My martial arts have no bottlenecks.

Chapter 145 Challenge

Liu Jingtao's gaze swept over the disciples, finally lingering on Liang Cheng.

This young man's aura has already broken through to the True Qi Realm, and he already has a plan in mind.

If Liang Chengzhen kills Shi Podang with his own strength, he will surely join the sect. Once he is in the sect, the truth will be revealed.

If you can't even get into a sect, there's no need to care!

"Junior Brother Chen, Junior Brother Huangfu, farewell."

Liu Jingtao cupped his hands in greeting to Chen Xuanfeng, then looked at Elder Huang.

Old Huang didn't even lift his eyelids, continuing to drink his tea.

Liu Jingtao was not annoyed. He turned around, flicked his sleeves, and the white jade boat rose up, carrying the Penglai Sect members away in a streak of light.

Huang Tiancheng then mingled away in the crowd, only his clenched fist in his sleeve revealing the deep-seated killing intent in his heart.

He remembered Situ Ming's grudge.

However, we cannot act now; we must wait for the right opportunity.

"Let's go too."

Chen Xuanfeng addressed Liang Cheng, Ye Zhiqi, and the others.

"etc."

Old Huang put down his teacup and slowly said, "Liang Cheng, the batch of pills you asked me to refine is finished. Come with me to get them."

Liang Cheng was taken aback upon hearing this, then turned to look at Chen Xuanfeng. Chen Xuanfeng nodded to Liang Cheng and said, "Go ahead, we'll meet at the dock."

.

Liang Cheng then agreed and followed Elder Huang toward the back mountain of the martial arts academy.

The alchemy room was filled with the rich aroma of medicinal herbs.

Old Huang closed the door and set up a soundproof barrier before turning around, his cloudy eyes fixed on Liang Cheng.

"What did you see at the end of the secret realm?"

Liang Cheng's heart skipped a beat, but he shook his head blankly: "This disciple doesn't know what happened either. At the time, this disciple was fighting a fierce battle with the mirror image and hadn't even reacted before he was suddenly teleported out."

"Is that so?"

Old Huang smiled, but did not expose Liang Cheng. Whether Liang Cheng was lying or not was not important to him.

He simply took out a jade bottle from his robes and tossed it over, saying, "This pill is called the Great Rejuvenation Pill. The spiritual herbs used in it are extremely rare in the world. As long as you have a breath left, taking it will keep you alive."

"If you just give me a copy of the runes on the tombstone deep in the secret realm, then this Great Rejuvenation Pill will be yours."

Liang Cheng remained silent for a moment, then took the jade bottle, its surface warm to the touch.

Only then did he speak, saying, "This disciple did indeed see a grave deep within the secret realm, with a tombstone in front of it."

"What's engraved on that tombstone?"

Old Huang's eyes lit up.

"They are just some strange runes that I cannot understand."

As Liang Cheng spoke, he picked up a blank talisman from the table, concentrated his true energy at his fingertips, and meticulously traced the distorted patterns from memory.

Old Huang took the blueprints from Liang Cheng, his gaze falling on the runes. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, but it quickly vanished after a moment.

He looked at it for a long time, but in the end he could only shake his head helplessly, sighed, and carefully put the blueprint away.

"Alright, go ahead."

"Elder Huang, these runes—"

"It's none of your business."

Old Huang waved his hand dismissively, turned around and tidied the medicine cabinet, "Remember, don't tell anyone about what happened today."

Liang Cheng took a deep breath before bowing and saying, "This disciple understands."

After leaving the alchemy room, his doubts deepened.

What exactly are these tombstone runes?

pier.

Chen Xuanfeng was already waiting at the bow of the ship, along with Ye Zhi Qiu, Lu Zheng, Leng Feng, and others.

To Liang Cheng's surprise, a familiar figure appeared in the crowd.

Yun Jinghong.

He was still dressed in white, his aura had stabilized at the mid-stage of True Essence, and the sharpness between his brows was even stronger. When he saw Liang Cheng, he nodded slightly.

"Junior Brother Yun is here too?"

-

Liang Cheng stepped forward and smiled.

Chen Xuanfeng explained, "Jinghong had already passed the main academy's assessment, and now he has made further progress in the secret realm. According to the main academy's rules, he can directly enter the inner academy. Since he has a past with you, I will bring him back as well."

At this moment, Yun Jinghong looked at Liang Cheng, her gaze sweeping over the faint fluctuations of true energy around him, a flash of fighting spirit in her eyes.

Goodbye, General Hospital.

Liang Cheng smiled and said, "Okay."

Upon returning to the main hospital, Chen Xuanfeng gave a detailed report on the matter of the secret realm.

The next day, the general hospital posted a disciplinary notice.

Shi Jun colluded with outsiders to murder his fellow disciples. The evidence against him was conclusive. He was stripped of his cultivation and expelled from the main academy.

The disciples of the Enforcement Hall personally took action, crippling his Qi Sea and severing his meridians. When they threw him out of the mountain gate, the once arrogant genius had become a cripple, his eyes vacant, slumped on the ground, and no one gave him another second glance.

When the Shi family came, no one dared to say a bad word; they left as soon as they received the guests.

This time, Shijiazhuang lost face.

Because Liang Cheng broke through to the True Qi Realm, his treatment was improved again, and he was granted an independent cave dwelling in the Jia San Academy, the place with the richest spiritual energy on True Inheritance Peak.

After Yun Jinghong joined the main hospital, he worked diligently and no one dared to cause him trouble.

Who dares to provoke Liang Chengwu, a junior disciple of the martial arts academy?

However, Yun Jinghong did not make a fuss. He practiced his sword at the cliff every morning and sparred with the disciples of the main academy. He won three battles in a row and his reputation gradually grew, but it did not cause too much of a stir.

It seemed that everything had returned to calm.

After Liang Cheng moved into the new cave dwelling, he stayed inside and never went out.

He kept the secret inheritance to himself and dared not tell anyone. Now that he had advanced to the True Qi Realm, he was automatically removed from the Heroes Ranking and was listed on the Dragon and Phoenix Ranking, but only at the very bottom.

Although the nine Qi seeds within his body have solidified, now that resources are sufficient, he naturally needs to work hard in his cultivation.

After all, strength is the foundation of everything!

As for his self-created Nine Heavens Mountain-Splitting Blade, it requires countless refinements to achieve its perfect form.

He meditates and cultivates himself daily, and then practices swordsmanship.

Each strike, each movement, was honed repeatedly, and the power of wind and thunder, along with the intent to cleave mountains, gradually merged in countless slashes.

This cycle continues, day after day.

Time flies, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Third Courtyard, Liang Cheng's internal energy had solidified into a tangible form, and nine seeds of internal energy were slowly rotating in his dantian, each movement drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy.

The fourth level of the Broken Wave Technique was progressing steadily. After the Hunyuan Gang Body was perfected, his physique became more transparent, and there was a faint golden light flowing under his skin.

The Nine Heavens Mountain-Severing Blade is progressing rapidly, perhaps due to its self-creation.

[Fourth Level of the Broken Wave Technique: Minor Success (155/22000)]

[Nine Heavens Mountain-Slaying Blade: Grand Completion (28654/40000)]

One day, he was practicing his sword in the courtyard when he suddenly heard a loud commotion outside, with faint sounds of metal clanging and shouts coming from outside.

Liang Cheng sheathed his sword and stood there. He could hear a commotion of people and a deafening roar coming from the direction of the martial arts training ground.

He frowned, shook his head, remained unmoved, and continued practicing martial arts.

-

In the center of the square, on the arena.

Standing on the platform was a young man dressed in black, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a cold and stern face. He held a long, black spear, the tip of which was pointing diagonally at the ground and dripping blood.

Below the stage, Lu Zheng knelt on one knee, a bloody hole piercing through his left shoulder, his face deathly pale.

Leng Feng had been defeated by him before, and now, supporting Lu Zheng, his eyes were filled with raging anger.

The disciples of the main academy all looked extremely grim.

"Who else?"

The young man in black spoke calmly, yet with an air of arrogance, "Is this all the disciples of the Four Islands Alliance's main academy are capable of?"

"you!"

Some disciples shouted angrily, but ultimately dared not step forward.

