Chapter 39: Challenge
Qin Yun’s return to the mountain caused quite a stir in the True Martial Sect. After all, he had been down the mountain for over half a year this time, not even returning during the Year End.
The disciples all missed him greatly.
All the True Disciples on the mountain came, gathering around Qin Yun.
“You little Eight, staying down the mountain so long without a word—afraid you’ve been dazzled by the flowery world.”
Qin Yun looked at the familiar faces and felt as if a lifetime had passed.
He was about to speak.
Ye Qinghe was already chuckling as she said:
“Drink this pot of wine, and we’ll forgive you.”
Looking at the wine Ye Qinghe handed over, Qin Yun’s scalp tingled. He had been a victim of Ye Qinghe’s wine-brewing experiments before; he had forced himself to drink it, and surprisingly, it turned out pretty good.
“Third Senior Sister, your brewing skills have improved greatly!”
Qin Yun did not stint on his praise.
Ye Qinghe smiled even more happily, but after Qin Yun saw the crowd’s smirking expressions, he roughly understood something. His gaze fell on the White Ape, then on Ning Qi.
He instinctively perceived, trying to gauge Ning Qi’s depth, but he couldn’t see through it.
“Little Nine.”
He smiled brightly, just like in the old days.
But Ning Qi always felt that Qin Yun seemed to be suppressing something.
Afterward, Qin Yun went to see Dragon Mountain Daoist. To everyone’s surprise, perhaps because he had been down the mountain too long before, Dragon Mountain Daoist actually ordered Qin Yun to be confined and go into Closed-door Cultivation. Luo Wentian tried to gently advise a couple of times but was also scolded.
All the True Disciples were stunned; this was extremely rare.
They could only hope Master would calm down soon.
Ning Qi sighed somewhat.
People’s hearts are hard to fathom.
He vaguely felt that Master’s action was related to Eighth Senior Brother’s condition.
But he couldn’t manage these things; he didn’t have the ability yet.
Ning Qi could only cultivate silently.
Hoping Qin Yun would recover soon.
Time passed slowly.
In the blink of an eye, Year End was approaching again.
Ning Qi had undergone two more Feigned Deaths, completing two Stacked Strengths.
Two months ago, he had successfully promoted to Five Stacked Realm, his cultivation formally surpassing Seventh Senior Brother Song Cheng.
“Once I complete one more Stacked Strength, I can promote to Inner Yuan Realm Major Accomplishment. Ordinary Inner Yuan Realm Major Accomplishment martial artists can begin Strength Transformation to add characteristics to their Inner Strength, but I could already do this at Minor Accomplishment.”
“Now my Inner Strength is even more solid. If I reach Major Accomplishment Realm, I’m afraid I can extend Inner Strength outside the body like others at Perfection Realm.”
This made Ning Qi somewhat expectant.
Inner Yuan Nine Stacked Perfection can extend Inner Strength nearly a zhang outside the body, greatly increasing power. He estimated he wouldn’t be far off, or even surpass it.
“However… with my current strength, I should be able to contend with White Mist Realm experts, right?”
Ning Qi wasn’t entirely sure, but he had this expectation.
Gang Yuan Realm’s Gang Qi was too powerful, but he felt he had the power to fight.
He hadn’t forgotten Blood Rain Tower’s goal. One day, when he could easily defeat his own master, he should be able to take revenge.
“It’s just that Great Dream Nine Deaths Strength’s Strength Transformation method is still only in its embryonic form; it needs a bit more time.”
Ning Qi wasn’t anxious about this.
He had high requirements for Strength Transformation, because it involved future Gang Yuan Realm cultivation.
He hoped his Inner Strength characteristics could encompass myriad manifestations.
This was difficult.
But with Myriad Manifestations Origin Stance as precedent, it wasn’t impossible; it just required time to summarize and deduce. Without Ning Qi’s Max Level Comprehension, it would be nearly impossible.
Ning Qi felt he would definitely succeed next year.
“Let’s go, Tian Sheng.”
Looking at the diligently cultivating White Ape beside him, Ning Qi smiled and called.
The White Ape now had Bone Refining Perfection and was impacting the Organ Refining bottleneck. Perhaps in six years, it could complete Body Tempering—this speed was very fast; even little fatty Zhuang Chen couldn’t compare, let alone Qin Yun.
Moreover, the White Ape’s strength surpassed those at the same level.
Because its physical foundation was extremely solid—though not as good as Ning Qi’s, those practicing True Martial Stance probably couldn’t match it.
Ning Qi discovered that as the White Ape’s cultivation realm rose higher, wonderful changes seemed to be occurring in its body, perhaps activating its Bloodline.
This made Ning Qi even more curious.
He thought.
Once his Inner Strength could extend outside the body, perhaps he could try to explore it.
Thoughts turning in his mind, Ning Qi and the White Ape had arrived at the Training Ground.
Last Year’s Year End Grand Competition had achieved quite good results.
Luo Wentian naturally pressed on, planning to continue this fine tradition.
Ning Qi only discovered after arriving.
Qin Yun had actually come too.
He had been confined by Dragon Mountain Daoist for over half a year, and now at Year End, he was allowed to come out temporarily. He was currently talking with a group of True Disciples.
Everyone advised him that if he had annoyed Master somewhere, he should go bow his head and soften up, not be so stubborn.
Qin Yun just smiled and agreed.
Seeing Ning Qi.
Qin Yun’s gaze instinctively looked over, perceiving.
“Little Nine.”
He could tell Ning Qi’s aura was much stronger than half a year ago, but to know the exact realm, Ning Qi would have to make a move.
Ning Qi also sat over.
The group conversed.
Meanwhile, the Outer Disciples’ competition began again.
Compared to last year, the Outer Disciples’ overall strength had improved somewhat, with several standout disciples appearing, which made everyone very happy.
Then came the Inner Disciples.
After awarding the top twenty disciples, it was the True Disciples sparring with each other and answering questions for the other disciples.
But this time, there was an extra Qin Yun.
Luo Wentian fought Jiang Baishan again, and this time Luo Wentian lost even more cleanly.
This thoroughly established Jiang Baishan’s status as the second strongest in True Martial.
Now Jiang Baishan had hope of breaking through to Gang Yuan Realm before forty, becoming the True Martial Sect’s second Gang Yuan Realm expert.
At forty years old, in this world where martial artists lived long, he was still of the younger generation, with fierce momentum.
But watching the two fight intensely, Ning Qi’s heart was calm. He was even more certain that even Senior Disciple Brother and Fifth Senior Brother together probably weren’t his opponents.
However, after Luo Wentian lost, Qin Yun actually proactively challenged Jiang Baishan.
As expected, Qin Yun lost.
But what shocked everyone was.
Qin Yun had actually displayed Inner Yuan Realm Six Stacked realm!
One had to know.
Qin Yun was only in his twenties, yet already at Inner Yuan Major Accomplishment. At this rate, perhaps he had hope of promoting to Gang Yuan Realm before thirty-five, or even faster.
Everyone in True Martial Sect was extremely excited.
Loudly praising Qin Yun.
This was a sign of True Martial’s prosperity.
Only Dragon Mountain Daoist had a faint worry in his eyes.
Ning Qi also felt somewhat surprised; Qin Yun’s cultivation progress seemed too fast. Could it be a Fortuitous Encounter from his time down the mountain before?
After Jiang Baishan stepped down.
Qin Yun stood in the center of the Training Ground. He didn’t go down but looked at Ning Qi and issued an invitation:
“Little Junior Brother, why not come try? Senior Brother will spar with you?”
There was a strange meaning in his eyes; even the other disciples vaguely sensed something off.
A year ago, Jiang Baishan had invited like this, but Ning Qi could directly smile and politely decline.
But a year later, with Qin Yun issuing the invitation again.
It made Ning Qi somewhat hesitant.
Qin Yun was different from Jiang Baishan; he felt Qin Yun’s changes in the following years might have some relation to himself.
