Chapter 376: Chapter 188: Gladiatorial Combat (2)

There was simply too little time left. After subtracting the days they had just spent traveling, there were less than five months remaining.

Hearing his answer, neither Mr. Du nor Guo Wei found anything wrong with it. In fact, they would have been more concerned if Chu Lingguang had claimed to be completely confident.

"If I may ask, Master Guo, how do you plan to train him once you return to Baiyang County?" Mr. Du inquired.

Chu Lingguang was Guo Wei’s disciple. Although Mr. Du had done Chu Lingguang a great service, a master instructing his disciple in cultivation was a deeply private affair. He knew that by asking, he was overstepping the bounds of propriety.

But Guo Wei showed no hint of displeasure. Instead, with a candid expression, he said, "My only plan is to guide Lin Guang in unlocking his sixth-level Dharma Aspect and help him awaken his Primitive Power to gain Divine Abilities from his bloodline. Ideally, I’d also help his Qi Sea Cultivation reach the Perfection Realm."

"However, in a mere five months, that’s impossible for me to accomplish on my own."

"Do you have any other ideas, then, Master Guo?" Mr. Du asked.

"If I may be so bold," Guo Wei said, rising and clasping his hands. "I implore you, Mr. Du, to lend Lin Guang your aid. Let him cultivate in Yunchuan City for the next five months. I will also stay here to instruct him. Lin Guang doesn’t lack a master—what he lacks is a catalyst!"

"Master Guo, you are too polite. To be frank, that was precisely my intention."

Mr. Du looked delighted. He had been skillfully guiding the conversation toward this very outcome.

Interfering with a master teaching his disciple was a taboo in the Jianghu. Though Mr. Du was powerful and influential, he didn’t dare pressure Guo Wei. Doing so would not only offend the master but also cause Chu Lingguang to resent him. He knew that, given Chu Lingguang’s character, even the opportunity to cultivate in the Trial Ground wouldn’t make him neglect his master.

Guo Wei, for his part, naturally understood Mr. Du’s intentions. As a master, he wanted Chu Lingguang to achieve greatness and one day be able to stand before Yan Zhen.

But with the limited resources he had in Baiyang County, accomplishing this would be incredibly difficult—if not entirely hopeless.

Yunchuan City, on the other hand, was a different story.

Not only was it close to the Hundred Thousand Mountains, but Mr. Du was also surrounded by countless experts. Guo Wei could continue to instruct Chu Lingguang while also selecting suitable opponents to push him in his training.

"Chu Lingguang, are you willing to remain in Yunchuan City and train until the Provincial Martial Arts Examination?" Mr. Du asked.

"I will follow my master’s arrangements," Chu Lingguang said, bowing to Guo Wei.

A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime. Chu Lingguang could not forget the favors he owed Mr. Du, but more importantly, he could not let Guo Wei think his disciple was chasing wealth and status, so captivated by the splendor of Yunchuan City that he was unwilling to return to Baiyang County.

"It is a rare kindness for Mr. Du to offer to take us in. You should thank him at once," Guo Wei said with a smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Du!" Chu Lingguang knelt and spoke, performing another grand bow as if he had been prepared for this all along.

Guo Wei followed, rising and clasping his hands. "Thank you, Mr. Du, for taking in the three of us!"

"Thank you, Mr. Du!" Hei Hu knelt down as well.

"You all..." Mr. Du was stunned.

"You three are quite the characters. Get up, all of you!"

He suddenly realized that Guo Wei and his disciples had likely planned this all along, hoping to stay and cultivate in Yunchuan City. If he hadn’t brought it up, they probably would have ended up asking him instead.

But as it turned out, he was the one who had been eager to make Chu Lingguang stay.

"Our thanks, Mr. Du!" Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu expressed their thanks once more.

"So, Master Guo, how do you plan to challenge Chu Lingguang?" Mr. Du asked again.

"Yan Zhen is training in the Border Region. He not only has the Turkic Prince for an opponent but also frequently enters the Hundred Thousand Mountains to hunt Demon Beasts. If Lin Guang wants to stand before him, his only path is to follow that example: train in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, fight among the Demon Beasts, endure battles of life and death, and receive a baptism of blood," Guo Wei said grimly.

"Well said. Blood and the brink of death are the ultimate tools for improving one’s strength. Leave the arrangements to me!"

Mr. Du’s face showed his complete agreement.

The path of cultivation requires bloodshed. Only those who have faced life and death can overcome their fear, awaken their most primitive instincts, and advance further in their Martial Arts Cultivation.

Every warrior in the Du Mansion had to pass this trial; both Du Wushuang and Du Juan had to undergo a baptism of blood and death.

Mr. Du had been worried that Guo Wei would be overprotective of Chu Lingguang. Fortunately, Guo Wei did not disappoint him.

And so, the master and his two disciples took up residence in Du’s Mansion, where they would stay until the Provincial Martial Arts Examination.

Time was short, and Chu Lingguang dared not waste a moment. Ever since taking the Bone Marrow Cleansing Liquid, he hadn’t had a proper chance to train; he had been either on the road, sparring with Du Wushuang and the others, or discussing cultivation with Yan Zhen.

Now that he was settled in Du’s Mansion, Chu Lingguang could finally take the time to carefully sense the changes within his body.

After the tempering of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Liquid, his physical form had become a Pure True Body, allowing him to perceive internal changes much more quickly than others.

Chu Lingguang wanted to unlock his sixth-level Dharma Aspect, awaken his Primitive Power, obtain Divine Abilities from his bloodline, and improve his Qi Sea Realm cultivation.

He had to tackle these goals one at a time.

First, Chu Lingguang attempted to unlock his sixth-level Dharma Aspect.

Both Yan Zhen and Guo Wei had already explained the process to him.

Causing one’s internal power to resonate with external power was the key to forming a Divine Image Small Vortex. The internal powers in question were the power from the Sea of Consciousness and the Elixir Field Power.

Through Introspection, Chu Lingguang saw that a Qi Sea had formed within his Dantian. Though it was only a small one, its very existence was incredibly reassuring.

Chu Lingguang tried to draw a response from his Elixir Field Power, searching for a point of resonance with the external forces, but he had no luck. The stronger his Spiritual Sense became, the more he realized that the Qi Sea Power within his Dantian, while not weak, showed no reaction to the outside world.

As for his Sea of Consciousness Power, aside from the Qi Vortex growing more robust recently, there were no other unusual developments.

He activated his fifth-level Dharma Aspect.

Qi Phase Scale Armor covered his entire body. Chu Lingguang could feel a series of responses within the dense network of energy connecting his Sea of Consciousness and his Dantian; it was these very responses that allowed the Qi Phase Scale Armor to form so quickly.

He had already mastered the knack of activating his fifth-level Dharma Aspect, and could now do so with a single thought. He had hoped to carefully sense whether there was a connection between his Qi Phase power and the external forces, but his efforts yielded nothing.

’Master once said that the key to making the Sea of Consciousness Power respond to the outside world lies in Spiritual Sense Fluctuation, while the key for the Elixir Field Power is Breathing and Exhaling.’

’Maybe I can start by using Breathing and Exhaling to find a response from my Dantian. If that doesn’t work, I can try using Spiritual Sense Fluctuation.’

’I’ll just have to try it slowly,’ Chu Lingguang muttered to himself.

His Mental Realm had reached Great Success, and his thoughts were clear and unhindered. He didn’t allow the lack of time to throw him into disarray.

And so, Chu Lingguang began his Breathing and Exhaling exercises.

He carefully sensed the external power, observing every step of the process as it entered his Dantian and was refined by his Qi Sea.

「The days passed slowly.」

「Three days later.」

Guo Wei was in the rear courtyard of the Du Mansion, guiding Chu Lingguang in his attempts to unlock his sixth-level Dharma Aspect, when Du Wushuang sent a servant girl over with a message. He said he had some good news for Chu Lingguang.

The master and disciple paused their training and went to find Du Wushuang.

Du Wushuang said, "Master Guo, my adoptive father has arranged an opportunity for Lin Guang: a battle against a Crimson Flame Tiger at the Qi Sea Minor Achievement Level. The location is the Kong Family Gladiatorial Arena here in the city, and the time is set for 1:45 PM. When Chu arrives, he just needs to show this bamboo slip to the guards, and they will arrange his duel with the Crimson Flame Tiger."

"Du, please thank Mr. Du for me."

Chu Lingguang accepted the bamboo slip. It was inscribed with a fighter’s number for the Kong Family Gladiatorial Arena—clearly, it was his.

"Lin Guang, the Crimson Flame Tiger has a much stronger bloodline than the Demon-Horned Bull or the Scorpion Python you encountered in the Trial Ground and the Hundred Thousand Mountains. However, its strength is only at the Qi Sea Minor Achievement level, making it an even match for you."

Guo Wei was very pleased with Mr. Du’s arrangement. Fighting a Demon Beast in a gladiatorial arena was far less dangerous than fighting one alone in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

If his life was in danger, help could arrive in time.

It was perfectly suited for the early stages of Chu Lingguang’s training.

"Yes. Don’t worry, Master. I will return victorious," Chu Lingguang vowed confidently.

Once noon had passed, Chu Lingguang set off for the Kong Family Gladiatorial Arena alone. Guo Wei didn’t accompany him, worried that his presence would only add to Chu Lingguang’s pressure.

After Chu Lingguang left, Guo Wei turned his focus to instructing Hei Hu.

Du Wushuang reported the matter to Mr. Du.

Mr. Du smiled knowingly. "Master Guo is truly no ordinary man. Since he trusts me this much... very well. Wushuang, go inform the Kong Family. Have Chu Lingguang start by fighting some Little Demons. We’ll see if he can even make it to the Crimson Flame Tiger."

"Yes, sir."

With that, Du Wushuang also left the Du Mansion.

When the Kong Family learned that Du’s Mansion was sending someone to their arena for a trial, they all started making inquiries, trying to find out which of Mr. Du’s adopted sons it was.

(Author’s Note: I got held up by real-life stuff again today. That’s two days in a row of slacking off, and I feel incredibly ashamed. Tomorrow, I will write 12,000 characters at the absolute minimum.)