"Thank you for the reminder, My Lord."
Chu Lingguang said, clasping his fist.
His gaze was a little dazed. He had managed to hold the long spear tight not by brute-forcing against its pull, but because a strange sensation had appeared in his body. His Qi Blood seed to boil in unison with the long spear, unconsciously dissipating the force of the impact.
He felt as if he had grasped the knack of it.
Unfortunately, the feeling was fleeting.
Chu Lingguang wanted to use it again but couldn’t figure out the trick. He could only make a ntal note of it, planning to ask that teacher at the academy what had happened.
"You two are both skilled in the Spear Technique, each with your own subtleties. I recall that Bao Zhenhai’s Life-taking Linked Spear is renowned for being like ’a strong wind sweeping away fallen leaves, yet not a single leaf touches the body’."
"WHOOSH!"
Feng Junyi tossed his longsword to a Martial Artist and took a Long Spear from another. In front of Lin Longde, he demonstrated the Life-taking Linked Spear.
Lin Longde was astonished.
He strained his eyes to watch closely while listening to Feng Junyi’s instruction.
Bao Zhenhai was his master, the very sa retired Military General. It seed Feng Junyi had t his master before.
"Back in the day, Master Guo was taking Captain Yang to Jin City for the Martial Arts Examination when they were ambushed by traitors from the Divine Arrow Army. With his Flying Leaf Lotus Spear, he was able to fend off even the Three-Star Linked Pearls of the Divine Arrow Skill. He beca famous after that one battle. It’s a pity Master Guo’s heart isn’t in a political career; otherwise, with that Spear Technique, he could have easily opened a Martial Arts Hall in Longdu Prefecture."
After instructing Lin Longde, Feng Junyi brought up Guo Wei.
In front of Chu Lingguang, he demonstrated the Flying Leaf Lotus Spear.
Chu Lingguang had seen Guo Wei perform this Spear Technique before at the foot of Cyan Cloud Mountain. A lotus flower had fallen from the sky, and Guo Wei had flicked away all eighteen of its petals in an instant.
Back then, he had just started learning the Spear Technique.
Chu Lingguang had only thought Master Guo’s skill was miraculous and didn’t realize how powerful the Flying Leaf Lotus Spear truly was. Now, as Feng Junyi demonstrated it, although it was plenty lethal, it was still a far cry from Guo Wei’s.
Guo Wei’s Spear Technique had truly reached the realm of the Shadow-Following Form.
Not even the Three-Star Linked Pearls of the Divine Arrow Skill could break through his defense, which showed just how fast his Spear Technique was. What’s more, Guo Wei had also mastered the state of Unity of Man and Gun, allowing him to borrow the power of the Canal to enhance his Spear Technique’s might.
Chu Lingguang didn’t know what Guo Wei’s point of resonance with the Long Spear was, but since Guo Wei could freely channel the power of the Canal while practicing on the deck of a boat, he surely could also harness the power of his surroundings on land, bringing his Spear Technique to a state of perfection.
He didn’t know just how strong Guo Wei truly was.
But even an examiner-in-chief like Feng Junyi spoke of Guo Wei with imnse respect, calling him "Master Guo" repeatedly. Compared to how he addressed Bao Zhenhai by his full na, it was clear that Guo Wei’s strength had earned his complete recognition.
Therefore, when he spoke of Guo Wei and gave Chu Lingguang pointers on his Spear Technique, Feng Junyi was more conservative and cautious than he was with Lin Longde, as if afraid he might teach Chu Lingguang incorrectly.
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Feng."
At the end, Chu Lingguang and Lin Longde knelt on one knee before Feng Junyi.
Both of them now held official ranks.
When eting an official of the Court, they no longer needed to perform a full kowtow. However, Feng Junyi had given them guidance on their training, which would affect their results in the Martial Arts Examination. This was a Favor that could be considered either large or small, and neither Chu Lingguang nor Lin Longde dared to take it lightly.
"Rise. We still have three days by water and two days over the mountains to reach Jin City. During this ti, if you have any questions about your training, you can both co to ."
Feng Junyi said seriously.
"Thank you, My Lord!"
Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu’s expressions brightened, and they quickly bowed to Feng Junyi again.
Both of them knew that it was a tradition for Military Officers to promote newcors and guide examinees in their training. This was a kind of investnt in Favors.
Historically, the top ten candidates of the Martial Arts Examination were always given such opportunities.
Chu Lingguang and Lin Longde were top-three candidates, whose futures seed limitless in the eyes of ordinary people. This might not necessarily be the case in Feng Junyi’s eyes, but giving them a few pointers during their several days of travel could provide a return of Favors that would help his own political career if the two succeeded.
At the very least, he could bring the two of them into his fold.
Even if Chu Lingguang and Lin Longde were to fail later on, they would rember these five days of travel and Feng Junyi’s careful instruction with gratitude. Therefore, for Feng Junyi, this transaction of Favors was all gain and no loss.
The sa was true for Chu Lingguang and Lin Longde.
If they succeeded in the future, these five days of guidance would be part of the reason for their success. They could then use this connection to further their relationship with Feng Junyi.
This was especially true for Chu Lingguang.
He was different now. He had a rank to his na—even if it was only a Martial Scholar—so in the give-and-take of Favors, he no longer had to be as timid and cautious as before.
In the future, he would have plenty of ways to repay Feng Junyi’s kindness.
And he would gain Favor Points in return.
Besides, Feng Junyi was known to be just and impartial, so Chu Lingguang didn’t have to worry that this Favor would one day be used to force him to do sothing against his conscience.
So, for the next few days on the road, Chu Lingguang and Lin Longde both seized this rare opportunity, asking Feng Junyi about everything they couldn’t figure out.
Chu Lingguang got straight to the point, asking, "My Lord, my master said that the Unity of Man and Gun is about finding one’s own point of resonance. I am too foolish to grasp it, but could you tell what my point of resonance might be?"
"That’s impossible to answer. Never mind ; not even Master Guo could tell you."
Feng Junyi smiled and shook his head.
The questions Lin Longde had asked over the past few days were mostly things like, "My Lord, how can my Life-taking Linked Spear break through Chu Lingguang’s Spear Technique?" or, "My Lord, what are Chu Lingguang’s weaknesses?" and questions about the application of Skillful Force.
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