Chapter 256 - 133: Profound Spirit Secret Realm (2)

As the current top disciple on the Hero Ranking, his monthly stipend was generous. Combined with his previous savings, he had a considerable amount of Contribution Points.

His eyes locked onto one item in the exchange catalog.

The Gang Condensing Pill.

This elixir’s medicinal power was pure and potent, one of the essential resources for breaking through to the True Gang Realm. Its price was also extremely high, listed at thirty thousand Contribution Points.

Liang Cheng didn’t hesitate in the slightest and exchanged for it immediately.

Thanks to the combined effects of his Mayfly Life Chart and the Crossing the Sea True Intent Fragment, the Gang Condensing Pill he had previously obtained from Fu Chenzhou acted more like a powerful tonic, greatly accelerating his cultivation progress.

Combined with the lingering remnants of Spiritual Qi from the Secret Realm that had yet to fully dissipate from his body, the effects would surely be even better.

After exchanging for the Gang Condensing Pill, he immediately returned to his private courtyard and entered his Quiet Chamber.

Liang Cheng consumed the Gang Condensing Pill. The elixir melted the moment it entered his mouth, transforming into a vast, violent surge of energy that instantly flooded his entire body.

His internal Broken Wave Technique began to circulate faster on its own. Guided by the Crossing the Sea True Intent Fragment, the medicinal power merged with the lingering pure Spiritual Qi in his body, working together to strengthen his True Essence.

He immersed himself in this state of steady improvement, losing all track of himself and the world around him.

However, the news that he had exchanged for a Gang Condensing Pill at the Foreign Affairs Hall spread like wildfire.

"Did you hear? Senior Brother Liang Cheng went to the Foreign Affairs Hall and exchanged for a Gang Condensing Pill right after he got out of the Profound Spirit Secret Realm!"

"A Gang Condensing Pill?! Isn’t that something you use to break through to the True Gang Realm? Is he already trying to make the attempt so soon?"

"A month of cultivation in the Secret Realm must have allowed him to really touch the threshold, but this speed is just too fast!"

"The top of the Hero Ranking is truly extraordinary, as expected!"

The news spread rapidly, attracting countless discussions and a great deal of attention.

Some were envious, some were amazed, and there was no shortage of sour, skeptical remarks.

Naturally, this news also reached the ears of Chen Xuanfeng.

He was in the middle of handling affairs for the Instructor Hall. Upon hearing the news, the hand he was using to hold a scroll paused, and his brow furrowed.

’He exchanged for a Gang Condensing Pill?’

He set down the scroll, a flicker of worry crossing his eyes. ’He’s being too hasty!’

In his opinion, while Liang Cheng’s talent was certainly outstanding, he was still young. After a month of cultivation in the Secret Realm, his cultivation had surged, and this was precisely the time he should be spending to stabilize his foundation.

Exchanging for a Gang Condensing Pill at this moment was a clear sign that he wanted to strike while the iron was hot and break through to the True Gang Realm in a single attempt.

While this was certainly ambitious, it also carried the risk of haste making waste.

’It’s a youthful temperament, after all. He can’t endure the quiet,’ Chen Xuanfeng sighed to himself. ’But on the path of the Martial Dao, some lessons can only be learned by falling down yourself.’

He only hoped that Liang Cheng would know when to back down in the face of difficulty, that he wouldn’t try to force the breakthrough and damage his foundation.

「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」

Just as the outside world was abuzz with speculation about whether Liang Cheng could succeed in taking that crucial step, the door to the Quiet Chamber opened.

Liang Cheng walked out.

His aura was composed and steady, his eyes clear. There were no violent energy fluctuations around him indicative of a recent breakthrough, nor did he show any signs of weakness or injury. He looked no different from when he had entered the Quiet Chamber three days prior.

Almost at the exact moment Liang Cheng emerged, Chen Xuanfeng’s figure flickered and appeared in Building C-42.

His gaze was like lightning as it swept over Liang Cheng’s entire body, sensing his aura.

’Hm.’

’Still in the True Essence Realm.’

Chen Xuanfeng inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, which was immediately followed by a more complex emotion.

The relief was because Liang Cheng clearly hadn’t tried to force the breakthrough. The complexity was perhaps a hint of regret that Liang Cheng hadn’t succeeded in breaking through to the True Gang Realm.

He walked up to Liang Cheng and patted his shoulder. His tone was gentle, yet it carried a word of caution.

"The True Gang Realm cannot be rushed. Your foundation is solid and your potential is limitless; you will certainly be able to step into this realm one day. For now, you should focus on consolidating your cultivation. There’s no need to be so hasty."

Liang Cheng was momentarily stunned, but then he realized his master had misunderstood.

But he couldn’t explain, so he could only bow and go along with it. "This disciple understands. Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Chen Xuanfeng nodded, offered a few more words of advice, and then departed.

However, the news that "Liang Cheng failed to break through to the True Gang Realm after three days in seclusion" spread among the disciples as if it had grown wings.

"He failed, just as I thought..."

"When has the True Gang Realm ever been that easy to break through? How old is he, anyway? Trying to make the attempt from the True Essence Late Stage Realm is a bit too arrogant."

"Cultivating in the Secret Realm is fast, true, but it’s useless if your foundation is unstable. Elder Chen must have warned him about that long ago."

"It’s for the best. This will knock him down a peg, lest he think that one lucky break in a Secret Realm means he can ascend to the heavens in a single step."

...

「Yunhai City, in a secret chamber of the Treasure Pavilion.」

Qian Wanjing clutched a Communication Jade Talisman he had just received. The look of astonishment on his pudgy face was quickly replaced by an irrepressible grin that finally erupted into a hearty laugh.

"Haha... Hahaha! He failed! He actually failed!"

He stood up and began to pace back and forth in the secret chamber, which was furnished with a thick, plush carpet. His eyes glinted with excitement and a sense of relief.

"Liang Cheng, oh, Liang Cheng, you’re too young and too hasty, after all!"

He muttered to himself as if trying to convince himself. "One month of cultivation in the Secret Realm and you think you can charge straight into the True Gang Realm? Do you really think you’re some once-in-a-millennium prodigy? This is perfect. Failing the breakthrough will surely cause a backlash. His internal injuries are probably severe!"

He walked to the window and looked down through the one-way crystal glass at the bustling streetscape of Yunhai City below, his expression gradually turning sinister.

After the Sea Beast Tide, although the Main Tower’s Lord Yun Yizhou hadn’t said anything to him outright, the indifference and distance in his words during their few meetings were palpable.

"Since this matter was in your hands, you must see it to a proper conclusion. You know the rules of the Treasure Pavilion."

Every word was like a needle, stabbing into his heart.

He knew the Tower Lord’s meaning couldn’t have been clearer.