Chapter 299 - 172: Might (Part 3)
His compatibility with the Cultivation Technique was now ninety percent.
The Dragon and Elephant had merged into one, and his strength had grown without him realizing it. After entering the Blood-colored World again, Chu Lingguang’s Perception Power had also evolved imperceptibly.
He could now detect a peculiar fluctuation emanating from others.
Driven by curiosity, Chu Lingguang tried to grasp the fluctuation. The moment he did, his scalp tingled, a white light flashed before his eyes, and he was struck by temporary blindness.
His expression changed drastically.
The fluctuation from the goateed elder possessed such formidable power that just a light touch from his Perception Power made his scalp go numb and even caused him to go blind for a moment.
The goateed elder, however, was startled.
’Chu Lingguang’s Perception Power has already reached this level? He’s even formed a nascent Spiritual Sense, enough to detect my own. It’s weak, yes, but for someone his age, especially from a Humble Family... this is simply incredible.’
Yun Hong, who was standing nearby, also seemed to have detected the momentary clash between two Spiritual Senses of different strengths. He stared at Chu Lingguang, his face a mask of utter astonishment.
As the one who had tested Chu Lingguang for the True Meaning of Spear Technique, he knew Chu Lingguang had yet to form a Sea of Consciousness—at least, he had never detected one.
And yet, Chu Lingguang somehow possessed a nascent Spiritual Sense.
Even Long Xin, Xia Tianzhong, and Xu Kanghui lacked this ability, despite each of them already possessing a small Sea of Consciousness.
He and the goateed elder exchanged a look. They made a mental note of Chu Lingguang’s ability but did not include it in the official score for this assessment.
The next set of results was announced.
Long Xin’s Qi Power growth: equivalent to twenty Dragon Elephants.
Xia Tianzhong’s Qi Power growth: equivalent to twenty-two Dragon Elephants.
Xu Kanghui’s Qi Power growth: equivalent to twenty-one Dragon Elephants.
Chu Lingguang’s Qi Power growth: equivalent to eleven Dragon Elephants.
Once again, Chu Lingguang was in last place.
Although he was mentally prepared, he couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath when he saw the Qi Power growth of Long Xin and the others. ’It seems they don’t just have outstanding talent,’ he thought. ’Their bodies must have long since undergone a Rebirth, nourished by all sorts of resources. Even their normal Qi Power growth must be several times that of an ordinary person.’
’Beating them will be incredibly difficult.’
Fortunately, both his ninety-percent compatibility and his Qi Power growth of eleven Dragon Elephants were considered A-grade Talent results. Chu Lingguang didn’t have to worry about losing his access to A-class Cultivation Resources.
For the final assessment, the total Dragon Elephant count, Chu Lingguang had completely relaxed. ’So what if those three crush me again in this round?’ he thought. ’The A-class Cultivation Resources can’t run away from me now. Even if I look completely useless in front of them, I won’t become a laughingstock.’
Finally, they had crushed Chu Lingguang.
Smiles appeared on the faces of Long Xin and the other two. ’If Chu Lingguang’s Qi Power growth had been as close to ours as his Cultivation Technique compatibility, what would have been the point of all the cultivation resources we’ve enjoyed over the years? Where would we have put our pride?’
But now, their Qi Power growth had left Chu Lingguang in the dust.
’Clearly, our total Dragon Elephant count will leave him miles behind, too. The three of us will dominate this Trial Ground. It’s just a shame Chu Lingguang can’t be a worthy opponent.’
Sometimes, when people are too exceptional, they long for a worthy rival. Yet when such a rival appears and shows the slightest potential of surpassing them, they grow anxious, desperate to defeat their opponent and ensure they can never recover.
Long Xin and the other two were experiencing just such complex feelings.
"Dragon Elephant assessment! Channel with all your might!"
Yun Hong commanded.
"Yes, sir!"
The four responded in unison.
"ROAR! TRUMPET!"
One after another, the deafening sounds of a Dragon’s Roar and an Elephant’s Wail erupted from Long Xin, Xia Tianzhong, and Xu Kanghui. It was as if dozens, even hundreds, of Dragon Elephants were roaring within their very bloodlines.
Their astonishing, unparalleled momentum and terrifying aura made the hearts of Sima Army, Zhao Rushuang, and the others pound with fear. A sense of defeat, stronger than any they had ever felt, began to take root within them.
They had always known they might never be a match for Xia Tianzhong and the others.
But to see the gap between them so clearly, the suffocating feeling of being worlds apart, plunged them into despair.
Faced with those three, they couldn’t muster a shred of courage to challenge them.
All they could do was gaze at their backs from afar.
They could only console their fragile, sensitive hearts with the excuse that the others had abundant resources and uniquely favorable conditions.
Circulating the Dragon Elephant Power primarily relied on the fused Great River Operation Method and Circulation Operation Skill; the Pile Skill and Breathing Technique were of little use at this stage.
Chu Lingguang listened to the Dragon’s Roar and Elephant’s Wail emanating from Long Xin and the other two. The dense sound and powerful fluctuations of power were unsettling, yet as he stood to the side, he had a strange feeling.
He felt that although their Dragon Elephant Power was immense, it wasn’t unbeatable.
He even felt that their Dragon Elephant Power was all for show. Though a potent force circulated in their bloodlines, it lacked a certain ineffable might.
This absence of might made their Dragon Elephant Power feel like a fox borrowing a tiger’s ferocity—all bluster and no true substance.
This sensation made Chu Lingguang wonder if he was going insane. How could he dare to feel contempt for their Dragon Elephant Power?
’It must be a delusion.’
’Or even a hallucination.’
For now, however, Chu Lingguang could only suppress these negative thoughts and use the fused Operation Technique to channel the Dragon Elephant Power within his own body.
"AWOOO!"
"HROOOAR!"
In that instant.
A sound like a Dragon’s Roar and an Elephant’s Wail, as if echoing from a primeval forest, surged forth from Chu Lingguang’s body, carrying with it an ineffable, majestic pressure.
The clarion dragon’s roar made it seem as if a true leviathan was hidden within Chu Lingguang’s body. The long, resonant elephant’s wail was like that of an ancient Divine Image, awakening from within his very blood.