Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Qiao Pass

“Yes, sir!”

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu obediently complied, lifting the Stone Locks one by one, from lightest to heaviest.

At first, they could easily hoist the lighter Stone Locks overhead with a single hand. But once the weight exceeded a hundred pounds, they both began to struggle.

“THUD!”

Hei Hu dropped a 120-pound Stone Lock on the ground. Face flushed, he panted heavily before walking over to a 150-pound one.

He lowered his center of gravity into a horse stance, grasped the Stone Lock with both hands, and took a sharp breath. With a great heave, he tried to swing the Stone Lock over his head, but it stalled at his chest. His face turned crimson as he strained for a moment before his grip failed. The Stone Lock crashed to the ground, and he stumbled back two steps.

“I can’t go on.”

Hei Hu said to Chu Lingguang, hands on his knees and bent at the waist.

Chu Lingguang had just managed to hoist the 100-pound Stone Lock overhead with both hands, and his arms were already aching. He nodded and walked up to the 120-pound Stone Lock.

Grasping it firmly, he let out a shout and tried to use the strength of his core and arms to lift the Stone Lock overhead. But by the time it reached his chest, his arms were trembling violently.

Chu Lingguang had a feeling that even if he managed to force it overhead, he wouldn’t be able to hold it and would likely drop it on himself. So, he made the wise decision to give up and let the Stone Lock fall to the ground.

When Hei Hu saw that Chu Lingguang couldn’t even lift the 120-pound Stone Lock, he breathed a sigh of relief. ’I can’t let him surpass me.’

Chu Lingguang, however, was well aware that his Qi Power was inferior to Hei Hu’s. This had much to do with their respective family circumstances.

Hei Hu’s family were minor landlords. While they weren’t living in the lap of luxury, they could afford meat every few days. For Chu Lingguang, on the other hand, even a meal of coarse rice mixed with pork lard was a luxury.

There was a noticeable gap in their physical constitutions. The fact that Chu Lingguang could lift a 100-pound Stone Lock was already a considerable feat.

“Master, that’s my limit as well.”

Chu Lingguang said.

“Hmph!”

Guo Wei snorted coldly.

Right in front of them, he walked over to the 500-pound Stone Lock.

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu were both startled. ’Could Guo Wei really lift a 500-pound Stone Lock?’p>

Guo Wei lowered himself into a horse stance, grasped the Stone Lock with both hands, and with a low grunt, swung the 500-pound Stone Lock over his head, holding it steady.

He turned, still holding the Stone Lock aloft, to face Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu. He spoke unhurriedly, “The physical limit of an ordinary person is about where you two are now. But for a Martial Artist, there is no boundary to Qi Power. The higher your cultivation, the stronger your Qi Power becomes.”

“THUD!”

Guo Wei set the Stone Lock down. As five hundred pounds of weight crashed onto the ground, both Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu felt the earth tremble.

“Master, how can we become as powerful as you?”

Hei Hu asked humbly.

“Powerful?”

Guo Wei shook his head with a self-deprecating laugh. “I’m over sixty years old. My Qi Blood is in decline. In a few more years, I might not even be able to lift a 200-pound Stone Lock.”

“But you just lifted a 500-pound Stone Lock!”

Chu Lingguang reminded him.

“I used the Heavenward Force.”

Guo Wei said with his hands behind his back.

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu were taken aback; it was the first time either of them had heard the term.

Guo Wei explained to them, “A person’s raw physical strength, at its peak, is only about eight hundred to a thousand pounds. To possess the strength to uproot mountains and the spirit to conquer the world, like the Overlord who lifted a ten-thousand-jin cauldron with a single hand, you must learn to wield Qi Blood Power. The Heavenward Force is one of the secrets to doing just that.”

“According to the standards of previous years, you must lift a 350-pound Stone Lock in the Qiao Pass trial to achieve an A Class score. Given your current foundations, it’s obviously not easy to increase your strength to that level in just two short years. By teaching you the Heavenward Force, I’m giving you your only real hope of passing the examination.”

