Chapter 229: Chapter 155: Advancement

Through the Turtle Breath Technique, he once again entered the state of Unity of Heaven and Man.

His sensory systems were also enhanced without him even realizing it.

Chu Lingguang voluntarily exited this state and then tried to re-enter it. He found that it was like finding the key to a lock; he could now enter it with ease, perceiving every stir of wind and blade of grass around the Martial Arts Hall.

Unfortunately, while the scene in his Sea of Consciousness could capture sounds, his surroundings remained a complete blur. He had no idea when the environment would become clear and visible within his Sea of Consciousness.

’One day, I’ll be able to just close my eyes and not only hear every rustle but also see every single movement around me.’

However, Chu Lingguang had a gut feeling that this ability probably couldn’t be awakened through the Turtle Breath Technique alone. Perhaps he would have to wait until his strength increased or switch to cultivating a different Skill to achieve it.

But being able to enter this state so easily and perceive his surroundings was satisfying enough for now. He began trying to merge the Turtle Breath Technique with the Circulation Operation Skill, but that too would take time.

“Chu Lingguang, I will be your sparring partner today.”

Lian Junmiao said.

“Alright.”

Chu Lingguang had been waiting for this.

Lian Junmiao was the top-ranked student in the third round at Taihu Academy. His strength far surpassed that of Xue Bingsheng, Yuan Zeng, and even Hu Yong. By the time he left the academy, he had already awakened Five Path Bloodline Dragon Elephant.

Now, he had also activated his Majestic Skin Aspect.

During this time, with Feng Zhiwen’s help, he had successively awakened two more Bloodline Dragon Elephants, each a main lineage. He had always been a formidable rival in the eyes of Du Juan and Liu Qingqing.

Furthermore, he was a master of both sword and spear; none of his Kung Fu were of an ordinary level.

“My Spear Technique is called the Xuanming Spear Technique. It has only five moves. Today, I’ll use it to test your Basic Spear Skill.”

Lian Junmiao stated.

Guo Wei’s expression froze.

The Xuanming Spear Technique was widely renowned throughout the Jianghu, its fame no less than his own Flying Leaf Lotus Spear.

The first form, Water Dripping Through Stone, focused on Penetration Power.

The second form, Shadow-Following Form, focused on absolute speed.

The third form, Mirror Flower Water Moon, focused on deception.

The fourth form, Mountain Roar and Sea Shout, focused on destructive power.

The fifth form, Heaven and Earth Shattering, focused on annihilation.

Each form was stronger than the last. Anyone who could flexibly wield this Spear Technique and bring out the full power of its five forms held a significant position in the Jianghu.

Guo Wei couldn’t help but worry for Chu Lingguang.

Chu Lingguang’s Basic Spear Skill had Perfect Techniques, and his offense and defense seemed impenetrable. In reality, his victories over Xue Bingsheng, Yuan Zeng, and Hu Yong were entirely supported by his Dragon Elephant Power—a case of overwhelming force breaking through all skills. If his power had been even slightly lacking, he wouldn’t have been able to stand against them at all.

The Xuanming Spear Technique, however, could compensate for a lack of overwhelming Dragon Elephant Power, as each form was designed to amplify the user’s strength to its absolute peak.

Perhaps the very reason Lian Junmiao had been able to triumph at Taihu Academy, suppressing Xue Bingsheng, Yuan Zeng, and the others, was the power of his Xuanming Spear Technique.

“Lian, after you!”

Chu Lingguang didn’t know exactly how powerful the Xuanming Spear Technique was, so he felt no pressure. Plus, it was only a sparring match, so he wasn’t overthinking it.

“Watch my spear!”

Lian Junmiao snorted coldly. He led with a Flower Dance Spear, first trading blows with Chu Lingguang using basic spear moves. Chu Lingguang’s calm demeanor made him eager to build up his power and show him what he was really capable of.

“CLANG!”

The two long spears clashed, their movements a flurry of attacks and parries.

Chu Lingguang deliberately took a defensive stance, waiting for Lian Junmiao to use the Xuanming Spear Technique on him. ’I shouldn’t be thinking about using my Dragon Elephant Power advantage to defeat him quickly,’ he thought. ’Instead, I need to give him enough time to unleash his strongest attacks. That’s the only way I’ll make the most progress.’

After a prolonged struggle, Lian Junmiao had gathered enough power. As if spotting a flaw in Chu Lingguang’s spear form, he unleashed the first form of the Xuanming Spear Technique, Water Dripping Through Stone, and thrust toward Chu Lingguang’s vitals.

As Chu Lingguang felt the force of Lian Junmiao’s Spear Technique, he too found the point of Unity of Man and Gun and reached the state of Do as You Please. Within the power of his own technique, he could also combine his Dragon Elephant Power with the surrounding Potential Energy.

However, Lian Junmiao’s Potential Energy wasn’t Wind and Wave Power or Dawn Flame Canal Power or anything like that. It was a form of Skillful Force.

That’s right. His Potential Energy actually absorbed the power of his own Skillful Force.

Every thrust of his spear was now stacked with several times the power of the third layer of Skillful Force.

When their long spears clashed, Chu Lingguang immediately sensed something was wrong. Not only did he feel his spear being drawn in as if by a powerful magnet, but it also felt like it was about to be ripped from his grasp.

The Penetration Power aimed straight for his chest was also far more intense than what he had faced from others.

At first, he thought Lian Junmiao’s mastery of Skillful Force had reached the level of Do as You Please, allowing him not only to fully integrate the power of the third layer but also to imbue every single thrust with it.

This realization made Chu Lingguang’s heart sink. Although he had also mastered the third layer of Skillful Force and could integrate it, he couldn’t imbue every thrust and every move with its power like Lian Junmiao could.

The gap between them was immense.

It was only when he failed to detect any other form of Potential Energy in Lian Junmiao’s Spear Technique that he realized his opponent’s “surrounding Potential Energy” *was* the power of his third-layer Skillful Force.

This discovery left Chu Lingguang stunned for a good while.

He couldn’t help but ask himself, ’Is the power of Unity of Man and Gun stronger when borrowing from surrounding Potential Energy or from one’s own potential energy? If I could tap into the Dragon Elephant Power all around me, would it be stronger than borrowing the Wind and Wave Power?’

’But if my Potential Energy is my own, how can I fuse my Dragon Elephant Power with it during my spear movements, like Lian Junmiao does?’

’Is the trick to combining it with one’s own power the same as combining it with surrounding Potential Energy?’

“WHOOSH!”

Before Chu Lingguang could think it through, Lian Junmiao had already executed the first form, Water Dripping Through Stone.

This form was all about supreme Penetration Power.

Chu Lingguang quickly swept his spear to block, but he could feel the opposing spear tip getting closer and closer. In the end, he had to rely on the advantage of his Dragon Elephant Power just to intercept the thrust.

But Lian Junmiao gave him no chance to breathe.

His Spear Technique shifted.

The second form, Shadow-Following Form, erupted in an instant.

Countless spear shadows appeared before Chu Lingguang’s eyes, surging toward him like a dense school of fish. To defend, Chu Lingguang’s own Spear Technique quickened as he unleashed a series of continuous thrusts, creating more and more spear shadows of his own.

But Chu Lingguang discovered that no matter how fast his Spear Technique became, Lian Junmiao’s always seemed to be just a little bit faster. Within his line of sight, a single spear shadow was beginning to solidify.

Chu Lingguang felt that once that spear shadow became substantial, Lian Junmiao’s technique would break through his defense and pierce his vitals. To prevent this, Chu Lingguang used all his strength, pushing his Spear Technique to the fastest it had ever been in his life.

The spectators saw the shadows of their spears form a curtain of light. The two curtains collided, with Chu Lingguang clearly at a disadvantage. His curtain of light showed signs of being shattered.

“CLANG!”

Every time the spear shadows clashed, a sharp clang rang out. The dense, rapid collisions formed a continuous, deafening roar.

Finally, Chu Lingguang saw it.

Lian Junmiao’s spear had solidified, looking just like a real long spear as it stabbed toward him.

In the eyes of the crowd, one of Lian Junmiao’s thrusts finally broke through the curtain of light before Chu Lingguang, heading straight for the point between his eyebrows.

Chu Lingguang saw a vision: a poisonous snake suddenly lunging out from a thick patch of grass. Holding a Snake-Beating Stick, he was so startled that he frantically swung the stick, chopping down repeatedly.

But he found that his vision had gone completely dark.

In his terror, he had squeezed his eyes shut, and his Staff Technique had devolved into wild, panicked swings.

He bit his tongue sharply, forcing his eyes open.

His sensory system, which had evolved just last night, seemed to fully awaken. Chu Lingguang not only saw the trajectory of the incoming thrust but also the traces it left as it tore through the air.

In his heightened perception, the spear involuntarily slowed down.

Previously, he would have been helpless against the thrust, but now, taking advantage of its perceived slowness, he used all his strength to sweep his own spear against it in a flash.

“BANG!”

Lian Junmiao felt his long spear suffer a critical blow. It was torn from his hands and went flying away as a black shadow.

(I’m so ashamed I could die. The update is late and short again. I’m sorry, everyone. I will definitely make up for it tomorrow.)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep