My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

"Your True Pill has just formed and your Blade Intent has already condensed. I haven’t seen such a magnificent display in many years."

He paused.

"I heard you dominated everyone at the Immortal Ascension Conference?"

Liang Cheng replied, neither servile nor overbearing, "It was a stroke of luck."

"A stroke of luck?"

Hearing this, Yun Zhonghe couldn’t help but laugh.

"Comprehending the entire Ice Soul Scripture before the Ice Soul Wall and breaking through to Core Formation on the spot... you call that a stroke of luck?"

"There’s no need for such modesty, young man."

He rose to his feet and walked over to Liang Cheng, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Are you aware that the Ice Soul Wall has stood for two hundred years? Countless have attempted to comprehend it, yet you could count the number who managed to grasp even a single technique on both hands."

"And as for those who have comprehended the *entire* Ice Soul Scripture—"

"You are the first."

Liang Cheng remained silent.

’Of course, he knew he hadn’t comprehended the Ice Soul Scripture on his own. He had received it as an inheritance from the Cold Pool Wanderer.’

’But right now, there was no need to explain.’

Yun Zhonghe regarded him, his eyes full of admiration.

"Comprehending the Ice Soul Scripture, condensing Martial Dao True Intent, and Breaking Mortality to form your Core."

"With such strength, you no longer need to waste your time in the Outer Sect."

He turned to the burly, middle-aged man on his right.

"Lie Shan, would you be willing to take him as your disciple?"

The middle-aged man was none other than Lie Shan, the Peak Master of the First Peak.

He was a powerhouse at the Peak of the Golden Core realm, renowned for his Saber Technique, and known as the "Lie Shan Saber Saint."

He took a step forward, studying Liang Cheng for a moment.

"Your Blade Intent isn’t bad."

"It’s still a little green, but the foundation is solid."

He looked at Liang Cheng.

"I am Lie Shan, Peak Master of the First Peak."

"Are you willing to enter my tutelage and become my Direct Disciple?"

Without hesitation, Liang Cheng bowed deeply.

"Disciple Liang Cheng pays his respects to Master."

Lie Shan gave a slight nod.

"Good."

"From this day forward, you are an Inner Sect Disciple of the First Peak."

He paused.

"Come. Follow me back to the peak."

Liang Cheng bowed to Yun Zhonghe in farewell, then followed Lie Shan out.

...

After Liang Cheng departed with Lie Shan, Yun Zhonghe stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out of the hall.

"Lie Shan certainly got a good deal."

The gray-robed elder to his left spoke, his tone mild.

"Among the masters of Blade Intent in the Penglai Sect, no one surpasses Junior Brother Lie Shan. It’s only natural that such a piece of uncarved jade receives instruction tailored to his talents."

"What the Sect Leader says is true."

...

「First Peak.」

At the summit of the peak stood a secluded courtyard. The Spiritual Qi here was exceptionally dense, far richer than anywhere else.

Lie Shan led Liang Cheng down into the courtyard.

"From now on, this courtyard is yours."

"As for the benefits of an Inner Sect Disciple, you’ll receive a monthly supply of Elixirs and Spirit Stones. You can also freely borrow any Cultivation Technique from the first three floors of the Scripture Pavilion."

He paused.

"Normally, upon entering the Inner Sect, you would choose a Refining Spirit Skill. Since you comprehended the Ice Soul Scripture on your own, you can exchange that opportunity for other resources. Do you have anything in mind?"

"I will defer to your arrangements, Master."

Lie Shan considered this, and his eyes lit up.

"You comprehended a Saber Technique on your own, brought your Combat Techniques to Perfection, and condensed Blade Intent. Your comprehension is astounding, your talent simply monstrous. There was once a Great Power who cultivated two Refining Spirit Skills simultaneously. Would you dare to attempt it?"

"I am willing!"

A flicker of admiration crossed Lie Shan’s eyes at Liang Cheng’s unhesitating response.

"You have courage."

"Do you know what it means to cultivate two Refining Spirit Skills at once?"

Liang Cheng shook his head. "I do not. Please enlighten me, Master."

Lie Shan stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

"An ordinary Martial Artist, after Breaking Mortality and forming their Core, cultivates only a single Refining Spirit Skill, progressing gradually to nourish their Divine Soul."

"Those who cultivate two must designate one as primary and one as auxiliary, and the two must be complementary. The slightest misstep can lead to a conflict within the Divine Soul. At best, your Cultivation will regress. At worst, your Divine Soul will be damaged, and you will never have another chance to reach the Golden Core realm."

He looked at Liang Cheng.

"But you are different."

"You comprehended a Saber Technique on your own and condensed the rudiments of Blade Intent while still in the True Gang Realm. Then, you comprehended the entire Ice Soul Scripture before the Ice Soul Wall."

"Such comprehension is one in a million."

"If you follow the conventional path and cultivate only the Ice Soul Scripture, reaching the Golden Core realm in the future is a certainty."

"But if you dare to cultivate two—"

A sharp glint appeared in Lie Shan’s eyes.

