20demayo Chapter 108 The true meaning of crossing the sea
Chapter 108 The true meaning of crossing the sea
Chapter 107 The true meaning of crossing the sea
The alchemy room on the back mountain.
Liang Cheng sat shirtless in front of the bronze medicine cauldron, the medicinal soup inside boiling like lava, the blood-red steam rising with a pungent fishy smell.
"Go in."
Liang Cheng took a deep breath. "Old Huang, isn't this a bit too much of a show of force?"
"Enough with the nonsense. This is just the appetizer. You thought this cauldron was for your drug test? This is a medicinal bath. The drug test that follows will be very potent. Just in case, this is to give you an extra layer of protection."
"ah?"
Liang Cheng panicked a little, but Old Huang continued, "With the medicinal bath as a foundation, even if you fail the drug trial, you'll only be bedridden for a year or two at most, which won't affect your foundation."
"I am kind-hearted. Which drug test subject hasn't received my utmost care and arrangements? Wang Teng was treated the same way back then. It's just that there have been too few good talents in the martial arts academy these past few years, otherwise, how would you have had your turn?"
"You little rascal, you're living the good life!"
Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng's expression turned strange, and he felt somewhat uneasy, but he still jumped naked into the cauldron.
"laugh--!
'
The moment the skin touched the medicinal soup, it felt like being doused with boiling oil; excruciating pain seeped into every inch of skin and rushed straight to the internal organs along the meridians.
He groaned and clenched his teeth instantly.
He had never been in such pain since he reached the peak of the Golden Armor Realm.
"What are you humming about?"
Old Huang squatted beside the cauldron, slapping the cauldron with his withered fingers. "Hold on, this is just the beginning. If you want to get out of this drug trial unscathed, you have to endure it."
The flames at the bottom of the cauldron are growing stronger and stronger!
The medicinal soup boiled completely, and bubbles burst all over Liang Cheng's body. Each burst brought with it a scorching torrent that violently rushed into his meridians.
pain!
It hurts more than being chopped or hacked!
Liang Cheng felt as if his meridians were being pierced by red-hot iron bars, and his blood and qi were surging wildly inside his body, almost bursting out of his body.
The skin surface turned reddish-brown, and the veins bulged out like wriggling earthworms.
"The medicinal power of the Blood-Protecting Soup is to temper your weak meridians, force out impurities, widen the meridians, and replenish your essence."
At this moment, Liang Cheng was so focused that he could no longer hear what Elder Huang was saying.
The medicinal power within the cauldron continued to surge, and the burning sensation in his meridians grew stronger and stronger. However, he felt that his meridians were indeed becoming more and more resilient, and his physical strength had actually reached a new level. His qi, blood, and essence were extremely abundant, making him a veritable human-shaped tonic.
Finally, as time went by, the pain subsided, and his whole body felt warm. He even couldn't help but groan, feeling extremely comfortable.
"Alright, get up."
After an unknown amount of time, Liang Cheng heard Elder Huang's voice, opened his eyes, and discovered that the medicinal bath in the cauldron had turned into clear, watery soup.
"Not bad, you're tough on yourself. Not many people can endure that."
Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng inwardly grumbled, but dared not utter a word.
At this moment, Old Huang suddenly became serious and took out a bright red pill.
"This is a formula I created by refining the Blood Marrow Pill from Wu Zhenshan's body and the blood sacrifice method of the Zoroastrianism, based on the Replenishing Essence Pill."
"The medicine is potent and ordinary people would probably find it hard to withstand. But you have excellent physical strength, and now you have my Blood-Protecting Soup as a base. Even if the trial fails, it won't damage your health."
"Hey kid, are you ready?"
Liang Cheng took a deep breath and nodded.
Afterwards, he left the medicine cauldron, put on his clothes, sat cross-legged on the ground, took the pill handed to him by Elder Huang, closed his eyes, and swallowed it directly.
Then, a tremendous medicinal power erupted within his body.
Liang Cheng's face turned red, and Old Huang squinted as he recorded Liang Cheng's reaction.
"The medicine is too potent. Even with this kid's strong foundation, he can't adapt to it for a while. It seems we'll have to add some auxiliary ingredients to balance the potency."
As Huang Lao took notes, the medicinal effects continued to circulate within Liang Cheng's body.
