To some extent, their guesses were not wrong.
Ning Qi was the hidden protector of the True Martial Sect—its unseen foundation.What they had misjudged was one simple fact.
That protector was not an ancient senior.
He was a child not yet seven years old.
Ning Qi smiled faintly to himself.
He had no intention of clarifying anything.
After Qin Yun's incident, he understood even better that remaining unseen was safer. As long as he did not reveal himself, he was free to act. The stronger he became, the deeper his shadow could sink.
Until absolutely necessary, he would not step into the light.
Let the darkness bear his name.
"It's fortunate our sect still has a powerful senior guarding us from the shadows," someone said quietly.
Only then did everyone truly feel the lingering fear.
Had Flying Sky Eagle succeeded in entering the Scripture Pavilion, the consequences would have been disastrous.
"I wonder what realm that senior is in?"
"Jade Liquid… or perhaps the same as Master?"
Curiosity flickered everywhere, but no one dared probe further. Since Dragon Mountain Daoist had never mentioned such a person, it was not their place to ask.
Still, the mere thought of a hidden pillar steadied their shaken morale.
Ning Qi watched as Bear Stone carefully cut away the Overlord Tiger True Intent Diagram from Flying Sky Eagle's back. The diagram had been branded through a special method—there was no way to remove it intact.
A trace of temptation surfaced in Ning Qi's heart.
Just a brief glance earlier had already allowed him to comprehend several martial principles. If he could study it calmly, the gains would be far greater.
But he was not in a rush.
This diagram would eventually be stored in the Scripture Pavilion.
Ye Qinghe, however, was distracted.
Something felt off.
"Our sect's hidden expert…" she murmured inwardly. "Flying Sky Eagle died on the way to the Scripture Pavilion…"
Her brows tightened.
Then—
She saw a familiar figure nearby, carrying a great sword, quietly observing Bear Stone's actions.
Ye Qinghe's pupils shrank.
"Ningqi?!"
An absurd thought surfaced—one she herself found ridiculous.
Her heart stirred violently… then she shook her head and laughed inwardly.
"That's impossible."
"Little Nine is a prodigy, yes—but he's cultivated for less than four years. At best, he's just entered the Inner Yuan Realm. How could he instantly kill a Gang Yuan expert?"
As if possessed by impulse, she stepped closer.
The Long Xiao Sword was spotless.
Not a trace of blood.
Ning Qi seemed to sense her gaze. He turned and smiled.
"Third Senior Sister?"
Ye Qinghe exhaled, secretly scolding herself.
She was overthinking.
"You're still young," she said gently. "Don't look at things like this. Once Second Senior Brother finishes handling the diagram, he'll let you see it."
She pulled him away.
In their eyes, Ning Qi was still a clean, quiet child—one who spent his days reading and cultivating peacefully in his courtyard.
…
After the night raid of the Iron Ridge Three Fiends, the True Martial Sect entered full alert.
Patrols multiplied. Guard rotations tightened. Blind spots were eliminated.
In recent years, they had grown somewhat lax—but last night had awakened everyone. Even with a hidden powerhouse, they could not rely on luck.
With Flying Sky Eagle dead on Zhenwu Mountain, Jiang Baishan and the others feared retaliation. River-Mixing Dragon and Ground-Walking Tiger might not let this rest.
And beyond them, there could be others watching.
Ning Qi, however, was calm.
He knew exactly who had killed Flying Sky Eagle.
If the remaining two came seeking revenge, they would only be delivering themselves. Part of him even hoped they would return.
If they did…
He might obtain all three True Intent Diagrams.
Holding the Overlord Tiger True Intent Diagram in his hands, Ning Qi felt a trace of regret.
"This diagram really isn't simple."
"Overlord Tiger Stance. Overlord Tiger Strength. Overlord Tiger True Gang."
"A complete lineage—from Body Tempering to Gang Yuan."
"And more than that…"
"It contains part of the Heaven–Man Secret Art."
After Bear Stone processed the diagram, it had been delivered to Ning Qi without hesitation. Everyone knew of his interest in martial texts.
With Ning Qi's comprehension, the diagram held no secrets.
What took Ground-Walking Tiger decades to partially grasp, Ning Qi unraveled in a single night.
"This fragment of the Heaven–Man Secret Art is the core."
"Unfortunately… it's only one-third."
"The remaining parts must lie within the Heavenly Eagle and Mad Dragon True Intent Diagrams."
He slowly rolled up the human-skin scroll.
If he had pursued them that night, he could have killed both remaining fiends and completed the set.
But he did not regret his choice.
Compared to martial treasures, the safety of his Senior Brothers and Sisters mattered more. Had anything gone wrong, regret would have been eternal.
"When my realm is higher," he murmured, "I can complete it myself."
He was still only in the Inner Yuan Realm.
Creating a true Heaven–Man Secret Art now was impossible. He didn't yet understand how one truly invoked Heaven and Earth as a whole.
Still—
This diagram had pushed his All-Encompassing Chapter forward significantly.
He had already begun laying the foundation for Thousand Manifestations True Vigor, the Gang Yuan Realm path he would one day walk.
…
Days passed.
The sect remained calm.
No sign of River-Mixing Dragon or Ground-Walking Tiger appeared.
Ten days later—
Figures arrived at the mountain gate in haste.
Luo Wentian had returned.
"What happened?" he demanded the moment he saw Jiang Baishan.
His face was grim. News had reached them on the road, and they had rushed back without delay.
Jiang Baishan quickly explained everything.
As Luo Wentian listened, his expression eased slightly—but only slightly.
After a long breath, he said in a low voice:
"Not long after we left, the sect was attacked."
"There's no way that's a coincidence."
Anger flared in everyone's eyes.
"Senior Brother… you mean the Purple River Sword Sect?"
Ning Qi narrowed his gaze slightly.
The Purple River Sword Sovereign.
A Core Formation expert