Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Clean Sweep

The Turtle Breath Technique.

It could conceal one’s aura, making them difficult for others to detect. It also allowed the body to enter a state of hibernation, reducing the consumption of Qi Blood and thus rapidly restoring Vitality.

The original purpose of concealing one’s aura and entering a state of hibernation was to achieve a resonance between the body and the surrounding world. When cultivated to the stage of Great Success, even a perceptive expert passing by would find it difficult to notice you.

Chu Lingguang’s Turtle Breath Technique score was only 61, far from that level.

But tonight, exhausted and with his mind completely empty, Chu Lingguang had vaguely found that feeling of resonating with the world around him. His aura seemed to merge into the heavens and earth. Even Wang Chao, who was right beside him, thought Chu Lingguang had stopped breathing, as if the person before him had turned into a block of wood.

It was as if he had imperceptibly merged with Master Yan’s four-section courtyard.

Chu Lingguang could even hear Guo Wei and Master Yan’s conversation in the Inner Courtyard with perfect clarity. By the time he snapped out of it, that feeling of Heaven and Earth Resonance vanished in an instant.

The signs of breathing from Chu Lingguang’s body gradually returned.

A humming sound also emanated from his chest.

It was the hum produced by the Perfection stage of his Tidal Breathing Technique powerfully replenishing his Qi Blood.

“Junior Brother.”

Wang Chao stared at Chu Lingguang in disbelief.

A moment ago, Chu Lingguang had been like a deep, still pool, difficult to perceive. Now, he was like a turbulent ocean, his aura fluctuating in strength as thunderous sounds rumbled with the rise and fall of his chest.

“Senior Brother, help me apply the medicinal wine,” Chu Lingguang said, opening his eyes.

“Oh, okay.”

Wang Chao was waiting by Chu Lingguang’s side precisely to help him apply the medicinal wine and alleviate the muscle soreness in his arms.

’Master’s intentions were good, even if his methods were harsh. He pushed me to master the Three-Star Linked Pearls today until my arms were sore and weak. It turns out he didn’t want me to clash head-on with Yan Chengdu tomorrow.’

Chu Lingguang was deeply moved, not having expected this deeper meaning behind Guo Wei’s actions.

’That feeling just now was so strange. My Qi Blood actually recovered by seventy or eighty percent in an instant, and the soreness in my arms has almost vanished. Could the Turtle Breath Technique not only be a skill for concealing one’s aura but also a powerful Healing Method? It’s a pity that feeling of Heaven and Earth Resonance was just a flash of inspiration. Who knows when I’ll be able to grasp it?’

’If I can raise my Turtle Breath Technique score to the Perfection stage and find the secret to Heaven and Earth Resonance, then if I ever find myself in danger, I can just rely on this Turtle Breath Method to hide in a forest. Who would ever be able to find me?’

Chu Lingguang thought to himself again. That state of Heaven and Earth Resonance had made his body feel as if it had absorbed the medicinal power of a Great Returning Pill in an instant. His Qi Blood was already nearing the Perfection stage, and the sore, numb feeling in his arms had completely disappeared.

By continuing to absorb the medicinal wine now, he would be able to fully recover to his peak condition by tomorrow.

「The next morning.」

Chu Lingguang was full of energy.

Wang Chao was still sleepy-eyed.

Guo Wei saw that Chu Lingguang was in good spirits but didn’t know his arms had already fully recovered. He simply instructed, “Give it your all, but know when to advance and when to retreat!”

“Yes.”

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu nodded.

The free-for-all combat was the final stage of the Martial Arts and Daoist Examination.

This stage was particularly important.

Regardless of the scores in the previous stages, the free-for-all combat was the event that truly tested a person’s level of Kung Fu. This stage would select a new top ten.

This new top ten would then face off against the top ten from the overall leaderboard.

But the rules were brutal, and the differences in strength were obvious. In past Martial Arts Examinations, the new top ten selected in the final round were often the same people from the overall leaderboard. It was rare for anyone to successfully stage an upset and fight their way into the top ten through free-for-all combat.

In this stage, contestants were also divided into groups of five.

First, a winner would be selected from each group. Then, the new top ten would be chosen from among those group winners.

“Examinees Hei Hu, Wang Lianbo, Ma Family, Yang Xu, and Chen Musheng, the examination begins!”

Hei Hu was once again in the first group.

He entered the sand-covered ground, saber in hand.

Xiao Wang followed close behind.

The five of them spread out, eyeing each other warily and preparing for a fight.

“Begin!”

Seeing that the five were ready, the examiner struck a gong to signal the start. The five contestants glanced at each other, and Hei Hu decisively slashed at Ma Family. The free-for-all combat was a five-person melee; it was all about who could last until the end.

