Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Advancement

For some time now, Guo Wei’s explanation of Skillful Force had been echoing in Chu Lingguang’s mind.

’Grasping the Qi Blood within your body is the first step to mastering Skillful Force. Only by finding that Qi Blood can you wield its power to generate Skillful Force.’

Unfortunately, Chu Lingguang had been unable to sense his Qi Blood at all. He could never get it to gather in his palms.

The words ’slow-witted’ seemed branded into his very blood, a label he couldn’t escape.

He never expected that today, while sparring with Da Wang and being completely suppressed by his Spear Technique, he would have a reaction from his Qi Blood at such a critical moment.

Chu Lingguang finally understood why Guo Wei had arranged for Da Wang and Xiao Wang to spar with him and Hei Hu for the last six months. The saying that real combat was a shortcut to improving one’s strength was absolutely true.

CLANG!

Da Wang unleashed a sweeping combo with his spear.

It held the secret of a continuous, charged attack, making each successive strike stronger than the last.

Chu Lingguang raised his spear to block.

His form had already been broken by Da Wang’s assault. Whether he could withstand this sweeping combo now depended entirely on if he could focus his Qi Blood Power into the shaft of his spear.

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLANG!

Da Wang swept down with his spear three times in a row.

Chu Lingguang was forced back with each strike. His half-baked Heaven and Earth Technique couldn’t completely dissipate the rushing Power, and every step he took left a deep footprint in the ground.

Just as the Long Spear was about to be knocked from his hands, making even Guo Wei jump up from his chair, Chu Lingguang finally managed to concentrate his Qi Blood into the weapon.

“HRAAAGH!”

Da Wang roared as he brought down the final sweep.

Chu Lingguang gritted his teeth and raised his spear to meet it head-on.

CLANG!

The Long Spear vibrated violently in his palms. The intense shockwave threatened to tear it from his grasp, but at the last second, he held on tight.

THUD!

Da Wang planted his spear on the ground. The Five-Spear Sweep had almost completely drained his Qi Blood, leaving him with no strength to press the attack.

He knew Guo Wei’s Spear Technique was god-like, famous throughout the region.

He just hadn’t expected that even after participating in a Daoist Examination and experiencing a surge in his Qi Blood over the past two years, he still couldn’t knock the Long Spear from Chu Lingguang’s hands at full power.

Although he had backed Chu Lingguang into a corner and clearly had the upper hand the entire time, for some reason, Da Wang felt like he was the one who had lost.

“Chu, what a fine Spear Technique.”

He sighed in resignation.

“If you had struck one more time, Wang, I wouldn’t have been able to hold on,”

Chu Lingguang said, gasping for breath.

Da Wang had exhausted his Qi Blood with the five-spear combo, and Chu Lingguang, having endured it, was just as spent. In fact, he was pressed flat against the wall, his arms sore and numb.

“Keep training!”

Guo Wei shouted.

He suppressed a smile and sat back down.

Da Wang’s Five-Spear Sweep was an adaptation of a Whirlwind Saber move. While it lacked the sharp, cutting aggression of the Whirlwind Saber Technique when used with a spear, the long reach of the weapon allowed him to fully execute the move’s principle of each strike being stronger than the last.

Even an old master of the spear would have been at a disadvantage against that last exchange. He hadn’t expected Chu Lingguang to actually withstand it, keeping his spear in his hand and his focus unbroken. He hadn’t brought shame to their school.

“I remember you’re his senior brother. Let’s go again. Don’t hold back on me.”

Xiao Wang said with a look of envy, ’If I’d known, I would have sparred with Chu Lingguang first.’

“Watch out!”

Hei Hu couldn’t stand being taunted.

Meanwhile, Chu Lingguang slowly sat down on the ground.

His arms were sore and numb, and his entire body was exhausted. He needed to use the Tidal Breathing Technique to recover some Qi Blood before he could fight again. Pushing himself further would only harm his body and leave lasting injuries.

“Junior Brother, drink this bowl of medicinal tea.”

Half an hour later, Guo Fang brought over a bowl of medicinal tea.

The tea was bright red, with red dates floating on top.

“Thank you, Senior Sister. Thank you, Master.”

Chu Lingguang accepted it with both hands. He knew this medicinal tea was used to replenish Qi Blood. Both he and Hei Hu had drunk it before, and a single bowl was far more precious than a medicinal bath.

