Chapter 219: Chapter 152: Ambition

Everyone felt streams of energy flowing in the opposite direction within their blocked bloodlines. Not only did the pace of their Breathing and Exhaling slow, but the obstruction and pain they faced also doubled in intensity.

“BLEH!”

Hei Hu couldn’t hold it in and spat out a large mouthful of the medicinal tea. His cheeks puffed out, and just as he was about to spit out another mouthful, he saw Guo Wei, eyes wide with fury, staring at him while pinching two grapes in his hand.

Hei Hu felt utterly wronged.

But under Guo Wei’s intimidating gaze, and unwilling to be left further and further in the dust by Chu Lingguang, he forced himself to swallow the medicinal tea in his mouth.

’I, Liu Qingqing, was taught by a Royal Martial Artist and come from a prominent noble family,’ she thought, steeling herself against the pain. ’No matter what, I *must* be the first to activate my Bloodline Dragon Elephant.’

She could feel the eight silver needles piercing her body. It was as if they were stones blocking her bloodlines. The power from the medicinal tea she’d drunk had transformed into a counter-current, pushing against both the stones and her will.

Each breath she took was an unbearable, stabbing agony, and the sensation of her bloodlines tearing apart reached an intolerable peak.

’I am one of the Royal Family and Relatives,’ Du Juan thought silently. ’Mazhou Academy has already lost to Liu Qingqing once. This time, I absolutely cannot lose to her again. I must activate my Bloodline Dragon Elephant before she does and surpass her in Dragon Elephant Power during this period.’

The rivalry between women is often the most intense, and innocent bystanders tend to get caught in the crossfire.

Xue Bingsheng, Yuan Zeng, Lian Junmiao, and Hu Yong panted as they watched the silent battle between Liu Qingqing and Du Juan. As proud men, they couldn’t bear the thought of being surpassed and crushed by two women. One by one, they focused their minds, using the Day and Night Breathing Technique to absorb the medicinal power and get their energy flowing freely through their bloodlines. With their pride on the line, the pain seemed to lessen.

“AHHH!”

Hei Hu screamed several times.

’Why am I even trying to compete with these people?’ he asked himself. ’I’m just the son of a minor landlord. They’re all Noble Family Disciples, some even from prominent noble families or are Royal Family and Relatives. How can I possibly contend with them?’

’If I keep this up, I’ll just be suffering for nothing. It won’t help me awaken my Bloodline Dragon Elephant in the slightest.’

’Maybe giving up now is the best option.’

’Anyway, with my aptitude, becoming a Martial Arts Scholar in the future shouldn’t be a problem. If I can’t be a Military General, then being a Deputy Officer is fine too.’

’There’s no need to fight to the death over this.’

However, just as he was preparing to give up and face Guo Wei’s scolding, he glanced over at Chu Lingguang.

At that moment, Chu Lingguang’s face was also contorted in pain, his forehead beaded with sweat. He was even trembling uncontrollably, yet he was still desperately holding on.

In a daze, Hei Hu recalled the words Chu Lingguang had spoken to him just yesterday: “Master has said it before—the most difficult part of cultivation is Guarding the Heart. Senior Brother, your talent surpasses mine. As long as you can guard that heart of yours, you will eventually shock everyone.”

Hei Hu, who had been looking dejected and even a little hopeless, suddenly felt a surge of Spiritual Power. He told himself, ’Just a little longer… a little longer. Let’s just get through today.’

Chu Lingguang’s Heart Guarding Skill was indeed formidable, but under the torment of that indescribable pain, his own resolve had wavered several times.

He’d wanted to give up so many times.

But each time the thought arose, he swiftly crushed it.

After suppressing it so many times, Chu Lingguang began to grow agitated. It wasn’t until he heard Hei Hu’s screams that a memory surfaced. He saw himself after a year of bitter training, finally mastering Fist Force at the very last moment.

He saw the morning he’d demonstrated that Fist Force for Guo Wei, the same morning his Second Aunt, Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family, had almost quit her laundry job at the Martial Arts Hall just to protect Zhang Da’s position at the tile factory.

It was the roar of his Fist Force that had changed things for his Second Aunt, and for himself.

He saw himself again, struggling for days with the Heavenward Force without a hint of progress, only to achieve a sudden breakthrough that shocked Guo Wei into sparring with him for an entire day. That was also the day he learned that the path of cultivation included nourishing medicinal baths.

Chu Lingguang saw many events from his past.

One bad situation after another had transformed as his own strength had grown.

He thought of his debt to Guo Wei and his goal to help him attain the rank of Grandmaster.

