Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

Chapter 530: Chapter 224: Consciousness Communication, Leaving All in the Dust

However, no one expected a dark horse to come charging from behind.

When Xuanyuan Jinkang realized that the figure who had just flashed past him like a gust of wind before quickly disappearing from sight was Chu Lingguang, his composure completely shattered.

Just yesterday, he had seen Chu Lingguang fight Eunuch Liu to a standstill and refused to admit that he had already suffered a crushing defeat. Now, seeing Chu Lingguang leave everyone in the dust, charging straight for the title of Hui Yuan, the last shred of wishful thinking in his heart vanished into thin air.

Chu Lingguang was like that trail of dust up ahead—an existence completely beyond his reach. From this moment on, they were no longer on the same starting line.

He had lost. It was a hopeless, despairing defeat.

Even Tuoba Yunhong, who was sprinting at the front, was now gritting his teeth, desperately urging his black steed onward in pursuit of the direction where Chu Lingguang had vanished.

He had always believed the top three would be him, Yan Zhen, and Qin Yu. But now, Chu Lingguang had shot ahead. If he made it all the way to the end, the remaining two spots would probably go to Qin Yu and Yan Zhen. He was reluctant to admit it, but he knew deep down that Yan Zhen was just as strong as he was; he had no absolute certainty of victory against either of them. If Chu Lingguang stole a spot, his own chances would be in jeopardy.

Meng Xiaochuan and Pu Shiyi shared the same worry.

The two of them, along with Yan Zhen and Qin Yu, had received guidance from a powerful expert from Yuanchu Mountain at the academy. Although it was only for half a day, they treasured the experience like a priceless gem, and their cultivation had been steadily improving ever since.

If they could make it into the top three, they would be able to train alongside the expert from Yuanchu Mountain for a whole month. This was countless times more valuable than just receiving a bit of guidance. Even some of the Princes and Imperial Grandsons were green with envy, regretting not having participated in the Martial Arts Examination.

But now, Chu Lingguang had appeared out of nowhere, throwing all their plans into disarray.

Even Yan Zhen was both shocked and pleased. He had high hopes for Chu Lingguang, but when he watched him leave everyone in the dust, surpassing him and leaving both him and Qin Yu behind, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. He never expected Chu Lingguang’s horsemanship to be superior to his own, to the point where he could fully communicate with the black steed and make it unleash thirty percent of its Demon Beast bloodline’s power.

"How is this possible?"

The most shocked and unwilling person to accept this reality was, in fact, Qin Yu.

Ever since the academy competition began, he had never once fallen from first place. He had even managed to keep Yan Zhen suppressed. Who would have thought he would lose to Chu Lingguang in horsemanship? Chu Lingguang was the one who had truly communicated with the black steed.

As Chu Lingguang sped past him, he even detected a peculiar power pushing the black steed forward.

That power was the Wind and Wave Power from Chu Lingguang’s Dantian.

He used his Consciousness Manipulation on the black steed, making it obey him completely. It even sensed his powerful ambition, adopting the goal of charging out of the Hunting Ground as its own life’s purpose.

Chu Lingguang didn’t need to train it at all. The moment its hooves hit the ground, the Demon Beast Bloodline Power within its body erupted. Combined with the push from the Wind and Wave Power, it was as if the horse was about to take flight.

Even Qin Yu was left in the dust. He could only watch helplessly as Chu Lingguang vanished down the main path ahead, leaving nothing but a trail of dust churning in his wake. No matter how much effort he expended, he simply could not catch up.

"The Hunting Ground is blocked by three types of Demon Beasts: Silver Moon Wolves, Iron-Armored Bulls, and Greedy Tigers. Chu Lingguang, even if you’re faster than me, I don’t believe you can be the first to fight your way past them. Since you want to be in the lead so badly, then you can clear the path for me!"

Qin Yu roared in anger.

"Hiyah!"

On the path ahead, Chu Lingguang seemed to have merged into one with the black steed. To the people watching every move within the Hunting Ground, he was like a phantom that flickered past in an instant.

If not for the fact that everyone could track him using Spiritual Sense Fluctuations, they might have thought the horse was riderless.

"I originally thought Qin Yu was unmatched under the heavens, but I didn’t expect someone to be even more ferocious than him. Whose disciple is this?"

Within the Hunting Ground, inside a pavilion built in the treetops, Young Master Jin Yi watched Chu Lingguang leave everyone in the dust on the north-south path and asked the question.

"Allow this subordinate to ask him,"

a middle-aged man said.

He then stepped outside the pavilion and used a Sound Technique, his voice projecting toward Chu Lingguang. "Who goes there? State your name."

Alone on the north-south path, Chu Lingguang looked up and saw the pavilion built in the treetops ahead and to his left. He could sense several powerful auras emanating from it.

’To have such a prime location in the Hunting Ground with a perfect view of the entire area, they must be no ordinary people. They could even be from the Imperial Family.’

Chu Lingguang didn’t dare ignore their sudden question.

He opened his mouth, about to shout, "It is I, Chu Lingguang."

But, worried they wouldn’t recognize his name, he changed his reply. "I am Chu Lingguang, disciple of Guo Wei from Baiyang County!"

"Hiyah!"

Then, he charged into the jungle.

"Reporting to the Young Master, his name is Chu Lingguang, a disciple of Guo Wei."

The middle-aged man said with a bow after returning to the pavilion.

"So it’s him."

Young Master Jin Yi was somewhat surprised.

"He has entered the Silver Moon Wolves’ territory. He’s all alone, I’m afraid..."

The middle-aged man hadn’t even finished speaking.

"ROAR!"

From the part of the jungle Chu Lingguang had charged into, a series of wolf-like roars echoed out.

"WHOOSH!"

Following the sound, two Silver Moon Wolves flew out from the jungle, as if they had been launched from the ground by a spear. Despite weighing hundreds of pounds, they soared from the ground all the way to the treetops before crashing heavily back down into the forest, letting out wretched howls.

Everyone in the pavilion moved to the window to look down.

They saw dozens of Silver Moon Wolves emerging from all directions in the forest, pouncing toward Chu Lingguang. Astride the great black steed and wielding his Nine-foot Black Spear, Chu Lingguang channeled his Wind and Wave Power, flinging away the attacking wolves one by one with his spear.

Each of his thrusts contained the force of tens of thousands of pounds. Not a single Silver Moon Wolf that collided with his black spear could get back on its feet.

Under their watchful eyes,

Chu Lingguang weaved through the trees below them like a wolf among sheep. Before the Silver Moon Wolves could even fully surround him, he had already fought his way out of that patch of jungle.

The Silver Moon Wolves had just finished gathering when they ran headlong into Qin Yu, Yan Zhen, and the others who were catching up from behind.

Qin Yu’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

He watched, stunned, as Chu Lingguang’s figure vanished at the edge of the forest, as if he had merely flickered through Qin Yu’s world for a moment, leaving behind only a few elegant tracks.