My martial arts have no bottlenecks.

Chapter 40 Foreign Affairs Hall

"stop!"

Three disciples dressed in dark gray martial robes blocked the alley entrance. The corners of their robes were embroidered with the character "地" (earth). The leader was a square-faced youth. His gaze swept over Liang Cheng and Yun Jinghong's white robes with the character "人" (person), and the corners of his mouth twitched.

"New here? Do you know the rules?" The square-faced youth crossed his arms. "Newcomers to the Human Dormitory must give half of their monthly contribution points to the senior brothers in the Earth Dormitory. This is an old tradition of the Martial Academy."

Yun Jinghong didn't even lift her eyelids: "Get out of the way."

"Oh, you're pretty cocky, aren't you?" The tall, thin disciple on the left sneered. "Do you know who our Senior Brother Liu Meng is? He's ranked forty-ninth in the Earthly Dormitory! He'll take care of newbies like you..."

Before she finished speaking, Yun Jinghong stepped forward, her fingers forming a sword, and thrust out with a single strike.

"laugh!"

Yi Yun Jinghong brushed past the tall, thin disciple, his finger driving into the brick wall behind him, leaving a three-inch-deep hole.

The tall, thin disciple froze on the spot, completely taken aback.

Liu Meng's expression changed: "You actually dared to make a move? Do you know the rules of the Martial Academy, which forbid disciples from fighting each other?"

Yun Jinghong remained calm: "That's why I didn't attack him. If he tries to stop us again, we'll just go up to the arena."

Liu Meng's eyes flickered, and he suddenly grinned: "Alright, Junior Brother Yun, you have good skills. However, according to the rules of the Martial Academy, the protection period for newcomers is only three days. After three days, let's see who is truly superior on the arena."

He left with his men, and as he passed Liang Cheng, he added, "As for you, kid, I'll deal with you after I've dealt with Yun Jinghong."

Liang Cheng didn't say a word from beginning to end. After saying goodbye to Yun Jinghong, he returned to the meditation area. The door to the next room opened, and Li Mu poked his head out: "Senior Brother Liang, are you alright? That was Liu Meng from the Earth Dormitory, who specializes in extorting newcomers..."

Liang Cheng nodded: "Understood."

Li Mu hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "I heard that newcomers like us without any background should stick together."

Several fellow students from the same seaside town have formed a fishing gang to look after each other. Brother Liang, would you like to join us...?

"No need," Liang Cheng interrupted directly.

Li Mu opened his mouth, but ultimately did not try to persuade him further.

After closing the door, Liang Cheng sat cross-legged on the bed.

Fifty contribution points represent half a month's worth of his resources. If he gives them up this time, he'll get a hundred points next time. In the struggle for martial arts, not an inch can be yielded.

"The arena..." He looked at the academy rules booklet.

Turn to the arena terms: Both sides bet contribution points, the winner takes all, maiming or killing is prohibited, but mistakes are not considered.

In other words, as long as it's not intentional murder, the martial arts academy won't interfere if only a few bones are broken.

Liang Cheng closed the booklet and began to think about how to earn contribution points.

……

Silent all night.

The next morning, Liang Cheng appeared on time at the training ground on the east side of the dormitory.

Dozens of people were already practicing in the arena, the air filled with the whistling of fists and the flashing of swords. On the central stage, two disciples were fighting, while the crowd below the stage was full of spectators shouting and placing bets.

Liang Cheng paid no attention and focused on practicing the Gale Blade Technique. An hour later, the information in the few lines of small text in front of him changed.

[Beginner's Guide to Whirlwind Blade Technique (170/200)]

Now that he has reached the Transformation Realm and mastered three major techniques, his practice of the Gale Blade Technique has been twice as effective with half the effort.

At this moment, Li Mu handed over the task list he had copied down: "Senior Brother Liang, even the simplest cleaning task has twenty people vying for it..."

Liang Cheng took it and scanned it.

The tasks are divided into three levels:

Lower tier: Miscellaneous tasks, contribution points 5-20, highly competitive.

Medium: Support role (sparring, herb gathering, guarding, etc.), 30-100 contribution points, requires a certain level of strength.

Superior: Hunting (monsters, wanted criminals), starting at 150 contribution points, extremely high risk when venturing out.

Liang Cheng glanced at the task list; lower-level tasks yielded low rewards, while higher-level tasks required venturing out and carried uncontrollable risks.

With his current cultivation level at the Transformation Realm and the perfection of his three cultivation techniques, taking on medium-level missions is the safest option, allowing him to quickly accumulate points without prematurely revealing his full strength.

