Chapter 154: Taking A Disciple And Bestowing A Name
Ning Qi put away distracting thoughts, strands of gentle Gang Qi entering the White Ape’s body. The originally comatose White Ape immediately woke up groggily. He was first startled, then embarrassedly scratched his head and apologized:
“Sorry, Teacher. I was just trying my best to stabilize my mind, but the bloodline fluctuations were too intense, and I was knocked unconscious in an instant.”
Ning Qi waved his hand:
“First, carefully sense if there’s anything unusual with your body?”
The White Ape carefully perceived, a hint of surprise in his eyes:
“Aside from my spirit being somewhat wilted, everything else is fine. Not only that, I feel my bloodline development has improved somewhat!”
Ning Qi immediately felt relieved, then smiled and said:
“Tell me about your specific sensations during the bloodline resonance.”
The White Ape thought for a moment:
“At first it was numb and sore, like all my muscles and bones were falling apart, but then I fell into a dazed, muddled state. Vaguely, it was like I heard a roaring sound…”
He slowly recounted, Ning Qi nodding slightly in his heart:
“It seems the scene I saw deep in the bloodline, Tian Sheng could also vaguely sense some of it. The roaring he heard must be that Silver Giant Ape’s. If things develop normally, I’m afraid one day when the bloodline development reaches a sufficient degree, he himself will be able to see that scene.”
Seeing the White Ape standing respectfully with hands clasped, Ning Qi smiled:
“Let’s go. The Year End Grand Competition is about to start. We’ll head over.”
The White Ape nodded repeatedly, a hint of joy in his eyes.
He was usually mischievous and got along boisterously with many disciples of the True Martial Sect. This time he could see quite a few familiar faces competing on stage, so naturally he wouldn’t miss the chance to join in the fun. In fact, if not for his current strength being too great, he would even want to go up and play himself.
One person and one ape headed toward the Training Ground.
From far away, they could already see the heated atmosphere. Ning Qi and the White Ape’s arrival caused quite a stir, with curious gazes cast over one after another.
For the newly joined disciples, Ning Qi was truly somewhat mysterious, rarely appearing, but the information that occasionally leaked out all showed that this Ninth Elder was an unparalleled prodigy rarely seen in the world, and the White Ape under him was even more proof of that.
That time during the mountain-opening assessment, the scene of the White Ape unleashing divine might and manifesting the Ape King True Body was still fresh in everyone’s minds.
But the White Ape was extremely respectful in front of Ning Qi.
Amid the crowd’s gazes following them, Ning Qi stepped into the chief seat.
“Little Nine, Tian Sheng, you’re a bit late.” Ye Qinghe grinned mischievously, winking. This time the Dragon Mountain Daoist wasn’t here, so she openly took out her wine gourd and took sips from time to time. Luo Wentian could only shake his head with a wry smile.
Even though she had become an Elder, this Third Senior Sister still had no proper demeanor.
Ning Qi smiled and greeted his senior brothers:
“Something small delayed me. What stage is it at now?”
Fourth Senior Brother He Yan smiled:
“The top ten have already been decided. There are quite a few good seedlings this time. The ones screened out by your method, Little Nine, are much stronger than ours. Don’t look at Third Senior Sister being so casual; she praised one little one more than once just now. I’m afraid Third Senior Sister is finally going to take a disciple this time.”
Ning Qi was somewhat surprised, then couldn’t help laughing out loud.
It really felt somewhat incongruous just thinking of the scene of Ye Qinghe taking a disciple.
Ye Qinghe glared fiercely at the two, lightly humming:
“I’m telling you, the little girl Yuxuan has affinity with me. You can’t rob with me.”
Ning Qi looked at one of the little girls in purple clothes. Though young, she was already a beauty in the making, with a somewhat gentle temperament. He had some impression of her; during the initial mountain-opening disciple recruitment, she had performed quite well. It seemed she was called Ouyang Yuxuan.
Thinking of this gentle little girl following a drunken master every day from now on, he couldn’t help but silently mourn for the little girl.
He remembered when he was young how Ye Qinghe had tricked him into drinking, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Ye Qinghe hummed:
“You all just laugh. Wait until I cultivate her, and she’ll suppress the third generation disciples of True Martial Sect!”
The congregation laughed even more cheerfully.
At the same time, they felt some emotion in their hearts; time passed so quickly. Unknowingly, they had become the backbone of the True Martial Sect and had reached the stage of taking disciples and becoming Senior Elders.
While the congregation was laughing and chatting.
The disciples’ fights were still going on vigorously.
This time the grand competition was divided into two parts for new and old disciples.
The old disciples had the outer sect grand competition and the inner sect grand competition, while the new disciples were the previous three hundred seedlings. Their grand competition was even more important, not only deciding their future starting point, but the top three would also be promoted to True Disciples.
Of course, besides that, the rewards given to the new and old disciples this time were also extremely generous.
Now the True Martial Sect was wealthy and powerful, mainly focused on digesting its foundation to increase strength, so the rewards given were basically excessive, such as Martial Arts Secret Techniques, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, or Divine Weapons and Sharp Tools, all making the disciples’ hearts burn with excitement. Ning Qi’s True Martial Peach Fruit was naturally among them, and he even offered a small portion of Enlightenment Tea Leaves as a reward.
Ning Qi watched seriously. Although these disciples’ fights seemed like children playing house in his eyes, they represented the future of the True Martial Sect.
He was very gratified.
In the past, successfully completing the Body Tempering Realm in ten years or so was considered an unparalleled genius.
But in the current True Martial Sect, it was no longer the case. With the series of secret techniques created by Ning Qi to improve Body Tempering efficiency, as well as improved Body Tempering Powder and other treasures, the Body Tempering progress had greatly increased, and the cultivation time for the same talent had been shortened to about forty percent of the original!
This was an extremely exaggerated degree. If spread out, it would shock the world. Fortunately, the new batch of True Martial Disciples had never gone down the mountain yet.
In fact.
Not only the Body Tempering Realm.
After Ning Qi completed the existing realms, he summarized them and created many universally applicable secret techniques based on his own cultivation experience, making cultivation in the Inner Yuan Realm and Gang Yuan Realm much simpler. The most direct example was that Jiang Baishan was about to step into the Jade Liquid Realm when he went down the mountain.
“Back then, I completed the Body Tempering Realm in three years, a speed that could be called unprecedented since ancient times. But if the cultivation methods I created spread in the future, there might be prodigies who cultivate even faster than me. At that time, will there be later generations who think I’m nothing special?”
Ning Qi smiled slightly.
No one could predict what would happen in a thousand or ten thousand years. When legends fade, there will always be ambitious later generations who think the events of the past were exaggerated.
On the arena.
The old disciples’ matches had ended.
Having shown their faces in front of the Sect Leader and many Elders, the winning disciples were all excited and thrilled. The old disciples also had their own paths to promotion to True Disciples, so they wouldn’t feel the sect favored the new disciples.
After Luo Wentian gave some encouragement, it was time for today’s highlight.
The top three new disciples.
There was also some expectation in Luo Wentian’s eyes.
Ning Qi couldn’t help but smile. He naturally knew who his Senior Disciple Brother favored—that youth named Gou Dan, who came from a humble background but had a resilient temperament. Luo Wentian had been secretly observing him for a long time. In fact, not only Ning Qi knew, but Xiong Shi and others had also noticed.
The matches proceeded.
Although they were just young children, their Body Tempering progress was already quite good, and the martial arts realms they had mastered were also not low. Each one moved with fists and feet like wind, akin to young leopards and tigers. The three hundred seedlings were already the best of the best, and these ten were the cream of the crop among them.
Many old disciples watched with constant exclamations of surprise, feeling a strong sense of the Yangtze River’s later waves pushing the earlier ones, and a sense of crisis arose.
Luo Wentian and the others were immensely gratified.
Round after round of matches proceeded.
Soon.
The top three were decided.
First place was also a male child who performed outstandingly during the grand competition—a very sturdy boy at such a young age, Lu Mang from the Lu Clan of Gaoyang.
Second place was the Ouyang Yuxuan favored by Ye Qinghe, from the Ouyang Family. Her cultivation talent was actually slightly higher than Lu Mang’s, but Lu Mang was naturally strong in muscles and bones, giving him some benefit in this aspect.
Third place was Gou Dan, the one from a beggar’s background.
Regarding this.
Everyone was extremely surprised. After all, compared to others who had been immersed in the Martial Way since childhood, Gou Dan’s starting point was not high. To kill his way into the top three was entirely due to his own hard work and perseverance. Ning Qi also nodded in approval. Several times he released Divine Intent and could perceive this little guy practicing alone bitterly on the Training Ground.
Such a person was destined to have no low achievements.
Cultivation talent determines a person’s lower limit, but perseverance and persistence determine a person’s upper limit.
In the past, when Ning Qi had just stepped into the Martial Way, he thought bone structure was the most important. But as his cultivation grew stronger and his understanding of the Martial Way deepened, some ideas gradually changed. The later the stage, the more important temperament and perseverance became, determining whether one could overcome obstacles. Martial Way bone structure could be supplemented by other means.
One might cultivate quickly, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are strong.
While Ning Qi was pondering.
All the True Martial Sect members’ gazes were uniformly cast toward these top three, full of envy in their eyes.
The top three new disciples could directly become True Disciples, and the cultivation they would receive from now on would naturally not be comparable to others.
Lu Mang and the other two were also excited, their little faces flushed. They had already received their grand competition rewards and were waiting for the next most exciting part.
Luo Wentian laughed and stood up, surveying the many disciples with gratification in his eyes:
“Your performance today was very good. I’m very satisfied. You are all the future of the True Martial Sect. Continue to work hard and take glorifying the sect as your own responsibility!”
Everyone was excited.
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
After experiencing these major events one after another, the True Martial Sect was already united as one.
Luo Wentian didn’t waste words. He looked at the three—Lu Mang, Ouyang Yuxuan, and Gou Dan—and smiled:
“You three shall become True Disciples. Fellow junior brothers and sisters, do any of you wish to take disciples?”
Everyone’s breathing became even more tense.
This was unexpected.
Now, not all True Disciples of the True Martial Sect had to apprentice under Elders; some just enjoyed more resources.
As soon as Luo Wentian’s words fell.
Ye Qinghe had already stood up grinning. She was the only female Elder, so everyone would yield to her.
She looked at Ouyang Yuxuan with a smiling face and said:
“Little Yuxuan, are you willing to take me as your master?”
Ouyang Yuxuan’s little face was joyful. She didn’t expect to be chosen first. She said crisply:
“Disciple pays respects to Master!”
Though young, she knew the weight of her master.
The congregation all smiled and watched. Lu Mang and Gou Dan unconsciously clenched their fists, gradually becoming nervous.
Xiong Shi’s expression was slightly serious. He stood out and looked at the sturdy boy:
“Lu Mang, are you willing to enter my sect?”
Surprise surged on Lu Mang’s face. Xiong Shi was the Punishment Elder, fair and stern, but absolutely a famous teacher. He respectfully kowtowed in salute. A faint smile imperceptibly appeared on Xiong Shi’s face. He was also extremely fond of Lu Mang; this young boy’s Martial Way path was somewhat similar to his own.
Thus, only Gou Dan was left.
But the remaining many Elders only smiled, with no movements.
Gou Dan’s face paled slightly, but he quickly took a deep breath to adjust.
“Gou Dan, oh Gou Dan, it must be that your performance wasn’t good enough to catch the Elders’ eyes. From now on, you must work doubly hard. But it’s already very good now; you can still become a True Disciple with a better starting point. Keep working hard in the future!”
Gou Dan’s expression gradually firmed.
In fact, deep in his heart, he had a longing he had never told anyone—that was to become Luo Wentian’s disciple.
That day during the grand competition assessment, Luo Wentian personally brought him water and food, and that care was engraved in his heart for life. But Luo Wentian was the Sect Leader; he didn’t dare to hope extravagantly and just buried this thought in his heart.
Ning Qi secretly observed Gou Dan’s expression and nodded in approval.
To adjust one’s inner state so quickly at such a young age was truly not easy.
Luo Wentian was also observing and finally smiled:
“Gou Dan, are you willing to be my disciple?”
In an instant.
A commotion erupted.
Everyone was stunned, unable to believe their ears, and Gou Dan was even more dumbfounded, as if in a dream. The previous second he was firming his heart hoping that one day the Sect Leader would notice him more, and the next second the Sect Leader spoke to take him as a disciple.
Gou Dan’s little face flushed red, his eye sockets reddened. He trembled all over in excitement and prostrated on the ground, kowtowing respectfully:
“Gou… Gou Dan is willing!”
Gazes were cast onto Gou Dan, full of envy.
Luo Wentian helped him up, patted his head, and smiled warmly:
“Since you’ve entered my sect, calling you Gou Dan from now on would be too casual. Do you have a surname?”
After all, he would be the Sect Leader’s disciple in the future, and when going down the mountain, saying the name Gou Dan would inevitably invite ridicule.
Gou Dan shook his head embarrassedly:
“I don’t know.”
Since he could remember, he had been called Gou Dan. Later, after learning a few characters, he wanted to give himself a name, but he had always been wandering and living dependently with his sister. Whether he took a name or not, no one cared, and gradually the thought faded.
Luo Wentian sighed lightly in his heart, then said:
“Since that’s the case, from now on, take my surname. You shall be called Luo Nianchu from now on. I hope you never forget your original intention and always remember the path you came from.”
His face gradually became solemn.
What Luo Wentian valued most about Gou Dan was his temperament, so teaching him to never forget his original intention was the best guidance for him.
Gou Dan—no, Luo Nianchu—was overwhelmed with excitement. He kowtowed again:
“Thank you, Master, for granting a name!”
In his heart, he repeated the name Luo Nianchu over and over, both joyful and determined, thinking that he would never fail Master’s expectations.
The congregation all sighed with emotion.
Luo Wentian both taking a disciple and granting a name showed he placed great importance on Luo Nianchu.
Ning Qi and the remaining few smiled:
“Congratulations, senior brother and senior sister, on taking excellent disciples!”
Luo Wentian and the other two all laughed heartily, in great spirits.
These three disciples were all peerless martial seedlings. With good cultivation in the future, they would surely achieve great things.
The White Ape watched this scene, his heart full of envy. He too hoped that one day he could openly call Ning Qi ‘Master’. He carefully stole a glance at Ning Qi, then immediately lowered his head, secretly cheering himself on.
Ning Qi seemed to sense it and just smiled faintly.
