My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Liang Cheng put away the Jade Box and vanished back into the Vast Ancient Forest.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within the Secret Realm was so dense it was almost tangible. Every breath felt like inhaling Spiritual Liquid.

He circulated the Broken Wave Technique. The True Essence in his body surged like a tidal wave, creating a subtle resonance with the Spiritual Qi in the air.

’A single day of Cultivation here is probably worth three days of hard effort in the outside world.’

Liang Cheng mused to himself, not breaking his stride.

He had to confirm the matter Elder Huang had assigned him as soon as possible. He looked up toward the depths of the Secret Realm, where a faint glow shimmered and the aura was obscure and difficult to decipher.

After traveling for about half an hour, he heard the sounds of a fierce battle and the roars of a Demon Beast up ahead, interspersed with the crisp clang of a sword.

Liang Cheng concealed his aura and approached stealthily.

In a forest clearing, a familiar figure in white was locked in a fierce battle with three crimson-bodied Red Flame Leopards that had Bone Spikes protruding from their backs.

Her Swordsmanship was sharp and fierce, her Sword Qi bitingly cold.

It was Xiao Qingxue.

But at this moment, her situation was dire.

The three Red Flame Leopards were all Tier Four Fierce Beasts. They were incredibly fast, their claws and fangs blazed with Flame Power, and they were assailing her from three directions.

There was a scorched claw mark on Xiao Qingxue’s left shoulder, and blood had soaked through her white robes. She was clearly injured and in grave danger.

She gritted her teeth and swung her sword, its light flashing like snow, forcing back one pouncing Red Flame Leopard. But another had already attacked from the side, its gaping maw snapping directly at her waist!

Xiao Qingxue barely managed to twist around and bring her sword back to defend. The blade’s edge clashed with the beast’s claws, and with an eruption of True Essence, sparks flew.

CLANG!

A tremendous force slammed into her. A sharp pain shot through her already injured left shoulder, and she staggered back, trying to shield her vitals.

The third Red Flame Leopard seized the opening and pounced, its flame-wreathed claws aiming straight for her head!

Xiao Qingxue’s pupils contracted. It was too late to bring her sword around; she could only raise her arm to block as despair welled in her heart.

Just then!

A phantom-like figure appeared before her.

Liang Cheng’s left hand shot out, his fingers like talons, and precisely clamped onto the Red Flame Leopard’s lower jaw. He unleashed a burst of powerful True Essence, forcibly halting the beast’s pounce!

The Red Flame Leopard struggled frantically, its sharp claws raking at Liang Cheng’s arm, but they only produced a shower of sparks against the Dark Gold Gang Shield of his Mixed Element Gang Body.

Expressionless, Liang Cheng drew the Zhenxian Saber with his right hand.

The blade flashed like cold lightning across the sky.

[Mountain-Breaking·Broken Wave]

SCHLICK!

The blade swept across the Red Flame Leopard’s neck. Its massive head flew high into the air as hot blood gushed forth like a fountain.

The headless corpse crashed to the ground.

Seeing this, the other two Red Flame Leopards let out terrified roars and tried to turn and flee. But how could Xiao Qingxue possibly let them escape now?

But Liang Cheng had already taken a step forward. His body moved like a roaming dragon, and though he acted second, he arrived first, bringing his saber down in a preemptive strike!

SSSHLICK—

One of the Red Flame Leopards was cleaved in two, right down its spine.

Almost simultaneously, he pointed with his left hand. A condensed, azure beam of True Essence shot from his fingertips like an arrow, piercing straight through the last Red Flame Leopard’s head.

[Profound Yin Sword Technique·Bone Penetration]

From the moment Liang Cheng appeared to him slaying all three Tier Four Fierce Beasts, a mere five breaths had passed.

Xiao Qingxue stood frozen in place, watching Liang Cheng sheathe his saber. A complex emotion flickered in her eyes.

’Has the gap between us grown this wide?’

She took a deep breath to suppress the pain of her injuries, then performed a swordsman’s salute. "Thank you for saving me, Senior Brother Liang."

Liang Cheng turned to face her, his gaze sweeping over the wound on her shoulder. "How bad is it?"

"It’s a flesh wound. Nothing serious."

Xiao Qingxue shook her head, though her face was pale. "I was ambushed by one of the Red Flame Leopards. I let my guard down for a moment and lost the initiative."

Liang Cheng took a Jade Bottle from his robes and tossed it to her. "A Replenishing Essence Pill. Take it and treat your wound."

Xiao Qingxue accepted it without hesitation, tipped out a pill and swallowed it. She sat cross-legged to regulate her breathing for a moment, and some color returned to her face.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

"I was separated from my fellow disciples upon entering the Secret Realm. Did the same happen to you, Senior Brother?"

Liang Cheng nodded.

Just then, Xiao Qingxue sheathed her sword. "I had intended to scout the area first, but I didn’t expect the Fierce Beasts in this Secret Realm to travel in packs. They were more than I could handle."

She paused, then looked at Liang Cheng. "Senior Brother Liang, may we travel together?"

"Mm."

Liang Cheng nodded. "This place is dangerous, and I’m afraid I would have trouble on my own. If you don’t mind, Junior Sister Xiao, we can travel together for the time being."

A flash of gratitude appeared in Xiao Qingxue’s eyes. She nodded. "Then I will be in your care, Senior Brother."

She took an item from her robes. "When I killed the Red Flame Leopard that ambushed me, I found this in its lair. Please, take it as a token of my gratitude."

In her palm rested a thumb-sized, translucent white piece of jade. Inside it, what looked like Cloud Mist seemed to swirl, emitting gentle fluctuations of Spiritual Power.

"Nourishing Spirit Jade?"

Liang Cheng’s eyebrow twitched. He had read about Nourishing Spirit Jade in the Main Library.

This item could nourish one’s Divine Soul and clear the mind, which was of great benefit for practicing Cultivation Techniques and comprehending Martial Techniques. It was an extremely precious treasure, even in the outside world.

The Secret Realm was indeed full of fortuitous opportunities.

"That’s right."

Xiao Qingxue held out the Nourishing Spirit Jade. "Please accept it, Senior Brother."

Liang Cheng glanced at her and took the jade. "In that case, I’ll accept it. You’re injured, so stay close to me."

"Alright."

Liang Cheng harvested the Demon Cores from the three Red Flame Leopards. Then, with one in the lead and the other following, they proceeded deeper into the Secret Realm.

The Nourishing Spirit Jade was warm and smooth to the touch. Liang Cheng stored it close to his body and immediately felt his mind clear, his perception of the environment becoming noticeably sharper.

’An unexpected windfall.’

As they continued on, they encountered several more groups of Demon Beasts, all of them at Tier Four.

Liang Cheng’s attacks were clean and decisive, while Xiao Qingxue provided support from the side with her ice-cold sword light. The two had developed a tacit understanding since the Sea Beast Tide, and they worked together with high efficiency.

For the time being, Liang Cheng held onto all the Demon Cores.

As Xiao Qingxue watched Liang Cheng’s back while he effortlessly slew Tier Four Demon Beasts, she was inwardly astonished.