Chapter 255 - 133: Profound Spirit Secret Realm

Inside a stone house in the Profound Spirit Secret Realm.

Liang Cheng sat cross-legged on a meditation mat.

As he operated the Mixed Element Gang Body Heart Method, one hundred and eight acupoints lit up, greedily devouring the dense Spiritual Mist in the room that was almost too thick to disperse.

Pale golden Gang Qi surged through his meridians and under his skin, refining every inch of his flesh and bone.

As Spiritual Power permeated his body and the Gang Qi polished his vital points, his mind became serene. The Gang Qi swelled within him, and his pale golden Protective Gang Shield grew increasingly restrained and profound.

His cultivation of the Broken Wave Technique was going exceptionally smoothly, as if a fish had returned to water.

The Spiritual Qi in the Secret Realm was so thick it was almost liquid, flooding into his meridians without him needing to guide it.

The Heart Method for the Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique operated with high efficiency, swiftly converting this pure energy into surging Water Element True Essence. The True Essence in his body swelled and rushed like a tide, and the faint sound of crashing waves could be heard as it circulated.

Only when his mind grew weary and the circulation speed of his True Essence began to decline did he slow the cultivation technique to a gentle pace for nourishment.

Afterward, Liang Cheng wasted no time.

He drew his Zhenxian Saber and began to polish and integrate his skills through endless, tedious repetition. Ignoring the aching numbness in his arm, he focused on perceiving the subtle differences in power transfer with each movement, searching for the most perfect point of harmony between his blade and body.

After sunset, he would briefly regulate his breathing, consume a Fasting Pill, and recuperate his energy.

Then, he would resume his cultivation.

The next day, the cycle began anew.

The tenth day...

The twentieth day...

Time passed in this intensely monotonous cycle.

But Liang Cheng’s own transformation was steady and progressive, accumulating step by step.

Under the daily onslaught of Spiritual Qi and Gang Qi, the pale golden Gang Qi within the acupoints of his Mixed Element Gang Body gradually transformed into a dark gold.

Cultivating in such a high concentration of Spiritual Qi, his Gang Body’s acupoints also began to break through to new ones, which slowly merged to complete a full circulation.

The results of his Broken Wave Technique cultivation were even more remarkable.

In such a dense Spiritual Qi environment, the total amount and purity of his True Essence increased at a tremendous rate. Its circulation was smooth and effortless, the rhythm of its ebbing and flowing tides growing more pronounced and vast. His control over his True Essence became as natural as moving his own limbs.

Through this relentless tempering, the tell-tale signs of his Mountain-Breaking Saber’s forms grew fainter. His strikes became more concise and direct, each one imbued with a stronger will to sever.

On the thirtieth day, his final cultivation session was complete.

Liang Cheng slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them before vanishing.

He stood up, sensing the vast True Essence surging within him and the solid, restrained defense of the Gang Body beneath his skin.

With a mere thought, a dark gold Protective Gang Shield materialized around him, its radiance contained within, as profound and solid as a mountain.

He flicked a gust of finger wind at the Gang Shield, which only caused a faint ripple, a testament to its exceptional defense.

Then he drew his Zhenxian Saber and casually slashed forward.

"SHIIING—!"

A condensed, pale golden Sword Aura shot from the blade. Several dozen feet away, a hard slab of bluestone split apart, the severed surface as smooth as a mirror.

[Mixed Element Gang Body: Great Success (7656/20000)]

[Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique: Great Success (8652/30000)]

[Mountain-Breaking Saber: Minor Success (1654/12000)]

One month of bitter cultivation, free from all distractions, had solidified his foundation in every aspect. His strength had undergone another qualitative leap, though his progress with the Mountain-Breaking Saber was merely average.

However, his Broken Wave Technique and Mixed Element Gang Body had advanced by leaps and bounds. It was a pity he only had a month before the Secret Realm’s repulsive force began to manifest.

Liang Cheng sheathed his saber. With one last, calm and determined look at the Spirit Mist Valley, he turned and stepped into the curtain of light.

After emerging, he bowed to the elderly Steward. The man didn’t even raise his head, so Liang Cheng turned and left.

Only then did the old man open his eyes, a flicker of doubt in them.

’Such a huge change in just one month?’

’Even though the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the Secret Realm is dense and the effects of cultivation are extraordinary, in the thirty years I’ve guarded this place, I’ve never seen such obvious progress before.’

However, he quickly calmed himself and closed his eyes again.

’He’s a Main Courtyard disciple, after all. It’s none of my business.’

...

After leaving the back mountain’s Secret Realm, Liang Cheng didn’t linger and went straight to the Instructor Hall.

Chen Xuanfeng was brewing tea in the courtyard. When he saw Liang Cheng enter, his gaze paused on him for a moment before a flicker of barely perceptible approval showed in his eyes.

"Not bad."

Chen Xuanfeng gestured for him to sit, then poured a cup of Spirit Tea and pushed it toward him.

"One month of bitter cultivation in the Secret Realm has solidified your Gang Body, and your True Essence is as profound as the tide. With the depth of your current foundation, your rate of progress is in no way inferior to your senior brother’s back in his day. You can already start preparing to break through to the True Gang Realm."

Liang Cheng accepted the tea and said respectfully, "This disciple understands. During my recent cultivation, I have indeed felt my True Essence become full, but haste makes waste. Cultivation must be a natural process."

Hearing this, Chen Xuanfeng was even more satisfied.

"It is good that you have such a mindset."

"By the way, next month is the end of the year. It’s the Main Courtyard’s custom for disciples to return home to visit their families around that time, if they wish. Do you plan to remain at the Main Courtyard in secluded cultivation, or will you go home for a visit?"

Just then, Ye Zhiqiu happened to walk in from outside. Hearing the conversation, he smiled and said, "Junior Brother, why don’t you come back to Bibo City with me again? City Lord Zhou has mentioned you several times, and the Ye Family will surely welcome you with open arms."

Liang Cheng hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

"Thank you for the kind offer, Senior Brother. This is my first year at the Main Courtyard, so I’d like to return to Lin Wu City on Central Origin Island to spend the new year with my mother."

Chen Xuanfeng nodded. "That is also fine. Your filial piety is commendable. Besides, the Martial Dao also requires a balance between tension and relaxation. A trip home would be good for you."

"Just remember, the Spiritual Qi in the Secret Realm is extremely dense. Your cultivation advanced rapidly in a short time, so your foundation might be unstable. You must spend the next few days consolidating it diligently. Do not be greedy for quick results."

He didn’t know that Liang Cheng possessed the Mayfly Life Chart and had already forged a Perfect Dao Foundation. For Liang Cheng, progress was gradual and natural, so he offered the reminder out of caution.

"This disciple will remember Master’s teachings."

Liang Cheng agreed, but he knew his own situation. The gains from the Secret Realm had already been thoroughly solidified by his Life Chart, so there was no danger of an unstable foundation. He wouldn’t say this out loud, however.

After taking his leave from the Instructor Hall, Liang Cheng did not return to his residence. Instead, he went directly to the Foreign Affairs Hall.