Chapter 732 - 310: Sect Inheritance, Master Chu

Chapter 732: Chapter 310: Sect Inheritance, Master Chu

That Zhang Lingfeng had managed to increase his Qi Power to over a thousand jin in just two years using the Tidal Breathing Technique was astonishing. In years past, this would have placed him at the undisputed top of the rankings.

Even Yan Zhen would have felt inferior by comparison.

Even Tang Baitu and Liu San Gui had reached over eight hundred jin of Qi Power. Chu Lingguang realized it wasn’t that the three of them were just absurdly talented. Rather, the cycle of reincarnation had recently ended, making the Spiritual Qi in the world of Great Yuan much denser than before.

This was why so many geniuses had been emerging from all corners of the land in recent years.

And it was how Zhang Lingfeng was able to use the Tidal Breathing Technique to raise his Qi Power to over a thousand jin in a short two years.

「Five days later.」

"Master."

Zhang Lingfeng, Tang Baitu, and Liu San Gui knelt together before Chu Lingguang.

"We passed the examination."

The three of them were ecstatic.

"Master, I ranked twenty-seventh," said Tang Baitu, who was Chu Lingguang’s first disciple.

"I made it into the top ten, ranked eighth."

Zhang Lingfeng grinned, revealing his large, yellow teeth.

"Master, even though I only placed fifty-third, there are still a ton of people ranked below me," Liu San Gui said, scratching his head.

"Good. The past two years were not in vain. You have tomorrow to yourselves in South City. The day after, you will return with me to pay respects to your grandmaster," Chu Lingguang said with a smile.

"Yes, thank you, Master."

The three kowtowed. After they left, several lines of text appeared before Chu Lingguang’s eyes.

"Helped Tang Baitu become a Martial Scholar. Gained 24,882 Favor Points."

"Helped Zhang Lingfeng become a Martial Scholar. Gained 26,331 Favor Points."

"Helped Liu San Gui become a Martial Scholar. Gained 24,388 Favor Points."

"Received the gratitude of all three. Gained the Little Thousand Sword Technique."

A gratified expression appeared on Chu Lingguang’s face, and he couldn’t help but check his status panel.

Favor Points: 75,601

Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment (1,211,700 / 3,000,000)

Little Thousand Sword Technique (0 / 600,000)

(Remaining Lifespan: 796 years)

Over the past two years, Chu Lingguang had been teaching students at the Martial Arts Hall and frequently helping the local townspeople, accumulating a good number of Favor Points. Without him realizing it, the progress on his Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment Technique had already reached over 1.2 million.

He added the over seventy-five thousand Favor Points he had just acquired to the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

His status panel updated.

Favor Points: 0

Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment (1,287,301 / 3,000,000)

Chu Lingguang opened his palm, releasing a stream of golden Spiritual Power.

Over the past two years, in addition to teaching the Martial Arts Hall students and observing the mourning period for Guo Wei, he had not neglected his own cultivation. Unfortunately, even though his progress on the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was steadily increasing, his strength remained at the twelfth layer of Qi Refining.

His Telekinesis hadn’t advanced either.

It was still at the fifth rank.

Furthermore, while his Spiritual Root had resonated with Gold and Fire Spiritual Power, it had yet to do so with the other three of the Five Elements.

To all outward appearances, he looked just like an ordinary martial arts master, not a Practitioner.

"Junior Brother."

Now that the Martial Arts Examination was over, Hei Hu, in his role as the disciples’ martial uncle, was responsible for hosting Chu Lingguang’s group.

Chu Lingguang had Tang Baitu and the others stay temporarily at Hei Hu’s mansion.

In the year after Guo Wei’s death, Hei Hu had taken another concubine. Linghua and one of the junior concubines had since borne him a son and a daughter.

Observing the mourning period for a master didn’t require all disciples to do so at once.

Of the six disciples, only Chu Lingguang was observing the mourning period for Guo Wei.

This was not because Chu Lingguang was more filial, nor because Hei Hu, Yang Shaorong, and the others took the matter lightly. It was because Guo Wei had passed the Lightning Spear into Chu Lingguang’s hands.

He had also passed down all the sect’s Cultivation Techniques and Skills to him.

Although all six were Guo Wei’s disciples, Chu Lingguang was fundamentally different. In the end, even Yang Shaorong was not as important to Guo Wei as Chu Lingguang had become.

That was why Chu Lingguang was the one to follow the sect’s rules and observe a three-year mourning period for Guo Wei.

He was also the one teaching students in the Martial Arts Hall, and just as Guo Wei had once taken him and Hei Hu to South City for the Martial Arts Examination, he had now brought Tang Baitu, Zhang Lingfeng, and Liu San Gui to take it.

"We’re heading back tomorrow. Senior Brother, come with me to visit Master Yan," Chu Lingguang said.

"Alright."

Hei Hu, of course, agreed. He was still an official in South City, having been promoted from Garrison Commander to Captain of the South City. With most of the city’s military forces under his command, his status was nearly on par with the South City Lord.

"Master Yan."

A short while later, the two entered Sunrise Alley and arrived at Master Yan’s home.

When Chu Lingguang first brought Tang Baitu and the others for the Martial Examination, he had taken them to visit Master Yan and had a meal at his home before they moved into Hei Hu’s residence.

Since they were leaving the day after tomorrow, Chu Lingguang had made a special trip to see Master Yan again, and he had naturally prepared some gifts.

They were all medicinal formulas designed to replenish Qi Blood and restore vitality.

Chu Lingguang had personally and carefully prepared them for Master Yan.

As a cultivator at the twelfth layer of Qi Refining, creating medicinal formulas for mortals to replenish their Qi Blood and prolong their lives was hardly a challenge for Chu Lingguang.

Master Yan’s strength was far inferior to Guo Wei’s.

If not for the recent end of the reincarnation cycle, which had bathed South City in a storm of Spiritual Qi and allowed Master Yan to absorb a great deal of power, his body would have likely failed long ago.

Over the past two years, Chu Lingguang had periodically sent medicinal formulas, and even Elixir Pills, to Master Yan. Thanks to his help, Master Yan appeared much as he had back when Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu first took the Martial Arts Examination.

"Lin Guang, congratulations. I saw the results for Baitu, Lingfeng, and the others."

Although he knew that any disciples taught by Chu Lingguang were certain to pass, Master Yan was still delighted to see Tang Baitu, Zhang Lingfeng, and Liu San Gui’s names on the list.

Though he was not the sect’s chosen successor, as Guo Wei’s junior martial brother, he had watched Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu rise step by step. He sincerely hoped Chu Lingguang could bring glory to their sect’s Martial Arts and ensure the Guo Wei Martial Arts Hall would be passed down for generations to come.

"Baitu and the others just finished the Martial Examination. They’ve been training to exhaustion for the past two years, so I told them to go out and have fun for a day. They’ll come to see you again before we leave," Chu Lingguang said with a smile.

"Haha, good! Let them have their fun. Your uncle here keeps two Song Boats on the Canal. Hei Hu is a frequent visitor, but I’ve never seen you on one," Master Yan said with a laugh.

"AHEM, AHEM, AHEM!"

Hei Hu started coughing loudly.

Compared to two years ago, Hei Hu’s appearance had changed drastically. He used to be fat with a potbelly, but now his physique could only be described as broad and burly.

His strength had also reached the True Martial Realm.

The reason for this transformation was Guo Wei’s dying wish: that Chu Lingguang guide Hei Hu onto the right path, ensuring he didn’t neglect his cultivation or become lost in the pursuit of women.

Thus, under Chu Lingguang’s supervision and "forceful encouragement," Hei Hu’s strength had gradually improved, slowly molding him into his current form.

He now possessed the air of a Military General.

His appetite for women had also been curbed significantly.

However, Chu Lingguang had only learned about the Song Boats today. He knew Hei Hu must be going there for fun, but he never expected Master Yan to own two of them. It seemed Hei Hu had made the place his personal paradise, likely visiting every few days.

No wonder that, despite his significant advancement in strength, his Qi Blood felt strong on the surface but was hollow within. Clearly, he had only curbed his lust, not eliminated it. His appetite was still as voracious as ever.

In order to help Hei Hu sever his ties to women and thenceforth cultivate properly, Chu Lingguang conducted a "field investigation" that very night. He diligently acquainted himself with the internal structure of the Song Boat, the skills of the "relevant personnel," and so on.

He found the night to be of immense benefit.

He found himself both drawn to and troubled by this kind of life.

Ever since his cultivation had entered the Qi Refining realm and he’d become a Cultivator, Chu Lingguang had heard it said more than once that carnal indulgence would hinder one’s cultivation, especially one’s comprehension of the Celestial Dao Laws.

Many exceptionally talented Practitioners had seen their progress grind to a halt because of it.

But as a man, he couldn’t completely abstain. Back when he was stationed at Wolf Valley Pass and Black Bear Island, he had also partaken in such diversions with his comrades.

This, however, was his first time on a Song Boat.

As he stepped off the boat, Chu Lingguang felt reluctant to leave.

"What were you doing on that boat?"

Suddenly, a figure appeared before him.

It was Li Qiushui.

When Chu Lingguang brought Tang Baitu and his disciples to South City for the Martial Arts Examination, she had nothing better to do and came over to watch. She had been staying in Great Yuan for the past two years, living for the most part in the Baiyang County Martial Arts Hall. Sometimes she would venture out, riding her Flying Sword to survey the lands of Great Yuan or even to seek out other Cultivators for a spar.

But as someone who had always been a loner and cultivated at the Profound Celestial Sect, she didn’t really understand the pastimes of the mortal world.

Especially the dazzling, brightly lit Song Boats on the Canal, which seemed to make people forget all about returning home.