Chapter 9: True Martial Nine Stakes
Mingwu Pavilion inside.
Pin drop silence.
All three pairs of eyes fell on Ning Qi, filled with disbelief.
Luo Wentian finally understood why Xiong Shi was so reckless, and why his master had not moved his palm away for so long.
Little Junior Brother’s bone structure had formed!
His breathing suddenly became rapid.
“Little Junior Brother is only three years old!”
He was the Senior Disciple Brother of True Martial Sect, already vaguely being cultivated by Dragon Mountain Daoist as the successor, with the same wish to revitalize True Martial. At this moment, after learning that Ning Qi was only three years old and already had formed bone structure, shock was followed by immense joy!
Luo Wentian excitedly rubbed his hands.
Xiong Shi subconsciously puffed out his chest, chuckling, now you all know why I was in such a hurry.
Both looked toward Dragon Mountain Daoist.
“Master, this should be correct, right…”
Dragon Mountain Daoist ignored them, merely looking kindly at Ning Qi.
“Little Nine, have you felt any abnormalities recently?”
Ning Qi said:
“Disciple feels like his body has been itchy and numb lately, especially at night, when this sensation is particularly intense. This morning upon waking, it seemed like there was a bit more connection with heaven and earth, but this feeling disappeared quickly.”
He temporarily concealed the matter of Innate Bone Nourishing Technique, planning to find a suitable opportunity after starting martial training to tell Dragon Mountain Daoist alone.
Dragon Mountain Daoist mildly reproached:
“Why didn’t you tell Master about these symptoms earlier?”
Immediately after, his eyes revealed astonishment.
“Bone structure naturally formed, at the moment of perfection it indeed produces some connection with heaven and earth, which will restart later to help you ascend to the peak of the Martial Way. Originally thought you would need to be six years old to form bone structure, didn’t expect it so soon. It was Master who misjudged. Little Nine, you can start martial training!”
Ning Qi was overjoyed, respectfully bowing:
“Please teach me, Master!”
After so much effort, even exhausting his mind to create the peerless secret technique Innate Bone Nourishing Technique, wasn’t it all just to start martial training early? Now, the goal was finally about to be achieved.
Dragon Mountain Daoist stroked his beard and laughed heartily. Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi also smiled joyfully.
They saw the rising future of True Martial Sect on Ning Qi.
“You all find an opportunity to tell Qinghe and the others about this, but don’t spread it to the others for now.”
Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi both nodded respectfully.
“Little Nine, follow me.”
Dragon Mountain Daoist had no mood to continue discussing matters with Luo Wentian. He now only wanted to see Ning Qi’s performance on the Martial Way.
Luo Wentian and the other felt like cats clawing at their hearts.
Exchanging a glance, they followed.
Behind Mingwu Pavilion.
There was a training ground of moderate size, a place outer disciples and inner disciples could not step into.
Dragon Mountain Daoist had his hands behind his back.
“Little Nine, are you fully familiar with the initial realms of the Martial Way?”
Ning Qi nodded:
“The beginning of the Martial Way is the Eight Body Tempering Realms: Skin Refining, Muscle Refining, Tendon Refining, Bone Refining, Organ Refining, Marrow Refining, Blood Refining, Spirit Refining!”
“After completing Blood Refining, one becomes immune to all illnesses. If unified further with divine intent, inner strength is naturally generated, stepping into Inner Yuan Realm.”
Dragon Mountain Daoist’s Daoist robe fluttered without wind, a master’s demeanor naturally emerging.
“The Martial Way is arduous, every step requires solid footing. Perhaps lingering in one realm for decades is possible. Although your talent is good, you still need diligence and effort, otherwise the Martial Way will not be achieved.”
Ning Qi’s face was resolute as he said:
“Disciple will remember!”
Dragon Mountain Daoist smiled, somewhat emotional, recalling the scene when Ning Qi, only half a year old back then, asked him if the Martial Way could lead to longevity. This little disciple’s mind was far more mature than ordinary people, probably already determined since then to climb to the peak of the Martial Way.
