Inside the Mingwu Pavilion, silence reigned.
So quiet that even breathing felt intrusive.
Three pairs of eyes were fixed on Ning Qi, each filled with disbelief that had yet to fade.
Only now did Luo Wentian fully understand why Bear Stone had rushed in so recklessly—and why Master's hand had lingered for so long.
Ning Qi's foundation… had truly formed.
At three years old.
Luo Wentian's breathing quickened.
As the senior disciple and the one subtly being groomed as Dragon Mountain Daoist's successor, his greatest wish was the revival of the True Martial Sect. At this moment, shock quickly gave way to uncontrollable excitement.
This was hope.
Real hope.
Bear Stone puffed out his chest, unable to hide his pride.
"Now you see why I didn't dare waste time."
Luo Wentian laughed helplessly and turned his gaze to Dragon Mountain Daoist.
"Master… there's no mistake, right?"
Dragon Mountain Daoist ignored the two of them.
His eyes rested gently on Ning Qi.
"Little Nine," he asked softly, "have you noticed anything unusual recently?"
Ning Qi replied calmly, having prepared his words in advance.
"These past few days, my body often felt itchy and numb, especially late at night. This morning, I briefly felt… closer to the world itself. But the sensation vanished very quickly."
He deliberately concealed the existence of the Congenital Bone Tempering Technique. This was not the time. He would speak of it privately, once he had officially stepped onto the Martial Dao.
Dragon Mountain Daoist frowned lightly.
"Why didn't you tell Master earlier?"
Then his gaze deepened, filled with awe.
"An Innate Foundation brought to perfection will indeed resonate with heaven and earth. That resonance will awaken again in the future—becoming a stepping stone toward the peak of martial cultivation."
He shook his head slowly, half-sighing, half-laughing.
"I originally thought you would need at least six years. It seems… I underestimated you."
His expression turned solemn.
"Little Nine—you may begin cultivating martial arts."
Ning Qi's heart surged.
He bowed deeply.
"Disciple respectfully asks for Master's guidance."
Every painstaking effort of the past three years—every moment of silent refinement—had been for this very moment.
Dragon Mountain Daoist laughed aloud, stroking his beard.
Luo Wentian and Bear Stone also smiled broadly.
In Ning Qi, they saw the future of the True Martial Sect.
"Inform Qing Yi and the others when you find the opportunity," Dragon Mountain Daoist instructed.
"For now, do not spread this matter outside."
Both disciples nodded seriously.
"Little Nine, come with me."
Dragon Mountain Daoist no longer had the patience to discuss sect affairs. He wanted to personally witness Ning Qi's first step into the Martial Dao.
Behind the Mingwu Pavilion lay a secluded training ground—off-limits even to Inner Sect Disciples.
Dragon Mountain Daoist stood with his hands behind his back.
"Little Nine," he asked, "are you familiar with the initial realms of martial cultivation?"
Ning Qi nodded.
"The beginning of the Martial Dao consists of eight Body Tempering Realms:
Refining Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, Organs, Marrow, Blood, and finally Spirit."
"Upon completing Refining Blood, one becomes free of illness. When spirit and will unite, Inner Strength naturally forms—thus entering the Inner Yuan Realm."
Dragon Mountain Daoist's robe fluttered despite the still air, a grandmaster's aura emanating naturally.
"The Martial Dao is arduous. Each realm demands a solid foundation. Some remain trapped in a single stage for decades. Talent alone is never enough."
Ning Qi's gaze was unwavering.
"This disciple will remember."
Dragon Mountain Daoist felt a rare surge of emotion.
He recalled the scene from years ago—when a half-year-old child had asked whether the Martial Dao could grant eternal life.
Perhaps, from that moment onward, this child had already resolved to climb to the very summit.
"The Body Tempering Realm is both the beginning and the most critical stage of the Martial Dao," Dragon Mountain Daoist continued.
"To temper the body, one relies on Posture Cultivation."
Ning Qi's eyes shone.
He had long anticipated this.
Among the many ideas he had conceived during these years, posture-based body tempering had always stood out.
"Posture Cultivation is divided into three grades: inferior, middle, and superior. The higher the grade, the firmer the foundation."
"And the True Martial Sect possesses nine superior postures."
"These are known as the Zhenwu Nine Postures."
A trace of pride surfaced in Dragon Mountain Daoist's eyes. Luo Wentian and Bear Stone straightened instinctively.
"The dragon has nine sons, each unique."
"The Zhenwu Nine Postures correspond to them:
Qiuniu, Yazi, Chaofeng, Pulao, Suanni, Baxia, Bixi, Fuxi, and Chiwen."
"Your senior brothers and sisters have already chosen eight. Little Nine—you shall cultivate the Bixi Posture."
Ning Qi asked respectfully, "Master, what is the true significance of these nine postures?"
Dragon Mountain Daoist's voice carried a distant reverence.
"There is no hierarchy among them. In the sect's golden age, those who mastered these postures were known as the Zhenwu Nine Sons."
"If all nine reached the Heavenly Realm together… they could contend with a Martial Saint."
Ning Qi's breath stalled.
A Martial Saint—an existence that suppressed entire eras.
To fight one… not individually, but together.
No wonder the True Martial Sect had once stood at the pinnacle.
Suppressing his thoughts, Ning Qi bowed deeply.
"Please impart the Bixi Posture to me, Master."
"Good. Watch carefully."
Dragon Mountain Daoist's expression turned solemn.
He spread his stance.
In an instant, his aura transformed—no longer human, but resembling an ancient divine beast rooted to the earth.
His movements were slow.
Yet each carried a profound rhythm.
"Posture cultivation may be active or still. Form is secondary; spirit is paramount."
"Breathe like thunder. Anchor the body. Visualize Bixi…"
As he demonstrated, he explained each key point.
To ordinary eyes, the movements would seem abstruse.
But to Ning Qi—
The world peeled back layer by layer.
Skin movement.
Breath rhythm.
Qi circulation.
Divine intent.
All revealed themselves naturally.
As Dragon Mountain Daoist completed the demonstration, a single thought surfaced quietly in Ning Qi's mind:
"So this… is all there is to a superior posture?"