Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Explosive Thrust

“The cry of the saber is the foundation of any Saber Technique. As long as you build a solid foundation, you’ll find it much easier to practice other Saber Techniques in the future. You might even be able to manifest Saber Qi.”

“Come, practice with me,” Guo Wei said, suppressing his excitement.

It wasn’t just that his disciples were getting along, which moved him deeply as their master. More importantly, he saw a rare Martial Radiance in Chu Lingguang—honest, reliable, and reserved. He was the type to remain silent, only to shock everyone when he finally made his move.

“Yes.”

Chu Lingguang nodded and immediately began practicing the Iron Mountain Saber Technique with Guo Wei. After rubbing his knees, Hei Hu joined in as well.

When the training was over and they were eating together, Guo Wei took out a medicinal wine he had treasured for years and poured a full bowl for both Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu.

The two had planned to drink only a little, but when they learned the medicinal wine could replenish their Qi Blood, they drank every last drop.

The next morning, Hei Hu was waiting for Chu Lingguang at the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall.

When Chu Lingguang arrived, Hei Hu handed him a dagger sheathed in cowhide. “Junior Brother,” he said, “my father had someone buy this from the prefectural city for me. I’ve kept it but never used it. Now, I’m giving it to you. Congratulations on achieving the saber’s cry.”

“Senior Brother, this dagger is too valuable.”

Chu Lingguang saw that the dagger was over six inches long and exquisitely crafted—not something an ordinary blacksmith could forge. It was clearly something Master Hei had bought for Hei Hu’s self-defense.

“I’m telling you to take it. I have another one at home.”

Hei Hu forcefully pressed the dagger into Chu Lingguang’s hand and made a hushing gesture, telling him to stop arguing.

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Chu Lingguang had no choice but to carefully put it away.

(Helped Hei Hu avoid punishment, gained 93 Favor Points.)

The moment he accepted the dagger, a line of text appeared before Chu Lingguang’s eyes. Seeing the 93 Favor Points, he was quite surprised. ’It seems this dagger is quite valuable, and Hei Hu is sincerely grateful to me.’

’Thinking back to yesterday’s situation, if I had made the same mistake as Hei Hu and utterly disappointed Guo Wei, and then Hei Hu just happened to have a breakthrough on the same day, I would have definitely felt hopeless. I’d have thought Guo Wei would abandon me. But instead, Hei Hu pleaded for me at the critical moment, helping me earn Guo Wei’s forgiveness. I would certainly be eternally grateful to him too.’

Then, Chu Lingguang looked at his status panel.

Favors: 93

Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques (88/150)

Staff Technique (33/100)

Tidal Breathing Technique (89/300)

Riding Skill (37/100)

Turtle Breath Technique (61/500)

Heaven and Earth Art (47/1000)

(Remaining Lifespan: 79)

After some thought, Chu Lingguang decided to raise the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques to Perfection. This particular Kung Fu was simply too difficult to practice, and given its crucial importance in the Martial Arts Examination, Chu Lingguang didn’t dare to take it lightly.

Then he added all the remaining points to his Tidal Breathing Technique.

The status panel changed.

Favors: None

Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques (150/150)

Staff Technique (33/100)

Tidal Breathing Technique (120/300)

Riding Skill (37/100)

Turtle Breath Technique (61/500)

Heaven and Earth Art (47/1000)

(Remaining Lifespan: 83)

After greeting Guo Wei with Hei Hu, Chu Lingguang eagerly practiced his Spear Technique. With the spear in his hands, he felt it move even more naturally, as if it were an extension of his own body.

But that “Spear Form” had yet to appear.

However, Chu Lingguang wasn’t anxious. The last time he had raised his Iron Mountain Saber Technique to Perfection, the saber’s cry hadn’t appeared right away either. It had only manifested after another period of practice.

Now that he had completely mastered the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques, he knew it wouldn’t be long before he could manifest the Spear Form through repeated practice.

Therefore, in the days that followed, the focus of Chu Lingguang’s training gradually shifted. While he continued to diligently practice the Tidal Breathing Technique, he redirected most of the time he would have spent on his Spear Technique to his Riding Skill instead.

