My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Right then, as Liang Cheng gazed at the lingering, venomous aura of the Blood Erosion Force on Yue Shan, two different sensations collided in his mind.

Although their natures weren’t identical—one was a chilling cold, the other a sinister poison; one strong, the other weak—deep at their core, they shared a twisted sensation of a common origin!

Liang Cheng was inwardly alarmed, but not a trace of it showed on his face.

’Is Lu Qingfeng cultivating some kind of Evil Technique on his own?’

’Or does the Lu Family’s third branch have ties to the Fire Worship Sect?’

’Or is the Lu Family, like the Xu Family before them, being used by the Fire Worship Sect?’

He didn’t mention this discovery to anyone. The enemy was hidden while he was exposed. Any rash move could alert them and cause him to lose his only lead.

The convoy heading for the Border Sea was now far in the distance, and the dust it had kicked up slowly settled.

Liang Cheng pushed Yue Shan’s wheelchair, walking slowly along the bluestone road back to the city.

Lü Bingchen said from the side, "Commander Yue, focus on your recovery. With the Martial Arts Academy and our many comrades in the city, there won’t be chaos."

Yue Shan nodded. After a moment of silence, he suddenly lowered his voice and said to Liang Cheng, "Liang, I’ve heard things haven’t been quiet for you recently. Be careful. That ambush at the Border Sea was too precise. I fear our city isn’t clean."

"Thank you for your concern, Commander Yue. I understand."

Liang Cheng replied, his voice steady.

...

After seeing off Shen Wenyuan and the reinforcements from the Martial Arts Academy, Lin Wu City seemed to have returned to its usual order, at least on the surface.

Liang Cheng secluded himself on True Inheritance Peak. Aside from occasional visits to the City Lord’s Mansion to check on Yue Shan, he rarely left his courtyard.

He cultivated diligently every day. The True Qi from the Second Layer of his Broken Wave Technique surged ceaselessly through his Meridians, growing more potent with each passing day.

He repeatedly contemplated the Cold and Mysterious Sword Intent of the Profound Yin Sword Technique and the Fierce Saber Momentum of the Wind and Thunder Slash, rehearsing them in his mind until his understanding of them grew more fluid and profound.

He cultivated with absolute focus. Thanks to the bottleneck-free nature of his Mayfly Life Chart, his True Qi flowed smoothly, and every Circulation of the Celestial Cycle was solid and unimpeded.

[Broken Wave Technique Second Layer: Great Success (3572/15000)]

[Profound Yin Sword Technique: Great Success (1104/12000)]

[Wind and Thunder Slash: Great Success (2961/12000)]

But beneath the calm surface of Lin Wu City, a dark undercurrent continued to churn.

Every day, Li Mu brought him the latest news.

After returning to the Qiao Mansion, Uncle Wang’s routine was normal. He attended to Qiao Zhi’s daily needs, managed the household, and occasionally went out for supplies along a fixed route. He wasn’t seen contacting anyone suspicious.

"Keep an eye on him. Don’t let your guard down."

Liang Cheng could only give that order. The quieter Uncle Wang became, the more it felt like the calm before the storm. He could leave this lead for now, but he had to keep it firmly pinned down.

As for the Lu Family, Li Mu’s report made Liang Cheng’s eyes turn cold and sinister.

Since the Qilin Banquet, Lu Qingfeng’s prestige within the Lu Family had soared.

He cultivated with exceptional diligence, frequently requesting resources from the family. The Lu Family’s third branch gave him their full support. This even drew murmurs of complaint from the main branch and others, but they were all silenced by Lu Qingfeng’s exceptional talent and rapid advancement.

"The last time Lu Qingfeng fought, he lasted fifty moves against Lu Mingyuan without being defeated. Now, there are rumors inside the Lu Family that he’s their true next-generation Qilin’Er, expected to reach the True Qi Realm Middle Stage within a few years."

’A few years?’

Liang Cheng sneered inwardly. ’If Lu Qingfeng is really using the Fire Worship Sect’s Evil Techniques, then that’s probably too slow.’

Li Mu also managed to collect a list of everyone Lu Qingfeng had recently contacted.

The list mostly contained disciples from the Lu Family and a few other young talents from around the city. Nothing looked out of the ordinary.

However, Liang Cheng noticed that Lu Qingfeng had visited the Martial Preparation Hall twice, ostensibly to discuss the Martial Dao. Even though Wu Zhenshan was still in seclusion, Liang Cheng made a mental note of it.

Liang Cheng always planned his moves carefully. The incident at the Dongshan Mine was highly suspicious, and his grudge with Wu Zhenshan was long-standing. For now, both sides were simply biding their time.

If either of them felt certain of victory, they wouldn’t hesitate to be ruthless. Both of them knew this perfectly well.

’Wu Zhenshan is still in seclusion, trying to break through to the True Essence realm. Meanwhile, Situ Lang is firmly established as the Vice City Lord, managing the city’s affairs. They’re probably just waiting for the right moment to bare their fangs.’

’While I focus on getting stronger, it would be best to find evidence. But if I can’t, then I’ll let my strength speak for itself.’

One day, Liang Cheng went to visit Yue Shan at the City Lord’s Mansion as usual.

Under careful treatment, Yue Shan’s condition had stabilized and was no longer worsening. However, the venomous damage from the Blood Erosion Force had penetrated deep into his organs and Meridians, making his recovery incredibly slow. Returning to his peak would likely require years of careful recuperation.

"Ah, Liang, you’ve come."

Yue Shan was reclining on a soft couch, his complexion looking a little better than it had in days. He waved away his personal guards, leaving only him and Liang Cheng in the room.

"You’re looking well today, Commander Yue."

Liang Cheng sat down nearby.

"I’m not dead yet, that’s all." Yue Shan gave a self-deprecating laugh, then lowered his voice. "Have you noticed anything... off... in the city recently?"

Liang Cheng’s expression remained neutral. "What do you mean, Commander Yue?"

"I can’t quite put my finger on it."

Yue Shan’s brow furrowed. "It just feels... too quiet. Back when the City Lord and I thought we’d stamped out the Fire Worship Sect, there was still some unrest in the city."

"Now, the fighting at the Border Sea is raging, yet the city is completely calm. That’s what feels wrong to me."

Liang Cheng paused for a moment before smiling. "You’re worrying too much. With the Martial Arts Academy, and with you and City Lord Shen watching over things, Lin Wu City won’t descend into chaos."

Yue Shan stared at him for a moment, then said suddenly, "Liang, I know you’re not naive. I barely made it out alive, so I’ll say this now, but I’ll deny it outside this room."

"Watch out for Situ Lang. It’s no secret he and his people have been scheming to take the City Lord’s position. With the situation so complicated now, you need to be extra careful."

Liang Cheng nodded gravely. "I understand. Thank you for the warning, Commander Yue."

By the time he left the City Lord’s Mansion, the sun was already beginning to set in the west.