Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Taking Off the Hat

Guo Wei reached an agreement with the two men.

Regardless of who defeated Chu Lingguang, the winner would handle any subsequent trouble. They would ensure no one came to the Martial Arts Hall to cause a scene and would explain to everyone that Chu Lingguang did not yet deserve the title of “future Martial Arts Scholar.”

Guo Wei knew this would be a blow to Chu Lingguang’s morale; most people wouldn’t be able to take it.

But the path of an official, just like the path of Martial Arts, was never smooth sailing.

Teaching Chu Lingguang a lesson might not be a bad thing.

Besides, the reputation of a “future Martial Arts Scholar” didn’t match Chu Lingguang’s current strength.

Bestowed upon Chu Lingguang, it would only attract endless trouble. It was better to shed the title sooner rather than later.

“Master Guo, please rest assured.”

“We will not go back on our word.”

Teng Qingshan and Lin Yuanfu spoke one after the other.

Guo Wei immediately explained the terms of the agreement to Chu Lingguang.

Chu Lingguang knew Guo Wei had his best interests at heart. No matter who he lost to, Guo Wei’s reputation would suffer along with his own. But to look out for him and prevent him from becoming a public target during the Martial Arts Examination, Guo Wei was willing to sacrifice some of his own prestige.

Chu Lingguang silently committed this to memory. ’This is a favor I must repay one day.’

“Lin, would you allow me to face Young Master Chu first?”

Teng Qingshan said, cupping his fist.

“Fine!”

Lin Yuanfu nodded.

He was, after all, a candidate who had failed the previous Provincial Examination by only a single spot. His experience and strength were clear for all to see, so it would be somewhat inappropriate for him to be the first to spar with Chu Lingguang.

Of course, he also knew that Teng Qingshan was young and impetuous, eager to test Chu Lingguang’s strength for himself.

“Thank you.”

“Young Master Chu, if you please!”

Teng Qingshan immediately walked to the center of the courtyard and gestured his invitation to Chu Lingguang.

“Please!”

Chu Lingguang had no choice but to take up his spear and face Teng Qingshan. Both of them were skilled in Spear Technique.

Teng Qingshan assumed his stance. He first performed a readying flourish, twirling his spear to show he was prepared and inviting Chu Lingguang to attack first.

Ever since the battle at the Weiyuan Escort Agency, Chu Lingguang’s offensive and defensive moves had become flawless. Seeing Teng Qingshan stand on ceremony and allow him the first move, Chu Lingguang didn’t hold back. He executed a Linked Spear thrust at Teng Qingshan’s upper body.

BOOM!

He used his full strength. He knew in his heart that he would either lose to Teng Qingshan or Lin Yuanfu today. ’But while losing is acceptable,’ he thought, ’I can’t afford to lose too badly.’

CLANG.

With a flick of his long spear, Teng Qingshan easily deflected Chu Lingguang’s spear shaft. Feeling the force of the blow, he nodded to himself in approval but remained on the defensive, making no attempt to break through Chu Lingguang’s attack and counter.

Chu Lingguang’s mind was clear. Since he was on the offensive, he would search for an opening in his opponent’s defense. The moment he found a chance, he would erupt like a thunderclap and press his advantage.

Slowly, Chu Lingguang began to utilize the first layer of Skillful Force.

At the same time, his Spear Technique grew faster and faster.

Teng Qingshan’s defense, initially as solid as a fortress, gradually became precarious until he was forced to retreat.

CLANG!

Chu Lingguang’s Formed Spear Technique and Perfect Techniques, combined with the domineering “rebound” and “shock” of the first layer of Skillful Force, finally caused an error in Teng Qingshan’s defensive spear work. Chu Lingguang had found his opening, and his long spear thrust forward.

BOOM!

Teng Qingshan’s formation was broken. To turn the tables, he seized an opportunity to switch from defense to offense. As a previous Martial Scholar who had ranked twenty-third in the Daoist Examination, his strength far surpassed that of Da Wu and Xiao Wu.

Within the Form Realm of his Spear Technique, his own Skillful Force was also extremely domineering. Chu Lingguang’s long spear was knocked away in return.

SWOOSH!

He seized the chance, unleashing his Continuous Spear Technique at Chu Lingguang’s torso.

