Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

Chapter 518: Chapter 222: Imperial Martial Arts Examination, 3 Rounds of Despair

Guo Wei arrived alone.

Hei Hu had already taken a post in the South City. Wang Chao had also become a valiant general under Yang Shaorong. With the Court imposing martial law during the Martial Arts Examination, his senior brothers couldn’t leave their posts.

"Master."

Chu Lingguang and Xuanyuan Jinkang went over to kowtow to their respective masters, but both Eunuch Liu and Guo Wei stopped them.

Xuanyuan Jinkang said excitedly, "Master, my Mental Realm has reached the state of Unity of Heart and Body, and I’ve awakened eleven Responding Forces. I’m certain to achieve a high rank in the Martial Arts portion of the Imperial Examination."

"Good. You look like a different person after these past four months. Your master finally has a worthy successor."

Eunuch Liu said with great satisfaction.

"Master, my Mental Realm has also reached the third level."

Chu Lingguang reported to Guo Wei as well.

"Mm, well done."

Guo Wei nodded in satisfaction. He didn’t press Chu Lingguang on how many Responding Forces he had awakened, but the curious Eunuch Liu, who was standing by, chimed in, "Lin Guang, how many Responding Forces have you awakened?"

Chu Lingguang glanced at Xuanyuan Jinkang and answered truthfully, "Thirty-four."

"Chu Lingguang placed in the top five twice. When we were going up the mountain, I almost lost my chance to soak in the Blood Pool and absorb its energy. He was the one who woke me up in time and kept me from giving up halfway."

Xuanyuan Jinkang added after a moment’s hesitation. He still hadn’t thanked Chu Lingguang for it.

"Oh? Good. Chu Lingguang, I thank you on behalf of my disciple."

Eunuch Liu said, cupping his hands in a salute to Chu Lingguang.

"I don’t dare accept. You traveled a thousand li that day just to save my life, Eunuch. I still don’t know how I can ever repay such kindness."

Chu Lingguang bowed hurriedly. Even if Eunuch Liu hadn’t asked, he would have helped Xuanyuan Jinkang upon seeing him falter, simply out of respect for the eunuch.

"Hahaha." Eunuch Liu couldn’t help but laugh loudly. He turned to Guo Wei and said, "Master Guo, you’ve taken a fine disciple. I’ve already prepared a feast with plenty of wine. None of us are leaving until we’re drunk!"

"Excellent! Hahaha!"

Guo Wei, of course, wouldn’t refuse. By now, he and Eunuch Liu had already established a deep friendship.

And so, the master and disciple pair stayed at Eunuch Liu’s residence.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill.

Xuanyuan Jinkang presented Chu Lingguang with a book he had compiled. It contained his own insights on Sword Technique cultivation and the chronicle of his transformation over the years. He said, "Chu Lingguang, even now, I’m incredibly jealous of you. I even hate you. I don’t understand why you’re always one step ahead of me, but one day, I will surpass you. Thanks for pulling me through on the mountain."

"I’ll be waiting for that day."

Chu Lingguang looked at Xuanyuan Jinkang’s proud and awkward expression and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

After he took the cultivation notes from Xuanyuan Jinkang, a line of text appeared before his eyes.

(Helping Xuanyuan Jinkang persevere to the end. Gained 3911 Favor Points.)

Chu Lingguang checked his information panel.

Favors: 3911

Mixed Element Skill (0-10,000)

Mental Realm Evolution Magic (42,131-100,000)

(Remaining Lifespan: 191 years)

As Chu Lingguang’s Mental Realm reached the third level and he awakened thirty-four Responding Forces, his lifespan had increased once again.

In addition, his progress in the Mental Realm Evolution Magic was also slowly increasing. Even without the boost from Favor Points, it had risen by more than nine hundred points over the past few months.

The higher the value of this Cultivation Technique, the easier it was for Chu Lingguang to find the synergistic connection points between his Responding Forces. Therefore, he spent all three thousand-plus Favor Points he had just received from Xuanyuan Jinkang on it at once.

His information panel changed.

Favors: None

Mental Realm Evolution Magic (46,042-100,000)

By the time Chu Lingguang and Xuanyuan Jinkang finished their training at the Imperial City Academy and came down from the mountain, only three days remained before the start of the Imperial Examination.

In those three days, every candidate did their utmost to improve their strength and try to awaken more Responding Forces, and Xuanyuan Jinkang and Chu Lingguang were no different.

He had, with great difficulty, found the synergistic connection points between thirty-three of his Responding Forces, located in different parts of his flesh and blood. If he could awaken all thirty-three simultaneously, his strength would increase dramatically.

Even if he couldn’t achieve a breakthrough in his realm, he could still secure a better ranking in the Imperial Examination assessment by relying on the power of these Thirty-Three Responding Forces.

Time flew by, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Unfortunately, Chu Lingguang failed to awaken those thirty-three Responding Forces at the critical moment. However, his state of mind was as calm as ever, and he arrived early with Guo Wei to wait outside the examination grounds.

"Fifth Brother!"

A familiar voice called out.

"My four Big Brothers."

Chu Lingguang turned his head and, to his delight, saw it was the four from Mo Shan.

"The four of them knew you were participating in the Imperial Examination, so they came with me under the pretext of being my escort."

The one who spoke was Du Juan.

This year’s Martial Arts Examination was packed with talent.

Although Du Juan had placed first in her region’s Daoist Examination, she failed to place in the top three of the Provincial Examination and lost the opportunity to train at the Imperial City Academy.

"Thank you for making this possible, Your Highness."

Chu Lingguang said respectfully.

"Hmph. Just call me by my name. None of that ’Your Highness’ nonsense. This lady’s exam scores aren’t as good as yours."

Du Juan said with a sniff.

"Then I’ll just call you Miss Du!"

Chu Lingguang said, scratching his head.

"Half a year ago, when you took the Provincial Examination, the four of us hadn’t recovered from our injuries and couldn’t come see you. Now, we five brothers are finally reunited in the Imperial City."

Mo Shan lamented.

"When we were in Yunchuan City, we heard you almost defeated Yan Zhen and took second place in the Provincial Examination. You have no idea how happy that made us."

Demon Mark patted Chu Lingguang’s shoulder and said.

"Our Lord always says that the best decision we four ever made, aside from following him, was becoming sworn brothers with you."

Mo Shuang lamented.

"Fifth Brother’s strength has already surpassed ours. Even Big Brother is no match for him now."