True Martial knows no years.
Winter goes and spring comes, then autumn is once again full.
In the blink of an eye, nearly another year has passed, and Ning Qi, born in winter, is soon to be five years old.
Ning Qi has grown taller again, now even slightly taller than the White Ape, looking no different from a child of seven or eight.
In this nearly one-year period, the True Martial Sect has changed greatly.
Taoist Longshan frequently enters seclusion to seek the opportunity for a breakthrough to become a Celestial Being, handing over all affairs, big and small, to his big disciple Luo Wentian for management, with several other disciples assisting. The True Martial Sect gradually opens its doors to recruit disciples. Up till now, the disciples have exceeded a thousand.
There are even a number of third-generation disciples.
Ning Qi's seniority has once again risen a level.
He has started to be called the Ninth Master Uncle.
However.
Ning Qi is too mysterious and low-key, so many disciples have little concept of this mysterious Ninth Master Uncle.
Instead, they are quite familiar with the White Ape under this Ninth Master Uncle.
As Ning Qi's student, the White Ape naturally counts as a third-generation disciple of the True Martial Sect.
From being cautious at the start to finally revealing his true nature, being mischievous and lively, the White Ape only took a month.
After all, he is lively by nature, unlike Ning Qi who can endure loneliness, often goes out to play, and as a result, he is very familiar with many disciples of the True Martial Sect. The disciples of the True Martial Sect are also thoroughly accustomed to such a special third-generation disciple as the White Ape, and they are very fond of the mischievous White Ape.
Ning Qi lets him be.
He doesn't insist on everyone being like him.
To him, enlightenment and cultivation are top-tier enjoyments, but for others, it may not be.
However.
The White Ape is not without ambition; it is just his nature.
In fact.
The White Ape works harder than most people.
More than half a year ago.
Ning Qi, drawing from human Stance Skills, took the ape image from the Myriad Phenomena Origin Stance to create a skill for the White Ape.
With the experience of creating the Myriad Phenomena Origin Stance, Ning Qi's foundation in the Martial Path has significantly increased.
Without much effort, he created the Ape King Stance suitable for the White Ape's cultivation.
From then on.
The White Ape officially set foot on the path of cultivation.
With the body of a White Ape, practicing the Ape King Stance, he is indeed uniquely gifted, born to comprehend the Ape King Divine Intent, coupled with his intelligence, he cultivates extremely quickly, though not as fast as Ning Qi, he is faster than the unparalleled geniuses among humans.
Ning Qi was surprised and observed carefully.
He discovered that perhaps the bodies of beasts are inherently stronger than humans, making Body Tempering easier.
There might also be the influence of that mysterious red fruit.
But regardless of which it is.
Ning Qi gave the White Ape a warning: without his permission, he must not casually reveal his involvement in the Martial Path, or else he will be expelled.
Ning Qi was worried that if the White Ape's peculiarity was revealed, powerful Exotic Beasts might come upon hearing it.
The White Ape naturally agreed obediently.
Thus, as of now, aside from Ning Qi, no one in the True Martial Sect knows that the White Ape has also started on the Martial Path and has reached a not insignificant realm.
However, the changes in the True Martial Sect and the White Ape are secondary.
The real change.
Is Ning Qi himself.
In the Seeking Tao Institute.
Ning Qi is practicing the Stance Skill.
His punches and kicks slow and gentle with a special charm.
Yet this isn't cultivation, it's just instinctual practice that has accumulated over the past two years.
Reflecting on the path of cultivation in this past year, Ning Qi felt a slight sense of wonder.
Since creating the Myriad Phenomena Origin Stance.
Within just two months.
He had already achieved Refining Organ Perfection.
From then on, his internal organs were robust, inexhaustible on the battlefield, able to contend with hundreds of powerful foes.
Three more months passed.
Marrow Refining Perfection.
The marrow fluid as thick as mercury, strength sublimated, moving like a rabbit.
Another three months passed.
Blood Refining Perfection.
Now the internal qi and blood are unified, the body is smooth and unimpeded, thoroughly harmonized.
In the last two months.
Just seven days ago.
Ning Qi had already crossed the last hurdle of Body Tempering, Refining Spirit.
This is the most difficult stage.
It requires using the 'qi' from the Stance Skill to simply refine the head and stimulate one's own 'spirit.'
But for Ning Qi, it wasn't difficult.
His comprehension was extraordinary, mastering the divine intent of the Stance Skill helped with the Refining Spirit stage, and the variety of divine intents he had mastered far exceeded others, so the time spent was actually less than the previous stages.
"Now that I have perfected Refining Spirit, my mind is clear, my thinking sharp; for an ordinary Martial Artist reaching this stage, it would also lead to spontaneous wisdom."
"But for me, it's not just that."
"With 'spirit' overseeing, inner and outer realms unified, now my physical body has reached a flawless and perfect state, capable of longevity for two Jiazi, with an enhancement in life strength, my comprehension has also increased once more!"
Ning Qi's eyes held delight.
He seeks the path to longevity.
Though living for two Jiazi is only a slight improvement, it brings him joy; it is one step at a time, walking upon the great path.
Moreover.
Peak comprehension will continuously enhance with the upgrade of his life's essence, always staying at its strongest state.
This is his foundation.
In the future, if he could elevate his life's essence to be on par with heaven and earth, comprehending myriad dao with a single thought might be a simple matter.
Of course.
It's not just about the extension of lifespan.
Ning Qi's combat power is equally remarkable.
With the Myriad Phenomena Origin Stance forging an unparalleled foundation.
Now his physical body is perfected, a shake of his arms holds a force of a hundred thousand pounds.
Moreover, Ning Qi has also conducted some research into the Slaughter Technique, where ordinary people find it difficult to compare, and even casually, it might be enough to put geniuses to shame, especially the Myriad Phenomena Fist he created to complement the Myriad Phenomena Origin Stance, which is even more powerful.
Ning Qi almost never competes with others.
But he believes that even in the Inner Essence Realm, there might be some who are not his match.
It's hard to imagine.
That this is merely a child not yet five years old.
Virtually a human-shaped Fierce Beast.
"However, one should not underestimate the Inner Essence Realm, Inner Strength is a very powerful force, although it does not break out like Gang Essence, cutting mountains and rivers, it can greatly enhance the human body, stacking strength nine times, becoming more formidable each time."
Ning Qi is not arrogant or complacent.
Though he has achieved a certain level of success now.
It's still early for him to be invincible in the world.
"Now my physical body is perfected, the next step is to use 'spirit' to stimulate the body, generate Inner Strength, and thus step into the Inner Essence Realm."
For ordinary people, this stage is also not easy to pass, with some being stuck here for a lifetime, aging and weakening, their bodies decaying, unable to break the realm and extend their lives.
But for Ning Qi.
It is just a matter of course.
His foundation is too robust, moreover, it is foreseeable that the Inner Strength he generates will surely be strong enough.
"Two months is enough."
Ning Qi silently estimated.
His eyes showed some anticipation.
By then he will just be five years old, able to step into the Inner Essence Realm, live for two hundred years, another leap in life.
"During this period, I can think about the cultivation path of the Inner Essence Realm and prepare in advance."
"But before that, there's still something that needs to be resolved."
Ning Qi called to the White Ape beside him.
"Tiansheng, it's time for us to go."
The White Ape, dressed in a gray Taoist Robe, almost indistinguishable from a human, stopped his practice of the Ape King Stance and quickly followed up.
Today.
Is the ten-year appointment between the Divine Sword Old Man and Taoist Longshan.