Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

Chapter 474: Chapter 210: Provincial Martial Arts Examination, Blasted with a Single Punch

"Of course. One of you is my daughter, and the other is an examinee from my jurisdiction. I treasure you both dearly, so how could I let you harm each other?"

Zhang Tao said with a smile.

"Let’s go to the entrance."

Fearing Chu Lingguang would back out, Zhang Yan quickly moved to the courtyard entrance.

Her weapon was a Brocade Spring Saber.

Although Chu Lingguang had come as a guest, he obviously wasn’t carrying a weapon. In fact, he had brought a few small gifts. So, Zhang Tao had specifically sent someone to fetch a nine-foot Long Spear.

With the Long Spear in hand, Chu Lingguang said, "Miss, after you!"

"SHIING!"

Zhang Yan was already itching to start. With a light slash of her long saber, she produced a piercing Sword Sound. The edge carried a wave of Potential Power, and a layer of crimson light erupted from it.

Chu Lingguang’s Perception Power was astonishing. He hadn’t seen it wrong—that was a crimson light. The Potential Power contained within Zhang Yan’s Saber Technique seemed to be a kind of blood qi.

As her Saber Technique closed in,

Chu Lingguang shook his Long Spear, and his Spear Intent erupted. A force from all directions clamped down on Zhang Yan’s Brocade Spring Saber. This sudden power was completely unexpected; Zhang Yan couldn’t hold onto her long saber at all.

"CLANG!"

Her long saber was torn from her grip by Chu Lingguang’s Spear Intent and sent plunging into a crack between the paving stones. The tip of his spear hovered an inch before Zhang Yan’s throat.

Zhang Yan was dumbstruck.

Zhang Tao’s face was a mask of disbelief.

"I was fortunate."

Chu Lingguang promptly withdrew his spear and cupped his hands.

Zhang Tao had called him over to spar with Zhang Yan, ostensibly to exchange pointers and improve their relationship. In reality, his main goal was to pull Chu Lingguang into his own camp.

Chu Lingguang knew that Zhang Tao was powerful and influential, someone he couldn’t afford to offend. However, if he became too entangled with Zhang Tao, Mr. Du might grow suspicious in the future. The only way to earn Zhang Tao’s respect while keeping Mr. Du from overthinking things was to achieve an overwhelming victory against Zhang Yan.

Besides, since it was a spar, there had to be a winner and a loser.

Neither he nor Zhang Yan wanted to lose. And if he was going to win, he had to do it decisively and cleanly to prevent any further complications.

That was why Chu Lingguang had unleashed the full power of his Spear Intent for a one-hit victory. This not only secured an easy win but also prevented any uncontrollable incidents that might have occurred if they got into a prolonged fight. After all, blades have no eyes. Once a battle became heated, neither Chu Lingguang nor Zhang Yan would have found it easy to hold back.

It was as if Zhang Yan hadn’t heard Chu Lingguang. She stared blankly at her precious personal saber, still quivering where it was stuck between the flagstones.

"Sir, my master is still waiting for me. This junior will take his leave now."

Chu Lingguang said, cupping his hands toward Zhang Tao.

"Alright. Come visit again soon."

Zhang Tao forced a smile. He didn’t try to make him stay; having Chu Lingguang remain any longer would only make his daughter feel more humiliated.

"Yes."

One of Zhang Tao’s men escorted Chu Lingguang out. The man had prepared a horse-drawn carriage for him, which Chu Lingguang did not refuse. He rode the Governor’s Mansion carriage back to the General’s Mansion to avoid any encounters with the curfew patrol.

"Spear Intent... He really has awakened Spear Intent,"

Zhang Tao exclaimed in amazement after Chu Lingguang had left.

"What did you say?"

Zhang Yan snapped back to her senses, even more shocked than before.

"A while ago, news came from South City that Chu Lingguang had awakened Spear Intent and used its power to help the Shuiyu Gang defeat Guer Khan. Seeing it with my own eyes today, I can confirm it’s true,"

Zhang Tao explained.

As the head of the Qiling Governor’s Mansion, how could he not be aware of major events happening within his jurisdiction? He had even received a report the moment Guer Khan and his men died in the mountain forest on the way to Jin City.

"If you gave me another chance, I would definitely..."

"You would definitely continue to lose to him."

Zhang Yan was indignant. Being defeated by Chu Lingguang in a single move was something she couldn’t accept, but Zhang Tao spoke cruelly.

"You think you only lost to Chu Lingguang’s Spear Intent, but you don’t realize that you lost to him in every aspect: Saber Technique, Mental Realm, and Qi Sea Power. Spear Intent may be strong, but without powerful Qi Sea Power and his Spear Technique at the Perfection realm to support it, he couldn’t have crushed you with a single thrust. Most importantly, his Heart Guarding Skill is exceptional. His composure in the face of honor or disgrace is something even Yan Zhen can’t match,"

Zhang Tao added.

"That... Hmph! I still don’t accept it."

Zhang Tao’s words were very hard for Zhang Yan to hear. In her heart, she knew much of it was true, but she just couldn’t accept it.

"Only when you can accept what happened here today will you have any hope of defeating Chu Lingguang. On the path of Martial Arts, one’s Mental Realm is like a guiding lamp. The stronger the Mental Realm, the brighter the lamp. If that lamp goes out, you will not only lose your goal in the Martial Arts but will also fall into a state of irredeemable ruin."

"When you lost to Yan Zhen, it was purely a matter of insufficient strength. But with Chu Lingguang, you are not only weaker, your Mental Realm is also far inferior. Even if you awaken Sword Intent and your Saber Technique one day surpasses his Flying Leaf Lotus Spear, you will still be no match for him if your mind remains as impetuous as it is now."

Zhang Tao said, his voice heavy with meaning.

He had almost never criticized Zhang Yan before, but he knew that if he didn’t say these things today, his daughter would be ruined by her arrogant and domineering personality.

"I... Someday, I’ll be just like Chu Lingguang."

Zhang Yan was fuming. She wanted to retort but couldn’t find any grounds to do so. The scene of her defeat in a single move flashed through her mind again. Finally, she closed her eyes and spoke with resignation.

「Inside the General’s Mansion.」

Guo Wei and Yang Shaorong were both waiting for Chu Lingguang to return.

Chu Lingguang recounted the events to them in detail.

Guo Wei and Yang Shaorong were both silent for a moment.

"Junior Brother, you did the right thing,"

Yang Shaorong was the first to speak.

"Just focus on the Martial Arts Examination. Don’t overthink anything else."

Guo Wei also approved of Chu Lingguang’s actions.