Chapter 349 - 163: Great Progress in Arduous Cultivation

Liang Cheng cupped his fists. "Thank you for your guidance, Second Senior Brother."

Li Jianfeng waved his hand.

"It wasn’t my guidance. Your comprehension is simply excellent."

He paused for a moment, then suddenly said,

"The Inquiry Conference is in two months. How are your preparations coming along?"

Liang Cheng was silent for a breath before slowly replying, "I will do my best."

Li Jianfeng looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Do your best?"

"Little Junior Brother, do you know what the Inquiry Conference is?"

Liang Cheng shook his head.

Li Jianfeng walked over to the green bamboo in the courtyard and stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

"At the Inquiry Conference, the True Inheritors of the Nine Peaks all gather."

"On the surface, it’s about sparring and discussing the Dao. In reality, it’s a battle for the Sect’s resources."

"The top ten get to enter the Inquiry Cliff for three months of Enlightenment."

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

He turned and looked at Liang Cheng.

"Do you know what the great competition of the Three Sects and Six Gates is?"

Liang Cheng shook his head again.

A hint of reminiscence flashed in Li Jianfeng’s eyes.

"It’s the grandest event in all of the Overseas Islands."

"The Three Sects and Six Gates, nine major powers, their strongest prodigies all competing on the same stage."

"The victors receive endless resources, can enter Secret Realms to cultivate, are valued by the Sect’s ancestors, and receive the Sect’s full support."

"As for the losers... they can only watch as others ascend to the heavens in a single step."

He walked up to Liang Cheng and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Little Junior Brother, you have talent, comprehension, and the right temperament."

"But just thinking about ’doing your best’ isn’t enough."

"At the Inquiry Conference, you must fight."

"Fight for the top ten, fight for the top three, fight for first place."

"If you fail this time, you’ll have to wait another thirty years. You’re so young, uniquely blessed by the heavens. Why else would Master have the two of us spar with you so intensely?"

"It’s to temper you, this piece of uncarved jade. Your Third Senior Brother and I both failed in our previous attempts, and we’ve waited thirty long years for this opportunity."

Li Jianfeng and Yu Xiuqi looked young, but they were already over a hundred years old. It was only because of their profound Cultivation and five-hundred-year lifespans that they maintained such a youthful appearance.

Liang Cheng stood where he was, remaining silent for a long time after hearing this.

Then he lifted his head and looked at Li Jianfeng.

"Second Senior Brother, what place did you achieve back then?"

Li Jianfeng was slightly taken aback, then he smiled.

"Seventh."

"That year, I lost to the Eldest Senior Brother of the Fifth Peak."

He paused, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes.

"After that defeat, I spent thirty years tempering my Sword Intent, all for the sake of wiping away that shame this year."

Looking at him, Liang Cheng suddenly understood something.

’Second Senior Brother has been cultivating bitterly for over a century. He’s been waiting for the Inquiry Conference, waiting for a chance—a chance to prove himself.’

’He and Master just want me to be in my best condition to fight for an opportunity.’

’Even though they think my chances are slim, they’re still giving it their all to help me.’

’If I fail, it’ll still be good experience. Then, after waiting another thirty years, I can aim for the top.’

’Master’s intentions are truly profound.’

At this thought, Liang Cheng took a deep breath, cupped his fists, and bowed.

"Don’t worry, Second Senior Brother. This year, our First Peak will not lose."

Li Jianfeng patted his shoulder.

"Good."

"Go on, then. You still have two months. Prepare well."

Liang Cheng nodded and turned to leave.

Behind him, Li Jianfeng watched his departing figure and murmured,

"Little Junior Brother, give it your all. Even if you have to wait quietly for thirty years, the next Inquiry Conference will surely be your stage."

...

「First Peak, Main Hall.」

Lie Mountain sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, with three people standing before him.

Li Jianfeng, Yu Xiuqi, and Liang Cheng.

