My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Afterward, Liang Cheng calmed his mind and began to meditate and cultivate.

...

Meanwhile, the purge of Lin Wu City was faster and more thorough than expected.

Shen Jun and Bai Hong joined forces, acting with lightning speed and using the letters seized from Black Stone Island as irrefutable evidence.

Within three days, seven families who had secretly colluded with the Fire Worship Sect were uprooted. Their leaders were all publicly beheaded, and their assets were seized by the state.

Within the City Lord's Mansion, five Stewards were rooted out and likewise met a bloody end at the execution grounds.

The stench of blood lingered for days, but no one dared to complain.

Colluding with a Cult and plotting to murder one's comrades were cardinal sins that crossed a fundamental line.

In the wake of this purge, the atmosphere throughout Lin Wu City grew somber, and Shen Jun's authority as City Lord reached unprecedented heights.

Amidst the turmoil, the Martial Arts Academy remained silent, yet it acted as a stabilizing pillar.

On the fourth day, a summons from Mingxin Pavilion finally reached Liang Cheng on True Inheritance Peak.

Inside the pavilion, Bai Hong, Lü Bingchen, and Yan Song were all present.

"Liang Cheng, your contributions to the battle at Black Stone Island were monumental."

Bai Hong looked at the calm, black-clad young man before him, his eyes filled with admiration. "You cut down the Fire Worship Sect's Right Envoy in battle, rescued City Lord Shen and me at a critical moment, and stabilized the situation in Lin Wu City, creating the opportunity for our final victory. According to the Martial Arts Academy's rules, such immense merit must be heavily rewarded."

He took out a pale gold Jade Token and pushed it in front of Liang Cheng.

"This token already has three hundred thousand Contribution Points deposited in it. Furthermore, Courtyard Three on True Inheritance Peak is now permanently yours. Your mother and all your relatives may reside there long-term, under the protection of the Martial Arts Academy."

Three hundred thousand Contribution Points!

Even though he had been mentally prepared, Liang Cheng was still shaken.

This was almost equivalent to the entire accumulation of a senior Master of the Martial Arts Academy over many years.

He took a deep breath and accepted the Jade Token with both hands. "Thank you, Headmaster. Thank you to the Martial Arts Academy for nurturing me."

"It is what you deserve."

Lü Bingchen smiled. "After this battle, your name, Liang Zhenchuan, is known to everyone in Lin Wu City. I hope you will guard against arrogance and impatience, continue to cultivate diligently, and that we can look forward to you reaching the True Gang realm."

"This disciple will take your words to heart."

Yan Song also showed a rare smile and added, "In three days, the Martial Arts Academy will hold the True Inheritor ceremony for Yun Jinghong. If you plan to go into seclusion, postpone it for a bit and attend the ceremony."

They all knew Liang Cheng's temperament. Now that the dust had settled and he had ample resources, the boy would definitely enter seclusion to focus wholeheartedly on his cultivation.

"Yes."

...

Yun Jinghong's True Inheritor ceremony was held in the main hall of the Martial Arts Academy.

Although it didn't cause the city-wide sensation that Liang Cheng's had, it was still a grand and solemn occasion.

All the influential powers of Lin Wu City sent representatives to attend, but many of their gazes fell upon Liang Cheng, who was seated in the front row of the guest section.

He was the true number one of Lin Wu City's younger generation.

Dressed in white robes, Yun Jinghong stood with his sword in his arms as always, his expression stern. As he accepted the True Inheritance Token, his gaze met Liang Cheng's in the audience for a fleeting moment. Beneath his calm exterior was an undisguised, soaring fighting spirit.

Liang Cheng gave a slight nod in response.

Standing not far from Liang Cheng, Lu Qingzhou watched the striking figure of Yun Jinghong on the stage, a thick sense of envy and a trace of chagrin flashing through his eyes.

His injuries had mostly healed, but the effects of his failed breakthrough lingered, and his cultivation progress was slow. Now, seeing Yun Jinghong surpass him, he was filled with complicated feelings.

After the ceremony, Lu Qingzhou found Liang Cheng and said with a wry smile, "Brother Liang, it looks like I won't be able to catch up to you guys."

Liang Cheng patted his shoulder. "The path of the Martial Dao is long. There's no need to compete over who's first or last for the moment. If you build a solid foundation, it's not impossible to surpass others later. The Lu Family needs you now; don't lose your own composure."

Lu Qingzhou nodded heavily, suppressed all his dejection, and took a deep breath.

'As long as I'm not yet thirty, I still have a chance.'

Lin Wu City finally settled down completely.

...

For the next two months, Liang Cheng lived in seclusion. With a plentiful supply of elixirs, he peacefully focused on his cultivation in isolation.

Now that he possessed the Crossing the Sea True Intent Fragment and had the method for Refining Essence and Transforming Qi—even though it was incomplete and its efficiency was reduced—he could refine and convert the medicinal power of the elixirs along with his own abundant Qi Blood. His cultivation speed rose to another level.

Every day, it felt as if new riverbeds were being carved out inside his body. As the medicinal power spread and his Qi Blood surged, the trickles of True Qi grew thicker and stronger.

With every Circulation, his True Qi was like a warm torrent, surging mightily through his limbs and bones. Wherever it passed, his meridians widened, and his foundation grew even more solid.

Under the effects of the Mayfly Life Chart, two months of hard work brought natural success.

[Broken Wave Technique Second Layer: Great Success (9,583/15,000)]

[Profound Yin Sword Technique: Great Success (3,134/12,000)]

[Wind and Thunder Slash: Great Success (5,281/12,000)]

Just as Liang Cheng was riding his momentum, preparing to continue his reclusive and diligent cultivation, there was a knock on his courtyard gate.

A Steward Disciple outside the gate delivered a message: Mingxin Pavilion had summoned him. Liang Cheng was to head there immediately for a discussion.

...

Inside Mingxin Pavilion.

Bai Hong and Lü Bingchen had already been waiting inside for a long time. Seeing Liang Cheng walk in, Bai Hong smiled and spoke.

"You're here."

"Greetings, Headmaster, Master."

Bai Hong smiled warmly and got straight to the point. "I called you here today to discuss the matter of the autumn grand competition. After a discussion within the academy, it has been decided that you will preside over this competition."

"Me?"

Liang Cheng was taken aback.

"That's right."

Bai Hong's gaze was piercing.

"With your current cultivation and combat strength, you are already on par with the academy's Masters. With this competition, the Martial Arts Academy intends to proclaim to the entire city—"

Bai Hong paused, enunciating each word clearly.

"That you, Liang Cheng, are the number one True Inheritor of our Martial Arts Academy's current generation!"

Lü Bingchen looked at Liang Cheng with a smile. "So, do you dare to accept?"

Hearing this, Liang Cheng's heart trembled.

'The Martial Arts Academy is solidifying my status.'

'From now on, the Martial Arts Academy's resources and prestige will be fully tilted in my favor.'

He took a deep breath, cupped his fist, and replied in a deep voice:

"This disciple dares!"

"Haha..."

The room immediately filled with laughter.

Bai Hong patted Liang Cheng's shoulder in satisfaction.

"In that case, over the next few days, go to Master Lü and Elder Yan to get the manpower you need. You will preside over the autumn grand competition. Don't let us down."

"Yes, this disciple obeys."