My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

"Die!"

Fu Chenzhou saw his chance. He unleashed his True Essence, and the tip of his sword erupted in a brilliant cyan light—Cyan Mist Peak. He thrust straight for Liang Cheng’s heart!

If this sword strike landed, it would mean severe injury, if not death!

At that very moment, a sharp glint flashed in Liang Cheng’s eyes. He hadn’t been using his full strength, waiting for this exact moment!

"Wind and Thunder Nine Slashes!"

The light-blue True Essence on his Zhenxian Saber suddenly shifted to a deep violet!

The howl of the wind and the roar of thunder exploded forth!

His Saber Momentum was no longer bound by mere forms. The swiftness of the Wind and the ferocity of the Thunder merged perfectly. The slash he unleashed seemed to change the very weather itself!

"What?!"

Fu Chenzhou’s expression changed drastically. He never would have imagined that Liang Cheng had been hiding his true strength, even during the grand tournament!

The power of this slash was at least fifty percent stronger than when he had defeated Shi Yue!

Caught off guard, he could only change his thrust into a block, holding his longsword horizontally to defend.

CLANG—!!!

The saber and sword collided again, unleashing a deafening roar!

Fu Chenzhou grunted, a notch actually hacked into his longsword!

The Sword Qi pierced through his blade, sending a numbing shock through his right arm. The web between his thumb and index finger split open, and blood streamed down his wrist.

He staggered backward, his eyes filled with terror.

Liang Cheng wasn’t faring much better. Activating the Perfect Wind and Thunder Slash had consumed a massive amount of True Essence, and blood was gushing from the wound on his left shoulder.

But he didn’t dare pause for a second. Using the rebound force, he shot backward and executed the Wandering Dragon Step at full power, vanishing into the dense forest like a wisp of green smoke.

"Where do you think you’re going!"

Fu Chenzhou, enraged, ignored the injury to his right arm and gave chase.

One fled while the other pursued, weaving through the mountain forest.

The sword wound on Liang Cheng’s left shoulder was deep enough to reveal bone, but his will was ironclad. He gritted his teeth and pushed on. With his Wandering Dragon Step at the Perfection level, his Body Technique was as agile as a dragon’s, and he deliberately chose the most rugged and difficult terrain to escape through.

Although Fu Chenzhou’s Cultivation was higher and his Body Technique was uncanny, long-distance pursuit was not his forte. Moreover, he had been careless and fallen for Liang Cheng’s ploy, injuring his right arm. After chasing for an hour, the distance between them gradually widened.

"You little bastard!"

Seeing Liang Cheng’s figure about to disappear, Fu Chenzhou, in a fit of rage, slashed his sword at a nearby ancient tree, and the trunk instantly snapped.

He stood there, his face ashen.

Blood flowed ceaselessly from the wound on his right arm, and waves of pain pulsed from his torn hand.

What was more troublesome was the Wind and Thunder Power contained within the Sword Qi, which was continuously eroding his Meridians. He needed to treat his injuries as soon as possible.

"You got lucky!"

Fu Chenzhou gritted his teeth, tore off a strip of his robe to bandage the wound, and turned to leave.

The ambush had failed and his identity was exposed. If Liang Cheng made it to the Main Courtyard alive, he would surely report him. When that happened, Cyan Mist City would face severe punishment from the Alliance.

He had to get back as quickly as possible to handle the aftermath.

’I was too careless this time!’

Fu Chenzhou was filled with regret. He should have gone for the kill from the very beginning. Now, he’d left a loose end.

Deep in the forest, Liang Cheng finally stopped once he confirmed Fu Chenzhou was no longer pursuing him.

He leaned against an ancient tree, gasping for breath.

The sword wound on his left shoulder throbbed with excruciating pain, and he had used up more than half of his True Essence. He took out the Healing Elixir that Elder Huang had given him and swallowed it, then sprinkled Golden Sore Medicine on the wound and bandaged it tightly with a clean strip of cloth.

’I can’t take the main road anymore.’

Liang Cheng looked at his shoulder wound, his mind perfectly clear.

Since Fu Chenzhou had set up an ambush here, there was no guarantee he didn’t have other arrangements up ahead.

He glanced at his map, got his bearings, and finally decided to cross the mountains and take the side roads.

A five-day journey ended up taking him a grueling seven days.

On the evening of the eighth day, Yunhai City finally appeared on the horizon.

The city was majestic, its walls soaring into the clouds. Towers and pavilions filled the city, and faint spiritual light could be seen shimmering among them.

The most eye-catching landmark was a floating mountain peak in the center of the city, wreathed in Cloud Mist. That was the location of the Four Islands Alliance Headquarters.

Xuankong Mountain.

Liang Cheng’s clothes were tattered and he was covered in dust. Blood seeped through the bandage on his left shoulder.

He spurred his horse toward the city gate. Seeing the saber at his waist and his formidable aura, the city guards didn’t dare stop him.

Once inside, he galloped straight for the courtyard gate at the base of Xuankong Mountain.

...

「Main Courtyard, the square before the Foreign Affairs Hall.」

A Purple-robed Steward stood on the stone steps, holding a register. He announced in a clear voice, "Registration for this year’s new Disciples is now closed!"

Below the stage, a dozen or so young Martial Artists stood with various expressions on their faces.

The Steward scanned the crowd and continued, "Those who have not arrived are considered to have forfeited their spot. We will now begin verifying identities..."

"Wait!"

A hoarse shout came from the entrance of the square.

Everyone turned to look.

Liang Cheng galloped into the square on his horse. He winced as dismounting aggravated his shoulder wound, but he didn’t dare stop, striding quickly to the front of the stone steps.

"Liang Cheng, from Lin Wu City’s Martial Arts Academy on Central Origin Island, here to report."

The Purple-robed Steward sized him up. Seeing his blood-stained, travel-worn clothes, he frowned. "Why are you late?"

"I was ambushed on the way, which delayed my journey."

"Ambushes?"

The Steward’s eyes flickered. "Who would dare attack a new Disciple of the Main Courtyard on Canglan Island?"

"Fu Chenzhou, the City Lord of Cyan Mist City on Central Origin Island."

The moment he spoke, an uproar swept through the square.

Several Disciples from other islands exchanged glances. They had heard of Cyan Mist City—it was one of the three major cities on Central Origin Island.

The Purple-robed Steward’s expression darkened. "Do you have proof?"

Liang Cheng tore open the collar of his shirt, revealing the bandage on his left shoulder. "This sword wound was left by Cyan Mist City’s Cyan Mist Sword Technique. The Sword Qi is cold and sinister. The Steward may inspect the wound."

He then took out his Martial Arts Academy Identity Jade Token and the Main Courtyard Disciple Token. "This is the Disciple Token issued by the Alliance Steward on Central Origin Island. Its authenticity can be verified."

The Steward took the Tokens and confirmed they were genuine.

"Liang Cheng, first place in the Central Origin Island three-city tournament, age twenty."

He gave Liang Cheng a deep look and then said suddenly, "Release your Cultivation."

Liang Cheng nodded, took a deep breath, and the five True Essence Light Groups within his body vibrated in unison.

’I can’t reveal my full Cultivation right now,’ he thought. ’After all, the Martial Arts Academy reported that I had five True Qi Seeds.’

BOOM—!

A light-blue True Essence radiance shot into the sky. It was vast and heavy, surging like a tidal wave, and its pressure instantly enveloped the entire square!

"The True Essence Realm?!"

"A twenty-year-old at the True Essence Realm?!"

"To think someone like that could come from a place like Central Origin Island!"

The Disciples below the stage paled, but the Purple-robed Steward simply nodded slightly.

A twenty-year-old at the True Essence Realm would be considered among the top tier, even at the Main Courtyard.

The Steward withdrew his gaze and made a mark in the register. "Liang Cheng, identity verified. Cultivation: True Essence Realm Early Stage. Admitted to the academy."

He paused, then added, "As for the matter of Fu Chenzhou’s ambush, the Main Courtyard will send someone to investigate. Since you have already reached the True Essence Realm, according to the rules, you may directly enter the Inner Courtyard. Go to the Internal Affairs Hall to complete the procedures."

"Thank you, Steward."

Liang Cheng put away his Tokens and turned toward the Inner Courtyard. Behind him, the many new Disciples watched his retreating back with complex expressions.

In the crowd, a young man in brocade robes narrowed his eyes. "Liang Cheng from Central Origin Island... Interesting."

On the other side, a young woman cradling a sword murmured, "A twenty-year-old at the True Essence Realm. I’m afraid the Inner Courtyard is about to get lively."

Liang Cheng paid no mind to these discussions, as if he hadn’t heard them at all.

’Since the Martial Arts Academy follows the style of the Main Courtyard, I’ll see after today whether the Main Courtyard is the type to protect its own Disciples.’

’If the Main Courtyard does nothing, then I’ll settle this score with Fu Chenzhou myself one day.’

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