My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

At his words, several disciples from the Martial Arts Academy glared at him.

Liang Cheng remained calm and showed no anger. "Wu the Treasurer’s analysis is reasonable. In your opinion, what should be our next move?"

Wu Zhenshan said flatly, "I wouldn’t dare presume to correct you. I only hope that Liang Zhenchuan will act with discretion, avoid the spotlight for now, and not rush into an investigation. Otherwise, I fear you will be playing right into their hands."

"Wu the Treasurer makes a good point. I have learned something."

Liang Cheng nodded, then suddenly turned and walked toward the Jingguan. He reached out and pulled down the Blood Sacrifice Flag. The pole was ice-cold in his hand, and the blood on the flag’s surface was not yet dry.

Liang Cheng rolled up the flag, held it in his hand, and turned to Lü Bingchen. "Master, what are your thoughts?"

Lü Bingchen had already circled the area once, his eyes cold and grim.

"Blood Erosion Force. And it’s Blood Erosion Force cultivated to an extremely high realm. The Palm Force is contained, not released. This is more dangerous than an ordinary Guardian of the Fire Worship Sect."

"A True Essence Realm powerhouse?" Liang Cheng asked.

Lü Bingchen nodded heavily. "No. If it were, no one would have survived. It must be someone at True Qi Realm Perfection. I suppose you could say Wang Teng was lucky."

The atmosphere instantly fell silent. The expression on everyone’s face was utterly grim.

"Master, I’m going to check the mine tunnels. Even though they’ve been destroyed and have collapsed, I want to see if I can still find any clues."

"Alright. Be careful. If you notice anything unusual, send a signal immediately."

...

At mine tunnel number three, the area was already in ruins, but the heavy stench of blood still lingered in the air.

Liang Cheng noticed a small, faint scrape mark among the rubble. He crouched down and brushed it with his fingers, which came away with a tiny amount of fine, dark red powder.

He brought it to his nose and sniffed lightly. There was a very faint, sweet, and metallic scent.

"Fragments of Blood Marrow Jade."

Liang Cheng’s eyes narrowed. ’The Fire Worship Sect did perform a blood sacrifice with the miners after all. The so-called massacre was actually to cover up the altar here. But where did they get the Blood Marrow Jade?’

’Could there have been remnants deep within the mine vein? Or did they bring the Blood Marrow Jade from somewhere else?’

Liang Cheng couldn’t figure it out for the moment. By the time he walked out of the ruined mine tunnel, the sky was approaching dusk, the setting sun as red as blood. The Jingguan had already been properly dealt with.

When Wu Zhenshan saw Liang Cheng return, he asked nonchalantly, "Did Liang Zhenchuan find anything?"

"Yes."

Liang Cheng walked up to him and opened his palm, revealing the fleck of Blood Marrow Jade powder. "Wu the Treasurer is a man of wide experience. Do you recognize this?"

A flicker of light passed through Wu Zhenshan’s eyes before he quickly shook his head. "I have never seen it."

Liang Cheng withdrew his hand.

"I’ll have to trouble Wu the Treasurer with the night patrol. I’m going to check on the injured from the Martial Arts Academy first."

Liang Cheng did not go to see Wang Teng. Elder Huang had said that although his internal organs were damaged, his foundation was not destroyed, so there was no need to worry. It wouldn’t be too late to visit him after he woke up.

He went to Zhao Yuan’s bedside and used his True Qi to clear the stagnant Qi Blood in his body.

Zhao Yuan’s complexion improved slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, about Senior Brother Wang Teng..."

"Elder Huang has already begun treatment. His life should not be in danger, but he will probably need a year or so to recuperate."

Liang Cheng’s tone was calm. "Do you regret listening to my advice and coming to Dongshan Mine?"

Zhao Yuan shook his head. "On the path of the Martial Dao, one is responsible for their own life and death. I only hate that my own strength was insufficient to stop those people."

Liang Cheng patted his shoulder. "It’s good that you’re alive. For the time being, return to the Martial Arts Academy to recover. Don’t overthink things."

"Senior Brother..."

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from outside the tent. Lü Bingchen lifted the flap and entered, his expression grave.

"Liang Cheng, I just received a message. Over at the Border Sea, the Fire Worship Sect vanished without a trace after slaughtering the Three Towns. City Lord Shen came up empty-handed. Commander Yue Shan led his men in pursuit and was ambushed at sea, suffering heavy casualties."

Liang Cheng stood up. "It seems the Fire Worship Sect’s goal was never to occupy the towns. It was a feint to lure the tiger from the mountain."

"Exactly."

Lü Bingchen said in a low voice, "Their real target, I’m afraid, is still Lin Wu City. With City Lord Shen and Yue Shan tied down at the Border Sea, only the Dean is left to hold the fort at the Martial Arts Academy, and the City Lord’s Mansion is undefended..."

Before he could finish, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air from a distance!

That was the emergency signal of the Martial Preparation Hall.

Liang Cheng and Lü Bingchen exchanged a look and simultaneously rushed out of the tent.

In the direction of the forest east of the mine, a crimson firework shot into the sky and exploded into the shape of a twisted flame.

From below the firework, the faint sounds of clashing metal and screams could be heard.

Wu Zhenshan had already charged over with his men. Without hesitation, Liang Cheng’s body blurred into an afterimage as he shot forward.

Lü Bingchen followed close behind, shouting a sharp command, "Disciples of the Martial Arts Academy, form up and stay here! Do not act without orders!"

---

Deep within the forest, the scene was one of chaos.

Five Black Armor Guards from the Martial Preparation Hall lay in pools of blood, their throats all slit by a sharp blade.

Wu Zhenshan stood amidst the corpses, holding a long saber with blood dripping from its tip. Across from him stood a figure in black, wearing a bronze mask.

"Wu the Treasurer, long time no see. So ruthless, even to your own men."

The Bronze Masked Man’s voice was a light chuckle as he looked at the bodies on the ground. "Oh, right. Did you receive the last shipment?"

Veins bulged on the hand Wu Zhenshan used to grip his saber. "How dare you show yourselves at a time like this? Aren’t you afraid..."

"Why should we be afraid?"

The Bronze Masked Man chuckled. "Shen Jun isn’t here, Yue Shan is trapped at the Border Sea... who calls the shots in Lin Wu City right now? Isn’t it Situ Lang?"

"You need to leave, now! That madman Lü Bingchen is here, and so is Liang Cheng, the one who killed Xu Jinjiang. Are you all out of your minds?"

The Bronze Masked Man smiled without a word. "Don’t worry, we’re leaving right away. And we’ve brought you a gift, to remind the Treasurer not to forget our agreement."

With that, he raised his hand and threw something.

THUMP.

A severed head rolled to Wu Zhenshan’s feet. Its eyes were wide open. It was Cheng Wen.

"Wu the Treasurer, this fellow was secretly investigating the evidence of your and Situ Lang’s collusion with the Fire Worship Sect. We took care of him for you. No need to thank us."

Wu Zhenshan’s expression changed. The other party sensed Liang Cheng’s approaching aura—the aura of True Qi Realm Perfection—and it erupted from him explosively!

"Wu Zhenshan, you’ve got guts. This time next year will be the anniversary of your death."

As his voice faded, his figure melted into the shadows of the forest and vanished.

A moment later, Lü Bingchen and Liang Cheng arrived at the same time. Seeing the head on the ground, they frowned. "Wu the Treasurer, what happened?"

Wu Zhenshan’s voice was hoarse. "The Martial Preparation Hall soldiers found a remnant of the Fire Worship Sect, but the enemy was a True Qi Realm Perfection Powerhouse. They were brutally murdered. I arrived a step too late and was only left with Steward Zhou’s head."

Liang Cheng looked down at Cheng Wen’s head, then suddenly crouched down to examine the bodies of the Martial Preparation Hall soldiers nearby. One of them had a hand bent back at an unnatural angle.

Killed by a single strike. The technique was vicious and absolute!

A corner of Wu Zhenshan’s official robe was torn.

The night wind gusted, and the forest seemed to moan.

Liang Cheng slowly rose to his feet. "Wu the Treasurer, you fought with him. Which way did he go?"

Wu Zhenshan froze for a second, then subconsciously pointed toward the forest.

The next moment, Liang Cheng’s figure flashed into motion. "Master, I’ll be right back."

"Liang Cheng! Don’t be rash!"

Lü Bingchen shouted urgently, but before his voice had even faded, Liang Cheng had already shot into the forest like an arrow loosed from a bow, disappearing into the dense shadows after a few leaps.

Lü Bingchen took two steps in pursuit, then forced himself to a halt.

There were still injured disciples from the Martial Arts Academy at Dongshan Mine, and the devastated mine site needed him to hold the fort. If he also gave chase, and something else were to happen...

For a moment, there was only silence.

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