Chapter 252 - 161: Suppression
Samba, the First Warrior of the Aika Tribe, has arrived!
The voice was like the low roar of a Beast King. It was as if everyone could feel a towering figure emerging from the Mist Forest, and the moment he came into view, the oppressive presence would reach its zenith.
At once, all eyes turned to the entrance.
They saw a man nearly two meters tall, with a birthmark like splattered blood by his left eye. He wore a grand brocade robe and strode forward, hands clasped behind his back. The attendants flanking him were all tall and imposing, and together, they projected an overwhelming aura, like a troop of cavalry charging toward the crowd.
Behind them,
Chu Lingguang and Guo Wei both saw familiar figures.
Mahmoud, Iscoha, and Jier Khan were among them.
Even Feng Junyi had come with them.
The members of the mission had arrived.
The Great Yuan Assembly was responsible for their reception.
Feng Junyi, a prominent official with an outstanding record in the Qiling Governor’s Mansion, was in charge of receiving Mahmoud’s group and had brought Samba to the Martial Arts Hall.
"That guy is Samba. His Flesh and Blood Power is comparable to eight or nine Bloodline Dragon Elephants."
Chen Jin whispered in Chu Lingguang’s ear.
Chu Lingguang nodded slightly.
’He had long heard that the warriors of the Aika Tribe drank three bowls of Beast Blood daily. The Divine Beast Breathing Method they cultivated allowed them to not only absorb the Essence of Heaven and Earth but also draw power from the Beast Blood. This was why the people of the Aika Tribe grew so tall and sturdy, possessing immense Qi Power by the age of fifteen or sixteen.’
"Master Guo, we meet again."
Feng Junyi stepped forward, cupped his hands toward Guo Wei, and then introduced the visitor to both Guo Wei and Chu Lingguang. "This is Samba, the foremost young warrior of the Aika Tribe and the mission’s representative. He is here to test his Martial Arts against Lin Guang."
"Samba, this is the renowned Master Guo, and his young apprentice, Chu Lingguang," Feng Junyi said in turn.
"Greetings, Master Guo."
Samba bowed to Guo Wei, then looked at Chu Lingguang and said, "So you’re the one who defeated Jier Khan."
"That I am."
Chu Lingguang and Samba locked eyes. A crimson light flared in Samba’s pupils, and a soul-shaking power seemed to emanate from his very gaze. The Dragon Elephant Power in Chu Lingguang’s blood thrummed uncontrollably, but he did not look away.
"Not bad. You’re certainly a cut above those two, Emperor Yue Xuan and Chen Jin."
Samba not only failed to see any fear in Chu Lingguang’s eyes, but he also saw that the intimidating power of his gaze had no effect on him.
Having mastered the Divine Beast Breathing Method to the stage of Great Success,
not only did his body possess the power of three fierce tigers, but his eyes also held the oppressive might of a Tiger King. Before, both Emperor Yue Xuan and Chen Jin had faltered before his gaze.
In their actual duels that followed, they were both filled with fear and quickly lost. Even when they later joined forces, he defeated them within thirty rounds.
When Emperor Yue Xuan and Chen Jin saw Chu Lingguang this morning, they had specifically warned him not to look Samba in the eye.
Although Chu Lingguang had noted their warning, he did not back down. His reasoning was simple: ’If I don’t even dare to meet Samba’s gaze, how can I possibly defeat him?’
He had awakened the Blood Dragon Elephant, and coupled with his remarkable Heart Guarding Skill, it was impossible for Samba’s Tiger King-like gaze to instill fear in him.
Their first exchange was a draw.
"You call yourself the Aika Tribe’s finest warrior. I’m curious, just how much stronger are you than Jier Khan? He also claimed to be a great warrior of the Aika Tribe, but I ended up breaking his shoulder. I wonder if it’s gotten any better?"
Chu Lingguang retorted, sensing the insult to Emperor Yue Xuan and Chen Jin in Samba’s earlier words.
"Chu Lingguang, Samba will defeat you within twenty rounds! He’ll show you what it feels like to have every bone in your body broken!"
Jier Khan fumed.
"Sigh. For a man with a broken shoulder, you still talk tough."
Chu Lingguang lamented.
"You..."
Jier Khan flushed crimson.
"From what I understand, you were in the same class as Emperor Yue Xuan and Chen Jin at Qiling Academy, and they were ranked just below you. They came looking for a fight with me earlier. Even when they teamed up, they couldn’t last thirty rounds. Jier Khan’s words, while arrogant, were not without reason. If you’re only a little stronger than them, defeating you in twenty rounds is certainly possible."
Samba said, stopping Jier Khan and coming to his defense.
"Last time, we weren’t at our best."
"If you have the guts, let’s fight again."
Emperor Yue Xuan and Chen Jin spoke one after another, both flustered and exasperated at being so publicly ridiculed.
"Fine. After I’m done with Chu Lingguang, I’ll deal with you two,"
Samba said with a disdainful look.
"Then let’s have our match first."
Chu Lingguang said angrily. Emperor Yue Xuan and Chen Jin had come all this way out of the goodness of their hearts to share their experience with him; he couldn’t just stand by while they were humiliated in the Martial Arts Hall.
"Enough nonsense. I’ve been dawdling in your Great Yuan for months. I’m anxious to return to my tribe and enjoy the nourishment of the most delicious Demon Blood. If you’re ready, let’s begin!"
Samba said condescendingly.
"Fine."
Chu Lingguang had been waiting for this.
The crowd parted.
Feng Junyi, Guo Wei, as well as Mahmoud and the representatives of the Turkic Mission, took their respective seats.
Holding the Lightning Spear, Chu Lingguang stood with Samba on the sandy grounds of the Inner Courtyard.
In preparation for this battle,
Guo Wei had closed the Martial Arts Hall for two months. He’d had the Inner Courtyard cleared of all equipment and the sandy ground tilled and leveled so Chu Lingguang and Samba would have ample space to fight without reservation.
Samba wielded a Wide-Backed Horse-Cutting Saber that weighed over a hundred pounds.
Seeing that Chu Lingguang was ready, he was the first to attack, charging like a wild beast. As he brought the long saber down, a piercing Sword Sound rang out from the blade. His very flesh and blood seemed to swell, and the blood in his veins surged like a great river. In that moment, his power reached its apex.