Martial Artist: Stronger by Coasting Along-Chapter 281 - 63: Status, King of North of the River
Ling Feng also, at this moment, burst through with bloodline power and the Wind of the Five Elements, swiftly dashing past the yak, running out of the canyon.
As someone with a combat power of 542.0 and physical fitness close to 200.0, the alien creatures in the canyon posed no threat to him whatsoever.
He unsurprisingly took first place in the second round, successfully advancing to the third round.
"Hmph, Ao Dagang, what do you mean by this?"
Wu Feng was furious.
Ling Feng had eliminated Wu Taishan with a single move, stripping the Wu Family of their chance to obtain the Divine Vein Liquid. Without it, Wu Taishan’s awakening of the Divine Bull Bloodline would be much more difficult.
"Mr. Wu, please calm down. Ling Feng has always been rebellious. I didn’t expect him to show no regard for me either, so I apologize for that."
Ao Dagang explained.
"Return the gifts our Wu Family gave him."
Wu Feng demanded angrily.
"You don’t take back gifts once given, especially since Ling Feng has already used them."
Ao Dagang chuckled.
"Mr. Wu, it’s better to resolve enmity than to keep it going. The matter has come to this point, so let’s just consider it a favor to Ling Feng. Everyone in South City will be grateful to your Wu Family."
Wang Dashan advised.
"I hope Mr. Wu is generous."
Marquis Zhuge agreed.
"You..."
Wu Feng was furious.
Yet he was helpless.
...
In the Jiangbei Royal Mansion.
Ao Dagang stood beside a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man was reading a document, then put it down, looking seriously at Ao Dagang and asked, "Are you confident that Ling Feng can advance to the second round in the national exam?"
"I am."
Ao Dagang replied without hesitation.
"Old Six, it’s not that I’m doubting you, I also have a suitable candidate."
Beside Ao Dagang stood an elder with a golden crown on his head; it seemed Ao Dagang was ranked sixth here.
"Ling Feng will take first in the provincial exam, and in the national exam, as long as the province provides some resource support, I believe he can advance to the second round and break the Jiangbei Province record."
Ao Dagang confidently declared.
"Every province can send five representatives to participate. Although Ling Feng’s strength is not weak, his foundation is too thin. Pinning all our hopes on him alone is too risky. Moreover, my disciple, Ming Cheng, has already developed spiritual power and might awaken a spiritual realm during the national exam, so all resources should go to him."
The elder smiled.
"Third Brother’s disciple is indeed excellent. I dare not expect all resources within the province to go to Ling Feng, just hoping that Big Brother can allocate a portion to him, allowing him to give it a try."
Ao Dagang said.
"Tomorrow’s last round of the competition is arranged to take place at the provincial government. Let me see Ling Feng’s abilities with my own eyes. If he is truly as outstanding as you say, Old Six, perhaps half of the resources could be allocated to him."
The middle-aged man stated.
"Yes."
Ao Dagang nodded.
The elder did not dare to protest.
In front of the middle-aged man, even united, they were no match for him.
...
"King of North of the River wants to watch my match?"
Ling Feng was astonished.
"Every year, the participants in the national exam include appointed spots, and the provincial exam selection is only one pathway. Ming Cheng is my Third Brother’s closed-door disciple, trained under him from a young age with abundant cultivation resources. Now, not only has he developed spiritual power, but he also awakened intermediate bloodline power, possessing the Five Elements Water Python Power, with a combat power near 600.0. Even my Big Brother holds high expectations for him."
Ao Dagang said solemnly.
"This is a good thing, indicating that our Jiangbei Province has been doing well with resource support over the years, and talents are emerging from various places. If this time two could enter the second round, the support will only increase."
Wang Dashan commented.
"My Third Brother’s intention is to allocate all resources to Ming Cheng, helping him form a spiritual realm before the national exam, giving him a chance to impact the third round."
Ao Dagang stated.
"What?"
Everyone was caught off guard.
"How can that be, with Ling Feng being so outstanding, South City just needs an opportunity."
Wang Dashan could not accept it.
"This matter cannot be agreed upon."
Marquis Zhuge was resolute.
"This decision isn’t up to us."
Old Deng was very rational.
For a moment, everyone looked at Ao Dagang.
"In tomorrow’s third round of competition, you not only need to secure first place but also achieve an overwhelming victory. Only then will the King of North of the River recognize you. Additionally..."
Ao Dagang spoke seriously.
"What else?"
Ling Feng was confused.
"You also need a title, akin to Ming Cheng’s."
Ao Dagang said.
"Oh?"
Ling Feng furrowed his brows, then looked at Ao Dagang with delight after thinking about it.
"Master Ao!"
Wang Dashan was overjoyed.
Marquis Zhuge and the others all looked at Ao Dagang expectantly.
Old Deng hesitated to speak, realizing that Ao Dagang intended to take Ling Feng as a disciple, leaving him without a chance.
"You all leave first, let me have a chat with Ling Feng."
Ao Dagang said.
"Ling Feng, you know who Master Ao is, don’t act recklessly."
Marquis Zhuge reminded Ling Feng before leaving.
After a while, everyone was gone.
Facing Ling Feng, Ao Dagang released a spiritual domain, making Ling Feng feel as if he were wrapped in an invisible force, as if every move he made was under Ao Dagang’s control.
It was like being stuck in a quagmire; all his strength seemed controlled by Ao Dagang, even the pulse of his mental telekinesis.
In this layer of spiritual domain, he felt like a lone boat in the ocean, always on the verge of capsizing, under Ao Dagang’s mere thought.
Previously witnessing Ao Dagang slay the Catfish Demon Queen in her nest, Ling Feng knew how powerful Ao Dagang was.
But only now, trapped in the spiritual domain, did Ling Feng realize how terrifying Ao Dagang truly was.
He not only felt his own dharma aspect, bloodline, and even mental telekinesis pulse, were imprisoned by Ao Dagang’s spiritual domain, but even his breathing seemed controlled.
"Ling Feng, are you willing to be my disciple?"
Ao Dagang asked.
The voice, driven by the spiritual domain, resounded like thundering skies, continuously pounding with such strong momentum, permeating into Ling Feng, making him not dare to refuse.
Yet, under the allure of the Coasting Along Value, Ling Feng still held a sliver of hope.
He realized Ao Dagang’s domain was so strong it could control his thoughts, making him want to agree, but how could he agree.
He couldn’t outright refuse.
It felt as if his mouth was being gripped by someone.
He stammered.
And so, he tried to shake his head.
Yet, his body, wrapped by the domain power, was unable to move.
Is this the domain of a spiritual powerhouse?
Is it beyond the perfection of the eighth layer dharma aspect, above the Dantian Sea of Qi?
Ling Feng harbored many doubts.
But at this moment, the strongest thought supported him, making him want to say no to Ao Dagang.
"If you become my disciple, I can guide you to form a spiritual domain, making you one of the top in Jiangbei Province."
Ao Dagang added.
Ling Feng’s eyes widened gradually.
"Becoming my disciple, is it unacceptable, I’ll ask again, are you willing?"
Ao Dagang asked again.
The voice was assertive, as if waves surged in the domain, causing Ling Feng’s chest to ache continuously.
"I...do...not...wish...to!"
Ling Feng stammered, word by word, and after uttering the last word, he collapsed to the ground like a deflated balloon.
Ao Dagang closed his eyes and withdrew the spiritual domain at this moment.
His mouth twitched with reluctance and anger, but ultimately turned into a hearty laugh, laughing heartily, "Well, worthy of being the one I, Ao Dagang, looked up to, truly impressive."
Ling Feng’s ability to maintain his inner thoughts under the interference of Ao Dagang’s spiritual domain without compromising, precisely indicated that Ling Feng had the potential to become a powerful spiritual martial artist.
Ao Dagang felt joyful for Ling Feng emerging in South City. Though he felt regret not taking Ling Feng as a disciple, he accepted the reality, knowing that things cannot be forced.
