace of longing.

"There is no distinction of superiority or inferiority among the True Martial Nine Piles. It is said that during the True Martial Sect's flourishing era, those who cultivated the True Martial Nine Piles to outstanding heights were known as the True Martial Nine Sons. If all nine True Martial Nine Sons were Heavenly Humans, they could battle a Martial Saint!"

Ning Qi's breathing faintly stalled.

He already knew what sort of existence a Martial Saint was. Such a person was an invincible powerhouse capable of suppressing an entire era. Unless other Martial Saints were born in the same era, they would find no rival.

Yet the True Martial Nine Sons of old could actually battle a Martial Saint.

What an immensely powerful method that was.

Did that not mean the True Martial Sect had Martial Saint-level combat power in every generation? It was difficult to imagine how such a powerful True Martial Sect had declined and headed toward destruction.

However, Ning Qi guessed that the True Martial Nine Piles were only the foundation for battling a Martial Saint. There should be even more profound secret arts and methods.

No wonder Eighth Senior Brother had shouted that the True Martial Nine Sons had finally gathered when Master carried him up the mountain.

A smile appeared on Ning Qi's face as he solemnly said,

"Please teach me the Bi An Pile, Master!"

"Good. Watch carefully."

After saying this, the Dragon Mountain Daoist's expression became grave.

He spread his legs apart, and his aura suddenly changed, like a fierce tiger in the mountains. No—it was a hundred times more terrifying than a fierce tiger! Then he moved, his actions slow.

Yet they carried within them a mysterious rhythm.

"A Stake Skill can move or remain still. Its outward form is secondary; the spirit lies within. Regulate your breath and draw it in and out, grasping its divine will..."

"Visualize Bi An. Exhale like thunder..."

The Dragon Mountain Daoist's voice was steady as he explained unhurriedly.

As he demonstrated the movements, he also explained every point requiring attention.

It was enough to leave an ordinary person dazzled.

Superior Stake Skills naturally laid fine foundations, but they were equally difficult to master.

Ning Qi watched intently and felt as if the entire world were peeling apart before his eyes.

Every movement of the Dragon Mountain Daoist was reflected in his pupils. He saw directly through the surface to the essence: the movements driving the Skin Membrane to writhe, the stirring of breath brought by changes in breathing rhythm, the Bi'an Divine Will issuing from the heart... As the Dragon Mountain Daoist demonstrated, every wonder of the Bi An Pile unfolded before Ning Qi's eyes.

This superior Stake Skill seems rather simple? Ning Qi thought.