My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

He was familiar with the Jade Marrow Condensing True Pill. Its gentle medicinal power could solidify the foundation of his True Essence. The Earth Core Marrow Tempering Milk was even rarer—a treasure one could only hope to stumble upon, and it would greatly benefit his cultivation of the Mixed Element Gang Body.

With this in mind, he didn’t hesitate to approach a green-robed Steward Disciple.

Liang Cheng said, "Excuse me, Senior Brother. What’s the process for accepting this task?"

The Steward Disciple took out a Jade Slip and began making an entry. "This task requires a verification of your cultivation and combat strength," he said. "Please present your Identity Jade Token, Junior Brother."

Liang Cheng presented his Identity Jade Token. The moment the steward saw it, he couldn’t help but look up.

"You just entered the courtyard?"

But then he saw Liang Cheng was ranked forty-eighth on the Hero Ranking and remembered who he was. No wonder he was here to accept a task without waiting the usual six months.

"Your strength is sufficient, Junior Brother. However, by convention, anyone accepting a task alone must pay a deposit of five hundred Contribution Points. If you fail the task or don’t return by the deadline, the deposit will be forfeited."

Liang Cheng frowned.

The Steward Disciple explained, "This is to prevent disciples from accepting a task only to back out because it’s too difficult, needlessly taking up a spot. After all, the rewards for these tasks are valuable, and the openings are limited."

Liang Cheng considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Fine."

The Steward Disciple completed the procedure, returned the Jade Token, and handed over a black Task Order and a Beast Hide Map.

"You’ll need to carry the Task Order with you and turn it in for verification upon your return. The map is a basic diagram of the Black Wind Abyss. Your time limit is thirty days."

"That won’t interfere with your participation in the mid-month competition."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Liang Cheng turned and left, returning to Building C-42.

...

The news that Liang Cheng had accepted a task from the Foreign Affairs Hall to eliminate the Mountain-Devouring Ghost Ape of Black Wind Abyss was leaked by an unknown party. In less than half a day, it had spread like wildfire.

"Did you hear? That new guy, Liang Cheng, took the Black Wind Abyss task!"

"Is he crazy? Even Senior Brother Chen couldn’t handle it last month!"

"The rewards are a Jade Marrow Condensing True Pill and Earth Core Marrow Tempering Milk. No wonder he’s willing to risk his life."

The chatter spread through every peak and residence, a mix of surprise and disdain, while a few began to quietly scheme.

...

Zhenyue Peak, in Shi Jun’s residence.

Sandalwood incense drifted through the Quiet Chamber. Shi Jun sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, True Essence circulating around him. Behind him, the faint illusion of a mountain range rose and fell.

Footsteps stopped outside the door, and Fu Qingyun’s fawning voice called out, "Senior Brother Shi, I’ve brought it."

Shi Jun slowly ceased his cultivation and opened his eyes. "Come in."

Fu Qingyun pushed the door open and entered, cupping a palm-sized Jade Box in his hands. He carefully placed it on the low table in front of Shi Jun.

"Please take a look, Senior Brother. This is a Xuanyuan Breaking Barrier Pill. Its main ingredient is a three-hundred-year-old Profound Origin Fruit, supplemented with twelve kinds of Spirit Grass. My clan paid a hefty price to have a Fourth Grade Alchemist refine it personally. Its medicinal power is gentle yet potent."

He opened the Jade Box, and a refreshing medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air. Lying inside was an elixir the size of a longan, shimmering and white, with faint, cloud-like patterns swirling across its surface.

A flash of eagerness appeared in Shi Jun’s eyes.

This Xuanyuan Breaking Barrier Pill was precisely what he needed right now. It might just be the thing to help him break through to True Essence Realm Perfection.

If it weren’t for this, he never would have agreed to Fu Qingyun’s request to publicly make things difficult for Liang Cheng during the mid-month competition—even though Liang Cheng hadn’t taken the bait.

"I’ll take it." Shi Jun closed the Jade Box and tucked it into his robes. "As for what happened before, we’re even."

Fu Qingyun quickly put on a placating smile. "Yes, yes, thank you for your help, Senior Brother. However..."

He trailed off, seeming hesitant.

Shi Jun shot him a look. "Spit it out."

Fu Qingyun lowered his voice, a vicious glint in his eyes. "Senior Brother, I just heard that brat Liang Cheng accepted the Black Wind Abyss task. He’s going alone. This is a golden opportunity!"

"The Black Wind Abyss is crawling with Demon Beasts and shrouded in mist. If he were to... meet with an ’accident’ inside..."

Before he could even finish, Shi Jun shot to his feet and whipped a backhand slap across his face!

SLAP!

The sharp crack of the slap was exceptionally jarring in the Quiet Chamber.

Fu Qingyun staggered backward from the blow. Half his face instantly turned red and swelled up, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He froze on the spot, completely stunned.

"Has your brain been eaten by a Demon Beast?" Shi Jun stared at him, his gaze ice-cold. "The mid-month competition is a spar between fellow disciples. You stop when a point is made."

"You want me to commit murder in the Black Wind Abyss? You want me to break the Main Courtyard’s iron-clad laws and destroy my own future?!"

Clutching his face, Fu Qingyun was too terrified to utter a word.

Shi Jun took a deep breath, suppressed his fury, and said in a low, grave voice, "The first rule of the Main Courtyard: Fellow disciples are forbidden from harming one another. Violators will have their cultivation crippled and be expelled. In severe cases, they will be executed on the spot!"

