Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

Chapter 535: Chapter 227: First Place in the Imperial Examination, Worldview Shattered

Chu Lingguang glanced back at the Greedy Tiger as it got up from the ground.

Meeting his gaze, the Greedy Tiger couldn’t help but retreat, letting out a low growl.

Outside the canyon was a patch of dense undergrowth.

Four nearly-adult Greedy Tigers emerged from both sides. Chu Lingguang had already noticed their presence. He urged his great black horse forward, quickly charging down the main path.

The cry from the Greedy Tiger outside the canyon stopped the four younger ones from acting rashly.

Chu Lingguang possessed a power that could bypass defenses, one that was merged with his Sea of Consciousness Power. It was a force that even Yan Zhen’s Sword Momentum might not be able to block, and it had inflicted a certain amount of damage on the Greedy Tiger outside the canyon.

But the real reason the adult Greedy Tiger used its roar to stop the four younger ones from blocking Chu Lingguang was his Consciousness Manipulation Power.

Although it had only lasted for a moment, the feeling of having its consciousness controlled by Chu Lingguang—of being forced to serve him like a beast of burden—terrified it.

In that instant, the adult Greedy Tiger realized that Chu Lingguang might be a powerful Beast Tamer.

If even it couldn’t resist his Consciousness Attack, how could its offspring possibly be a match for him? It was better to let him go and wait for other prey to appear.

"HYAH!"

Chu Lingguang sped away. His nostrils felt searing hot, and blood began to trickle out.

Just moments before, he had detected the four Greedy Tigers charging out from the undergrowth. In his desperation, he had used his Consciousness Manipulation Power on the adult Greedy Tiger.

Although it had been effective, in that same instant, Chu Lingguang’s Sea of Consciousness had trembled, feeling as if it might burst. It was obvious that a Demon Beast like the Greedy Tiger possessed no simple Consciousness Power. With his current abilities, he was still incapable of manipulating such a creature.

Taking such a risk had nearly thrown his mind into chaos. The nosebleed was a side effect of the tremor in his Sea of Consciousness.

’That was close.’

’If I’d been surrounded by five Greedy Tigers, I never would have escaped.’

’Even using my Spear Stance and Black Tortoise Divine Power, I wouldn’t have been their match.’

’High-level Demon Beasts truly live up to their reputation.’

’I’m afraid most of the competitors behind me will be trapped in the canyon.’

Chu Lingguang muttered to himself.

’Before my Sea of Consciousness evolves again, I must not use my Consciousness Manipulation Power against high-level Demon Beasts. No, I shouldn’t even try it on mid-level ones.’

Chu Lingguang made a mental note.

He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if the Greedy Tiger’s consciousness had backlash-ed and burst his Sea of Consciousness. Would he have bled from all seven orifices and died? Or would he have become an idiot on the spot?

The Sea of Consciousness was both mysterious and powerful.

But until he truly understood this power, he couldn’t rashly use his Consciousness Manipulation Power on Demon Beasts.

’Yuanchu Mountain... I, Chu Lingguang, must go there.’

At this moment, Chu Lingguang felt a strong desire to go to Yuanchu Mountain, uncover the secrets of the Sea of Consciousness, and gain better control over this power.

"He did it."

In the Canopy Attic, the old man behind Young Master Jin Yi spoke with a look of disbelief.

His Inner Strength was immense and his power unfathomable. Aided by his Divine Abilities, his cloudy eyes could clearly see everything happening outside the canyon.

"What just happened?"

Young Master Jin Yi was extremely puzzled.

A clear, watery film covered his eyes, allowing him to see everything happening outside the canyon. It seemed to be some sort of special eye drops; he couldn’t rely on Divine Abilities like the old man to see things miles away with his naked eye.

"The distance is too great for me to sense his full aura, but the Greedy Tiger’s roar was an order to its pack members not to obstruct Chu Lingguang," the old man said.

"Why would it do that?"

Young Master Jin Yi grew more confused. He knew that Greedy Tigers were ill-tempered and full of hostility toward humans. They had already killed many people in the Hunting Ground, so how could it possibly let Chu Lingguang go?

"It must be related to his Consciousness Manipulation Power. Chu Lingguang’s Sea of Consciousness Power is much stronger than I imagined," the old man said after a moment of thought. He felt the key must lie in Chu Lingguang’s Consciousness Manipulation Power.

"You’re right, Teacher. That beast must have mistaken Chu Lingguang for a powerful Beast Tamer."

Young Master Jin Yi couldn’t help but nod. He recalled the scene carefully and realized that in the final moments of the confrontation between Chu Lingguang and the Greedy Tiger, the great black horse, which had always charged forward bravely, had shown signs of retreating and turning to flee.

Chu Lingguang must have, at that moment, shifted the Consciousness Manipulation Power he was using on his horse onto the adult Greedy Tiger.

A cultivator at the Qi Sea Perfection realm daring to use Consciousness Manipulation Power to control an adult, high-level Demon Beast—it was an act of utter madness.

But only that could explain what had just happened.

"Courageous and cunning. This young master approves. We can’t let anyone else get to him first."

Young Master Jin Yi declared decisively.

"Yes. Leave it to me," the old man behind him volunteered. He clearly realized that to deal with someone like Chu Lingguang, it would be safest if he handled it personally.

"HYAH!"

As Chu Lingguang shook off the five Greedy Tigers, Yan Zhen and Qin Yu also charged out of the canyon at almost the same time.

Seeing Chu Lingguang pull ahead of them again, as if the title of Hui Yuan were already in his grasp, they were in disbelief. Judging by the tracks on the ground, Chu Lingguang seemed to have broken through after only a few exchanges with the Greedy Tiger.

That meant he had passed all three trials.

Securing the title of Hui Yuan was now a certainty.

Qin Yu realized that both he and Yan Zhen had been reduced to being Chu Lingguang’s foils.

The thought was somewhat hard for Qin Yu to accept. After all, although Chu Lingguang was the second-ranked from Qiling Prefecture, he had only placed in the top five once at the Imperial City Academy. While Qin Yu hadn’t completely disregarded him, he never thought Chu Lingguang had a chance of placing in the top three of the Imperial Examination.