My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Instructor Hall.

Chen Xuanfeng walked ahead, his hands clasped behind his back, with Liang Cheng and Ye Zhiqiu following.

Only after they passed through the corridors of the Instructor Hall did Chen Xuanfeng finally speak.

"Liang Cheng, do you think I conceded too much today? That I’m afraid of the Treasure Pavilion?"

Liang Cheng was silent for a moment before speaking. "I wouldn’t dare to speculate, but I admit I don’t understand."

Chen Xuanfeng stopped and turned to face him.

"The Treasure Pavilion isn’t just some shop in the Four Islands Alliance. It operates across all the Overseas Islands. Nearly thirty percent of the alliance’s rare Spirit Medicines and Exotic Ores pass through their hands. Antagonizing them would be a bad idea."

He paused, staring intently at Liang Cheng.

"Besides, the strongest members of the Medicine Collection Team they sent today were only at the True Essence Late Stage Realm. They didn’t use any True Gang Realm experts. Do you know why?"

Liang Cheng shook his head.

"Because it’s the rule. In the struggles of the Martial Dao, cultivators of the same realm fight, and they alone are responsible for the outcome, be it life or death."

"If the Treasure Pavilion had sent a True Gang Realm expert to kill you, they would have been crossing a line. But if you’re surrounded and killed by cultivators of the same realm, even nineteen of them, it’s still within the rules."

Chen Xuanfeng’s tone turned cold. "It’s just like the Li Family. Li Feng was in the True Essence Realm, same as you. He was defeated and killed, and the Li Family’s ancestor took one look at the Memory Order and accepted his loss. It’s not that he didn’t want revenge, but that’s the rule, and he couldn’t afford to make a scene."

Liang Cheng recalled that things had been similar at the Martial Arts Academy back in Lin Wu City. He nodded in understanding but still frowned. "But will the Li Family really be content to let this go?"

"Of course not. They’ll still make moves behind the scenes."

Chen Xuanfeng replied without hesitation, "But publicly, they must abide by this rule."

"That’s because the great clans of Yunhai City, including the powers behind the Treasure Pavilion, all have intricate ties to the Penglai Upper Sect."

"These families have special bloodlines. Their ancestors included Great Powers of the Breaking Mortality Realm, which is why they can continuously produce experts at the True Qi Realm and above."

He turned to Liang Cheng, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

"But this rule doesn’t exist because they’re benevolent. It’s an ironclad law of the Penglai Upper Sect."

"A master of a higher Great Realm suppressing a junior is the greatest taboo in the Penglai Sect. For minor offenses, the violator’s cultivation is crippled and they are exiled from the islands. For severe offenses, their entire clan is punished."

Liang Cheng fell silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up.

"So, the reason I’m standing here listening to you lecture me about the rules isn’t because they’re reasonable, but because I’m a disciple of the Main Courtyard?"

Chen Xuanfeng smiled, looking pleased.

"Exactly. If you were alone, Li Kuangtao would have slapped you to death today. Who would have bothered showing you evidence with a Memory Order? Who would have negotiated rules with you?"

He clapped Liang Cheng on the shoulder, his voice laced with caution.

"Remember, all the rules in this world are just for show. If you’re strong enough, you make the rules. If you’re not, the rules become your shackles."

Liang Cheng took a deep breath, his eyes clear and focused.

"I understand. In the end, it all comes down to strength."

"Good. As long as you understand."

Chen Xuanfeng took two jade bottles from his robes and handed them to him. "These are two Gang Condensing Pills. Paired with the Yin Marrow Pearl you possess, the Yin and Yang will complement each other, allowing you to gently refine the medicinal power of one of them."

"Qian Wanjing’s payment has been delivered to the Foreign Affairs Hall and converted into thirty thousand Contribution Points. You’ll spend the next few months in a private chamber in the Instructor Hall for closed-door cultivation. The points are more than enough to cover it, so just focus on your breakthrough."

As Liang Cheng accepted the items from Chen Xuanfeng, he suddenly recalled something and asked in a low voice,

"Master, that Memory Order is an incredible item. If, in the future, I want to do something... private, how can I avoid being spied on by such a treasure?"

Hearing this, Chen Xuanfeng was startled for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"You’ve got a crafty mind, you brat."

After he finished laughing, he shook his head.

"Don’t worry. A treasure like the Memory Order isn’t something you see every day."

"It’s a Magical Artifact bestowed by the Penglai Sect. It’s nearly impossible for us to craft one. The entire Main Courtyard only has a handful."

"Unless you get caught up in the schemes of a major power, who could afford to use one in a common skirmish?"

His smile faded, and his voice grew deep again. "Besides, if that day ever comes and you’re strong enough, what does it matter if you’re seen? All the wagging tongues in the world can’t stand up to a single slash of your blade."

Chen Xuanfeng turned to gaze at the sea of clouds outside the window, and for a moment, his figure looked strangely desolate.

"Today, I weighed the pros and cons and played along with the Treasure Pavilion, not because they were in the right, but because I’m not yet strong enough to put them down with a single word. I could only act according to the situation."

He turned back, his gaze burning as it locked onto Liang Cheng.

"Liang Cheng, if you don’t want to suffer this kind of humiliation ever again, if you want to ignore the rules and settle your scores as you see fit, then you must beat everyone into submission with your own two hands!"

At these words, Liang Cheng clenched the jade bottle in his hand so tightly his fingertips turned white.

He bowed and said, enunciating each word,

"I will take your lesson to heart."

"Go on. You’re tired from this ordeal. Rest and recover, then come to the Instructor Hall for your closed-door cultivation."

"Yes, Master. I will take my leave now."

...

After Liang Cheng left, the Instructor Hall was quiet for a moment.

The warmth on Chen Xuanfeng’s face vanished instantly. He turned, walked to his desk, and tapped his knuckle lightly on the surface.

"Go summon Steward Liu from the Foreign Affairs Hall."

A moment later, a middle-aged man in a green robe strode in and bowed. "Elder."

Chen Xuanfeng didn’t even look up. "Increase the tax on all of the Treasure Pavilion’s incoming goods by ten percent this year. For the reason, just say the Main Courtyard is repairing its arrays, the costs are enormous, and all the families need to do their part."

Steward Liu started. "Ten percent? I’m afraid the Treasure Pavilion will..."

"Will what?"

Chen Xuanfeng looked up, his gaze frigid. "Were they afraid of the consequences when their men surrounded and tried to kill my Direct Disciple?"

"They think they can wipe the slate clean with two Gang Condensing Pills? Do they really think a disciple of mine, Chen Xuanfeng, is some roadside weed you can just trample on, then sprinkle with a little water and pretend everything is fine?"