Chapter 8: Simply a Monster

"The Innate Bone-Nurturing Technique is indeed formidable. I will find a suitable opportunity to pass it on to Master in the future."

Ning Qi had no intention of keeping it to himself.

Daoist Longshan had treated him with immense kindness, a debt as heavy as a mountain. If he had the ability, he would certainly repay it. If the Zhenwu Sect possessed this Innate Bone-Nurturing Technique, their foundation would undoubtedly become much deeper in the days to come. If they could find suitable disciples, geniuses would emerge one after another, and prosperity would only be a matter of time.

For Daoist Longshan, revitalizing the Zhenwu Sect was his greatest wish.

"However, cultivating the Innate Bone-Nurturing Technique is no simple matter. It requires not only a sufficiently dense innate origin but also enough comprehension."

"I'll find some time later to revise the Innate Bone-Nurturing Technique and try to lower the difficulty of comprehending it."

There was no helping it.

The techniques Ning Qi created were tailored to his own specifications; just because he could understand them didn't mean others could.

Not everyone was born with innate knowledge like Ning Qi.

It was very difficult for a child of a few years old to learn such secret arts.

Not to mention the Innate Fetal Breath Technique—that was almost an impossible feat.

Various thoughts swirled in Ning Qi's mind. He stretched, and his small body emitted a sound like the cracking of bones and sinews.

He looked into the distance and walked forward a few steps.

A sturdy figure in grey robes strode over, carrying a pile of medicinal herbs in his hands.

Second Senior Brother, Xiong Shi.

His name suited him; he was as sturdy as a bear. Sometimes Ning Qi wondered if his Second Senior Brother looked less like a member of the Daoist sect and more like a butcher.

"Little Nine, Eldest Senior Brother is busy today, so I've come to bring you your things."

A muffled voice rang out. Xiong Shi scratched his head, and then a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

"Little Nine, how did you know I was coming?"

Ning Qi laughed

"With the way you move, Second Senior Brother, I can hear you even from inside the room."

Xiong Shi set the herbs aside and said, "Don't try to fool me. I may look sturdy, but the Spirit Turtle Steps I practice are the most agile. Never mind you, even a master at the Inner Origin Realm wouldn't be able to hear the sound of my footsteps."

He gave a silly grin, thinking he had seen through Ning Qi's trick.

But Ning Qi really hadn't lied.

The moment his bones and marrow had formed just now, he had felt a faint connection with the world, which allowed him to discover Xiong Shi's tracks. However, that connection was already beginning to fade, as if it were settling deep within his body, waiting for a special moment to be triggered.

"I'm not fooling you. I felt incredibly comfortable in my body when I woke up this morning, and I really did hear your footsteps just now."

Ning Qi acted 'anxious'.

Xiong Shi chuckled, about to soothe his little junior brother.

But immediately, he seemed to think of something, and a look of suspicion and uncertainty flashed in his eyes.

Xiong Shi reached out and placed his hand on Ning Qi's shoulder.

The next instant.

He recoiled as if he had been electrocuted, a look of having seen a ghost on his face.

Taking two deep breaths, he reached out again to probe Ning Qi's shoulder. The shock on his face grew even more intense, and then it transformed into visible joy.

"Little Nine, your bones and marrow have formed?!"

Ning Qi smiled inwardly, while his face showed an expression of excitement.

"Senior Brother, do you mean I can practice martial arts now?"

He was only three years old, after all; he needed a suitable opportunity to reveal that his bones and marrow had formed, and he hadn't expected his Second Senior Brother to deliver that opportunity so quickly.

Xiong Shi's eyes were filled with excitement. He nodded repeatedly, but then immediately added

"No, no, we must let Master take a look, lest I be mistaken and get our hopes up for nothing."

He took deep breaths, suppressing the shock and joy in his heart.

What was happening before him was simply beyond his understanding.

Ning Qi was only three years old!

By the Great Emperor Zhenwu, he had lived for decades and had never heard of anyone whose bones and marrow formed so early. It was simply inconceivable.

One had to know that the Eighth Junior Brother, who was hailed as having peerless talent, had only had his bones and marrow form at the age of seven.

Forming them at three was simply monstrous!

Xiong Shi couldn't be bothered to speak anymore.

He picked up Ning Qi, placed him on his shoulder, and began to tread with his Spirit Turtle Steps toward the Mingwu Pavilion.

Along the way, he drew countless surprised gazes.

Xiong Shi ignored the salutes of the outer and inner sect disciples.

Inside the Mingwu Pavilion.

Daoist Longshan and Luo Wentian sat opposite each other.

"Wentian, in a few days, I may need to go into seclusion for a period of time. You will have to take responsibility for all matters within the sect," Daoist Longshan instructed.

Luo Wentian nodded, joy in his eyes.

"Master, are you going to ascend to the Heaven-Human Realm?"

He looked at Daoist Longshan with anticipation. The Heaven-Human Realm—looking across the world, those were peerless masters. If Daoist Longshan could step into the Heaven-Human Realm, the Zhenwu Sect could become a hegemon in Qingzhou. They would truly have a foundation and would have several hundred years to develop and grow.

Daoist Longshan shook his head slightly

"I only had a flash of insight. It's hard to say; to step firmly into the Heaven-Human Realm, it might take a few more years."

Luo Wentian said with admiration

"With Master's peerless talent, stepping into the Heaven-Human Realm is only a matter of time!"

A Heaven-Human lived for eight hundred years. Usually, those who could reach the Heaven-Human Realm by the age of one hundred were already of extraordinary talent, and Daoist Longshan was only in his eighties.

Daoist Longshan's talent was indeed quite good; otherwise, he wouldn't have been qualified to receive the Zhenwu inheritance, let alone rebuild the Zhenwu Sect single-handedly.

He smiled slightly, his eyes filled with confidence.

The master and disciple discussed various matters within the sect. Daoist Longshan told Luo Wentian to start making preparations, suggesting he could try to recruit a batch of outer sect disciples, and even the older ones among the true disciples could begin taking on apprentices of their own.

As they spoke, their gazes suddenly turned toward the outside of the pavilion in unison.

They saw Xiong Shi panting as he rushed in.

Daoist Longshan frowned. He had intended to reprimand him, but upon seeing the figure on Xiong Shi's shoulder, his expression softened. He only chided

"So flustered, what kind of decorum is this?"

Luo Wentian smiled to smooth things over

"Second Junior Brother, Master was just telling me that we could start looking for apprentices. We must be mindful of our words and actions at all times, lest we lead our future disciples astray."

Xiong Shi set Ning Qi down and apologized to his Master and Eldest Senior Brother.

He took a deep breath and said

"Master, it is not that I am reckless, but there is a matter that requires your decision."

"It concerns Little Nine."

At these words, Daoist Longshan's expression immediately turned serious.

Luo Wentian was also somewhat surprised.

Could it be that the little junior brother had caused some trouble? But the little junior brother had always been intelligent, sensible, and reasonable; that shouldn't be the case.

"What is it?" Daoist Longshan asked.

"You will know once you examine him."

Xiong Shi gave Ning Qi a gentle nudge.

Ning Qi stepped forward respectfully and bowed.

Daoist Longshan looked kindly at Ning Qi, who looked like a child of five or six. His heart skipped a beat, and a certain guess arose. He smiled and reached out his right hand, placing it on top of Ning Qi's head.

The next moment.

Daoist Longshan's body stiffened. Although his face remained calm, his heart was in turmoil.

He stared blankly at the young disciple before him, almost doubting his own senses.

But his internal Origin Pellet already possessed divine properties; it was impossible for him to have sensed incorrectly.

Luo Wentian saw that his master had not moved his hand for a long time, and his heart tightened. He asked with concern

"Master, Little Junior Brother, he..."

"His bones and marrow have formed," Daoist Longshan said softly.