Chapter 36: From Death To Life
The White Ape scratched its ears and cheeks, instinctively wanting to check, but ultimately suppressed the impulse. It began practicing the Ape King Stance to divert its attention, though it still kept a bit of focus on Ning Qi’s side.
Inside the room.
Ning Qi slowly opened his eyes, a trace of Cang Sang and confusion flashing briefly in them before quickly returning to their lively state.
“Great Dream Nine Deaths Strength, every time the flesh dies, it is actually experiencing life and death.”
“Not only is there a metamorphosis of the flesh, but also some benefit that I had not anticipated before.”
Ning Qi felt some shock in his heart.
He estimated the time and knew seven days had passed. In these seven days, he had entered an extremely wondrous state.
Ignorant and unaware, without sensation or light.
Yet without fear or loneliness, there time seemed to lose meaning, appearing extremely slow but actually extremely fast. He felt he had just entered the state of flesh death when he awoke again.
With a slight smile, the dry skin on his face pulled taut, immediately making Ning Qi aware of his current flesh state.
But he did not panic.
With a thought from Ning Qi.
The ‘Light of Vitality’ hidden deep in the flesh immediately began pulsing again.
As if hearing the humming of flames reigniting in the intangible, waves of extremely abundant vitality surged from his limbs and bones. Not only that, the Inner Strength fused entirely with the vitality, drilling into the depths of the flesh.
“Buzz!”
The withered flesh began to fill out at a speed visible to the naked eye, immediately taking on a crystalline sheen like jade stone.
Vitality abundant, aura powerful.
The White Ape practicing the Ape King Stance in the courtyard could not help but look over in shock, its face showing reverence and joy.
But soon.
This vitality gradually receded.
Ning Qi rose from the bed, a joyful smile on his face. He clenched his fist slightly and could feel his flesh had grown stronger again.
Not only that.
The original Inner Strength, after being absorbed into the flesh, was now reborn from the new flesh, improved in both quality and quantity.
“From death to life, the flesh’s potential excavated to the extreme, fully doubled!”
“This is something other Stacked Strength Techniques can only hope for but not achieve.”
“Not only that, the Inner Strength is also stronger. Now I am only at Second Stack Realm, but it already carries a bit of ‘substantiality.’ At this rate, perhaps without reaching Inner Yuan Major Accomplishment, I can start attaching attributes to the Inner Strength?”
The heaven-defying nature of Great Dream Nine Deaths Strength was beginning to gradually showcase itself.
Ning Qi’s foundation was somewhat exaggerated.
Others’ Stacked Strength was a grind, even after establishing the connection, it was a slow conversion thread by thread of Inner Strength. But Ning Qi, borrowing the withering and rebirth of the flesh, could convert all Inner Strength in an instant, saving a massive amount of time.
Cultivation fast, and the condensed flesh and Inner Strength stronger.
The only drawback was perhaps that it was difficult.
This Great Dream Nine Deaths Strength, even placed before others, they would not understand it.
But for Ning Qi, having this experience of flesh rebirth, the rest would be much simpler.
Next.
Was to continue accumulating, repeatedly dying and reborn, at most spending extra effort on the three bottlenecks of Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, and Perfection.
Ning Qi pushed the door open and stepped out.
The White Ape came over beaming with joy. It had now begun slowly abandoning its original ape-like habits of walking, jumping, and tumbling, becoming more and more like a human.
Ning Qi smiled faintly:
“Normal cultivation, from now on there may be a few more times, no need to worry.”
The White Ape nodded repeatedly.
It then respectfully began practicing the stance nearby. Ning Qi watched calmly, nodding inwardly.
The White Ape’s Body Tempering progress was very fast, only inferior to his.
Its future strength would absolutely not be weak, and it might even surpass the other True Martial Nine Sons.
Thinking of that scene, Ning Qi could not help but smile.
“If Third Senior Sister one day learns that the little monkey she brought back has strength surpassing her own, I wonder what expression she will have. It must be amusing.”
…
In the blink of an eye.
Year End arrived.
The entire True Martial Sect was bustling with excitement.
“What a pity, Little Eight is not here. Our True Martial Nine Sons are missing one.”
Seventh Disciple Song Cheng sighed deeply. He had entered only a few years before Qin Yun, and the two were close in age with a good relationship.
The congregation fell slightly silent.
Then Ye Qinghe smiled and said:
“Don’t worry, Eighth Junior Brother has always been clever. He probably had impressive gains from this mountain experience. We also need to work hard, or else if Eighth Junior Brother catches up later, it would be embarrassing.”
Luo Wentian waved his hand and said:
“I actually hope you all surpass me one by one. You need to learn more from Fifth Junior Brother, especially you, Qinghe. Wasting such great talent, even drinking with Little Nine.”
The congregation immediately laughed.
Ning Qi’s lips curved up as well.
Though he spent most of his time cultivating alone, his Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters cared for him as always, responding to every request.
He very much liked the atmosphere on True Martial Mountain.
Moments later.
Luo Wentian bowed to Dragon Mountain Daoist on the high platform, then loudly announced:
“I declare, this Year End Grand Competition officially begins!”
“Divided into Inner Disciple competition and Outer Disciple competition, the top twenty all receive rewards!”
The disciples who had long prepared were eager to try.
The grand competition proceeded in full swing.
First the Outer Disciple matches.
Then the Inner Disciple matches.
The True Disciples watched from the side. Ning Qi occasionally chatted with his Senior Brothers and Senior Sister, sometimes paying attention to the matches. But to him, these disciples’ fights were like children’s play, with only a few occasionally catching his eye.
Now Ning Qi, though only at Second Stack Realm, had no opponents among the Inner Disciples.
Even among the True Disciples, there were probably a few he could defeat.
As for great masters like Luo Wentian and Jiang Baishan at Inner Yuan Realm Nine Stacks, Ning Qi could not be completely sure; he would need to fight to know, though obviously there was no need.
The grand competition ended.
Luo Wentian awarded rewards to the top-ranking disciples, after which the True Disciples shared their Martial Way experience, aiming to boost the Outer and Inner Disciples’ strength in preparation for the upcoming Heavenly Human Ceremony.
“Little Nine, want to go up and try? Senior Brother will spar with you?”
Fifth Disciple Jiang Baishan grinned and draped his arm over Ning Qi’s shoulder.
The nearby True Disciples all showed curiosity.
They still did not know to what realm Ning Qi’s Body Tempering had reached.
But they were not blind; they always felt the aura emanating from Ning Qi was not simple.
Ye Qinghe showed a mischievous smile in her eyes.
Careful not to get your dog eyes blinded.
But Ning Qi refused seriously:
“No fighting, I don’t have a masochistic tendency. Wait another twenty years, then I’ll come ask Senior Brother for guidance.”
Everyone burst into laughter, though somewhat regretful.
Jiang Baishan smiled wryly:
“You little Nine, so grudge-holding, planning to come beat me up twenty years later.”
But he did not take it to heart.
Luo Wentian took the initiative:
“Fifth Junior Brother, let’s fight!”
“Good!”
The two brimmed with battle intent.
Having watched for so long, they were a bit itchy-handed. They had originally planned to have the True Disciples show off a bit, setting an example for the other disciples and inspiring them.
This was the perfect opportunity.