Chu Lingguang simultaneously used the Heaven and Earth Technique to dissipate the force and the Tidal Breathing Technique to ensure his own power was not weaker than Teng Qingshan’s—perhaps even slightly stronger.

Although the Tidal Breathing Technique was only slightly better than the Basic Breathing Technique, cultivating it to the point of numerical Perfection was no easy task. Furthermore, Chu Lingguang had discovered the knack for this Breathing Technique early on and held onto it firmly. Though he later used Favor Points to advance it, the progress he made through his own training far exceeded that of his other Kung Fu.

His Qi Blood Power had long since surpassed four hundred jin.

Therefore, Chu Lingguang was able to defend against Teng Qingshan’s Linked Spear for a short time, and could even occasionally use the first layer of Skillful Force to knock his opponent’s long spear off course.

“Hmph!”

Unable to break through after a long assault, Teng Qingshan had come to acknowledge Chu Lingguang’s skill. After gathering his strength, he once again activated his Skillful Force and brought his spear down on Chu Lingguang in a chopping motion.

Chu Lingguang had nowhere to run and could only resist with all his might.

CLANG!

The two streams of Skillful Force collided. Teng Qingshan’s “rebound” and “shock,” backed by several more years of training, gave him the upper hand. However, Chu Lingguang’s long spear was not knocked from his grasp. The jarring force he couldn’t nullify was dissipated by his Heaven and Earth Technique.

He was only knocked back a few steps; he could still continue the fight.

“Hah!”

Teng Qingshan let out a fierce shout. His Spear Technique changed from a downward chop to an upward flick; he was clearly getting anxious.

Chu Lingguang steadied himself and executed a move, “Wind Sweeps the Hidden Lotus Leaf,” trying to pin down Teng Qingshan’s long spear.

But Teng Qingshan was a seasoned fighter with exceptional Spear Technique Kung Fu. He countered with “Straight Up the Rope,” thrusting toward Chu Lingguang’s throat.

Greatly alarmed, Chu Lingguang retreated again and again. Teng Qingshan seized the opportunity, pressing his advantage with each thrust.

In a flurry, Chu Lingguang rotated his spear. He instinctively activated the second layer of Skillful Force: “entangle” and “penetrate.”

He wanted to entangle Teng Qingshan’s spear so it couldn’t reach his throat.

The value for his Skillful Force had long since reached Perfection.

He had been unable to use it because he couldn’t find the method to activate it. But now, moving on instinct, a suction force suddenly appeared on his long spear.

Teng Qingshan felt a prickling numbness in his arms. The tip of his spear, aimed at Chu Lingguang’s throat, involuntarily skewed to the side as if it were being sucked in by Chu Lingguang’s weapon.

It was as if a vine had wrapped around his spearhead.

His expression changed drastically.

’The three inner and outer layers of Skillful Force are something every Martial Artist dreams of mastering,’ he thought. ’But this Kung Fu requires talent; it’s not something one can achieve through hard work alone.’

As the twenty-third ranked participant in the last Daoist Examination, Teng Qingshan had only just begun to grasp this layer of power. He couldn’t wield it as ferociously as Chu Lingguang.

In his haste to escape the suction, he lost his footing. As he pulled his long spear back, Chu Lingguang counterattacked, smashing his own spear toward Teng Qingshan’s head.

He raised his spear to block.

His stinging arms made it impossible for him to concentrate all his Qi Blood into his long spear. With this downward strike, Chu Lingguang pushed the “rebound” and “shock” of his Skillful Force to their absolute limit.

CLANG!

Teng Qingshan felt his long spear become utterly alien in his hands. He tried to grip it, but couldn’t. Just as he finally managed to get a hold, Chu Lingguang thrust again, and that same suction force reappeared.

He struggled to break free. By the time he pulled his long spear back, his arms were already numb and weak. The next moment, a cold gleam appeared before his eyes.

Chu Lingguang held his spear with both hands, its tip just a few centimeters from Teng Qingshan’s throat. If he had thrust forward just now, blood would have gushed endlessly.

He had lost.

The twenty-third ranked participant from the last Daoist Examination had been defeated by someone who had never even taken the exam.

The title of “future Martial Arts Scholar,” far from being stripped away, seemed to have become even more secure.

(Please keep reading!!!!)

(Keeping up with the latest Chapters is the most important thing!)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep