EFB Chapter 118 Becoming an Apprentice
Chapter 118 Becoming an Apprentice
Chapter 117 Becoming an Apprentice
Main campus, Trial Valley.
The valley was now bustling with activity, as all the major clans of Yunhai City had come to witness the ceremony. After all, these were the pride of the main academy, and now, after observing them, they could choose to place their bets and make connections.
There are thirty-seven new disciples admitted this year, and they are all gathered here now. Apart from Liang Cheng, there are five or six others who are also at the True Essence Realm, and the rest are at the peak of the True Qi Realm.
If placed on Zhongyuan Island, it would be enough to sweep through an entire city.
Three purple-robed deacons stood solemnly in the center.
On a higher platform further away, several figures could be vaguely seen sitting upright, their auras as deep and boundless as the ocean; they were the teachers of the main academy.
"quiet."
The deacon in the center spoke, and his voice echoed throughout the valley.
"Today is the Inner Academy's newcomer test. There are two stages: the Path of Inquiry and the Combat Arena. Those who perform well overall will be favored by the Master and will be granted a Master Selection Order."
"Now, the first hurdle: Reflecting on one's own heart!"
The deacon waved his hand, and the clouds and mist in front of the valley dispersed, revealing a winding stone staircase with ninety-nine steps leading up to the mountainside.
"This path tests your willpower and perseverance. Let's begin!"
Thirty-seven disciples simultaneously rushed towards the Path of Inquiry.
Liang Cheng then stepped onto the first step unhurriedly.
At the Martial Academy, Bai Hong and Shen Jun had told him that the Path of Inquiry into the Heart at the main academy was a special gift from the Penglai Sect, allowing one to inquire about the Way of the Heart. At that time, Liang Cheng felt as if he were listening to a myth.
He immediately voiced his doubts: such methods are mysterious and profound, almost like those of immortals and gods. How could the Penglai Sect do such a thing?
Bai Hong looked serious at that time and only answered with four words.
Martial arts and spirituality.
As for the reason behind it all, it remains to be seen whether Liang Cheng can break through the mundane and find the answer.
Just as Liang Cheng's foot landed on the first step, an invisible pressure instantly enveloped his entire body.
This pressure doesn't act on the physical body, but directly on the mind, causing mental exhaustion and encouraging thoughts of retreat.
"That's interesting."
Liang Cheng's expression remained unchanged as he continued upwards.
Level 5, Level 10, Level 20 —
The pressure gradually increased.
Many disciples began to sweat, and their pace slowed down.
Some gritted their teeth and persevered, while others teetered on the brink of collapse.
Liang Cheng remained unfazed, as if walking on flat ground.
Mayflies are born in the morning and die at dusk, yet even with a breath of life remaining, they dance towards the light.
Though small as dust, aspiring to the clouds, with unyielding self-improvement, one will surely achieve great things.
The mayfly destiny bestowed upon him not only the talent to cultivate without bottlenecks and achieve success, but also an extremely tenacious will.
From a seaside laborer to a True Essence Realm expert, the hardships he has endured are far more brutal than the pressure of this Path of Self-Examination.
Level 30, Level 40, Level 50 —
He had already surpassed most of the people, and there were only seven or eight figures left in front of him.
Three steps ahead was a young man in brocade robes, with the cultivation level of the early True Essence Realm. He turned around and glanced at Liang Cheng, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
Liang Cheng ignored him and continued climbing upwards at his own pace.
He felt increasing pressure on his mind, and when he reached level 70, illusions began to appear.
The sound of Ning San Niang's sobbing rang in his ears: "Cheng'er, stop practicing martial arts, come home—"
The scene of Fu Chenzhou thrusting his sword at me flashed before my eyes—
Even Big Head and Er Gou, covered in blood, reached out to him, shouting, "Break!"
Liang Cheng gave a low shout, his eyes instantly clearing.
These entanglements, hatred, and regrets—
These are all merely resources for his cultivation, which will only strengthen his resolve to pursue the Dao.
Level 71 —
Now only two people remain ahead!
The young man in brocade robes maintained a steady demeanor and walked with firm steps, while the young woman moved with a light and graceful gait, seemingly unaffected by anything.
As for the others, they had already fallen into the depths of their conscience, their gazes complex as they looked at the three who had been admitted to the hospital!
Level 80 —
There were still two people ahead!
Level 90 —
There are still two people ahead!
Level 95 —
Level 99!
Liang Cheng took a step and climbed to the top of the mountain.
He was the third person to reach the summit.
The first one was the young man in brocade robes from earlier. He was breathing slightly heavily at the moment, and his gaze toward Liang Cheng was now more solemn.
The second was a young girl who had been practicing martial arts for a long time. She was the first female prodigy Liang Cheng had ever encountered.
The heroes of the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river; they should not be underestimated!
On the high platform, several teachers nodded slightly.
"Three of the newly admitted disciples have reached the summit, which is quite remarkable."
"Moreover, they are only two years old, yet they have already advanced to the True Essence Realm, and their temperament is so calm. They are truly the pride of geniuses."
"Next, let's see how strong their combat capabilities are."
After an incense stick had burned, everyone had recovered, and the steward immediately announced the start of the second stage.
"Second Stage: Battle Arena!"
The deacon pointed to the ten arenas on one side of the mountaintop.
"The rules are simple: you can defend or attack the arena. The loser can continue to challenge the defenders of other arenas. The final standing arena is ranked according to the number of times the defenders have defended the arena."
"Weapons may be used, but death or maiming must not be caused."
As soon as the words were spoken, the crowd stirred!
Those who could enter the main academy were no weaklings, and they were all vying for the arena.
The young man in brocade robes was the first to leap onto the central arena, standing with his sword in his arms, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
Liang Cheng chose the third ring on the left.
He had barely steadied himself when a disciple at the peak of the True Qi Realm leaped up to him.
Please advise!
The opponent clasped his hands in a fist salute, then drew his sword and attacked.
His swordsmanship was sharp and skillful, clearly indicating he was a genius.
Liang Cheng did not draw his sword, but instead struck out with his right palm.
Raging Bull Force - Mountain Collapse.
boom!
The disciple was sent flying off the stage, sword and all, his face filled with astonishment.
"Next."
Liang Cheng said calmly.
The other arenas were also fiercely contested, especially the central arena, where the young man in brocade robes had already defeated three people in a row, displaying overwhelming momentum.
Finally, another burly man at the early stage of the True Essence Realm leaped onto the third arena.
"I'll test your depth!"
The burly man wielded two hammers, his energy and vitality boundless.
Liang Cheng finally drew his sword.
"Wind and Thunder Slash - Wind Breaker".
With a single slash, wind and thunder appeared and disappeared.
The burly man parried with his double hammers, but was forced back three steps by the immense force transmitted from the blade, his tiger's mouth splitting open.
"I give up!"
He decisively jumped off the stage. It wasn't worth getting seriously injured at this point; it would be better to seize the time to challenge the other stage defenders.
On the high platform, a scholar's eyes lit up: "Perfect swordsmanship?"
"Not only that, his previous external combat skill should have been the Wild Bull Force, which had also reached the perfect level. This kid's talent in combat skills is extremely rare."
"The other two are also quite good. They have strong wills and their combat skills have reached the advanced stage. With a little polishing, they could probably reach the perfect stage as well."
"It seems the quality of the new disciples is quite high."
The combat arena lasted for half an hour.
Liang Cheng defended the arena for twelve rounds without anyone daring to challenge him again, maintaining a perfect record. Among his opponents were two early-stage True Essence Realm cultivators, both of whom were defeated within three moves.
In the end, besides Liang Cheng and the young man in brocade robes, the female disciple at the True Essence Realm also successfully defended all ten arenas.
The three men stared at each other from afar, their fighting spirit ignited.
Unexpectedly, the butler then announced the end of the arena battle, stating, "There will be a ranking battle after admission, at which time the winners will be determined."
Actually, this was a decision made unanimously by the teachers on stage.
"These three are all proud and arrogant individuals, truly outstanding people. They haven't been admitted to the hospital for further training yet, so there's no need to let them get injured, otherwise it would be a waste of time."
When Liang Cheng heard the steward announce the end of the arena, he quickly understood the reason. It seemed that the main academy, like the martial arts academy, valued its outstanding disciples even more and did not want them to suffer internal strife and perish.
This place is different from the Martial Arts Academy in Linwu City; it seems to have a more human touch here.
At this moment, several masters descended gracefully from the high platform and landed in front of their respective disciples.
"I am Chen Xuanfeng, Elder of the Transmission Hall of the Main Academy."
He looked at Liang Cheng, the young man in brocade robes, and the only victorious girl with admiration in his eyes, and then continued.
