Chapter 119: Chapter 117: Contention 2

Be that as it may, Yan Chengdu was a Noble Family Disciple. Although his Heart Guarding Skill was inferior to Chu Lingguang’s, he had abundant cultivation resources and no shortage of evenly matched sparring partners. He had encountered situations just like this in his training.

So he didn’t panic.

Instead, he wanted to see just how long Chu Lingguang could maintain the upper hand.

CLANG!

Chu Lingguang’s brow was constantly furrowed and his teeth were clenched. He put his all into every thrust of his spear, unleashing his full speed and power. But with each pressing advance of his Spear Technique, his heart grew ever more tranquil.

It was as if he were completing a mission.

He didn’t care about the final outcome, only whether he was performing to his absolute limit in the present moment.

With his enhanced hearing and vision, Chu Lingguang felt, just as he had against Lin Longde, that Yan Chengdu’s Saber Technique was fast, but not *too* fast.

His Spear Technique was just enough to suppress it.

CLANG!

The first level of Skillful Force: Spring and Shock. The second level: Entangle and Penetrate.

Chu Lingguang integrated them into every thrust.

Yan Chengdu’s expression slowly darkened. He couldn’t break through Chu Lingguang’s Spear Technique for the moment, but his defensive Saber Technique was incredibly solid. He showed no signs of panic or confusion.

But being constantly suppressed by Chu Lingguang put him at a clear disadvantage, a blow to the dignity of a Noble Family. He couldn’t help but grow impatient.

’This won’t do.’

’My brother said Chu Lingguang’s Heart Guarding Skill is formidable. I can’t be the first to lose my composure when fighting him.’

’Come on. Let’s see how long you can last.’

The ripples in Yan Chengdu’s heart gradually settled, and he calmed down once more.

This was a duel between Spear Technique and Saber Technique, but more than that, it was a contest between two wills.

Chu Lingguang appeared to be struggling, but his mind was a sea of tranquility. His eyes were locked on Yan Chengdu’s every move, searching for a flaw in his Saber Technique to end the fight with a single blow.

Unfortunately, merely suppressing Yan Chengdu, forcing him into a passive defense and preventing him from using his Ultimate Killing Saber Technique, was already Chu Lingguang’s greatest advantage. This was the limit of his power.

He simply couldn’t find an opening anytime soon.

All he could do was keep his Spear Technique moving, repeatedly sweeping and slashing at Yan Chengdu’s vital points. He couldn’t let Yan Chengdu get close, nor could he let him retreat beyond the reach of his spear.

And so, in the sand pit, Chu Lingguang, wielding a silver Long Spear, relentlessly hounded Yan Chengdu with the force of a raging thunderstorm.

Yan Chengdu was on the back foot. While he managed to block Chu Lingguang’s continuous barrage, being so thoroughly suppressed by a Lower-class Youth without any chance to counterattack was clearly taking a toll. The crowd could practically feel his stifled frustration.

Anyone else in his position would have likely lost their temper long ago, willing to risk injury just to turn the tables. Yet, Yan Chengdu did not.

Like Lin Longde before him, he felt that Chu Lingguang’s Attack Power was increasing. If he risked a breakthrough, he might gain a momentary advantage, but he would immediately be overwhelmed by the Spear Technique once more.

It was better than taking a reckless risk just to escape his current, embarrassing predicament.

He would use his Advanced Breathing Method to leverage his superior Qi Power and wear Chu Lingguang down in a battle of attrition.

Once Chu Lingguang’s Qi Power dwindled and the speed of his spear slowed, he could seize victory in a single strike.

He would endure the humiliation now to see the clouds part later.

Yan Chengdu had gotten where he was today not just through talent and abundant resources, but also through a shrewdness that most people lacked.

CLANG!

Chu Lingguang might have been slow-witted, but he could see Yan Chengdu’s strategy. The man on the losing end was willing to endure the shame and wait for the tide to turn.

If his opponent could do that, then he—the one with the upper hand, surrounded by praise and support—had all the more reason to guard his own heart and not be swayed by external factors.

His mind was free of distractions, perfectly calm. When it came to Guarding the Heart, he clearly held the advantage.

CLANG!

Chu Lingguang tried to use the second level of Skillful Force to entangle Yan Chengdu’s Golden Edge Saber. Unfortunately, Yan Chengdu had also cultivated Skillful Force, and they canceled each other out. Chu Lingguang was only able to suppress the Saber Technique by relying on the Force Dissipation Technique of his Heaven and Earth skill, his enhanced senses, and his Perfect Techniques.

If they were to determine a winner, it would be a battle of endurance.

’Strange… Did Chu Lingguang take Elixir Pills beforehand? He’s putting his all into every thrust, so why hasn’t his strength collapsed yet?’

