My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Main Courtyard, Trial Valley.

The valley was already abuzz with activity. The great clans of Yunhai City had all come to observe the ceremony. These were, after all, the geniuses of the Main Courtyard. It was an opportunity to observe them now and decide who to bet on and befriend later.

There were thirty-seven newly admitted disciples in this cohort, all gathered here now. Besides Liang Cheng, five or six others were also in the True Essence Realm; the rest were at the True Qi Realm Peak.

On Central Origin Island, such a group could have swept through an entire city.

Three Purple-robed Stewards stood solemnly in the center.

On a high platform in the distance, several figures could be faintly seen, seated. Their auras were as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea. Those were the Masters of the Main Courtyard.

"Silence."

The Steward in the center spoke, his voice echoing throughout the valley.

"Today is the trial for new disciples. It consists of two stages: the Heart Inquiry Road and the Combat Power Arena. Those with an outstanding overall performance will win the favor of the Masters and receive a Teacher Selection Order."

"Now, for the first trial: the Heart Inquiry Road!"

The Steward raised his hand and waved. The Cloud Mist at the front of the valley parted, revealing a winding bluestone staircase that led upward. The staircase had a total of Ninety-Nine Levels and went straight up the mountainside.

"This road tests one’s will and perseverance. Begin!"

All thirty-seven disciples charged toward the Heart Inquiry Road at once.

Liang Cheng, however, moved at a steady, unhurried pace and stepped onto the first step.

Back at the Martial Arts Academy, Bai Hong and Shen Jun had told him that the Main Courtyard’s Heart Inquiry Road was a special gift from the Penglai Sect that could question one’s heart. At the time, Liang Cheng felt as if he were listening to a myth.

He had voiced his doubts at the time. Such a method was so profound and mysterious, seeming like the work of Immortal Gods. How could the Penglai Sect have created it?

Bai Hong’s expression had been solemn. He had replied with only three words.

Martial Dao God.

As for the true reason behind it, that was something Liang Cheng would have to find out for himself, if he could ever achieve Breaking Mortality.

Just as Liang Cheng’s foot landed on the first step, an invisible pressure instantly enveloped his entire body.

This pressure didn’t affect his physical body but assaulted his mind directly, making him feel weary and stirring the urge to retreat.

’A little interesting.’

Liang Cheng’s expression remained unchanged as he continued upward.

Fifth level, tenth level, twentieth level...

The pressure gradually intensified.

Many disciples were starting to sweat, their pace slowing down.

Some gritted their teeth and persisted, while others teetered on the verge of collapse.

But Liang Cheng continued as if he were walking on flat ground.

[A mayfly is born in the morning and dies by dusk, yet with its last breath, it still dances toward the light.]

[A body like a speck of dust, with aspirations reaching the clouds. Through relentless self-improvement, success is certain.]

What the Mayfly Life Chart had granted him was not just the talent for Cultivation without bottlenecks and the certainty of success, but also an incredibly resilient will.

From being a common laborer by the sea to becoming a True Essence Realm expert, the hardships he had endured were far crueler than the pressure of this Heart Inquiry Road.

Thirtieth level, fortieth level, fiftieth level...

He had already surpassed most of the others, with only seven or eight figures remaining ahead of him.

Three steps ahead was a youth in brocade clothes, his Cultivation at the True Essence Realm Early Stage. He glanced back at Liang Cheng, his eyes filled with scrutiny.

Liang Cheng paid him no mind and continued his ascent at a steady rhythm.

He felt the pressure on his mind growing ever stronger, and by the time he reached the seventieth level, illusions began to appear.

The sound of Lady Ning’s weeping echoed in his ears. "Cheng’Er, stop practicing martial arts. Come home..."

The image of Fu Chenzhou lunging at him with a sword appeared before his eyes...

He even saw Big Head and Er Gou, covered in blood, reaching out to him...

"Break!"

Liang Cheng let out a low shout, and his eyes instantly cleared.

These attachments, hatreds, and regrets... were all just fuel for his Cultivation, serving only to make his Dao Heart more resolute.

Seventy-First Level...

Now, only two people were ahead of him!

The brocade-clothed youth’s breathing was steady and his steps firm. The young woman’s posture was light, as if she were completely unaffected.

As for everyone else, they had long since been forced off the Heart Inquiry Road. They watched with complex gazes, their eyes fixed on the top three new disciples!

Eighty Level...

The two were still ahead!

Ninety Level...

The two were still ahead!

Ninety-Fifth Level...

Ninety-Ninth Level!

Liang Cheng took a final step and reached the summit.

He was the third to reach the top.

The first was the brocade-clothed youth from before. He was panting slightly, and his gaze toward Liang Cheng had become more solemn.

The second was a young woman. In all his time practicing martial arts, this was the first female genius Liang Cheng had ever encountered.

’The world is full of heroes, as numerous as fish in a river. They must never be underestimated!’

On the high platform, the several Masters nodded slightly.

"For three new disciples to reach the summit is quite rare."

"And they’re not even twenty years old, yet they’ve already entered the True Essence Realm with such steady temperaments. They truly have the makings of geniuses."

"Next, let’s see how their combat power measures up."

...

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, everyone had recovered, and the Steward announced the start of the second trial.

"The second trial: the Combat Power Arena!"

The Steward pointed to ten arenas on one side of the summit.

"The rules are simple: you can either defend an arena or challenge a defender. Losers may continue to challenge the defenders of other arenas. In the end, those left standing will be ranked according to the number of challengers they defeat."

"Weapons are permitted, but you may not kill or permanently injure your opponent."

The moment his voice fell, the crowd burst into action!

None who could enter the Main Courtyard were weaklings, and they all scrambled to claim an arena.

The brocade-clothed youth was the first to leap onto the central arena. He stood with his sword in his arms, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Liang Cheng chose the third arena on the left.

He had just steadied himself when a disciple at the True Qi Realm Peak leaped up.

"Please enlighten me!"

The opponent cupped his fist, then immediately drew his saber and charged.

His Saber Technique was fierce; he was clearly a genius as well.

Liang Cheng didn’t draw his saber. He simply struck out with his right palm.

Fierce Bull Force·Mountain-Breaking Strike.

BANG!

The disciple was sent flying off the arena, saber and all, a look of utter astonishment on his face.

"Next."

Liang Cheng said coolly.

The battles on the other arenas were just as intense. On the central arena, in particular, the brocade-clothed youth had already defeated three challengers in a row, his momentum unstoppable.

Finally, another cultivator at the True Essence Realm Early Stage, a burly man, leaped onto the third arena.

"Let me see what you’re made of!"

The burly man wielded a pair of hammers, his Qi Blood vigorous and abundant.

This time, Liang Cheng finally drew his saber.