Chapter 392: Assassination 3

“I heard he was incredibly arrogant in his youth. Then, some kind of blow must have struck him, because he changed completely.”

Liang Cheng was silent for a long time.

‘A blow?’

‘What kind of blow could make a genius lose all heart?’

He recalled what Elder Huang was like in Lin Wu City.

Sloppy, casual, spending all day cooped up in the Alchemy Room. He seemed uninterested in everything, except for a lingering passion for Alchemy and testing pills.

‘No.’

‘Elder Huang definitely isn’t that simple.’

The more Liang Cheng thought about it, the more he felt that Elder Huang was hiding something.

‘And what about the secrets of the Cold Pool Wanderer? Does Elder Huang know something?’

Shortly after the fifteenth of the first month, Liang Cheng went to the main hall to see Lie Shan.

“Master, I’d like to make a trip back to Lin Wu City.”

Lie Shan studied him for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Go on, then. Leave soon and come back soon. It’ll be good for you to clear your head.”

Lie Shan assumed Liang Cheng was feeling down because he’d been caught in the spatial turbulence and failed to secure a ranking. He thought getting out for a bit would do him good.

Liang Cheng cupped his fist. “Thank you, Master.”

Lie Shan waved his hand and added, “Don’t be in a rush to return. Clearing your head is a good idea.”

Liang Cheng took his leave and turned to depart.

…

News of Liang Cheng’s departure from the Penglai Sect reached interested ears that very same day.

Yao Guannan was meditating in his Quiet Chamber when he heard the disciple’s report. His eyes snapped open.

“He’s gone? Alone?”

“Yes, Peak Master. I saw him with my own eyes leaving the sect gates in a Cloud-Piercing Shuttle, heading south.”

Yao Guannan slowly rose to his feet, the corners of his mouth curving into a slight smile.

‘Liang Cheng, oh, Liang Cheng, you really know how to pick your moments.’

‘He’d been worrying about how to make a move these past few days.’

Gu Tianya was dead, and Gu Changkong was dead. Although the Gu Family was seething with anger, Lie Shan was protecting him too closely, leaving no opportunity to strike.

Bai Yeli from the True Martial Sect had also sent messages asking about it several times, but he had put them all off with excuses.

‘Who would have thought Liang Cheng would deliver himself right to my doorstep?’

‘Lin Wu City…’

‘That’s a long way from the Penglai Sect.’

‘If some kind of accident were to happen along the way, who could say for sure what occurred?’

Yao Guannan clasped his hands behind his back and walked to the window. Gazing at the churning sea of clouds, he let out a cold laugh and sent a message to a distant location.

Liang Cheng’s Cloud-Piercing Shuttle sped across the vast ocean, heading toward Lin Wu City.

「Three days later, he entered the Outer Sea.」

The sea was vast and endless. Below was the deep blue water, with a few deserted islands occasionally flashing past, showing no signs of life.

Liang Cheng sat cross-legged inside the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle, his eyes closed as he regulated his breathing.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes.

An island appeared on the sea ahead. It wasn’t large, only a few miles in circumference, covered in jagged rocks, with not a single blade of grass to be seen.

Liang Cheng’s gaze narrowed.

There was a person standing on the island.

Just as the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle was about to bypass the island, suddenly—

BOOM!!!

A beam of sword light shot up from the island into the sky!

The beam of light was a full hundred zhang long, tearing through the air as it slashed directly at the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle!

Liang Cheng’s figure blurred as he leaped out of the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle to stand suspended in mid-air. The shuttle was struck by the sword light and exploded with a deafening roar, showering debris across the sky.

He looked down at the island below.

Amidst the jagged rocks, a figure slowly rose.

Dressed in a green robe with a sword on his back, his face was cold and severe, his eyes locked onto Liang Cheng.

‘A Golden Core powerhouse!’

Liang Cheng didn’t recognize the man, but the killing intent radiating from him was so tangible it seemed to press down on the surrounding sea, causing the water to sink.

“Who are you?”

Liang Cheng asked.

The man laughed, his smile sinister and cold.

He took a step forward, and the aura around him suddenly surged!

BOOM!!!

An incredibly terrifying pressure erupted from his body!

The pressure was like a physical force, sweeping out in all directions!

The sea below was crushed, forming a depression dozens of zhang deep! The surrounding clouds instantly dissipated!

‘Golden Core Late Stage!’

At the same time, he formed a hand seal, and beams of light suddenly lit up around the island!

The lights connected to form a massive barrier, enveloping the entire island and the surrounding hundred li of sea!

‘A Locking Sky Array.’

The moment the array formed, the world fell silent.

All auras were sealed off; not even a Communication Talisman could penetrate it.

“Bai Yeli of the True Martial Sect.”

He stated his name directly. With the Locking Sky Array in place, he showed no hesitation, staring at Liang Cheng and speaking one word at a time.

“Was it you who killed Gu Changkong?”

Liang Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly.

‘Gu Changkong?’

‘The True Inheritor from the True Martial Sect who colluded with Gu Tianya in the Demon Suppression Array.’

“I killed him.”

Liang Cheng didn’t deny it.

A chill entered Bai Yeli’s eyes.

“Good. Very good.”

“This array was originally prepared for the one who stands behind you.”

“I didn’t expect you to be alone.”

“This saves me some trouble.”

Liang Cheng looked at the light barrier around them, his expression calm.

“Are you afraid of my master?”

Bai Yeli sneered.

“Everyone knows Lie Shan is overprotective of his own. If he found out I came to ambush his disciple, there would certainly be trouble.”

He stared at Liang Cheng as if looking at a dead man.

“Now, if you die here, who will know I was the one who killed you?”

The moment his voice fell, he raised his hand and waved it casually.

BOOM!!!

A beam of sword light shot out from his fingertip!

The beam was only three chi long, but space itself twisted wherever it passed!

A casual Golden Core Strike possessed such might!

Liang Cheng drew his saber.

The Zhenxian Saber left its sheath, and with one slash, he struck the beam of sword light!

CLANG!!!

Sparks flew!

Liang Cheng retreated ten zhang, the hand gripping his saber slightly numb.

He looked up at Bai Yeli.

‘Golden Core Late Stage… truly extraordinary.’

Bai Yeli, however, frowned.

‘He blocked it?’

‘He had thought that one strike would be enough to heavily injure him.’

Liang Cheng didn’t answer. He simply tightened his grip on his saber as the aura around him began to rise.

Bai Yeli’s pupils contracted.

‘This aura—’

‘Golden Core Realm!’

‘Missing for a year, and now he’s at the Golden Core Early Stage!’

‘Such a monstrous talent! This boy absolutely cannot be allowed to live!’

Bai Yeli’s expression changed, but he quickly regained his composure.

“Golden Core Early Stage. It seems I underestimated you.”

“However—”

He took a step forward, standing suspended in the air as the sea behind him began to boil!

“Do you have any idea how vast the gap is between the Golden Core Early Stage and the Golden Core Late Stage?”

BOOM!!!

The aura around him exploded outward once more!

This time, he held nothing back!

Behind him, a phantom image slowly materialized. It was a giant sword, a full hundred zhang long, stretching between heaven and earth!

Its body was as black as ink, its edge gleamed with a cold light, and its tip pointed straight at the heavens!

Empowered by his Golden Core, his Martial Intent manifested, and the color of the sky and earth changed!

The once-clear sky instantly darkened!

Dark clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled!

The surface of the sea below caved in, with the island at its center, forming a massive depression!

A gigantic whirlpool dozens of li in radius formed!

Seawater rushed back in, and monstrous waves surged!

This was the true power of a Golden Core Late Stage Great Power!

A single strike could shatter mountains and split the earth!

Bai Yeli stood beneath the Martial Intent Giant Sword, looking down on Liang Cheng as if he were an ant.

“A Golden Core Early Stage cultivator is now qualified to receive my sword.”

“But today, I will let you know what a—”

“true Golden Core is!”

He pointed a finger!

The giant sword behind him moved with his gesture!

It slashed down!

It was a simple slash, but the moment it fell, the world went still.

And then—

BOOM!!!

Wherever the sword light passed, space collapsed!

Pitch-black fissures spread out in all directions like a spiderweb!

The sea below was pressed down by the Sword Qi, forming an abyss a hundred zhang deep!

The island, not yet touched by the sword light, was already beginning to crumble!

Boulders tumbled, and peaks collapsed!

‘This is the Golden Core Late Stage!’

The might of a single sword strike changed the face of heaven and earth!

Liang Cheng looked up, watching the descending sword light.

His expression was grave.

This was his first time facing a Golden Core powerhouse, but he didn’t choose to flee. Under the Locking Sky Array, there was no retreat.

‘Besides, with my Perfect Golden Core and my Blade Intent having reached the Peak Perfection Realm, why should I need to retreat?’

He took a deep breath.

And then—

He drew his saber.