EFB Chapter 74 Severing True Qi
Chapter 74 Severing True Qi
The Western Hills are shrouded in miasma and have a cold, deep pool.
Liang Cheng sat cross-legged on a dark green rock by the pool, surrounded by a grayish-white poisonous miasma. An ordinary martial artist at the Transformation Realm would feel dizzy and disoriented in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
He seemed oblivious, his physique, at the minor completion stage of the Bronze Armor Realm, shimmered with a bronze glow, slowly dissipating and eliminating the infiltrating miasma.
The water here is icy cold, subtly matching the aquatic environment required for the Broken Wave Technique. He sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his internal energy flowing like a great river, circulating endlessly.
During the day, he used the extreme cold of the cold pool to refine the Qi and blood of the Breaking Waves Technique. At night, he deliberately introduced a small amount of miasma into his body, combined with medicinal ointment, to polish his copper skin and iron bones in subtle ways.
In the complex environment where poisonous miasma and icy fog intertwine, the agility and turns of the Youlong Step are pushed to their limits.
One wrong step could plunge you into a quagmire.
Unbeknownst to him, half a month had passed. The oppressive environment of the cold pool, coupled with the breakthrough pills that broadened his meridians, allowed his cultivation speed to increase once again.
[Severing Waves Technique, Level 1: Mastery (1600/6000)]
[Stone Armor Skill (Bronze Armor): Minor Success (1250/2000)]
【Dragon Step: Mastery (1801/3000)】
……
Foreign Affairs Hall of the Martial Arts Academy.
Disciple Zhao Ming put down the accounts in his hand, his brows furrowed. He was responsible for verifying the records of some resource exchanges, and a recent message caught his attention.
In just half a month, Huang Lao from the alchemy room exchanged thirty catties of copper-melting liquid, fifteen catties of fire-patterned steel, and several kinds of medicinal materials to aid in body tempering.
Master Huang was skilled in alchemy, but his physique was mediocre. Why would he need these materials for body tempering?
"Liang Cheng..."
Zhao Ming subconsciously licked his dry lips. His heart was racing, and he quietly retrieved an earlier exchange record.
Going back to the time before and after Liang Cheng's disappearance, there were indeed unusual resource flows at Elder Huang's place, and they had a subtle resemblance to Liang Cheng's previous exchange habits.
Liang Cheng was not dead, and was hiding with Elder Huang. Zhao Ming dared not make a sound, and chose to observe in secret.
Three days later, he learned from his investigation that Huang Lao had gone to the direction of Qianzhang Valley in Xishan alone. Shortly after his return, the exchange of supplies such as miasma-avoiding pills and cold-dispelling herbs needed by the alchemy room quietly increased.
When all the clues were put together, a ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Ming's eyes. Instead of reporting to the Martial Academy, he secretly contacted the Xu family that very night.
……
The Xu residence, a secret room.
"The Frozen Pool of the Thousand Miasma Valley?" Xu Feng tapped his fingers lightly on the table, holding the secret report Zhao Ming had secretly handed him. "Is the information reliable?"
Zhao Ming replied in a low voice, "I'm 70% sure that Elder Huang's resource exchange is abnormal, and he has been frequently preparing supplies to enter the miasma recently."
If Liang Cheng were alive, the treacherous environment of the Cold Pool would be something ordinary people would avoid at all costs. After all, his formidable physical strength made it more suitable for him to hide and cultivate.
Xu Zhang sat in the main seat, pondered for a moment, and his eyes flashed with a cold light: "Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free. The Flipping River Flood Dragon has been hiding in the Martial Academy recently, so we need to send another True Qi Realm expert to check on him."
Zhao Ming was startled upon hearing this. "A True Qi Realm expert? Wouldn't bringing him into the Martial Academy make me too conspicuous?"
"We can't afford to fail this time. We must strike decisively and eliminate any future threats." Xu Zhang's tone was resolute. "In a place like Thousand Miasma Valley, who can truly say for sure if someone hiding their true identity dies?"
At this moment, Xu Feng did not respond. Xu Zhang cursed inwardly, "I will ask my third uncle to help. Liang Cheng will not be as lucky as before."
Xu Feng's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Second Uncle is wise."
Then he said to Zhao Ming, "I'll have to trouble you to bring the person into the martial arts academy then."
"I understand, young master, please rest assured."
……
Seven days later.
Thousand Miasma Valley, Hantan.
Liang Cheng sat cross-legged in the icy pool water to stimulate the circulation of his qi and blood. His body was covered with ointment, and his progress in the Stone Armor Kung Fu was becoming increasingly gratifying.
[Severing Waves Technique, Level 1: Mastery (1420/6000)]
[Stone Armor Skill (Bronze Armor): Minor Success (1970/2000)]
【Dragon Step: Mastery (2610/3000)】
At this moment, under the combined pressure of the icy pool and the ointment, the bronze luster beneath the skin surged violently like molten copper.
"Click..."
A faint yet clear cracking sound emanated from within, as if some kind of constraint was breaking down. Amidst the excruciating pain, surging blood and qi erupted from the depths of the bone marrow, instantly sweeping through the limbs and bones.
The muscles contracted and relaxed on their own, and the bronze luster on the skin subdued, transforming into a warm and deep dark bronze color. The texture of the skin appeared naturally, as if it were created by nature.
There is no need to consciously exert any force on the body anymore. When the skin and flesh are attacked, they naturally develop a metallic texture, becoming as supple as copper, thus deflecting the force.
A sense of solid, mountain-like power arises spontaneously.
【Stone Armor Technique (Bronze Armor): Mastery (1/5000)】
Before Liang Cheng could even feel his surprise, his ears twitched as he heard a very faint sound coming from afar.
Someone is coming.
He instantly stopped his practice, completely concealing his aura within his body, hiding in the shadows, his gaze fixed on the source of the sound, remaining motionless.
A few breaths later, two figures emerged from the thick fog and appeared at the edge of the icy pool.
The leader was an old man in black robes with a sinister face. He carried a thin sword on his back, and his aura was concealed, yet the surrounding poisonous miasma could not get close to him.
A True Qi Realm expert!
The person behind him was Zhao Ming.
"Senior Xu, this is it. Nobody usually wants to stay in this godforsaken place for long." Zhao Ming spat lightly, his gaze sweeping around.
The old man in black robes was none other than Xu Cangming, an elder of the Xu family. His narrow eyes, like those of a venomous snake, swept across the area around the cold pool, finally settling on the rocky area where Liang Cheng was hiding.
"Come out," Xu Cangming said in a hoarse voice. "Being able to cultivate in a place like this shows you have some skill, but unfortunately, your life will be spared today."
Knowing he could no longer hide, Liang Cheng slowly emerged from behind the rocks, calmly glancing at Zhao Ming: "You brought an outsider to the Martial Academy, aren't you afraid the Dean and the others will blame you?"
Zhao Ming grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. "Isn't this all because of you? If you had died at the hands of the River-Turning Dragon, why would I have taken the risk? It's just that you've progressed too quickly, so I had to strike first."
After saying this, he bowed respectfully to Xu Cangming, "Senior, please take action and kill Liang Cheng!"
Xu Cangming did not answer, but moved his body, and a three-foot sword aura descended with frost, which was actually similar to the style of the River-Turning Dragon.
Liang Cheng launched the operation immediately.
Dragon Steps - A Startling Dragon Appears!
His figure swayed like a ghost, dodging the attack, while his right hand reached to his waist and drew his sword, the blade flashing like a cold moon.
"puff!"
The sword energy clashed, stirring up a gust of wind, and Xu Cangming's pupils contracted slightly.
That last strike was swift and ruthless, actually blocking my attack. This kid's strength is far greater than I expected!
"Excellent swordsmanship!" Xu Cangming suppressed his shock and anger, becoming more prepared. "No wonder he survived the attack on the River-Turning Flood Dragon; truly remarkable!"
No longer arrogant, he unleashed his True Qi Realm cultivation, his figure shooting towards Liang Cheng like lightning, thrusting his sword straight at him, the sword energy condensed, breaking through the air silently.
It pointed directly at Liang Cheng's brow!
Instead of retreating, Liang Cheng advanced!
He knew that running away from a True Qi Realm expert would only hasten his death.
Only by taking advantage of the terrain and fighting to the death can we hope to win. Now that my cultivation has advanced further and I have reached the Great Perfection of the Bronze Armor Realm, I may not be without the power to fight!
"clang!!"
Swords clashed, producing a piercing, sharp sound.
Liang Cheng's tiger's mouth trembled violently, and the Zhengxian Blade let out a mournful cry. The blade was covered with a layer of frost by the sword energy. He retreated five steps, each step leaving a deep footprint on the hard ground, and a trace of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
As expected of a True Qi Realm expert!
Xu Cangming pressed his advantage relentlessly, unleashing a torrent of sword energy like a raging storm. The dark blue sword light wove a net of death, each strike imbued with extremely penetrating true energy.
Liang Cheng pushed the Dragon Step to its limit, weaving and dodging through the sword net, facing constant danger. He was operating the Bronze Armor Realm at full power, his skin turning a deep, dark bronze color, with white marks left by the sword energy, from which fine beads of blood occasionally seeped out.
However, Xu Cangming's killing intent grew stronger. If this boy was not eliminated, he would become a major threat to the Xu family.
Not far away, Zhao Ming's face turned deathly pale. He knew Liang Cheng was strong, but he never expected him to be this strong!
At this moment, Liang Cheng had more than ten more wounds on his body, and his blood and qi were constantly being consumed. Just as Xu Cangming came with another sword strike, a fierce look flashed in Liang Cheng's eyes. He did not dodge or avoid the attack. Instead, he let out a low roar, and the brilliance of his Bronze Armor Realm instantly reached its peak. All his blood and qi power gathered in front of his chest!
Although Xu Cangming was a master of the True Qi Realm, he was old and frail, and far less powerful than the Flipping River Flood Dragon. That's why Liang Cheng dared to fight to the death.
"Pfft!"
The slender sword pierced the bronze-armored body, penetrating three-tenths of an inch into the flesh, but was firmly held in place by the incredibly tough muscles and bones. The chilling true energy attached to the sword surged wildly into it.
Liang Cheng grunted, but his left hand remained firmly locked on the sword. Even though his palm was cut by the sword energy, he did not let go. Taking advantage of Xu Cangming's astonishment at his own ferocity, he unleashed the brute force of his fully-developed Copper Armor and the Qi and blood of the Broken Wave Technique. The rocks beneath his feet shattered, and he dragged his opponent directly into the icy pool.
At this moment, the water in the pool poured over the top, and the resistance increased sharply.
Xu Cangming's sword momentum faltered, and his protective true energy flickered unpredictably as he struggled against the water pressure. Liang Cheng, like a fish flipping over, seized the opportunity to use the momentum of the water flow to gather his life's cultivation.
The ferocity of the Gale Blade Technique, the variations of the Swimming Dragon Steps, the enduring power of the Broken Wave Qi, and the formidable strength of the Great Completion of the Copper Armor all transformed into a dark blade of light, slicing through the gloomy pool.
"Pfft!"
The blade sliced through the weakest point of Xu Cangming's protective true energy, grazed his neck, and sealed his throat with a single blow. Xu Cangming clutched his neck with both hands, his face still filled with disbelief even in death.
At this moment, Liang Cheng kicked aside the corpse and rushed ashore. Then, his eyes flashed like lightning as he scanned the spot where Zhao Ming had been standing.
Zhao Ming was already paralyzed with fear on the ground, his face ashen, crawling backwards on all fours. Seeing Liang Cheng come ashore, Zhao Ming was terrified and screamed for mercy:
"Brother Liang, spare my life! I'm willing to serve you like a slave from now on, and obey you without question..."
Before the words were even finished, the blade was already flashing.
One fatal blow!