Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

"Chu!"

Sima Army quickly slipped a note into Chu Lingguang’s hand.

"Chu!"

Then Jin Huang, Zhao Rushuang, and a few others ran over and slipped their own notes into Chu Lingguang’s hand.

They had all clearly written down their questions, hoping Chu Lingguang would ask Yun Hong on their behalf.

Chu Lingguang didn’t resist. He put the notes away and hurried after Yun Hong. He knew their little scheme wouldn’t escape Yun Hong’s notice. But since Yun Hong hadn’t objected, it was clear that once they were in the courtyard, after his own questions were answered, he could ask for the others.

Seeing this, Fatty Qin tapped himself on the head with his fan. ’I hadn’t prepared a note, and I’d already offended Chu Lingguang. Looks like I won’t be able to freeload on this one.’

「In the courtyard.」

Yun Hong personally brewed the tea.

It was a special kind of red tea. Chu Lingguang raised his cup and took a small sip. The brew was coarse and didn’t go down smoothly, but a surge of power immediately spread from his mouth, flowing throughout his entire body.

"This is an herbal Spirit Tea I acquired from the palace. It doesn’t taste particularly good, but it benefits both one’s bloodline and spirit."

Yun Hong explained.

"I am truly fortunate today, then."

Chu Lingguang felt that this single cup of Spirit Tea was worth as much as two chunks of Demon Beast Flesh and Blood.

"The records show that you successfully unlocked the second and third layers of your Dharma Aspect with the help of Heart-Devouring Powder, which elicited a response from your flesh and bloodline. While Heart-Devouring Powder has no other side effects, it is still considered an external aid. Now, you want to unlock the fourth layer. Given your aptitude and current condition, it will be difficult to elicit a response from your bone structure."

Yun Hong knew why Chu Lingguang had come to see him, so he got straight to the point.

That single word—"difficult"—made Chu Lingguang’s heart sink. He downed the Spirit Tea in one gulp, then rose and bowed respectfully. "Teacher, you must have a way to help me. I can endure any hardship. Please, show me the way."

"With your current strength, it wouldn’t be difficult to achieve a good result in the Provincial Examination even if you never unlock the fourth Dharma Aspect. The Bone Aspect is far more difficult to unlock than the Flesh and Tendon Aspects. I advise you not to be too hasty."

Yun Hong said earnestly.

"If I can’t unlock the fourth Dharma Aspect, do you think my True Dragon Power is enough to place in the top ten of the Qiling Prefecture Provincial Examination?"

Chu Lingguang asked after a moment of thought.

"No."

Yun Hong replied instantly.

Chu Lingguang froze. ’Yun Hong’s reply was reflexive, without a moment’s hesitation. A man of his stature wouldn’t deceive me, which means the reality of the situation is exactly as he described.’

"Please, Teacher, help me."

Chu Lingguang said, bowing deeply.

"Is placing in the top ten of the Provincial Examination so important?"

Yun Hong asked.

"It is, and it isn’t."

Chu Lingguang replied, both nodding and shaking his head.

Yun Hong simply smiled and refilled Chu Lingguang’s cup.

Chu Lingguang knew Yun Hong wanted him to elaborate. He sat back down and said, "For me, simply passing the exam would be enough to bring honor to my family. But an ordinary passing grade won’t help my master be conferred the title of Grandmaster. So while it’s not important to me, it is crucial to him."

Yun Hong placed the teapot back on the charcoal brazier.

He gestured for Chu Lingguang to drink.

Chu Lingguang raised the cup. He saw his own face reflected in the surface of the Spirit Tea, which was as red as fresh blood. His hand froze in mid-air before he set the cup back down.

He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and declared, "No, I misspoke. It is just as important to me!"

"Placing in the top ten of the Provincial Examination is not just my master’s hope, and it’s not just Mr. Du’s requirement. It is my own deepest desire."

"I want to help my master earn the title of Grandmaster and repay his kindness. I don’t want to disappoint Mr. Du, and I also hope to secure a good position under his patronage. But of course, more than anything, I want to make a name for myself! I want to compete with the likes of Yan Zhen for fame and fortune, to prove I’m better!"

Chu Lingguang’s words were firm and resonant.

He was facing his own most primal desires head-on.

He laid his true thoughts bare before Yun Hong. Initially, he had joined the Martial Arts Hall simply to get ahead in the world. After Guo Wei began treating him like a son, his heart filled with the desire to repay that kindness, but he had never forgotten his own ambitions!

’To fight for fame and fortune! To make a name for myself!’

Chu Lingguang was just like anyone else; he was a long way from being indifferent to worldly success.

"Excellent."

Yun Hong said sincerely, seeing nothing wrong with Chu Lingguang’s ambition.

"Every person should have their own desires. Only by finding your own goal and fighting for it with everything you have can you truly go far. If your only motivation was your master, I doubt you could ever unlock the fourth Dharma Aspect."

Yun Hong added.

"So you’re willing to help me, Teacher?"

Chu Lingguang heard the underlying meaning in his words.

"Help? Of course, I’ll help."

Yun Hong nodded and stood up. "However, even though you unlocked the Flesh and Tendon Aspects through pure comprehension, unlocking the Bone Aspect now will be exceptionally difficult. Of the six layers of the Dragon Elephant Dharma Aspect, the Bone Aspect is a major watershed; countless people get stuck at this stage.

The only way I can help is to grant you access to the back mountain of the Trial Ground. There is a stone monument there that emits a special resonance, making it difficult for anyone below the Perfection of the Qi Sea Realm to even take a single step.

If you train there, you will feel a crushing weight pressing down on you. Stay too long, and your bones could be pulverized. In that environment, you might just be able to find the response you seek from your very own bones.

However, you can only spend a maximum of four hours there each day.

Furthermore, the Trial Ground holds an assessment every ten days, and you are no exception. The test for the Sunrise Bloodline is a measure of your Bloodline Level’s strength.

The higher your Bloodline Level, the faster your True Dragon Power will evolve.

Of course, you must also ensure your Dharma Aspect can keep pace. Do not rush any part of this."

Yun Hong instructed earnestly.

"Yes, Teacher. I will not disappoint you."