“Body Tempering Realm is the beginning of the Martial Way, and also its foundation. If the foundation is laid well, one will advance courageously later. To temper the body, stance technique is needed!”
Ning Qi’s eyes were exceptionally bright.
Without the slightest surprise.
In these three years, although unable to practice martial arts, he had thought about whether he could create a Martial Way path no predecessor had walked, but ultimately gave up—not because it couldn’t be done, but because it would take too much time, not worth the cost.
Even so, he had several ideas.
Using stance technique to temper the body was one of them.
“Stance techniques of the world are divided into upper, middle, and lower grades. The higher the grade, the more solid the foundation laid.”
“And my True Martial Sect has nine upper-grade stance techniques!”
“This is, True Martial Nine Stances!”
At this point.
A trace of pride flashed in Dragon Mountain Daoist’s eyes. Nearby Luo Wentian and Xiong Shi also involuntarily puffed out their chests. Outsiders did not know True Martial’s foundation; only they true disciples knew.
“Dragon has nine sons, each different.”
“True Martial Nine Stances correspond to the nine sons of the dragon: Qiu Niu, Ya Zi, Chao Feng, Pu Lao, Suan Ni, Ba Xia, Bi An, Fu Xi, Chi Wen.”
“Your eight senior brothers and sisters have already chosen eight stances. Little Nine, you can practice Bi An Stance.”
His face carried relief.
Why did he accept nine true disciples? For these True Martial Nine Stances.
For each disciple accepted, he would see which stance technique suited them. Of course, some disciples suited multiple stance techniques, like Qin Yun, like Ning Qi, but he had them choose non-overlapping ones.
Ning Qi asked:
“May I ask Master, what is the story behind True Martial Nine Stances?”
Dragon Mountain Daoist’s voice carried a trace of longing:
“There is no high or low among True Martial Nine Stances. Rumor has it that in the prosperous era of True Martial Sect, those excelling in True Martial Nine Stances were True Martial Nine Sons. If True Martial Nine Sons were all heavenly humans, they could battle Martial Saints!”
Ning Qi’s breathing slightly paused.
He now knew what kind of existence a Martial Saint was—that was an invincible expert suppressing an era. Unless another Martial Saint was born in the same era, no match could be found.
And the previous True Martial Nine Sons could battle Martial Saints.
What a powerful method.
Didn’t that mean True Martial Sect had Martial Saint level combat power generation after generation?
Hard to imagine how such a powerful True Martial Sect declined and headed toward extinction.
But Ning Qi guessed that to battle Martial Saints, True Martial Nine Stances were probably just the foundation; there should be even more profound secret technique methods.
No wonder when Master carried him up the mountain back then, Eighth Senior Brother shouted that True Martial Nine Sons were finally gathered.
Ning Qi’s face showed a smile, solemnly saying:
“Please teach me Bi An Stance, Master!”
“Good, watch carefully.”
After Dragon Mountain Daoist spoke, his expression had already become serious.
His legs spread apart, his aura suddenly changed, like a fierce tiger among the mountains—no, a hundred times more terrifying than a fierce tiger!
Then he moved, though the movements were slow.
But they carried a profound rhythm within.
“Stance technique can be moving or still, the form is secondary, the spirit is inside. Breathing and exhalation, obtain its divine intent…”
“Visualize Bi An, exhale like thunder…”
Dragon Mountain Daoist’s voice was steady, slowly explaining.
He demonstrated the moves while mentioning various precautions.
Ordinary people would be dazzled watching.
Upper-grade stance techniques lay a good foundation naturally, but mastering them is equally difficult.
Ning Qi watched intently, only feeling like the world was peeling apart in his eyes.
Dragon Mountain Daoist’s every move reflected in his pupils. He directly saw through the surface to the essence: moves driving skin membrane undulation, aura surging from breathing rhythm changes, Bi An Divine Intent arising from the heart… Accompanying Dragon Mountain Daoist’s demonstration, the various wonders of Bi An Stance were already displayed before Ning Qi’s eyes.
“This upper-grade stance technique seems pretty simple?” Ning Qi thought.
