"Master, I still have one more thing."
Dragon Mountain Daoist looked over with mild curiosity and saw Ning Qi hand him a prescription.
It was a revised formula for the Body Tempering Powder.
Ning Qi said calmly, "During my free time, Disciple felt the original Body Tempering Powder still had room for improvement, so I adjusted it slightly. The effect should be more than twice as strong as before."
Dragon Mountain Daoist was momentarily stunned.
Then, joy surged through him.
He did not doubt Ning Qi's words in the slightest.
After witnessing the Zhenwu Pile with his own eyes, Dragon Mountain Daoist had already become somewhat numb to shock. Compared to that peerless stake art, improving a medicinal formula almost felt… reasonable.
But the value of this prescription was no less astonishing.
The Zhenwu Pile strengthened one person.
This improved Body Tempering Powder could strengthen the entire True Martial Sect.
It was a treasure that could visibly deepen the sect's foundation.
Dragon Mountain Daoist looked at Ning Qi, his gaze filled with relief and emotion.
At this moment, he genuinely felt—
That bringing Ning Qi to Zhenwu Mountain back then might have been the wisest decision of his entire life.
With such a disciple, what more could he possibly ask for?
"Little Nine," Dragon Mountain Daoist said solemnly, "from now on, you may freely use all the resources of the True Martial Sect."
"As the Zhenwu Guardian, you need not be bound by ordinary rules."
The Guardian existed in the shadows, the final trump card of the sect. Naturally, his treatment could not be ordinary.
And Ning Qi had already proven his worth many times over.
At this moment, Dragon Mountain Daoist completely discarded his earlier thoughts.
When he first emerged from seclusion, he had considered carefully planning Ning Qi's future path, even designing a route toward Martial Sainthood so his talent would not be wasted.
But now, he understood.
For a genius of this level, the best guidance was not restraint—but freedom.
Provide enough resources.
Do not interfere.
Otherwise, if he accidentally led Ning Qi astray, Dragon Mountain Daoist knew he would never forgive himself.
Ning Qi felt a slight thrill in his heart.
He had not expected such privileges to come so quickly.
And what did he want the most?
Without a doubt—
The Scripture Pavilion.
Inside were not only martial arts manuals, but Daoist classics, medical texts, divination records, geomancy books, and countless miscellaneous scriptures.
In the past, even though Dragon Mountain Daoist favored him, Ning Qi could only read a portion of them.
Rules existed for a reason.
Even the True Disciples had to rely on contributions and seniority. If resources were taken without restraint, the sect would inevitably decline.
"Master," Ning Qi asked, unable to hide his anticipation, "may I live in the Scripture Pavilion from now on?"
Borrowing books repeatedly wasted time. Living there directly would be far more efficient.
Dragon Mountain Daoist was slightly taken aback.
After a moment of thought, he shook his head.
"Living inside the Scripture Pavilion is inconvenient, and there would be no space for martial cultivation."
Then he smiled.
"How about this—I will have a new residence built for you near the Scripture Pavilion. It will be quiet and undisturbed. When you want to read, you can enter freely. When you want to cultivate, you will have your own space."
Ning Qi's eyes lit up.
That was even better.
"Thank you, Master."
"The Scripture Pavilion is vast," Dragon Mountain Daoist reminded him gently. "Do not lose yourself in it. You must know how to balance learning and cultivation."
"Yes, Disciple understands."
"Do you have any other requests?"
"Not for now."
"Then we'll discuss it again if you think of something later."
Dragon Mountain Daoist gestured for Ning Qi to sit.
"Today, I'll share some experiences from my years on the martial path."
"The eight realms of Body Tempering—Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones—are the outer realms. Organs, Marrow, Blood, Spirit—these are the inner realms."
"When inner and outer merge, it is Perfection."
"In the outer realms, Bone Refining is the most important. It is the bridge between inner and outer."
"In the inner realms, Spirit Refining is the most dangerous. It requires patience above all else."
He spoke slowly, steadily.
No secret techniques.
No forced guidance.
Only experience.
How much Ning Qi absorbed depended entirely on himself.
Ning Qi listened intently.
This kind of unreserved sharing was exactly what he needed. It would help him avoid countless detours.
Even as he listened, flashes of insight appeared in his mind. He immediately noticed several areas in the Zhenwu Pile that could still be refined.
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the pavilion.
Master and disciple discussed the Dao.
It felt like a painting.
…
Time passed quietly.
Ning Qi advanced to the Major Achievement of Flesh Refining.
With a single swing of his arm, he could generate nearly eight hundred catties of force.
For a three-year-old child, this was absurd.
But considering the Zhenwu Pile's peerless foundation, it also felt… inevitable.
That day.
Ning Qi was packing his belongings.
His new residence near the Scripture Pavilion was finally complete.
Third Senior Sister Ye Qinghe, Fourth Senior Brother He Yan, and Fifth Senior Brother Jiang Baishan all came to help.
"Tsk tsk," Ye Qinghe said, pinching Ning Qi's cheek, "Little Nine, be honest—are you Master's illegitimate son?"
Ning Qi rolled his eyes and pushed her hand away.
"Third Senior Sister, if you dare, go ask Master that yourself."
He Yan and Jiang Baishan exchanged glances, both smiling bitterly.
They definitely wouldn't dare.
Ye Qinghe sniffed.
"Hmph. Then why does Master only let you live near the Scripture Pavilion and even tells us not to disturb you?"
There was jealousy—but mostly teasing.
Ning Qi smiled mysteriously.
"You really want to know?"
Three heads nodded at once.
"Because," Ning Qi said, lifting his bag, "I'm a peerless genius."
He walked off, leaving behind his arrogant little back.
The three were stunned, then laughed.
"Stinky Little Nine."
They weren't truly unbalanced.
Everyone could see Ning Qi's talent.
More than that, they had watched him grow up, day by day. To them, he was still a younger brother.
Soon, they arrived at Ning Qi's new residence.
After some final teasing and reminders, the three left.
"Cultivate well," Ye Qinghe said. "If anything happens, come find us."
Ning Qi watched them go.
He then looked around his new courtyard—spacious, quiet, hidden behind the Scripture Pavilion.
No one would disturb him here.
Finally, his gaze turned toward the Scripture Pavilion itself.
Excitement slowly rose in his eyes.
For him—
That place was the foundation of longevity.