Chapter 362: Top Three

Within his Sea of Consciousness, three True Intents hung suspended, the Three Talents now established.

Liang Cheng sat silently beneath the Enlightenment Stele, feeling the surging power within his body.

His Martial Dao True Intent had successfully advanced to the Middle Level, reaching the stage of Entering the Hall and the Room, where Thoughts Follow the Heart. It was like having three volcanoes inside him, ready to erupt at any moment.

Both the Ice Soul Scripture and the Heaven-Burning Scripture broke through to the Minor Success stage. His total Pill Qi exceeded fifty thousand, a massive increase that thoroughly stabilized his cultivation at the Core Formation Middle Stage.

But Liang Cheng knew that his accumulation had, for now, reached its peak.

Qi Refining and Divinity Transformation, the Divine Soul bearing the True Intent, and the True Intent drawing in Spiritual Qi—it was a cycle.

Right now, that cycle had reached its limit.

The three Middle-Level True Intents were too powerful—so powerful that his Sea of Divine Soul could no longer bear the strain. Their power spread to his physical body and Meridians, causing a faint, aching pressure.

If he continued to absorb Dao Rhyme and forcefully advance, it would do more harm than good.

‘He was biting off more than he could chew.’

Liang Cheng opened his eyes and looked at the Enlightenment Stele, still standing there silently.

The Dao Rhyme within the stele continued to flow without end.

He slowly got up and moved to a different spot.

There was still some time left before the three-month deadline.

Since his True Intent and Cultivation had both reached their current limits, he decided to work on other areas.

He closed his eyes and immersed his consciousness in the Cloud Soaring Step.

It was a Body Technique he had obtained from the Scripture Pavilion. He had long since reached the Beginner Level, and now, in his state of Enlightenment, the Dao Rhyme of heaven and earth still flowed around him. Although he was no longer absorbing it, the Dao Rhyme itself created the best environment for cultivation.

Liang Cheng immersed his consciousness and began his Inference of the Cloud Soaring Step.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, an illusory figure strode through the air, its steps ethereal, like clouds, like mist.

That was the pinnacle of the Cloud Soaring Step.

The body becomes a flowing cloud, formless and shapeless.

Liang Cheng watched the illusory figure in silence, running his Inference and imitating its movements over and over.

Beneath the Enlightenment Stele, as the Dao Rhyme flowed, his figure gradually grew faint and unsteady.

Though he was clearly sitting cross-legged, he gave off the illusion that he could dissipate at any moment.

That was the sign of a Body Technique honed to its absolute peak.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Liang Cheng opened his eyes.

[Cloud Soaring Step: Perfection]

‘As expected. In an environment with such rich Dao Rhyme from condensing my Martial Dao True Intent, cultivating a mere Technique like the Cloud Soaring Step was as easy as lifting a finger.’

He nodded slightly, extremely satisfied.

Then, without stopping, he immersed himself in another Cultivation Technique.

The Turtle Breath and Spirit Concealment Technique.

‘Three Middle-Level True Intents… That’s just too outrageous.’

‘If anyone found out, it would surely cause a stir.’

‘Although Master Lie Shan protects me on the First Peak, it’s best to avoid unnecessary trouble.’

‘What’s more, with the grand tournament of the Three Sects and Six Gates just around the corner, the deeper I hide my strength, the more trump cards I’ll have.’

Liang Cheng closed his eyes and began his Inference of the Turtle Breath and Spirit Concealment Technique.

The essence of this Cultivation Technique lay not in mere Concealment, but in “Concealing Spirit.”

It involved retracting one’s entire aura into the body, like a turtle hibernating. To an outsider’s senses, one would appear to be just an ordinary person.

In Liang Cheng’s Sea of Consciousness, the illusory figure appeared once more.

This time, the figure sat cross-legged and motionless, its surrounding aura growing fainter and weaker.

Finally, it vanished completely.

Though it was clearly there, its presence was entirely imperceptible.

Liang Cheng watched in silence, his consciousness immersed in the process.

Time passed.

One day.

Two days.

Three days.

…

An unknown amount of time passed.

Liang Cheng opened his eyes.

[Turtle Breath and Spirit Concealment Technique: Perfection]

He took a deep breath and activated the Turtle Breath Technique.

In an instant, his entire aura receded into his body.

The three Middle-Level True Intents, like slumbering dragons, lay dormant in the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, not revealing the slightest hint of their power.

The twin Pill Qis of Ice Soul and Burning Heaven likewise grew quiescent, returning to his Dantian.

Right now, he looked like an ordinary person.

Liang Cheng nodded in satisfaction.

Just then—

DONG—

The toll of a bell resounded across Inquiry Cliff.

The three-month period had come to an end.

Liang Cheng opened his eyes and slowly rose to his feet.

Atop the cliff, ten figures stood up one after another.

Bai Wuchang, Iron Head Monk, Zhou Yuanqing, Liu Qingli…

And Li Jianfeng and Yu Xiuqi.

Li Jianfeng’s aura was considerably stronger than it was three months ago.

The sword scar on his chest had long since healed. The man himself was like a drawn sword, sharp and brilliant.

Yu Xiuqi had also improved. His aura was as steady as a mountain, and his Fist Intent, though restrained, felt even more profound and solid.

The two of them looked at Liang Cheng and were slightly taken aback.

Because the Liang Cheng they sensed was exactly the same as he had been three months ago.

Li Jianfeng frowned and extended his Divine Sense, wanting to probe more carefully.

But Liang Cheng just stood there, his aura stable, with nothing out of the ordinary.

He was simply at the ordinary level of Core Formation and Breaking Mortality.

Li Jianfeng retracted his Divine Sense, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

But he didn’t ask any questions.

‘This junior brother of mine has always been one to hide his strength. Maybe he achieved some new insight during his Enlightenment and is deliberately concealing his power.’

Yu Xiuqi also glanced over before looking away.

‘Everyone has their secrets.’

Just then—

A figure materialized out of thin air.

Yun Zhonghe.

The Sect Leader had arrived in person.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the ten of them before pausing on Liang Cheng for a moment.

His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

‘This kid…’

‘Three months ago on the Heaven-Ascending Stairs, he unleashed three True Intents at once, his power overwhelming everyone present.’

‘How is it that after three months of Enlightenment, his aura has actually receded?’

‘No, that’s not right.’

‘It hasn’t receded.’

‘It’s been restrained.’

A strange light flashed in Yun Zhonghe’s eyes.

With his Cultivation Realm, he could faintly sense the power lying dormant deep within Liang Cheng, but he couldn’t clearly perceive its nature.

It felt like looking through a layer of fog; he could see the outline but not the true form.

‘Interesting.’

Yun Zhonghe looked away, not probing any further.

‘Everyone has their own serendipitous encounters; there’s no need to get to the bottom of everything.’

He spoke, his voice calm:

“The three-month period of Enlightenment is now over.”

“You have all made gains. Very good.”

“Next, before Wenda Hall, we will determine the top three.”

“Those who ascend to the highest positions will be the top three of this Inquiry Conference. They will represent the Penglai Sect in the grand tournament of the Three Sects and Six Gates.”