Chapter 115: Chapter 101: The Secret of the Martial Saint
Another year of the True Martial Peach Assembly.
Eight True Disciples gather together.
During this year, many things have happened. Taoist Longshan held the Celestial Being Grand Ceremony, the intricacies of which only True Martial disciples know, and everyone is full of sentiments.
This year.
Ye Qinghe’s Peach Blossom Brew has become even sweeter; she seems to have really mastered the technique.
But Ning Qi knows there’s only this one kind.
Ye Qinghe secretly tried other types of liquor and failed every time, so she self-proclaimed herself as the master of Peach Blossom Brew, specializing in this one drink. Everyone smiles knowingly and only offers praise.
This year’s peach fruit astonished everyone even more.
"How do I feel that this peach fruit is better than previous years? It’s not just my imagination, right?" The seventh disciple, Song City, couldn’t help but grab another.
Everyone nodded:
"It’s not an illusion; eating it makes the body heat up, seemingly strengthening our foundation."
Each person is surprised; it’s somewhat magical.
Ning Qi smiled slightly:
"Previously, Master obtained three Bright Fruits at the Celestial Being Grand Ceremony. I studied them a bit and improved the cultivation method of the peach trees, but it’s only the beginning; the effects aren’t that obvious yet."
The fourth disciple, He Yan, looked exaggeratedly at the peach trees outside the yard:
"Good heavens, does that mean our True Martial Sect will have large areas of spirit species comparable to the Bright Tree in the future?"
"It’s still early."
Ning Qi just chuckled.
To achieve the effect of the Bright Fruit, there is a long way to go.
But perhaps in a few years, at the True Martial Peach Assembly, we might be drinking Enlightenment Tea.
Everyone is expectant; they no longer have any doubts about Ning Qi. Though they don’t know what his specific realm is, they don’t think it’s low, and some even believe he might have surpassed a few weaker ones among them.
The Sleep Dream Pill from before is the proof.
This year.
First disciple Luo Wentian and second disciple Xiong Shi, benefited from the Gang Condensing Pill, successfully broke through the White Mist Realm and rapidly grew with the help of the Quenching Gang Pill. This pill’s wonder surpasses any pill they previously knew, likely enough to easily break past their former cultivation records.
The others also progress rapidly.
The wonder of the Sleep Dream Skill and Sleep Dream Pill left them in awe.
Ye Qinghe has long reached the Ninth Fold of the Inner Essence Realm, just needing some more accumulation to step into the Gang Essence Realm with the Gang Condensing Pill.
Since Ning Qi, the cultivation of the True Disciples of True Martial Sect began to speed up significantly, much faster than their previous cultivation pace alone.
Themselves being like this, not to mention Ning Qi himself.
Even when young, his cultivation is likely already extremely remarkable.
However, everyone tacitly chose not to ask much.
They believe that when the right day comes, Ning Qi will naturally inform them.
"Jiu, after this Peach Assembly, we will probably descend the mountain for training. When that time comes, we will find you more interesting things. You like reading; your senior brothers and sisters will try to find some rare records for you. Do you have any preferences?" Everyone asked.
As senior brothers and sisters, being repeatedly cared for by the junior brother, they feel somewhat embarrassed.
Ning Qi pondered and then said:
"If there are records about the Martial Saint, you can find me more, and some miscellaneous odd skills interest me too."
With the senior brothers’ and sisters’ abilities, too profound martial arts might be hard to find, so it’s better to turn to other aspects.
Ning Qi wants to learn more about things concerning the Martial Saint Realm.
The Celestial Human Realm holds no secrets to him anymore; he needs to prepare in advance and not wait until the last moment to start searching, for he feels the Martial Saint Realm is not that simple.
Recently, he explored the records of past conflicts between the Great Yan Imperial Court and the Demon Sect. The Great Yan Martial Saints seem to be avoiding action, not acting freely.
Thinking of past eras where Martial Saints were rarely left with detailed information, only fragmented descriptions,
Ning Qi felt strange.
"Even if Martial Saints have ascended, they shouldn’t leave no trace behind, right?"
Of course.
Having the senior brothers and sisters attempt to seek is just trying, not holding much hope.
Everyone agreed with laughter:
"We will surely make you, Junior Brother, satisfied!"
Ning Qi thought a moment and reminded:
"But now the Demon Sect and Great Yan’s struggle continues endlessly. I’ve heard chaos everywhere, with Gang Essence Realm experts frequently appearing. Senior brothers and sisters, you must be careful."
He turned and walked into the house, then took out a ceramic bottle and poured out several crimson pills.
"These are Blood Burning Pills. If you encounter a foe you cannot defeat, you can consume them to unleash potential for counterattack or escape. Remember, the effect lasts only fifteen minutes."
This is Ning Qi’s idle work.
The Demon Sect’s Blood Burning Technique gave him the inspiration.
Though the Blood Burning Pill’s aftereffects are not as strong, causing only temporary weakness without harming foundations, comparatively, the efficacy isn’t as potent.
Everyone is touched and solemnly stores the pills.
They didn’t speak, just silently made up their minds to find some useful rare books for the junior disciple.
Watching the departing backs of his senior brothers and sisters, Ning Qi sighed lightly.