Riding Skill would affect his scores in both Mounted Archery and Lance techniques.

Achieving A Class in the four main subjects would only guarantee him a passing spot on the list. But if he wanted to rank near the top, or even in the top three, four A Class scores simply wouldn’t be enough.

Chu Lingguang didn’t fantasize about placing in the top three, or even the top ten. However, he hoped his score wouldn’t be too low on the list. A result in the upper-middle range would be ideal—respectable enough for himself and something that would save face for Guo Wei.

Therefore, Chu Lingguang wanted to try and score well in the two bonus categories: Mounted Archery and Lance techniques.

「Half a month later.」

“HYAH!”

Chu Lingguang rode Little Red Horse, weaving through the small grove behind Liu Family Gully. Ever since Guo Wei had converted it into a training ground for his and Hei Hu’s Mounted Archery and Lance practice, the area had become pitted and uneven. Many trees, pierced by their weapons, had their leaves wither and turn yellow in the following days. It was now nearly impossible to find a single undamaged tree in the entire grove that hadn’t been harmed by Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu.

PFFT!

Chu Lingguang locked onto a target and thrust his spear.

The spear tip pierced through a pine tree the size of a water jug. Chu Lingguang galloped past, pulling the Long Spear out from the other side. Then, turning back in his saddle, he swept the spear horizontally, snapping the shattered pine tree in half at its trunk.

“HYAH!”

Chu Lingguang continued to charge forward, repeating the process again and again as he cut a path through the withered woods.

THUNK!

Finally, he thrust his Long Spear into the ground and flicked up a millstone-sized rock embedded in the earth. The rock smashed into a pine tree already riddled with several spear holes, instantly snapping its roots and sending the withered treetop crashing down.

Chu Lingguang dismounted, performed the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques, and broke the fallen pine tree into countless pieces. Afterward, he gathered the thicker branches, bundled them together, and carried them back to the Martial Arts Hall.

’Strange. I’ve clearly practiced the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques to Perfection, so why haven’t I produced the Spear Form yet? Should I find a chance to ask Master about it?’ Chu Lingguang couldn’t help but wonder on his way back.

Today, Hei Hu had ridden Mountain Pass Peak to Cyan Cloud Mountain to practice Archery and hadn’t trained with him. When Chu Lingguang returned to the Martial Arts Hall for dinner, Hei Hu still hadn’t come back.

However, it wasn’t the first time Hei Hu was late returning from Archery practice at Cyan Cloud Mountain, so no one was worried. Guo Fang had already saved him dinner.

CLOP!

Just as Chu Lingguang finished his meal and was hesitating over whether to ask Guo Wei about his Spear Technique, the sound of Mountain Pass Peak’s hooves came from outside the Martial Arts Hall.

A moment later, Hei Hu walked in carrying a few pheasants. He said to Guo Wei, “Master, I was on Cyan Cloud Mountain and saw Tie Zhennan and Liu Quan hunting a fierce tiger. Liu Quan actually pierced the tiger’s head and made it explode with a single spear thrust!”

Hearing this, Guo Wei’s face filled with astonishment.

Chu Lingguang, on the other hand, sucked in a sharp breath.

A tiger’s skull was many times harder than a pine tree or any of the other common trees in the grove. Although Chu Lingguang could pierce a pine tree with one thrust, he couldn’t possibly make a tiger’s head explode like Liu Quan had.

He remembered how, a few months ago, when he and Big Saber Hong had fought the Black Panther King on Cyan Cloud Mountain, even someone with Big Saber Hong’s immense Qi Blood had chosen to attack the Black Panther King’s neck, never even considering splitting its head open with a single strike.

’In just two short months, Liu Quan’s strength has improved this much?’

“You’re sure you didn’t see it wrong?”

Guo Wei remained skeptical.

“I saw it with my own two eyes. After the master and disciple saw me, they even waved me over and asked if I wanted to cut off a piece of meat to bring back for you, Master,” Hei Hu said earnestly.

Guo Wei fell into deep thought. Then, as if he had realized something, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep