SWISH—

With a flash, Lin Wei’s projection warped from outside the barrier to the inside. A Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear materialized in his hand. He held it upright at his right side, the top of its shaft extending over a foot above his head.

The match hadn’t officially begun, and a clamor erupted from the stands outside the barrier. Thousands of gazes gathered like fireflies converging into a lantern.

He stood ten paces from Jiang Qiu, like the Giant Spirit God guarding the South Celestial Gate, allowing none to pass into Yunxiao Hall. His aura was naturally imposing, and his voice boomed, "I was born with a [Martial Arts Talent]. I mastered all three types of Strength of the Ancient Martial Spear Technique in just three days, fusing them into Momentum. Three years ago, I built upon that foundation to comprehend the [Moon Ascending Slash].

I thought my Talent was unmatched among our peers, until I met you. Your [Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven], which centers on Spear Stance, is truly extraordinary.

It’s a whole lot stronger than my [Moon Ascending Slash] was three years ago."

Lin Wei smiled faintly, a hint of admiration in his eyes, and said with keen interest, "In that case, unleash your full power. Let me see just how strong the Horizontal Training genius with a Talent surpassing even Yang Zheng’s truly is."

Jiang Qiu narrowed his eyes to meet his gaze as the sounds from outside the arena faded like a receding tide. He pressed the tip of his spear diagonally against the steel floor.

The young man ten paces away was the most promising prodigy among this year’s students from Gao Yuan City. His left hand was held in a loose fist, while his right gripped the spear. His exposed arms were even more defined than those of the training partner who had just been obliterated, his chest was broader, and his lats were more expansive.

But he lacked the unbridled arrogance of the previous training partner. His round, dark eyes revealed no sharp edge, yet his Spirit Charm radiated acuity.

Like a tiger descending South Mountain, all he saw were cats and mice.

His gaze was naturally oppressive. ’Perhaps this is the result of mastering the Steel Bone Realm.’

At this thought, Jiang Qiu took a light breath. A cool sensation slid into his lungs, tempering the fire in his heart. "After this match, the overall rankings will be pretty much set, won’t they?"

"Correct. The most precious portion of the Demon Blood Fragrance has been refined. Its ownership will come down to one of us. Rather than drag this out for another half a month, we might as well settle who’s superior right now."

Lin Wei swung his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear, tracing a silver crescent through the air. The muscles on his arm bulged like serpents, and his fighting spirit soared.

"Fine."

Jiang Qiu twisted the shaft of his spear slightly, and its tip flashed with a cold light.

[Exhibition Match—Begin!]

The instant the announcement faded, Lin Wei’s figure vanished. The afterimage he left behind scattered on the wind as an impossibly cold glint of light tore through the air—as if Lü Bu himself were casually swinging his Fangtian Halberd down at a common foot soldier!

BA-DUMP!

Jiang Qiu’s heart plunged. The hair on his body stood on end. In the same instant his pupils contracted, he activated [Shadow Stepping], and the world-cleaving blade slashed down, passing right in front of the bridge of his nose.

BOOM—

Having retreated ten paces in an instant, Jiang Qiu held his spear horizontally to block. His arms bent sharply, veins bulging, as an invisible Strength of ten thousand tons pressed down, making the spear shaft hum and tremble. THUD, THUD, THUD, he was forced back three steps.

The Qi Blood in his body surged and buzzed, as if he were a great bell that had been struck by an iron hammer.

’Lin Wei’s mastery of Strength is no less profound than my own Spear Stance.’

’So this is the so-called [Martial Arts Talent]!’

Jiang Qiu drew a sharp, cold breath, his eyes fixed on Lin Wei, who was slowly retracting his spear. A draft slipped under his black shirt, caressing his cold, sweat-dampened back.

’He knows the [Shadow Stepping] Body Technique, so it’s hard to create a gap in speed. He possesses a one-in-ten-thousand [Martial Arts Talent], making me slightly inferior when our blades clash. His Realm is one stage higher, allowing him to unleash stronger Qi Blood.’

’It seems there are too many areas where I fall short right now. Am I just a glowing stone from the countryside, destined to be outshone by a piece of uncut jade from the city?’

’But so what if I can’t match him? The path of Martial Arts is no place for cowards.’

’A Spear Stance is all about pressing forward. Even the Retreating Horse Spear is executed with the intent to kill, free of regret!’

A sudden rush of hot blood surged through Jiang Qiu’s heart, like a summer heatwave scattering the winter chill. He fluidly twirled his Double Arc Blade Spear, the flourish ending with the tip pointed directly at Lin Wei.

’When I killed that Demon Plant, I had only just entered the Iron Flesh Realm. When I faced King Niu, I had just entered the Steel Bone Realm. Now, the gap is only a single minor stage. What is there to be afraid of?’

’I wouldn’t fear a true battle to the death, and this is just a match between projections.’

’Let these thousands of witnesses see my unrelenting Spear Stance!’

"Good. To have trained [Shadow Stepping] to such a level, and to possess such a Spear Stance... your potential is no less than mine." Lin Wei’s gaze darkened, and his figure flickered, vanishing from his spot. "But I will be the one to win this round."

A mighty voice pressed down from the sky. Jiang Qiu looked up just in time to see the silhouette of a crimson moon. A full moon formed of Qi Blood, more than ten meters in diameter, was reflected high on the hundred-meter dome. Lin Wei held his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear aloft with one hand, looking like a celestial god ascending past the moon.

HUMMMMM...

In that instant, Jiang Qiu felt as if a ten-thousand-ton weight was pressing down on his head. His back straightened, a pillar supporting the heavens, while his black shirt and pants strained as if screaming to escape his frame.

The move was unavoidable, like a mouse spotted by a hawk. It was also incredibly difficult to block, just as one’s neck cannot withstand the edge of a blade.

"After three years of refinement and transformation on my travels, I can now use this [Moon Ascending Slash] to fight Top Tier Demon Beasts! If your [Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven] can withstand this attack, I will acknowledge you as number one on the Spear Skill rankings!"

The brilliant, oppressive might flooded the entire barrier, making the hundred-meter radius feel like the depths of the ocean. Crimson light illuminated every corner. The young man hovering in the air knitted his brow, and the veins on his right arm bulged.

BOOM—

The Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear sliced down. Lin Wei’s figure vanished, and in the blink of an eye, the crimson moon flipped vertically. A blinding sliver of red light seemed to cleave the barrier in two, searing itself into the eyes of every prodigy and non-commissioned officer watching.

The instantaneous [Moon Ascending Slash] stunned the thousands of onlookers. Liu Qi clenched his fists, his jaw tight.

Lin Xiao, however, merely smiled, his hands still clasped behind his back.

Over the past three years, to help Lin Wei forge the perfect Jade Sinews, they had scoured the Northern Secret Realm and the Chaotic Market, Inland Jiangnan and the Capital City. He had killed untold numbers of Demon Beasts and battled countless prodigies.

The [Moon Ascending Slash] had already undergone a transformation. In the hands of Lin Wei, who was at the Half-Step Jade Sinew Realm, it could now heavily injure even some Demon Beasts that had just entered the Top Tier!

"It’s over."

As Executive Committee Member Lin Xiao’s soft murmur faded, a resonant CLANG erupted from within the barrier. Lin Wei’s blade struck the very tip of Jiang Qiu’s spear, pressing down like a hammer on a nail.

In that moment, Jiang Qiu’s jaw was clamped shut, his muscles twisting and contorting. Qi Blood surged into his arms like a water drop tossed into a sea of fire. His wide eyes, reflecting the crimson-wreathed Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear, glowed red.

’Whenever spear blades clash, it always comes down to a contest of Strength.’

’But Lin Wei’s Momentum is just like my Spear Stance—unstoppable. The difference in our power is like a meteor crashing into a boulder.’

’If this were a real battle, I could die!’

’And if I could die, then I have to give it everything I’ve got!’

[Life and Death Drill x1]

[Spear Dao Transformation]

[Powerful Penetration → Momentum]

A muscle in Jiang Qiu’s cheek twitched. Under the effect of [Blood Circulation], his already-raging Qi Blood was instantly squeezed into his arms. It was as if a reservoir had been drained dry, leaving the bones in his limbs and torso feeling as sharp and honed as blades.

The [Powerful Penetration] required to unleash [Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven] had transformed into [Momentum]. A higher level of comprehension of Spear Skills flooded Jiang Qiu’s mind!

ROAR—

A Dragon’s Roar erupted!