"What, you're afraid?"

The young man in black curled his lips into a mocking smile. "I have come from afar from Xuan Turtle Island. I have heard that the Four Islands Alliance's main academy is full of powerful experts and countless geniuses."

"I originally intended to hone my skills for the Penglai Ascension Conference six months later, thinking that the main academy would have a few worthy opponents, but I never expected—"

At this point, he shook his head, his disappointment evident.

"You bastard!"

"Luo Zhan, stop being so arrogant! My Senior Brother Chen, the number one on the Dragon and Phoenix Ranking, will arrive soon. How dare you be so arrogant?"

"that is!"

"Okay, then I'll wait for him to come back."

After saying that, he turned around and bowed to the high platform beside him, "Elder, I'm going back to rest now."

On the high platform, Chen Xuanfeng and the others had grim expressions, while next to them was Chen Yusen, a Core Formation Realm elder from Xuan Turtle Island, who pretended to curse angrily.

"No respect for elders."

Then he turned to Chen Xuanfeng and the others and said with a smile, "Young man is ignorant, so please don't hold it against him."

Chen Xuanfeng gave a fake laugh, then nodded and stepped down from the stage, letting Leng Feng and Ye Zhi Qiu help Lu Zheng to the Transmission Hall. His face was extremely ugly.

However, he still comforted Lu Zheng.

"Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war, Zheng'er, don't take it to heart."

Lu Zheng remained silent.

Suddenly he knelt down. "Master, at my age, it is extremely difficult for me to advance further, to break through the mortal realm and form the core."

"I disappointed you back then. I failed in the Ascension Tournament and was unable to join the Penglai Sect. At that time, I was still dreaming, but now there is no reason to."

"I've reached my limit here. There's no need to waste the resources of the main academy's Dragon and Phoenix Ranking on me anymore. I want to retire and go back to my hometown to work at the martial arts academy and see if I can discover talents like my junior brother."

Upon hearing these words, Leng Feng and Ye Zhi Qiu's expressions changed, and Chen Xuan Feng felt even more distressed. "Zheng'er, why do you say such things?"

But Lu Zheng had already made up his mind, so he kowtowed to the ground and remained there for a long time.

"Master, please grant your disciple's wish."

Chen Xuanfeng sighed and then shook his head.

"Think about it again. Focus on recovering from your injury first."

After saying this, he went into the inner room, leaving the three brothers in silence for a moment.

"Senior brother————"

Liang Cheng's seclusion was abruptly interrupted by Ye Zhi Qiu.

"Junior brother, Senior Brother Lu is leaving the main academy. He bid farewell to Master this morning and is now preparing to go down the mountain to return to his hometown."

Liang Cheng's heart tightened upon hearing this: "Why did Senior Brother Lu leave?"

"Let's talk as we walk. Senior Brother Lu should still be at the mountain gate right now."

Without saying a word, Liang Cheng and Ye Zhi Qiu transformed into a blur and headed straight for the mountain gate.

Outside the mountain gate, beside the ancient road.

Lu Zheng, dressed in simple clothes and carrying a simple bag, was saying goodbye to Leng Feng.

Although his left shoulder wound had been bandaged and he was still weak, he had a relieved smile on his face.

"Senior brother!"

Liang Cheng and Ye Zhi Qiu arrived and quickly stepped forward.

Lu Zheng turned around, saw Liang Cheng, and his smile widened: "Junior Brother, you've arrived."

"Why are you in such a hurry, senior brother?"

Liang Cheng said in a deep voice, "Once you recover from your injuries, we brothers can fight side by side again."

Lu Zheng shook his head, his gaze passing over Liang Cheng and looking towards the martial arts training ground.

There, the faint rumbling sound of colliding energies could be heard.

"Did you hear that?"

Lu Zheng pointed to the training ground and said softly, "That belongs to you. I, Lu Zheng, have been in the main academy for fourteen years and on the Dragon and Phoenix Ranking for eight years. That's enough."

He turned around and patted Liang Cheng's shoulder hard: "My path has come to an end, but yours has just begun. In six months, at the Ascension Conference, the geniuses of the Nine Islands will gather. That will be the battlefield where you should be fighting."

"Senior brother————"

"There's no need to try to persuade me."

Lu Zheng smiled frankly, "If I can teach a few students like you when I return to my hometown to teach, it will be more meaningful than me toiling away at the main hospital."

He took three steps back, solemnly clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "My three junior brothers, take care. Promise me that you will have the chance to see the view from a higher place for me."

After saying that, he turned and went down the mountain, never looking back.

Liang Cheng and the other two stood silently at the mountain gate until that figure completely disappeared into the mountain mist.

A deafening cheer erupted from the distant martial arts training ground.

"Senior Brother Qin Lie! Senior Brother Qin Lie is back!"

"Ranked number one on the Dragon and Phoenix List! I'll definitely avenge my previous defeat!"

As Liang Cheng watched Lu Zheng's figure disappear, he took a deep breath. On the path of martial arts, some people always leave, but he must forge ahead.

"Senior brother, let's go to the square."

The training ground, the arena.

Qin Lie and Luo Zhan stood facing each other.

-

Qin Lie had a resolute face and wore a crimson outfit. He was surrounded by a faint heat wave. He was a true veteran True Qi expert who had cultivated diligently at the main academy for ten years, and his foundation was terrifyingly solid.

Luo Zhan still had that cold and aloof look, but his eyes were much more serious now. He could sense that the person in front of him was not to be underestimated.

"Qin Lie, Headquarters of the Four Islands Alliance."

Qin Lie clasped his hands in a salute, his voice steady and calm.

"Nine Islands in the Outer Sea, the True Lineage of Xuan Turtle Island, Luo Zhan."

Luo Zhan paused, brandishing his spear.

"please."

"please."

Then the gong sounded, and Qin Lie moved.

With one step, the arena trembled.

His palms were as red as branding irons, and his fiery aura erupted, sweeping across the entire arena!

"Burning Flame Palm - Wildfire!"

The palm strike was like a volcanic eruption, overwhelming Luo Zhan.

Qin Lie unleashed his full power with this palm strike!

Luo Zhan's pupils contracted, and his spear spun rapidly, condensing into a tortoise-shell phantom in front of him with dark energy.

"The Black Tortoise Guards!"

boom-!

The palm strike collided with the tortoise shell, creating a shockwave that even caused ripples to spread across the protective light shield at the edge of the arena.

Instead of retreating, Qin Lie advanced, his palms flying, creating a series of palm shadows.

"Burning Flame Palm - Melting Gold!"

"Burning Flame Palm - Boiling the Sea!"

"Burning Flame Palm - Burning Heaven!"

Each palm strike is faster and stronger than the last!

The scorching energy distorted the air, and the arena floor began to melt, leaving behind charred palm prints.

Luo Zhan was forced to retreat repeatedly by the ferocious attack, but he remained calm. The phantom of the tortoise shell appeared and disappeared, deflecting most of Qin Lie's palm force.

"good!"

A disciple in the audience shouted excitedly, "Senior Brother Qin has the upper hand!"

"No wonder he's ranked number one on the Dragon and Phoenix List!"

However, on the high platform, Chen Xuanfeng and the others frowned more and more deeply.

The elder of Xuan Turtle Island smiled, showing no sign of panic.

Thirty moves!

Fifty moves!

Seventy moves —

Qin Lie's offensive began to slow down.

Although the Burning Flame Palm is powerful, it consumes a great deal of internal energy.

"It's my turn."

He gave a low shout, and his spear suddenly switched from defense to offense!

The dark spear shadow, like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave, instantly pierced through the layers of palm shadows, its energy exploding, aiming straight for Qin Lie's throat!

Qin Lie retreated hastily, clasped his hands together, and condensed a fiery shield of crimson energy in front of him.

"clang--!"

The spear tip pierced the fire shield, sparks flying everywhere.

Luo Zhan flicked his wrist, and the stance of his spear changed again.

"Black Tortoise Spear - Wave Breaker Style!"

Gunfire surged like a tide, wave after wave!

Qin Lie gritted his teeth and endured it, unleashing his Burning Flame Qi to its fullest extent, his palms turning crimson as if erupting from a volcano.

The two engaged in a frenzied battle on the arena, the explosive sounds of their clashing energies creating a continuous cacophony that made one's eardrums ache.

One hundred moves!

A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of Qin Lie's mouth, but his eyes remained sharp.

Luo Zhan's breathing also became heavy, and the web between his thumb and forefinger holding the gun cracked, staining the gun barrel with blood.

"The last resort!"

Qin Lie knew he couldn't continue this stalemate, or he would surely lose. With a roar, his palms turned crimson, and he poured all his inner energy into them.

"Burning Flame Palm - Nirvana!"

With a palm strike, the arena floor exploded.

A crimson palm print, like a phoenix spreading its wings, pounced towards Luo Zhan!

Luo Zhan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. His spear spun, and dark energy condensed at the tip, forming a single point of extreme black light.

"Black Tortoise Spear - Sea Suppression!"

Gun out!

The black spear light and the crimson palm print collided in mid-air.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment.

The next moment—

Boom! ...

A terrifying energy storm exploded, violently distorting the protective light shield, which was on the verge of shattering!

When the smoke cleared, Qin Lie knelt on one knee, a deep gunshot wound on his chest, bone exposed, and blood dripping from it.

Luo Zhan stood holding a gun, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his posture remained ramrod straight.

"Thank you for your concession."

Qin Lie struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and then clasped his hands in surrender.

"admire."

After saying that, he staggered off the stage.

The entire room fell into a deathly silence.

First place on the Dragon and Phoenix List —

They all lost.

Luo Zhan took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood and qi within his body.

He did not win this battle easily.

His gaze swept across the audience below, and in the eyes of those disciples from the main academy, there was no longer any resentment, only despair.

"Who else?"

He asked calmly, his voice not loud, but like a heavy hammer, striking everyone's heart.

No one answered at that moment.

Luo Zhan turned and left.

"etc."

A calm voice rang out.

The crowd parted, and Liang Cheng walked out slowly.

Luo Zhan turned around and sized up the young man in the blue robe.

His aura was restrained, and he appeared quite ordinary.

"Who are you?"

"Liang Cheng from the General Hospital."

Liang Cheng leaped onto the ring and stood opposite Luo Zhan. "Please enlighten me."

The audience immediately stirred.

"Senior Brother Liang!"

"He just broke through to the True Qi Realm!"

"Even Senior Brother Qin was defeated, isn't he just throwing his life away by going up there?"

Listening to the discussion, Luo Zhan suddenly realized: "So you've just entered the True Qi realm, yet you have such courage. It's commendable, but—"

He chuckled and shook his head: "Junior Brother Liang, you saw the battle just now. This is not something that courage can make up for."

"please."

Liang Cheng simply looked at him calmly.

"You can adjust your breathing and recover your condition first, so that you won't say that my victory was unfair."

"No need."

Luo Zhan's eyes turned cold.

Liang Cheng still said, "You just fought a hundred moves and your internal energy was greatly depleted. You should recover first, otherwise it would be unfair for me to win."

The audience erupted in uproar!

mad!

That's insane!

How dare someone at the early stage of True Qi say such a thing to someone at the peak of True Qi!

Below the arena, Ye Zhi Qiu and Leng Feng were also a little anxious. They hadn't expected their junior brother to issue a challenge, but it wasn't a good time to back down.

On the high platform, Chen Xuanfeng's expression grew increasingly grim. He glanced at Ye Zhiqiu, signaling that if anything went wrong, he should immediately rush to the arena to rescue him.

Ye Zhi Qiu understood and nodded to reassure Chen Xuan Feng.

On the arena, Luo Zhan laughed in anger, all traces of politeness vanishing from his eyes: "Fine! What an arrogant and ignorant fool!"

He said no more, and with a shake of his spear, dark energy flowed into its shaft.

Even after the fierce battle, the overwhelming aura of the True Qi Peak cultivator still made everyone below the stage feel breathless.

"Since you're so determined to die, then I'll grant your wish!"

"Catch the gun!"

Then the man followed the gun, the black gun beam like lightning, tearing through the air and piercing straight for Liang Cheng's face!

Liang Cheng moved instantly as well.