Chapter 154: Chapter 130: Fighting Spirit (2)

The name Chu Lingguang met his eyes.

At the very top of the list.

His brow furrowed.

’What the hell?’ he thought.

He obviously hadn’t expected this.

He had long expected prodigies like Emperor Yue Xuan, Chen Jin, Qi Shiwei, Hu Yanlin, and Gao Yimu to be at the top.

He couldn’t resist looking at the line of text beside the names.

All blood vessels throughout the body opened.

A roar like a hundred rivers.

As these words registered, Yan Zhen felt a sense of suffocation.

Especially with the name preceding them: Chu Lingguang!

“It’s no wonder Chengdu lost!”

Yan Zhen sighed.

He then saw Yan Chengdu’s name in the second section—he had only activated the Breathing Technique but had yet to open his blood vessels.

He knew Yan Chengdu’s talent. With Liu Wan’s help, it would only be a matter of days before he could open his blood vessels, enter the Inner Courtyard, and receive guidance from Li Dayao.

However, Yan Chengdu had already lost his advantage for the second round of the competition in ten days’ time. It would be difficult for him to gain the upper hand.

’All blood vessels opened… How did Master Guo accomplish that?’

Yan Zhen’s thoughts turned to Guo Wei.

He believed Chu Lingguang’s ability to open all his blood vessels had to be related to Guo Wei.

After all, when he had entered the academy, even with his talent, it had taken him a full three months after leaving to open all of his blood vessels.

Yet Chu Lingguang had already opened all his blood vessels upon entering the academy.

No matter how you looked at it, he must have already built a foundation.

’Master Guo couldn’t possibly have let Chu Lingguang practice the Day and Night Breathing Technique beforehand. If he had, he never would have been able to hide it from Mr. Li. It seems there’s something strange about Chu Lingguang opening his blood vessels, but it’s not entirely illogical.’

Yan Zhen analyzed.

’Noble Family Disciples take their superior cultivation resources for granted and look down on those from Humble Families. They don’t realize that there’s always a higher mountain to climb, always someone better out there. Someone will always come along to break the mold and surprise everyone. Chu Lingguang has taught all of us Noble Family Disciples a lesson.

Whether or not he participates in this year’s Provincial Examination, if I want to become the Jie Yuan, I must consider him a factor. I can’t afford to underestimate him in the slightest ever again.

I just hope Chengdu can adjust his mindset, hold fast to his own path, and not be distracted by Chu Lingguang’s glory.’

Yan Zhen muttered to himself.

As an outstanding Noble Family Disciple, Yan Zhen not only possessed astonishing talent for cultivation, but he was also known for his steady and upright conduct. He had both a competitive spirit and a thirst for knowledge.

“Brother, I heard the results are out! How did Chengdu do?”

Yan Yusheng entered the tavern and was led by a waiter to Yan Zhen’s private room.

“Where have you been carousing this time?”

Yan Zhen said, displeased.

Yan Yusheng spent all his time on wine and women, ignoring the family business, never easing the burdens of his elders, and neglecting his martial training and cultivation to build a career. As his older brother, Yan Zhen had long disapproved of his conduct.

He had tried to force Yan Yusheng to cultivate and help with family affairs, but to no avail.

“You know perfectly well, Brother. Let me see the results first.”

Yan Yusheng grinned cheekily and picked up the Scroll to read it. After he saw the full contents, the Scroll slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor.

Although he hadn’t practiced martial arts much himself, he had learned enough about cultivation by osmosis to know more than the average person. Seeing that Chu Lingguang had opened all his blood vessels—a feat even more impressive than what Yan Zhen had accomplished at that stage—he felt his breath catch in his throat.

“Brother, Guo Wei leaked the Day and Night Breathing Technique once. Chu Lingguang must have practiced it.”

Yan Yusheng said, after racking his brain.

“Silence! Master Guo saved your life! How can you slander him so easily? If Chu Lingguang had secretly practiced, how could the academy’s instructors possibly have missed it?”

Yan Zhen snapped.

He detested ingratitude and dishonesty, and he would not tolerate it, even from his own brother.

“If that’s what you think, Brother, then I have nothing more to say. I just find it strange. How could a mere Lower-class Youth like Chu Lingguang possibly have more talent than you?”

Yan Yusheng said sullenly.

“Hmph. So what if he’s from a Humble Family? Are kings and generals destined by birth? Chu Lingguang may have humble origins, but his ambition is great. He and I will surely cross swords one day.”

Yan Zhen snorted.

“When the time comes, don’t forget to avenge Chengdu, Brother!”

Yan Yusheng said excitedly.

“And what if I’m the one who loses?”

Yan Zhen asked.

“Huh? You… lose?”

Yan Yusheng was stunned.

“Get rid of that rotten attitude of yours. And don’t you dare underestimate anyone.”

Of course, Yan Zhen didn’t actually believe he would lose. But from this moment on, he dared not underestimate Chu Lingguang in the slightest. He now considered him a formidable rival.

The teachings of Wei Yongguang were still fresh in his mind.

The stronger you imagine your enemy, the greater your own progress.

…

“Senior Brother, the news is here.”

At a tea stall by the lake, Wu Feihong took a bound Scroll from an old man’s hands and placed it before the group.

Yang Shaorong eyed the Scroll and said, “Open it.”

Wu Feihong pushed the Scroll toward Li Murong. “You do it!”

“Fourth Brother, you do it.”

Li Murong decisively shoved the Scroll to Wang Chao.

“Everyone, let’s just stay calm. Little Junior Brother is a steady person. He’s the type to turn setbacks into motivation. Even if he’s ranked last, his fighting spirit will remain.”

Wang Chao said.

He knew they were all passing the buck because they were afraid of seeing bad news and dreaded having to report back to Guo Wei.

But despite his words, Wang Chao took it upon himself to untie the cloth ribbon on the Scroll.

Unlike Yan Zhen, who had unfurled the Scroll all at once to take it all in, Wang Chao and his brothers held their breath as they unrolled it slowly.

Name after name came into view.

“Hey! Little Junior Brother’s name isn’t on the list of those who failed to activate the Breathing Technique.”

Wang Chao said, pleasantly surprised after a closer look.

“Really?”

Hearing this, Yang Shaorong and the other two dragged their chairs closer. Sure enough, Chu Lingguang’s name was not on the list of those who failed to activate the Breathing Technique.

The four of them were overjoyed.

They stopped being so tentative and unfurled the rest of the Scroll at once to see everything. In any case, Chu Lingguang’s result was already good enough to report back to Guo Wei.

With a result like this, he wouldn’t get bullied at the academy.

And so, the list of those who had activated the Breathing Technique, and the list of those who had both activated it and opened their blood vessels, appeared before their eyes. And with it, naturally, came that additional line of text.

Yang Shaorong had the sharpest eyes and ears.

He was the strongest of the four.

The Qi Sea in his Dantian was already surging.

He scanned all the names in an instant, taking everything in, until his gaze was caught by that line of text and the very first name in the final section.

His eyes widened. He snatched up the Scroll and scrutinized it as if it were a Holy Decree.

“Little Junior Brother… he’s truly full of surprises.”

Yang Shaorong burst out laughing once he confirmed he wasn’t mistaken.

“Senior Brother, what is it?”

Their Third Brother, Li Murong, hadn’t quite seen everything yet.

“Little Junior Brother… he activated the Breathing Technique and opened his blood vessels—no, he opened *all* his blood vessels! He’s ranked ahead of Emperor Yue Xuan!”

Wu Feihong was the tallest of the four.

When Yang Shaorong had lifted the Scroll to get a better look, he had also noticed the details. Now, having said it all out loud, he was somewhat dumbfounded himself.

“Huh?”

In disbelief, Wang Chao and Li Murong snatched the Scroll away to see for themselves.

After confirming it was true.

Li Murong murmured, “Could Master have passed the Day and Night Breathing Technique to Little Junior Brother?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Yang Shaorong shot him a glare. He knew Li Murong was just speaking idly, marveling at Chu Lingguang’s shocking talent.

Wang Chao, however, just stared blankly at the lake’s surface.

Seeing him looking stupefied, Wu Feihong couldn’t help but give him a shove.

Wang Chao snapped out of it and gritted his teeth. “My senior brothers were right all along. I, Wang Chao, should enter the Martial Arts Examination. For myself, and for Master, I’ll win the title of Martial Arts Scholar.”

Chu Lingguang’s achievement and talent filled Wang Chao with both joy and a sense of loss, but it also gave him a glimmer of hope.

Years ago, after failing the Provincial Examination several times in a row, he had lost heart. Ignoring Guo Wei’s advice, he went to the county seat to seek out Wang Ren and, with his status as a Martial Scholar, secured a post for himself.

Knowing he had failed Guo Wei, he only returned to the Martial Arts Hall periodically after that. Between that and having to deal with all sorts of people in his daily work, he neglected his cultivation. As a result, he hadn’t made any progress in years. He had finally managed to become the Chief Constable of the County Yamen, only to be nearly dragged down by Wang Ren.

Now, he was serving under Yang Shaorong. While the post of Deputy was far more prestigious than Chief Constable, it was a position he held only because of Yang Shaorong’s status. Wang Chao had already come to accept all this, content to just get by.

But now, seeing Chu Lingguang, a young man from a Humble Family, crush the Noble Family Disciples in the academy, he felt both deeply inspired and hit hard. He wanted to fight for his own future once more.

“Good. If Master knew what you were thinking, he would be happy for you too.”

Yang Shaorong said with an appreciative look.

“We wish you success in the examination, Fourth Brother!”

Wu Feihong and Li Murong raised their teacups in place of wine, making a formal toast.

“If I fail again, you senior brothers better not laugh at me.”

Wang Chao warned them in advance, trying to manage expectations.

“HAHAHA!”

At his words, the four martial brothers burst into laughter.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep