Chapter 9: The Nine Stances of Zhenwu

Inside the Mingwu Pavilion.

You could hear a pin drop.

Three pairs of eyes were fixed on Ning Qi, filled with disbelief.

Luo Wentian finally understood why Xiong Shi had been so reckless, and why his master had been so slow to pull his hand away.

His little junior brother’s bone structure had fully formed!

His breathing suddenly became rapid.

"Little Junior Brother is only three years old!"

As the eldest disciple of the Zhenwu Sect, he was already being groomed by Daoist Longshan as his successor. His own wish was to revitalize the Zhenwu Sect, and now, upon learning that Ning Qi’s bone structure had formed at the tender age of three, his shock was followed by immense joy.

Luo Wentian rubbed his hands together in excitement.

Meanwhile, Xiong Shi subconsciously puffed out his chest and chuckled, thinking, *Now you know why I was in such a rush.*

Both of them looked toward Daoist Longshan.

"Master, there shouldn't be any mistake, right..."

Daoist Longshan ignored them, looking at Ning Qi with a gentle expression.

"Xiao Jiu, have you felt anything unusual lately?"

Ning Qi replied

"Disciple feels that my body has been itchy and numb lately, especially in the dead of night; the sensation is particularly intense. When I woke up this morning, I seemed to have a bit more of a connection with the world around me, though that feeling faded very quickly."

He temporarily omitted the matter of the Innate Bone-Nurturing Technique, planning to find a suitable opportunity to tell Daoist Longshan alone after he began his martial arts training.

Daoist Longshan chided him slightly

"Why didn't you tell Master about these conditions sooner?"

Immediately, his eyes filled with wonder.

"A naturally formed bone structure. When it reaches perfection, it does indeed develop a connection with the heavens and earth. In the future, it will restart, helping you ascend to the peak of the martial path. I originally thought you would need to be six years old for your bone structure to form. I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. It seems I underestimated you. Xiao Jiu, you may begin your martial arts training!"

Ning Qi was overjoyed. He bowed respectfully

"Please, Master, teach me!"

All his efforts, and the painstaking energy he spent creating the peerless secret technique that was the Innate Bone-Nurturing Technique, were for the sake of starting his martial arts training early. Now, his goal was finally about to be achieved.

Daoist Longshan stroked his beard and laughed, while Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi also smiled happily.

In Ning Qi, they saw the rising future of the Zhenwu Sect.

"Find an opportunity to tell Qinghe and the others about this. As for everyone else, do not spread the word for now."

Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi both nodded respectfully.

"Xiao Jiu, come with me."

Daoist Longshan was no longer in the mood to continue discussing matters with Luo Wentian; he only wanted to see Ning Qi’s performance in martial arts now.

Luo Wentian and the other were also itching with curiosity.

They exchanged a glance and followed.

Behind the Mingwu Pavilion.

There was a medium-sized martial arts arena, a place where outer and inner sect disciples were not permitted to step.

Daoist Longshan stood with his hands behind his back.

"Xiao Jiu, are you fully familiar with the initial realms of the martial path?"

Ning Qi nodded

"The beginning of the martial path consists of the eight realms of Body Tempering: Skin Refining, Flesh Refining, Tendon Refining, Bone Refining, Organ Refining, Marrow Refining, Blood Refining, and Spirit Refining!"

"Once Blood Refining is complete, one can be free from all illnesses. If one then integrates it with divine intent, internal energy is born, and one steps into the Internal Origin Realm."

Daoist Longshan’s robes fluttered without wind, and a master’s aura naturally emanated from him.

"The martial path is difficult. Every step must be taken with feet firmly on the ground. It is possible to spend decades stuck in a single realm. Although your talent is decent, you must be diligent and hardworking, otherwise, you will not succeed in the martial path."

Ning Qi said with a firm expression

"Disciple will keep that in mind!"

Daoist Longshan smiled, feeling a sense of emotion. He remembered the scene when a six-month-old Ning Qi asked him if martial arts could lead to immortality. This little disciple’s mind was far more mature than most; perhaps he had been determined to climb to the peak of the martial path since then.

"The Body Tempering Realm is the beginning of the martial path, and also its foundation. If the foundation is laid well, you will be able to advance bravely in the future. To temper the body, you need stance training!"

Ning Qi’s eyes were incredibly bright.

He was not the least bit surprised.

During these three years, although he could not practice martial arts, he had thought about whether he could create a martial path that no one had walked before. But in the end, he gave up—not because it couldn't be done, but because it would take too long and the gains would not outweigh the losses.

Even so, he had several hypotheses.

Stance training to temper the body was one of them.

"Of all the stance trainings in the world, there are high, middle, and low grades. The higher the grade, the more solid the foundation."

"And our Zhenwu Sect has nine high-grade stance trainings!"

"These are the Nine Zhenwu Stances!"

As he said this, a trace of pride flashed in Daoist Longshan’s eyes. Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi, standing to the side, also involuntarily puffed out their chests. Others did not know the true heritage of Zhenwu; only they, the direct disciples, knew.

"The dragon has nine sons, each different."

"The Nine Zhenwu Stances correspond to the nine sons of the dragon: Qiuniu, Yazi, Chaofeng, Pulao, Suanni, Baxia, Bi'an, Fuxi, and Chiwen."

"Your eight senior brothers and sisters have already chosen eight of these. Xiao Jiu, you can practice the Bi'an Stance."

His face was filled with gratification.

The reason he took nine direct disciples was precisely for these Nine Zhenwu Stances.

Every time he took a disciple, he would see which stance training suited them. Of course, some disciples were suited for multiple, such as Qin Yun or Ning Qi, but he always made them choose non-overlapping stances.

Ning Qi asked

"May I ask Master, what is the significance of these Nine Zhenwu Stances?"

Daoist Longshan’s voice carried a hint of longing

"There is no hierarchy among the Nine Zhenwu Stances. It is rumored that in the era when the Zhenwu Sect was at its peak, those who excelled in the Nine Zhenwu Stances were known as the Nine Sons of Zhenwu. If all nine were Heavenly Beings, they could fight a Martial Saint!"

Ning Qi’s breathing stalled slightly.

He now knew what a Martial Saint was—an invincible powerhouse who suppressed an entire era. Unless another Martial Saint was born in the same era, they were hard to find an equal for.

And the Nine Sons of Zhenwu from the past could actually fight a Martial Saint.

What a powerful technique.

Did that not mean the Zhenwu Sect had Martial Saint-level combat power for generations?

It was hard to imagine how such a powerful Zhenwu Sect had declined and headed toward destruction.

However, Ning Qi guessed that to fight a Martial Saint, the Nine Zhenwu Stances were likely just the foundation; there must be even more profound secret techniques.

No wonder when his master carried him up the mountain, his Eighth Senior Brother had shouted that the Nine Sons of Zhenwu were finally gathered.

A smile appeared on Ning Qi’s face, and he said solemnly

"Please, Master, teach me the Bi'an Stance!"

"Good, watch carefully."

After Daoist Longshan spoke, his expression became serious.

He spread his legs, and his aura changed abruptly, like a fierce tiger in the mountains—no, a hundred times more terrifying than a fierce tiger!

Then he moved, his actions slow.

But they carried a mysterious rhythm within them.

"Stance training can be moving or still. The appearance is secondary; the spirit is within. Breathing and exhaling, capturing its divine intent..."

"Visualize the Bi'an, breathing like thunder..."

Daoist Longshan’s voice was steady as he spoke slowly.

While demonstrating the moves, he explained various precautions.

An ordinary person would have been dazzled.

High-grade stance training naturally builds a good foundation, but it is equally difficult to master.

Ning Qi watched intently, feeling as if the world were being peeled away before his eyes.

Every move of Daoist Longshan was reflected in his pupils. He saw through the appearance to the essence: the moves causing the skin and membranes to ripple, the breath-driven agitation of energy, the divine intent of the Bi'an arising from the heart... As Daoist Longshan practiced, the various wonders of the Bi'an Stance were revealed before Ning Qi.

*This high-grade stance training seems... actually quite simple?* Ning Qi thought.