Xiao Wang, meanwhile, attacked Yang Xu. He and Hei Hu had a tacit understanding to fight each other last. Chen Musheng watched the two skirmishes, clearly thinking Xiao Wang was stronger, so he waited for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack on him.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Wang used his Continuous Slash Saber Technique, enveloping both him and Yang Xu at the same time. Their weapons were knocked from their hands, and they were defeated on the spot.

Hei Hu also succeeded in defeating Ma Family and became entangled in a fight with Xiao Wang.

One hundred and forty rounds later, Xiao Wang’s long saber was resting on Hei Hu’s neck. Xiao Wang had won first place in the group stage and had a chance to challenge for a spot in the top ten.

Hei Hu and the others were eliminated. The examiner would assign them a score and rank based on their performance.

The free-for-all combat took place on the sand-covered ground, which had been divided into several sections to allow multiple groups to compete simultaneously.

“Examinees Ji Hu, Jin Shan, Chai Yaolong, Chu Lingguang, and Huang Feihu, the examination begins!”

An hour later, Chu Lingguang heard the examiner call his name. He was once again in a group with Ji Hu and Chai Yaolong, as well as Jin Shan.

As for the examinee named Huang Feihu, Chu Lingguang had noticed him over the past few days. He was a disciple of Nie Maocheng from Fishing Town, and his performance among the examinees was also outstanding, though his brilliance was unfortunately overshadowed by the Noble Family Disciples and Chu Lingguang’s group.

The five entered the sand-covered ground one after another.

Chu Lingguang held a silver Long Spear.

In the free-for-all combat, one could fight empty-handed or wield a weapon.

Sabers, spears, staves, clubs, swords, halberds, shields, axes, maces, hammers, whips, battle-axes, forks, rakes, hooks, lances—all eighteen traditional weapons were available to choose from. You could bring your own or select one from the Soldier Landing Platform.

In a five-person melee, the sweeping attacks of a Long Spear offered a certain advantage.

Besides, the spear was the weapon Chu Lingguang was most skilled with.

After entering the designated area, the five of them, like the other groups, stood ready for battle, keeping a certain distance from one another.

“Begin!”

The examiner struck the gong. Wanting to redeem Tie Zhennan’s honor, Jin Shan took the initiative and attacked Chu Lingguang. Huang Feihu had also intended to test his skills against Chu Lingguang, but seeing that he was already targeted by Jin Shan, he brandished a long lance and swept it toward Chai Yaolong.

Ji Hu stood his ground. Finding himself temporarily without an opponent, he watched the two pairs fight. Filled with the pride of a Noble Family Disciple, he did not launch a sneak attack on anyone in either group.

CLANG!

Chu Lingguang used the second level of his Skillful Force, his Long Spear ensnaring Jin Shan’s long saber. In less than twenty rounds, he knocked the weapon from Jin Shan’s grasp. Jin Shan stood stunned as his weapon hit the ground and the Long Spear locked onto his throat. He was the first in the group to be defeated.

SWOOSH!

A cold glint of light shot out in a surprise attack.

Seeing Chu Lingguang defeat Jin Shan, Ji Hu instantly drew his sword and thrust it at Chu Lingguang. His most proficient weapon was not a saber, spear, staff, or club—it was the Sword.

The sword holds the noble title of “the Gentleman of Weapons.”

It was the preferred weapon of Noble Family Disciples.

At the same time, Sword Technique was also the most ruthless form of Kung Fu among the eighteen traditional weapons. The phrase “one strike to the throat” perfectly described the power of a Swordsman.

CLANG!

Chu Lingguang swung his spear to block, intercepting the momentum of Ji Hu’s sword. He didn’t let Ji Hu get close, using the power of his Long Spear to quickly gain the upper hand. Fifty rounds later, CLANK!

Ji Hu’s longsword flew from his hand. Chu Lingguang ended it with one decisive move: Spear Lock Throat.

Chai Yaolong’s heart leaped into his throat as he watched. Having just defeated Huang Feihu, he wielded twin sabers and decisively launched a sneak attack on Chu Lingguang. However, ever since his Turtle Breath Technique had entered that state of Heaven and Earth Resonance last night, Chu Lingguang’s senses seemed to have been enhanced. Before Chai Yaolong could even get close, the Long Spear was already sweeping toward him.

Thirty rounds later, Chai Yaolong was knocked down by a blow from Chu Lingguang’s spear, the Long Spear pressed against his chest.

Off to the side, Guo Wei was stunned. Chu Lingguang was sweeping through his opponents, each spear thrust carrying the force of a fierce tiger. His arms seemed even more powerful than before.

(One more Chapter to come!)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep