Inside the Bright Martial Pavilion.
Silence reigned.
Three pairs of eyes were all fixed on Ning Qi, filled with incredulity.
Luo Wentian finally understood why Xiong Shi was so reckless, and why his master had not moved his palm yet.
Little junior brother's root bone has formed!
His breath suddenly became rapid.
"Little junior brother is only three years old!"
He was the true martial sect's senior brother, already somewhat being groomed as a successor by Taoist Longshan. His wish was also to revive True Martial, and now, knowing that Ning Qi's root bone had formed at just three years old, his shock turned into immense joy!
Luo Wentian rubbed his hands excitedly.
Xiong Shi subconsciously puffed up his chest with a chuckle, now you know why I was in such a hurry, right?
Both of them looked at Taoist Longshan.
"Master, there's no mistake, right..."
Taoist Longshan ignored them, only looking at Ning Qi kindly.
"Jiu, have you felt anything unusual lately?"
Ning Qi replied:
"Disciple feels like my body has been itching and tingling recently, especially at night when the feeling is intense. This morning, it seemed there was more connection with heaven and earth, but the feeling disappeared quickly."
He temporarily concealed the matter of the Innate Bone Nourishing Skill, planning to find a suitable opportunity to speak to Taoist Longshan after starting martial arts training.
Taoist Longshan slightly reprimanded:
"Why didn't you tell master about these situations earlier?"
Then, his eyes showed amazement.
"The innate root bone, at perfection, indeed creates some connection with the world. It will restart again in the future, aiding you to reach the peak of the Martial Path. Originally, I thought you would need until six years old to form your root bone, but not this fast. I was wrong, Jiu, you can start training martial arts now!"
Ning Qi was overjoyed; he respectfully bowed down:
"Please teach me, Master!"
After many efforts and painstakingly creating such an unparalleled secret technique like the Innate Bone Nourishing Skill, wasn't it just to be able to train martial arts earlier? Now, the goal is finally about to be achieved.
Taoist Longshan stroked his beard and laughed, Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi also smiled joyfully.
They saw the promising future of the True Martial Sect in Ning Qi.
"Tell Qinghe and others about this when you get a chance, but don't mention it to others for now."
Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi both nodded respectfully.
"Jiu, follow me."
Taoist Longshan had no intention to continue discussing matters with Luo Wentian; he only wanted to see Ning Qi's performance on the Martial Path now.
Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi, hearts like cats being scratched, exchanged glances and followed up.
Behind the Bright Martial Pavilion.
There was a medium-sized Martial Arts Arena, a place where neither Outer Sect nor Inner Sect disciples could tread.
Taoist Longshan stood with his hands behind his back.
"Jiu, are you completely familiar with the initial realms of the Martial Path?"
Ning Qi nodded:
"The beginning of the Martial Path is the Body Tempering Eight Realms: Refining Skin, Refined Flesh, Refining Tendons, Bone Refining, Refining Organ, Marrow Refining, Blood Refining, Refining Spirit!"
"Once Blood Refining is complete, one can be free of all diseases. If furthermore united by the Divine Intent, Inner Strength would arise, stepping into the Inner Essence Realm."
Taoist Longshan's Taoist Robe moved without the wind, a grandmaster's demeanor naturally manifested.
"The Martial Path is arduous; each step needs to be grounded, possibly lingering in one realm for decades. Although you have decent talent, you also need to work diligently; otherwise, the Martial Path is hard to achieve."
Ning Qi replied with a firm tone:
"Disciple will remember!"
Taoist Longshan smiled, feeling sentimental, recalling the scene when half-year-old Ning Qi asked him about the possibility of longevity through the Martial Path—it was clear this little disciple's mind was far more mature than ordinary people, probably determined to climb to the pinnacle of the Martial Path since then.
"The Body Tempering Realm is the beginning of the Martial Path and also its vital point. A strong foundation will lead to vigorous advancement later. To temper the body, Stance Skill is needed!"
Ning Qi's eyes were extremely bright.
Interestingly, there was no surprise.
These three years, although unable to practice martial arts, he contemplated if he could forge a new Martial Path untraveled by predecessors, but he eventually gave up, not because it was impossible but because it required too much time and was not worthwhile.
Even so, he had several ideas.
Using Stance Skill to temper the body was one of them.
"In the world, there are top, middle, and low tiers of Stance Skills; the superior the skill, the more solid the foundation it establishes."
"And my True Martial Sect has nine superior Stance Skills!"
"These are the True Martial Nine Stances!"
At this point.
Taoist Longshan's eyes showed a hint of pride, and Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi unconsciously puffed their chests; outsiders were unaware of True Martial's foundation, only they as True Disciples knew.
"The dragon has nine sons, each different."
"The True Martial Nine Stances correspond to the dragon's nine sons: Qiu Niu, Vengeance, Chaofeng, Pulao, Suanni, Ba Xia, Bian, Fuxi, Chiwen."
"Your eight senior brothers and sisters have already chosen eight of the stances. Jiu, you can practice the Bian Stance."
He looked gratified.
The reason he accepted nine True Inheritors was precisely for these True Martial Nine Stances.
Each time he took a disciple, he would see which Stance Skill suited the disciple, although some disciples were suitable for multiple Stance Skills, like Qin Yun and Ning Qi, but he always let them choose non-overlapping Stance Skills.
Ning Qi asked:
"May I ask Master what the True Martial Nine Stances signify?"
Taoist Longshan's voice carried a hint of longing:
"Among the True Martial Nine Stances, there's no hierarchy. Rumor has it, during the heyday of the True Martial Sect, those who excelled in the True Martial Nine Stances became the True Martial Nine Sons, and if the True Martial Nine Sons were celestial beings, they could battle the Martial Saints!"
Ning Qi's breath slightly stalled.
He now knew what kind of existences the Martial Saints were; they were unrivaled powerhouses dominating an era. Unless other Martial Saints were born in the same era, they would have no rivals.
Previously, the True Martial Nine Sons could battle Martial Saints.
What a powerful Dharma Method this must be.
Doesn't this imply that every generation of the True Martial Sect had Martial Saint level combat ability?
It's hard to imagine how such a powerful True Martial Sect could decline and fall to ruin.
However, Ning Qi speculated that to battle Martial Saints, the True Martial Nine Stances might only be the foundation; there should be even more profound secret techniques and Dharma Methods involved.
It's no wonder that when his master carried him up the mountain in the early days, the eighth senior brother yelled that the True Martial Nine Sons had finally assembled.
Ning Qi had a smile on his face and solemnly said:
"Please teach me the Bian Stance, Master!"
"Good, you watch closely."
After saying this, Taoist Longshan's expression became serious.
His legs spread apart, and his aura suddenly changed, like a fierce tiger in the mountains—no, a hundred times more terrifying than a fierce tiger!
Then he moved; although the actions were slow, they were imbued with a kind of mystical rhythm.
"The Stance Skill can be dynamic or static, the external form being secondary; the essence lies within, breathing and exhaling to gain its Divine Intent..."
"Visualize the Bian, breathe like thunder..."
Taoist Longshan's voice was steady, speaking slowly.
While demonstrating the moves, he mentioned various precautions.
For an ordinary person, it would be dazzling to watch.
Superior Stance Skills naturally lay a good foundation, but they are equally challenging to master.
Ning Qi watched intently, feeling as though the world was peeling away before his eyes.
Taoist Longshan's moves were reflected in his pupils; he saw the essence beyond the superficial, the movements like skin rippling, the breathing rhythm altering causing the internal energy to surge, the Divine Intent of Bian emerging from within... Along with Taoist Longshan's demonstration, the mystical aspects of the Bian Stance had already unfolded before Ning Qi's eyes.
"This superior Stance Skill seems quite simple?" Ning Qi thought.