touchnovel Chapter 79 True Teachings
Chapter 79 True Teachings
Chapter 79 The True Teachings (20,000 words, please subscribe)
In the direction of Black Wind Ridge, a raging fire shot into the sky, billowing thick smoke like a wolf's beacon, clearly visible even from ten miles away.
In the dense forest at the foot of the mountain, a Xu family spy who had been lying in wait suddenly stood up, looked at the fire that illuminated half the sky, his expression changed drastically, and then he quickly went up the mountain.
When he rushed up the mountainside, he saw that the once easily defensible gate had become ruins, and among the charred embers, he could vaguely see charred corpses.
His throat went dry, and a chill ran down his spine. Tie Xiongshan was a True Qi Realm expert, yet he died silently.
He dared not delay for a moment, immediately leaping onto his fast horse, whipping it wildly, and galloping off towards Linwu City.
This matter must be reported immediately.
After descending the mountain, Liang Cheng did not follow the official road but instead wandered through the forests, not wanting to reveal his whereabouts for the time being.
After walking for about twenty miles, the sound of metal clashing came from the valley ahead, mixed with the sharp sound of sword energy cutting through the air.
He kept walking, but suddenly heard a name and stopped in his tracks. His figure was like a wisp of smoke as he swept up an ancient tree.
The valley was in complete disarray. More than ten bandits, dressed in haphazard leather armor and with fierce faces, had formed a strange formation, surrounding a man at the center.
-
"Yun Jinghong, today this Western Hills will be your burial ground. Even the Martial Academy can't save you!"
The person surrounded was dressed in white, stained with blood, with a deep wound on his shoulder that exposed bone, yet the long sword in his hand remained sharp; it was none other than Yun Jinghong.
The bandits who attacked him were three experts at the peak of the Transformation Realm. Their moves were ruthless and cunning, and they coordinated with each other, clearly skilled in combined attacks.
The remaining henchmen roamed the perimeter, constantly harassing Yun Jinghong with hidden weapons, forcing her to defend herself and gradually causing her breathing to become disordered.
In a critical situation, his swordplay suddenly changed. He completely abandoned defense and went straight for the scarred leader, intending to trade his life for his own!
"court death!"
Scarface grinned maliciously as he brought down his ghost-headed dagger, which carried a foul stench.
Just then, three streaks of sword energy silently shot out from the shadows of the forest.
fast!
quasi!
ruthless!
"Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!"
Three soft sounds rang out simultaneously.
Scarface and the other two leaders who had reached the peak of the Transformation Realm suddenly froze, a crimson dot appearing between their brows, which was then quickly covered by a thin layer of white frost.
The three men, their eyes still filled with disbelief and astonishment, collapsed to the ground with a thud.
The bandits' formation was thrown into chaos instantly!
Yun Jinghong reacted instantly, seizing the fleeting opportunity. Her longsword rose again like a startled swan, bringing with it a dazzling yet deadly sword light, instantly killing all the remaining bandits who had lost their leader.
The valley fell silent instantly, leaving only the heavy stench of blood.
Yun Jinghong leaned on the ground with her sword, breathing heavily. The wound on her shoulder reopened due to the exertion, and blood gushed out.
He took a deep breath, took out some wound medicine from his pocket and sprinkled it on, then swallowed a Qi and Blood Pill before solemnly clasping his hands towards the forest where the sword energy came from.
"Thank you so much for saving me, senior! I am deeply grateful. May I show myself so I can express my gratitude in person?"
The forest was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Yun Jinghong waited for a moment, but received no response.
He didn't ask any further questions, but simply bowed deeply towards the forest again, then silently began to clean up the battlefield and collect the spoils of war, his movements swift and efficient.
Three days later, in Linwu City, at the Martial Academy.
Liang Cheng, looking travel-worn, walked straight into the Foreign Affairs Hall. The disciples in charge inside were taken aback when they saw him enter, but then they realized what was happening.
"Senior Brother Liang, is it time to hand over the mission?"
Liang Cheng placed the token representing the leader of the Black Wind Bandits on the counter and said in a calm voice, "The bandit suppression operation at Black Wind Ridge in the Western Mountains has resulted in the execution of the bandit leader, Tie Xiongshan."
The disciple in charge gasped and quickly checked.
A moment later, he raised his head, his face full of admiration and shock: "It's confirmed. The bandit leader, Tie Xiongshan, is indeed a True Qi Realm villain. Senior Brother single-handedly wiped out this fiend; your merit is immense. 15,000 contribution points!"
He manipulated the jade tablet, which shimmered with light. Liang Cheng accepted the jade tablet, and his contribution points had increased to 16,370.
He nodded slightly, put away the jade token, and turned to walk towards the back mountain.
As soon as he left, the Foreign Affairs Hall erupted in chaos.
"Did you hear that? Senior Brother Liang Cheng is back! And he's taken down Black Wind Ridge!"
"Iron Might Mountain? That powerful bandit at the True Qi Realm? My God!"
"Fifteen thousand contribution points, I've never seen so many in my entire life —"
"Go quickly and inform all the teachers!"
Liang Cheng did not return to the Tianshe Courtyard, but instead went to Huang Lao's alchemy room on the back mountain.
This time, Elder Huang waited for Liang Cheng in person at the door. He nodded almost imperceptibly when he saw Liang Cheng's aura, and then spoke directly.
"Kid, here to settle your debt?"
Liang Chengben was still somewhat excited, but upon hearing this, he instantly collapsed. This was his major creditor. Without saying a word, he took out the jade pendant and then the silver notes he had obtained from Black Wind Ridge.
Old Huang narrowed his eyes, quickly counted the silver notes—30,000 taels—and then put them into his pocket with satisfaction. He then transferred 15,000 contribution points and threw the jade token back.
"All debts are settled, and the matter is wiped clean."
Liang Cheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was better than he had imagined; at least he was no longer in debt.
However, he continued, "Elder Huang, could you please help me exchange some Xuanjin Powder and Earth Vein Stone Milk? I'll pay you back later."
Old Huang was taken aback upon hearing this, then his eyes gleamed. "You kid not only broke through to the True Qi Realm, but you've also broken through to the Golden Armor Realm with your Stone Armor Technique?"
He then pulled Liang Cheng into the alchemy room. "Kid, I can actually help you exchange it for free, as long as you help me test the medicine, how about it?"
Liang Cheng immediately shook his head. Now that his true qi has been mastered, he will definitely have a lot of contribution points, so why take the risk?
Upon hearing this, Elder Huang narrowed his eyes. Liang Cheng reacted by circulating his true qi, and his heart trembled. He had known before that Elder Huang was not simple, but now that he had broken through to the True Qi Realm, he could better appreciate the unfathomable strength of the other party.
However, Old Huang quickly regained his composure. "Alright, then it's the same as always. Come and pick up your things when the time comes. Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret for you. Otherwise, you wouldn't have asked me to get these things."
"Thank you, Elder Huang."
At this moment, Elder Huang suddenly asked, "How many seeds of true energy have you condensed?"
"what?"
"Those rotten wood people, even with the good fortune of heaven, break through with only one true qi seed; those of average talent have only two or three; those of superior talent have four or five; those of prodigy have six or seven; and those with perfect Dao foundation have eight or nine. How about you, kid?"
Without any hesitation, Liang Cheng replied, "Five!"
Old Huang squinted at him for a while, but Liang Cheng remained expressionless. "Remember to say the same thing to those old teachers at the Martial Academy: Get lost."
Old Huang ignored Liang Cheng, who sullenly touched his nose, bowed, and took his leave.
As soon as they stepped out the door, they were stopped by the disciples and invited to the Mingxin Pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, Lü Bingchen and Yan Song were already waiting. The moment Liang Cheng stepped into the room, the two high-ranking members of the martial arts academy's gazes fell on him like lightning.
Immediately, the two burst into laughter, feeling incredibly happy!
"Good! Good! Good!"
Lu Bingchen said "good" three times in a row, stepped forward and patted Liang Cheng's shoulder heavily, feeling the steady and reliable aura in his eyes, his eyes full of satisfaction.
"His true energy is condensed and unyielding, his foundation is as solid as an abyss. He has indeed broken through! Our Martial Academy has gained another genius at the True Qi Realm!"
Yan Song's usually cold and hard face broke into a smile as he nodded and said, "It's good that you've returned safely. The Black Wind Ridge incident was handled cleanly and efficiently, which not only enhanced the prestige of our Martial Academy but also prevented future troubles. Excellent."
Just then, a gentle yet vast aura quietly enveloped Mingxin Pavilion.
An elderly man, dressed in a simple gray robe and with a slender face, appeared out of nowhere and stood in the pavilion.
Lü Bingchen and Yan Song immediately bowed respectfully: "Dean."
Bai Hong, Dean of the Martial Arts Academy.
Dean Bai Hong's gaze fell on Liang Cheng, as if it could penetrate all illusions and reach the source. He looked at him for a moment, then slowly nodded, his voice calm.
"How many seeds of true energy have you condensed?"
Five.
Yan Song and Lü Bingchen were both shocked, and Bai Hong couldn't help but smile.
"Liang Cheng, at the age of eighteen, entered the Martial Academy, diligently cultivated without ceasing, fought beyond his level, ascended to the Heavenly Palace, quelled bandits in the Black Wind Ridge of the Western Mountains, and broke through to the True Qi realm."
"Talent, temperament, perseverance, and combat prowess are all top-notch."
"Today, in the name of the Dean of the Martial Academy, I hereby accept you as my true disciple, grant you a true discipleship courtyard, and allow you to enjoy true discipleship resources. An auspicious day will be chosen for the grand ceremony of your true discipleship, and this will be announced to the entire city."
A true disciple!
The martial arts academy has countless disciples, but only a handful of them in each generation may become true disciples.
That means the highest level of training from the Martial Academy, the most crucial resource allocation, and future influence in Linwu City!
In this generation, there are only two true disciples, both of whom are currently on missions and not in the Martial Academy. Thus, Liang Cheng becomes the third true disciple of the Martial Academy.
Liang Cheng took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a deep bow, and said, "Disciple Liang Cheng thanks the Dean and will certainly live up to the Martial Academy's expectations!"
Bai Hong smiled slightly, his figure slowly fading away, leaving only his echoing voice: "Three days later, in front of the Wuying Hall, the True Inheritance Ceremony will be held."
""
The news that the dean had personally accepted Liang Cheng as a disciple and promoted him to the rank of true disciple instantly swept through the entire martial arts academy, and then spread to every corner of Linwu City at an even faster speed.
City Lord's Mansion.
Shen Wenyuan put down his teacup, clapped his hands, and laughed loudly: "Good lad! I knew I hadn't misjudged you! True Qi Realm! A true disciple! Hahaha, that old bastard Wu Zhenshan must be having quite a show right now!"
Inside the Military Equipment Hall, Wu Zhenshan sat silently behind his desk, his knuckles slowly tapping the tabletop.
After a long silence, he groaned, "True Qi Realm! A true disciple of the Martial Academy! This is indeed a bit troublesome."
A sinister glint flashed in his eyes. "Fine, I'll let you be glorious for a few days. There's plenty of time in the future."
"Someone, take this letter to Xu Zhang at the Xu residence."
"Yes."
Xu Mansion.
The atmosphere in Xu Zhang's study was oppressive at this moment.
Xu Zhang sat in the armchair with a somber expression, the teacup in his hand already covered in cracks. Below him, Xu Zhi's face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with disbelief and fear.
Xu Feng sat to one side with his head down, his fingertips gently caressing a warm jade pendant in his sleeve. No one knew what he was thinking.
"Advancing to the True Qi Realm, slaying Tie Xiongshan, a true disciple of the Martial Academy—"
Xu Zhang mumbled repeatedly, his voice dry, his chest heaving violently.
He knew that his relationship with Liang Cheng was already deadlocked, with no possibility of turning things around. And now that the other party had advanced to the True Qi Realm, he wondered how many True Qi Seeds he had condensed.
-
"Father, what should we do?"
Xu Zhi's voice trembled slightly. Who would have thought that a fisherman's son would become such a big trouble?
Xu Zhang closed his eyes, then regained his composure. He didn't answer Xu Zhi's question, but instead looked at Xu Feng, "Feng'er, if anything unexpected happens, I entrust Zhi'er to your care. As for Liang Cheng, I'll see what he can do to me at the True Inheritance Ceremony!"
Xu Feng nodded slightly, but did not speak.
The fishermen's sons, who were once a major threat, have now become a serious problem.
