My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

"That’s why I’m telling you to take your time. There’s no rush. Also, send a message to our friend in Lin Wu City. Tell him he can come and get what he wants in a month, but he has to make it worth our while."

"Yes!"

The Guardian bowed his head in acceptance, but then hesitated. "But with Shen Jun back in Lin Wu City, I’m afraid things will be difficult for him..."

"It won’t be difficult for him." The Left Envoy turned and looked out into the boundless night. "He dared to work with me eight years ago. Eight years later, he has no choice."

The Guardian dared not say more. Clutching his wound, he staggered away.

...

「Half an hour later, deep inside Cave Number Three.」

Elder Huang squatted before the shattered altar. He pinched a bit of dark red powder between his fingertips, brought it to his nose to sniff, then stuck out his tongue and licked it.

Liang Cheng’s brow twitched as he watched. ’This old guy seems immune to all poisons.’

"The purity isn’t low."

Elder Huang spat out the powder, clapped his hands, and stood up. "This stuff has been nourished by blood sacrifices for at least five years. It seems the Fire Worship Sect has been setting things up at Dongshan Mine for a long time."

He scanned his surroundings, his gaze landing on the entrance to the secret passage where Lin Yue had blocked the Blood Force. "When the Blood Evil Qi erupted, did it rush in this direction?"

"Yes."

"And you’re alright, kid?"

Elder Huang’s eyes suddenly lit up. With a flash of his hands, Liang Cheng’s vision blurred, and his arm was seized by five withered fingers.

He instinctively circulated his True Qi to resist, but the grip was immovable, swallowing his power as if it were a clay ox sinking into the sea. Liang Cheng’s eyes widened. ’What is this old monster’s cultivation? I’m a True Qi Realm expert!’

’Back when I was gathering herbs, I could only take on missions as a mere Transformation Force martial artist. What is Elder Huang’s real level?’

Elder Huang ignored Liang Cheng’s strange look and squeezed his arm. "Are you sure you won’t help me test elixirs, kid? It’s definitely not as dangerous as last night’s Qi Blood eruption, and it can even help advance your cultivation."

Liang Cheng quickly shook his head.

Elder Huang dropped Liang Cheng’s arm. "Boring. What a stubborn brat. You have the guts to risk it all at Dongshan Mine, but you don’t dare to test a simple elixir?"

Liang Cheng quickly changed the subject. "Elder Huang, what is the Fire Worship Sect really trying to do?"

"Kid, the Fire Worship Sect doesn’t just want a few stones. They want to use the entire Dongshan Mine vein to refine a massive Blood Evil Pool. When that happens, they can use Blood Marrow Jade as a foundation to generate Blood Evil, raise a large number of experts who cultivate the Blood Erosion Force, and even create a few True Qi Realm powerhouses. That’s quite an ambitious plan."

A chill ran down Liang Cheng’s spine. Reaching the True Qi Realm was incredibly difficult. Even a prodigy like Wang Teng was supposedly still recovering and repairing his foundations.

"Can they really do that?"

"If they have enough time and enough living people for blood sacrifices, of course they can."

Elder Huang sneered. "However, with the altar destroyed last night, their plan has been set back by at least three years. Unless they’ve gone crazy..."

"What do you mean, ’unless they’ve gone crazy’?"

Liang Cheng wanted to ask more, but Elder Huang had already stood up. "Alright, I’ve seen the altar and I know what’s going on now. I have to admit, the Fire Worship Sect has a few tricks up its sleeve. This old man is already getting some ideas..."

Liang Cheng was silent for a moment. "Elder Huang, you know how to set up arrays?"

"Of course. Alchemy and arrays are two sides of the same coin. Both are about manipulating energy, just with a different focus. What, you want to learn? Help me test elixirs, and I might consider it."

Liang Cheng quickly shook his head. ’With my Mayfly Life Chart, I have no bottlenecks and am guaranteed success. Unless it’s a life-or-death situation, why would I ever test elixirs?’

’Back when I was injured by the Flipping River Flood Dragon’s subordinate, I had no choice but to take the gamble.’

Just then, Elder Huang turned and left. Liang Cheng hurried to follow.

...

Liang Cheng saw Elder Huang back to his room. Not long after, Lin Chong received a message and came to take Lin Yue back to his family’s estate.

Before the carriage departed, Lin Yue gripped Liang Cheng’s wrist tightly, his voice low. "Remember, the waters of the City Lord’s Mansion run deeper than any mine shaft. You need to be careful."

Liang Cheng just nodded. The carriage wheels crunched over the gravel, carrying away the heavily injured Lin Yue and a worried-looking Lin Chong.

「That night, the lights in the Guardian Station’s study burned brightly.」

"Zhao Yuan," Liang Cheng pointed a finger at the map. "Have your men keep a close watch on Chen Ping and his subordinates. It’s better to find nothing than to let them spot you. Report their daily movements to me before nightfall."

"Li Mu, you’ll have people watch Lu Ming, the steward from the Lu Family, as well as the senior stewards from the Lin Family. Keep a tight watch and remember all the details."

"Starting tomorrow, the mining area will only have two entrances and exits open: east and west. The patrol routes for shift changes will be randomized daily, and only the three of us will know the roster."

Zhao Yuan couldn’t help but ask, "Senior Brother, do you suspect we have a mole?"

Liang Cheng didn’t answer. "Just do as you’re told."

After returning from the mine, Elder Huang holed himself up in his room and refused to come out, though no one knew what he was researching.

Liang Cheng also became a recluse. Aside from listening to the daily reports, he devoted himself completely to his cultivation, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

The following days, however, were calm and uneventful, which only made Liang Cheng suspicious. He grew even more cautious, wondering if the Fire Worship Sect was brewing some grand conspiracy.

However, all Liang Cheng could do was stick to his plan and wait for them to make a move. And with the Lin Family now cooperating, affairs at the Dongshan Mine ran smoother than ever.

Besides handling the mine’s affairs each day, Liang Cheng dedicated all his remaining time to cultivation. Elder Huang had also brought an ample supply of elixirs and resources on this trip.

The sound of surging True Qi from the Quiet Chamber was nearly constant, punctuated by the crackle of the Wind and Thunder Slash. Listening from the courtyard, Zhao Yuan and Li Mu sometimes felt their own blood boil with excitement.

After a month, Liang Cheng’s cultivation had improved once again.

[Broken Wave Technique, Second Layer: Beginner Level (1027/2000)]

[Profound Yin Sword Technique: Beginner Level (1212/1500)]

[Wind and Thunder Slash: Minor Success (3603/5000)]

[Stone Armor Skill (Golden Armor): Great Success (1557/10000)]

...

One day, Liang Cheng suddenly summoned Zhao Yuan and Li Mu.

"Senior Brother, what did you call us for?"

Liang Cheng clapped them both on the shoulder. His aura was calm and steady. During this period, Liang Cheng had given them plenty of Qi and Blood Pills, and their progress was now quite obvious.

"It’s nothing major. The Martial Arts Academy’s annual Autumn Grand Competition is coming up soon. It’s time for you two to head back."