’And his Spear Technique… the speed has remained perfectly consistent.’

’Could it be that Chu Lingguang’s Breathing Technique is as profound as my Yan Family’s?’

Yan Chengdu wondered to himself.

The noise from the crowd was growing.

Seeing him constantly on the defensive, completely suppressed by Chu Lingguang, many in the crowd inevitably brought up the suspicious results of the saber competition from a few days prior.

They were more and more convinced that the Yan Family had manipulated the results to ensure they both tied for first place.

Otherwise, how could Yan Chengdu be so thoroughly dominated by Chu Lingguang?

The sounds of doubt and slander were far more potent than any praise. The more Yan Chengdu tried to ignore them, the more grating the voices became. Without him even realizing it, his recently calmed heart began to race with impatience once more.

Outside the ring, Yan Zhen saw this and shot a look at Gao Qingxiong.

“Silence! No clamor is allowed at the Martial Arts Examination!”

Gao Qingxiong understood Yan Zhen’s intent. He strode forward, turned to face the crowd, and unleashed his Lion’s Roar Technique. A furious bellow drowned out all other sounds, terrifying the commoners into a trembling silence. The murmurs of discussion vanished one by one.

A jolt went through Yan Chengdu.

He knew Yan Zhen was reminding him.

But it wasn’t so easy to calm a heart once it had been disturbed. Even though the jeers from the crowd had vanished, Chu Lingguang’s relentlessly consistent Spear Technique, surging toward him without pause, still filled him with impatience and rage.

As a disciple of the Yan Family, who had come all the way from the Governor’s Mansion to South City for the Martial Arts Examination, he was determined to claim the top rank.

Now, with the top rank within his grasp, he was being pushed into a purely defensive position by Chu Lingguang in the final round. He hadn’t even had a chance to unleash his Ultimate Killing Saber Technique. The sheer frustration was immense. For someone as proud as him, it was nearly impossible to remain calm.

Inevitably, the thought of taking a desperate gamble began to form in his mind.

DANG!

Just then, Chu Lingguang’s spear came slashing down.

Yan Chengdu raised his saber to parry.

A flicker of joy ignited within him as he sensed a change in Chu Lingguang’s Qi Power. After all, he was only using an ordinary Breathing Technique. Even cultivated to the state of Perfection, Chu Lingguang’s Qi Power couldn’t remain at its peak forever.

Chu Lingguang also felt his Qi Power beginning to wane.

’If Yan Chengdu breaks through my power, I will surely be defeated.’

Fortunately, he had already grasped the Borrowing Power Method from the Continuous Slash Saber Technique. While it couldn’t exponentially increase his Spear Technique’s might, relying on this skill could maintain his Attack Power for a time.

However, Yan Chengdu had his own Overlapping Wave Power Method. Chu Lingguang was only maintaining his advantage through sheer offense. If this dragged on, he would still be the one to lose.

At this thought, Chu Lingguang could only sigh softly. He prepared himself for Yan Chengdu to break through his failing Qi Power and to face the Ultimate Killing Saber Technique. Once the danger became imminent, he would retreat immediately and leave the sand pit.

But he wasn’t exhausted just yet.

Chu Lingguang’s Spear Technique continued to press down on Yan Chengdu, just as before.

He vowed not to stop until he had expended his very last ounce of strength.

CLANG!

As Chu Lingguang’s Qi Power faded, Yan Chengdu’s defense grew progressively more solid. His Saber Technique formed a curtain of water, shielding him completely. No matter where Chu Lingguang’s spear stabbed, Yan Chengdu could always block it at the crucial moment.

Gradually, even to Chu Lingguang’s enhanced senses, it felt as though Yan Chengdu’s Saber Technique was accelerating.

It wasn’t that his vision was blurring.

Rather, Yan Chengdu had seen the light of victory. His agitated heart grew feverish with excitement, and the power behind his Saber Technique was increasing.

Chu Lingguang attempted to use the second level of Skillful Force to entangle the long saber, but Yan Chengdu always managed to shake it off. Seeing the saber move further and further away, about to leave his attack range, Chu Lingguang couldn’t help but take a step forward. He executed a Weeding for Snakes, locking his spear onto the path of Yan Chengdu’s saber and thrusting for the throat.

WHUMMM!

A layer of golden light erupted from the blade of Yan Chengdu’s saber.

Chu Lingguang pressed forward valiantly.

As his Long Spear struck the saber, a new thought took root in his mind. He was no longer trying to entangle the blade. Instead, an idea sparked: to have his power penetrate through the metal, to channel the Power from his own spear, through the saber, and into Yan Chengdu’s chest.

’The third level of Skillful Force.’

’Seize and Penetrate!’

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