My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

'And all of this is just from initially breaking into the True Essence Realm. Once I stabilize my Realm and continue to refine and strengthen my True Essence, my power will take another quantum leap.'

Lady Ning's cautious voice came from outside the door. "Cheng'er, are you all right? It sounded like there was some activity in your room..."

Liang Cheng reined in his aura, pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber, and smiled. "Mother, I'm fine."

When Yang Wei saw Liang Cheng, he seemed to sense that something was different about him, though he couldn't say what. Just as he was about to ask, he heard Liang Cheng say, "Mother, I'm hungry."

Lady Ning hurried to the kitchen to prepare something, bringing back snacks and food. Liang Cheng ate with gusto, and for a moment, the room was filled with happy laughter.

"You silly child, slow down."

After the Lantern Festival, Yaya and Li Tieniu settled their affairs at home and returned to the Martial Arts Academy.

Yaya's belly was a little more pronounced, and her face glowed with the gentle light of impending motherhood.

Lady Ning took Yaya's hand, asking her about this and that. She held Yang An in front of Yaya and teased, "Look, in just a few more months, you'll be a mother too."

A warm atmosphere filled the courtyard.

This peace was shattered on the twentieth day of the first lunar month.

City Lord Shen Jun came to the Martial Arts Academy in person, and together with Bai Hong, they summoned all five True Disciples to Mingxin Pavilion.

Liang Cheng, Yun Jinghong, Wang Teng, Chen Han, and Han Li.

The five of them stood solemnly before the hall's main dais.

Shen Jun's gaze swept over the five, pausing on Liang Cheng in particular. A flicker of imperceptible gratification flashed in his eyes before his expression turned serious. "I've summoned you today for a matter of great importance, one that concerns the rise and fall of Lin Wu City for the next decade."

Bai Hong took over, his voice grave. "The Central Origin Island's Tri-City Tournament is scheduled to be held in three months. You five have been chosen to represent Lin Wu City in this battle."

The Tri-City Tournament!

Liang Cheng's heart stirred.

He had heard of it before but didn't know the specifics.

Shen Jun began to explain, "The Tri-City Tournament is a grand event held once every decade between our Lin Wu City, Rock Solid City to the north, and Cyan Mist City to the south."

"The three cities are all on Central Origin Island, and our resources overlap. To reduce deadly conflicts and disputes, we established this decennial tournament. However, only Martial Artists under the age of forty who have broken through to the True Qi Realm are eligible to participate."

"And you are the hope of Lin Wu City!"

Wang Teng then asked in a low voice, "Dean, what has the strength of our opponents been like in previous years?"

"In the past, the strongest competitors were generally at True Qi Realm Perfection, but occasionally a True Essence Realm expert would appear."

"However, according to our scouts' reports this time, both Rock Solid City and Cyan Mist City have produced prodigious Martial Dao talents who cannot be underestimated. Rock Solid City is renowned for its Body Refining Hard Skills, while Cyan Mist City emphasizes Body Technique Swordsmanship. Neither should be taken lightly."

At this, Shen Jun slowly rose to his feet, his gaze like a torch. "Do you know why the Martial Arts Academy can maintain its transcendent position in Lin Wu City?"

"It is precisely because the Martial Arts Academy shoulders the great responsibility of this decennial Tri-City Tournament! The rankings from the tournament directly determine the share of resources for the next ten years from the three Spirit Stone Veins and two Medicine Valleys located at the borders of our three cities!"

His voice suddenly grew heavier. "For the past thirty years, Lin Wu City has been defeated in all three tournaments. Our share is the smallest, and our resources have become increasingly scarce. This is one of the reasons the Fire Worship Sect was able to take advantage of our weakness, and why the various families in the city have grown restless!"

The hall fell silent.

Chen Han and Han Li exchanged a look, fighting spirit igniting in their eyes. Having served as Town Guardians on the outskirts for many years, they deeply understood the hardship of resource shortages.

Yun Jinghong's hand, resting on his sword, tightened slightly.

Wang Teng took a deep breath.

Liang Cheng stood calmly, but he finally understood why the Martial Arts Academy's rules were so cruel.

'Throughout my journey, before reaching the True Qi Realm, the Martial Arts Academy culled its students like venomous insects in a jar—a dead genius is no genius at all.'

'But after I advanced to the True Qi Realm, the Academy became extremely protective of its own.'

'Now I know the reason. It's because the Academy bears the heavy burden of ensuring Lin Wu City's rise, and that's why the competition is so fierce.'

Bai Hong looked at the five of them, his eyes full of hope. "This time, I hope you will all cooperate sincerely and, for the sake of Lin Wu City, avenge our past shame!"

"We will do our utmost!"

The five replied in unison.

Shen Jun nodded. "Good! The Tri-City Tournament will take place at the end of the second month at Huiwu Slope, where the three cities' borders meet. During this time, the Martial Arts Academy and the City Lord's Mansion will pour all of our resources into helping you train and prepare."

"Elixirs, Cultivation Techniques, sparring partners—everything will be provided. You need only do one thing: cultivate diligently and get stronger!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

After the instructions were given, the five took their leave, but Liang Cheng was asked to stay behind.

Only Bai Hong, Shen Jun, and Liang Cheng remained in the pavilion.

Shen Jun personally poured a cup of tea for Liang Cheng, his tone solemn. "Liang Cheng, there were some things just now that were inconvenient to say in front of everyone."

Bai Hong continued, his gaze profound.

"In the Tri-City Tournament, you don't need to hide your strength. You must go all out to fight for first place. This is because the winner receives a special allotment of Central Origin Island's resources. For the next ten years, Lin Wu City will receive an additional ten percent of the total resource quota."

'Ten percent!'

'It might not sound like much, but for a city like Lin Wu, an extra ten percent over a decade is an astronomical fortune.'

Liang Cheng nodded. "I understand."

"But that's not the most important thing."

Shen Jun lowered his voice. "Did you know that Central Origin Island is just one island in the Four Islands Alliance?"

Liang Cheng was inwardly shaken.

'The Four Islands Alliance!'

"The Four Islands Alliance is composed of four major islands—Canglan, Chi Xiao, Profound Nether, and Central Origin—and their fifteen affiliated cities. Among them, Lin Wu City's strength is merely lower-middle, or perhaps even at the very bottom."

A look of longing appeared in Bai Hong's eyes. "Furthermore, the Alliance has established a Martial Dao Headquarters. Every ten years, it selects the most supreme talents from the fifteen cities to enter and cultivate. That is the true Martial Dao Holy Land."

He paused, then said, word by word, "And the first-place winner of the Tri-City Tournament will directly earn the qualification to become a disciple of the Martial Dao Headquarters. That is where the real prodigies are, with better resources and stronger Cultivation Techniques and Combat Techniques."

Hearing this, Liang Cheng's breathing grew slightly ragged.

Shen Jun looked at him and suddenly sighed, his tone complex. "Liang Cheng, did you know that both Dean Bai and I, in our high-spirited youth, also participated in the tournament?"

Liang Cheng was taken aback.

Bai Hong gave a bitter smile. "We failed. We were eliminated in the second round, not even qualifying for the final matches. In the end, we could only return to Lin Wu City to watch over this little patch of land."

He looked at Liang Cheng, his eyes filled with unwillingness, but even more so with expectation. "We may seem to be at the apex of Lin Wu City, but in reality, we are just failures from the past, prisoners trapped in this place."

"But you are different."

Shen Jun clapped a heavy hand on Liang Cheng's shoulder. "You have the talent, the disposition, and even more, the opportunities and courage that we lacked back then. Liang Cheng, your path should not end in Lin Wu City, nor should it end on Central Origin Island."

"Go to the Martial Dao Headquarters! Go and see the real prodigies! Go and fight for that path to the heavens!"

Bai Hong took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly. "Because after entering the Headquarters, you will have the chance to participate in the Immortal Ascension Conference and join the Penglai Sect, one of the Three Sects and Six Gates."

'Penglai Sect!'

Liang Cheng's pupils contracted!