After paying his respects, Ning Qi left together with Yuan Tiansheng.
Ye Qinghe, seeing the situation was turning dangerous for her, secretly stuck out her tongue and prepared to slip away. Unfortunately, Dragon Mountain Daoist called her back before she could escape.
Her face immediately turned bitter.
"Master, this time it really wasn't me dragging Ningqi out. He was the one who asked me to accompany him into the mountains."
Dragon Mountain Daoist snorted, but his expression soon softened.
"You, ah… your talent is no weaker than Baishan's, yet your mind is always on wine. Now Baishan's cultivation has already surpassed yours."
The scolding was light, without real anger. Ye Qinghe only laughed.
"With Fifth Senior Brother holding up the sect's reputation, isn't that good? And there's still Eighth and Ninth Ningqi growing up. When they mature, our True Martial Sect will have experts like clouds. This Disciple feels very reassured."
"You're reassured," Dragon Mountain Daoist sighed, "but this old Daoist is not."
What comforted him was that although this third Disciple loved wine and acted casually, her heart was pure, and her cultivation was still among the best of her generation. She simply could have gone further.
"That's enough," he waved his hand. "Next year, when autumn arrives, that old Divine Sword will bring his Disciple here again. Just don't embarrass me then."
Ye Qinghe was startled. Memories surfaced immediately.
The Divine Sword Daoist was no ordinary figure. Strictly speaking, he had once been the owner of Zhenwu Mountain—back when it was still called Shenjian Mountain.
A sense of urgency finally rose in her heart.
"This Disciple understands."
Dragon Mountain Daoist nodded.
"Tomorrow, inform your Senior Brother about Heavenly Born. Let the Disciples know, so no one harms it by accident."
"This Disciple obeys."
Ye Qinghe bowed and left.
Ning Qi led Yuan Tiansheng back to his small courtyard.
"Heavenly Born, from today onward, you'll live here with me. That empty room beside mine is yours. Keep it clean yourself."
"Don't disturb me when I'm cultivating or reading. You may move freely within the sect, but do not interfere with other Disciples' cultivation."
"As for a cultivation method suitable for you, I'll teach you after I organize it."
"For now, learn to read. Read more books."
Yuan Tiansheng nodded vigorously, excitement written all over his face.
He felt as if he had already stepped into a completely new world.
The night passed peacefully.
The next morning, Ning Qi awoke to find Yuan Tiansheng already busy with chores. He couldn't help but smile slightly.
Having a living companion nearby felt… unexpectedly good.
He took a wooden board, carved three characters onto it—Seeking Dao Courtyard—and hung it outside the gate.
Seeking the Dao, seeking longevity. It was a reminder to himself.
Looking at the simple plaque, Ning Qi felt his thoughts become clearer.
He wanted to cultivate.
After creating the Ten Thousand Manifestations Source Pillar, he had yet to truly practice it.
"Perfect timing to re-cultivate the outer four realms and forge an unparalleled foundation."
That was precisely why he had delayed breaking through to Refining Organs.
With a thought, Ning Qi moved.
His body followed his heart, entering a profound and mysterious state. Since the Ten Thousand Manifestations Source Pillar was created by him, he understood it completely. The so-called perfection of intent came naturally.
Yuan Tiansheng, chopping firewood nearby, froze.
Once again, he saw the golden ape questioning Heaven for the Dao. It took him a long while to recover.
Looking down at the firewood in his hands, his eyes gradually hardened.
A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.
As long as he did these small things well, one day, he would surely be taught the true path.
He continued chopping, more seriously than before.
Meanwhile, Ning Qi cultivated.
Qi flowed through his body according to the Stake technique, beginning at the skin and muscles, re-tempering them anew. To his surprise, the parts previously refined by Dragon Qi still contained many imperfections.
Qi transformed into white clouds, green mountains, soaring eagles…
All flaws were steadily filled.
The process was astonishingly fast.
After all, this was a path he had already walked.
His growth was visible to the naked eye.
In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.
Inside the Seeking Dao Courtyard, Ning Qi practiced his punches. There were no dazzling phenomena—only plain, simple movements—but the internal transformation was enough to shock anyone.
"The four outer realms of Body Tempering:Refining Skin grants unmatched defense.Refining Flesh grants strength to lift tripods.Refining Tendons grants swiftness like a leopard.Refining Bones integrates all three."
"For lower foundations, Bone Refining Perfection yields only one thousand pounds of force per arm. Superior foundations like the True Martial Nine Stances yield three thousand."
"When I previously forged a peerless foundation, I had five thousand."
"But now…"
"With the Ten Thousand Manifestations Source Pillar, I possess ten thousand pounds of force in a single arm."
This was not merely a difference in strength—but in future potential.
From now on, Ning Qi would be invincible among those of the same realm.
He lightly pushed his palm.
It seemed gentle, yet Yuan Tiansheng felt as if a primordial beast had passed beside him, pressure crashing down.
Then the white ape's eyes widened.
Ning Qi exhaled a stream of white qi. It shot forward like an arrow, piercing the air and striking the ground, leaving behind a pit.
Ning Qi smiled.
"Exhaling qi like an arrow—something even Refining Organs Perfection may fail to achieve. I've only just entered this realm."
"This is the difference in foundation."
Breaking through to Refining Organs had come naturally. He had only been waiting for the Stake technique to be complete.
His condition had never been better.
"The inner four realms: organs govern endurance, marrow governs explosiveness, blood governs longevity, and spirit integrates all."
"When perfected, the body becomes flawless, immune to illness, with a lifespan of two full cycles."
Ning Qi felt anticipation stir.
He turned to Yuan Tiansheng.
"Heavenly Born, how was your study today?"
Yuan Tiansheng jolted, then quickly pulled out a small booklet and wrote:
"Please examine me, Teacher."
He now wore a True Martial Sect Daoist robe, which he cherished greatly. Writing to communicate spared others from guessing his meaning.
As for addressing Ning Qi, this was his own insistence.
Ning Qi had refused to be called Master, saying he was still seeking the Dao himself. In the end, "Teacher" was the compromise.
Ning Qi asked questions.
Yuan Tiansheng answered them all without error.
Ning Qi was very satisfied. Even among humans, this intelligence would be considered outstanding.
"Writing like this is troublesome," Ning Qi thought. "If Heavenly Born steps onto the Martial Dao in the future, perhaps I can create a vocal technique for him."
His thoughts drifted toward the white ape's cultivation path.
Once he fully understood Yuan Tiansheng's body structure, simplifying a version of the Ten Thousand Manifestations Source Pillar for him might not be impossible.