Free Web NovelChapter 495: Chapter 215: A Well-Deserved Victory, a Glorious Homecoming
The battle between Yan Zhen and Chu Lingguang was the focus of everyone’s attention.
Everyone in Qiling Prefecture was watching this battle.
As the power of the two combatants reached its peak and the battle became white-hot, waves of sand churned within the sandy arena. Some spectators released their Spiritual Sense, hoping to envelop the entire area and see every last detail.
Zhang Tao stood up from his seat.
Yan Zhen was the prodigy of Qiling Prefecture, and moreover, the Direct Disciple of the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Wei Yongguang. Both the Yan Family and the Wei Family had placed high hopes in him.
Many believed Yan Zhen was the top candidate for the title of Jie Yuan of Qiling Prefecture.
Zhang Tao privately agreed.
However, as the dust settled in the sandy arena, the crowd saw Yan Zhen squatting on the ground, spitting blood. He looked as though he had suffered a severe internal injury and couldn’t get back up.
Everyone found it unbelievable.
To think that Chu Lingguang was actually strong enough to defeat even Yan Zhen.
However, when the crowd searched for Chu Lingguang within the sandy arena, they couldn’t find him. Instead, they spotted him outside the arena, on the grounds where the Qi Power examination had been held.
Chu Lingguang was slumped against a wooden stake, cold sweat pouring down his face. His condition seemed even worse than Yan Zhen’s, as Yan Zhen had already gotten back to his feet, still inside the sandy arena.
The title of Jie Yuan had slipped through Chu Lingguang’s fingers.
The true victor was Yan Zhen, not Chu Lingguang.
"Yan Zhen won!"
"As expected of a true prodigy. No matter how much of a monster Chu Lingguang is, there was no way he could have beaten Yan Zhen."
"That was astounding! In the end, Yan Zhen was just a cut above."
"The title of Jie Yuan belongs to Yan Zhen!"
"The Yan Family finally has a Jie Yuan!"
"Yan Zhen’s victory is well-deserved!"
Seeing Yan Zhen squatting in the sandy arena and coughing up blood had stunned everyone with Chu Lingguang’s power. For a moment, they had all thought the title of Jie Yuan would fall to Chu Lingguang. But then they saw Chu Lingguang get sent flying out of the arena, landing on the grounds for the Qi Power examination in a state that seemed even worse than Yan Zhen’s.
In that instant, the crowd erupted in cheers for Yan Zhen.
The local residents of Qiling Prefecture lit firecrackers and beat gongs and drums to celebrate for Yan Zhen. They had long hoped a local would earn the title of Jie Yuan, and Yan Zhen was the very person they had been hoping for.
"Once you fully integrate your Sea of Consciousness Power, my Sword Momentum will no longer have an effect on you," Yan Zhen said to Chu Lingguang.
"Thank you, Yan. If you hadn’t helped me, my Flesh and Blood Divine Power never would have reached this level. I may not have become the Jie Yuan in this Provincial Examination, but I will give my all for the top position in the Imperial Examination half a year from now," Chu Lingguang said, forcing himself to stand.
’I knew I had already lost the moment Yan Zhen’s Sword Momentum enveloped me. But Yan Zhen’s Martial Arts Heart compels him to challenge all forms of power. He must have sensed that the fusion of my Flesh and Blood Divine Abilities and my Sea of Consciousness Power hadn’t reached its critical stage. To give me a chance to break through his Sword Momentum, he actually guided me toward a more perfect fusion. That’s the only reason I could keep fighting. Otherwise, I would have been utterly defeated right then and there.’
Though he had missed out on the title of Jie Yuan, Chu Lingguang accepted his defeat wholeheartedly. If Yan Zhen hadn’t set such a high bar for him to aim for, he might never have gotten this far.
Let alone vie with Yan Zhen for the title of Jie Yuan.
"Mm. The top three from each Provincial Examination will enter the Imperial City Academy to cultivate until the Imperial Examination begins. I’ll be waiting for you. I also believe it won’t be so easy to defeat you next time," Yan Zhen said with a sincere expression.
He was truly astonished by the speed of Chu Lingguang’s progress. That was especially true of the power that had erupted from the perfect synergy of his Flesh and Blood Divine Abilities and Sea of Consciousness Power. Yan Zhen knew that if his Sword Momentum hadn’t been able to weaken that force, he might have been the one to lose.
Securing the title of Jie Yuan had been a rather thrilling, close call for him.
"Lingguang!"
Guo Wei went and helped Chu Lingguang out. He cupped his fist toward Yan Zhen and said, "Young Master Yan, your bearing is extraordinary, truly worthy of being Commander Wei’s Direct Disciple. Though Lingguang was defeated, it was an honorable loss. Thank you!"
As experts who had reached the Life and Death Realm, the third layer of the True Martial Realm, both Guo Wei and Zhang Tao could see what had truly happened. At the critical moment, Yan Zhen had intentionally held back to help Chu Lingguang more perfectly fuse his Flesh and Blood Divine Abilities and Sea of Consciousness Power. In his quest to stimulate potential and challenge all forms of power, Yan Zhen was even willing to risk the title of Jie Yuan. Guo Wei was thoroughly impressed by his magnanimity and his Martial Arts Heart, and he felt fortunate that Chu Lingguang had such a rival.
"You flatter me."
Yan Zhen bowed to Guo Wei.
In the end, the title of Jie Yuan for this Provincial Martial Arts Examination in Qiling Prefecture went to Yan Zhen. His victory was well-deserved and beyond dispute.
Chu Lingguang took second place, and he was completely satisfied with this result.
Ma Weibing took third, breathing a quiet sigh of relief. Ye Zhongsheng and Zhang Yan followed close behind. After them was Hu Yuanwu in sixth place. He had originally been resentful of this result, but after watching the confrontation between Yan Zhen and Chu Lingguang, he knew the best he could have ever done was place in the top three. As long as either Chu Lingguang or Yan Zhen was present, the title of Jie Yuan was something he could never obtain. Slowly, he came to terms with it.
Yan Chengdu, who had placed second in the South City Daoist Examination, had also grown much stronger in the past year, even surpassing Qi Shiwei to rank thirty-third.
Qi Shiwei ranked thirty-sixth.
Lin Longde was in forty-first place.
Yu Jiaxin was forty-sixth.
Jin Shan, fifty-first.
Hei Hu, fifty-fourth.
Wang Chao, sixty-first.
Teng Qingshan, sixty-third.
Da Wu was sixty-seventh, placing last on the list.
In total, over a thousand candidates from Qiling Prefecture participated in this Provincial Martial Arts Examination, but in the end, only sixty-seven of them passed.
