Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Breakthrough

CLANG!

Chu Lingguang felt a surge of Qi Power rush toward him. The Long Spear in his hands was nearly sent flying, and he couldn’t help but stumble back.

Guo Wei’s eyes widened, fearing that Chu Lingguang would fall with that step.

THUD!

Chu Lingguang planted both feet on the stone bricks. The Heaven and Earth Technique activated at that very moment, and he transferred the force rushing toward him into the ground.

He kept a firm grip on his Long Spear.

With an upward thrust from his Weeding for Snakes technique, he once again blocked Da Wu’s assault.

Everyone watched in utter shock.

Both Leader Ma and Tie Zhennan found it unbelievable. Da Wu’s Qi Power was a surging tide, yet Chu Lingguang was actually able to withstand it.

Guo Wei, however, recalled the scene of Chu Lingguang’s confrontation with Boss Zhuang. He had relied on his Pile Skill back then, holding on until his shoes burst and his toes were exposed.

CLANG!

Da Wu was flustered and enraged.

His Qi Power was far superior to Xiao Wu’s. Xiao Wu had won his own match in thirty-five rounds, yet Chu Lingguang had now lasted forty rounds against him and could still go on.

In his desperation, he unleashed the Weiyuan Escort Agency’s Five Blades Continuous Slash. It was a Saber Technique developed by an old master from the agency, conceived during a life-or-death battle with bandits on an escort mission.

By Borrowing Strength, each of the five slashes grew more powerful than the one before it. The final slash gathered the force of the previous four, carrying the momentum of Heaven and Earth Creation.

Of all the disciples in the Weiyuan Escort Agency’s younger generation, he alone had mastered the essence of these five slashes. It was his ultimate trump card. Not even Liu Quan from the Zhennan Martial Arts Hall had ever witnessed it; he only knew that Da Wu had mastered a powerful Continuous Slash Saber Technique.

Seeing that Chu Lingguang could still hold on, and concerned for both Leader Ma’s reputation and his own pride, he finally unleashed it with all his might.

SWOOSH!

The ear-piercing Sword Sound carried with it a terrifying, soul-shaking power.

Chu Lingguang circulated his qi to defend. Both he and Hei Hu had witnessed Da Wang and Xiao Wang use the Weiyuan Escort Agency’s Five Blades Continuous Slash, and they had always been extremely wary of this Continuous Slash Saber Technique.

But after clashing with Da Wu today, Chu Lingguang realized that Da Wang and Xiao Wang’s version of the Continuous Slash Saber Technique only captured its form, not its true intent.

It wasn’t just the vast difference in Qi Power.

The sheer presence of the attack was worlds apart. Da Wu’s slash was both unstoppable and soul-shaking.

THUD!

Chu Lingguang retreated again, using Skillful Force to deflect the blow while simultaneously employing his Heaven and Earth Technique to channel the incoming force into the ground, allowing his body to hold up.

CLANG!

CLANG!

After four slashes, Chu Lingguang had retreated four steps. His cloth shoes were in tatters, his face was flushed, and the Long Spear in his hand trembled violently, threatening to fly out of his grip.

“Ah!”

Da Wu couldn’t believe his eyes.

Borrowing Strength, the fifth slash was pushed to its absolute limit. Chu Lingguang saw only a flash of cold light as a wave of Sword Qi slashed down before him.

“Ah!”

He let out a furious roar, meeting the slash with a move of his own—Right Block, Left Intercept, Rushing to the Middle Hall.

CLANG!

Chu Lingguang’s body trembled violently. The webbing of his hand split open, and the Long Spear was knocked from his grasp. He staggered backward, watching the weapon fly away from him and fall toward the ground.

The immense force of the impact sent him hurtling toward the courtyard wall behind him. Chu Lingguang felt himself about to be thrown clear. A stubborn thought gripped him: ’I can’t lose my Long Spear, and I absolutely cannot be sent flying!’

THUD!

He stomped his right foot down hard. With a twist of his body, he discharged the force of the impact into the ground. In that instant, Chu Lingguang’s mind was perfectly clear. He felt as if his feet were connecting heaven and earth, his soles fused to the ground beneath him.

He was overjoyed.

His mastery of the Heaven and Earth Technique seemed to have changed. Seeing the Long Spear about to hit the ground, he flicked his toe and kicked it back into his grasp. At the same time, he actively retreated two steps, then followed with a thrust toward Da Wu’s throat: The Strange Python Turned Back and Rushed Up the Throat.

