My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

At this, Yue Shan suddenly said, "My hands are getting itchy. Come on, spar with me. Let me see what a True Qi Realm cultivator like you is really made of."

Before the words left his mouth, his massive, fan-like hand reached out from a distance. With no visible True Qi Emission, a pressure as heavy as a mountain crashed down, and the very air seemed to freeze.

Liang Cheng neither retreated nor dodged. A faint golden radiance flickered around him as his Golden Armor Realm activated on its own, blocking the heavy Evil Qi three feet from his body.

At the same time, he straightened his right fingers into a blade. A condensed strand of pale blue True Qi shot from their tips, piercing the air like a needle through cotton as it stabbed toward the center of Yue Shan’s palm.

"Hm?"

Yue Shan grunted in surprise, changing his grab into a downward strike. Iron-gray True Qi materialized before his palm, crashing down like a mountain to meet Liang Cheng’s True Qi Finger Force head-on.

POP!

With a soft pop, their Qi Forces collided. The stone table remained perfectly still, but ripples spread across the surface of the tea in the cups upon it.

Yue Shan immediately withdrew his hand, not probing any further. He burst into laughter. "Good Hard Skill! And what tricky Finger Force! An ordinary True Qi Realm cultivator wouldn’t dare take that palm strike of mine head-on. Kid, based on your Hard Skill alone, I bet you could withstand three of the Flipping River Flood Dragon’s full-power sword strikes."

Liang Cheng also retracted his power. They had merely sparred, stopping before things escalated, and neither had used their full strength. Still, while Yue Shan seemed crude, his power was unfathomable.

"Commander Yue, your cultivation is profound. I am impressed."

Yue Shan waved his hand dismissively, his expression turning more serious. "Cut the formalities. I came here today for two reasons. First, I was curious to see how much you’ve improved. Second, I have some news for you."

He lowered his voice. "A while back, I was with the City Lord hunting down remnants of the Fire Worship Sect near Wuyin Reef in the Southeast Sea Region. My scouts spotted the silhouettes of Black Tide ships there. It’s a godforsaken place—full of reefs and thick fog. A perfect hiding spot."

Liang Cheng’s expression shifted. This matched exactly what Lu Qingzhou had told him before.

Yue Shan clapped him on the shoulder. "That bastard, the Flipping River Flood Dragon, nearly killed you. Knowing your temper, you’re definitely going to settle that score."

"Consider this news my early congratulatory gift for you becoming a True Inheritor. But let me warn you, that damned Wuyin Reef is easy to defend and hard to attack. If you’re going, you’d better be well-prepared. Don’t let yourself get caught off guard."

Liang Cheng stood up and solemnly cupped his fist. "Thank you, Commander Yue."

"Thank me for what? I just like your style."

Yue Shan stood up, his bold demeanor returning. "I’m off. The City Lord will be back soon, and I’ve got a pile of crap to deal with. Once you’ve slaughtered that Flipping River Flood Dragon, remember to buy me a drink!"

Liang Cheng personally saw Yue Shan out. By the time he returned, a plan was already forming in his mind.

Just then, another visitor was announced. Master Qian from the Treasure Pavilion had sent an invitation, requesting Liang Zhenchuan’s presence at the Listening Bamboo Pavilion in the afternoon.

Liang Cheng narrowed his eyes. ’The Treasure Pavilion isn’t just a local power. It spans the twenty-four cities of the eight islands under the Penglai Sect’s domain. For my future plans, I can’t afford to offend them lightly.’

...

「Afternoon. The Listening Bamboo Pavilion.」

Qian Wanjing, looking as opulent as ever in his red robes, poured the tea himself. The liquid was a clear, jade green, and its exotic fragrance was instantly calming. "This is Mist Concealed Spirit Tea, produced on Wuyin Reef. It calms the mind, quiets one’s Qi, and nourishes the Meridians. Please, Liang Zhenchuan, have a taste."

Liang Cheng’s interest was piqued. ’Wuyin Reef again,’ he thought. As expected, Qian Wanjing continued, "I heard that Liang Zhenchuan entrusted the Lu Family with finding clues about the Black Tide. As it happens, I have some news on that front."

