My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

「The next morning.」

Liang Cheng sat cross-legged, meditating in a partitioned-off room in Elder Huang’s Alchemy Room. The room was piled high with clutter and Herbs, and the jumbled aromas were perfect for masking his presence.

The Medicinal Power of the Realm-Breaking Pill’s Transformation Formula was still active. Inside him, his Qi Blood surged like a thawing river, flowing nearly twice as fast as before.

Every one of his Meridians was steeped in that warm, cool Medicinal Power. His acupoints were continually being cleansed, and his Meridians were gradually expanding.

Qi Blood rose from his Dantian, passed through his Qi Sea, and surged through his chest. Under the tidal assault of Qi Blood, his acupoints emitted faint, crackling sounds, as if invisible barriers were being chiseled away, layer by layer.

[Broken Wave Technique First Layer: Great Success (122/6000)]

His Cultivation progress was nothing short of astonishing.

His progress in the Copper Armor Realm was also going smoothly. His Qi Blood, tempering flesh and skin, had become the perfect forge hammer.

THUD!

A low, rhythmic thud seemed to echo within the partitioned room. The coppery luster beneath his skin pulsed with each impact, and with every circulation of his Qi Blood, the sheen on his flesh grew a fraction more solid.

He cultivated like this, tirelessly and diligently, until dusk. Only when his Meridians began to ache faintly, signaling he had reached his limit, did Liang Cheng cease his practice and slowly exhale a breath of foul air.

He looked down at his body. The grain of his muscles was dense, like that of hundred-times-refined copper.

[Stone Armor Skill (Copper Armor): Minor Success (1/2000)]

’I’ve broken through to the Minor Success Realm of Copper Armor!’

’And this was without any medicinal ointment to aid my training. The Transformation Formula for the Realm-Breaking Pill is truly incredible.’

Just then, the sound of a door opening and Elder Huang’s grumbling came from the outer room. A moment later, he walked in carrying a food box and set it down in front of Liang Cheng.

"Eat. We’ll talk after."

The box was full of highly nourishing food, which Liang Cheng devoured like a storm. Elder Huang watched him the entire time, his small eyes fixated, clicking his tongue in wonder.

"How do you feel?"

"My Broken Wave Technique is progressing very quickly."

"Of course it is. Did you expect my elixirs to be subpar?" Elder Huang huffed smugly, then lowered his voice. "There’s news from the outside."

"The Martial Arts Academy’s search party found a few splintered planks from a merchant ship under a Broken Cliff, fifty li north of Three Bays. They also found half of a burned and warped Celestial Dormitory Disciple Token."

"Based on that, Old Man Lü and the others have concluded there’s an eighty percent chance you hit the exploding hull when you fell into the sea and were blown to bits. The focus of the search is shifting from finding you to investigating the case. They’re not letting up, but they’re looking at it differently now."

Liang Cheng remained silent. The Martial Arts Academy’s actions weren’t wrong.

"Also, Chen Bainian’s funeral was held this afternoon. It was a hasty affair at the Yizhuang outside the city. Your master, Yang Wei, helped with the arrangements, but it was a lonely scene. Not many people from the Commerce Association showed up. People are quick to forget the dead. It’s always like this."

Liang Cheng unconsciously tapped his fingers on his knee. "What about my master and the others...?"

"They’re fine. Yang Wei is a sharp one. He took his men and left as soon as it was over, didn’t press the matter any further."

"As for the Martial Arts Academy, the bounty is still posted, but privately, most people think you’re dead. The Earth Dormitory disciples are starting to rub their hands in glee, preparing to fight over the Celestial Dormitory spot."

"What about the Xu Family?"

"Xu Zhang went to the City Lord’s Mansion this morning, supposedly to report on grain business. However, one of their household procurement servants visited two clinics today, both famous for treating external wounds and cold poison. I suspect he’s sent out the Flipping River Flood Dragon’s men as well."

Liang Cheng nodded in thanks.

"You just keep training. No one dares cause a scene here. But shouldn’t you be thinking about repaying me, kid? You could start by helping me test some other Elixirs."

Liang Cheng hastily declined. "Elder Huang, I’ve only just recovered from my injuries. Let’s talk about that later. For now, why don’t you help me procure some Copper Melting Liquid and Fire Pattern Steel? I can pay you for it now."

"You little sly fox. Fine. But let’s be clear about the terms: nine out, thirteen back. It’s only fair I charge a bit of interest, right?"

Liang Cheng shook his head and handed a waterproof oilcloth packet containing several thousand taels’ worth of silver banknotes to Elder Huang. The old man didn’t even count them before taking the packet, closing the door, and leaving.

Liang Cheng sat quietly for a moment, processing the news from Elder Huang. ’This is the perfect time to lay low.’ He pushed the thoughts from his mind, gathered his focus, and immersed himself in Cultivation once more.

This time, since his Meridians had reached their limit for internal cultivation, he focused on the Wandering Dragon Step.

The partitioned room was tiny, barely a zhang square and crammed with clutter. Liang Cheng’s body moved like a fish, weaving and turning through the narrow gaps. The tips of his toes touched the ground almost silently; he relied entirely on the twisting of his waist and hips, along with bursts of Qi Blood, to change direction.

Soon, his movements took on a fluid rhythm. It was as if he had truly become a dragon of the sea, maneuvering freely within the confines of that tiny space.

[Wandering Dragon Step: Great Success (320/3000)]

...

「Three days passed. It was now the twenty-fifth day of the first month.」

The Medicinal Power lasted for three days, during which Liang Cheng’s Cultivation entered a state of frantic efficiency. He trained diligently, barely sleeping or resting.

The Qi Blood circulation for his Broken Wave Technique grew more potent, and the time needed to complete a Minor Circulation steadily decreased.

For his Stone Armor Skill’s Copper Armor Realm, he used the Copper Melting Liquid and Fire Pattern Steel from Elder Huang, along with other common ingredients, to create an ointment. As the paste continuously seeped into his skin, the coppery glow became increasingly subdued, gradually taking on a profound, unadorned solidity.

His mastery of the Wandering Dragon Step within the confined space grew more profound, his movements becoming more versatile and unpredictable.

...

「Night.」

The last vestiges of the Transformation Formula’s Medicinal Power quietly dissipated as Liang Cheng completed a final Circulation of the Celestial Qi. He opened his eyes. A sharp light glinted within them before slowly receding, leaving them calm once more.

The partitioned room was unlit, illuminated only by the faint moonlight filtering through the window. Yet, he could see with perfect clarity and could even hear the distant, indistinct sound of the Martial Arts Academy’s bells.

[Broken Wave Technique First Layer: Great Success (988/6000)]

[Stone Armor Skill (Copper Armor): Minor Success (510/2000)]

[Wandering Dragon Step: Great Success (1100/3000)]

Three days of bitter cultivation. His injuries were fully healed, and his strength had soared. It was a complete metamorphosis.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Elder Huang entered with a bowl of medicinal soup. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of Liang Cheng. "All done? Your foundation is even more solid than I expected."

"Thank you for making this possible, Elder Huang." Liang Cheng bowed solemnly.

"None of that nonsense." Elder Huang handed him the soup. "This will replenish your Qi Blood. Drink up. What’s your plan now? Given your condition, you could have tried breaking through to the True Qi Realm ages ago. Why are you still taking it one step at a time?"

At this, Elder Huang’s expression grew profound. "Don’t tell me you’re aiming for a Perfect Foundation Establishment, to ascend to the True Qi Realm and forge a Dao Foundation? Aren’t you a bit too ambitious, kid?"

"Perfect Foundation Establishment? Forge a Dao Foundation?"

Liang Cheng took the soup and drained it in a single gulp. A warm current spread through him. He was somewhat puzzled by Elder Huang’s words.

He simply had the Mayfly Life Chart, which allowed him to achieve a perfect transformation without any bottlenecks. But from the look of it, Elder Huang was implying something more.

Elder Huang stared at him for a few moments. Convinced he wasn’t lying, he tutted to himself. ’Did this kid really just stumble his way into polishing his foundation to perfection without even realizing it?’

Elder Huang didn’t press the issue. "Well, in that case, what’s your next move? Are you still going to stay here?"

"It’s not a good idea for me to hide here long-term. An extra person will inevitably leave traces, and I’m afraid I’ll bring trouble to your doorstep."

"So you do have a conscience, kid. The Martial Arts Academy’s search may have shifted focus, but it hasn’t been called off. And the Xu Family’s hounds still seem to have a keen sense of smell. What’s your plan?"

Liang Cheng had already given it some thought. "I’m in the shadows now. I might as well go to the Cold Pool deep within the West Mountain Thousand Poison Valley."

Elder Huang’s small eyes narrowed. "The Cold Pool? The miasma there is toxic. An ordinary cultivator at the Transformation Force Realm wouldn’t last long. With your current Hard Skills, it’s actually a good hiding spot. A bit miserable, though."

He turned and rummaged through a pile of junk for a moment before tossing over an oilcloth packet.

"Inside are Barrier Avoidance Pills, along with some Herbs for dispelling cold and neutralizing poisons. I also have plenty of the Cultivation materials for the Copper Armor Realm you asked for. It should be enough to last you a while."

Liang Cheng accepted the oilcloth packet, a warmth spreading through his chest. "Elder Huang... I can’t thank you enough."

"Kindness, my ass. Remember, this is a loan. The usual terms: nine out, thirteen back. You’ve got a tenacious hold on life, kid. When you do break through to the True Qi Realm, remember to test a few more of my Elixirs."

Liang Cheng nodded. "If the situation allows, I won’t refuse."

"Alright. When are you leaving?"

"Right now."

"Mm, that works," Elder Huang yawned. "Go on, then. Just don’t die out there. I’d have no one to test my new Medicinal Formulas on."

Liang Cheng slung the oilcloth packet over his shoulder, rewrapped his Zhenxian Saber tightly in gray cloth, and gave Elder Huang a deep bow without another word.

Liang Cheng turned and melted into the shadows, his mind already on his plan.

The Flipping River Flood Dragon had pinpointed his return route after the new year. He couldn’t be sure if the Martial Arts Academy had inside men, but thankfully, he had Elder Huang, who he could trust.

For now, the only way to break this stalemate was to amass more power.

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