My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

On the Lin Wu City side, everyone's expression turned incredibly grim.

Chen Han and Han Li trembled with rage. A cold glint flashed in Yun Jinghong's eyes, and Wang Teng's brows furrowed tightly.

Shen Jun's chest heaved, rage churning in his eyes, but for a moment he could not find a retort. The Fire Worship Sect turmoil was indeed Lin Wu City's greatest failure and shame in recent years.

Just as Rock Solid City's laughter grew wild and Cyan Mist City looked on with cold indifference, Liang Cheng recalled Elder Huang's prior instructions and suddenly spoke up.

"City Lord Shi is quite well-informed."

"Situ Lang has been executed. The main force of the Fire Worship Sect was wiped out on Black Stone Island, and its remnants are being purged. Lin Wu City is now as stable as a mountain."

He paused, his tone still level. "Whether our City Lord has governed wisely is for the people of Lin Wu City to judge. It's no business of outsiders. As for you, City Lord Shi..."

He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the burly Martial Artists behind Shi Meng before finally returning to Shi Meng's face.

"If you have this much free time to be concerned with your neighbor's affairs, perhaps you should spend it reminding your own men. In this tournament, fists and feet have no eyes on the stage. They should be careful not to take a fall so hard they can't leave with their heads held high."

As his voice fell, the mountain pass suddenly fell silent.

The jeering laughter from Rock Solid City died abruptly.

Within the Rock Solid City ranks, the expressions of several disciples changed drastically. Their Qi Blood churned, and killing intent practically burst from their bodies.

Shi Yue even took half a step forward, the vicious gleam in his eyes stabbing toward Liang Cheng as if it were a physical object.

Liang Cheng's expression remained unchanged as he met the gaze calmly.

The coarse, boisterous smile on Shi Meng's face slowly faded. His large, bell-like eyes stared at Liang Cheng. Fu Chenzhou from Cyan Mist City also studied Liang Cheng closely, a new hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

Shen Jun took a deep breath and straightened his chest.

Standing at the back, Bai Hong nodded slightly.

Shi Meng suddenly burst out laughing, though his laughter was now devoid of its earlier mockery. "Good! You've got guts! Kid, you must be that number one True Inheritor from the Lin Wu City Martial Arts Academy, Liang Cheng? I'll be looking forward to your performance on the stage! Let's move out!"

He said no more. If it had been Shen Jun, he might have argued back, but engaging in a war of words with a junior would only make him lose face.

With a great wave of his hand, he led the Rock Solid City contingent through the pass first, the thunder of hooves fading into the distance.

The group from Cyan Mist City also gave Liang Cheng a deep look, sneered, and led their team away.

After this incident, the atmosphere in the Lin Wu City group was grave, but the previous stifling frustration was gone. In its place was a fiery fighting spirit born of shared indignation.

Everyone understood that verbal sparring was meaningless. In the end, everything would be decided on the tournament stage!

"Let's go too."

"Hiyah!"

That night, while camping out, Bai Hong and Shen Jun called Liang Cheng and the other four to their side and began to explain the intelligence they had on the participating disciples from Rock Solid City and Cyan Mist City.

"In this tournament, there is no backing down."

...

Three days later, Huiwu Slope was visible in the distance.

It was a vast, natural basin with open terrain. In the center stood a magnificent, three-zhang-tall tournament stage built from obsidian, which glinted with a cold, hard light under the sun.

Banners were already fluttering all around the basin, and the air was buzzing with the clamor of a huge crowd.

How could the great clans from the various cities on Central Origin Island possibly miss such a major event? After all, the allocation of Central Origin Island's resources for the next ten years was at stake.

Many people from Lin Wu City had also come. Lu Mingyuan was seated among them at this very moment.

To the East, under the banner of Rock Solid City, Martial Artists stood like a forest of iron towers. Their Qi Blood surged, faintly forming a scorching, masculine aura. At their head was none other than Shi Meng.