"Your performance has been observed by all the teachers of the main academy. The three of you have performed exceptionally well and have been granted the order to choose a teacher from the main academy. You may choose a teacher you wish to study under and you cannot refuse the teacher you wish to study under."
"Other disciples may submit their apprenticeship requests. Those who catch the Master's eye will be accepted as disciples. Those who are not accepted should not be discouraged. They should study and practice diligently, and there will be another opportunity."
As they spoke, Liang Cheng and the other two accepted the order to choose a teacher and bowed in gratitude.
Liang Cheng looked at the selection token in his hand. It felt slightly heavy. The front of the token was engraved with an ancient character "择" (selection), while the back had the cloud pattern emblem of the main academy.
Just then, several subtle yet clear voices rang in his ears almost simultaneously.
"Young friend Liang Cheng, I am Wu Qingyuan of the Enforcement Hall, specializing in swordsmanship and movement techniques. I have observed that your 'Dragon-Swimming Step' has reached perfection. You may come to my school for further study—"
"Young man, I am Zhou Mo from the Dan Ding Pavilion. A strong foundation of true qi is essential. You cultivate the Broken Wave Technique; I have a secret method to help you advance further!"
"Liang Cheng, I am Ling Yue, specializing in physical combat techniques. Your foundation in hard skills is excellent. If you join my sect, I guarantee you will reach the mid-stage of True Essence within three years!"
"Chen Xuanfeng of the Transmission Hall, your comprehension is astonishing. I am most skilled at training disciples. If you join my sect, your future will be bright."
'
"
Within just three breaths, the voices of five masters reached my ears, simple and direct.
This is the secret transmission technique used by martial artists at the True Qi Realm and above.
Liang Cheng remained expressionless. These teachers were all vying for his attention, which meant he had performed perfectly this time and was receiving such preferential treatment.
He looked up and saw that Qin Wentian and Xiao Qingxue were also holding their respective Master Selection Tokens, their expressions slightly changing, clearly indicating that they had also received similar telepathic messages.
On the high platform, the teachers were still sitting upright, but their eyes were all on the three of them.
"The time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
The purple-robed deacon in the center spoke up, "Those who hold the master selection token may step forward to become masters. Failure to select a master within the allotted time will be considered a forfeit."
The young man in brocade robes, Qin Wentian, was the first to move.
He walked straight to the scholar in blue robes carrying a long sword, bowed deeply, and said, "Disciple Qin Wentian wishes to become a disciple of Master Li Changfeng."
The scholar in the blue robe, Li Changfeng, smiled slightly and nodded in acceptance.
Xiao Qingxue then approached the gentle and refined female teacher in the white dress and bowed gracefully: "Disciple Xiao Qingxue is willing to follow Teacher Su Wan in cultivation."
Master Su nodded gently, her eyes filled with satisfaction.
Now, all eyes are on Liang Cheng.
Who will he choose?
Liang Cheng's gaze swept across the high platform.
Wu Qingyuan of the Enforcement Hall had a stern face; Zhou Mo of the Dan Ding Pavilion had white hair and beard; Ling Yue was tall and imposing, exuding an aura of great power.
Meanwhile, Chen Xuanfeng of the Chuan Gong Hall was stroking his beard and smiling as he looked at him.
Liang Cheng thought of Elder Huang's words, and considering that Chen Xuanfeng was the Transmission Elder with the broadest resources and vision, and that they were both masters of the sword, he was a perfect fit for him.
Without any hesitation, he stepped forward, walked up to Chen Xuanfeng, and bowed: "Disciple Liang Cheng wishes to become a disciple of Master Chen Xuanfeng."
As soon as the words were spoken, the expressions of the several teachers on the high platform varied.
A hint of regret flashed in Wu Qingyuan's eyes, Zhou Mo shook his head and sighed softly, while Ling Yue snorted heavily.
Chen Xuanfeng laughed heartily, his voice echoing through the valley: "Good! Good! From this day forward, you will be my fourth personally taught disciple!"
He stepped forward, helped Liang Cheng up, and took out a white jade token from his bosom: "This is a token personally passed down from your master to his disciple. With this, you can freely enter and exit the third floor and below of the Transmission Hall, and receive an extra thousand contribution points every month."
"Thank you, Master!"
Liang Cheng accepted it with both hands.
"Go back and rest to recover. Come find me at the Transmission Hall tomorrow."
Chen Xuanfeng patted him on the shoulder, then looked at the other two teachers, "Gentlemen, the selection of teachers for today is complete. You may all go your separate ways."