If it weren't for the fact that his blood and qi were full and his meridians were strong after the medicinal bath, he felt that his meridians would have been broken by the medicinal power.
Immediately afterwards, a sharp pain spread throughout my body.
Unexpectedly, this elixir not only affected the meridians and acupoints, but also stimulated the body's essence and blood, causing the medicinal power to surge again.
Old Huang continued to stare at Liang Cheng, "This is the latest elixir formula that I developed, based on the useless ideas of the Zoroastrianism."
"This elixir is unlike the inferior ones concocted by those fools; it cultivates both internal and external health, and has the effect of cleansing the essence and rejuvenating the marrow."
"According to the intended effect of the pill formula, if an ordinary True Essence Realm cultivator condenses too few True Qi Seeds, they can make up for it with their own essence and blood, thus advancing to the next level."
Liang Cheng clenched his teeth tightly at this moment, because the pain was even more intense than when he had taken the blood-protecting soup.
It hurts so much!
If one were not at the peak of the Golden Armor Realm, an ordinary person would probably explode and die from the intense medicinal power.
No wonder Elder Huang always wanted him to test the medicine; how could an ordinary person withstand it?
The drug's effects surged through his body, causing intense pain that pushed him to his limits, and his consciousness began to fade.
Old Huang also became nervous.
The medicine is too strong, I can't hold on any longer?
Did this drug trial end in failure?
Just as Elder Huang was about to take action to suppress the rampant medicinal power within Liang Cheng's body, Liang Cheng's condition suddenly changed again.
"Hmm? This is interesting."
Just as Liang Cheng's meridians were about to give out, the strange energy flow diagrams from the incomplete "True Meaning of Crossing the Sea" suddenly flashed through his mind.
"Refining essence into qi — using the body as a boat —"
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. Instead of futilely resisting the violent medicinal power, he tried to guide a scorching torrent, following the route recorded in the fragment.
The moment the first wisp of medicinal power was activated, the excruciating pain suddenly intensified!
But then, the scorching heat began to transform, like a raging torrent being channeled into a pre-set riverbed. Although it still surged forward, it no longer rushed around.
The burning sensation remained, but it carried a strange sense of tempering.
efficient!
Liang Cheng's spirits lifted, and he endured the inhuman pain to fully activate the route of the incomplete "True Meaning of Crossing the Sea".
More and more of the drug's potency is being guided and converted.
The scorching torrent that was originally going to burst him apart has now become a furnace for refining true energy!
His essence and blood, which were at the peak of the Golden Armor Realm, were actually transformed and purified directly by the medicine and integrated into his true qi.
His internal energy became increasingly refined and profound at an astonishing speed, and a line of small characters appeared deep within his consciousness.
[Second Level of the Breaking Wave Technique: Mastery (5562/15000)]
This drug trial was comparable to a month of arduous training.
A glint of light flashed in Old Huang's eyes.
"This kid is indeed exceptionally talented. My approach of cultivating both internal and external strength is correct, but the medicinal effects still need to be rebalanced."
After all, how many freaks are there like this kid, with such amazing hard skills?
I don't know how much time passed.
Liang Cheng opened his eyes, a flash of shrewdness appearing in his pupils.
His skin returned to normal, but when he clenched his fist, he felt his body was more rounded and transparent.
but----
"Old Huang, I'm hungry!"
"Um?"
Old Huang squinted, looking him up and down. "You've got some skills, kid. You actually managed to neutralize all the medicinal effects?"
Then he went to the boiler next to him, turned it on, and ladled out a large bowl of warm blood soup. Liang Cheng's eyes widened.
Although the true disciples eat these every day, who would have thought that Elder Huang had a whole pot full of them? He was just fooling himself all along.
Ignoring Liang Cheng's resentful gaze, Old Huang said, "Eat quickly, let me see the results of this drug trial later."
Liang Cheng stopped thinking about other things and, due to extreme hunger, finished the warm blood soup in two or three bites before letting out a satisfied burp.
comfortable.
Old Huang then slowly took the pulse, and then lowered his head and pondered for a moment.
"Strange, the medicinal power dissipated completely, even I couldn't fathom its depth. Your cultivation technique is quite something."
Liang Cheng smiled sheepishly: "Perhaps it's because my disciple's physical skills are solid, allowing him to withstand it."
Old Huang angrily blew on his beard. "Alright, you better get out of here. Come back after I've prepared the pills."
Liang Cheng dared not provoke Elder Huang, and quickly took his leave.
Upon returning to True Inheritance Peak, Liang Cheng went directly into the meditation room.
[Second Level of the Breaking Wave Technique: Mastery (5562/15000)]
[Mysterious Yin Sword Technique: Mastery (1145/12000)]
【Wind and Thunder Slash: Mastery (3011/12000)】
[The True Meaning of Crossing the Sea (Fragment)]
Liang Cheng's progress in the Broken Wave Technique was comparable to a month of arduous training, but what surprised him even more was that the incomplete True Meaning of Crossing the Sea had no realm divisions whatsoever.
The true energy of the Broken Wave Technique within his body was much purer than before, and when it circulated, it was like a deep sea current, heavy and profound.
More importantly, the operating route of that incomplete "True Meaning of Crossing the Sea" actually left a certain kind of inertia in the body.
In the future, when cultivating and taking pills, it seems that essence, qi and blood can be refined faster by this method. It is not a direct cultivation technique or combat power, but it has become an excellent auxiliary secret method.
In short, one's own training speed will reach a new level.
It even has a shielding effect; unless the other party's true energy enters the body, one cannot clearly see one's true and specific situation.
That's why Old Huang got nothing just now.
However, it will consume more resources, since the speed at which one consumes resources will naturally be faster when using the incomplete "True Meaning of Crossing the Sea" to convert medicinal essence.
However, the side effect of increasing cultivation speed is negligible.
At worst, when resources are scarce, the true purpose of crossing the sea can be temporarily suspended.
However, it seems that the incomplete "True Meaning of Crossing the Sea" is indeed useful for advancing to True Essence and True Qi; the Qiao family ancestor simply couldn't withstand it.
After all, who else could be like me, cultivating without any bottlenecks and achieving perfect hard skills?
Three more days passed, and the situation in Linwu City was completely stabilized.
Wu Zhenshan's residence was thoroughly investigated, revealing secret correspondence with the Zoroastrian Church, and even implicating the deputy city lord, Situ Lang.
However, in order to maintain stability in Linwu City, this news only circulated among a few upper echelons and was not spread further.
This led to an expanded search, and by following the clues, with the cooperation of the Martial Academy and the City Lord's Mansion, the remaining Zoroastrian agents within the city were wiped out.
Afterwards, the Chen family was exterminated and their clan wiped out, while the Lu family, upholding righteousness, put their own family aside and were deemed to have done no wrong. This rebellion was completely suppressed, and all those in charge were executed.
The Martial Academy dispatched disciples to assist in the reconstruction of the city's defenses. The West City garrison resumed its duties, and although Yue Shan was still bedridden, he was able to handle simple military affairs.
-
After the pacification of Linwu City, everyone's attention was focused on Black Stone Island. Zhou Jin, representing the city lord, gathered at the Mingxin Pavilion of the Martial Academy. Lu Bingchen said, "The dean and city lord Shen are trapped on the island, and there is also the traitor Situ Lang. Now only the left envoy has come to Linwu City, which means that the dean is still entangled with the Fire Worship Cult."
Yan Song said in a deep voice, "We must go to their aid."
Who's leading the team?
A scholar asked.
Everyone fell silent.
One of Lü Bingchen and Yan Songzhong must be stationed in Linwu City, while rescuing Black Stone Island would mean facing the main force of the Fire Worship Cult; sending ordinary people would likely only lead to their deaths.
Lu Bingchen spoke.
"I'll go."
With a calm tone, Zhou Jin, the representative of the City Lord's Mansion, nodded in agreement.
"The Martial Academy can produce three hundred elite soldiers."
"The City Lord's Mansion can mobilize two hundred Black Dragon Guards and five warships, which you will have full command of."
Liang Cheng thought for a moment. Now he and the Zoroastrianism were mortal enemies. Saving Bai Hong and Shen Jun was saving himself.
Furthermore, he relies mostly on the martial arts academy for his cultivation resources, and this time he is doing it for himself and for others.
Thinking of this, Liang Cheng said, "I'll go too."
Lu Bingchen recalled the battle at the City Lord's Mansion, where Liang Cheng held off the Left Envoy until Elder Huang arrived to capture and kill him. In addition, Liang Cheng had previously fought against Wu Zhenshan. Now, Liang Cheng's strength was comparable to Lu Bingchen's, and perhaps even a level above his own.
