Chapter 278 - 140: The Stone Stele Appears (2)

Huang Tiancheng slowly raised his head. His gaze, sharp as a blade, swept across everyone in the camp before finally landing on the Penglai Sect’s distant White Jade Treasure Ship.

His pupils contracted.

Penglai Sect...

The Upper Sect Envoy was here.

He brutally forced back the grief and killing intent that filled his heart.

The Situ Family, while strong, was nothing but an ant before the Penglai Sect.

He couldn’t, on a momentary impulse, bring ruin upon his family.

After a few moments of silence, Huang Tiancheng wordlessly walked to a corner of the camp, found a stone, and sat down cross-legged.

He placed the shattered Life Token on his lap, hovered his hands over it, and closed his eyes to concentrate.

He was simply waiting for the killer to exit the Secret Realm; he would sense it the very instant they appeared.

"Is Elder Situ going to wait here?"

"He knows the Secret Realm is full of Martial Dao geniuses and the killer might have a powerful background, yet he doesn’t retreat. He’s waiting for justice. Truly a man of great righteousness!"

"With someone like him in the Situ Family, how could they not prosper?"

The respect in their whispers grew even stronger.

Even Liu Jingtiao, seated high on the Treasure Ship, glanced at Huang Tiancheng and gave a slight nod, a sign of approval for this "rule-abiding" restraint.

However, if a Sect Disciple had killed that Young Master Situ, the Situ Family would just have to accept their loss.

After all, as long as it wasn’t Sect Disciples killing each other, casualties were inevitable in the competition among the rest.

If a Sect Disciple died, it could only be blamed on their own lack of skill. It would just prove they weren’t a true prodigy, and no one else was to blame!

The camp gradually returned to calm.

...

Liang Cheng sped toward the Secret Realm Center. Along the way, he was intercepted by several waves of Demon Beasts, but he simply met their attacks with his Perfect Gang Body and slew them with a single slash.

After killing each Fierce Beast, he would take its Demon Core and begin Refining it as he continued to travel.

After his Mixed Element Gang Body reached Perfection, his Meridians were as tough as refined steel, and the energy impact from ordinary Demon Cores could hardly harm him in the slightest.

Furthermore, with the Crossing the Sea True Intent Fragment constantly circulating, the Demon Core Energy was rapidly broken down, absorbed, and converted into pure True Essence that flowed into his Dantian.

He killed and cultivated as he went.

As the fourth Tier Four Demon Core on his journey turned to dust in his palm—

[Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique: Great Success (23,828/30,000)]

He was less than seven thousand away from Perfection.

The True Essence in his body grew thicker and more turbulent, and he was just waiting for the natural culmination to break through to the True Gang Realm.

Just then—

BUZZ!!!

In the direction of the Secret Realm Center, a thick, pillar-like, crimson-gold column of light shot into the sky, tearing through the clouds and illuminating half the Celestial Vault.

Ancient Runes flowed within the pillar of light, and a majestic fluctuation of Spiritual Qi washed over the area like a tsunami. Wherever it passed, plants grew wildly, and terrified Demon Beasts prostrated themselves on the ground.

’The core of the Secret Realm! A great opportunity has appeared!’

Liang Cheng’s heart jolted.

He had read about this in the Main Courtyard’s Scripture Collection Tower. Whenever a Secret Realm was involved, a great treasure was always at its core, and its appearance would be heralded by a world-altering phenomenon.

Without another moment of hesitation, his figure moved like lightning as he sped toward the pillar of light at full tilt.

「A short while later」

Liang Cheng was approaching the central area.

Ahead was a ring-shaped valley filled with strange, jagged rocks. The crimson-gold pillar of light was rising from the valley floor.

And at the valley entrance, two familiar figures stood side by side, warily surveying their surroundings.

It was Xiao Qingxue and Ye Zhiqiu!

"Senior Brother Liang!"

The moment Xiao Qingxue saw Liang Cheng, the tension on her face instantly relaxed, and genuine joy shone in her eyes.

Ye Zhiqiu strode forward and clapped Liang Cheng heavily on the shoulder. "Junior Brother! You’re finally here!"

As it turned out, after escaping Shi Jun’s pursuit, Xiao Qingxue had run into Ye Zhiqiu on her way to the center. Ye Zhiqiu, frantic with worry since learning a Penglai Sect disciple was hunting Liang Cheng, had doubled back to search for him, but found nothing. Thankfully, Xiao Qingxue had told him that Liang Cheng was certain to head for the Secret Realm’s center, which led to this reunion.

"Senior Brother, Junior Sister Xiao."

Liang Cheng cupped his fist, a faint warmth spreading through his heart.

To be so cared for by his fellow disciples in a time of crisis—this was a bond he would remember.

Just as the three of them were about to talk—

"Good, good, good."

An icy voice echoed from the other side of the valley.

"After searching high and low, to think I’d find you here."

Shi Podang slowly walked out. His Moon White Daoist Robe was stained with fresh blood, a clear sign he had fought his way here. At this moment, the killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible as he locked his gaze onto Liang Cheng.

"Shi Podang!" Ye Zhiqiu’s expression changed as he stepped in front of Liang Cheng. "A Penglai Sect disciple, resorting to bullying the weak?"

"Bullying the weak?"

Shi Podang sneered. "If all of you attack me together, who’s bullying whom?"

His gaze swept over Ye Zhiqiu and Xiao Qingxue. "Are you two even worthy of standing in my way?"

Despite his words, he felt a chill in his heart.

’Ye Zhiqiu is in the True Gang Realm, and then there’s Liang Cheng, whose combat power is strangely potent... This fight... will not be easy.’

But he was Shi Podang, a disciple of the Penglai Sect. In a situation like this, there was no need for words.

He slowly drew his sword. The gleam of the Golden Scale Sword reflected the crimson-gold pillar of light, his killing intent flaring.

"Liang Cheng, today is the day you die."

Just as Shi Podang’s Sword Momentum was about to erupt and his killing intent locked onto Liang Cheng—

BOOM!

Two auras, both at the True Gang Peak and in no way inferior, erupted from the forest to the side!

"Who dares touch my junior brother?!"

A cold shout boomed like a clap of thunder as two figures tore through the air, landing steadily in front of Liang Cheng.

It was First Senior Brother Lu Zheng and Second Senior Brother Leng Feng.

The two stood side by side, the powerful Gang Qi of the True Gang Peak flaring from them. Like two great mountains, they stood before him, brutally severing Shi Podang’s killing intent!

Shi Podang’s expression changed, and his hand tightened slightly on his sword.

’One Ye Zhiqiu isn’t a problem, but now two more at the True Gang Peak have arrived. And their auras are so condensed; they’re leagues beyond ordinary Martial Artists.’

Lu Zheng took a step forward. His heavy blade was still sheathed, but a biting Blade Intent was already spreading through the air.

"Does being a Penglai Sect disciple give you the right to hunt and kill the people of our Main Courtyard at will?"