After Xu Feng left, Xu Zhang suddenly sighed. He took out a letter from his sleeve, which was sent by Wu Zhenshan and handed to Xu Zhi.
After reading it, Xu Zhi, filled with shock and fear, said in a shrill voice, "How could Treasurer Wu be so cruel as to discard my father after he has served his purpose, leaving him to bear the blame alone?"
"Zhi'er, calm down."
Once Xu Zhi had calmed down a bit, Xu Zhang continued, "Remember what I'm about to say: after tonight, don't come to the Xu residence again. Find that thing from the Qiao family as soon as possible."
If you are obedient to Qiao Zhi, Liang Cheng will not easily lay a hand on you because of his martial arts master. You must not think about revenge. Remember, unless your strength is unmatched in Linwu City.
Live a low-key life after that until you find the Qiao family's belongings, then leave immediately. Return only when you are powerful enough to be fearless.
"Did you remember?"
Xu Zhi nodded repeatedly, tears welling in his eyes.
"Alright, it's getting late, you should go back to the Qiao residence."
"Father, take care!"
Tianshe.
Lu Qingzhou clenched his fists and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Unfortunately, Liang Cheng refused to see anyone for the past three days, but he knew that Liang Cheng was a good person and that his previous actions would surely be rewarded handsomely.
Unfortunately, Liang Cheng progressed too quickly. When Liang Cheng was promoted to the Heavenly Palace, the plan to have him become a disciple of a certain master in the Martial Academy failed.
But who could have imagined that Liang Cheng would be so exceptionally talented? It can only be blamed on the fact that the teacher at the time was not firm enough and wanted to wait and see, thus missing a golden opportunity.
-
Three days later, in front of the Wuying Hall of the Martial Academy.
Banners fluttered in the breeze, and guests gathered in droves.
Almost all the prominent forces in Linwu City were present.
Shen Wenyuan of the City Lord's Mansion, Wu Zhenshan of the Martial Arts Hall, heads of various families, leaders of chambers of commerce, and others were all seated in the viewing area.
On the high platform in the center of the square, Dean Bai Hong sat in the main seat, with Lu Bingchen, Yan Song and other high-ranking members of the Martial Arts Academy standing on both sides.
The auspicious time has arrived.
The bell tolled nine times, its sound reverberating throughout the city.
Liang Cheng, dressed in a brand-new, dark black robe of a true disciple, embroidered with dark gold cloud patterns of the martial arts academy, steadily stepped onto the high platform.
His face was calm, and as he walked, the air around him stagnated slightly, with a faint sense of wind and thunder following him—a manifestation of true energy.
"That's Liang Cheng? He's far too young!"
"True Qi Realm, a nineteen-year-old True Qi Realm cultivator, and a true disciple at that—"
"The younger generation is truly formidable. The Martial Academy remained silent for three years, but its emergence has astonished everyone."
A low murmur arose.
The ceremony proceeded as planned.
Dean Bai Hong personally bestowed upon the True Disciple a token and a True Disciple Jade Ring symbolizing his identity. After that, Liang Cheng moved into True Disciple Peak, receiving a monthly allowance of 10,000 contribution points. He could bring his close relatives to live there and had his own quota of miscellaneous disciple positions.
Countless gazes from below the stage converged here, filled with envy, awe, and apprehension.
There are so many different things.
Just as the ceremony was about to conclude, after Liang Cheng had expressed his gratitude, he suddenly stepped forward, faced the many guests below the stage, clasped his hands in a fist and looked around.
The room gradually quieted down, and all eyes were on him.
Liang Cheng spoke in a clear voice, infused with true energy, clearly reaching everyone's ears: "I, Liang Cheng, have been honored by the Dean and the Martial Academy for being promoted to a true disciple. However, I still have a personal grudge and a public case that must be settled here!"
His words shocked everyone present. Lu Bingchen and Yan Song exchanged a glance but did not stop him, clearly indicating that they had a tacit understanding.
Liang Cheng raised his hand, and two items appeared in his palm.
In his left hand was a heavy black iron token engraved with a ferocious ghost head, and in his right hand were several letters with old, worn covers.
"This is the identity token of Iron-Armed Fiend Blade Tie Xiongshan, the bandit leader of Black Wind Ridge in West Mountain!"
