Zhenwu Mountain.
Seeking Dao Courtyard.
Zhuang Chen had actually woken up two days ago.
After two days of rest, most of his external injuries had healed.
But the most troublesome issue was the shattered sword bone within him.
"Ninth Senior Brother, is there really a way to restore my sword bone?"
There was hope in Zhuang Chen's eyes.
If possible, of course he didn't want to become a cripple.
He still wanted to personally get justice for his Master, and confront Dong He to ask why he did it.
Ning Qi gave a slight nod.
After several days of study, he had successfully refined the Innate Sword Body technique further, and also deduced a way to restore the sword bone.
However, the process wouldn't be pleasant.
Ning Qi asked solemnly:
"It'll be very painful. Are you sure you don't want to wait until your injuries are fully healed?"
Seeing Zhuang Chen unmoved, he added:
"It'll be dozens of times more painful than when we probed your sword bone during the Heaven-Man Ceremony."
A trace of fear involuntarily surfaced in Zhuang Chen's eyes, but it was soon replaced by firm resolve.
"Ninth Senior Brother, I'm not afraid! The sooner my sword bone is restored, the sooner I can start cultivating again!"
He feared pain, but he feared becoming a cripple even more.
"Alright.
Restoring your sword bone isn't hard.
The key lies in the Innate Sword Body technique I taught you earlier.
These past two days, you've already relearned the reverse circulation method.
But right now you have no internal energy, so we'll have to rely on mine."
"Secret art resonance can guide your sword bone to recover,
But the process is extremely painful, more terrifying than death by a thousand cuts.
And since the power comes from me, you'll also be rejecting my energy, doubling your pain.
Throughout the entire process, you'll need to stay conscious and clear-minded.
If you fall into unconsciousness, the resulting backlash could be much worse."
Ning Qi warned seriously.
Zhuang Chen took a deep breath and then nodded hard.
"Let's do it, Ninth Senior Brother. I can take it!"
"Good."
Ning Qi didn't waste any time.
The two sat facing each other, palms aligned, while White Ape guarded them.
In an instant.
Ning Qi moved.
He channeled his Qi, carefully diluting its power,
Controlling it to the precise threshold Zhuang Chen could both withstand and benefit from,
And then surged it into Zhuang Chen's body.
Zhuang Chen trembled all over, remembering Ning Qi's instructions.
He began circulating the foreign energy, reversing the flow according to the Innate Sword Body.
In an instant.
Resonance formed with the shattered sword bone within him.
He felt his whole body shake as indescribable agony struck his soul.
It was as if countless steel needles were piercing through his flesh from within.
Even the phrase "ten thousand ants gnawing at the heart" fell short of the torment.
Zhuang Chen's eyes bulged,
He bit down hard on his teeth, blood oozing from his gums,
And swallowed back his howl in a low growl.
Ning Qi observed Zhuang Chen's condition closely.
He'd made it sound dire earlier,
But if Zhuang Chen truly couldn't take it, he could stop the process immediately before worsening things.
At this moment.
Seeing that Zhuang Chen held out, Ning Qi couldn't help but look at him with new respect.
He had assumed Zhuang Chen would need a few tries to adapt,
But to think he endured it all in one go.
Looking at the red-eyed chubby kid gritting his teeth before him, Ning Qi sighed inwardly.
He recalled how during the Heaven-Man Ceremony,
Just probing Zhuang Chen's sword bone had him crying like a baby.
Yet now, faced with pain dozens of times worse, he grit his teeth and endured it.
The tragedy at Divine Sword Sect had truly impacted Zhuang Chen deeply.
But blessings and misfortunes often go hand in hand.
If the broken sword bone could be reforged through this calamity,
And it forged such unyielding will—Zhuang Chen's future would be limitless.
After the time of one incense stick.
Ning Qi slowly withdrew his palms.
Zhuang Chen collapsed onto the ground like a puddle of mud, gasping heavily, his body twitching.
Yet in his eyes, a trace of excitement sparkled.
"N-Ninth Senior Brother, I… I think… I did it, right?"
Ning Qi smiled in approval.
"This round went very smoothly.
But don't expect your sword bone to fully recover right away.
I'll guide you a few more times.
Once your sword bone is partially restored, you'll be able to circulate the technique yourself.
Give it a month—there's a chance it'll be completely healed."
Zhuang Chen clenched his fist, ecstatic.
"Thank you, Ninth Senior Brother!"
He looked at Ning Qi, full of gratitude and awe.
He had thought Ning Qi's sword was extraordinary from the first time they met.
Now, having seen a mere glimpse of Ning Qi's depth,
He felt his Ninth Senior Brother was utterly unfathomable.
Ning Qi simply waved his hand with a smile.
"No need for such formality between brothers.
Get some rest—we'll continue tomorrow."
In his heart, he felt a strange emotion.
Technically speaking, Zhuang Chen was three years older than him.
But a junior brother was a junior brother.
For the first time, Ning Qi—who had always been the younger one—felt what it was like to be an older brother.
…
Late night.
Outside Zhenwu Mountain, a figure in black stealthily approached.
Upon closer look, it was a beautiful and seductive woman—one of the Core Formation Realm experts from the earlier gathering.
Her expression was dark.
She hadn't expected to draw the short straw.
"D*mn you, Zhao Dong.
I played your fake wife so many times in bed,
And now you send me on a suicide mission?
You b*stard, no wonder you're useless in bed!"
She cursed the leader in her heart.
They said it was a draw, but who knew what tricks were behind it.
Looking at Zhenwu Mountain in the distance, she felt a trace of dread.
She naturally feared the reputation of the Heavenly Sword True Person.
Although Zhao Dong's analysis made some sense,
Everyone knew that whoever was sent on this mission was being sacrificed.
Why else would they carry the Heaven-Sense Gu?
Once it sensed a fluctuation in the forces of Heaven and Earth, it would immediately shatter,
Releasing deadly poison—certain death.
No one found this strange.
Even Core Formation Realm cultivators were helpless before a Heaven-Man Realm powerhouse.
But she couldn't refuse the mission either.
The consequences would be worse.
Her only hope now was that the Heavenly Sword True Person was off the mountain,
Or, as Zhao Dong had reasoned, that he wouldn't act over such a minor matter.
Then she might survive—maybe even complete the task.
If she could bring back the Innate Sword Bone, it would be a massive merit.
She'd settle the score with Zhao Dong later.
"I have to keep it quiet.
Best to snatch that chubby kid without anyone noticing."
Without a sound, she pulled a black veil over her face,
Blending into the night like a snake.
Her movement technique was eerie.
Evading patrol after patrol, she headed toward the Seeking Dao Courtyard.
They had learned from their intel that Zhuang Chen was staying in the Ninth True Disciple's quarters.
…
Ning Qi was cultivating in the Scripture Pavilion using the Heaven-Earth Grinding Qi Refinement Method.
Although he had no Golden Jade Pill support,
He still cultivated slowly, one step at a time.
Suddenly.
He furrowed his brow and stopped, looking in a certain direction.
"Someone broke in?"
Thoughts raced through Ning Qi's mind.
"They seem to be heading toward my place—
Is this a coincidence, or are they coming for Little Ten?"
His first thought was that Daoist Longshan's plan had worked—
They had lured the snake from its hole.
But he couldn't be sure yet.
Without hesitation.
Ning Qi stepped out of the Scripture Pavilion.
His appearance and aura shifted entirely.
In just one breath, he turned into an ordinary-looking young Daoist.
Since the intruder's identity was unknown,
Ning Qi planned to capture them alive.
Looking young and unimpressive might make them let down their guard.
Soon.
Ning Qi spotted a figure in black darting through the shadows—
Fast, alert, and heading toward the Scripture Pavilion and Seeking Dao Courtyard.
"Doesn't look like Heaven-Man Realm… Core Formation?"
Ning Qi was ready to strike.
He needed to keep his strength hidden to avoid triggering suicide.
He had to take the person down in one swift move.
The seductive woman moved through the Zhenwu Sect,
Dodging several patrols, sneering inwardly at the sect's sparse defense.
Just as she grew smug—her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
She instinctively lashed out with a palm, releasing powerful Core Formation Qi.
A dull thud.
She struck the attacker in the chest, sending him tumbling backward.
He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood mid-air.
Her sharp eyes caught his face instantly:
An average-looking young Daoist,
His cultivation only at the White Mist Realm.
She sighed in relief, but didn't lower her guard.
In fact, a murderous gleam flashed in her eyes.
She couldn't afford a commotion—not here.
"Quick and clean."
In a flash, she made her move.
Before the youth could react, she aimed to finish him off.
Her toes tapped rapidly.
Core surged.
She became a bolt of lightning in the dark.
She didn't hold back.
Everything happened in an instant.
Even as the youth coughed blood in mid-air, she had already caught up,
Aimed to kill him in one strike.
Her eyes gleamed with murderous resolve.
But then—
That intent turned to shock.
She saw those eyes—
The youth looked at her calmly, even mockingly.
A bad feeling surged in her heart, but it was too late.
The shock in her eyes turned to terror.
She saw those hands gently flick—
And her fierce Qi attack was dismissed.
Like swatting away a fly.
No, dust—effortless and surreal.
A tremendous force crushed down on her.
She was frozen in place.
Couldn't even lift a finger.
Even her internal Qi was sealed.
"How is this possible??
Why didn't the Heaven-Sense Gu react?
Isn't this guy a Heaven-Man Realm expert?"
Heaven-Man Realm cultivators were feared because of their command over Heaven and Earth forces.
Without using those forces, even they shouldn't be able to make a Core Formation cultivator this helpless.
Panic flooded her heart—but she couldn't move.
A hand clamped around her throat.
Ning Qi's calm voice rang out:
"Got you."