Thinking of this, Lü Bingchen nodded and said, "Okay."
"When do we depart?"
"Three days from now," Lü Bingchen said. "Hurry up and prepare."
After leaving Mingxin Pavilion, Lü Bingchen and Liang Cheng walked side by side on the mountain path.
The setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them.
Lu Bingchen suddenly spoke up, "If I were to face the Left Envoy of the Zoroastrian Church alone, I could only last five moves at most. How many moves do you think you could last?"
""
Liang Cheng thought for a moment: "I won't be defeated within ten moves."
Lu Bingchen stopped and turned to look at him, then a smile appeared on his lips. This disciple had unknowingly reached such a height.
"Master, why not let Huang Lao rescue Black Stone Island?"
"Who said Old Huang isn't going? He's just hiding in the shadows."
Lu Bingchen paused for a moment, then said meaningfully, "Old Huang also said that we shouldn't underestimate the Dean and the City Lord. You'll definitely be there too, so there's no chance of anything going wrong."
Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng immediately felt relieved. Now that Elder Huang had left, he naturally had no worries.
Lu Bingchen then said, "Remember to keep this a secret. Just pretend that Elder Huang won't go. That way, no one in Linwu City will dare to make any rash moves."
Liang Cheng nodded.
"In that case, I will make preparations, and we will depart together in three days."
Lü Bingchen nodded.
After returning to True Inheritance Peak, Liang Cheng immediately began to cultivate in peace.
With ample elixirs and the assistance of the incomplete "True Meaning of Crossing the Sea," the speed of cultivation will reach a new level.
[Second Level of the Breaking Wave Technique: Mastery (5783/15000)]
[Mysterious Yin Sword Technique: Mastery (1134/12000)]
【Wind and Thunder Slash: Mastery (2991/12000)】
More strength means more security.
Three days later, at dawn.
Liang Cheng bid a brief farewell to his mother and Yang Wei, without letting them see him off, as he had already made arrangements for his affairs after his passing.
Halfway there, a white figure stood holding a sword, his gaze sharp as a blade: "Liang Cheng, count me in for the trip to Black Stone Island."
It was Yun Jinghong.
Liang Cheng stopped and said solemnly, "This trip is dangerous. The main force of the Zoroastrian Church is here. You may not come back."
"Then I won't go back."
Yun Jinghong's voice was calm. "I have been cultivating diligently since I exchanged for the 'Lingyun Technique,' but my progress has stalled. I need to hone my swordsmanship and only through life-and-death situations can I break through."
He looked at Liang Cheng, his eyes burning with fighting spirit: "If you die on Black Stone Island, who will I use to test my sword afterward?"
Liang Cheng remained silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "Okay."
Yun Jinghong sheathed her sword, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the dock.
At the Linwu City dock, five black dragon warships raised their sails, ready to set sail.
Three hundred martial arts academy disciples and two hundred Black Dragon Guards lined up to board the ship, their armor clanging.
Liang Cheng stood at the bow of the main ship, dressed in black with a dagger at his waist. The sea breeze blew the hem of his clothes, making them flutter.
As expected of Elder Huang, Liang Cheng has yet to find any trace of him. Lü Bingchen walked to Liang Cheng's side, his green robe flowing loosely, his demeanor composed and dignified.
Lu Bingchen looked towards the horizon where the sea met the sky. "The Fire Worship Cult has been operating on Black Stone Island for many days. They must have an ambush. Let's go to the island first and find the Dean and the others."
"it is good."
Liang Cheng's voice was calm.
"Weigh anchor!"
Lu Bingchen raised his voice and gave the order.
With the mooring lines untied and the sails billowing, the five warships slowly departed the dock, cutting through the waves towards Black Stone Island.
Black Stone Island, below Broken Dragon Cliff.
The sky was gray, and the sea breeze carried the smell of blood.
Before the precipice, a blood and flesh altar, ten feet square, stood out in a shocking sight.
Thousands of corpses were mixed with black stone and red copper, including soldiers from Linwu City and followers of the Zoroastrian Church. The surface of the altar was engraved with deep, twisted grooves, in which dark red, viscous blood slowly writhed and made a faint sizzling sound.
In the center of the altar stands a dark red stone pillar that would take three people to encircle.
The pillar is inlaid with blood marrow jade of varying sizes, which emits a faint bloody light. At the top of the pillar is a three-legged bronze cauldron, in which viscous blood soup churns, and bones or undissolved organs float to the surface from time to time.
Beneath the altar lies a space several meters in diameter.
Shen Jun knelt on one knee, his black armor shattered, a deep wound on his right shoulder that exposed bone had scabbed over, and the Black Dragon Battle Banner was stuck in front of him, its surface torn, yet still standing tall.
Bai Hong sat cross-legged two steps behind him, his white robe stained with blood, his breath somewhat weak, but his back was ramrod straight.
Around the two men, corpses lay strewn about, and pools of blood were everywhere.
"Cough cough————"
Shen Jun coughed up a mouthful of blood, looked up at the figure standing outside the altar with his hands behind his back, and said, "Situ Lang, you actually dared to collude with the Zoroastrian Church!"
Outside the altar, Situ Lang stood in a dark purple brocade robe, spotless.
Behind him stood a gloomy red-robed right envoy, and behind him was a dark mass of Zoroastrian elites, their crossbows poised and their killing intent palpable.
"What is there to be afraid of?"
Situ Lang spoke in a calm tone, as if he were chatting casually, "Brother Shen, Dean Bai, let bygones be bygones."
Bai Hong sneered, his voice hoarse, "Using the blood and flesh of your comrades to fulfill your ambitions? Will you be able to sleep soundly afterward?"
If Situ Lang hadn't leaked the information and fallen into the Zoroastrian ambush, things wouldn't be in this situation now.
He glared at Situ Lang, "And besides, you don't really think the Zoroastrianism will let you secure your position as city lord, do you?"
Situ Lang's smile was chilling: "Who do you think the leader of the Zoroastrianism is?"
Upon hearing this, the Right Envoy beside him knelt on one knee, saying, "May the Holy Flame Master live as long as the heavens!"
Bai Hong and the other man grew increasingly pale, their eyes wide with anger. Situ Lang continued, "No one knows this identity. Even Wu Zhenshan thought I was just cooperating with the Zoroastrianism."
"With the grand competition just around the corner, if I can lead them to victory, I can solidify our legitimacy, and then who will remember you?"
"Rest assured, once your blood sacrifice is successful, I will be able to reach the threshold of True Qi. At that time, not only in Linwu City, but in the Three Cities Grand Competition, who will be my opponent?"
"You're all so outdated and rigid! Martial arts reach the heavens, but every step is forged through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Does that mean the True Qi Realm attained through blood sacrifice isn't still the True Qi Realm?!"
He stepped forward and lowered his voice, "Shen Jun, Bai Hong, I'm not afraid to tell you now that Linwu City has probably fallen into my hands."
"You wish."
"You don't think that the Martial Academy's teacher alone can stop the Holy Sect's Left Envoy, do you? Besides, let me tell you another piece of news: Wu Zhenshan has already broken through to the True Essence Realm."
Upon hearing this, Bai Hong and Shen Jun couldn't help but frown.
This situation is dangerous.
Should we really take a gamble?
But the cost was too high. They believed that the Martial Academy would not surrender easily, so they decided to wait and see!
At this moment, Situ Lang raised his hand and, taking advantage of their momentary shock, swung it down. The red-robed right envoy and his followers simultaneously slit their wrists, their blood splattering into the grooves along the edge of the altar.
"boom--!!"
A great deal of blood was emanating from the altar!
The blood marrow jade embedded in the stone pillars vibrated in unison, shooting out dozens of blood lines that intertwined in mid-air to form a viscous blood net, slowly pressing towards the center. The sweet, fishy smell in the air surged, and inhaling it made one feel their blood and qi churn, as if their meridians were being pierced by countless fine needles.
Shen Jun and Bai Hong both groaned at the same time, their true energy surging forth, forcefully creating a small space under the blood net.
As more and more Zoroastrian followers were sacrificed, Bai Hong and his companion stood back to back. Although their auras were weakening, they were still able to continue.
The smile on Situ Lang's face vanished completely.
"Stubborn and obstinate."
Just as Situ Lang was preparing to intensify his efforts, a muffled horn suddenly sounded from the sea off the island.
A cultist stumbled over: "Master, five Black Dragon warships have broken through the outer defenses and are forcibly landing!"
Situ Lang's expression changed.