Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Repayment

In the candidate preparation area, Liu Quan’s face was tense. Chu Lingguang had already lifted the 400-jin Stone Lock, securing a Grade A Lower Grade score. A successful lift just ten jin heavier would earn him a Grade A Middle Grade score.

And Grade A Middle Grade was his limit.

But Chu Lingguang had lifted the 400-jin Stone Lock so effortlessly that Liu Quan had a gut feeling Chu Lingguang’s Qi Power surpassed his own.

Losing to Chu Lingguang in the Spear Technique demonstration was one thing.

But if he were crushed by Chu Lingguang in Qi Power today as well, how could he possibly face Tie Zhennan?

At this moment, he was watching Chu Lingguang even more nervously than Guo Wei, his eyes glued to the weight of the Stone Locks before him.

As the examiner finished speaking,

the five candidates walked toward the Stone Locks.

Ji Hu’s gaze darted between the 430-jin and 440-jin Stone Locks. He glanced at Chu Lingguang out of the corner of his eye and drew a sharp breath. Before Chu Lingguang were three Stone Locks, weighing 440, 450, and 460 jin respectively.

Lifting any one of them would secure a Grade A+ Upper Grade score.

’Am I really going to be crushed by a Civilian Disciple today?’

He glanced over at Chai Yaolong and Shi Guangzhong, whose expressions were just as grim. Their Qi Power was inferior to Ji Hu’s, so they only dared to attempt the 420-jin weight.

The three of them knew that failing to lift in the final round and taking a hit to their score was a minor issue. The real disaster would be getting injured and jeopardizing their performance in the following events.

They had all come from the Governor’s Mansion.

Even if they couldn’t take the top spot,

they still wanted to fight for a place in the top three.

Therefore, for this final test of raw strength, even the perpetually arrogant Ji Hu chose a more conservative weight, finally settling his gaze on the 430-jin Stone Lock.

Yan Chengdu was also watching Chu Lingguang.

The rumors of his Qi Power being 450 jin were just that—rumors. In reality, his peak strength was 460 jin. He had originally thought that lifting the 450-jin Stone Lock would be enough to secure first place in the Qiao Pass.

But now, Chu Lingguang had emerged.

He decided he would lift the 460-jin Stone Lock.

However, he wasn’t in a rush. He wanted to let Chu Lingguang make the first move.

Chu Lingguang’s chest swelled as he began to circulate his Tidal Breathing Technique. With each breath, a low hum emanated from his torso. He was absorbing the last remnants of power from the medicinal tea, while simultaneously awakening the Qi Blood Power throughout his entire body.

Yan Chengdu watched in surprise.

Although Chu Lingguang’s Breathing Technique wasn’t particularly profound, he used it like a seasoned master. With every inhalation and exhalation, each part of his body seemed to resonate in perfect harmony.

This was the sign of a Breathing Technique cultivated to the level of Great Success, or perhaps even Perfection.

He never imagined that someone like Chu Lingguang could emerge from such a backwater town.

WHOOSH!

Chu Lingguang exhaled a long, turbid breath.

All eyes in the arena were on him.

His gaze shifted from Yan Chengdu to Guo Wei, who sat on the sidelines, watching with anticipation.

For the past two years, Guo Wei had treated him like his own son. Chu Lingguang knew his progress was related to his Favor Points, but it was far more attributable to Guo Wei’s dedicated and wholehearted tutelage.

’How could I ever repay Master Guo Wei’s kindness?’

Rumor had it that Guo Wei continued to run his hall and accept students at his age because he wanted to cultivate several Martial Arts Scholars for the Court. If he succeeded, he could be ennobled as a Grandmaster, which would exempt his only son from the hardship of military conscription.

Chu Lingguang didn’t know the truth of the matter.

’If the rumors are true, then the best way to repay Master Guo Wei’s kindness is to pass the Martial Examination and help him earn his title from the Court.’

’To use the title of Grandmaster to spare his only son from conscription.’

