Although Ning Qi was not an impatient person, the thought of having to wait another seven and a half years before he could even touch the martial Dao still felt too long.
After all,
He possessed max-level Comprehension Ability, and once he embarked on the path of martial Dao, he would surely advance a thousand miles in a day.
Ning Qi had not forgotten the sect-destroying incident half a year ago.
He didn't want to be like Huang Shang, who, by the time his divine skill reached Major Achievement, found all his enemies already dead.
These days,
He had begun to ponder how to accelerate the formation of his own root bones. The dense Innate Qi within him seemed to have a good effect, but he hadn't yet unearthed its maximum potential. Everyone in True Martial Sect knew Ning Qi was a prodigy and feared he would come into contact with the martial Dao too early and go astray. Therefore, no martial Dao-related classics were given to Ning Qi to read.
Some of what Ning Qi knew was pieced together from miscellaneous studies, which might contain errors.
"Why not ask Master?"
Ning Qi made up his mind.
He was afraid of misunderstanding and wanted to know what the essence of root bones truly was, so he could create a secret art to accelerate their formation and utilize the Innate Qi he had retained earlier.
He strode forward, his small arms and legs swinging, looking very cute, and coupled with his delicate, jade-like appearance, he was even more endearing.
Along the way,
Outer Sect and Inner Sect Disciples of True Martial Sect, upon seeing Ning Qi, respectfully saluted him, calling him Ninth Brother.
This was the rule; True Disciples were superior.
Ning Qi clasped his hands behind his back and nodded with an air of maturity:
"Hello, Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters."
All the Disciples secretly chuckled, yet at the same time, they were somewhat astonished. This Ninth Brother was indeed no ordinary person; at only half a year old, his mind was already so mature, and his steps were steady and unique.
It was just that the way his small arms and legs swung was too amusing.
Ning Qi walked on.
A pair of strong arms picked him up.
"Little Nine, you're running around again!"
Hearing the laughter, Ning Qi knew who it was without turning around: Fifth Brother Jiang Baishan. Ning Qi struggled to get down:
"Fifth Brother, put me down! I can walk by myself!"
The fair-skinned, handsome young man laughed heartily, his eyes full of doting affection.
"Slow down, slow down, don't fall. I'll put you down right away."
"Fifth Brother, are you going to see Master?"
"That's right. After staying on the mountain for so long, I need to go down the mountain for some experience, lest people look down on our True Martial Sect."
Jiang Baishan's eyes held anticipation.
Before Qin Yun joined the sect, he had the highest talent, and now his strength was close to that of First Senior Brother Luo Wentian.
"Fifth Brother, you're amazing! What Realm are you in now?"
"Your Fifth Brother is definitely amazing. At only twenty-five years old, I already... bah, little Ning Qi, you're trying to trick me into talking! I won't tell you! You little rascal, you'll know when you grow up."
"If you don't tell me, I'll go ask Master myself!"
This scene had occurred many times. His Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters wouldn't even tell him their martial Dao Realm. Ning Qi pouted, swinging his arms as he ran into Mingwu Pavilion.
Jiang Baishan couldn't help but laugh dumbfounded.
He shook his head and followed closely behind.
Inside the pavilion.
Dragon Mountain Daoist was sitting in meditation with his eyes closed. After a while, he slowly opened them.
"Disciple greets Master!"
Ning Qi and Jiang Baishan respectfully saluted.
Dragon Mountain Daoist looked at his two Disciples with a smile, especially at Ning Qi, his affection completely undisguised. This Disciple was truly lovable; he learned everything quickly. He was already looking forward to the day Ning Qi embarked on the martial Dao.
Perhaps the future of True Martial Sect lay with this Disciple.
"Master, Disciple wishes to go down the mountain for experience and spread the might of our True Martial Sect," Jiang Baishan stated his purpose.
Dragon Mountain Daoist's expression was one of gratification:
"Going down the mountain for experience is a good thing. Spreading might is secondary; gaining knowledge is the main goal. You must pay attention to your own safety. In recent years, the Demonic Path has shown signs of resurgence. You must remember not to get involved."
