Chapter 40: The Obedient Ning Rongrong

Under Shi Quan's supervision, Ning Rongrong's horse stance quickly became proper, yet the proper form Ning Rongrong maintained didn't last more than a few minutes before it began to deform again.

"Don't lift your body." Shi Quan's wooden staff pressed lightly on Ning Rongrong's shoulder.

Ning Rongrong's expression became more controlled; this time it wasn't because of anger, but because she discovered that while this simple and clear movement of Shi Quan's wasn't difficult when first started, it was exceptionally arduous to maintain.

At this moment, she only felt as if ants were gnawing at her legs, aching and swollen, and her body subconsciously wanted to stand up; however, as soon as she stood up, she was pressed back down by Shi Quan.

"Why did he look so relaxed when he was standing just now?" Ning Rongrong couldn't help but feel puzzled in her heart. Clearly, it was the same movement; Shi Quan had stood for so long and looked like nothing was wrong, yet she couldn't hold on after just a few minutes.

"He is only Innate Soul Power level one, and his martial soul is still Blue Silver Grass, yet he can persist. Why can't I?" Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and kept persisting.

Although Ning Rongrong was arrogant, she was also proud. If she didn't know that Shi Quan had Innate Soul Power level one and a trash martial soul, Blue Silver Grass, she would have given up long ago, using the excuse that he was a Spirit Master and she was only an Auxiliary Soul Master, and that she and he were different.

But after understanding Shi Quan's situation, the competitive spirit in the depths of Ning Rongrong's heart was instantly ignited. In her heart, she had always believed that she was the most outstanding and most gifted; how could she let someone like Shi Quan, who only had Innate Soul Power level one, surpass her?

It was precisely because Ning Fengzhi saw this pride in Ning Rongrong's heart that he sent her to Shi Quan's side. On one hand, it was to let Ning Rongrong make a friend in Shi Quan, and on the other, it was to let Shi Quan properly grind down Ning Rongrong's sharp edges. If she could learn some good things from Shi Quan, that would naturally be for the best.

It could be said to be killing three birds with one stone.

Watching Ning Rongrong, who kept persisting, Shi Quan was also a bit surprised; this shouldn't fit her personality.

"Interesting." Shi Quan looked at Ning Rongrong's appearance of gritting her teeth and refusing to admit defeat, and couldn't help but smile.

When it came to looks, Ning Rongrong's appearance was definitely not bad, and coupled with her naturally noble and elegant temperament, she was definitely worthy of being called a little princess.

However, she was currently just a spoiled and willful little princess.

Even though Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and persisted, it was, after all, her first time doing a horse stance, and Shi Quan was also constantly correcting the mistakes in her horse stance from the side to prevent her from hurting her knees, so she only managed to squat for a few more minutes.

With her legs going soft, Ning Rongrong still uncontrollably fell to the ground.

"Don't lie down, sit up and cultivate soul power for me."

Ning Rongrong raised her head and glared fiercely at Shi Quan. Although unwilling, she still gritted her teeth and sat up, raising her hands to forcefully straighten her trembling legs, and began to cultivate.

"So obedient?" Shi Quan looked at Ning Rongrong in surprise.

In his expectations, he would have had to give Ning Rongrong a few more setbacks and properly suppress her arrogance before she would settle down.

As a result, only a day had passed, and this Ning Rongrong was already this obedient? He always felt there was something strange about it, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Shi Quan was too lazy to think so much; being obedient was naturally best, as that way he wouldn't have to waste so much effort.

Ning Rongrong was cultivating on the side, while Shi Quan was squatting in a horse stance again.

Martial Arts, Martial Arts.

Apart from techniques, these basic skills were essential. As the saying goes, "Practicing martial arts without practicing the basics, you'll end up with nothing in your old age."

However, Shi Quan's horse stance was different from Ning Rongrong's. His movements carried a more special charm; seemingly simple, but in reality, with his Internal Energy surging within, the muscles all over his body were rhythmically pulsing.

This was the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill. Most Martial Arts, when combined with specific movements and environments, would play a significant auxiliary role in martial arts cultivation.

Just as Shi Quan's muscles were pulsing, the pale blue light of the Blue Silver Grass bloomed from his hands. The pale blue halo radiated, as if the entire forest had quieted down; only the sound of the breeze brushing through the grass could be heard, and the surrounding flowers, plants, and trees swayed gently, creating a strange resonance with the Blue Silver Grass in Shi Quan's hands.

Streams of special energy merged into Shi Quan's body, alleviating the waves of soreness and pain coming from his tendons, bones, and muscles.

After merging with Xiaomeng, with the surge in Shi Quan's Mental Power, Shi Quan also successfully combined the cultivation of his martial soul and Martial Arts through his own exploration.

Among them, the cultivation of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill and the Tendon Changing and Marrow Cleansing Method were the most compatible with the Blue Silver Grass martial soul, because the Blue Silver Grass could absorb the life force from plants, and this life force could play a significant auxiliary role for both Martial Arts.

Ning Rongrong, who was in the middle of cultivation, didn't know why, but she suddenly felt her heart become much quieter, and the soreness in her legs gradually dissipated, and she gradually immersed herself in cultivation.

When she woke up from her cultivation, she found that Shi Quan on the side was also immersed in cultivation. She discovered that Shi Quan was doing a new movement: his left leg bent, his whole body standing low, his right leg lifted with the knee forward in the air, his hands as if holding a circle, his whole body standing firm like a pillar, giving her the feeling of a great tree.

She subconsciously wanted to try this movement. Supporting herself on one leg already tested a person's sense of balance, not to mention needing to bend the knee to lower the center of gravity. As soon as she tried, she fell straight onto her bottom on the ground, rubbing her bottom in pain.

"Haven't learned to walk yet, and you want to learn to run?" Shi Quan's eyes were slightly closed, still maintaining the posture, but his voice had already come over.

Ning Rongrong glared, stood up, and said huffily, "What are you acting so high and mighty for? This young lady will be able to do these sooner or later."

"Then continue with the previous movement." Shi Quan still didn't open his eyes and said quietly, "I hope you can meet the standard this time and persist for a quarter of an hour."

"A quarter of an hour it is." Ning Rongrong stood up and squatted into a horse stance again.

"Proper form." Shi Quan's indifferent voice came again.

Ning Rongrong frowned as she looked at Shi Quan. She was certain that Shi Quan hadn't opened his eyes, but she always had the feeling of being seen through by him.

"Hmph, I know, no need for you to remind me. Isn't it just legs spread, center of gravity down, and back straight?" Ning Rongrong snorted coldly, trying her best to make her horse stance proper.

After all, it was only the second time squatting; how could Ning Rongrong, no matter how smart she was, get it perfectly right in one go?

While cultivating, Shi Quan used his Spirit Sense to observe Ning Rongrong's situation. Seeing that her horse stance was truly full of flaws, he could only slowly open his eyes and speak up to remind her again.

While listening to Shi Quan's instructions, Ning Rongrong kept them firmly in mind while constantly correcting her movements.

"Why do you have to be so strict about these movements?" Ning Rongrong still couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

Shi Quan remained in that indifferent manner and explained, "Proper movements not only allow for better exercise results but also effectively protect your body. Once the movements are improper, maintaining incorrect postures for a long time will not only lead to worse results but also cause damage to the body. This is true for both your current horse stance and running."

"Horse stance?" Ning Rongrong looked down at her posture and said with a smile, "If nothing else, the name you gave this movement is quite apt; it really is somewhat similar to the movement of riding a horse."

"Don't just talk, remember to maintain the posture."

"Tch." Seeing Shi Quan's dismissive attitude toward her, Ning Rongrong glanced at him, then still seriously adjusted her movements to make her horse stance as perfect as possible.

After all, she was a beginner, and a girl at that. Even though she gritted her teeth and persisted, she eventually only lasted twelve minutes before falling to the ground, her face flushed red, panting heavily; she looked quite exhausted.

Yet Shi Quan seemed not to see Ning Rongrong's exhausted state, "Rest for ten minutes, then get up and continue."

Ning Rongrong wanted to say something, but seeing Shi Quan on the side still maintaining that special posture while cultivating, she swallowed the words she wanted to say back down.

Her pride didn't allow her to admit defeat. She had gotten competitive with Shi Quan; having rested for less than ten minutes, she stood up again and continued to squat.

Because of the energy consumption, this time Ning Rongrong didn't even last ten minutes before she fell to the ground again.

"You can cultivate now."

Shi Quan let Ning Rongrong cultivate again. The training of the horse stance was a gradual process. Ning Rongrong had no Martial Arts, so for her, the horse stance could only serve as an exercise; it should be increased at the right time. Squatting in a horse stance for too long would only do more harm than good. Combined with proper cultivation, it could not only alleviate the fatigue in her legs but also accelerate her recovery.

Just like that, the afternoon passed, and Ning Rongrong spent almost all of it between cultivating and squatting in a horse stance.

When the cultivation ended, Shi Quan specifically instructed her to go back and take a medicinal bath, otherwise, it wouldn't be easy to get up tomorrow.

Dormitory.

The steam-filled bathhouse carried waves of medicinal fragrance.

Ning Rongrong lay lazily in the bathtub; exhausted from the day, she felt incredibly relaxed at this moment. At ten years old, she had not yet begun to develop, and her chest was still as flat as a plain.

"Is this Shi Quan a monster? I only practiced horse stance for a little while and I'm already this tired, yet he seems to have been training all afternoon and is still acting like nothing happened."

Thinking of Shi Quan, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but huffily slap the surface of the water.

"However, this training method is indeed simple and effective; it's much more convenient and faster than things like running. I don't know how he discovered these training methods, and he can even absorb a Soul Ring beyond his level; he really is quite impressive."

As she thought about it, Ning Rongrong had to admit that Shi Quan was indeed clever, and it was no wonder Ning Fengzhi had specifically sent her over.

But thinking that she and Shi Quan were both ten years old, if one were to compare them, the gap between them seemed a bit too large.

"Hmph. He's only a bit smarter, that's all."

Ning Rongrong said to herself in consolation; it was never easy for her to admit someone else's excellence.

(End of this chapter)