The three masters each led Liang Cheng and the other two away from the Trial Valley.
The other teachers didn't even glance at the other disciples in the arena before drifting away, while the black-clad steward coldly observed everyone present.
"If any of you wish to become disciples, you may go to the Master's residence and submit your application for apprenticeship. If, after seven days, no Master is still willing to accept you as a disciple—"
"Transferred to another hospital."
The words had barely left his mouth when an uproar erupted.
Everyone here is a prodigy from their respective city; who would want to be looked down upon like this?
Immediately, public sentiment was agitated!
the next day.
Liang Cheng arrived at the Chuan Gong Hall as agreed.
-
The Chuan Gong Hall is located on the northern slope of the Hanging Mountain. It is a seven-story tower with a body made of dark blue-black stones, which is simple and heavy.
After showing the white jade token, the tower-guarding disciple respectfully allowed him to pass.
"Senior Brother Liang, Master is waiting for you in the quiet room."
The third floor is Chen Xuanfeng's meditation room.
The room was simple, containing only a futon, a low table, an incense burner, and a long, sheathed sword hanging on the wall.
The scabbard was dark red, and the hilt was wrapped with a thin black rope. Although it was not drawn, it exuded a faint aura of menace.
Chen Xuanfeng sat cross-legged on a futon. When he saw Liang Cheng enter, he gestured for him to sit down.
"Liang Cheng, do you know why I most want to take you as my disciple?"
Chen Xuanfeng got straight to the point.
"This disciple does not know, please enlighten me, Master."
"Because you are a genius."
Chen Xuanfeng's gaze fell on the Strike Blade at Liang Cheng's waist. "During the battle in Trial Valley, your Wind and Thunder Slash technique has already reached the perfected stage, hasn't it?"
"Yes."
A glint flashed in Chen Xuanfeng's eyes: "Do you know how difficult it is to master an internal sword technique to perfection in a place like Zhongyuan Island?"
Liang Cheng shook his head.
After all, his cultivation had always been smooth, without any bottlenecks.
"As difficult as climbing to heaven!"
Chen Xuanfeng's tone was solemn: "Under the Four Islands Alliance, including the three cities of Zhongyuan Island, the martial arts traditions are crude, resources are scarce, and they only know how to judge heroes by their cultivation level."
"Those who have mastered combat skills to the minor level are considered quite good, and those who have mastered them to the major level are extremely rare. They only use combat skills as tools, seeking only to be able to use them, not to master them."
"But ultimately, it's just a matter of limited talent; I can't achieve the level of detail!"
He paused, then sneered, "This is a typical short-sighted move, relying entirely on talent and brute force, thinking that high cultivation level will allow one to crush everything."
"But what they don't know is that cultivation is the foundation of one's path, while combat skills are the means of protecting one's Dharma. Protecting one's Dharma is essential for attaining the Dao; neither can be lacking. Moreover, combat skills are the true battleground for martial artists to compete for the Dao!"
Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng was startled.
Chen Xuanfeng continued, "The main academy gathers the geniuses of the four islands and fifteen cities. In terms of innate talent, none of them are inferior to the others. As for cultivation level, everyone can achieve success through hard work and resources. It all depends on whether they can break through the bottleneck of their cultivation level and their own destiny."
"However, in combat skills, minor mastery means gaining some understanding, major mastery means grasping the essence, and perfection is touching the edge of the protective path!"
He stared at Liang Cheng and said, enunciating each word clearly, "The Penglai Sect's Ascension Conference is a gathering of geniuses vying for a spot. Who can guarantee they will definitely win?"
"Therefore, those who reach a higher level of combat skill will have a wider path ahead."
Chen Xuanfeng lowered his voice at this moment, "Your combat skills are at their peak, which means you have extraordinary comprehension. And this comprehension will bring unexpected surprises when you break through the mortal realm and enter the core realm after reaching the True Qi Realm of a Martial Artist!"
"That is the manifestation of the foundation of the Way, and it concerns the long journey of the Way!"
Chen Xuanfeng leaned forward slightly: "You come from Zhongyuan Island, yet you have managed to master the Wind and Thunder Slash and the Wild Bull Force to perfection, and the Profound Yin Sword Technique to a high level. Even your hard skills are extremely impressive."
"This comprehension and perseverance are more precious than your cultivation level and innate talent. There are many with excellent innate talent in the academy, but I took you in because I valued this seed of spiritual potential within you!"
Liang Cheng took a deep breath and solemnly said, "This disciple has learned much."
Chen Xuanfeng nodded in satisfaction, then waved his hand, his sleeves fluttering lightly. An invisible barrier of energy separated the inside from the outside. Liang Cheng's expression shifted; such a method was truly mysterious and profound.
At this moment, Chen Xuanfeng changed the subject: "However, there is one more thing I need to explain to you."
"Regarding Fu Chenzhou's attempt to ambush you, the General Hospital's investigation has yielded results."
Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng's eyes narrowed.
"Fu Chenzhou claimed that he was in seclusion in a secret room in Qinglan City during that period, and three elders and a steward of the city lord's mansion testified to this."
Chen Xuanfeng said calmly, "Of course, such testimony may not be credible, but there is no evidence to prove that he left the city. This matter has now become an unsolved mystery."
Liang Cheng remained silent for a moment.
He was not surprised by the result.
Chen Xuanfeng looked at Liang Cheng and said, "But you are my personal disciple. If you want the main academy to take action, I can join forces with several masters to force Qinglan City to hand over Fu Chenzhou as an example."
He paused again after saying this: "Or, you can wait until you are strong enough to settle this score yourself."
Liang Cheng suddenly looked up and slowly said, "This disciple wants to avenge himself."
"good!"
Chen Xuanfeng clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his eyes full of approval. "This is the kind of disciple Chen Xuanfeng should have! In the competition of martial arts, this is the spirit one should have!"
He said seriously, "Since that's the case, the main hospital will no longer interfere in this matter. But you must remember that within the main hospital, no one can touch you. Once you leave the main hospital, you will have to rely on yourself."
"Disciple understands."
At this moment, Chen Xuanfeng removed the soundproof barrier, his face serious.
"Now, tell me about your cultivation."
Chen Xuanfeng resumed his teacher-like demeanor, saying, "I heard from the steward of the Scripture Pavilion that you chose the Hunyuan Gang Body technique. This skill requires patience and gradual development, so don't rush it. We won't discuss it for now."
Liang Cheng did not mention that he had already mastered the basics of the Hunyuan Gang Body technique, and that his progress was astonishing.
"As for the third level of the Broken Wave Technique, the main academy has ample resources. You are still in the early stage of the True Essence Realm, so you will not encounter any bottlenecks for the time being. You can continue to improve."
"But your Wind and Thunder Slash—"
He got up and took the dark red longsword down from the wall.
"When I was young, I was known as the 'Mountain-Slaying Saber.' Today, I will pass on my saber techniques to you."
Clang—!
The long sword was drawn from its sheath; its blade was dark red like blood, and its edge was gleaming.
Chen Xuanfeng did not use his true energy; he simply stood holding his sword and slowly slashed horizontally.
This slash was extremely slow and without any fancy moves, yet it caused Liang Cheng's pupils to shrink sharply.
He seemed to see mountains collapsing and rivers drying up, and a will to sever everything rushed towards him!
The blade paused in mid-air as Chen Xuanfeng sheathed it.
"This sword can sever everything. Today I will pass on the sword technique to you. Do not disappoint your master."
He handed the martial arts manual to Liang Cheng, who accepted it with both hands, saying, "Thank you, Master."
"If you gain any insights into cultivation afterward, you can enter the secret chamber of the Transmission Hall for seclusion. Each chamber is inscribed with an independent spirit-gathering array, which greatly increases the concentration of spiritual energy."
"However, all of this requires contribution points. A month of seclusion requires 3,000 contribution points, so there is no need to apply unless necessary. The main academy has already inscribed a huge spirit-gathering array, which is sufficient for daily cultivation."
Chen Xuanfeng then hung his long sword back on the wall and looked at Liang Cheng: "Do you have any further questions? I can answer them for you now."
After thinking for a moment, Liang Cheng asked the question that Bai Hong had not answered at the Martial Arts Academy.
"This disciple has heard the Dean of the Martial Academy speak of martial arts reaching a divine level. I would like to ask Master, what is the meaning of such a realm?"
Chen Xuanfeng glanced at Liang Cheng and said, "This question is too advanced for you. I will answer it for you after you enter the True Qi Realm."
"That disciple has no other questions for the time being."
"Alright, go ahead. Come here on the first day of each month, and I will test your progress in cultivation."
Liang Cheng bowed and left the quiet room.