’Then again, even if Master Guo Wei is completely selfless, the best way to repay him is still to build his reputation and help him become a Grandmaster as soon as possible.’

’If I can take first place in the Qiao Pass today, defeating the Noble Family Disciples from the Governor’s Mansion, it would bring immense glory to Master Guo Wei. As his disciple, I would finally be fulfilling my duty.’

’Do your best and let fate decide the rest. Who says a commoner can’t surpass a Noble Family?’

’I, Chu Lingguang, will fight for the top spot in this examination! Not for myself, but for my master!’

It was as if Chu Lingguang had made a momentous decision.

’If I win the top spot, then when the Court eventually ennobles Master Guo Wei as a Grandmaster, his title and status will be even greater than the others.’

This was the ultimate way to repay his master’s kindness.

With that, Chu Lingguang moved.

He walked up to the 470-jin Stone Lock.

Before drinking the six bowls of medicinal tea, Chu Lingguang’s peak Qi Power had been approaching 440 jin. Now, having fully absorbed the tea’s potency, he felt every ounce of his Qi Blood surge with explosive power.

He had never lifted a 470-jin Stone Lock before.

But based on the Qi Blood he had expended lifting the 400-jin Stone Lock earlier, he knew his own limits better than anyone. It wasn’t 450 jin, nor was it 460 jin. It was 470 jin.

“Is… Is he insane?”

Hei Hu was dumbfounded.

Guo Wei was also completely shocked. If it had been Hei Hu standing there, he might have stormed into the sand pit and kicked him. But the person standing before the 470-jin Stone Lock was Chu Lingguang.

Among all his disciples, Chu Lingguang had always been the one with the poorest aptitude, but also the calmest and most steadfast temperament. Guo Wei knew that if Chu Lingguang wasn’t absolutely certain, he would never have chosen a weight of 470 jin.

It was just that back at the Martial Arts Hall, he had tested Chu Lingguang’s Qi Power, and his peak was only a little over 430 jin. For his strength to have increased by more than thirty jin in just two days, all from those six bowls of medicinal tea… even Guo Wei found it unbelievable.

“I don’t believe he can lift it,”

Liu Quan said through gritted teeth.

If Chu Lingguang actually lifted the 470-jin Stone Lock, there would no longer be any comparison between them. It would be the equivalent of Tie Zhennan getting his face ground into the dirt by Guo Wei.

In the crowd, Tie Zhennan sat between two friends. Chu Lingguang’s move had startled him as well, and he couldn’t help but feel a knot of nervousness form in his stomach.

A stir went through the crowd.

The examiners began to whisper among themselves.

A sharp glint flashed in Yan Chengdu’s eyes. He fully understood Chu Lingguang’s intent: this was a direct challenge for the top spot. He had come from the Governor’s Mansion, expecting an easy victory in a less competitive region, yet his challenger wasn’t another Noble Family Disciple, but a Civilian Disciple from some backwater county.

But just like Liu Quan, he refused to believe Chu Lingguang could actually lift it.

’How could a proud Noble Family Descendant possibly be crushed by a commoner?’

Even Ji Hu and the other two were furious. If Chu Lingguang defeated all four of them, the reputation of the Governor’s Mansion’s Noble Families would become a laughingstock.

“Ready!”

the examiner called out.

The five candidates sank into their stances and gripped the Stone Locks before them.

Ji Hu at 430 jin; Shi Guangzhong and Chai Yaolong at 420 jin; Yan Chengdu at 460 jin; and Chu Lingguang at 470 jin.

“Lift!”

the examiner shouted.

“HYAH!”

The five men roared in unison.

The spectators surged to their feet, craning their necks to see into the sand pit.

Chu Lingguang gripped the Stone Lock with both hands. The instant he heaved, his feet seemed to sink deep into the sand. Veins bulged on his arms as a mighty roar erupted from his chest. The Stone Lock lifted from the ground and, aided by his Perfection-level Heavenward Force, he successfully raised it high above his head.

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