Chapter 62: Spear Technique Breakthrough to the Second Tier

Two days later, in the Red Realm Arena.

"Clang, clang!"

Two figures engaged in a ferocious clash across the specially-wrought stone ground, blurring with sword light and spear shadows. The violent collision of weapons scattered brilliant showers of sparks.

A formidable, robust figure moved with the predatory grace of a crocodile, wielding a blade technique that threatened to swallow his opponent whole.

Unconstrained and swift, the blade light was fierce, slashing outward like a tempest in an instant.

He slit his opponent's throat, reducing him to nothingness that dissipated across the arena.

[Yang Jian, we regret to inform you that you have died.]

In his personal space, Lin Qi materialized. His furrowed brow remained tight for a moment before finally smoothing out.

"Lost again. Without mastering a Tier 2 spear technique, it's still impossible to claim victory against a true expert."

"What a pity. I feel like I was just a hair's breadth away."

Lin Qi quickly analyzed the battle in his mind. He had hit a bit of a bottleneck; his spear technique had not progressed for three or four days.

This left him feeling rather unaccustomed to it.

***

The next day, in the classroom.

Zhang Cheng shook his head as Lin Qi came to seek his guidance:

"You rascal, your spear technique is clearly still at Tier 1, yet you managed to defeat an opponent from Songbai High School who wields a Tier 2 blade technique. You truly are a genius."

With that, he raised a sturdy, muscular arm, lifting a heavy spear as he began to explain:

"Regarding the classification of spear techniques, Tier 1 is also known as the foundational stage. The spear movements are standardized, allowing basic drills like blocking, parrying, and thrusting to be forged into muscle memory, even becoming instinct."

"At this stage, the spear technique can be executed smoothly in combat, though the application of force remains rough. Continuous training and increased familiarity are all that's required."

"Tier 2 spear technique is also known as the mastery stage."

"Not only must one be proficient in every movement and stance of a Black Iron-tier manual, but the execution of the spear technique must also be coherent and seamless—flowing like moving clouds and running water, completely unconstrained, with clever application of force."

"At Tier 2 martial proficiency, the difficulty of mastering the three ultimate moves of a Black Iron-tier manual drops significantly."

Listening intently, Lin Qi nodded repeatedly, as if grasping something profound. He had zeroed in on a key phrase: *application of force*.

"Swish, swish!"

As he finished speaking, Zhang Cheng brandished his long spear, the transitions between his forms smooth and unbroken.

The spear and the man were fused into one cohesive entity. Although his execution speed was not particularly fast, it was exceptionally fluid, leaving virtually no flaws to exploit.

Lin Qi watched with gleaming eyes. The more he observed Zhang Cheng wield the spear, the more profound it appeared.

"In a Tier 2 spear technique, a thrust should be like a venomous snake emerging from its cave—swift and precise, hitting the opponent's vital points with absolute accuracy."

"When parrying upward, the power travels seamlessly from the legs through the waist into the arms in a single breath, capable of knocking away an enemy's weapon or incoming attack and easily neutralizing the offensive."

"When sweeping, the arms are agile and flexible, like a whirlwind..."

Zhang Cheng explained as he demonstrated.

"Lin Qi, once you can achieve what I just described, your Tier 2 spear technique will be complete."

"The most crucial aspect of a Tier 2 spear technique is the application of force—fully mobilizing the major muscle groups of your limbs and torso, much like boxing."

"However, the difficulty is much higher because you must channel that power through a long spear. It takes much more effort to make the spear obey you as naturally as your own arm."

Lin Qi nodded incessantly as he listened, countless ideas surging through his mind.

"I understand, Teacher Zhang!"

***

After expressing his thanks, Lin Qi turned and left.

Zhang Cheng nodded to himself. "Not bad. I merely offered a casual hint, and he caught on instantly."

Returning to his martial arts chamber, Lin Qi gripped his training spear and whipped it forward with sudden force.

Starting from the foundational spear techniques: blocking, parrying, thrusting, shattering, cleaving, stabbing, lifting...

He quieted his mind to earnestly perceive the state of force generation within his muscle fibers.

"Swish, swish!"

The spear shaft whipped through the air as the tip vibrated, shooting forward in a continuous barrage.

Transitioning from the *Foundational Spear Technique* to the *Mountain-Shattering Spear Technique*.

Lin Qi's aura shifted dramatically. He lashed out with his spear, carrying a majestic momentum that billowed outward like ocean waves, tyrannical power bursting forth from his muscles.

The more familiar Lin Qi became with his spearplay, the smoother the transitions between moves grew, encountering fewer and fewer obstructions.

The moment the spear technique was executed, a vast number of muscle groups fired simultaneously, channeling their collective force into the spear. It struck like a venomous viper leaving its den—swift and precise.

In that fraction of a second, Lin Qi's gaze locked onto a single, translucent bead of sweat flying through the air.

He thrust his spear forward abruptly, piercing the air and cleaving through the void.

"Puff!"

The spear tip pierced the droplet of sweat with absolute perfection, sending a tiny spray outward.

[Through practicing your spear technique, your spear mastery has increased significantly. Breakthrough to Tier 2! Spear Technique +3%]

[Through practicing your spear technique, your movement agility mastery has increased significantly. Movement Agility +2%]

[You have completed an effective training session. Template Synchronization +0.1%]

[Spear Technique: Tier 1 99% → Tier 2 2%]

[Movement Agility: Tier 1 91% → 93%]

[Template: True Lord of Erlang · Yang Jian]

[Synchronization Rate: 7.9% → 8.0%]

***

Lin Qi withdrew his spear, immediately feeling the lingering sensation of his breakthrough before checking his attribute panel.

With his spear technique finally breaking through to Tier 2, Lin Qi could distinctly feel that wielding the weapon had become smoother, granting him a superior grasp over every single movement.

Of course, the most critical improvement was his comprehension of force generation; the way his muscles generated power was no longer crude.

The application of force had become refined and fluid, allowing him to unleash even greater might with his spear technique.

Finally, Lin Qi's gaze shifted to his template talent.

"Ever since the synchronization rate crossed 5%, every single percent increase has become drastically harder."

As he thought this, he felt a familiar wave of pain radiating from his muscles, tendons, and bones—the physical transmutation was beginning once again.

"My talent is growing increasingly terrifying now. Every 1% increase represents a monumental leap."

While enduring the pain, snippets of information flooded his consciousness.

His thoughts expanded as he gained numerous insights. Every 1% increase in synchronization rate was a massive enhancement.

And every 10% was a major threshold; future improvements to his template talent would grow increasingly exaggerated.

To quantify it numerically, perhaps at 10%, every 1% increase yielded 10 units of improvement.

At 20%, every 1% would be 100 units; at 30%, 1,000 units; at 40%, 10,000 units...

Even now, reaching 10% was likely enough to grant him the pinnacle of human talent.

At 20%, or even higher, the enhancements would be infinitely more horrifying.

"Hoo~"

Lin Qi clenched his fists. The pain only made his eyes burn brighter. To elevate his talent, what was a little bit of pain?

It also filled him with anticipation. With talent this potent, awakening special abilities before reaching the Seventh Realm was entirely possible.

***

Time flew by. As the mid-term examinations drew closer, students across all major high schools grew increasingly anxious.

Every day, countless martial arts students worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, shedding sweat and blood, striving solely to squeeze out a few extra points on the exams.

Mid-term examinations: November 10th.

Inside the elite class classroom, the only sounds were the rustle of turning pages and pens scratching across test papers.

Lin Qi answered the questions swiftly, his gaze scanning like a radar as his pen moved with divine fluency.

As more and more of his time was poured into martial arts, he could only manage enough effort in academic subjects to ensure his grades didn't slip.

Even so, he remained the top-ranked student in academics for his grade.

"Ring-a-ling!"

"Time is up. Everyone stop writing."

The exam concluded. The proctor collected the test papers, and once finished, all the students were dismissed.

"Brother Qi, let's go grab some food. The martial arts testing is right after!" Jiang Tao pulled out a mental-focus potion and chugged it down.

"Alright!" Lin Qi likewise downed a vial of mental-focus potion and headed toward the cafeteria alongside Jiang Tao.

***

One hour later, in the martial arts classroom.

"What kind of machine is this? I've never seen it before!"

A multitude of students gathered around a massive white, cylindrical machine embedded with two mechanical arms, its top fitted with a clear electronic display screen.

Lin Qi looked at the machine with curiosity as well; it was his first time seeing it too.

"Quiet!"

A resonant voice rang out from the doorway, instantly silencing the classroom.

Zhang Cheng strode into the room leading two others, walking with large strides right up to the group of students.

He stepped into the middle of the crowd, patted the new apparatus, and spoke:

"Traditional blood-energy measurements relied on calculating a student's punching power and speed through models."

"However, some students possess punching power and speed that far exceed the norm. That method carries a large margin of error, consumes too much time and effort, and has now been phased out."

"This is the latest technological achievement from our Blue Star—the Blood-Energy Detector. It can accurately measure anyone's blood-energy level with an accuracy rate of up to 99%."

"From now on, all major assessments will utilize the Blood-Energy Detector directly."

At Zhang Cheng's words, many students' eyes lit up. It was that convenient?

"The examination officially begins now. I'll call out names, and you will come up for testing."

"First, Xu Chenhui!"