Chapter Six: The Two-Star Fighter

The next morning, Ning Jiuyou felt her body brimming with Dou Qi, her meridians flowing with ease. As she circulated her energy, she was pleasantly surprised to discover that her cultivation had reached the level of a two-star Dou Zhe. This sudden breakthrough left her feeling both excited and perplexed; she could not understand why her strength had increased so rapidly. Driven by this curiosity, she decided to head to the back mountain of the Xiao family estate to see if she could find any clues.

As she approached the area, she faintly heard sounds of agonizing cries. Startled, Ning Jiuyou instinctively quickened her pace. Upon arriving, she discovered it was Xiao Yan practicing his martial arts. His face was flushed crimson, his clothes soaked through with sweat, and he appeared to be in significant distress.

Yao Lao, who stood beside Xiao Yan, had sensed Ning Jiuyou’s presence early on and promptly concealed his form to remain unnoticed. Seeing Xiao Yan lying on the ground, gasping for air, a flash of concern crossed Ning Jiuyou’s eyes. She asked, "Xiao Yan, what happened? Are you alright?"

Hearing her voice, Xiao Yan finally noticed her arrival. Just as he prepared to answer, Yao Lao’s voice echoed in his mind: "Little Yanzi, this girl has advanced another star. She is already a two-star Dou Zhe."

Xiao Yan was stunned. He looked closely at Ning Jiuyou and realized that the fluctuations of Dou Qi emanating from her were indeed stronger than they had been the day before. Looking at his own miserable state and recalling the grueling difficulty of his training compared to her rapid progress, he couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness.

"Teacher, look at her," Xiao Yan complained to Yao Lao in his heart. "Look at her speed of improvement, and then look at me. I train so hard—why is the gap so large?"

Yao Lao smiled helplessly. "Little Yanzi, everyone has different talents and opportunities. This girl’s situation is unique. You need not be discouraged; as long as you continue to train steadily and diligently, your future achievements may not fall short of hers."

Taking these words to heart, Xiao Yan took a deep breath, stood up, and offered Ning Jiuyou a smile. "Jiuyou, I’m fine. I was just experimenting with a technique, and it didn't go quite as planned. But what brings you to the back mountain?"

Ning Jiuyou replied, puzzled, "Xiao Yan, according to what you told me, advancing even one star on the Dou Qi Continent is supposed to be extremely difficult. Yet, after waking up, my cultivation has increased rapidly, so I came here to see if I could find any clues as to why. I didn't expect to find you practicing."

'Teacher, this is the gap,' Xiao Yan thought bitterly. 'She finds advancing a star confusing, while I... I would be overjoyed just to advance one.'

As they spoke, Ning Jiuyou moved closer, keenly sensing the lingering energy fluctuations left behind by the technique Xiao Yan had been practicing. She opened her mouth, then hesitated; in this world, asking about another person’s cultivation techniques was considered impolite.

Xiao Yan, sensitive to her shift in demeanor, said, "Jiuyou, if you have something to say, just say it. There is no need for such formality between us."

Ning Jiuyou hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Xiao Yan, I could sense the energy fluctuations from your practice just now. I am curious—would it be possible for me to take a look at the technique you are using? Perhaps... perhaps I might be able to help."

Xiao Yan was taken aback; he had not expected such a request. He silently asked Yao Lao in his mind, "Teacher, Jiuyou wants to see the technique you passed on to me. Is it alright for me to show her?"

Yao Lao pondered for a moment. Recalling Ning Jiuyou’s peculiar abilities—such as her meridians' capacity for self-repair—he realized he couldn't fathom her true potential. Perhaps she really could discover something. "Show her. This girl is an anomaly; she might truly be able to assist your training."

With Yao Lao’s consent, Xiao Yan did not hesitate. He retrieved the scroll and handed it to her. "Jiuyou, here. This is the technique I was practicing."

Ning Jiuyou took the scroll and looked at him. "Thank you for your trust."

"It... it's nothing, we are..." Before Xiao Yan could finish, Ning Jiuyou was already focused on reading.

Yao Lao let out a soft chuckle. "You were being overly sentimental, weren't you?"

"Teacher, you're being noisy," Xiao Yan retorted.

When she saw the name of the technique, "Baji Beng" (Eight Extremities Collapse), a wave of intense curiosity rose within her. Her mind began to analyze the circulation path and the mysteries behind the technique. After grasping the basics, she looked up at Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan, I would like to try practicing this 'Baji Beng' to see if I can figure something out."

Xiao Yan blinked, then nodded. "Alright, Jiuyou. Give it a try. If you can identify any issues, that would be for the best."

With his permission, Ning Jiuyou found a spacious spot and stood firm. She closed her eyes, recalling the details of the technique, and began to circulate her Dou Qi. As the energy flowed through her meridians and gathered in her fist according to the instructions, she suddenly snapped her eyes open and threw a punch. A muffled sound echoed through the air.

Frowning, Ning Jiuyou felt the force behind the strike and the way her energy had moved. She threw several more punches, adjusting the output and the application of force with each one. After a series of trials and deductions, she stopped, a thoughtful expression on her face.

She walked over to Xiao Yan and said, "Xiao Yan, this 'Baji Beng' is indeed a remarkable technique with considerable power, but I have found some shortcomings."

Xiao Yan’s eyes lit up. "What are they?"

Ning Jiuyou gestured to her fist. "The way this technique gathers and releases energy is too rigid and direct. While it produces great power in a short burst, it consumes too much Dou Qi. Furthermore, the follow-up movements are not fluid. If you face an opponent of equal strength, you would likely run out of energy after a few strikes, leaving you vulnerable."

Xiao Yan frowned, reflecting on her words. Based on his own recent training and his teacher's advice, he realized that what she said made perfect sense. Recalling how she had improved other techniques for their household, his eyes were filled with anticipation. "Jiuyou, you mentioned this—did you discover a way to improve it?"

Ning Jiuyou nodded. "I can try to optimize 'Baji Beng' to make the energy gathering more efficient and the strikes more fluid, while reducing the consumption. However, this will take some time; I need to study and refine it further."

"Jiuyou, thank you so much! If you can truly optimize this, it would be a massive help to me. Take all the time you need, there is no rush."

Ning Jiuyou smiled at him. "You’re welcome. You saved me and have been so kind to me; I am happy to help you. I will begin researching it immediately."

Taking the scroll, she added, "Xiao Yan, thank you for your trust. I will study this carefully."

With that, Ning Jiuyou retreated to a quiet spot, engrossed in the study and deduction of the technique, determined to find a way to perfect the "Baji Beng."