Chapter 79: Chapter 73 Little Meat Mountain
In such an atmosphere, all the True Martial disciples were equally excited.
This gathering of heroes at True Martial Mountain can be said to be the largest event since the founding of the True Martial Sect, a turning point in the sect’s prosperity. Luo Wentian had issued multiple orders within the sect to welcome the arriving guests with the best essence, qi, and spirit, without any mistakes.
Luo Wentian remained stationed at True Martial Mountain, while Xiong Shi was dispatched to True Martial City.
Nowadays, more and more martial artists are gathering in True Martial City. Although many people will restrain themselves, conflicts are inevitable when crowds gather. Having a strong figure to maintain order is naturally better.
As for those stronger than Xiong Shi, they wouldn’t cause trouble either. Recently, the fearsome reputation of Taoist Longshan’s killings still lingered, and no one wanted to seek discomfort at this juncture.
Each disciple had their respective duties.
Ning Qi, on the other hand, found himself peaceful once more.
He wanted to help, but there was really nothing he could assist with, having hardly been involved in the sect’s affairs. Asking him to descend the mountain to deliver invitations was even less likely.
In the eyes of Luo Wentian and others, the little junior disciple was only eight years old, and it was better for him to stay within the sect.
Since that day when Taoist Longshan spoke about the Path of Celestial Being, Ning Qi seemed to comprehend something, creating the Heavenly Sword Technique, and then returned to his usual cultivation.
However, he felt the refining of Gang Qi to be somewhat slow.
"In the Gang Essence Realm cultivation, transform white mist into Jade Liquid, solidify Jade Liquid into Primordial Core; each realm is a qualitative change of Gang Qi. The Quenching Gang Pill is useful to me, but its consumption is too high. The sect’s foundation in spirit medicine cannot support my cultivation unless I descend the mountain to seek resources, but that may not be faster."
"Combining the previous Dreaming Gluttony Secret Technique, I might try to harvest energy for refining Gang Qi from food or other resources, but the problem is not fundamentally solved."
"Is there an inexhaustible supply of energy?"
Ning Qi fell into contemplation.
In fact, he had already thought of it, and that was the Power of Heaven and Earth.
Using the Power of Heaven and Earth to refine Gang Qi would definitely be effective.
But the problem is, his control over the Power of Heaven and Earth is entirely reliant on the Unity of Heaven and Man Secret Technique, merely able to roughly gather it into a mass like the Heavenly Sword Technique; it’s fine for combat but not precise enough for refining Gang Qi.
Ideas continually flashed in his mind, sweeping by one after another.
Ning Qi took a deep breath.
"Take it slowly."
This is a disparity in conditions, remedying it obviously isn’t easy.
However, Ning Qi felt that even if he continued to cultivate like this, breaking through to the Celestial Human Realm wouldn’t take too long, seven to eight years should suffice. Such a timeline is unparalleled across the world.
After all, even Taoist Longshan, known as an unparalleled genius, spent forty or fifty years before breaking into the Celestial Human Realm.
The challenge within is imaginable.
...
As time slowly passed.
As the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month approached, Taoist Longshan descended the mountain once more, and returned again, personally delivering invitations to several Celestial Human Realm experts, though how many would actually attend remained unknown. After all, Taoist Longshan had just stepped into the Celestial Human Realm, and his connections with these experts were mostly formed during past travels, with few truly close relationships.
The True Martial disciples who went out to deliver invitations had also returned to the mountain.
Ning Qi was no longer staying at the Seeking Tao Institute, as guests would soon be arriving on the mountain.
With cold weather and freezing days, heavy snow was flying in True Martial City, yet True Martial Mountain remained unaffected.
This was caused by Taoist Longshan’s prior manipulation of the Power of Heaven and Earth. Upon reaching the Celestial Human Realm, altering the heavenly phenomenon on a small scale was no longer difficult.
On True Martial Mountain.
The pavilions were renewed, and the disciples were exuberant in spirit.
Taoist Longshan in a white Taoist robe, graceful and immortal-like; all the True Inheritors in blue Taoist robes, while Inner and Outer Sect disciples wore dark and light green respectively.
It was three days before the Celestial Being Grand Ceremony.
True Martial Mountain welcomed its first guest.
The Divine Sword Sect.
The sturdily built and upright Divine Sword Old Man gazed at the familiar True Martial Mountain, his expression complex; originally thinking he’d have to wait for the next ten-year agreement to return, it was unexpected that after only three years, he was back already.
"Longshan... Old Dao."
Divine Sword Old Man ultimately refrained from calling him ’bull nose,’ substituting ’Old Dao’ instead, as Taoist Longshan had now reached the Celestial Human Realm, and the gap between them had grown substantial.
Taoist Longshan laughed heartily, showing no airs of a Celestial Human Realm expert:
"Divine Sword Brother, this is not like you at all."
Divine Sword Old Man’s eyes widened, snorted coldly:
"Longshan Old Dao, don’t get complacent, give me a few years and I will surely surpass you!"
He remained as stubborn as ever.
His gaze fell on the disciples behind Taoist Longshan, sensing several Gang Essence Realm auras, he sighed inwardly before looking at the youngest boy.
Ning Qi.
The Divine Sword Old Man’s eyes narrowed, noticing no change in Ning Qi’s physique, still the same balance as always.
"Could it be he hasn’t grasped the Dreaming Gluttony Technique?"
He was somewhat puzzled, given Ning Qi’s comprehension, it shouldn’t be so. Three years ago, his young disciple Zhuang Chen displayed a sword strike that continued to amaze him.
But before he could ponder further.
Taoist Longshan was already laughing and pulling him inside.
The two elders led the way, while the disciples followed closely behind.
However, this time the disciples from the Divine Sword Sect were visibly more reserved, considering the True Martial Sect’s recent prominence, not only Taoist Longshan stepping into the Celestial Human Realm, but also the emergence of several Gang Essence Realm experts.
Only one remained unaffected.
"Ning Qi, long time no see!"
Zhuang Chen’s excited voice rang out.
Ning Qi looked at the little mound of flesh in front of him, somewhat amazed.
If the Zhuang Chen of three years ago was just a chubby boy, now he was truly a big chunk.
Eleven-year-old Zhuang Chen was about the same height as Ning Qi, but his width was over twice Ning Qi’s, yet he still had a goofy face, and his uniform of the Divine Sword Sect looked comically stretched.
"Zhuang Chen?"
"Indeed, indeed."
Zhuang Chen nodded repeatedly, though excessively plump, he wasn’t greasy; his movements made the flesh jiggle, adding a touch of humor.
The two lagged behind, while the other disciples merely exchanged knowing smiles.
"Did you cultivate Dreaming Gluttony to achieve this?" Ning Qi couldn’t help but ask.
Zhuang Chen scratched his head and chuckled:
"That’s part of it, and also because I’ve grown to enjoy eating more."
He looked a bit puzzled.
"Ning Qi, didn’t you cultivate Dreaming Gluttony? Why haven’t you gotten fat at all?"
Before Ning Qi could respond.
He continued:
"If you didn’t cultivate it, then let me tell you, you definitely can’t beat me now. Secretly, I’m almost at the Inner Essence Realm, my master told me not to disclose it to others."
Well, still as talkative as ever.
Yet Ning Qi glanced at Zhuang Chen, slightly surprised too, with a flawless physique perhaps soon generating Inner Strength; his rate of cultivation didn’t match Ning Qi’s, but compared to normal people, was somewhat monstrous.
It appears Zhuang Chen is very compatible with the Dreaming Gluttony Secret Technique.
However.
What intrigued Ning Qi the most wasn’t Zhuang Chen’s compatibility with Dreaming Gluttony but rather the... Innate Sword Bone within him!