My martial arts have no bottlenecks.

Chapter 64 is incredibly difficult!

A detached house.

Liang Cheng opened the envelope. Ning San Niang's letter was still rambling on and on. Chen Bainian had found her a shop next to the house so she could continue running a small noodle shop.

They even found two clever servants for her, so she wasn't too tired. Ning San Niang told her not to worry about home while she was away, as the martial arts school would take care of her and she was doing well.

Are you going home for Chinese New Year?

Liang Cheng finished reading it with a smile.

Yang Wei's letter said that everything was fine at the martial arts school, which had become famous and was now the number one martial arts school in the three towns. Many students had signed up, and there were more and more promising talents.

The letter ends with a sudden shift in tone.

A few days ago, Qiao Zhi actually wrote him a letter, mentioning the difficulties in the household. She said that if it was convenient for Liang Cheng, he could take care of things as appropriate, but he should never force himself.

After reading the letter, Liang Cheng couldn't help but sigh at how fast time flies; in the blink of an eye, it's almost the New Year again.

He then calmed his mind and focused on his cultivation.

At this moment, the martial arts academy was in an uproar.

Wang Teng, the number one in Tianshe, is back.

Moreover, they are preparing to break through to the True Qi Realm.

The Martial Academy hasn't produced a True Qi Realm disciple for two years!

This genius, who had dominated the top spot on the Tianshe list for three years, quietly returned to the hospital three days ago.

At Chenshi (7-9 AM) today, he ascended the Ascension Platform on the back mountain of the Martial Academy and announced that he would be going into seclusion to break through to the True Qi Realm.

The news spread throughout the entire martial arts academy in an instant.

"Senior Brother Wang is about to break through?!"

"He's only twenty-four, right? If he succeeds, he'll be the youngest True Qi Realm disciple in the Martial Academy in nearly ten years!"

"Even if you fail, it's okay. You can try again before you turn thirty."

"You don't know, but last year, Senior Brother Wang single-handedly stormed the bandit stronghold in Xishan and killed seven bandit leaders who had reached the Transformation Realm with just one sword. That stronghold was a tough nut to crack, even the town's garrison had a headache with it."

"More than that, two years ago, a beast tide occurred in Beishan. He happened to be there on a mission and managed to fight his way out alone, covered in blood, and escaped unharmed."

"I heard that when he was training outside, he once sparred with a rogue cultivator who had just entered the True Qi Realm for thirty moves and was undefeated. Tsk tsk, that was a battle against someone of a higher level!"

Amidst the discussions, the area around the Ascension Platform was already crowded with people.

All the disciples of the Heavenly Abode were present, while the elites of the Earthly Abode and the Human Abode crowded in the distance. Several deacons and teachers appeared in the pavilion, watching silently.

Liang Cheng stood in the Tianshe area, with Lu Qingzhou beside him.

"Senior Brother Wang has a profound foundation. This seclusion will last at least three days and at most seven days. The outcome will surely be revealed."

Lu Qingzhou said softly, his eyes filled with admiration and envy, "Over the years, he has gained remarkable achievements in his training outside, and his reputation has already spread throughout the area around Linwu City. Once he succeeds, he will be able to directly enter the core of the inner academy as a true disciple."

Liang Cheng looked up at the Ascension Platform.

The platform is nine zhang high and is made entirely of blue rock. It is said that the first dean of the martial arts academy carved the mountain with his true energy when it was first built, and it is engraved with spirit-gathering array patterns.

Each disciple of the Heavenly Abode has one free opportunity to use it, but subsequent uses are extremely expensive, making it unaffordable for most people.

Therefore, no one would rashly choose to break through the Heavenly Ascension Platform without certainty.

All I can say is that Wang Teng has quite the audacity these days.

time flies.

On the first day, nothing happened.

The next day, there was still not much movement.

Most of the disciples had already returned to their own lives. Liang Cheng had returned to his private courtyard to cultivate on the very first day. Whether Wang Teng succeeded or not was none of his business.

At noon on the third day, a strange phenomenon suddenly occurred!

Above the Ascension Platform, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged wildly, condensing into a thick, blue column of energy that descended from the sky and poured directly onto the top of the platform.

"The spiritual energy of heaven and earth infuses the body; this is a crucial step in condensing the seed of true energy!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise.

This strange phenomenon brought the martial arts academy disciples back together. Everyone held their breath, their hearts filled with tension.

The disciples below the stage looked up with envy, as if they had already witnessed the birth of a True Qi Realm expert.

However, the column of air continued for half an incense stick's time, and the mist on the platform churned violently as it slowly dissipated, emanating a heart-pounding wave.

"Is it going to be successful?"

at this time,

"puff!"

Suddenly, a muffled thud came from the stage.

Immediately following was Wang Teng's suppressed groan of pain, and the churning mist suddenly turned dark red.

"not good!"

Upstairs, an old man in a gray robe suddenly changed his expression, his figure shooting up to the sky like lightning, rushing into the secret room, and then carrying Wang Teng out.

Liang Cheng, with his keen senses, saw that Wang Teng's face was ashen, blood was flowing from his mouth and nose, and his aura was weak and chaotic. His robes were torn, and countless fine cracks were visible under his skin.

Wang Teng failed to pass the obstacle.

Moreover, the serious injury backfired.

The gray-robed old man quickly sealed the acupoints, fed him medicine, picked him up, and swept him into the depths of the back mountain. The whole process took no more than three breaths.

The martial arts academy was deathly silent.

Then, an uproar erupted!

"It failed?!"

"How is this possible? I was clearly infused with spiritual energy just now..."

"Judging from the injuries, it seems the foundation has been damaged..."

"Even someone like Senior Brother Wang failed? He's a genius capable of contending with True Qi Realm cultivators even when he's at a higher level!"

Shock, regret, disbelief—a complex mix of emotions permeated the crowd.

Lu Qingzhou's face turned pale.

Liang Cheng silently gazed towards the back mountain.

Is breaking through to the True Qi Realm really this dangerous?

Even a renowned figure like Wang Teng suffered severe injuries and backlash.

"Disperse, everyone!"

The black-robed deacon leaped onto the high platform, his voice cold and stern: "Success or failure is common when attempting to break through to the True Qi Realm. Go back and cultivate!"

The crowd slowly dispersed, but the discussion continued.

……

In the evening, Liang Cheng returned to the secluded courtyard.

Lu Qingzhou was already sitting alone in the courtyard, his face devoid of its usual smile, appearing gloomy and unpleasant.

"Senior Brother Lu?"

"Wang Teng's attempt to break through failed, and his foundation was damaged. He will need at least one or two years to recuperate, and at worst, he will never be able to reach the True Qi Realm."

Lu Qingzhou's voice was dry.

Liang Cheng remained silent for a moment.

"The Master said that his qi and blood were transported too quickly, and his meridians could not bear the burden. At the last moment of condensing the seed of true qi, his qi and blood collapsed."

He looked at Liang Cheng, a hint of cold sorrow in his eyes: "A twenty-four-year-old who has reached the peak of the Transformation Realm, with five years of internal cultivation to hone his foundation, single-handedly storming bandit strongholds, fighting against beast tides, and engaging in cross-level sparring..."

Everyone thought he had it in the bag, but what happened?

Liang Cheng recalled the blood-stained mist on the Ascension Platform.

"In the history of the Martial Academy, three or four out of ten people failed to break through to the True Qi Realm."

Lu Qingzhou said in a low voice, "Nearly half of them will suffer permanent damage and be trapped in the Transformation Realm for life. Wang Teng is lucky. At least he survived. Although his foundation is damaged, it may be possible to slowly heal it back to normal."

He paused, then continued, "But time waits for no one. He's twenty-four this year, and it will take him at least a year or two to recover from his injury before he can start building his career again..."

By the time I'm confident I can make another attempt, I'll probably be 27 or 28. While I can still try before 30, the best opportunity will have already passed.

The courtyard quieted down.

Dusk was falling.

"I'm not trying to scare you," Lu Qingzhou took a deep breath, "but Wang Teng's example is right in front of us. The path of cultivation becomes more and more dangerous as you go further."

"The transition from basic internal energy to true internal energy is an insurmountable chasm. If you cross it, the world will be vast and boundless; if you fail to cross it, at best you'll waste ten years, and at worst you'll lose all your previous efforts."

"Therefore, martial artists must contend for wealth, companions, laws, and land. Now that the Wang family has extended an olive branch, he will be an aid on your cultivation path, Junior Brother."

He turned and walked towards the courtyard gate, stopped at the gate, and glanced back at Liang Cheng:

"Junior brother, I hope you will take good care of yourself."

The courtyard gate closed.

Liang Cheng stood in the twilight, motionless for a long time.

Wang Teng, born into nobility with endless resources and an illustrious record, still fell before the True Qi Realm. The path of martial arts is truly a perilous journey of life and death.

He slowly clenched his fist, feeling the surging blood and energy within his body.

The "Broken Wave Technique" has been partially mastered, the Iron Armor Realm is progressing steadily, and the Gale Blade Technique is nearing mastery...

Lacking innate resources, one makes up for it with diligence; lacking the protection of a prestigious family, one fights with one's life.

Self-reliance is the only way forward!

He turned and walked into the quiet room, where he sat down cross-legged.

Practice.

As night deepened, the blood and energy surged in the quiet room.