Chapter 344 - 162: Sword Intent

First Peak, a private courtyard.

Liang Cheng descended from the sky into the courtyard. Lady Ning was busy cooking, while Yang Wei held Yang An in his arms, cooling off under a tree. Upon seeing him return, Yang Wei’s gaze went straight to the new saber at his waist.

"Is the new saber finished?"

Liang Cheng nodded and drew the Zhenxian Saber.

As the blade left its sheath, it shimmered with starlight, and a low hum seemed to emanate from it.

Yang Wei took one look and instinctively averted his eyes, not daring to look again.

"A fine saber."

He couldn’t help but marvel. With only his Transformation Force Cultivation, he couldn’t withstand the saber’s aura at all. He paused to recover before speaking again:

"Now this is a weapon worthy of you."

Liang Cheng sheathed the saber. Just as he was about to speak, the Communication Token at his waist began to vibrate.

He extended his Divine Sense into it and found a message from his master, Lie Mountain.

"Liang Cheng, come to the main hall at once."

Seeing this, Liang Cheng’s heart tightened.

Master Lie Mountain rarely sent messages. A sudden summons like this meant something important was afoot.

He nodded to Yang Wei, explained the situation, then turned and soared into the air.

...

First Peak, inside the main hall.

Lie Mountain was seated on a meditation cushion, and a man stood before him.

The man appeared to be in his late twenties. He had sharp, sword-like brows and eyes as bright as stars. Dressed in a white robe, his aura was as piercing as a blade, and his Cultivation had already reached the Core Formation Late Stage.

Liang Cheng arrived just then. He strode inside and bowed to Lie Mountain. "Disciple greets Master."

Lie Mountain looked up at him, his gaze falling on the new saber at Liang Cheng’s waist. A hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

"The saber is finished?"

Liang Cheng nodded. "Thanks to Master’s great fortune, I was lucky enough to succeed."

Lie Mountain waved his hand dismissively.

"It wasn’t my fortune, but your own opportunity."

He then gestured toward the white-robed young man beside him.

"This is your Second Senior Brother, Li Jianfeng."

Liang Cheng’s heart stirred as he looked at the white-robed young man.

’Second Senior Brother?’

Since joining the First Peak, he had only known that Master Lie Mountain had three other senior disciples, but he had never met any of them.

For him to appear so suddenly, there had to be a reason.

Li Jianfeng was also sizing him up, his gaze like a sword, as if trying to see right through him.

After a moment, he gave a slight nod.

"Junior Brother, I’ve heard much about you."

Liang Cheng clasped his fist. "Liang Cheng greets Second Senior Brother."

Li Jianfeng waved his hand.

"Greetings, Junior Brother. No need for such formalities."

He looked toward Lie Mountain.

Lie Mountain stood up, walked to the entrance of the hall, and gazed into the distance.

"The Penglai Sect’s Inquiry Conference, held once every thirty years, will officially begin in three months."

Liang Cheng’s heart tightened.

’The Inquiry Conference?’

Lie Mountain continued:

"At that time, the True Inheritors of the Nine Peaks will gather to discuss the Dao through martial arts and compete for rankings on the Inquiry Board."

"The top ten on the board will be allowed to enter the Sect’s Secret Realm, the Inquiry Cliff, for three months of Enlightenment."

"The top three will earn the right to represent the Penglai Sect in the great competition of the Three Sects and Six Gates."

He turned around to face Li Jianfeng and Liang Cheng.

"Jianfeng, you’ve been in seclusion for three years. I have been keeping you here, preventing you from descending the mountain, precisely for this Inquiry Conference."

Li Jianfeng nodded. "Disciple understands."

Lie Mountain then looked at Liang Cheng.

"Cheng’Er, although you have not been here long, your strength is no less than that of any True Inheritor."

"For this Inquiry Conference, you and Jianfeng will fight for the honor of my First Peak."

Liang Cheng clasped his fist. "Disciple will do his utmost."

Lie Mountain nodded.

"Go. Prepare yourselves well."

"In three months, on the Inquiry Platform, do not bring shame to the First Peak."

Li Jianfeng and Liang Cheng bowed in unison and turned to leave.

From behind them, Lie Mountain’s voice drifted over.

"Jianfeng, take Cheng’Er to get familiar with the place. Have him meet Xiuqi."

Li Jianfeng paused his steps and nodded.

...

Outside the hall.

Li Jianfeng and Liang Cheng stood side by side.

Li Jianfeng looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Junior Brother, I hear you’ve been making quite a name for yourself lately?"

Liang Cheng shook his head. "I wouldn’t dare."

Li Jianfeng waved his hand.

"No need to be modest. I’ve been wanting to beat up that Gu Changge fellow for a long time, but I never got the chance. It’s good that you took action this time."

He paused, his eyes falling on the Zhenxian Saber at Liang Cheng’s waist.

"I hear you’ve already condensed Blade Intent?"

Liang Cheng nodded.

A flicker of fighting spirit flashed in Li Jianfeng’s eyes.

"We should spar some day."

Liang Cheng did not refuse. "Alright."

Li Jianfeng clapped him on the shoulder.

"Come on, I’ll show you my place."

The two of them soared into the air.

...

First Peak, halfway up the mountain.

A private courtyard was situated here, three times larger than Liang Cheng’s. It was filled with green bamboo, creating a quiet and elegant atmosphere.

Li Jianfeng landed and pushed open the gate.

"This is where I live. If you ever need anything, you can come find me directly."

Liang Cheng nodded. Just as he was about to speak, he stopped in his tracks.

In the courtyard, a figure was sitting cross-legged under the green bamboo, eyes closed, regulating his breath.

The man was in his early thirties with a cold, stern face. His aura was as deep as an abyss.

’Core Formation Middle Stage.’

When Li Jianfeng saw the man, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Third Junior Brother?"

The man opened his eyes and looked at Liang Cheng, his gaze as calm as still water.

"Junior Brother?"

Liang Cheng nodded. "Greetings, Third Senior Brother."

The man stood up and walked over to Liang Cheng.

"Yu Xiuqi."

He paused.

"I hear you’ve comprehended Fist Intent?"

Yu Xiuqi looked at him, then suddenly raised his hand and threw a punch!

The Fist Force was like a mountain, heading straight for Liang Cheng’s chest!

Liang Cheng did not retreat, meeting it with a punch of his own!

BOOM—!!!

The two fists collided, and a powerful gust of wind scattered in all directions!

The green bamboo in the courtyard bent over, and leaves rustled down!

Both men took a step back.

Yu Xiuqi looked down at his own fist, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.

A moment later, he looked up at Liang Cheng.

"Good fist."

After saying that, he turned, walked back to the bamboo, and sat down cross-legged again. He closed his eyes to regulate his breath as if nothing had happened.

Watching this scene, Li Jianfeng suddenly laughed.

"Junior Brother, for your Fist Intent to earn a ’good’ from our third brother... that’s no simple feat."

He clapped Liang Cheng on the shoulder.

"Come on, don’t mind him. That’s just how he is."