Chapter 18: Long Trapped in the Cage

Zhenwu Mountain is located at the border of Qingzhou and Yunzhou, piercing into the clouds like a sharp sword.

After the Daoist of Longshan chose this place to rebuild the Zhenwu Sect years ago, he had thoroughly cleared the mountain. Although some wild beasts remained, none posed a significant threat, and they even served as a means for disciples to gain experience.

However, what Ning Qi intended to visit today were the outer mountain ranges of Zhenwu Mountain, which were somewhat more dangerous.

In this world, there exist powerful beasts known as Exotic Beasts. The strongest among them can rival the power of Heaven-Man experts, capable of moving mountains and summoning rain; they are known as Beast Kings.

While nothing quite that exaggerated existed outside Zhenwu Mountain, it was safer to have an expert accompany him.

The two leaped through the mountain forests.

A look of wonder appeared in Ye Qinghe's eyes.

She felt that her junior brother's movement techniques were swift and elegant, allowing him to keep up with her perfectly without losing his grace. Although part of the reason was that she wasn't exerting her full strength, it was still impressive enough.

"Xiao Jiu, Master has been giving you special training again!" Ye Qinghe pouted.

Ning Qi smiled slightly.

"I created it myself. If you want to learn, I can teach you."

Ye Qinghe burst into laughter, thinking Ning Qi was merely joking.

The two stopped at the edge of a cliff.

The cliff was bottomless, with swirling mists and sunlight filtering through, shimmering in seven colors.

Ning Qi's eyes lit up. Under Ye Qinghe's astonished gaze, he slowly sat cross-legged and became entranced by the shifting clouds.

"Clouds have no fixed form; they are shapeless, gathering with the wind and dispersing with the wind..."

Watching from the side, Ye Qinghe felt puzzled. She tried to mimic Ning Qi's manner of observing the clouds in a trance, but to her, they seemed like nothing more than ordinary mist—beautiful, but that was all.

She wanted to ask, but feared disturbing him.

After a long time.

Ning Qi's body jolted, and he slowly stood up, a spiritual light gleaming in his eyes.

Ye Qinghe hurriedly asked, "Xiao Jiu, what are you doing?"

"Watching the clouds."

"The clouds by the Zhenwu cliffs are much more beautiful than these. Why did you run all the way here to see them?"

"There are similarities, and there are differences."

"To me, they all just look like clouds. What's the difference?"

"Your comprehension is insufficient."

Ye Qinghe was instantly exasperated.

Sometimes her junior brother's words were truly infuriating, yet she had no way to argue back.

Seeing Ning Qi walking away, she hurried to catch up.

But immediately, she saw Ning Qi sit down again before a strange rock.

The stone was several people high and seemed to take a human shape.

"What is he doing now?" she thought with a bitter smile.

A moment later, Ning Qi stood up again, the spiritual light in his mind even more intense.

This time, Ye Qinghe did not ask. Her junior brother had always been unconventional.

She simply engaged him in casual conversation about other things.

Next.

From time to time, Ning Qi would stop to observe something.

Be it the clouds between the cliffs, a strangely shaped stone, the dew on a root, the mountain wind, or even a single leaf or a clump of mud...

Things that Ye Qinghe considered utterly ordinary would cause Ning Qi to pause, sometimes even sitting cross-legged in deep contemplation.

This left her only able to press her forehead and smile bitterly.

She couldn't understand it; she simply couldn't understand the world of geniuses.

She knew that Ning Qi certainly wasn't doing anything meaningless.

And indeed, Ning Qi was gaining much.

*Having long been in a cage, one returns to nature once freed.*

The things here were not much different from those on Zhenwu Mountain, but the key lay in the state of mind; the change in environment gave Ning Qi a different perspective.

He felt that coming out this time was the right decision.

That supreme Stance Technique was almost fully formed in his mind.

"Xiao Jiu, how about we go look at something a bit more interesting?"

Once Ning Qi regained his senses, Ye Qinghe asked softly.

Although she felt he was comprehending something, she was also a little worried that staying alone for too long might cause him some sort of mental issue.

