Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

BANG!

A moment later, a stone struck him in the chest.

His body flew backward with the stone, hurtling toward Chu Lingguang.

"Hmph!"

Chu Lingguang snorted coldly.

With a sweep of his Long Spear, he deflected all the flying stones. He then slapped Xuanyuan Jinkang’s waist with the flat of his spear, sending a current of Spiritual Power into his body. Not only did this ease Xuanyuan Jinkang’s pain, but it was also like a powerful shove from behind, sending him past the second trial and up to the mountainside.

"Junior Brother, give me a hand!"

Yang Shaorong’s eyes lit up.

He hadn’t expected Chu Lingguang to be so powerful. Seeing him send Xuanyuan Jinkang to the mountainside with a single move, he quickly waved him over. As Chu Lingguang’s senior brother, Yang Shaorong wasn’t one for pleasantries.

"Alright!"

Chu Lingguang performed the Wind-Sweeping Lotus Leaves technique, blocking all the incoming stones. Then, with a push to Yang Shaorong’s back, he launched himself up to the mountainside along with him.

HUMMM!

Just then, an even stronger wave of force washed over them.

Xuanyuan Jinkang, who had been sent flying up, was now sprawled on the ground, struggling to stand. His face was contorted in pain, as if an immense force was pressing down on him, preventing him from straightening up.

"Argh, Junior Brother, what is this stuff?"

Even Yang Shaorong was caught off guard. Fortunately, he was stronger than Xuanyuan Jinkang and wasn’t in such a pathetic state. He managed to force himself to his feet and continue toward the summit.

"It’s a pressure wave!"

Chu Lingguang released his Spiritual Sense again.

He could see invisible, water-like ripples descending from above, blanketing everyone. Each ripple felt as heavy as a mountain, and under their continuous pressure, an ordinary True Martial Realm expert would never be able to endure it.

"Ahhh!"

Xuanyuan Jinkang wailed on the ground.

Chu Lingguang saw his state. ’If I go over and help him up, he’ll probably just push me away.’ With that thought, he strode forward and kicked Xuanyuan Jinkang squarely in the stomach, sending him flying toward the summit like a rubber ball.

PFFT!

Xuanyuan Jinkang spat out a mouthful of blood in midair before crashing into a tree farther up and rolling onto the stone steps. The crushing pressure vanished. The spot seemed to be a safe zone to recover one’s Qi Power. He lay on the ground, foaming at the mouth with his eyes rolling back as he glared down at Chu Lingguang.

"Senior Brother!"

Chu Lingguang looked at Yang Shaorong.

"Junior Brother, I can make it!"

Yang Shaorong said without hesitation.

He’d rather struggle his way up on his own than get kicked up like Xuanyuan Jinkang. After all, he was Chu Lingguang’s senior brother, not some piece of trash like Xuanyuan Jinkang.

"Alright."

Chu Lingguang didn’t insist. He and Yang Shaorong crossed through the high-pressure zone together. By the time they reached the other side, Xuanyuan Jinkang was also able to walk again.

But this time, he didn’t talk back to Chu Lingguang. He realized that no matter how much he complained, the result was the same: he couldn’t climb Divine Valley Mountain on his own.

If he wanted to enter Yuanchu Mountain, perhaps it was just as Eunuch Liu had said—he needed Chu Lingguang’s help.

So, he obediently followed behind Chu Lingguang.

A while later, another strange disturbance came from further up the mountain. A powerful old man—whose Mental Realm had reached the fourth level, awakening over two hundred responses, and who was just a step away from the Qi Refining realm—was trapped under a tree entwined with vines.

"A bizarre entity?"

Chu Lingguang said in surprise.

He extended his Spiritual Sense and a fog clouded his vision. He saw that the old man was trapped in an Illusion Realm, believing he was merging with the bizarre entity. He thought his power was steadily growing and that he was about to break through to the Qi Refining realm, completely lost in the delusion and unable to escape.

’Did Yuanchu Mountain gather everyone here just to eliminate those who can merge with these bizarre entities?’

Chu Lingguang wondered.

"Junior Brother, what is it?"

Yang Shaorong asked.

"It’s nothing. The next section of the path ahead should be a test of one’s Mental Realm. Be careful, Senior Brother. Don’t be deceived by illusions."

Chu Lingguang warned.

"Got it."

Yang Shaorong nodded.

The three of them then stepped forward together.

Sure enough, the Illusion Realm descended upon them.

Relying on his formidable Sea of Consciousness Power, Chu Lingguang passed through with ease. Both Yang Shaorong and Xuanyuan Jinkang became lost in it. Fortunately, Yang Shaorong’s Mental Realm was strong and he had extensive experience in the Jianghu. Though he struggled, he eventually managed to escape the Illusion Realm on his own.

"Chu Lingguang, I’ve finally beaten you! I’m the chosen one! I’m the one who will enter Yuanchu Mountain! I’m the one my master valued most! You’re nothing in my eyes!"

"I’ll kill you!"

"If it weren’t for you, my master wouldn’t have died!"

"If it weren’t for you, I’d already be cultivating on Yuanchu Mountain!"

"It’s all because of you! All because of you!"

"I am the Martial Champion Scholar! I am a cultivator of Yuanchu Mountain!"

"Chu Lingguang, you bastard!"

Xuanyuan Jinkang was completely lost in the Illusion Realm.

He had finally found the feeling of defeating Chu Lingguang within the illusion. He was trapped deep within it, acting like a madman, punching a rock over and over, not even noticing that his fists were dripping with blood.

Chu Lingguang was stunned by this display.

Only now did he realize just how much Xuanyuan Jinkang hated and envied him.

Perhaps from the very beginning, Xuanyuan Jinkang had never intended to reconcile with him.

Ever since Eunuch Liu had been poisoned by the Celestial Fragrance Powder and lost all his power while saving him, Xuanyuan Jinkang had held a grudge, always wanting to surpass and defeat him.

He wanted to prove that Eunuch Liu hadn’t been wrong about him.

When Eunuch Liu died because of Chu Lingguang, Xuanyuan Jinkang’s desire to win had finally twisted into hatred, which was now on full display in the Illusion Realm.

"Sigh."

Chu Lingguang let out a soft sigh.

He didn’t blame Xuanyuan Jinkang for his hatred. Eunuch Liu had indeed died because of him. Furthermore, Eunuch Liu had always admired him and had high hopes for him from the start. ’If I were in his shoes,’ Chu Lingguang thought, ’I probably wouldn’t be able to stand it either.’

However, while Chu Lingguang could understand Xuanyuan Jinkang and let go of his hatred, Yang Shaorong at his side could not.

"Dammit, I’ll beat you to death, you ungrateful bastard!"

"My junior brother saves you and helps you, and you want to kill him!"

"Dammit! Forget about climbing Yuanchu Mountain, you probably have trouble just climbing into bed!"

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

"I’ll kill you, you ungrateful bastard!"

"I’ll kill you, you idiot who can’t tell friend from foe!"

Yang Shaorong dragged Xuanyuan Jinkang out of his trance, pinned him to the ground, and unleashed a flurry of Turtle Fist, his fists raining down on Xuanyuan Jinkang’s face.

They were both True Martial Realm experts, but Yang Shaorong’s power was greater. If he hadn’t been holding back, Xuanyuan Jinkang would have been beaten to death right then and there.

Even so, Yang Shaorong beat him until he was dizzy and his nose was bleeding, leaving him gasping for breath on the ground.

Fortunately, Chu Lingguang pulled Yang Shaorong away at the critical moment and explained, "Senior Brother, the history between me and Xuanyuan is complicated. This is something I owe him."

"I heard about what happened with Eunuch Liu. You can’t take all the blame. If this bastard had any promise, why would Eunuch Liu have had to suffer with him on Black Bear Island? It’s because this bastard’s ambition outstripped his ability that Eunuch Liu ended up dying in a foreign land!"

Yang Shaorong couldn’t help but curse.

Those words pierced Xuanyuan Jinkang like daggers. His twisted expression finally broke, and he collapsed onto the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

Just as Yang Shaorong had said, Xuanyuan Jinkang knew in his heart that he couldn’t blame Chu Lingguang for Eunuch Liu’s death. The main reason he resented Chu Lingguang was to avoid facing his own failures.

He also knew that if he had been exceptionally talented, Eunuch Liu wouldn’t have had to worry about him entering Yuanchu Mountain, nor would he have followed him to suffer on Black Bear Island.

He wouldn’t have had to call in such a huge one of Chu Lingguang’s Favors, all just to get him into Yuanchu Mountain. In the end, neither Eunuch Liu nor Chu Lingguang owed him anything.

"Xuanyuan, it’s getting late. Let’s head up to Yuanchu Mountain together."

Chu Lingguang said, crouching down beside him.

Xuanyuan Jinkang’s face was covered in blood. He peeked at Chu Lingguang through the gaps between his fingers. Seeing that Chu Lingguang didn’t blame him, he lowered his head, wiped away his tears, quickly composed himself, and took the lead, heading up the mountain.

BOOM!

Unfortunately, another special wave of force was waiting for him. He was too weak. After just two steps, he was blasted backward again.

Chu Lingguang reached out and caught him. He extended his Spiritual Sense forward once more and discovered a sword embedded in the path ahead—a sword capable of releasing waves of Spiritual Power. An ordinary True Martial Realm expert would have no hope of passing this trial. Even Yang Shaorong might not be able to make it!