Lie Mountain’s gaze swept across the three of them, and he nodded slightly.

"In two months is the Inquiry Conference."

"The three of you are the hope of my First Peak."

He paused, his gaze falling upon Liang Cheng.

"Cheng’Er, you joined the Sect last, but you have progressed the fastest."

"Jianfeng, Xiuqi, you must take good care of him."

Li Jianfeng cupped his fists. "Rest assured, Master."

Yu Xiuqi nodded silently.

Lie Mountain looked at Liang Cheng again.

"Cheng’Er, your aptitude is as rare as a phoenix feather or a qilin’s horn, even within the entire Penglai Sect."

He stood up and walked over to Liang Cheng.

"So you must remember, even though you just entered the Sect, you must give it your all and leave no regrets."

"You still have two months. Don’t think about anything else. Just focus on polishing your Martial Dao True Intent and advancing your Cultivation."

Lie Mountain only mentioned Martial Dao True Intent and didn’t go into specifics, which was his way of helping Liang Cheng keep his third Martial Dao True Intent—his Sword Intent—as a hidden trump card.

Liang Cheng’s heart tensed, and he cupped his fists in a bow.

"This Disciple understands."

Lie Mountain waved his hand.

"Go."

The three of them turned and left.

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

"Two months from now, on the Inquiry Platform, don’t feel burdened. Just give it your all."

...

「First Peak, Private Courtyard Quiet Chamber.」

Liang Cheng sat cross-legged, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing as his consciousness sank into his Sea of Consciousness.

A golden ocean surged with violent waves, where the Ling Frost Short Sword floated quietly.

Liang Cheng’s Blade Intent advanced further, his Fist Intent grew more condensed, and his hidden Sword Intent steadily improved. The Ling Frost Short Sword trembled and hummed within his Sea of Consciousness.

Disregarding their level of Cultivation, Liang Cheng could now hold his own when sparring with Li Jianfeng and Yu Xiuqi.

Li and Yu were utterly shocked by this, finally understanding why their master, Lie Mountain, valued Liang Cheng so highly.

Such comprehension, such innate talent—even in the Penglai Sect, he was a monster among monsters.

Moreover, Liang Cheng still had his Sword Intent hidden as a trump card. Combined with the power of the Ling Frost Short Sword, it was even more formidable than his Blade Intent, despite the latter being more advanced.

Both the Ice Soul Scripture and the Heaven-Burning Scripture had broken through. The Ice and Fire Pill Qi flowed through his Meridians like two great torrents, distinct and separate, never interfering with one another.

Operating under the full Chapter of the Crossing the Sea True Intent, his True Pill’s rotation speed had nearly doubled compared to a month ago, and the density of his Pill Qi far surpassed that of his peers.

...

「The third month.」

Liang Cheng stopped sparring with his two senior brothers and entered seclusion. He focused entirely on his Cultivation, settling his mind to polish his foundations.

The Ice Soul Scripture and the Heaven-Burning Scripture operated simultaneously. Harmonized by the Crossing the Sea True Intent, the Ice and Fire Pill Qi faintly began to resonate, forming a strange equilibrium.

On this day, Liang Cheng opened his eyes.

[Ice Soul Scripture Level 1: Beginner Level (15,864/50,000)]

[Heaven-Burning Scripture Level 1: Beginner Level (15,731/50,000)]

[Cloud Soaring Step: Beginner Level (3,682/10,000)]

[Turtle Breath and Spirit Concealment Technique: Beginner Level (3,793/10,000)]

[Blade Intent: Basic Level (28,674/100,000)]

[Fist Intent: Basic Level (48,654/100,000)]

[Sword Intent: Basic Level (12,564/100,000)]

Three days remained until the Inquiry Conference.

He had now emerged from seclusion, quietly awaiting the start of the conference.

The name Liang Cheng would soon be known throughout the Nine Peaks of the Penglai Sect!