“Master, your painstaking efforts and immense kindness are a debt I can never repay. I will never forget this,” Hei Hu exclaimed, his voice filled with emotion.

Chu Lingguang’s mouth twitched. He cupped his fist and added, “What he said!”

“Achieving an A Class score in the Qiao Pass trial is only the first step. You must also become proficient with blades, spears, and staves, as well as master archery, Mounted Archery, the Lance, and hand-to-hand combat. You’ll need an A Class score in at least four categories to pass the examination. You have much to learn,” Guo Wei reminded them.

“We appreciate your trouble, Master,” Chu Lingguang said quickly, afraid Hei Hu was about to launch into another string of idioms.

“As long as you remember my teachings after you’ve achieved success and renown, then all this effort will be worth it,” Guo Wei said, his tone full of meaning.

“Master, rest assured! If I manage to become a Martial Arts Scholar…”

“Quiet down and listen. I will now teach you the essentials of the Heavenward Force.”

Hei Hu was about to launch into an impassioned speech but was cut short by Guo Wei, who had clearly heard enough. Chu Lingguang breathed a secret sigh of relief. Otherwise, being less educated, he probably would have had to repeat, “What he said!”

Guo Wei then proceeded to teach them the secrets and principles of the Heavenward Force, holding nothing back.

He gave them hands-on instruction on how to master and execute the Heavenward Force.

Hei Hu had a good aptitude and was a quick learner. Under Guo Wei’s instruction, he was able to cleverly apply the Heavenward Force by the very next day, just barely managing to lift the 150-pound Stone Lock overhead.

Guo Wei was overjoyed and lavished praise on Hei Hu.

When he saw Chu Lingguang was still repeating the initial movements, he remembered how Chu Lingguang had only developed Fist Force at the last possible moment. It was thanks to his persistent and unyielding spirit that he had finally been accepted as a disciple. So, instead of being disappointed in Chu Lingguang, he encouraged him to keep going.

「Ten days later.」

“Hiyah!”

With a great shout, Hei Hu channeled the Heavenward Force and lifted the 150-pound Stone Lock overhead. A few days ago, it had been a struggle, and he’d only succeeded one out of every three tries. Now, he could lift it successfully every time. The difference was obvious.

“THUD!”

He dropped the Stone Lock, dusted off his calloused hands, and looked over at Chu Lingguang, still practicing the basic movements of the Heavenward Force in a corner. He called out, “Keep at it, Junior Brother!”

Chu Lingguang nodded. For the past ten days, he had been unable to grasp the secret to the Heavenward Force, and this Kung Fu had yet to appear on his panel.

To say he wasn’t anxious would be a lie.

“Today, I will teach you a basic Saber Technique.”

Guo Wei came into the backyard and tossed a long saber to Hei Hu.

Hei Hu had already grasped the secret of the Heavenward Force. As long as he continued to train diligently, it was only a matter of time before he could utilize the Kung Fu to its full potential.

“Thank you, Master.”

Hei Hu was overjoyed.

He hadn’t expected to start learning a second Kung Fu from Guo Wei so soon.

“Lingguang, don’t be discouraged,” Guo Wei added, worried that Chu Lingguang’s morale might be affected. “Once you’ve also mastered the Heavenward Force, I will teach you other Kung Fu.”

“I understand, Master.”

Chu Lingguang nodded obediently.

He went back to practicing the Heavenward Force movements, while habitually checking his status panel.

Favors: 21

Iron Mountain Fist (41/100)

Basic Breathing Technique (47/100)

Heavenward Force (0/100)

(Remaining Lifespan: 43)

Chu Lingguang’s heart leaped with joy. After ten days of repetitive practice, the Heavenward Force had finally appeared on his panel.

He immediately allocated all twenty-one of his Favor Points to the Heavenward Force.

Favors: None

Heavenward Force (21/100)

As Chu Lingguang grasped a Stone Lock and tried to lift it again, he felt his Qi Blood circulate under the guidance of the Heavenward Force, making the weight in his hands feel remarkably light.

“Hiyah!”

With a great shout, he easily lifted the 120-pound Stone Lock clean over his head.

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