Feeling his Master's concern, Jiang Baishan's expression was touched.
"Master's teachings, Disciple will keep them in mind."
Dragon Mountain Daoist slowly nodded, then smiled kindly at Ning Qi:
"Little Nine, how come you have time to come to your Master today? Did your Third Senior Sister tease you again, and you came to complain?"
Jiang Baishan also laughed.
Ye Qinghe was the one who loved to tease Ning Qi the most.
However, Ning Qi shook his head. His small face wrinkled, and he leaned in mysteriously, saying:
"Disciple discovered something strange. Every night, I feel a tingling and itching sensation deep within my body. Master, there aren't any monsters on our Zhenwu Mountain, are there?"
Dragon Mountain Daoist laughed and scolded:
"Nonsense."
However, after hearing Ning Qi's words, he seemed thoughtful. He reached out and placed his hand on Ning Qi's shoulder. Ning Qi could feel a magical power surging within his body, and then Dragon Mountain Daoist's face showed a hint of surprise.
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"This is... the root bones accelerating their formation? How could it be so early?"
Ning Qi's face showed a look of pleasant surprise:
"Master, do you mean that I will also be able to practice martial arts early, like Eighth Senior Brother?"
Jiang Baishan also looked at Dragon Mountain Daoist with surprise, but Dragon Mountain Daoist smiled and tapped Ning Qi's head:
"You little rascal, trying to probe your Master in such a roundabout way."
With his little Disciple's intellect, how could he not have noticed this change? Talking about monsters was just a deliberate way to make him reveal this matter.
Ning Qi chuckled and asked the question he had always wanted to know:
"Master, what exactly are root bones?"
Dragon Mountain Daoist pondered for a moment, then said:
"Very well, I will tell you today, lest you have doubts and feel anxious. Since your root bones have already begun to accelerate their formation, you must also pay attention to medicinal and dietary supplements later on."
Ning Qi sat up straight.
"So-called root bones are not meridians, nor are they bones. They are not tangible things, but rather the human body's foundation, a Treasure Trove. Like a seedling just sprouting, it needs time to be nurtured. As long as it grows between Heaven and Earth, nourished by a mysterious power, it can continuously grow."
"Countless predecessors have researched and concluded that most children's root bones form at the age of eight. A small number of people with dense Innate Qi can form them earlier, such as your Eighth Senior Brother; he embarked on the path of martial Dao at seven."
"As for you, perhaps it will be even faster."
Dragon Mountain Daoist stroked his beard and smiled. He recalled seeing Ning Qi in the hidden compartment in the sea of fire half a year ago; that Innate Qi was indeed dense enough, but he hadn't expected it to start accelerating its growth at only half a year old.
Generally speaking, those who practice martial arts early can achieve remarkable accomplishments and have a greater possibility of reaching higher Realms of martial Dao, but it's not absolute.
He naturally didn't know that Ning Qi had already begun to consciously mobilize his own Innate Qi to integrate into his body.
Ning Qi suddenly understood.
He had always thought that root bones referred to the human body's tendons and bones, which needed to grow to a certain extent to bear the martial Dao.
Now it seemed that this was merely a superficial understanding.
The concept of root bones was so profound, involving the human body's foundation and the Heaven and Earth Power.
He had stumbled upon it by chance before, just happening to go from the superficial to the profound.
Fortunately, he clarified the direction in time. This was the benefit of having a Master. Even though Ning Qi had max-level Comprehension Ability, appropriate guidance during his early, weak stage could save him many detours.
"Disciple thanks Master for dispelling my confusion!" Ning Qi said respectfully.
His heart was filled with joy, his confusion resolved. He had found the direction, and it wouldn't be difficult to create a secret art to accelerate the formation of root bones, given a little time.
Six years old?
He felt it was still too long.
Dragon Mountain Daoist smiled:
"Since we've discussed root bones today, let's talk about any other questions you have as well, lest you, this little imp, keep thinking about them day and night."
Ning Qi's eyes lit up, and he asked a question he had very much wanted to know:
"May I ask Master, can one achieve longevity through the martial Dao?"
The longing in his eyes was incredibly brilliant.