Chapter 347: Great Progress from Arduous Cultivation

Chapter 347: Chapter 163: Great Progress from Arduous Cultivation

First Peak, a private courtyard.

Liang Cheng walked out of the Quiet Chamber. The sunlight was perfect, its warmth spreading across his body.

After seven days of seclusion, his Blade Intent had just taken form. Now, looking at the world, it all seemed different.

In the courtyard, Lady Ning was hanging laundry to dry. Seeing him come out, she smiled and waved. “Cheng’Er, come and eat. Mom made your favorite.”

Liang Cheng nodded and walked over to the stone table under the tree, where he sat down.

Yang Wei was holding Yang An, teasing his grandson. Yang An waved his little hands and babbled, trying to form words, though none were clear.

Liang Cheng picked up his bowl, but just as he was about to eat, the Communication Token at his waist suddenly vibrated.

He extended his Divine Sense into it and found a message from his Second Senior Brother, Li Jianfeng.

“Little Junior Brother, I see you’ve come out of seclusion. Why don’t you come to my courtyard for a friendly spar?”

Liang Cheng put down his bowl and chopsticks.

“Mom, I have to take care of something. I’ll be back later.”

Lady Ning chided, “You child, you’re not even going to eat properly…”

Liang Cheng gave a helpless smile. Lady Ning said no more, and with a single step, Liang Cheng launched himself into the air and flew away.

…

First Peak, halfway up the mountain.

Li Jianfeng’s courtyard was nestled within a grove of green bamboo, exuding a quiet and elegant air.

When Liang Cheng landed, Li Jianfeng was standing in the courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back. Dressed in a white robe, his aura was as sharp as a sword.

Seeing Liang Cheng arrive, he nodded slightly.

“Little Junior Brother, I heard you went into seclusion a few days ago. Did you have another breakthrough?”

Liang Cheng’s heart stirred.

‘That night, when my Blade Intent first formed, Master Lie Mountain helped conceal it. But Second Senior Brother is a Core Formation Late Stage cultivator, after all, with profound attainments in the Sword Dao. He must have vaguely sensed something.’

He didn’t hide it and nodded.

“I made some small gains.”

A trace of approval flashed in Li Jianfeng’s eyes.

“Good.”

He raised his hand and made a grasping motion. A Cyan Blade Longsword materialized out of thin air, its blade shimmering like autumn water with a faint, cold light.

“Draw your saber.”

Without hesitation, Liang Cheng raised his hand and gripped the hilt of his Zhenxian Saber.

The blade emerged three inches from its sheath, starlight flowing along its edge.

Li Jianfeng looked at the saber, a strange glint in his eyes.

“A fine saber.”

The moment he finished speaking, he took a step forward!

The sword had yet to arrive, but its intent was already there!

An incredibly sharp Sword Intent rushed toward him. The green bamboo in the courtyard rustled without any wind, and leaves fell, only to be sliced into countless fragments in mid-air by that same Sword Intent!

Seeing this, Liang Cheng’s pupils contracted.

‘Second Senior Brother’s sword strike is a notch stronger than before. It seems he was holding back last time.’

‘But he’s still not using much Pill Qi, purely crushing me with Sword Intent. It looks like he doesn’t want to suppress me with his higher Cultivation Realm.’

Liang Cheng took a deep breath, and his Blade Intent erupted!

The Zhenxian Saber left its sheath as he slashed out!

Nine Heavens Mountain-Breaking Saber!

Broken River!

The light of his saber surged like a furious tide, colliding head-on with the Sword Intent!

BOOM—!!!

With a muffled explosion, a fierce wind scattered in all directions!

The green bamboo in the courtyard bent over, and leaves danced wildly in the air!

The two of them each took a step back.

Li Jianfeng looked down at the sword in his hand. Its blade was trembling slightly.

He looked up at Liang Cheng, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

“Impressive Blade Intent.”

“How long has it been? You’ve already improved again?”

Liang Cheng cupped his fist. “You flatter me, Second Senior Brother.”

Li Jianfeng waved his hand dismissively.

“It’s not flattery. It’s the truth.”

He paused, then suddenly smiled.

“However, if this is all you have, I’m afraid it won’t be enough for today.”

The moment he finished speaking, he attacked again!

This time, there was less probing and more seriousness.

The sword light was like a rainbow, aiming straight for Liang Cheng’s throat!

Fast!

So fast that Liang Cheng barely had time to react!

His feet tapped the ground in quick succession as he executed the Cloud Soaring Step, his figure gracefully retreating!

At the same time, he unleashed a flurry of slashes, one after another, to meet the incoming sword light!

CLANG CLANG CLANG—!!!

The sound of metal on metal was as dense as falling rain!

In the courtyard, sword light and saber shadows intertwined, and Vigorous Qi shot out in all directions!

Ten moves.

Twenty moves.

Thirty moves.

Li Jianfeng fought faster and faster, his Sword Momentum growing ever sharper!

Liang Cheng was gradually suppressed, forced onto the defensive and unable to counter-attack.

He gritted his teeth, desperately condensing his Blade Intent, but he couldn’t break through his Second Senior Brother’s relentless Sword Momentum.

‘The gap between us is still too great.’

‘Second Senior Brother’s Sword Intent has probably already touched the threshold of the second level, “Thoughts Follow the Heart,” while I’m still at the first level, “Intentional Movement.”‘

Just then, Li Jianfeng suddenly retracted his sword and retreated.

The sword light dissipated, and everything returned to tranquility.

Liang Cheng stood his ground, panting slightly, the Zhenxian Saber still trembling in his hand.

Li Jianfeng looked at him with a calm gaze.

“Little Junior Brother, your Blade Intent is not weak. If you were given more time, I’m afraid even I would have trouble defeating you.”

Liang Cheng cupped his fist. “You flatter me, Second Senior Brother.”

Li Jianfeng walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s simply the truth.”

“Besides, you have more than just Blade Intent. If you used your Fist Intent to assist, breaking momentum with strength, combining saber and fist, I’m afraid I wouldn’t dare claim an easy victory either.”

Liang Cheng fell silent for a breath before slowly replying, “Senior Brother, you sell yourself short. With your Cultivation Realm combined with such Sword Intent, how could I dare speak of victory?”

Li Jianfeng shook his head.

“But in our fight just now, you were on the defensive from start to finish. Your saber’s name is Zhenxian—’to strive for first.’ It’s about advancing, attacking, pressing forward relentlessly.”

“Facing me, you lacked the heart to contend for supremacy, and thus you didn’t use your full strength.”

“Three months from now, on the Inquiry Platform, I hope to see you fighting with your full strength, Little Junior Brother.”

Before Liang Cheng could speak, Li Jianfeng waved his hand.

“By the way, Old Third also wants to have a spar with you.”

Liang Cheng paused at his words, then nodded.

He then bid his farewell and took to the sky.

…

First Peak, another courtyard.

Yu Xiuqi was sitting cross-legged under a green bamboo, his eyes closed as he regulated his breathing.

Liang Cheng landed in front of him. Yu Xiuqi opened his eyes and, without any nonsense, threw a punch!

His Fist Intent was like a mountain, aiming straight for Liang Cheng’s chest as it pressed down on him!

But Liang Cheng was prepared and met the attack with a punch of his own!

BOOM—!!!

The two fists collided, and a fierce wind scattered in all directions!