My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Seven days later, Liang Cheng returned to the Hundred Weapons Workshop as promised. He had visited once in between, at which point the sword embryo was complete, and Liang Cheng had fused his own Essence Blood into it.

Qin Huaiyu personally received him again. Elder Zhang emerged from an inner room, holding a long object wrapped in gray cloth. His expression was a bit weary, but his eyes shone with light.

"Fortunately, I have not disgraced my commission."

The cloth was unveiled, revealing a long saber resting silently within.

The saber was three feet and seven inches long. Its body was slender, with a curve as smooth as a swan’s feather. The blade was a deep, dark color, revealing faint, intricate star-like patterns—the natural color of Meteorite Iron. Near the spine, a dark line of Wujin snaked along its length, like a dragon submerged in the abyss.

The sword guard was simple and elegant. The hilt was wrapped in Deep Cyan Flood Dragon Hide, warm to the touch and offering a solid grip.

Liang Cheng took the saber in hand. It was surprisingly a touch lighter and more agile than he had expected. With a flick of his wrist, the blade vibrated slightly, letting out a low, clear hum, like a dragon’s cry in shallow waters.

"A fine saber!"

"This saber has Meteorite Iron for its core and Wujin to temper its edge. It was forged from steel refined a thousand times, folded nine times over, and finally quenched with an infusion of your own Qi Blood, making it intrinsically connected to you." Elder Zhang stroked his beard, a flash of pride in his eyes. "This saber has not yet been named. Since you are its master, you should be the one to grant it a name."

Liang Cheng gazed at the dark patterns on the blade’s body, and a thought suddenly came to him.

"A mayfly, though fleeting, dances toward the light. This saber... shall be called Zhenxian."

"The Zhenxian Saber... Excellent!" Qin Huaiyu clapped. "A name that reflects its master—sharp and ambitious."

Liang Cheng clasped the saber and cupped his fist. "Thank you, Elder Zhang. Thank you, Senior Brother Qin, Senior Sister Qin."

Qin Hongyu smiled. "You’re too kind, Junior Brother Liang. It was fate that this saber could be forged. If you need anything else in the future, don’t hesitate to come to the Hundred Weapons Workshop."

Liang Cheng then paid the remaining balance and presented Elder Zhang with an additional red envelope containing two hundred taels before taking his leave.

...

「The Martial Arts Academy’s back mountain.」

Liang Cheng stood alone, the Zhenxian Saber held horizontally before him. He took a deep breath as the Qi Blood of his Broken Wave Technique rose from his Dantian, flowing through his arm and into the blade.

HUMMM—

The saber’s body quivered, its dark patterns glowing with an extremely faint, frost-white luster.

He executed the Wandering Dragon Step, his body moving like a phantom as the saber followed his every motion. At first, he stuck to basic slashes and chops, the blade hissing as it cut through the air.

Gradually, his Saber Momentum quickened as he unleashed the Gale Saber Technique. The light from his blade cascaded like a waterfall, and with the added turns of his Wandering Dragon Step, it gained an extra layer of unpredictable deceit.

The flashing blade grew more intense. With a thought, Liang Cheng surged his Qi Blood once more.

The Zhenxian Saber suddenly let out a long cry. The Qi Blood of the Broken Wave Technique manifested externally, merging with the nature of the blade’s Meteorite Iron and revealing the nascent form of Sword Qi.

"Hah!"

Liang Cheng let out a low shout and slashed at a green boulder in front of him.

There was no explosive sound of metal striking stone.

The blade slid into the stone as if cutting through hot butter, silent and effortless. When he pulled it out, the stone’s surface was smooth as a mirror, with only a cut as fine as a strand of hair left behind.

Liang Cheng lowered his saber and gently caressed its body, unable to hide the joy in his eyes.

With the help of the Zhenxian Saber, his strength had increased by at least twenty percent.

An ordinary cultivator at Transformation Force Perfection would likely be unable to block a single strike from him.

...

Twenty-some days later, the bells of the Martial Arts Academy rang three times, signaling the start of the year-end holiday.

The disciples were eager to return home. The Human and Earth Dormitories were a scene of noisy chaos, while the Celestial Dormitory was much quieter. Most of the top ten disciples chose to either remain at the academy for arduous Cultivation or spend the new year with their families in the city.

Liang Cheng packed a simple bag, carefully wrapped the Zhenxian Saber in gray cloth, and slung it across his back.

He didn’t see Yun Jinghong watching him leave from a corner. Afterward, Yun Jinghong’s face firmed with resolve, and he headed for the Foreign Affairs Hall. ’The gap between us is only getting wider,’ he thought. ’What right do I have to take a holiday?’

Just as Liang Cheng stepped out of the academy gates, he saw Chen Bainian’s green-canopied carriage waiting by the stone lions.

"Honored Guest Elder Liang!" Chen Bainian, dressed for travel today, was all smiles. "The boat is ready. We’ll return to the Three Towns by water. It’s safe and fast."

Liang Cheng nodded and was about to board the carriage when Lu Qingzhou approached from the side.

"Junior Brother Liang, heading home already?"

"Aren’t you going back, Senior Brother Lu?"

"I have some family matters to attend to in the city." Lu Qingzhou smiled and took a Jade Talisman from his robes. "This is a token of my Lu Family. If you run into any trouble on the waterways within Lin Wu City’s jurisdiction, showing this might save you some trouble."

Liang Cheng accepted it. The talisman was warm to the touch and was engraved with the ancient seal script character for "Lu."

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother. I will remember it."

"Have a safe trip."

The carriage left the Martial Arts Academy, passed through the long streets, and headed directly for the city’s South Pier. Chen Bainian led Liang Cheng aboard a ship, which then set sail.

The journey was uneventful. The ship sailed out of Lin Wu City’s jurisdiction and entered the waters of the Three Towns. Familiar mountains and villages could be seen on both banks.

At dusk, the ship arrived at the Linhai Town pier.

A clerk from the Chen Family was already waiting at the pier with a carriage. Liang Cheng bid farewell to Chen Bainian, boarded the carriage, and headed into town.

The wheels rumbled over the bluestone road and through the bustling market streets. Leaning back inside the carriage, Liang Cheng closed his eyes to rest.

Not until the carriage stopped in front of his small courtyard did Lady Ning, wearing an apron, rush out from the kitchen. Wiping her hands on her apron, her eyes slightly red, she called out, "Cheng’er!" Only then did the weight in Liang Cheng’s heart finally lift a little.

"You’ve gotten thinner, but you look stronger."

Lady Ning took Liang Cheng’s hand and looked him up and down, unable to hold back her tears in the end. Liang Cheng smiled and wiped them away for her. "Mom, I’m doing great. The food and lodging at the Martial Arts Academy are both good."

The small courtyard was tidy and warm. Fish soup was simmering on the stove, its fragrant aroma filling the air. Lady Ning’s complexion was now rosy and her clothes were neat, a far cry from her once haggard appearance.

"Your master and senior brother have been talking about you for days. Zhou Hu even brought over two large sea bass the day before yesterday, saying they were for you when you got back."

Lady Ning chattered on while setting out the bowls and chopsticks.

After dinner, Liang Cheng took the pastries and tea he had brought from Lin Wu City and headed to the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.

At the Martial Arts Hall, Zhou Hu was in the courtyard instructing two new disciples on their stances. When he saw Liang Cheng walk in, a smile appeared in his eyes.

"You’re back?"

"Senior Brother."

Zhou Hu led Liang Cheng directly to the back courtyard. The other disciples’ eyes lit up. ’So this is the legendary Senior Brother Liang Cheng?’

When Liang Cheng saw Yang Wei, he bowed respectfully. "Master."

"Come inside and talk."

Inside the study, a charcoal brazier radiated warmth.

Zhou Hu, having heard the news, also hurried over. His aura was deep and solid, a clear sign that his Transformation Force foundation had stabilized. Zhao Yuan was there as well, his injuries fully healed, but his eyes lacked their former sharpness.

"Good kid!" Zhou Hu clapped Liang Cheng hard on the shoulder. "I heard about it from the Martial Arts Academy! A Celestial Dormitory disciple who cut down He Jiuyou in battle! You’ve brought great honor to our Yangwei Martial Arts Hall!"

Yang Wei, however, questioned him in more detail. "You made enemies of the Qiao Family and the Xu Family, and now you’ve killed He Jiuyou. Have they made any moves?"

Liang Cheng shook his head. "Things are quiet on the surface, but I have a feeling it won’t be that simple."

"It’s good to be cautious." Yang Wei mused, "Xu Zhang is the type to seek revenge for the smallest grievance. The longer he waits, the more ruthless his strike will be. Although you’re strong now, you haven’t broken through to the True Qi Realm yet. You must remain careful."

"I understand."

"Well, we’ll deal with whatever comes our way. For the time you’re home, spend some quality time with your mother, but don’t neglect your Cultivation."

"Yes."

At this point, Zhou Hu couldn’t resist pulling Liang Cheng outside to spar. He was defeated in a single move and couldn’t help but shake his head. ’The gap between my junior brother and me is just getting wider and wider.’

From the shadows, Zhao Yuan still said nothing, the fists inside his sleeves clenching tighter and tighter.

That night, listening to the faint sound of waves outside his window, Liang Cheng felt a long-lost sense of relaxation. The Zhenxian Saber leaned against his headboard, within easy reach, its body cool to the touch.

He closed his eyes.

Outside the window, the moonlight was cold and clear, and the small town was peaceful.

From a distant street came the faint sound of the watchman’s clapper. It was the third watch.

...

「Nearly a hundred miles away, in a secret chamber of the Xu Mansion in Lin Wu City.」

Xu Zhang, Xu Feng, and Xu Zhi sat around a table. Spread out upon it was a detailed map of the waterways. On the map, a red line snaked down from Lin Wu City’s South Pier all the way to Linhai Town.

"He’s home." Xu Feng’s finger tapped the location of Linhai Town.

"So we really did nothing to him on the way?" Xu Zhi asked, sounding resentful.

"He was traveling under an A-Class Chamber of Commerce Flag. The checkpoints along the way would have let him pass freely, making it inconvenient for our men to intercept him openly," Xu Feng said calmly. "Besides, attacking him on the road would leave too obvious a trail. It would be troublesome if the Martial Arts Academy investigated."

A cold glint flashed in Xu Zhang’s eyes. "Let him enjoy the new year. Around the festival, Sea Bandits love to take advantage of the lax security to plunder coastal villages and towns." Xu Zhang’s voice was flat. "Linhai Town has had a few incidents in past years. This year, I hear the Black Tide has their eyes on a shipment of valuable new year’s goods that just arrived from the north."

Xu Zhi’s eyes lit up. "Father, you mean..."

The corner of Xu Zhang’s mouth curled into a cold sneer. "Chen Bainian has been promoted to A-Class, so the goods he’s procuring this year are bound to be substantial. When the Sea Bandits raid, it would be perfectly normal for a Martial Arts Academy disciple, home visiting family, to die in the chaos."

Xu Feng added, "The Black Tide Leader, Flipping River Flood Dragon, is a True Qi Realm master who made his name many years ago. He has hundreds of desperate men under his command. If they make the move, no one will ever suspect us."

"But, that kid Liang Cheng’s strength..." Xu Zhi was still worried.

"No matter how strong Liang Cheng is, he only has a Transformation Force Cultivation. Once a genius is dead, he’s nothing."

He looked at Xu Feng. "Are the contacts you made reliable?"

"The connection was made through the Anhua Tower. The servant who handled the arrangements has already been dealt with. No matter who investigates, they won’t find a single clue leading back to us."

"Good." Xu Zhang drained the cold tea from his cup in one gulp. "Have them make their move when Liang Cheng is on his way back. The wind will be strong and the waves high at sea—the perfect time for a burial."

...

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