My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

「The Main Courtyard」

Liang Cheng followed the signs through a long, bluestone corridor behind the Foreign Affairs Hall and arrived before an even more imposing hall.

Above the entrance hung a plaque with gold characters on a black background.

Internal Affairs Hall.

Unlike the bustling square outside, it was much more solemn here.

Everyone entering and leaving had a profound aura. The weakest among them were at the True Qi Late Stage Realm, and cultivators in the True Essence Realm were not an uncommon sight. As Liang Cheng stepped into the hall, he was met with a row of sandalwood counters.

He walked over to the registration desk for new disciples.

A gray-robed Steward sat behind the counter. Without even looking up, he said, "Name, age, origin, Cultivation."

"Liang Cheng, twenty years old, from the Lin Wu City Martial Arts Academy on Central Origin Island, True Essence Realm Early Stage."

The Steward’s hands paused. He looked up, scrutinizing Liang Cheng. "Twenty years old?"

"Yes."

A flash of surprise crossed the Steward’s eyes, but he quickly composed himself and took out a blank Jade Slip to record the information.

"Your identity has been recorded. This is your Inner Courtyard Disciple Token. You’ll need to bind it with a drop of your blood."

Liang Cheng accepted the dark cyan Token and bound it with a drop of his blood.

"With this token, you can access all areas of the Inner Courtyard, collect your monthly stipend, exchange for resources, and accept missions. It comes with an initial deposit of one thousand Contribution Points. Your basic monthly stipend is also one thousand points."

The Steward then pushed over a set of cyan martial robes and a thin booklet.

"Your living quarters are in C Zone; you can find your room by its number and open it with your Identity Token. This booklet contains the academy regulations. Make sure to read it carefully to avoid violating any rules."

The Steward added a final reminder, "Fighting is not forbidden in the Inner Courtyard, but you may not kill or permanently maim anyone. Violators will be punished severely."

"Thank you, Steward."

Liang Cheng turned and left.

He had just stepped out of the Internal Affairs Hall when a cold shout came from behind:

"Stop."

The voice wasn’t loud, but it was laced with a sharp Sword Qi that made one’s eardrums throb in pain.

Liang Cheng turned around.

A man in cyan robes stood three steps away. He appeared to be around thirty, with a cold, stern expression and a sword hanging from his waist.

His aura was deep and powerful; he was, shockingly, a cultivator at the True Essence Realm Middle Stage.

"You’re Liang Cheng?"

The man in cyan robes stared at him, his gaze as sharp as a sword.

"I am."

The man enunciated each word clearly. "I am Fu Qingyun."

’Fu Qingyun.’

Liang Cheng’s gaze hardened.

Dean Bai Hong had mentioned the name. Ten years ago, Fu Qingyun of Cyan Mist City had killed Lin Wu City’s lead True Inheritor on the dueling platform with vicious methods.

"I heard that back at the Foreign Affairs Hall, you publicly accused the City Lord of Cyan Mist City, Fu Chenzhou, of attempting to ambush and kill you?"

Fu Qingyun’s voice was frigid. "Fu Chenzhou is the Patriarch of my Fu Family, and moreover, the City Lord of Cyan Mist City. He represents the honor of our city! To tarnish his reputation with baseless accusations is to tarnish the reputation of Cyan Mist City itself!"

The surrounding disciples all looked over, whispering amongst themselves.

"Fu Qingyun?"

"Isn’t he in seclusion, attempting to break through to the True Essence Late Stage?"

"Looks like we’re in for a good show. That newcomer is in for some bad luck."

Liang Cheng’s expression remained calm. "I spoke the truth. Fu Chenzhou tried to ambush and kill me on my way here, and the Main Courtyard is already investigating the matter."

"Investigating?"

Fu Qingyun sneered. "On your word alone, you expect to convict a City Lord? A country bumpkin like you, from a backwater like Central Origin Island, will say anything to claw your way up."

"If the Patriarch of my Fu Family truly wanted to kill you, how could you have possibly made it to the Main Courtyard alive?"

He took a step forward, his oppressive aura bearing down on Liang Cheng. "Today, you will publicly retract your accusation and apologize to Cyan Mist City."

Liang Cheng looked at him and suddenly let out a laugh. "And if I refuse?"

"You refuse?"

A cold glint flashed in Fu Qingyun’s eyes. "Then we’ll follow the Inner Courtyard rules and settle this on the dueling platform. Do you dare?"

The crowd burst into an uproar.

Fu Qingyun was at the True Essence Realm Middle Stage and ranked ninety-third in the Inner Courtyard.

Challenging a disciple who had just joined the academy was a clear case of a senior bullying a junior.

Liang Cheng fell silent for a moment.

"What are the stakes?"

"If you lose, you will slap yourself across the face three times in front of everyone, kneel before me, and admit you slandered Cyan Mist City."

"And if you lose?"

"I won’t lose," Fu Qingyun said with utter arrogance.

"The stakes must be equal."

Liang Cheng’s tone remained even. "If you lose, you’ll slap yourself across the face three times, kneel before me, and admit that Cyan Mist City’s Fu Chenzhou is despicable and shameless for ambushing a junior."

Fu Qingyun’s expression turned grim as he glared viciously at Liang Cheng. "You’re courting death!"

"Do you dare, or not?"

Liang Cheng remained perfectly composed.

The atmosphere instantly grew taut. Fu Qingyun stared deadly at Liang Cheng, then suddenly broke into a chilling smile. "Fine! Since you’re courting death, I’ll oblige you. Right now. Dueling Platform Three. Are you coming or not?"

"Lead the way."

...

A crowd quickly gathered around Dueling Platform Three.

News that Fu Qingyun had challenged a new disciple spread like wildfire. Many Inner Courtyard disciples dropped what they were doing and hurried over to spectate.

On the platform, Fu Qingyun and Liang Cheng stood facing each other.

A Black-robed Steward stood at the edge of the stage. He was the Steward on duty for the dueling platforms, responsible for overseeing the fight and preventing any fatalities.

"You should both be clear on the rules."

The Steward’s voice was calm and completely impartial. "Surrender, being knocked off the platform, or losing the ability to fight all constitute a loss. You are forbidden from intentionally killing or maiming your opponent. Do you understand?"

Liang Cheng and Fu Qingyun nodded simultaneously.

"Begin."

The moment the word left his lips, Fu Qingyun moved!

SHIIING—!

His longsword left its sheath. The blade’s glint was like a cyan rainbow piercing the sun as it shot straight for Liang Cheng’s throat!

Cyan Mist Swordsmanship - Sun-Piercing Technique!

Before the sword even arrived, its sharp Sword Qi had already cut off all of Liang Cheng’s paths of retreat!

Gasps of alarm rose from the crowd.

"Fu Qingyun used a killing move right from the start!"

"He’s trying to end it in a single strike!"

Liang Cheng stood his ground, as if he were scared stiff.

He only moved when the tip of the sword was less than three feet from his throat.

He didn’t draw his blade.

He raised his right hand, held his index and middle fingers together, and jabbed forward!

A faint golden light swirled at his fingertips as he channeled the full power of his Golden Armor Realm Perfection!

CLANG—!!!

The impact of his fingers against the sword produced a deafening clang, like metal striking metal!

Fu Qingyun’s expression changed instantly.