Chapter 262 - 135: The Rear Wave (2)

Liang Cheng answered each question patiently, only omitting the dangers he had faced along the way.

Just as they were speaking, the sound of hurried footsteps and familiar voices came from outside the courtyard.

"Senior Brother Liang!"

"Is Senior Brother Liang really back?"

The door was knocked upon, and Li Mu and Zhao Yuan burst in one after the other, their faces filled with excitement.

"Li Mu, Zhao Yuan."

Liang Cheng stood up, a smile on his face.

Li Mu strode forward and clapped Liang Cheng firmly on the arm. "Senior Brother, you’re back!"

Zhao Yuan followed, his eyes full of admiration. "Senior Brother Liang."

The current Zhao Yuan had a steady aura, a clear sign of his considerable progress during his year in the outer courtyard.

"It seems you two haven’t been slacking off this year."

Liang Cheng sensed their auras. Both had reached Transformation Force Peak. Their next step would be to blend and merge their power to break through to the True Qi Realm.

"It’s all thanks to you, Senior Brother."

Zhao Yuan said earnestly, "The Martial Arts Academy has far more resources than before, so we didn’t dare to be lazy."

As they were talking, more footsteps were heard from the courtyard. A Martial Arts Academy Steward appeared at the door and cupped his hands toward Liang Cheng.

"True Inheritor Liang, the Dean requests your presence."

Liang Cheng nodded.

"I’ll be right back."

...

「Martial Arts Academy, Mingxin Pavilion.」

Bai Hong, Lü Bingchen, and the other Masters were all present. Their gazes fell upon Liang Cheng, their eyes filled with gratification.

"Good, good, good."

Bai Hong said the word "good" three times, a smile spreading across his face. "It seems your year at the Main Courtyard was not spent in vain."

"Disciple Liang Cheng greets the Dean."

Liang Cheng bowed.

"No need for such formalities."

Bai Hong waved his hands repeatedly, looking Liang Cheng up and down, a keen glint in his eyes. "This old man has seen many geniuses, but one who has progressed as you have is truly rare."

"Come, let this old man test your current worth."

Before his words had even faded, Bai Hong moved!

He held his fingers together like a sword, and a condensed blast of True Essence Finger Wind cut through the air, aiming straight for Liang Cheng’s Jianjing acupoint. It was as swift as lightning and came from an awkward angle, impossible for an ordinary True Essence Realm Martial Artist to evade.

Liang Cheng’s eyes narrowed, but he neither dodged nor evaded. He simply lowered his shoulder slightly, and the dark gold Mixed Element Gang Body instantly flowed over him.

PFFT!

The Finger Wind struck the Gang Body, making a faint sound. Liang Cheng didn’t even sway. A slight ripple spread across his Gang Body, and the Finger Force was neutralized.

The surprise in Bai Hong’s eyes deepened. He no longer held back. His body moved like a dancing crane as his palms flew, his True Essence forming a sky full of palm shadows that enveloped Liang Cheng.

Each palm contained the vigorous power of True Essence Perfection. The wind from his palms howled, sending the fallen leaves in the courtyard scattering.

Liang Cheng finally moved.

He did not draw his saber, but met palm with palm. His Broken Wave True Essence surged out like a tide, clashing head-on with Bai Hong’s Palm Force.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The sound of clashing Qi Force was incessant.

After ten moves, Bai Hong suddenly changed his attack. He executed a Cloud-piercing Hand, aiming straight for Liang Cheng’s Central Palace. The Palm Force condensed into a single line, its sharpness unstoppable.

Liang Cheng changed his move as well. He held the fingers of his right hand together as a condensed, azure stream of True Essence shot from his fingertips, precisely targeting the Laogong acupoint in the center of Bai Hong’s palm.

He struck second but landed first!

Bai Hong was forced to withdraw his palm to defend himself, but Liang Cheng had already taken the opportunity to retract his fingers, take a step back, and bow. "You let me win, Dean."

Bai Hong stood rooted to the spot. He looked down at his palm, then back up at Liang Cheng, the shock in his eyes impossible to conceal.

After a long moment, he let out a long breath and shook his head with a wry smile. "To think that today, this old man doesn’t even have what it takes to make you draw your saber."

"You’re exaggerating, Dean."

Liang Cheng quickly said with humility, "This disciple only had the advantage because of my special Cultivation Technique’s defense."

"There’s no need to be humble."

Bai Hong waved his hand, his expression turning to one of gratification. "Your current achievements are a blessing for the Martial Arts Academy, and an even greater blessing for Lin Wu City."

He gestured for Liang Cheng to sit and personally poured him a cup of tea. Nearby, Lü Bingchen had recovered from his shock, and the room was soon filled with cheerful laughter and conversation.

"Ever since you took first place in the Three-City Grand Tournament, the resources Lin Wu City has been able to allocate to the Martial Arts Academy have increased by sixty percent compared to previous years."

Bai Hong said slowly, "The cultivation speed of the academy’s elite disciples is now more than twice as fast as before. Those boys, Li Mu and Zhao Yuan, have also benefited greatly from these resources."

"And it might not be long before you see a familiar face from our academy at the Main Courtyard."

’Hm?’

Before Liang Cheng could ask, Bai Hong said, "Nothing is set in stone yet. When there’s news, you’ll naturally find out."

Hearing this, Liang Cheng didn’t press the matter.

"But this is all thanks to your efforts."

Bai Hong looked at him, feeling quite emotional. Being able to accept Liang Cheng as a disciple of the Martial Arts Academy was a great fortune for them.

Afterward, they asked about Liang Cheng’s situation at the Main Courtyard. When they heard he had already reached the top of the Hero Ranking, they were so shocked they knocked over their teacups.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"

"As expected of the prodigy of our Lin Wu City!"

...

After leaving Mingxin Pavilion, Liang Cheng headed straight for the Back Mountain Alchemy Room, from which the scent of medicinal herbs wafted.

Liang Cheng knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Liang Cheng pushed the door open and entered.

Elder Huang was sitting in front of a Pill Furnace, the flames within a pale green.

He didn’t look up, only saying faintly, "So you’re back, kid?"

"I’m back. How could I forget about you?"

After bowing, Liang Cheng sat down right next to Elder Huang.

"Elder Huang, my master, Chen Xuanfeng, specifically asked me to send you his regards."

Hearing the name "Chen Xuanfeng," Elder Huang’s hand, which was fanning the flames, paused for a moment.

"What else did that old coot say?"

"He didn’t say anything else, just asked me to send you his regards."

Elder Huang fell silent for a moment, then gave a soft "Mm," and said no more, simply continuing to fan the flames.

Liang Cheng waited quietly, suppressing his curiosity. ’My master didn’t say anything, and it seems Elder Huang doesn’t want to talk about it either.’

After a long while, Elder Huang finally spoke again. "How are you doing at the Main Courtyard?"

"Everything is fine. Thank you for your concern, Elder Huang."

Elder Huang turned his head, his gaze falling on Liang Cheng. He sized him up carefully, and as he did, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Your True Essence is solidified, and your Mixed Element Gang Body has reached Great Success. With such an accumulation of power, you could easily charge into the True Gang Realm. Don’t tell me you’re still trying to pursue a Perfect Foundation Establishment, kid?"