"Are you aware, True Inheritor, that the Black Tide Pirates’ main lair is very likely hidden on Wuyin Reef?"

Liang Cheng’s expression remained neutral. "I’ve heard rumors to that effect."

Qian Wanjing took out an exquisite sea chart and unrolled it. "Wuyin Reef is located 470 li southeast of Lin Wu City. It’s composed of thirteen reef islands of various sizes and is shrouded in thick fog year-round. The undercurrents are treacherous, and it’s a labyrinth of visible and hidden reefs. The Treasure Pavilion happens to possess a detailed survey chart of the area."

As he spoke, his fingertip tapped several locations on the chart. Liang Cheng studied the map and asked in a low voice, "Chief Steward Qian, why are you telling me this?"

Qian Wanjing smiled warmly. "The True Inheritor is Lin Wu City’s most dazzling rising star in recent years. The Treasure Pavilion is in business for the long term, so we are naturally happy to build goodwill with you. Consider this intelligence our gift to congratulate you on your promotion."

"Thank you."

The two continued their pleasant conversation until Qian Wanjing suddenly brought up a topic, as if in passing. "Oh, by the way, I recall that at the last auction, the True Inheritor purchased a fragment of cowhide paper? I wonder if you’ve made any discoveries from it? That map seemed to hold some mystery."

Liang Cheng picked up his teacup and took a sip, his expression calm. "If you hadn’t brought it up, Master Qian, I would have almost forgotten about it. The map was too fragmented to make anything out. I’m not even sure where I put it. If you’re interested, should I come across any similar fragments in the future, I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for you."

Qian Wanjing laughed. "It’s a trivial matter, hardly worth mentioning."

As the tea entered his mouth, he noted a faint, biting chill hidden within its fragrant aroma. Liang Cheng understood. ’This tea, this map... both are a silent display of the Treasure Pavilion’s profound resources.’

When he left the Treasure Pavilion, Qian Wanjing personally escorted him to the door, cupping his hands and saying, "Liang Zhenchuan, if you need anything in the future, the Treasure Pavilion has its own information channels. Feel free to come and inquire."

With that, he handed over a small Jade Token engraved with the Treasure Pavilion’s insignia. Liang Cheng accepted it, offered his thanks, and departed.

After returning to True Inheritance Peak, Liang Cheng immediately began to plan. He had to figure out how to get to Wuyin Reef and kill the Black Tide’s Flipping River Flood Dragon. After all, the man had nearly killed him, and Chen Bainian had died because of it. ’How can I not take this revenge?’

However, from what Yue Shan had said, the Black Tide might be connected to more than just the Xu Family; they could even be involved with the Fire Worship Sect. ’Otherwise, why would Yue Shan have come to visit me personally?’ he wondered.

At this thought, Liang Cheng decided to consult Lü Bingchen. Now that both Yue Shan and the Treasure Pavilion were involved, the matter of the Black Tide was clearly not as simple as it seemed.

Lü Bingchen was somewhat surprised when he was informed of the visit, but he met with Liang Cheng immediately. "Liang Cheng, what brings you here?"

"Master, I have some questions and would like to ask for your guidance."

Liang Cheng then recounted the day’s events to Lü Bingchen. After listening, a sharp glint flashed in Lü Bingchen’s eyes.

"Both Yue Shan and the Treasure Pavilion have given you this information. This indicates that the Black Tide is likely involved with the remnants of the Fire Worship Sect. With the trade routes obstructed, the City Lord’s Mansion wants to resolve everything in one fell swoop. They both want to use you as their weapon."

"However, since you’re determined to go, why not issue an A Class bandit extermination mission in the name of the Martial Arts Academy? There would be no limit on the number of participants. First, this would give you a legitimate reason to act. Second, it would provide valuable experience for the other disciples. It’s killing two birds with one stone. What do you think?"

Hearing this, Liang Cheng felt as if a weight had been lifted from his mind. He immediately bowed deeply. "I will follow your arrangements, Master."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!