He carefully put away the list, already having made up his mind.

"Li Mu, where do we get these missions?"

"Just go to the Foreign Affairs Hall, accept the task, and register the information."

"Okay, thank you."

Liang Cheng strode away, and Li Mu called after him, "What mission are you planning to take?"

But Liang Cheng's figure had already disappeared around the corner.

The Foreign Affairs Hall is a large hall with blue tiles, and people come and go. When Liang Cheng stepped in, a wave of noise hit him.

On the left side of the main hall was a task list, with dozens of yellow papers densely pasted all over the wall, and many disciples were gathered in front of it, pointing and commenting.

Three disciples sat behind the long table on the right, responsible for registration.

Liang Cheng walked straight to the task list.

"Acquiring second-tier demon cores, ten points per core..."

"Sparring partner, Senior Brother Zhang, every day at 3 PM, needs to have strong resilience..."

"Escort the caravan to Qing Shi Town, five days, 200 points..."

His gaze swept quickly across the list, finally settling on the middle section:

"Three guards are needed to escort Elder Huang of the Alchemy Room to the Western Mountains to collect herbs. Requirements: Core Formation cultivation level. Reward: 150 points per day. Additional pills will be given upon completion of the herbs. Time limit: Departure in three days, for a period of two days."

With suitable conditions and high pay, Liang Cheng immediately noted down the task number and headed to the registration desk.

Ahead of him in line was a scarred disciple arguing with the deacon: "Why can't I take this escort mission?"

The deacon opposite him was a young man with triangular eyes, slowly flipping through a booklet: "Li Kui, last month you took on a guard mission, abandoned your employer halfway and ran back, and were deducted fifty reputation points. According to the rules, you can't take on missions outside the home if your reputation points are below sixty."

"Those were all accidents!" the scarred man said angrily.

"Next."

The triangular-eyed deacon didn't even glance at him, simply waving his hand.

Li Kui glared at the steward, then bumped into Liang Cheng's shoulder as he turned around, and cursed, "What are you looking at, you newbie?"

Liang Cheng ignored the other party and stepped forward to hand over his identity jade token: "Accept mission number 17, guarding the herb gathering."

The triangular-eyed deacon glanced at him, then looked at the jade token: "A newcomer to the Human Hall? Early stage of Transformation Realm..." He flipped through the booklet, "This mission is already full with three people."

Liang Cheng frowned: "The list doesn't indicate that the quota is full."

"It's just full." The butler closed the booklet. "Choose something else."

Liang Cheng's gaze swept over the booklet beside the deacon; the ink from the latest registration was still wet, and there was clearly a vacancy.

"The third name is empty," Liang Cheng said calmly.

The triangular-eyed deacon's face darkened: "I said it's full, and it's full. What, is the newcomer trying to cause trouble?"

Many people in the main hall looked over.

Liang Cheng stared at him: "The rule is that the task ends when there are three people. If there are not three, the steward has no right to refuse a disciple from accepting the task."

"Rules?" the deacon sneered. "Here, my word is law. Say another word, and believe me, I'll deduct your contribution points!"

The atmosphere froze.

"Zhao Ming, are you making things difficult for the newcomer again?"

A gentle voice came from the side door, and a middle-aged man in a green robe walked out. He was fair-skinned, beardless, and had a restrained aura. The triangular-eyed steward's expression changed, and he hurriedly stood up and bowed: "Master Chen."

The middle-aged man in the green robe took the booklet, glanced at it, and then looked at Liang Cheng: "You want to take this mission?"

"Yes."

"Early stage of the Transformation Realm, your cultivation is somewhat weak." The middle-aged man in the green robe pondered, "Elder Huang's missions are always dangerous; two of his disciples perished last year. Are you sure you want to take this on?"

"Sure."

"Alright." Master Chen picked up his brush and wrote Liang Cheng's name in the blank space. "Meet at the entrance of the alchemy room at Chenshi (7-9 AM) three days from now. Those who are late or retreat halfway will have double their contribution points deducted."

"Thank you, Uncle-Master." Liang Cheng accepted the stamped mission token. Zhao Ming, the triangular-eyed steward, looked grim but dared not utter a sound.

As Liang Cheng turned to leave, Zhao Ming sneered in a low voice, "Kid, Xishan isn't a training ground. Be careful, you might be able to catch him, but you might not be able to come back alive."

Liang Cheng kept walking, completely ignoring the other person. Zhao Ming's face grew increasingly ugly. He stared at Liang Cheng's back, his knuckles turning white from clenching his fists.

That kid needs to be taught a lesson.