"Do you think Chen Xuanfeng is a pushover? Since he dared to let Liang Cheng take on an A Level task alone, don’t you think he’d give him some way to save his own life? If Liang Cheng really dies in the Black Wind Abyss, the Law Enforcement Hall will launch a full-scale investigation! When that happens, neither of us will be able to get out of it!"

Fu Qingyun lowered his head, but a flicker of resentment and venom flashed in his eyes.

Seeing this, Shi Jun grew even more irritated and waved a dismissive hand. "Get out. And remember, don’t entertain such foolish thoughts again. In the Main Courtyard, you play by the Main Courtyard’s rules."

"Yes."

Fu Qingyun bowed and backed away. Once he was out of the Quiet Chamber, the servile look on his face vanished, replaced by a sinister expression. He touched his stinging cheek and ground his teeth.

’Shi Jun, if you don’t have the guts, I’ll find my own way.’

He turned and quickly vanished down the end of the corridor.

Inside the Quiet Chamber, Shi Jun sat down again, his brow deeply furrowed.

His earlier words were as much a warning to himself as they were a reprimand for Fu Qingyun.

Liang Cheng was truly an eyesore.

A newcomer who had stolen too much of the spotlight, and who had publicly put him in an untenable position just yesterday.

But Shi Jun was no fool.

To break the Main Courtyard’s iron-clad laws and gamble away his entire Martial Dao future over a petty squabble?

Not worth it.

Besides, Liang Cheng was Chen Xuanfeng’s Direct Disciple.

Chen Xuanfeng was notoriously protective of his own in the Main Courtyard. If something really happened to Liang Cheng, Chen Xuanfeng would undoubtedly investigate it to the bitter end.

’Still, the Black Wind Abyss is a dangerous place, and Demon Beasts don’t play by any rules. If the kid’s skills are lacking and he ends up in the belly of a beast, well, that’s no one’s fault but his own.’

He didn’t need to lift a finger himself.

Life and death were a matter of fate.

Shi Jun slowly closed his eyes and re-entered his meditative state.

...

Meanwhile, Liang Cheng was taking stock of his resources: three bottles of True Essence Pills, five bottles of Replenishing Essence Pills, three bottles of Warm Sun Pills, and various healing elixirs and topical salves...

He kept the Communication Jade Token from Chen Xuanfeng stored safely on his person.

His Zhenxian Saber and Sleeve Sword were both cleaned and maintained, gleaming with a cold, sharp light.

With everything packed and ready, Liang Cheng sat in meditation to regulate his breathing, bringing his condition to its absolute peak.

Then, he stepped out of his courtyard to begin the task.

...

「Instructor Hall.」

Ye Zhiqiu, whom Liang Cheng believed to be away on a task, was seated in a subordinate position when a disciple came in to report.

"Head Instructor, Senior Brother Liang has already departed."

Chen Xuanfeng nodded.

"Zhiqiu, I’m entrusting your little junior brother to you. Your job is to record his performance along the way. Do not reveal yourself unless it is a matter of life and death. If you run into something even you can’t handle, crush the Communication Jade Token to notify me immediately."

"Yes, Master. Rest assured, I know what to do."

With that, Ye Zhiqiu bowed and exited, covertly following Liang Cheng from a distance.

As it turned out, the news that had spread through the courtyard was intentionally leaked by men under Chen Xuanfeng’s orders.

If anyone in the courtyard harbored malicious intentions, they would be met with Chen Xuanfeng’s thunderous retribution.

After all, it was better to lure out a thief than to guard against one every day.

Of course, the desire to train Liang Cheng was also genuine. A young tiger must eventually leave its cage. It was just that the Instructor Hall had always been protective of its own; how could Chen Xuanfeng not make any arrangements?

Ye Zhiqiu was his way of protecting Liang Cheng.

Just then, Chen Xuanfeng looked out of the courtyard in the direction of the Black Wind Abyss.

’Let’s hope no one is truly that blind.’

...

「Yunhai City, West Market. A private room on the third floor of the Treasure Pavilion.」

Qian Wanjing was brewing a pot of fine Cloud Mist Spirit Tea, its fragrant steam filling the air. Spread out before him was a freshly delivered secret report.

When his eyes fell on the line reporting that Liang Cheng had accepted the task to eliminate the Mountain-Devouring Ghost Ape in the Black Wind Abyss, Qian Wanjing’s fingers paused for a moment.

He lifted his teacup, gently blew aside the floating leaves, and took a sip, a contemplative look in his eyes.

"Black Wind Abyss..."

He murmured to himself, "What a coincidence."

The side door to the private room slid open without a sound, and an old man in gray robes entered quietly. He bowed and said, "Chief Steward."

Qian Wanjing tapped Liang Cheng’s name on the report. "This Liang Zhenchuan is an old acquaintance. This is his first task from the Main Courtyard. We at the Treasure Pavilion should make a gesture of some sort."

The gray-robed old man hesitated, then said softly, "Chief Steward, do you mean to win Liang Cheng over? After what happened last time in Lin Wu City, I’m afraid there’s already bad blood between us."

"Win him over?"

He set down his teacup and spoke slowly. "The Black Wind Abyss... don’t we happen to have a Medicine Collection Team there right now?"

"The place is crawling with Fierce Beasts and numerous factions. The situation is complex. If Liang Cheng runs into trouble inside the abyss, we’ll help him if we can. If we can’t, then it’s simply his fate to face that tribulation."

The gray-robed old man understood.

"Yes. This old servant will see to the arrangements at once."

The gray-robed old man bowed and withdrew.

The private room fell silent once more.