Guo Wei would only prepare it for them when their Qi Blood was completely depleted and they had reached their physical limits.

(Helped Guo Wei protect his reputation. Gained 17 Favor Points.)

As the bowl of medicinal tea went down, a warm current spread through him, and a line of text appeared before his eyes.

He was secretly delighted. He never imagined that successfully blocking Da Wang’s Five-Spear Sweep in front of Guo Wei would actually earn him Favor Points.

Chu Lingguang didn’t know that Da Wang’s Five-Spear Sweep was adapted from the Whirlwind Saber Technique. By blocking those five moves with his spear, he had not only defended Guo Wei’s reputation but also inadvertently created the impression that Guo Wei’s Spear Technique was superior to Leader Ma’s Whirlwind Saber Technique.

Handing the bowl back to Guo Fang, Chu Lingguang secretly checked his status panel.

Favors: 17

Staff Technique: (38-100)

Tidal Breathing Technique (165-300)

Turtle Breath Technique (61-500)

Heaven and Earth Technique (47-1000)

Skillful Force (0-150)

(Remaining Lifespan 87)

Chu Lingguang was pleasantly surprised to see that Skillful Force had finally been added to his panel. Finding his Qi Blood was like finding the key to mastering Skillful Force.

Although he hadn’t yet mastered the first level of Skillful Force—being able to repel an enemy’s weapon like Liu Quan could—it would be much easier to train now that he’d had his Enlightenment.

To pass the examinations, he spent all 17 Favor Points on Skillful Force.

Favors: None

Skillful Force (17-150)

Afterward, Chu Lingguang used the Tidal Breathing Technique to absorb the Qi Power from the medicinal tea. About two hours later, both he and Da Wang had recovered to their peak condition.

Da Wang had been training for several years longer than him.

The Breathing Technique he practiced was passed down from the Weiyuan Escort Agency and was on par with the Tidal Breathing Technique. He had actually recovered his Qi Power fifteen minutes earlier and had already practiced his Spear Technique twice. Seeing that Chu Lingguang had finally recovered, he smiled and said, “Chu, if you please!”

“If you please!”

Chu Lingguang wasted no words.

He resumed his spar with Da Wang in the courtyard.

The Five-Spear Sweep was an ultimate move that consumed a great deal of Qi Blood each time it was used. Da Wang knew his ultimate move was no longer enough to break Chu Lingguang’s defense, so he switched to techniques he was proficient in that offered more endurance, launching a new round of fierce attacks.

A value of 17 wasn’t enough for Chu Lingguang to repel Da Wang’s Long Spear, but because he had found the Qi Blood in his body and had a preliminary understanding of how to use it, his defense grew more and more solid.

He didn’t expect to be able to defeat Da Wang.

He only hoped to be able to hold his ground. Once he mastered the first level of Skillful Force, he would surely be able to launch a counterattack. Perhaps in two months, he could use the advantages of his Spear Technique forms, combined with the power of Skillful Force, to break through Da Wang’s assault and stop being constantly on the defensive.

In the days that followed, Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu felt their training was incredibly fulfilling. With Da Wang and Xiao Wang joining in, their strength surpassed the disciples’. Although they were exhausted from constantly defending, their progress was visible.

The four of them took turns sparring with each other.

Guo Wei also kept his promise, giving Da Wang and Xiao Wang pointers on their Mounted Archery and Lance Kung Fu.

A few days later, Chu Lingguang also got a taste of Xiao Wang’s Whirlwind Saber Technique. Compared to Hei Hu, Chu Lingguang’s defense wasn’t broken as quickly, but as Xiao Wang’s saber moved faster and faster, Chu Lingguang found himself unable to parry. In the fiftieth exchange, Xiao Wang broke through his guard and placed the Silver Ring Saber against his neck.

The next day, Xiao Wang continued to spar with Chu Lingguang, this time using his Spear Technique.

Not only did Chu Lingguang defend against the attacks, but in the end, he even used the advantage of his own Spear Technique forms to launch a sweeping combo against Xiao Wang. It was obvious that Xiao Wang’s Spear Technique was far inferior to Da Wang’s. Defeating Xiao Wang’s spear with his own would be more than possible within the next six months.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep