Chapter 12: Improved Body Tempering Powder
Ning Qi lay in the wooden tub, his thoughts gradually diverging.
“The most important thing for me now is to gain powerful strength at the fastest possible speed.”
“To practice martial arts quickly, it relies first on stance technique, second on medicinal bath.”
“My stance technique has currently reached the limit. Bi An Stance, Qiu Niu Stance, and Ba Xia Stance have all reached Divine Intent Perfection, with no room for further progress. Compared to the effects of the other six stance techniques, they are about the same. To continue improving in this aspect, I need an even more powerful stance technique.”
“But there is still room for improvement in medicinal bath!”
Ning Qi’s eyes lit up.
Perhaps he could improve the formula.
This was not difficult for him.
Recalling the formula, the dosage and properties of each medicinal herb immediately surfaced in his mind.
“Honeysuckle seems non-essential. I think the amount of Purple Luo Root can be reduced, and Blood Pattern Flower can be used to replace Strong Blood Grass…”
In an instant.
Numerous spiritual insights emerged in Ning Qi’s mind.
But a formula is different from martial arts; it still needs testing.
While thinking, he felt the medicinal power being absorbed by his skin.
He waited until the medicinal power completely dissipated. Ning Qi felt that most of the fatigue in his body had dissipated before leaping out and immediately drilling into the room to tinker. In the previous three years, he had read so many medical classics, and even achieved major accomplishment by creating his own Ning Family Medical Book. This small matter was effortless for Ning Qi.
He busied himself until late at night.
Only then was the formula tinkered out.
Ning Qi impatiently poured the improved Body Tempering Powder into the bath tub, filled it with water, then jumped in entirely.
In an instant, an unusually refreshing sensation enveloped Ning Qi.
The lingering soreness, swelling, and redness on his skin visibly disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye.
“The effect is at least twice as strong as before!”
“With this improved Body Tempering Powder, I can have more time for cultivation, and I won’t have to worry about my body not being able to withstand it.”
A smile appeared at the corner of Ning Qi’s mouth.
To make the tool work well, one must first sharpen it.
This is essential.
From now on, he could continue to improve it slowly.
…
In the blink of an eye.
Three days passed.
“Third Senior Sister, I’m leaving first.”
Ning Qi smiled and greeted her before striding away.
Behind him.
Was Ye Qinghe with lifeless eyes and a completely drained expression.
She looked somewhat as if life was unbearable.
At first.
Upon learning that her little junior brother could start practicing martial arts at three years old, she first didn’t believe it, then became excited. When she learned that Ning Qi wanted to learn Chi Wen Stance from her, she even clamored that she would definitely train him well.
And the result was naturally as it was now.
She was thoroughly crushed.
“Is this really human? We’re both human, why is the gap so big?”
Ye Qinghe recalled what she had said to Ning Qi before, something like you’ll know the bitter days are ahead once you start practicing martial arts. Thinking about it now.
“I’m so stupid… The one suffering is clearly me.”
She frantically rubbed her face, and finally looked at Ning Qi’s departing figure and smiled, with a hint of relief.
No matter what, this was a good thing.
The little kid Master had brought back before was growing bit by bit, and growing at a speed beyond everyone’s expectations.
A smile played at Ning Qi’s lips.
Without looking back, he knew what Ye Qinghe was thinking.
Because such a scene had repeated several times in these few days.
“In these three days, not only did I advance to Ox Hide Realm, but I also learned five more stance techniques from Third Senior Sister and the others: Chao Feng Stance, Pu Lao Stance, Suan Ni Stance, Fu Xi Stance, and Chi Wen Stance!”
“Of the True Martial Nine Stances, I have now mastered eight. The only one left is Ya Zi Stance from Eighth Senior Brother.”
Ning Qi was already getting impatient.
After mastering eight stance techniques, he increasingly felt the connections between the True Martial Nine Stances. If he could learn the remaining Ya Zi Stance, he was confident he could create an even more powerful stance technique.
“But no rush. Eighth Senior Brother is in closed-door cultivation breaking through right now. I’ll ask him after he comes out.”
Ning Qi had considered asking other senior brothers to teach him Ya Zi Stance, but they weren’t proficient in it and feared teaching it poorly. As for Master Dragon Mountain Daoist, he was in closed-door cultivation as well.
No choice but to wait.
Seven days passed in a flash.
Ning Qi’s realm broke through again, reaching Stone Skin Realm.
Skin Refining had achieved Minor Accomplishment.
At this realm, his skin was tough as stone, resistant to ordinary fists and feet, and his strength had increased significantly.
In just ten days, Ning Qi had walked a path that took many people years to complete.
This merit came from the Divine Intent Perfection of several stance techniques, as well as the improved Body Tempering Paste. Ning Qi had made minor optimizations to it over these days, but he was too lazy to change the name, so he kept calling it improved Body Tempering Paste.
Ning Qi planned to give the improved Body Tempering Paste to Master after he came out of seclusion.
Many of the martial arts or secret techniques Ning Qi created had high comprehension thresholds, but this formula had none. If it could be popularized, it would allow True Martial Sect disciples to improve their strength more rapidly, deepening the sect’s foundation.
This day.
Ning Qi was wondering if he should go to Qin Yun’s place.
Unexpectedly, Qin Yun’s figure appeared in the distance.
Qin Yun was only twenty years old and quite handsome. From afar, he looked like a dashing young daoist. He and Ye Qinghe had the best relationship with Ning Qi and visited him the most. However, Qin Yun was a martial fanatic with high talent, bearing the hope of becoming True Martial Sect’s future strongest expert, so he spent most of his time practicing martial arts.
“Eighth Senior Brother, have you broken through?”
Ning Qi smiled and went to greet him. After starting martial arts, his steps were even steadier. Though only three years old, his body was no different from a five- or six-year-old child’s, and even stronger.
Qin Yun nodded, then shock appeared in his eyes:
“Little Nine, when Senior Disciple Brother and the others told me you could start practicing martial arts, I didn’t believe it. I didn’t expect it to be true.”
Ning Qi chuckled.
“Eighth Senior Brother, I want to learn Ya Zi Stance from you.”
Qin Yun was still processing the impact of his little junior brother practicing martial arts at three. He frowned slightly.
“Learning it is no problem, but remember, biting off more than you can chew. How has your main cultivation, Bi An Stance, progressed?”
Ning Qi said nothing more.
Facts were the best words.
Such a scene had already happened several times with other senior brothers.
Watching the young Bi An in the courtyard leap and maneuver, dominating with ease, Qin Yun’s heart surged with gigantic waves, and even a trace of sourness he himself didn’t notice.
How long did it take him to practice Ya Zi Stance to the Initial Divine Intent stage?
Half a year?
Or a year?
Even so, he was hailed as a prodigy of the world, but now in front of his little junior brother, what was he?
He fell silent unwittingly.
Ning Qi stopped the stance technique and looked up to ask:
“Eighth Senior Brother, can I learn Ya Zi Stance from you now? I just want to gain knowledge. Don’t worry, I won’t bite off more than I can chew.”
Looking at his daily cute and clever little junior brother, Qin Yun forced a smile on his face:
“Good, I’ll teach you.”
He instinctively wanted to refuse, but felt that was wrong.
He silently cursed himself in his heart.
Then he began demonstrating Ya Zi Stance while explaining its key points.
“Little junior brother, have you learned it?”
Ning Qi nodded repeatedly.
With the foundation of the previous eight stance techniques, he learned it even faster than before!
Moments later.
Qin Yun watched Ning Qi perform Ya Zi Stance with perfect proficiency and fell silent again.
“Little junior brother, practice on your own. I have something to attend to and must go.”
He forced a smile on his face, then turned and left, taking a deep breath, his eyes complex.
Ning Qi acknowledged and didn’t take it to heart, assuming Qin Yun was struck by his display, though he had already restrained himself, even suppressing the Stone Skin changes.
Shaking his head slightly, Ning Qi continued practicing martial arts.
With Qin Yun there, he couldn’t fully let loose. Soon after, Ya Zi Divine Intent reached Perfection.
Ning Qi’s eyes shone brightly.
The True Martial Nine Stances were finally complete!