"You would use the Ice Soul Scripture as the primary technique to stabilize your Divine Soul. Then, you would cultivate the First Peak’s signature technique, the *Heaven-Burning Scripture*, along with the *Mountain-Burning Blade Technique*, using your Blade Intent to guide them. The two skills would advance in parallel."

"If you succeed, your foundation in the Martial Dao will far surpass that of your peers."

"Your chances of breaking through to the Golden Core realm, and even the Nascent Soul realm, will be significantly higher than anyone else’s."

He stared at Liang Cheng.

"But this path is fraught with peril. The bottlenecks you’ll face will be far more numerous and difficult than those of your peers."

"I have only one question for you: do you dare walk this road to the heavens?"

Liang Cheng didn’t hesitate.

’With the Mayfly Life Chart, I have no bottlenecks. Success is guaranteed!’

"I dare."

Hearing this, Lie Shan laughed.

"Good."

"That’s my disciple."

With a wave of his hand, two Jade Slips landed in Liang Cheng’s grasp.

"You already have the *Ice Soul Scripture*. This one is the *Heaven-Burning Scripture*."

"Of course, if you begin cultivating and find the path too difficult, or that you cannot harmonize the two..."

Lie Shan paused here.

"...then just focus on the *Ice Soul Scripture*. I’ll take the *Heaven-Burning Scripture* back."

Liang Cheng clutched the Jade Slips, his eyes resolute.

"I understand."

Lie Shan nodded and turned to leave.

He took a few steps, then suddenly stopped.

"By the way."

"As for your friends, Ye Zhiqiu, Xiao Qingxue, and Qin Lie, I’ve already had them placed in the Outer Sect. They’ll be given resources and treatment of the highest standard."

"How far they get will be up to them."

"But as long as you’re here, no one will dare bully them."

With that, he took a step and vanished.

Liang Cheng stood in the courtyard, looking at the two Jade Slips in his hand.

The *Ice Soul Scripture* primarily cultivated the Divine Soul, its chill sinking into the very bones.

The *Heaven-Burning Scripture* was as ferocious as a sea of fire, incinerating all in its path.

One of ice, one of fire. One yin, one yang.

He took a deep breath and sat down cross-legged.

He first completed one full Circulation of the *Ice Soul Scripture*. Within his Sea of Consciousness, the golden ocean formed from the drop of Divine Soul Liquid began to glow with an icy-blue light.

The Ling Frost Short Sword in his Sea of Divine Soul trembled softly, the chill emanating from its blade intensifying.

Liang Cheng steadied his mind and slowly extended a tendril of his Divine Sense into the Jade Slip containing the *Heaven-Burning Scripture*.

BOOM—

The scene before his eyes changed in an instant!

A sea of fire blotted out the sky!

A figure stood within the inferno, saber in hand. With a single slash, the sea of fire moved with the blade, incinerating the very heavens. The Blade Intent was scorching and tyrannical, utterly different from the heavy, swift nature of the Nine Heavens Mountain-Breaking Saber.

Yet Liang Cheng could see a common thread between them.

The *Mountain-Breaking Saber*’s intent was heavy as a mountain, sundering all in its path.

The *Heaven-Burning Scripture*’s intent was fierce as a sea of fire, incinerating all creation.

A mountain can be burned; a sea of fire can be sundered.

The two types of Blade Intent were not mutually exclusive like fire and water. They could actually complement each other!

A glint flashed in Liang Cheng’s eyes.

He retracted his Divine Sense and closed his eyes, deep in thought.

After a long while, he opened his eyes. He pressed the Jade Slip for the *Heaven-Burning Scripture* to his brow and merged his own Blade Intent with the sea of fire within.

BOOM—

The sea of fire erupted!

The saber-wielding figure seemed to come alive, slashing down at Liang Cheng!

Liang Cheng didn’t retreat.

He drew his Zhenxian Saber and met the attack with a slash of his own.

The Blade Intents crashed together, and the sea of fire exploded!

Outside, Lie Shan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the figure seated in the courtyard.

He was silently acting as a Guardian, making sure Liang Cheng didn’t notice his presence.

...

「Seven days later.」

In the courtyard, Liang Cheng opened his eyes.

The aura around him was noticeably more refined than it had been seven days prior.

[Ice Soul Scripture Level 1: Beginner Level (11/50000)]

[Heaven-Burning Scripture Level 1: Beginner Level (1/50000)]

[Blade Intent: Basic Level (2/100000)]

The two Refining Spirit Skills existed in his Sea of Consciousness, one to the left and one to the right, each keeping to itself.

The drop of Divine Soul Liquid at the center of the golden ocean had grown larger, acting as a harmonizing force. The Ling Frost Short Sword hovered above it, one half of its blade an icy blue, the other faintly inscribed with fiery patterns.

He tightened his grip on the Zhenxian Saber.

The blade hummed as Blade Intent erupted from his body!

It was a roaring flame, sharp beyond compare, sundering all in its path!

...

Outside the courtyard, Lie Shan sensed this Blade Intent, and a smile finally touched his lips.

"He did it."

He then stepped through the gate.

’Since he has now condensed his Blade Intent, it’s only right for me, his master, to offer some kind of reward.’