Da Wu was dumbfounded.

It was bad enough that Chu Lingguang hadn’t been sent flying, but he’d even managed to retrieve his Long Spear and was now striking back, telling him the fight wasn’t over.

Da Wu flew into a humiliated rage. The Five Blades Continuous Slash hadn’t completely drained his Qi Blood, and Chu Lingguang’s defiance had stoked his fury. He could see that Chu Lingguang was on the verge of collapse, so he summoned the last of his Qi Power and swiftly broke through his Spear Technique.

Finally, in the fiftieth exchange, he pressed his long saber against Chu Lingguang’s neck.

Chu Lingguang held his Long Spear against his shoulder, pinned tightly by Da Wu’s saber. The blade’s edge was already touching his neck, but he was still making a final resistance.

Da Wu’s expression was grim, but when he saw Chu Lingguang’s split webbing and the blood streaming down the hands that gripped the Long Spear, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration. He spoke from the heart, “Master Guo has found a fine disciple. You’re more formidable than Liu Quan!”

At these words, Liu Quan’s face flushed crimson, anger simmering inside him.

Guo Wei fought to suppress a smile as he looked at Chu Lingguang with admiration. Chu Lingguang had actually lasted fifty exchanges against Da Wu, saving his master’s reputation and venting some of his frustrations for him.

“You praise me too highly, Brother Da Wu,”

Chu Lingguang said, taking a deep breath.

Da Wu turned and walked back to Leader Ma’s side, whispering with Xiao Wu. Neither brother looked pleased. The appearance of Liu Quan and Chu Lingguang had made them feel threatened.

Nearby, Da Wang and Xiao Wang also wore grave expressions. They now viewed Chu Lingguang as the top contender in the upcoming Daoist Examination. This was especially true for Da Wang; the thought that he himself had guided Chu Lingguang in mastering Skillful Force, and that it might one day be used against him, made his stomach churn.

“In today’s sparring, the two masters seem to be evenly matched,”

Leader Ma said, looking disappointed. His original intention had been for his own disciples to secretly learn a few things from Guo Wei and Tie Zhennan. In the end, they had gained nothing. On the contrary, Da Wu had been forced to reveal his trump card, and he had nearly failed to defeat Chu Lingguang, a kid who hadn’t even taken the Daoist Examination yet.

This filled him with worry for the Escort Agency’s future.

“I want another match with Chu Lingguang, so we can determine a true winner,”

Liu Quan said, taking a deep breath.

“Nonsense,”

Tie Zhennan chided.

“Master, the Weiyuan Escort Agency’s Continuous Slash Saber Technique is incredibly impressive. If Chu Lingguang and I fight and a winner is decided, perhaps one of us could receive some pointers from Leader Ma,”

Liu Quan said, mustering his courage.

He was unhappy about being overshadowed by Chu Lingguang.

Tie Zhennan hesitated. He understood what Liu Quan was thinking, but Chu Lingguang’s Spear Technique was watertight and his temperament was calm and collected. Based on that Force-Relieving Pile Skill alone, Tie Zhennan worried that Liu Quan wouldn’t be able to gain any advantage.

Like Guo Wei, he had mistaken Chu Lingguang’s Heaven and Earth Technique for a solid and steady Pile Skill.

But seeing Liu Quan so eager and full of confidence, Tie Zhennan worried that refusing him would affect his student’s state of mind, causing him to obsess over competing with Chu Lingguang all day and neglect his training.

So he sighed to himself and said to Guo Wei, “What do you think, Master Guo?”

Guo Wei, of course, wanted Chu Lingguang to fight Liu Quan and teach that treacherous brat a lesson on his behalf. But then he saw Chu Lingguang’s split webbing, the spear shaft covered in blood, and the shredded cloth shoes on his feet.

He couldn’t bear to ask it of him.

His own reputation was important, but Chu Lingguang’s health and future were more important still.

Thinking of this, Guo Wei shook his head. He didn’t want Chu Lingguang to risk another battle with Liu Quan just for a sliver of his master’s prestige.

“Master, after lunch and a short rest, I can fight again.”

But just then, Chu Lingguang spoke up. He had seen a change appear on his status panel.

(It’s still early, I’ll see if I can pump out another Chapter. Please send gifts to help us climb the rankings! I’m still dead set on hitting the top! Let’s get this book more exposure.)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep