"Xiao Jiu, how was it?"
As soon as Ning Qi opened his eyes, everyone looked at him expectantly.
Ning Qi smiled and nodded.
"I gained a few insights."
It was not that he wished to hide anything.
The truth was that many of the martial arts and secret techniques he created were extremely complex. Even if he taught them step by step, his senior brothers would likely be unable to learn them.
Most of those techniques could only be used by him.
At best, he could place simplified versions of them inside the Scripture Pavilion.
Even so, the others were already overjoyed.
They understood Ning Qi well—if he said he had gained insights, then the harvest must have been considerable.
At least their master's breakthrough had not gone entirely to waste.
Just as they were about to ask further—
Dragon Mountain Daoist suddenly opened his eyes.
The surrounding power of Heaven and Earth began to disperse rapidly, like waves retreating back into the sea.
A faint trace of regret appeared in his gaze.
Although he had done his best to grasp the opportunity brought by the breakthrough, his abilities still had limits. He had not achieved any further breakthroughs.
From now on, he would have to rely on steady cultivation.
Even so, Dragon Mountain Daoist was filled with joy.
He had stepped into the Heavenly Human Realm before the age of one hundred.
With a lifespan of nearly eight hundred years ahead of him, even if reaching the Martial Saint Realm was uncertain, advancing further within the Heavenly Human Realm was certainly possible.
Laughing loudly, Dragon Mountain Daoist streaked through the air like lightning before landing gently before Ning Qi and the others.
He had already noticed his disciples earlier.
After such a long period in seclusion, he found himself missing them.
The disciples immediately bowed together.
"Congratulations, Master, on stepping into the Heavenly Human Realm!"
"From now on, you soar through the skies and roam freely between Heaven and Earth!"
Joy filled the faces of Luo Wentian, Jiang Baishan, and the others.
This breakthrough meant everything for the True Martial Sect.
From this day forward—
With a Heavenly Human Realm expert overseeing it, the True Martial Sect had officially stepped into the ranks of the top martial sects.
The sect's future would only grow brighter.
With a Heavenly Human expert's lifespan of eight hundred years, as long as each generation produced strong disciples, the sect would continue to flourish.
Across Zhenwu Mountain, the atmosphere was electric.
Even disciples far away had already heard the news.
The cheers spreading through the mountain were even louder than those of the New Year celebrations.
"Everyone, rise."
Dragon Mountain Daoist spoke gently, clearly in high spirits.
"How has the sect been during my seclusion?"
He asked with a smile.
But soon, the smile slowly faded.
Because he noticed the complicated expressions on his disciples' faces.
His tone grew calmer.
"Come."
"Tell your Master everything slowly."
"With your Master here, no one will make you suffer any grievances."
Luo Wentian and the others suddenly felt their eyes sting.
Only they themselves knew how much pressure they had endured during this time.
Mingwu Pavilion
Inside Mingwu Pavilion, Dragon Mountain Daoist sat at the main seat.
The disciples took their places on both sides.
Luo Wentian slowly recounted everything that had happened during the past year.
Throughout the entire story, Dragon Mountain Daoist's expression remained calm.
Yet those familiar with him knew—
Behind that calm surface, an immense rage was brewing.
"So…"
"While your Master was in seclusion, the True Martial Sect suffered constant attacks?"
"The most serious incidents were the assaults by the Black Sand Poison Master and the Iron Ridge Three Fiends?"
Luo Wentian nodded.
"That's correct."
"We managed to repel Black Sand Poison Master with our combined strength."
"But the attack by the Iron Ridge Three Fiends was extremely dangerous."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"If not for a hidden expert of the True Martial Sect suddenly killing Flying Sky Eagle, it might have disturbed Master's seclusion."
Even now, Luo Wentian still felt a lingering fear when recalling that moment.
If Dragon Mountain Daoist had been forced out of seclusion prematurely, his breakthrough might have failed.
His cultivation foundation might even have been damaged permanently.
Hearing this, Dragon Mountain Daoist was slightly startled.
A strange expression appeared on his face.
Luo Wentian noticed the change.
He hesitated before asking carefully.
"Master… could it be that our sect actually has no hidden Gang Yuan Realm expert?"
Everyone's hearts tightened.
If the person who killed Flying Sky Eagle had not been a hidden expert of the sect—
Then the situation would be far more unsettling.
They had long suspected this possibility.
But since no one had ever appeared afterward, they could only assume it was a secret protector of the True Martial Sect.
Dragon Mountain Daoist glanced briefly at Ning Qi.
Ning Qi's gaze remained perfectly calm.
In that instant, Dragon Mountain Daoist understood everything.
So this mysterious "True Martial Origin"…
Was actually Ning Qi.
He slowly spoke.
"Do not worry."
"It was indeed an expert of our True Martial Sect."
The disciples immediately relaxed.
With their master personally confirming it, their worries vanished completely.
Yet Dragon Mountain Daoist's heart was far from calm.
He knew the strength of the Iron Ridge Three Fiends.
All three were powerful White Mist Realm experts.
But his young disciple Ning Qi…
Had actually killed Flying Sky Eagle, a Gang Yuan Realm expert?
The thought felt unreal.
How old was Ning Qi?
Seven years old.
Perhaps even younger when that battle occurred.
And yet—
He had already slain a Gang Yuan Realm martial artist.
It was simply unbelievable.
At this moment, Dragon Mountain Daoist felt an intense urge to confirm something.
Had Ning Qi already stepped into the Gang Yuan Realm?
A seven-year-old Gang Yuan expert was already absurd.
But if he had done it while still in the Inner Yuan Realm…
That would be even more shocking.
Dragon Mountain Daoist felt a momentary dizziness.
Yet his heart was filled mostly with relief and pride.
Every time he believed Ning Qi had reached the limits of his talent—
The boy would surprise him again.
He had not expected Ning Qi's growth to be so rapid.
The signs of becoming a future guardian of the Dao were already visible.
But then—
A surge of killing intent rose within Dragon Mountain Daoist's heart.
If Ning Qi had not intervened that day, the True Martial Sect might have suffered catastrophic losses.
Some of his disciples might even have died.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
The joy of breaking through into the Heavenly Human Realm quickly faded.
Now, only one thought remained.
Justice.
Dragon Mountain Daoist looked at his disciples and spoke calmly.
"Do not worry."
"The True Martial Sect will not suffer injustice in silence."
His words were steady.
Yet they carried unmistakable killing intent.
"The Iron Ridge Three Fiends."
"The Black Sand Poison Master."
"The Purple River Sword Sovereign."
"And those lurking behind the scenes."
"Your Master will seek justice from them all."
Luo Wentian hesitated.
"Master… what about the Heavenly Human Grand Ceremony?"
Dragon Mountain Daoist waved his hand dismissively.
"This is the perfect opportunity."
"We will invite fellow Daoists from across Qingzhou."
"Otherwise, people might think the True Martial Sect has no one left."
His voice remained calm.
But the killing intent within it was unmistakable.
"There's no time like the present."
"Your Master will visit the Purple River Sword Sect today."
"You all stay and guard the sect."
With those words, Dragon Mountain Daoist stepped out of Mingwu Pavilion.
Then—
He soared directly into the sky.
A Heavenly Human expert traveling through the air could reach the Purple River Sword Sect in less than half a day.
The disciples watched as his figure disappeared into the clouds.
They exchanged helpless smiles.
Their master had just broken through.
He had not even taken the time to drink a cup of tea—
Yet he had already rushed out to settle old scores.
Such decisiveness left them speechless.
But deep in their hearts, excitement and pride surged.
This was their master.
Dragon Mountain Daoist.
The time for reckoning had arrived.