Chapter 297 - 146: Prodigy (3)
「Five days later.」
Liang Cheng was enveloped in an azure Gang Qi so dense it was nearly tangible, flowing like a shimmering stream just beneath his skin. Inside his Dantian, the nine Gang Qi Seeds had visibly swelled, and their rotation drew in Spiritual Qi from a much wider area.
[Broken Wave Technique, Fourth Layer: Minor Success (1087/22000)]
Ten days later, when the Meridians in his body finally reached their limit, he rose to practice his saber.
He performed the Nine Heavens Mountain-Breaking Saber amidst the dense Spiritual Mist, his Saber Momentum more fluid and unrestrained than ever before.
Each slash stirred the Spiritual Mist into a surging tide. The sounds of wind and thunder echoed endlessly within the sealed Secret Realm, faintly coalescing into transient phantoms of Spiritual Qi.
His proficiency with the Saber Technique soared. The transitions between "heavy" and "fast" became increasingly flawless and smooth.
Once his Meridians were relaxed, Liang Cheng sat cross-legged again to resume his Cultivation, beginning another Circulation.
「Twenty days later.」
Liang Cheng seemed to have entered a profound and mysterious state.
With a mere thought, the Gang Qi in his body would circulate in resonance with the edge of his blade. The path of his saber became the very trajectory of his Heart Method’s operation.
He executed a single move, Broken River. Before the saber’s light even arrived, the Spiritual Mist ahead parted on its own, as if cleaved by an invisible mountain.
The power of his Saber Technique was on a completely different level now.
[Broken Wave Technique, Fourth Layer: Minor Success (5123/22000)]
[Nine Heavens Mountain-Breaking Saber: Great Success (36789/40000)]
Liang Cheng closed his eyes and focused. The nine Gang Qi Seeds within him were now as plump as longans, their azure light shining through his body and making him resemble a glass-like divine statue.
And with every movement, his Gang Qi was held back, ready but unreleased, exuding a heart-pounding aura that was both heavy and sharp.
He rose and slowly swung his saber. There was no wind, no thunder, not a single sound.
Thirty feet ahead, a wisp of slowly drifting Spiritual Mist split in two without any warning. The cross-section was as smooth as a mirror, only slowly mending itself after a long moment.
He made the heavy seem light, his intent and execution perfectly synchronized.
Just then, the Communication Jade Talisman on his person suddenly lit up with a flashing, urgent red light!
The anxious voice of Liang Cheng’s master, Chen Xuanfeng, imprinted directly into his mind.
"Liang Cheng, come out of seclusion immediately!"
「Profound Spirit Secret Realm, at the exit.」
A middle-aged Cultivator wearing a Daoist Robe with faint gold cloud patterns, his aura as deep and vast as the sea, was already waiting. It was the special envoy from the Penglai Sect, Liu Jingtiao.
Chen Xuanfeng accompanied him, smiling deferentially.
"Senior Brother Liu, my apologies for troubling you to make this trip."
"It’s no trouble."
Liu Jingtiao’s gaze was like lightning as he carefully scanned Liang Cheng, who had just emerged from seclusion. The young man’s aura had clearly advanced once again since their time in the Lin Wu City Secret Realm.
The mystery of Shi Podang’s shattered Life Token resurfaced in his mind. Although he had his suspicions, he revealed nothing on his face.
Chen Xuanfeng quickly spoke up, "Liang Cheng, hurry and pay your respects to Elder Liu."
"Disciple Liang Cheng greets Elder Liu."
Liang Cheng bowed, neither servile nor overbearing, but inwardly he was wondering about the reason for Liu Jingtiao’s visit. ’Could it be about what happened with Shi Podang in the Lin Wu City Secret Realm?’
"Elder Chen and Dean Zhong mentioned in their letter that you created your own Saber Technique. Would you care to demonstrate it?"
Hearing this, Liang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. ’It seems he isn’t here to cause trouble for me after all.’
With this in mind, he said no more, took a few steps back, and drew his Zhenxian Saber.
Facing the empty space before him, he slowly began to practice the Nine Heavens Mountain-Breaking Saber.
His opening stance was as steady as a mountain. As his Saber Momentum unfolded, it was gradually accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder. The dual qualities of heaviness and swiftness flowed with his Blade Intent, alternating seamlessly.
Although he didn’t use his full power, the unique, harmonious fusion of the Mountain-Breaking Saber and the Wind and Thunder Slash was already on full display.
He executed the final move, Broken Nine Heavens, with a phantom slash. As the blade passed, the air rumbled with a low peal of thunder, and there was a faint sensation of it being torn apart.
The surprise in Liu Jingtiao’s eyes grew deeper and deeper. By the time Liang Cheng sheathed his saber, he was already clapping in admiration.
"Excellent! The intent is greater than the form, the fusion is masterful, and the potential is limitless. It is unquestionably your own creation. With such comprehension, you are truly fit to join my Penglai Sect!"
At this point, he didn’t hesitate, immediately taking out a token that was neither gold nor jade. It was engraved with cloud patterns and the two characters for "Penglai." He handed it to Liang Cheng.
"This is an Outer Disciple Token for my Penglai Sect. With this token, you are now a Named Disciple of the Penglai Sect. However, you must wait until the Immortal Ascension Conference is over. Regardless of your ranking, you may use this token to enter the Sect directly and complete the formal admission procedures. I hope you will continue to cultivate diligently during this time and not disappoint our expectations."
Liang Cheng accepted the token with both hands. It was warm and smooth to the touch. His heart surged with excitement as he said solemnly, "Thank you, Special Envoy! This Disciple will certainly work hard!"
Liu Jingtiao offered a few more words of encouragement before taking his leave. He needed to return to the Sect and report on his mission.
Such a prodigy was rare, even in the Penglai Sect.
Liang Cheng caressed the token with his fingers. After a brief conversation under Chen Xuanfeng’s gratified gaze, he was urged by his master back into the Profound Spirit Secret Realm.
"Hurry and make the most of your time. The Dean went to great lengths to let you cultivate in the Secret Realm, so don’t waste this opportunity."
"Yes, Master. This Disciple is going back in."
"Good. Go on!"
...
「Penglai Immortal Island, Treasure Pavilion Headquarters.」
In a remote accounting office, Qian Wanjing’s face was haggard, a far cry from the glory of his former days as a Steward.
Due to repeated miscalculations, especially his failed scheme against Liang Cheng, he had been demoted to the rank of a common Steward to save his own skin. He had returned to the headquarters to handle trivial, marginal tasks.
At this moment, he was clutching a brief report that had just been transmitted back to the headquarters, his fingers white from the force of his grip.
The report starkly stated: "Liang Cheng, a Disciple of the Four Islands Alliance Headquarters, not yet twenty years of age, has created his own Saber Technique. He has received the Penglai Sect’s approval and has been accepted as an Outer Disciple ahead of schedule as an exception. He can be formally inducted after the Immortal Ascension Conference."
"Liang Cheng... Liang Cheng!"
Qian Wanjing’s eyes were bloodshot, a mixture of terror and venomous hatred. "How could it be so fast... How?!"
He knew that a mortal enmity had formed between him and Liang Cheng. If he hadn’t fled to the headquarters, he feared Liang Cheng would have already settled the score with him.
He had originally hoped that time would diffuse the situation, buying him more time, or even that Liang Cheng would meet his end on the path of the Martial Dao.
But now, not only was his enemy not dead, he had soared to the heavens and was about to become a Disciple of the Penglai Sect!
Once Liang Cheng established himself in the Penglai Sect, crushing a disgraced Steward like him would be as easy as flipping a hand!
The Treasure Pavilion would never stick its neck out for him then.
"I can’t wait any longer. I absolutely cannot wait for Liang Cheng to enter the Penglai Sect!"
Qian Wanjing shot to his feet, pacing back and forth in the cramped accounting office like a madman. ’Otherwise, it’s a one in ten chance of survival... No, it’s certain death!’
He stopped abruptly, a vicious, resolute glint flashing in his eyes.
"I’ll gamble! I’ll take that one in ten chance!"
He quickly spread out paper and a brush and began to write instructions, his face twisting into a grimace.
"Uncle Wang, go back to Central Origin Island at once, back to Lin Wu City. Make an ’accidental’ appearance, and make sure you are ’accidentally’ discovered by Yang Wei... Yang Wei is fiercely loyal; he would never stand by and let you come to harm..."
"Then, find a chance to write a letter to Liang Cheng. With their so-called deep master-disciple bond, he’s sure to interrupt his Cultivation and rush back to Lin Wu City to help..."
Qian Wanjing’s brush flew across the paper as if he could already see Liang Cheng stepping into his trap, his blood splattering within five paces.
This was his final, desperate gambit, and his only possible chance at survival.
If he just waited, he was a dead man walking.
And this time, he had to be flawless, lay a deathtrap, and wait for Liang Cheng to walk right into it.
He finished writing one set of instructions after another, sending them to their various destinations. As he blew the ink dry on the final directive, a sick, malevolent grin spread across his face.
"Liang Cheng."
"This time, it’s either you or me!"