"These letters, found in a secret chamber on Iron Mountain, were personally written by Xu Zhang, the head of the third branch of the Xu family in Linwu City, and arranged to ambush and kill Liang at Black Wind Ridge!"
"Whoosh—!"
The audience erupted in cheers!
Countless gazes were directed at Xu Zhang in the audience!
Xu Zhang's face instantly turned ashen. He stood up abruptly and shouted sternly, "You brat, how dare you tarnish the reputation of my Xu family? You were already a suspect in Elder Xu Cangming's disappearance. Who knows if you killed him, stole the letter, and then forged its contents to frame me?!"
Liang Cheng's gaze was like lightning, fixed on Xu Zhang.
"Whether it's a forgery or not, a simple examination will tell. Do you dare to ask Special Envoy Shen of the City Lord's Mansion, or any of the virtuous gentlemen present, to examine the handwriting on the spot?"
Shen Wenyuan stood up at the opportune moment, his face solemn: "This envoy can make the appraisal on your behalf."
He looked at Xu Zhang, his gaze sharp. "Xu Zhang, to prove your innocence, are you willing?"
Dean Bai Hong then spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it suppressed all the noise: "Since it involves a conspiracy to assassinate my martial arts academy's disciples, violating the ironclad rules of my martial arts academy, the letter will be personally examined by this academy."
With a flick of his wrist, the letter in Liang Cheng's hand flew into his.
Bai Hong glanced at it, and after a moment, handed it to Shen Wenyuan. Wu Zhenshan remained calm and sat silently, as if he had nothing to do with the matter.
Shen Wenyuan then looked up at Xu Zhang. "The handwriting and seal match those of Patriarch Xu's past documents. Xu Zhang, what else do you have to say?"
The Dean of the Martial Arts Academy and the City Lord's Special Envoy personally verified the verdict, making the final decision!
Xu Zhang's lips moved slightly, his fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of his robe until his knuckles turned white, and the color drained from his face. His gaze swept rapidly over Wu Zhenshan, who stood expressionless beside him, and the last shred of hope in his heart vanished.
He knew there was no chance of a peaceful resolution today. Xu Zhang's eyes suddenly filled with bloodshot veins, and he roared hoarsely, "So what if it is?!"
"Liang Cheng, you little thief, today I stand here and fight you to the death! Do you dare accept?!"
He completely abandoned all pretense of civility, wanting to use his last bit of force to fight for a sliver of hope, even if it meant taking Liang Cheng down with him in the worst-case scenario!
The entire audience erupted in uproar!
No one expected that the grand ceremony of passing on the true teachings would turn into a life-or-death battle!
Liang Cheng remained unmoved as he faced Xu Zhang's predatory gaze.
He stepped forward and bowed to Dean Bai Hong: "Dean, since this person has already admitted it and publicly provoked us, I request to settle this score here in front of the Wuying Hall, regardless of life or death!"
Bai Hong gave Liang Cheng a deep look, then glanced at Xu Zhang, who seemed to be going crazy, and slowly nodded: "Granted."
"This battle will determine the victor and the vanquished, and all grudges will be settled afterward. No one may use this as a pretext to start another conflict; otherwise, they will be considered an enemy of our Martial Academy."
The implication is that Bai Hong supports Liang Cheng in killing Xu Zhang, but this matter should remain with Xu Zhang personally and not escalate into a full-scale war between the Martial Academy and the Xu family.
This also leaves room for the Xu family to maneuver.
"Thank you, Dean!"
Liang Cheng turned around, took a step, and gracefully landed from the high platform onto the wide martial arts arena in the center of the square. He looked at Xu Zhang, who had also leaped into the arena with a violent aura.
Then he reached out and slowly drew the Strike Blade from his waist. The blade was dark, with faint star patterns and black gold lines, shimmering with a cold luster in the sunlight.
Xu Zhang's gray-black true energy suddenly erupted, and a pair of black halberds made of fine steel slid out from his sleeve, their blades gleaming coldly.
A great war is about to break out!
[PS: I really can't finish writing anymore, my head is buzzing, I need to sleep. I probably won't wake up until the afternoon, and then I'll resume my normal 9 AM update tomorrow. Dear readers, please subscribe and vote!]