Unlike the others, he possesses full enlightenment; even sitting casually in the mountain allows him to grow quickly and gain insight. For others to improve, training is indispensable. The conflict between the Demon Sect and Great Yan causes chaos in the Martial Realm, but opportunities lie within danger, and one must seize them to make bold advancements.
Ning Qi is not a saint, unable to protect everyone’s safety or make decisions for them.
The only thing he can do is prepare some trump cards like Blood Burning Pills for them as much as possible.
...
Many True Martial disciples have gone down the mountain.
Previously, they had been stifled on the mountain for a long time; now with the Demon Sect’s Celestial Beings dormant, it is an opportunity to venture outside.
On True Martial Mountain.
It is rarely quiet.
Taoist Longshan is still recovering from injuries. Previously, the Demon Sect attacked True Martial Mountain at night, forcing him to fight with Demon Sect’s Celestial Beings, worsening his recently improved injuries. Fortunately, with the Blood Sun Ginseng bestowed by the Great Yan Imperial Court along with Thousand-Year Flame Sun Jade, he is steadily recovering now.
Ning Qi’s Seeking Tao Institute has become quiet without the comings and goings of several True Disciples.
He feels at ease.
Every day, he enjoys reading Taoist Scripture and seeking enlightenment.
The Taoist Scripture sent by True Profound Sect has greatly benefited him, the insights of predecessors on the universe inspire him occasionally. Now, Ning Qi’s foundation is much deeper than a few years ago. If he were to return to when he first practiced the Martial Path, he surely wouldn’t take so long to create the Myriad Phenomena Origin Stance.
This makes him think of Taoist Baishan, and for a moment, he felt tempted by the old Taoist’s proposal to plunder Taoism.
He further thought:
"If one day I can use the aspirations of all beings in the world as nourishment, gathering the wisdom of all beings, how refreshing would that be?"
Ning Qi shook his head with a chuckle, feeling he was thinking a bit too much for now.
After all, he hasn’t reached the Celestial Human Realm yet, attempting to gather wisdom of all beings is a bit ambitious, but for now, he does not need it.
He practices inner observation.
Having taken a second Golden Jade Pill, Gang Qi swirled like mist and lakes, with astonishing power lurking within, nearing Jade Transformation Liquid.
Ning Qi did not continue refining Gang Qi.
Refining Gang Qi is a gradual process, not to be overdone.
He holds the Treasure Armor he obtained previously, carefully examining it. Upon entering the Unity of Heaven and Man state, the Power of Heaven and Earth caresses its surface, testing the armor with various levels of impact and vibration.
Ning Qi named this armor Cyan Profound Treasure Armor, experimenting with it has been one of his pleasures lately.
"This armor is as soft as water, but becomes instantly firm against force, able to withstand impact. This is partly due to the skill of the Weapon Refining Master, but mostly due to the material itself."
"The material is extremely special; the way it absorbs forces is also exceptionally unique. If I could thoroughly research it, perhaps I could develop a strong Defense Secret Technique."
Ning Qi feels somewhat tempted.
After all, armor is external and only protects the body.
If a secret technique were to be created, it would be a personal strength, flawless, with secret technique and armor protection, the safety factor would greatly increase. Ning Qi is very keen on such Path Guardian Techniques.
He switches to using Gang Qi to touch the armor.
Observing the armor’s special wave when dispersing force, noting its special changes, and Gang Qi starts to simulate accordingly.
After days of study, he has gained some insights.
Gang Qi transforms into strands of cyan profound light, these cyan lights meander unpredictably, spiraling in a unique manner around Ning Qi, looking intangible to the eye, yet when touched, they immediately become sturdy barriers.
Ning Qi manipulates the Power of Heaven and Earth, gently pressing it onto the cyan light barrier, increasing the force constantly.
At first.
The cyan light barrier remains poised, but as Ning Qi increases the force, it suddenly bursts into countless light points with a boom.
Ning Qi slightly frowns:
"Still not enough, Cyan Profound Body Protection Technique can almost withstand attacks at the Primordial Core Realm level. When standing still, Primordial Core attacks struggle to break it, but facing Celestial Human Realm strength, it can only withstand two or three hits."
To be honest, this secret technique can be considered successful in creation, but obviously it does not meet Ning Qi’s expectations and needs further improvement.
He hopes the Defense Secret Technique can reach the defense level of Cyan Profound Treasure Armor.
"At least... needs to be able to withstand a punch from the Town North King?" Ning Qi thought.
The Town North King is the strongest he has seen, Ning Qi uses him as a hypothetical enemy, first aiming to survive his hands.
"Continue optimization!"
Ning Qi does not feel discouraged. If Gang Qi can fully simulate the mystique of Cyan Profound Treasure Armor, it should be possible.
This process is not wasted, it also strengthens the foundation of Myriad Phenomena True Gang.
Embracing the characteristics of all things in the world, merging them into unity; this was Ning Qi’s original intention in creating Myriad Phenomena True Gang.
Time flows slowly.
Ning Qi has been consistently cultivating as planned, and under his deductions and improvements, the defense of Cyan Profound Body Protection Technique becomes increasingly abnormal.
Golden Jade Pills are consumed one by one, Ning Qi’s aura growing increasingly strong.
While digesting the fourth Golden Jade Pill.
The fifth disciple Jiang Baishan returned to True Martial Mountain, catching Ning Qi’s attention.
Because Jiang Baishan took a Blood Burning Pill, his left arm hung limp on his body, almost severed.