My martial arts have no bottlenecks.

Chapter 38 Clues

Liang Cheng bent down to examine the masked man's corpse and touched a heavy black iron token. The token was cold to the touch, with the words "Military Preparation" engraved on the front and "Xuan San" on the back.

Liang Cheng's pupils contracted slightly as he recalled the two people he had killed in the Chen Bainian incident, and then he thought of the gaunt and gloomy face of Wu Zhenshan, the treasurer of the Military Equipment Hall, on the viewing platform. His heart sank.

"People from the Martial Arts Hall?" Zhou Hu leaned closer for a look and gasped. "Wu Tianxiong is actually colluding with the Martial Arts Hall!"

Liang Cheng silently put away the token. Now it seemed that he had been forced into the vortex. Since things had come to this, the only way to be fearless was to increase his strength.

Next, they found a thin booklet with the title "Whirlwind Blade Technique" on the cover. After flipping through it, they found it to be just ordinary martial arts techniques, but now that the technique was complete, they could practice it. There were also some silver notes and coins, a bottle of healing medicine, and nothing else.

Liang Cheng turned around and walked to Wu Tianxiong's body. He took out a small oil paper package from his inner pocket, unfolded it, and found a yellowed secret recipe with the method of making Soul-Chasing Incense written on it.

Another small bronze incense burner, about the size of a palm, was found. The body of the burner was hollowed out, and there were some dark red incense ash residues inside. It was warm to the touch. It was a specially made incense burner by the Soul-Chasing Incense.

Liang Cheng suddenly realized why Wu Tianxiong was able to lock onto him; it seemed that Wu Xiao and the others had applied Soul-Chasing Incense to their bodies back then.

He then touched a piece of parchment, and a thought struck him, but he didn't show it on his face. He found some silver notes and coins, but nothing else.

"Senior brother, we shouldn't stay here any longer; we need to leave quickly."

The two then quickly cleaned up the scene. Liang Cheng used his powerful strength to shatter the ground, dig a deep pit, and buried the two corpses and the tokens, then kicked away fallen leaves to cover the new soil.

By the time everything was finished, it was completely dark.

"To the forward post station."

Liang Cheng helped Zhou Hu onto his horse.

……

Old Sang Inn, guest rooms.

The candlelight flickered.

Zhou Hu quickly bandaged his wound, sat down to the side, looked at Liang Cheng, and hesitated to speak.

"Senior brother, just say what you have to say."

"Junior Brother Liang," Zhou Hu's voice was hoarse, "when did you break through to the Transformation Realm? I didn't even notice, and the strength you just displayed is definitely not comparable to that of someone who has just entered the Transformation Realm."

Liang Cheng laughed and said, "I broke through to the next level shortly after returning from the spring hunt. As for my strength, it may be related to my fellow practitioners of hard skills."

He spoke casually, but Zhou Hu knew that this was by no means a matter of luck; a seventeen-year-old's mastery of the Transformation Realm was truly astonishing.

Not to mention the ability to kill a veteran mid-stage Transformation Realm expert head-on. Such combat power is probably unmatched among the younger generation in the entire Linwu City.

Zhou Hu opened his mouth, but finally let out a bitter laugh: "I have cultivated diligently for many years and gone through many hardships before I broke through to the Transformation Realm. Junior Brother Liang, the Martial Academy is your true domain."

Liang Cheng shook his head: "Without the care of my senior brother and master, I wouldn't be where I am today."

Zhou Hu felt a warmth in his heart, knowing that Liang Cheng wasn't just being polite. He stopped dwelling on it and instead asked, "Then the Martial Arts Hall token..."

"What token?"

Zhou Hu was taken aback, then burst out laughing. Apart from the two of them, no one knew what had happened. Even if the Martial Arts Hall wanted to cause trouble, they needed a legitimate reason.

That night, Zhou Hu tossed and turned, unable to sleep, his mind filled with Liang Cheng's domineering and unparalleled fist techniques. Liang Cheng, on the other hand, slept soundly, preparing to search for clues about the Stone Armor Technique the next day.

The two set off the next morning.

Zhou Hu had dark circles under his eyes, but he was in good spirits. The two rode at full speed and arrived at Qing Shi Town at noon.

Qingshi Town is much more prosperous than the seaside town. The roads are paved with bluestone, and the houses are neat and tidy. Qingshan Martial Arts School is located in the east of the town, with a black lacquered gate and an ancient plaque.

After the announcement, a disciple led the two inside.

The master of the hall, Han Yue, was a strong and muscular man in his fifties with piercing eyes and slightly bulging temples. His martial arts skills had clearly reached a high level.

Knowing that Liang Cheng was a directly recommended disciple of the Martial Arts Academy, he was quite polite.

When Liang Cheng explained his purpose and asked Han Yue if he knew any clues about the subsequent techniques of the Stone Armor Skill, Han Yue stroked his beard and laughed.

"So that's what you're after," he said cheerfully. "To be honest, the clues to the follow-up techniques of the so-called Stone Armor Skill fragment will require you to investigate the Martial Arts Academy's Hidden Martial Arts Pavilion yourself."

Liang Cheng and Zhou Hu exchanged a glance. "We would be extremely grateful for your guidance, seniors."

Han Yue explained, "Actually, when I was cultivating at the Martial Academy, I was just an outer disciple and only learned the Iron Bone Skill."

However, I heard that there is a complete copy of the Stone Armor Technique on the second floor of the Hidden Martial Arts Building. If you wish to find the complete inheritance of the Stone Armor Technique, the Hidden Martial Arts Building of the Martial Academy should be the only place to go.

"If you successfully enter the Martial Academy and become an inner disciple, as long as you have enough merit, borrowing the complete Stone Armor Technique will not be difficult."

So that's how it is; it came so easily.

With his mind made up, Liang Cheng stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Thank you for your guidance, senior."

Han Yue waved his hand: "It's nothing. If my nephew ever encounters any disciples of my Qingshan Martial Arts School, I hope you can help him out."

Liang Cheng nodded immediately, then took his leave. With May approaching, he also had to prepare to set off for Linwu City to participate in the martial arts academy's assessment.

Han Yue didn't press the matter further, saying, "Then I wish my nephew a safe journey."

"Thank you, senior."

The return journey was then smooth.

……

One day later, in the study of Yangwei Martial Arts School.

After listening to Zhou Huliang's report, Yang Wei remained silent for a long time; the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"A seventeen-year-old at the Transformation Realm," Yang Wei finally spoke, looking at Liang Cheng with a complex expression. "I saw that your physique was damaged back then, but I never expected that you would reach such a level."

He stood up, walked over to Liang Cheng, and patted him heavily on the shoulder: "I misjudged him, good, good!"

He said "good" three times in a row, his eyes filled with satisfaction and pride.

"As for Wu Tianxiong, he brought it upon himself. He's dead, so be it. As for the Martial Arts Hall, just pretend you know nothing. As long as you don't provoke them, they won't dare to openly attack the Martial Arts Academy disciples."

Yang Wei sat back down in his chair, regaining his composure. "Since the clues to the Stone Armor Technique are in the Martial Arts Academy's Hidden Martial Arts Building, that's the best place for you."

He looked at Liang Cheng with a serious expression: "Liang Cheng, you are now a seventeen-year-old genius at the Transformation Realm, and you have the qualification to be directly recommended by the Martial Academy. You will definitely be able to enter the Martial Academy."

Within the martial arts academy, geniuses abound, and the competition is fierce. Remember, guard your true self, cultivate diligently without ceasing, and one day you might also reach the True Qi Realm and achieve success in martial arts.

"This disciple will certainly live up to Master's expectations." Liang Cheng bowed solemnly.

Yang Wei nodded, his eyes gleaming.

A disciple who has reached the Transformation Realm at the age of seventeen—such a disciple is unlikely to be found again.

……

That evening, Liang Cheng took out the parchment and tried to piece it together again, but unfortunately, he still couldn't make out anything; it was still mostly incomplete. He could only wait to put it away properly again.

The next day, Liang Cheng focused on his studies and, while spending time with his mother, began practicing the Gale Blade Technique. Having another skill in hand was never a bad thing.

[Beginner's Guide to Whirlwind Blade Technique (1/200)]

Time passed by and it was already the end of April when Chen Bainian suddenly came to visit, looking very excited.

With direct recommendation from the martial arts academy, investing in the project could yield huge profits.

"Guest Liang, I, Chen, am pleased to announce my belated arrival. Please forgive my lateness; I have just returned from out of town and came to visit immediately."

Chen Bainian presented the gift box, and Liang Cheng thanked him. After a brief discussion, Liang Cheng suddenly spoke up.

"Master Chen, could you possibly do me a favor?"

"Please feel free to speak."

Liang Cheng whispered something to Chen Bainian, who nodded repeatedly, "It's a small matter, I'll send someone to do it."

"Alright, I'll give you the silver."

"Guest Liang, you're being too polite. It's just a small matter; there's no need to be so courteous."

"Then I shall accept your humble gift."

……

A small village by the sea.

When Chen Laosi got home, he saw his wife sneaking up on him. "Big Head's father, Big Head sent a letter through Master Chen. He said everything is fine outside. Here's the wages he sent. Take a look."

Five taels of silver.

Old Chen shuddered, quickly put it away, and told them not to tell anyone.

The same applies to Er Gou's family.

My son has really made something of himself!

I just don't know when I'll have time to go home.

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