Chapter 243 - 129: Gang Body Great Success

Treasure Pavilion, Bibo City Branch.

In a private chamber, a steward in a green robe viciously smashed a teacup on the floor. Porcelain fragments scattered everywhere.

"Yang Xian, that useless bastard! How could he mess up such a perfect opportunity?!"

His face was ashen as he paced back and forth inside the room.

The Beast Tide was ferocious today, and Liang Cheng was stretched to his limit. It was the perfect time to strike. If that Poisoned Crossbow Arrow had struck him squarely in the back of the heart, not even an Immortal could have saved him!

"If I’d known, I never would have picked that idiot!"

A confidant beside him lowered his head and whispered, "Calm your anger, Chief Steward. Yang Xian is dead. The trail ends with him, so it can’t be traced back to us."

The Steward turned his head, a chilling light in his eyes. "Instigating Yang Xian... have all the loose ends been tied up?"

"Without a trace."

The confidant’s voice was steady. "Yang Xian always had a fondness for men and harbored a perverse love for his cousin, Yang Chen. The Ye Family will discover this with the slightest investigation."

"Yang Chen was punished a few days ago for offending Liang Cheng. It’s perfectly logical that Yang Xian would harbor a grudge and seek revenge on his own initiative. No one will ever suspect our involvement."

Hearing this, the Steward’s anger subsided somewhat, but his brow remained deeply furrowed.

He walked to the window, his face etched with worry as he gazed out at the gray-robed figure on the sea, locked in a standoff with the Deep Sea Dragon Shark.

"The Main Tower just sent word. Reinforcements from the Main Courtyard are on their way and will likely arrive in a few days."

His voice grew low. "Once those old monsters from the Main Courtyard arrive, making another move on Liang Cheng will be harder than ascending to the heavens."

The confidant pondered for a moment before speaking. "Chief Steward, now that a Tier Six has appeared in the Sea Beast Tide, past records suggest the assault will enter a period of stalemate."

"A Tier Six Fierce Beast possesses intelligence; it won’t launch a blind, all-out assault. With the City Lord presiding over Bibo City, there’s no immediate danger of the walls being breached. During this time, however, there are bound to be lapses in the city’s defenses..."

A flicker of understanding crossed the Steward’s eyes, and he slowly nodded.

"That makes sense," he breathed out, releasing his tension. "Then we’ll wait for an opportunity."

...

The Ye Family, Tingtai Courtyard.

Old Master Ye had come in person, with Ye Zhiqiu following behind him.

"Nephew Liang, during the defense of the city, we have you and Zhiqiu to thank for turning the tide against overwhelming odds."

The Old Master’s tone was solemn. "On behalf of the Ye Family, and on behalf of Bibo City, I thank you."

Liang Cheng moved to stand and bow but was gently pushed back down by the Old Master.

"You’re injured. There’s no need for formalities."

Old Master Ye took several Jade Bottles from his robes and placed them on the table one by one. "These are Replenishing Essence Pills and Muscle Regeneration Powder refined by the Ye Family. Their effects are quite good and should help with your recovery."

Finally, he produced a small rosewood box. He opened it to reveal a longan-sized pill, its entire body a lustrous, jade-like white. A soothing medicinal fragrance wafted out, instantly invigorating the senses.

"This is a Jade Marrow Life-giving Pill, a holy grail of healing elixirs. It can purge latent injuries and solidify your foundation."

Old Master Ye gently pushed the wooden box toward Liang Cheng and explained softly, "This is an apology gift from the Yang Family."

Liang Cheng’s gaze hardened.

Ye Zhiqiu added in a low voice from the side, "The Yang Family Patriarch came to our door in person. He made it clear that Yang Xian’s actions were a result of his own madness and in no way reflected the family’s intentions."

"They’ve also determined that Yang Xian had a fondness for men. His mind became twisted after Yang Chen was punished, and that’s what drove him to take such a desperate risk."

Liang Cheng remained silent for a moment before accepting the wooden box.

"Rest assured, Old Master Ye. With a great enemy before us, this is indeed not the time to settle old scores."

His voice was calm. "I’ll accept this pill for now. Please relay to the Yang Family that I’m marking this down, for the time being."

A flash of admiration appeared in Old Master Ye’s eyes upon hearing this. He nodded. "Good."

"Just focus on healing and recovering your strength—that is your top priority. The Outer City is held by the City Lord and the garrison, and we will see to the defenses of the inner city. You have nothing to worry about."

After seeing off Old Master Ye and Ye Zhiqiu, Liang Cheng closed the courtyard gate, entered the Quiet Chamber, and sat cross-legged, immediately consuming the Jade Marrow Life-giving Pill.

Once ingested, the elixir dissolved into a gentle, warm current that flowed through him like sweet rain on a parched land, swiftly nourishing his damaged meridians and organs.

His Mixed Element Gang Body began to operate on its own. A faint golden luster flowed beneath his skin as he efficiently absorbed the medicinal power. The fragment of the Crossing the Sea True Intent was also silently activated, harmonizing his body from the inside out and accelerating his recovery.

「Less than half a day later.」

Liang Cheng opened his eyes, which now shone with a brilliant light.

He moved his left shoulder. The wound had already healed completely, leaving only a faint red mark.

The True Essence within his body flowed smoothly and without impediment. The latent pain from his clash with the Erosion Gang Blood Light had completely vanished.

Though he wasn’t yet at his peak, the underlying injury was gone, and he had recovered eighty to ninety percent of his combat strength.

His gaze fell upon his bag in the corner. Reaching inside, he pulled out a fist-sized, earth-yellow Demon Core.

A Tier Five Demon Core from a Rock Armor Thorn Turtle!

After slaying the giant turtle yesterday, he had taken advantage of the chaos on the battlefield, using his Sleeve Sword to swiftly gouge out its Demon Core and hide it up his sleeve.

No one had noticed when the City Lord’s Mansion came to collect the spoils of war.

’My meridians are stable. If not now, then when?’

Without hesitation, Liang Cheng gripped the Demon Core and sat down cross-legged.

He activated the Crossing the Sea True Intent to convert the Demon Core’s power!

HUMMM—

An energy far more vast and dense than that of a Tier Four Demon Core flooded his meridians like a raging deluge.

He fully activated the Heart Method for the Third Layer of the Broken Wave Technique. His True Essence surged like a great river to digest the violent energy. All seventy-two acupoints of his Mixed Element Gang Body vibrated in unison as a faint golden halo emanated from his body, seeming to resonate with the energy of the Rock Armor Thorn Turtle.

The cultivation of the Gang Body emphasized defense and a stable foundation, making the attributes of the Rock Armor Thorn Turtle’s Demon Core a perfect match!

A tide of energy washed over his meridians and the acupoints of his Gang Body again and again.

Faint crackling sounds emanated from within Liang Cheng’s body, like parched earth splitting open and then sealing shut again. Nourished by the dense energy, his bones and organs grew ever more solid.

[Mixed Element Gang Body: Minor Success (6108/8000)]

[Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique: Minor Success (8922/12000)]

The energy of the Tier Five Demon Core was consumed at a rapid pace until, with a final CRACK, it crumbled into dust.