He thought of becoming a Martial Arts Scholar to exempt his Second Aunt’s family from taxes, to help his two cousins get ahead in the world, and to find a good family for Zhang Linghua to marry into.

He also thought of his promise to Landlord Zhang.

These thoughts flooded his mind all at once.

It made Chu Lingguang realize with profound clarity that he was still too weak. He needed greater power to change his circumstances. He needed to awaken more Dragon Elephant Power to defeat Samba, to avoid shaming Guo Wei, and to finally stand firm on his own two feet.

Ambition is a poison.

It can lead to a fall from which there is no recovery.

Ambition is an intoxicant.

It can make one throw all caution to the wind.

Chu Lingguang thought about the day Samba arrived. If he had lost, what would the villagers of Liu Family Gully think of him?

Everything he had worked so hard to gain would have vanished like smoke.

His Second Aunt’s family would have been unable to hold their heads high.

Guo Wei would have been scorned behind his back. Even if Chu Lingguang later became a Martial Arts Scholar, the shame of losing to Samba and disgracing both Guo Wei and the Great Yuan would be a permanent stain on his name. Advancing in an official career would be impossible. Few would associate with him, and earning Favor Points would become a hopeless task.

At this thought, Chu Lingguang, who had been sitting cross-legged on the sand and circulating his Breathing Technique, slowly rose to his feet.

Guo Wei and Feng Zhiwen stared, their faces etched with confusion.

Hearing the commotion, Liu Qingqing, Du Juan, and the others turned to look at Chu Lingguang, equally bewildered. ’Is he giving up?’ they all wondered.

After all, the pain was truly immense.

Even they had been tempted to quit several times.

Chu Lingguang’s eyes remained shut tight.

Through Introspection, he could clearly see how much the medicinal power and Feng Zhiwen’s silver needles were obstructing the flow of energy in his bloodlines.

The constant tearing sensation had brought him to the verge of collapse. To push past these blockages, he didn’t just need to strengthen his bloodlines—he needed to make them like a network of intertwined roots, anchored firmly in his flesh. Then, no matter how they were torn, they would be like reefs on the ocean floor, unmoving and unshaken by the surging undercurrents.

THUD!

Chu Lingguang spread his feet apart and stomped down hard. His upright body then slowly sank into a low stance, his feet seemingly taking root in the ground. Bloodline Power surged through him, flowing from the soles of his feet and burrowing deep into the earth like tree roots.

GURGLE!

Where before he had been cautiously and slowly circulating energy through his bloodlines with each breath, Chu Lingguang now pushed the Day and Night Breathing Technique to its absolute limit.

The sound of the Hundred Rivers Operation gradually revived.

Beads of sweat erupted from every one of his pores.

An indescribable pain shot through Chu Lingguang’s entire body. It felt as if every single one of his bloodlines was being violently yanked, about to be ripped clean from his flesh.

But the protection of his Chang Chun Pile Skill made his bloodlines unshakable. The only thing he had to endure was the tearing agony.

However, as he continued his Breathing and Exhaling, circulating his energy, his bloodlines automatically began to strengthen. With each successive cycle, the excruciating pain gradually subsided.

Slowly, the sound of the Hundred Rivers Operation returned to its peak. A thunderous roar of energy erupted from Chu Lingguang’s body, instantly drowning out every other sound.

Everyone was stunned by the sight.

They all knew, of course, that a Pile Skill could assist a Breathing Technique. But to use it at a time like this would double the pain. How in the world was Chu Lingguang enduring it?

Yet, not only did Chu Lingguang endure…

…his energy began to circulate faster and faster.

By the end, it was as if he had forgotten the pain entirely.

His every breath became perfectly normal, as if Feng Zhiwen’s silver needles weren’t even piercing his body.

“ROAR-TRUMPET!”

At that exact moment, a Dragon’s Roar and Elephant’s Wail awakened from within Chu Lingguang’s bloodlines.

“ROAR-TRUMPET!”

His already-awakened Blood Dragon Elephant and two other Bloodline Dragon Elephants all responded to the cry. Slowly, the Dragon’s Roar and Elephant’s Wail emanating from Chu Lingguang’s body completely suppressed the rumbling of the Hundred Rivers Operation.

To everyone else, it sounded as if a dozen ferocious beasts were roaring in unison from within Chu Lingguang, all awakened by him at that very instant.

Liu Qingqing and Du Juan, who had been so intent on being first, were so stunned by the deafening sound that they stared, dumbfounded, their Breathing Techniques coming to a halt.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep