One thousand eight hundred volumes of Daoist scriptures were indeed quite useful.
On the day the disciples of the Zhenxuan Sect descended the mountain, Luo Wentian personally escorted them with the True Disciples all the way to the outskirts of Zhenwu City, bidding a reluctant farewell.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, let's part ways here. When you visit our Zhenxuan Sect in the future, we'll treat you well."
The Daoist surnamed Ye from Zhenxuan Sect felt the warmth of the Zhenwu disciples and smiled.
Luo Wentian replied with a smile:
"Absolutely! I've long admired the Zhenxuan Sect's reputation. I will definitely visit!"
These past few days of discussions and sparring between the two sects' disciples had benefited both sides, and they had a good impression of one another. The Zhenxuan Sect disciples were not arrogant and did not look down on the Zhenwu Sect just because they were ranked fifth among Daoist sects.
"Farewell!"
The Daoist surnamed Ye waved with a smile.
As he turned around, his face immediately darkened.
In the distance, he saw an old and young pair walking arm in arm. To be precise, the old Daoist was clinging to the younger one, saying who knows what.
"Uncle Baishan!"
The Daoist surnamed Ye's temple throbbed, and he raised his voice, his face burning with embarrassment. He didn't need to guess—his uncle must be trying to dupe someone again. He'd heard those same lines so many times he had calluses in his ears.
Old Daoist Baishan waved him off impatiently, then shamelessly turned back to Ning Qi and said with a smile:
"Little Ning Qi, you must come to Daozhou for a visit. Within three years, this old Daoist will definitely reach the Heaven-Man Realm, I swear! When the Heaven-Man Ceremony comes, you come along, and I'll take you to get some Daoist scriptures from those minor sects to have a look!"
Ning Qi was a little surprised.
The old Daoist was usually unreliable, but he sounded completely natural this time.
Sensing the old Daoist's aura, he actually found it quite plausible, and couldn't help but nod slightly.
"Be sure to bring Little White Ape too!"
The old Daoist was reluctant to part but was dragged away by the black-faced Daoist surnamed Ye.
The members of the Zhenxuan Sect departed.
In the distance, one could still hear the old Daoist bickering with the Daoist surnamed Ye. Everyone smiled knowingly. Luo Wentian, having learned about Baishan Daoist's antics, sighed and said:
"Senior Baishan is truly a character."
Ning Qi's lips curled into a smile.
Luo Wentian waved his hand grandly:
"Let's go, back to the mountain."
But Ning Qi shook his head and smiled:
"Senior Brother, I'm going to take a look around Zhenwu City."
Everyone was stunned.
Then they saw Ning Qi already heading in the direction of Zhenwu City. Ye Qinghe's eyes lit up:
"I'll go with Little Nine. You all go ahead."
Luo Wentian chuckled.
But he thought it was a good thing. Ning Qi usually stayed on the mountain and rarely went down. It was rare for him to take the initiative to go into Zhenwu City. Everyone was pleased.
"Come back early," Luo Wentian simply reminded.
...
It was indeed Ning Qi's first time visiting Zhenwu City.
He had been to small towns once or twice, but ever since Daoist Longshan's Heaven-Man Ceremony prompted the reconstruction into Zhenwu City, it had become far more magnificent.
The four city gates at the north, south, east, and west corresponded to the Four Symbols. The main roads crisscrossed, dividing the city into smaller squares. For the townsfolk, it was a blessing—many had benefited from the transformation.
"What do you think? Isn't Zhenwu City impressive? I was one of the overseers back then, you know! Little Nine, you should've come to see it earlier."
Ye Qinghe walked beside him, enthusiastically giving introductions.
Ning Qi only smiled and nodded.
But today, he hadn't come to stroll.
He came to find the Heaven-Man Realm experts secretly placed by the imperial court.
If the court had indeed stationed experts around the Zhenwu Sect, then Zhenwu City was the most logical location. If the Demonic Sect attacked Mount Zhenwu, they could rush to assist immediately.
Ning Qi's Silent Technique completely concealed his presence, undetectable by anyone. With it, he also reverse-engineered a powerful sensory martial art.
Over the past few days, thanks to the many Daoist scriptures sent by the Zhenxuan Sect, Ning Qi had found inspiration from one that enlightened the Aspect of Wind. He used it to refine his sensory technique, creating a new chapter: Wind Perception.
At this moment.
Walking through the bustling streets of Zhenwu City.
Ning Qi could feel the wind's movements. Threads of invisible wind drifted by, falling upon passersby—he could sense even the slightest trace of aura.
Ning Qi stopped in front of a pork stall.
The shopkeeper was a brawny butcher with his chest exposed. He tried hard to restrain his intimidating presence and squeezed out a smile:
"Hey kid, want some top-quality black pork?"
Ning Qi smiled slightly:
"One jin, please."
Ye Qinghe was puzzled. They had plenty of exotic beast meat on the mountain, way better than ordinary pork, but she sensibly didn't ask.
"All right, here you go!"
Ning Qi took it, and the two of them left. Watching them walk away, the butcher was confused.
He recognized them—they were both disciples of Daoist Longshan. But why come to him for pork?
Could they have identified his true identity?
But even Daoist Longshan didn't know he was here. He was very confident in his aura-concealing technique.
Strange indeed.
He shook his head, deciding not to overthink it and chalked it up to coincidence.
Ning Qi turned back and smiled faintly. With that brief close contact, he had finally confirmed the butcher's strength.
No doubt about it.
Definitely a Heaven-Man Realm expert.
"So the imperial court wasn't bluffing after all."
Ning Qi relaxed slightly.
He had feared the Great Yan court was playing tricks. If the Demonic Sect really attacked, and no real support was nearby, the consequences for the Zhenwu Sect would be unbearable.
Next.
He and Ye Qinghe wandered casually around the city, occasionally stopping to buy and ask questions. They looked just like a pair of curious kids. Ye Qinghe happily explained everything to Ning Qi.
However.
What Ye Qinghe didn't know was that Ning Qi was secretly identifying all the hidden court experts in the city.
His Wind Perception first did a broad sweep. Any anomalies were then carefully sensed—none could escape Ning Qi's watchful eye.
Two hours later.
Looking at the big bags in his hands, Ning Qi smiled:
"Senior Sister, let's go back."
On the road back to the mountain.
Ning Qi felt much more at ease.
"There are three Heaven-Man Realm experts and ten Core Formation Realm ones in the city. Seems the Great Yan court is really taking this seriously. Even though General Shenyu and the Wang Clan draw most of the attention, the court's strategy may well be to ambush from here."
"I just wonder if there are more Heaven-Man experts hidden elsewhere outside of Zhenwu City."
Ning Qi pondered.
At least on the surface, counting himself and Master, there were already five Heaven-Man Realm combatants. Unless the Demonic Sect sent seven or eight or more, it would be nearly impossible to take them down by force.
That seemed unlikely.
The Zhenwu Sect wasn't worth that kind of effort.
And if fewer Heaven-Man Realm enemies showed up, they could easily be repelled.
"At least while the court's Heaven-Man Realm experts are still here, Mount Zhenwu should be relatively safe. If I can develop the False Core Technique before they leave, it'll be even safer."
Ning Qi let out a breath of relief.
That night, he ate two extra pieces of pork.
He had loved pork in his past life, but today that black pork was especially delicious.
...
Ten days passed in a blink.
Seeking Dao Courtyard.
White Ape was training in Ape King Force. After entering the Inner Origin Realm, he remained as diligent as ever. Ning Qi had also taught him Dreamsleep Art and even prepared a Dreamsleep Pill for him. His progress was extraordinary, far surpassing normal people.
As for Ning Qi himself.
He was meditating on the Dao.
His hands idly flipped through Daoist scriptures, but his mind was replaying the scene of General Shenyu and the Green Ox Bladesman jointly ambushing Old Demon Lin. Technically, it was the only Heaven-Man Realm battle Ning Qi had ever witnessed.
And all three were experts ranked on the Heaven-Man Ranking, with mastery over the power of Heaven and Earth far beyond ordinary Heaven-Man Realm cultivators.
Many aspects of that battle had inspired Ning Qi.
His study of the False Core Technique was, at its heart, a study of how to harness the power of Heaven and Earth. That battle gave him the key to connect the dots.
"The Beast King's core is ultimately an external object. If I want to replace the Core Formation with it, maybe I'll have to take a risk?"
Ning Qi recalled how Old Demon Lin, despite a mutilated body and spraying blood, kept regenerating flesh and fighting fiercely.
"That's because his body had formed some connection with the power of Heaven and Earth. As long as the Core wasn't shattered, the energy kept flooding back in. Even a wrecked body didn't matter."
"If that's the case, maybe I can also try to connect my body with the False Core?"
A spark of insight burst in Ning Qi's mind, as if a great bell had rung.
The greatest issue that had plagued him for days was finally solved.
Before him, the jade box opened on its own.
The beast core shimmered with lightning as it floated upward.
After being purified by the power of Heaven and Earth, it now looked like a flawless purple pearl.
Ning Qi's gaze was calm and resolute. Qi Force surged at his fingertip. He gently drew a line over his heart, the flesh parting like silk. The faintly visible heartbeat was suppressed by his powerful body, keeping the blood from gushing out.
Then he grasped the core and slowly pressed it into the wound over his heart.
As the wound gradually healed, the Beast King's core fused into Ning Qi's body.
In an instant, Ning Qi entered the Unity of Heaven and Man state. The power of Heaven and Earth surged around him. Gazing inward, he saw the Beast King's core resting on the surface of his heart, not fully merged.
His Qi Force began vibrating and circulating at a unique frequency. Dominant Tiger True Intent spread through his body.
Tiny blood-red tendrils grew from the core and heart, like blood vessels, gradually intertwining.
In that moment.
Ning Qi's body trembled.
An unprecedented sensation of power filled him.
"Using the Beast King's core to form a False Core and glimpse the Heaven-Man Realm in advance—this technique shall be called the Heaven-Merging False Core Technique!"
Ning Qi opened his eyes, lightly clenched his fist, and his gaze gleamed with excitement.
He felt like he was getting strong.