Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

Chapter 525: Chapter 225: Black Tortoise Divine Power, Great Battle with True Martial

Chu Lingguang passed the assessment and successfully advanced to the third round. Just as he finished thanking Guo Wei, Qin Yu and Yan Zhen also began their assessments.

Qin Yu, as always, utterly dominated.

In the first round, he had easily defeated twenty soldiers of the Black Armored Army with a single, devastating kick. In the second, he needed only three kicks to leave thirty Black Armored Army members in complete disarray, clinching an easy victory.

Yan Zhen, meanwhile, continued to employ his Ultimate Killing Saber Technique. His control was flawless; with three consecutive slashes through the air, he sent all thirty Black Armored Army soldiers flying out of the combat area.

Next was Xuanyuan Jinkang. Surrounded by thirty members of the Black Armored Army, he lasted for fifteen minutes and defeated twenty-nine of them. His performance seemed to be a slight improvement over Xu Kanghui’s.

Last was Tuoba Yunhong. Though he had not received guidance from a Yuanchu Mountain expert, rumor had it the Tuoba Clan had connections there. Moreover, since he had already grasped Sword Momentum, he ultimately defeated all thirty Black Armored Army soldiers with just three sword strikes.

Although his ranking was temporarily behind Yan Zhen’s, his overall strength seemed to be on par with him, and he had yet to fully unleash his terrifying Sword Momentum.

That evening, Guo Wei hosted a banquet at the Drunken Immortal Tower for a group of his Martial Artist friends and various dignitaries. Eunuch Liu, a close friend of Guo Wei’s, accompanied him the entire time. The two did not return by carriage until late that night.

The third round was tomorrow.

It would decide everyone’s final rankings and select the top three victors.

The rules had not yet been released, but the rewards were announced that evening: the top three candidates would be granted the opportunity to train alongside a Yuanchu Mountain expert for one month.

When the news broke, the entire Imperial City was in an uproar.

Yuanchu Mountain was a sacred land of cultivation that countless people dreamed of. Even Princes and Imperial Grandsons found it incredibly difficult to get in contact with Practitioners from Yuanchu Mountain.

The top three provincial graduates from across the land, who trained at the Imperial City Academy, had to place in the top five of every single round just to receive guidance from a Yuanchu Mountain expert.

But now, the top three in the Imperial Examination would actually get to train with a Yuanchu Mountain expert for a whole month. One could only imagine how immense this reward was.

Even some of the Princes and Imperial Grandsons who heard the news were filled with regret. ’Why didn’t I participate in the Martial Arts Examination? If I had made it into the top three, I could have trained with a Yuanchu Mountain expert for a month!’

Even in just one month, one’s strength and perspective would undergo a world-altering transformation.

For any one of them, it was an enormous opportunity.

"Right now, everyone is saying that the top three will come from among Qin Yu, Yan Zhen, Meng Xiaochuan, Pu Shiyi, and Tuoba Yunhong. I’d like to hear what you think."

Xuanyuan Jinkang asked.

He and Chu Lingguang had been practicing their Sword and Spear Techniques all evening at Eunuch Liu’s residence.

"Yan, Qin Yu, Meng Xiaochuan, and Pu Shiyi have all received guidance from Yuanchu Mountain experts, so they’re definitely qualified to compete for the top three. As for Tuoba Yunhong, I’ve never fought him, but rumor has it the Tuoba Clan is backed by Yuanchu Mountain. He was even able to block Yan’s Sword Momentum, so he’s certainly qualified to be in the top three as well."

Chu Lingguang analyzed.

"What I want to know is, how do you feel about everyone leaving you out of the discussion? Do you really think you can’t place in the top three?"

Xuanyuan Jinkang said indignantly.

"Of course I want to place in the top three. It’s just... I’ve tried countless times, but I still can’t awaken the thirty-three responses in my flesh and blood. If I can’t master this power, with my current strength, there’s no way I can contend with Meng Xiaochuan and the others."

Chu Lingguang said with a sigh.

He hadn’t lost his fighting spirit or ambition; he had simply become more grounded.

"You want to awaken all thirty-three responses at once?"

Xuanyuan Jinkang was stunned.

"Yes."

Chu Lingguang gave a noncommittal nod.

"If you succeed, are you confident you can place in the top three?"

Xuanyuan Jinkang asked again.

"My chances would be much better."

Chu Lingguang didn’t dare to sound overconfident.

"As far as I know, the most Qin Yu and Yan Zhen have ever awakened at once is somewhere in the twenties. If you can awaken all thirty-three at once, then..."

Xuanyuan Jinkang trailed off, a hard-to-describe sense of frustration welling up inside him.

"It’s not very likely. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself,"

Chu Lingguang said, consoling him after noticing the change in his expression.

"Have you found the point of resonance?"

Xuanyuan Jinkang asked tentatively.

"Well..." Chu Lingguang pursed his lips. He saw the tense look on Xuanyuan Jinkang’s face and worried about discouraging him. However, Guo Wei had taught him that one must never lie, especially to a friend. Honesty was paramount. And so, under Xuanyuan Jinkang’s bulging, incredulous stare, Chu Lingguang gave a slightly embarrassed nod and answered, "Yes!"

Xuanyuan Jinkang’s expression froze instantly, and his face quickly flushed red. He looked at Chu Lingguang’s innocent expression, opened his mouth to speak, but then stopped. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "Since you’ve already found the point of resonance, then hurry up and awaken them. Maybe you really can make it into the top three."

"Okay, I’ll give it a try!"

Chu Lingguang took Xuanyuan Jinkang’s encouragement to heart.

He then began to circulate the Mental Realm Evolution Method and, right in front of Xuanyuan Jinkang, opened his personal Mental Realm Diagram.

The third layer of the Mental Realm, Unity of Heart and Body, contained a total of one hundred and twenty-three responses. At this moment, thirty-three of those responses, originating from different locations within Chu Lingguang’s flesh and blood, flickered faintly into view at his call.

Once they all lit up, shining as brightly as the thirty-four responses he had already awakened, Chu Lingguang would be able to master these Thirty-Three Responding Forces.

Ever since leaving the academy, he had been holding on to that point of resonance, trying countless times to awaken this power, but he had never succeeded.

Now, however, he had Xuanyuan Jinkang’s encouragement.