Obedient Ning Rongrong

Under Shi Quan's supervision, Ning Rongrong's Horse Stance quickly became more proper. However, after holding the correct posture for only a few minutes, her movements began to distort again.

"Don't raise your body." Shi Quan lightly pressed his wooden stick against Ning Rongrong's shoulder.

Ning Rongrong's expression grew more serious. This time, it was not because she was angry, but because she had discovered that although this simple, straightforward stance was not difficult to assume at first, maintaining it was exceptionally hard.

At that moment, she felt as if ants were gnawing at her legs. They were sore, swollen, and painful, and her body instinctively wanted to stand up. Yet the moment she rose, Shi Quan pressed her back down again.

Why did he look so relaxed while standing there just now? Ning Rongrong could not help but wonder. It was clearly the same stance. Shi Quan had stood for so long and seemed perfectly fine, yet after only a few minutes, she could no longer endure it.

He has only Innate Level One Spirit Power, and his Spirit Soul is even Blue Silver Grass. If he can persist, why can't I? Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and kept going.

Though Ning Rongrong looked down on others, she was also proud. If she had not known that Shi Quan possessed only Innate Level One Spirit Power and had the useless Blue Silver Grass Spirit Soul, she would have long since given up, claiming that he was a Battle Spirit Master while she was merely a Support Spirit Master, so they were different.

But after learning of Shi Quan's circumstances, Ning Rongrong's competitive spirit was immediately stirred. Deep down, she had always believed herself to be the most outstanding and talented. How could she allow someone with only Innate Level One Spirit Power to surpass her?

Ning Fengzhi had seen through this pride of Ning Rongrong's, which was precisely why he had sent her to Shi Quan's side. On one hand, he wanted Ning Rongrong to befriend Shi Quan. On the other, he wanted Shi Quan to properly temper Ning Rongrong's arrogance. If she could learn something useful from Shi Quan, that would naturally be best.

It could be said that it achieved three goals at once.

Watching Ning Rongrong persist, Shi Quan was somewhat surprised. This should not have matched her personality.

"Interesting." Shi Quan smiled as he watched Ning Rongrong grit her teeth and refuse to yield.

As far as appearance went, Ning Rongrong was certainly not lacking. Coupled with her naturally noble and elegant bearing, she could absolutely be called a little princess.

Though at present, she was merely a spoiled and overbearing little princess.

Even though Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and persisted, this was her first time practicing the Horse Stance. Moreover, Shi Quan kept correcting her mistakes at the side to prevent her from damaging her knees. She only managed to hold it for a few more minutes.

Her legs went weak, and Ning Rongrong still fell to the ground uncontrollably.

"Don't lie down. Sit up and cultivate your spirit power."

Ning Rongrong raised her head and glared fiercely at Shi Quan. Though unwilling, she still gritted her teeth and sat up, using both hands to force her trembling legs into place before beginning to cultivate.

"She's being this obedient?" Shi Quan looked at Ning Rongrong in surprise.

In his estimation, he should have needed to knock Ning Rongrong down a peg at least a few more times and thoroughly suppress her arrogance before she would settle down.

Yet after only one day, Ning Rongrong had become this obedient? Something about it felt off, but he could not put his finger on it.

Shi Quan could not be bothered to think too much about it. Obedience was naturally for the best. It saved him from wasting so much effort.

While Ning Rongrong cultivated nearby, Shi Quan resumed practicing the Horse Stance.

Martial Arts, Martial Arts.

Aside from techniques, these foundational skills were also essential. As the saying went, "Practice martial techniques without cultivating the fundamentals, and all your efforts will be wasted by old age."

However, Shi Quan's Horse Stance differed from Ning Rongrong's. His movements carried a more unique rhythm. Though the stance appeared simple, as Inner Force flowed through his body, every muscle from head to toe pulsed in a regular rhythm.

This was the Indestructible Divine Skill. Most Martial Arts, when paired with specific movements and environments, could greatly aid one's cultivation.

As Shi Quan's muscles pulsed, the pale Blue Light of Blue Silver Grass blossomed from his hand. A light-blue halo spread out, and it seemed as though the entire forest had fallen silent. Only the sound of the breeze brushing through the grass could be heard. The surrounding flowers, grass, and trees swayed gently, producing a strange resonance with the Blue Silver Grass in Shi Quan's hand.

Streams of peculiar energy flowed into Shi Quan's body, easing the waves of soreness radiating from his muscles and bones.

After merging with Xiao Meng, Shi Quan's Spirit Power had surged dramatically. Through his own exploration, he had successfully combined the cultivation of his Spirit Soul with Martial Arts.

Among them, the Indestructible Divine Skill and the Muscle and Marrow Cleansing method were the most compatible with the Blue Silver Grass Spirit Soul. This was because Blue Silver Grass could absorb the life force within plants, and that life force could greatly assist both Martial Arts.

For some reason, Ning Rongrong, who was cultivating nearby, suddenly felt her heart calm considerably. The soreness and swelling in her legs gradually faded as well, and she slowly immersed herself in cultivation.

When she awoke from cultivation, she discovered that Shi Quan beside her was also immersed in training. She saw that he was performing a new movement: his left leg was bent, his body lowered, his right knee lifted forward into the air, and his hands formed a circle as though embracing something. He stood motionless like a pillar, giving her the impression of a great tree.

She instinctively wanted to try the stance. Supporting oneself on one leg already tested one's balance, not to mention bending the knee to lower one's center of gravity. The moment she tried, she fell flat onto her backside, grimacing in pain as she rubbed her butt.

"You haven't even learned to walk, and you already want to run?" Shi Quan's eyes remained half-closed, and he maintained his posture, yet his voice carried over clearly.

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. She got up and said indignantly, "What are you so smug about? This young lady will be able to do all of that sooner or later."

"Then continue with the stance from before." Shi Quan still did not open his eyes as he calmly said, "I hope you can meet the standard this time and hold it for a Quarter of an Hour."

"A Quarter of an Hour it is." Ning Rongrong stood up and resumed the Horse Stance.

"Keep your posture proper." Shi Quan's indifferent voice came again.

Ning Rongrong frowned at Shi Quan. She was certain he had not opened his eyes, but she still felt as if Shi Quan could see right through her.

"Hmph, I know. I don't need you to remind me. Isn't it just spreading my legs, lowering my center of gravity, and straightening my back?" Ning Rongrong snorted and tried her best to correct her Horse Stance.

After all, this was only her second time doing it. No matter how clever Ning Rongrong was, how could she possibly perform it perfectly after just one attempt?

While cultivating, Shi Quan observed Ning Rongrong's condition with Spirit Sense. Seeing that her Horse Stance was riddled with flaws, he could only slowly open his eyes and remind her again.

As Ning Rongrong listened to Shi Quan's instructions, she committed them to memory while continuously correcting her movements.

"Why do these movements need to be so strictly standardized?" Ning Rongrong could not help asking out of curiosity.

Shi Quan still wore that indifferent expression as he explained, "Proper movements not only improve the effects of training, but also effectively protect your body. If your movements are improper and you maintain the wrong posture for a long time, not only will the results be worse, but you will also injure your body. This applies to both your current Horse Stance and running."

"Horse Stance?" Ning Rongrong lowered her head to look at her posture and said with a smile, "Leaving everything else aside, the name you gave this move is quite fitting. It really does resemble riding a horse."

"Stop talking and focus on maintaining your posture."

"Tch." Seeing Shi Quan's indifferent attitude toward her, Ning Rongrong shot him a glance before seriously adjusting her movements, making her Horse Stance as proper as possible.

After all, she was a beginner, and she was also a girl. Even though she gritted her teeth and persevered, she ultimately lasted only twelve minutes before collapsing onto the ground. Her face was flushed as she panted heavily, clearly exhausted.

Yet Shi Quan acted as if he had not seen Ning Rongrong's tired state. "Rest for ten minutes, then get up and continue."

Ning Rongrong wanted to say something, but when she saw Shi Quan maintaining that strange posture as he cultivated beside her, she forcibly swallowed her words.

Her pride would not allow her to admit defeat. She had stubbornly begun competing with Shi Quan. Before even ten minutes had passed, she stood up again and resumed the Horse Stance.

Because of her depleted stamina, Ning Rongrong did not even last ten minutes this time before collapsing to the ground again.

"You can cultivate now."

Shi Quan had Ning Rongrong cultivate once more. Training the Horse Stance needed to be gradual. Since Ning Rongrong did not know Martial Arts, the Horse Stance could only serve as exercise for her. It was enough to increase it at appropriate times. Holding the Horse Stance for too long would bring harm rather than benefit. Combined with proper cultivation, it could not only relieve the fatigue in her legs but also speed up her recovery.

And so, Ning Rongrong spent almost the entire afternoon alternating between cultivation and the Horse Stance.

When the training ended, Shi Quan specifically reminded her to return and soak in a medicinal bath. Otherwise, it would not be easy for her to get out of bed tomorrow.

Dormitory.

The steamy bathing room was filled with the scent of medicine.

Ning Rongrong lay lazily in the bathtub. After a tiring day, she felt incomparably relaxed. At ten years old, she had not yet begun developing, and her chest was still completely flat.

"Is Shi Quan some kind of monster? I only practiced the Horse Stance for a little while, and I'm already this tired. He seemed to train all afternoon, yet he looks completely fine."

At the thought of Shi Quan, Ning Rongrong could not help slapping the water in irritation.

"Still, this training method really is simple and effective. It's much more convenient and efficient than running. I wonder how he discovered all these methods. He can even achieve Over-Level Absorption of Spirit Rings. He really is impressive."

As she thought about it, Ning Rongrong had no choice but to admit that Shi Quan was indeed clever. No wonder Ning Fengzhi had specifically sent her here.

But when she thought of how both she and Shi Quan were ten years old, the gap between them seemed rather too great.

"Hmph. He's only a little smarter, that's all."

Ning Rongrong comforted herself. Getting her to acknowledge someone else's excellence was hardly so easy.