Ning Qi snapped out of it and looked at the bored-to-death Ye Qinghe with a smile.

"Sure!"

A moment later.

Pushing aside the thick leaves, two pairs of eyes peered mischievously. What they saw were two black snakes frantically entwined—not fighting, but something even more intense.

Ye Qinghe's face darkened.

"Xiao Jiu, you think this is interesting?"

"Of course it's interesting. The origin of life lies right here."

Ning Qi spoke with total seriousness, his eyes fixed on them as he fell into a trance once more.

Ye Qinghe was helpless.

Still, it was more interesting than looking at rocks. She muttered to herself occasionally, acting as if she were controlling the two snakes from a distance.

After a while, Ning Qi was satisfied, and the two left silently.

Afterward.

It was as if Ning Qi had made it his mission to observe beasts.

Ye Qinghe led him through the mountain forests.

They continuously observed the activities of various fierce beasts and even Exotic Beasts from close range.

Tigers roaring in the forest.

Eagles hunting rabbits.

Ants moving their nests.

Wolf packs hunting in groups.

...

Ning Qi watched all of this with great enthusiasm.

Of course, observing from such close range inevitably led to some close calls.

For instance, they once encountered a Blood-Horned Wolf, an Exotic Beast with the strength to fight an Inner Yuan Realm martial artist. Had Ning Qi encountered it alone, he likely would have had to retreat.

They also encountered several other Exotic Beasts that were slightly weaker.

Fortunately, there was Ye Qinghe.

She suppressed them with ease.

Ye Qinghe felt exhausted, but seeing the smile dancing on Ning Qi's small face, her resentment vanished. She simply gave Ning Qi's cheek a hard pinch, nearly giving him a kiss. In fact, she had kissed him when he was an infant, but once Ning Qi gained mobility, he had resolutely refused.

This made Ye Qinghe feel sentimental.

Her junior brother was growing up so fast.

Unknowingly.

The setting sun hung in the sky.

Ning Qi looked up, his spirit high.

In contrast, Ye Qinghe looked completely drained.

It was simply too boring!

If not for a mouthful of wine to sustain her life, she might have already collapsed.

Ning Qi smiled. "Senior Sister, let's head back."

Today's goal had been achieved, and the harvest was immense.

He was confident that within three days, this supreme Stance Technique would be perfected.

He only needed to organize his thoughts once they returned home.

"It seems I should travel around more in the future, to see the heavens and earth, and witness the vastness of the mortal world."

Ye Qinghe's eyes lit up. She flipped herself up and pulled Ning Qi along.

Ning Qi couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, offering her a bit of a "pie in the sky" promise.

"Don't worry, Senior Sister. Once I become invincible in this world, I'll hunt down the finest wine in the land for you!"

Ye Qinghe laughed with gratification. "Then I shall hold you to that!"

Then.

She paused for a moment, her lips gradually curling upward, her eyes sparkling.

"I won't bother thinking about being the world's number one Senior Sister for now. How about you just get me a jar of Monkey Wine first?"

Ning Qi also sensed the movement ahead.

That unique howling could only belong to one identity: the Gibbon.

Gibbons have flexible arms, and the Monkey Wine they brew has a unique flavor. At the thought of this, a glisten appeared at the corner of Ye Qinghe's mouth.

The two stopped in their tracks.

Both were startled.

As the dense foliage parted, the gibbon they expected did not appear. Instead, there was a white ape, its body as white as snow. The white ape was only a head taller than Ning Qi, with long arms. Upon seeing the two, a very human-like panic appeared in its eyes.

A look of wonder appeared in Ning Qi's eyes.

Then.

Several gibbons covered in black fur rushed out from the forest. Their eyes were fierce as they bared their teeth at the white ape. Upon seeing Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe, they showed no restraint, snarling and baring their fangs aggressively.

Ye Qinghe crossed her arms, withdrew her gaze from the white ape, and looked lazily at Ning Qi.

"Xiao Jiu, Senior Sister is tired. Why don't you go educate these little monkeys?"