Standing behind him was a young man a full head taller than anyone else, as silent as a mountain. This was Rock Solid City's prodigy disciple, Shi Yue.

The moment Liang Cheng appeared, Shi Yue's gaze shot directly toward him, filled with undisguised scrutiny.

To the West, the banner of Cyan Mist City fluttered with an elegant and agile grace. Its people were clad in green robes and carried swords. Fu Chenzhou nodded, while a sneer hung on the corner of Liu Qingyun's lips.

As the Lin Wu City contingent entered, the gazes of all the great clans in the basin converged on them in unison. Many looked on with scrutiny, and even disdain.

After all, having been last for thirty years, what could be expected of them?

Liang Cheng reined in his horse, his face impassive as he met the flood of gazes.

Behind him, Yun Jinghong's sword-cradling hand was steady as a rock. Wang Teng's gaze was heavy, while Chen Han and Han Li's chests heaved, their fighting spirit soaring.

Shen Jun and Bai Hong exchanged a look and nodded slightly.

On the high platform in the center of Huiwu Slope, an old man dressed in the uniform of a Four Islands Alliance Steward slowly stood up. His voice, like a great bell, echoed in all directions.

"Since the people of the three cities have all arrived, this old man declares that the decennial Tri-City Tournament begins now!"

Liang Cheng reined in his horse, gazing at the familiar scene before him, his heart completely calm.

'The Martial Arts Hall Tournament, the Spring Hunt, the Autumn Tournament... My path has been paved with stages, paved with conflict.'

Liang Cheng felt a sense of familiarity at this moment.

'So Central Origin Island is just following the same model, using the same rules.'

After the Steward and the three City Lords ascended the platform and took their seats, the old man surveyed the entire arena, his voice booming like a great bell.

"The Tri-City Tournament is decided on the stage! The rules are the same as always: a three-way rotational battle!"

"Each city will send five disciples, all under the age of forty. On the stage, you may challenge a specific person, defend the stage in consecutive matches, or engage in a multi-person melee!"

"There is only one rule: those who surrender, are knocked off the stage, or lose the ability to fight are defeated. Life and death are decided by fate."

As those last four words fell, the killing intent in the basin suddenly surged.

"Now," the old man's gaze swept across the teams from the three cities, "who will be the first to take the stage?"

Before his voice had even faded—

"Cyan Mist City will go first!"

A figure in green gracefully leaped onto the stage. It was Liu Qingyun.

Dressed in his green robe and carrying his sword, he swept his gaze toward Lin Wu City, a completely unconcealed sneer on his lips.

"I've long heard of Senior Brother Chen Han's famous Mountain-Suppressing Sword Technique. During the Martial Arts Academy exchange seven years ago, you were kind enough to 'instruct' this little brother for three moves. Today, I have come especially to seek your guidance. Senior Brother Chen, do you dare take the stage?"

A direct challenge!

And a settling of old scores!

The eyes of the entire audience instantly focused on Chen Han.

Chen Han's face turned ashen. During the Martial Arts Academy exchange seven years ago, he had indeed defeated Liu Qingyun by half a move, but he was also wounded by the other's insidious swordsmanship and had to recuperate for a full three months.

The matter had always been a thorn in his side.

"Senior Brother Chen, be careful."

Han Li said in a low voice, his eyes full of worry.

Cyan Mist City's swordsmanship was known for being treacherous and cruel, and Liu Qingyun was one of its foremost practitioners.

Chen Han took a deep breath. The Steward spoke up at the opportune moment, "Liu Qingyun of Cyan Mist City challenges Chen Han of Lin Wu City. Chen Han, do you accept the challenge?"

Chen Han nodded immediately and leaped onto the stage, his fighting spirit flaring.

"Senior Brother Chen, please."

On the stage, Liu Qingyun saluted with his sword, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Chen Han took another deep breath, suppressed all his emotions, and drew the Broadsword from his back. "Please."

'The shadow of our battle seven years ago still lingers, but I'm at the True Qi Realm Middle Stage now. Today is the day I wipe away my shame.'

"Fight!"