My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Meng Hu leaped off the fighting stage.

He staggered upon landing, steadying himself with his long staff. In the Profound Turtle Island seating area, Luo Zhan was already on his feet.

He helped Meng Hu up, his eyes fixed on the gash across Meng Hu’s chest.

"It broke through?"

"It broke through."

Meng Hu sat down, leaning his long staff to the side.

Luo Zhan fell silent.

He knew Meng Hu’s Turtle Shell technique better than anyone. It was a defense that not even Luo Zhan himself could break.

Among the entire True Gang generation of Profound Turtle Island, no one could shatter it head-on.

But today, it had been broken.

With just a single slash.

Around the stage, the hushed whispers of the prodigies from the other factions died down. Now, as they stared at the figure in green robes sheathing his blade on the stage, they suddenly felt their throats go dry.

He had defeated Meng Hu—whose defense was considered invincible within their realm—with a single slash.

’What if that had been me?’

No one dared to dwell on the thought.

In the Cyan Stone Island seating area.

A young man in gray robes set down the small ball he had been toying with. The person beside him asked in a low voice, "Senior Brother Xiang, this Liang Cheng..."

"Mm."

The gray-robed youth responded with only a single sound. He said nothing more, but his gaze lingered on the blade at Liang Cheng’s waist for an extra moment.

In the Golden Dawn Island seating area.

A woman in red, who had been lazily leaning back in her chair, now sat up straight. She watched Liang Cheng’s retreating figure as he walked off the stage and suddenly let out a small laugh.

"Interesting."

On the high platform.

Liu Jingtiao set down his teacup.

"Junior Brother Chen."

"Mm."

"That slash from your disciple... it had a hint of Blade Intent. A great master truly produces a brilliant student."

Chen Xuanfeng was silent for a moment before shaking his head.

"That was his own doing. It has nothing to do with me."

’A nascent Blade Intent... A prodigy of the Martial Dao!’

Liu Jingtiao didn’t press the matter further.

’Barring any mishaps, this boy will definitely achieve Core Formation and Breaking Mortality!’

He suddenly felt a bit fortunate.

Fortunate that he hadn’t pursued the matter on the spot when Shi Podang died in the Secret Realm.

’Compared to a disciple like this, what does Shi Podang matter?’

’He was just an Outer Disciple.’

’His skills were inferior. What could be done?’

Below the stage.

Liang Cheng returned to the Main Courtyard’s seating area.

Ye Zhiqiu came forward to greet him. His lips moved, and he finally managed to squeeze out a question, "Junior Brother, what on earth was that slash of yours?"

"Nine Heavens Mountain-Breaking."

"I’m not asking for the name."

Ye Zhiqiu paused.

"What a domineering name!"

Liang Cheng simply took his seat.

His gaze swept across the Main Courtyard seats, from Ye Zhiqiu, Xiao Qingxue, and Qin Wentian, to the other prodigies on the Dragon and Phoenix List in the back rows.

At that moment, no one spoke.

Qin Lie still had his eyes closed.

But his breathing was much steadier than before.

It was as if Liang Cheng’s single slash had completely wiped away the gloom hanging over the Main Courtyard!

...

Just then, a voice called down from the high platform.

"That is all for today’s matches."

The speaker was none other than Liu Jingtiao.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it reached every person’s ears with perfect clarity.

"The matches will resume tomorrow at 7:00 AM."

Everyone was taken aback by this.

’It’s over already?’

Liu Jingtiao offered no explanation. His gaze paused on the Main Courtyard’s seating area for an instant before moving away.

He gave a slight nod to Chen Xuanfeng and the others, then turned and left.

...

The crowd at the venue gradually began to disperse.

The various factions left their seats one after another, but as they departed, their gazes would inevitably linger on the Main Courtyard’s section for an extra look.

...

「At the Main Courtyard’s Guesthouse.」

In the main room of a private courtyard.

Chen Xuanfeng stood before the window with his hands clasped behind his back, his back to the others.

Liang Cheng stood three steps inside the door.

Ye Zhiqiu, Xiao Qingxue, and the others waited outside.

Only the master and his disciple were inside the room.

"What exactly happened in Lost Soul Valley?" Chen Xuanfeng asked, his face filled with concern.

Liang Cheng was silent for a moment, then briefly recounted the situation, but he didn’t mention a single word about the Profound Ice Island inheritance in the underground Dark River.

"Huang Tiancheng attacked you himself?"

"Yes."

"How many of his moves did you withstand?"

"Two. I used the force of his third move to break the array and escape."

Chen Xuanfeng’s eyes narrowed.

A True Gang Realm expert withstanding two moves from a Core Formation Realm master and using the momentum to break the Locking Sky Array... that wasn’t luck. It was genuine strength.

He was silent for a long time.

"In that case, it’s no wonder Huang Tiancheng fled."

Liang Cheng looked up.

"He was in the Situ Family’s seats at the venue. He left abruptly when you stepped off the stage after your match."

Hearing this, Liang Cheng showed no surprise.

"I understand."

"You don’t regret not letting me intervene?" Chen Xuanfeng asked.

"I am in the True Gang Realm, and he is at Core Formation. But there is plenty of time. Just like Fu Chenzhou back then, there will come a day when I will cut down Huang Tiancheng with my own hands and settle this Cause and Effect."

Chen Xuanfeng looked at him. This disciple of his had never uttered a single empty promise since the day he joined his tutelage.

’If he says he’ll finish it himself, he will finish it himself.’

"Good."

Chen Xuanfeng nodded.

"After the Immortal Ascension Conference, you will enter the Penglai Sect. When you achieve Core Formation and Breaking Mortality, you can settle this Cause and Effect yourself."

He paused.

"But if you never reach Breaking Mortality in your lifetime, then I, your master, will personally go to the Situ Family and demand him."

Liang Cheng bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Master."

...

「Night fell.」

The snow on Profound Ice Island fell even heavier.

Liang Cheng sat alone in his room, meditating with his eyes closed.

Within his Dantian, nine Gang Qi Seeds slowly rotated, emitting a sapphire-blue glow that shone through his body.

Outside the window, the wind and snow howled.

Liang Cheng regulated his breathing for the entire night.

...

「The next day at 7:00 AM.」

In the arena area, the clamor of voices rose once more.

When the members of the Main Courtyard took their seats, all surrounding eyes turned toward them in unison.

Ye Zhiqiu straightened his back.

Xiao Qingxue sat down, her hand resting on her sword.

Qin Lie opened his eyes, which glinted with a sharp light.

The atmosphere today was completely different from yesterday.

On the high platform, Liu Jingtiao stood up.

"The Immortal Ascension Conference, Day Two."

"The rules are unchanged. Open challenges. The defeated will lose points, and the victors will advance."

His gaze swept across the entire venue.

"Are there any challengers?"

As his voice fell, a figure in green robes stood up from the Main Courtyard’s seats.

The entire venue fell silent in an instant.

Liang Cheng walked onto the stage.

He looked toward the high platform and spoke.

"Liang Cheng, of the Four Islands Main Courtyard."

"I challenge—"

He paused.

"everyone who steps onto this stage today."

...

The entire venue was deathly silent.

Three breaths later, the entire arena erupted.

"Is he insane?"