Zhenwu Mountain lay at the boundary between Qingzhou and Yunzhou, piercing the clouds like a divine sword thrust into the heavens.
After Dragon Mountain Daoist chose this place to rebuild the True Martial Sect, he personally cleared much of the mountain range. Though some wild beasts still remained, they posed little threat and instead served as tempering tools for the disciples.
But today, Ning Qi was heading toward the outer mountain range of Zhenwu Mountain.
That place was far more dangerous.
In this world, there existed creatures known as exotic beasts. The powerful among them could rival Celestial beings—moving mountains, summoning storms, and reigning as Beast Kings.
Naturally, such terrifying existences did not appear near Zhenwu Mountain.
Even so, caution was never wrong.
Thus, Ning Qi had brought Ye Qinghe along.
The two figures leapt through the mountain forest.
As they moved, Ye Qinghe gradually revealed a look of surprise.
She discovered that Ning Qi's movement technique was light and flowing, almost elegant. Even without her fully exerting herself, he kept pace easily, his breathing steady.
This alone was already astonishing.
"Little Nine," Ye Qinghe pouted, "Master has been secretly teaching you again, hasn't he?"
Ning Qi smiled faintly.
"I created it myself. If Senior Sister wants to learn, I can teach you."
Ye Qinghe laughed, clearly thinking he was joking.
Soon, the two stopped at the edge of a cliff.
The cliff descended endlessly, its bottom hidden by rolling clouds. Mist surged upward, sunlight refracting through it and painting faint rainbows in the air.
Ning Qi's eyes brightened.
Under Ye Qinghe's surprised gaze, he slowly sat down cross-legged, his eyes following the movement of the clouds as they gathered and dispersed.
"Clouds have no fixed form," he murmured."They gather with the wind, and scatter with the wind…"
Ye Qinghe watched from the side, confused.
She tried to focus as well, but no matter how she looked, they were just clouds—beautiful, yes, but nothing more.
She wanted to ask, but hesitated, afraid of disturbing him.
After a long while—
Ning Qi's body trembled slightly.
He stood up, a faint gleam flashing deep within his eyes.
Ye Qinghe quickly asked, "Little Nine, what are you doing?"
"Watching clouds."
"…The cliffs back on Zhenwu Mountain have clouds too. What's so special here?"
"There are similarities," Ning Qi replied calmly, "and differences."
"I only see clouds. What difference?"
"Your comprehension isn't enough."
Ye Qinghe choked.
Sometimes, Ning Qi's words were truly infuriating—yet she could not refute them.
Before she could say more, Ning Qi had already walked ahead.
She hurried after him.
Not long after, Ning Qi stopped again—this time before a strangely shaped rock formation, several people tall, vaguely resembling a human figure.
Ye Qinghe smiled bitterly in her heart.
Here we go again.
Moments later, Ning Qi stood up once more, the inspiration within him growing stronger.
This time, Ye Qinghe didn't ask anything.
She already understood—Ning Qi was never doing meaningless things.
As they continued forward, Ning Qi stopped again and again.
Clouds between cliffs.Twisted stone pillars.Dew clinging to roots.Mountain wind passing through leaves.Even a single fallen leaf, a patch of mud…
To Ye Qinghe, they were ordinary.
To Ning Qi, they were all worth observing—sometimes even enough to make him sit down and enter a dazed state.
She could only rub her forehead helplessly.
The world of geniuses truly made no sense.
Yet Ning Qi gained a great deal.
Long confined within a cage, now returning to nature.
The scenery itself was not much different from Zhenwu Mountain—but the state of mind was different.
A change in environment brought a different insight.
He was certain now.
This trip had been the right decision.
The supreme stance cultivation he envisioned was already nearly complete in his mind.
"Little Nine," Ye Qinghe finally said softly, "how about we go look at something more interesting?"
Though she knew Ning Qi was comprehending something important, she couldn't help worrying that too much isolation might make him… strange.
Ning Qi returned to his senses and glanced at Ye Qinghe, who looked utterly bored.
He smiled.
"Alright."
Moments later—
Pushing aside thick leaves, two pairs of eyes peeked out carefully.
What greeted them was not a fight, but two black snakes tightly entwined together.
Ye Qinghe's face darkened instantly.
"Little Nine," she said flatly, "you find this interesting?"
"Of course," Ning Qi replied seriously."The origin of life lies here."
Ye Qinghe was speechless.
Ning Qi watched intently, once again falling into contemplation.
She sighed helplessly.
At least this was better than staring at rocks.
After a while, Ning Qi nodded in satisfaction, and the two quietly withdrew.
After that—
Ning Qi seemed to develop a particular interest in beasts.
Under Ye Qinghe's protection, they observed all kinds of creatures up close.
Tigers roaring in the mountains.Eagles hunting rabbits.Ants moving their nests.Wolf packs coordinating their hunts.
Each scene fascinated Ning Qi.
Naturally, danger could not be avoided.
Once, they encountered a Bloodhorn Wolf, an exotic beast capable of contending with an Inner Yuan Realm martial artist. If Ning Qi were alone, he would have had no choice but to retreat.
There were also several other exotic beasts of slightly weaker strength.
Fortunately, Ye Qinghe was there.
She suppressed them with ease.
By the end, Ye Qinghe felt completely exhausted. Yet seeing the satisfied smile on Ning Qi's small face, all her complaints vanished.
She rubbed his cheek forcefully, almost planting a kiss on him.
She used to do that when he was still a baby.
But once Ning Qi learned how to dodge, he firmly refused.
This made Ye Qinghe sigh inwardly.
He's grown up too fast.
Unknowingly, the sun dipped toward the horizon.
Ning Qi looked up, his spirit soaring.
Ye Qinghe, on the other hand, looked utterly drained.
If not for the wine she carried, she would have collapsed long ago.
Ning Qi smiled.
"Senior Sister, let's head back."
Today's goal had been achieved.
The harvest was enormous.
He was confident that within three days, the supreme stance cultivation would be fully completed.
"I'll need to travel more in the future," Ning Qi thought."To see nature… to see the vast mortal world."
Ye Qinghe's eyes lit up.
She grabbed Ning Qi and leapt forward.
Ning Qi could only shake his head and laugh.
As they moved, he casually spoke:
"Senior Sister, don't worry. When your Junior Brother becomes invincible one day, I'll search the world for the finest wine for you."
Ye Qinghe laughed happily.
"Then I'll remember that."
She paused, her lips curving into a sly smile, eyes glittering.
"Forget the world's finest wine for now. How about you get me a pot of monkey wine first?"
Ning Qi also sensed the movement ahead.
That unique shrill howl—
A Long-Armed Ape.
The two halted.
Then froze.
From the parted jungle leaves, what emerged was not a black-furred ape, but a snow-white one.
The white ape stood only a head taller than Ning Qi. Its arms were long, its fur pristine, and when it saw Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe, panic—distinctly human—flickered in its eyes.
Ning Qi's pupils contracted slightly.
The next moment—
Several black-furred Long-Armed Apes rushed out from the forest. Their expressions were ferocious, teeth bared, eyes filled with hostility—not only toward the white ape, but toward Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe as well.
Ye Qinghe folded her arms.
Her gaze lingered briefly on the white ape before lazily shifting to Ning Qi.
"Little Nine," she said casually,"Senior Sister is tired."
"How about you go educate these little monkeys?"