Chapter 149: I Can Learn from You?

"What? Spear... Spear Intent?" Wang Chong swayed, barely managing to avoid fainting on the spot.

"Is this for real? How can you use Spear Intent, and so purely?" His mind reeled in shock. Seeing Zhang Xuan's embarrassed expression almost made him spit out a mouthful of blood.

"Embarrassed? What's there to be embarrassed about?" he thought. "Seriously, this isn't funny. Didn't you say you'd never learned spear techniques? That you didn't even know what they were? I've been learning spear techniques since I was eight, immersing myself in them for over forty years, and I'm still a long way from reaching Spear Intent. Come here and explain how you have such profound Spear Intent! Didn't you say you didn't know what Spear Intent was? What in the world is this?" Tears streamed down Wang Chong's face.

"This is just playing with people!" He found it laughable that he had just righteously lectured the other person, saying he wouldn't understand no matter how much was explained, that it would all be in vain. "Where did he get that confidence from? It should be *me* who doesn't understand, shouldn't it?" He wished for a crack in the ground to immediately disappear into.

"This is Spear Intent?" Ouyang Cheng also looked utterly bewildered. His old friend had managed to conjure a bit of Spear Intent, sweating profusely and panting as if constipated for days. Yet, this fellow had done it effortlessly, as simply as eating and drinking. "Are *you* the spear master, or is Wang Chong?" he wondered.

"You... didn't you say you hadn't learned any spear techniques?" Ouyang Cheng couldn't help but ask. Wang Chong also eagerly looked at Zhang Xuan, wanting to hear his explanation.

"I really hadn't learned any before!" Zhang Xuan replied truthfully.

"You haven't learned it, so how do you possess such profound Spear Intent?" Wang Chong was on the verge of madness. "You, who hasn't learned spear techniques, produce such powerful Spear Intent on your first try, while I've been studying every day, barely getting by. Are you saying all my years of practice have been wasted?"

"Oh, I was just reading in the study earlier," Zhang Xuan thought for a moment and explained. "I had a sudden insight and felt that practicing spear techniques in that state was most comfortable. So I just did it unintentionally, without realizing that was Spear Intent!" He wasn't pretending to be ignorant. The books in the room only contained basic spear techniques and didn't mention Spear Intent at all. He had merely, by chance, imbued the Heavenly Dao Spear Technique formed from those books with this quality. As for how to use Spear Intent or what benefits it offered to spear practitioners, he was completely clueless.

Tears welled up in Wang Chong's eyes. "You say it as if it's as simple as eating and drinking. Do you know how much effort I've put in and still haven't achieved it? For over a decade, I've honed myself, even venturing into barren lands, enduring bitter cold and scorching heat to strengthen my resolve, but I've never succeeded. Yet, you just casually mention 'comfort' and 'unintentionally'... and you achieve it! My heart, my lungs, my youth!" Wang Chong felt that if there were a large pit in front of him, he would immediately jump in and bury himself alive. "Could you please stop demoralizing people like this?"

"If you had said you'd put in hard work, trained day and night, and then had an accidental breakthrough, I might feel a little better. But you just read for a little while, at most an hour, and then... then you broke through... The most crucial part is that you weren't even reading some profound secret manual, just the most basic spear techniques..." If this news got out, it would undoubtedly make every spear master in the entire Royal City die of shame.

"Wang Chong, people's talents really are different," Ouyang Cheng couldn't help but console his disheartened old friend, who had clearly been deeply affected. "Perhaps Grandmaster Zhang... is simply born with a natural talent for spear techniques!"

"Alright, I guess that's the only way to look at it!" As expected of a spear master, his mind was tempered like steel. Although dejected, he quickly adjusted his mindset. Just as he was about to speak, the young man's curious voice rang out again.

"You said I comprehended Spear Intent, but what use is Spear Intent?"

Wang Chong's body swayed again, as he fought to control his nearly shattered composure. "Spear Intent is the comprehension of the spear, signifying that one has made the spear an extension of their arm. In this state, any spontaneous movement is a spear technique; it's the manifestation of spear practice reaching a certain realm!"

"Any spontaneous movement is a spear technique?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. "That's wonderful! If my student can also comprehend Spear Intent, he's sure to win the competition!" Since Spear Intent was so powerful, it seemed he should go back and teach Zheng Yang well, enabling him to also achieve this state of mind. This way, even without advanced spear techniques, Zheng Yang would be invincible.

"You want your student to comprehend it too?" Wang Chong trembled. "Spear Intent is an individual's understanding of spear techniques. Do you think everyone is as abnormal as you, able to break through just by reading a book?" He wanted to dissuade Zhang Xuan from this ignorant idea but didn't know how to begin.

"Oh, right, I just comprehended a spear technique while reading," Zhang Xuan said. "I'm not sure how powerful it is. Since you're a spear master, Senior Wang, could you give me some pointers?" Zhang Xuan didn't have much concept of Spear Intent yet and wasn't as shocked as Wang Chong. He remembered the attack formed by the Heavenly Dao Spear Technique earlier and couldn't help but speak up. The man before him was a famous spear master in the kingdom; having him provide guidance would certainly reveal its merits and flaws.

"You comprehended a spear technique too? Alright, I'd like to see what kind of move a genius like you can comprehend!" Wang Chong nodded and instructed a servant to retrieve a spear. Soon, two spears were brought over.

"To test the power of a move, only actual combat will do! Grandmaster Zhang, use the move you comprehended against me; let me see it!" With a spear in hand, Wang Chong seemed to transform instantly, exuding a tall and fierce aura, like a primordial beast ready to roar at any moment. In his view, although the other party had comprehended Spear Intent, his strength and spear proficiency were certainly inferior. Any move he might have could be easily handled.

"Okay!" Zhang Xuan also wanted to test the move and casually took the other spear. He had never held such a weapon since childhood, but after comprehending Spear Intent, a brief adjustment brought a wave of familiarity.

"Here I go!" As this feeling arose, Zhang Xuan's aura instantly surged like thunder, transforming him from an ordinary young man into a formidable expert who looked down on the world. With a step, the spear surged forth from his palm.

This spear technique, derived from thousands of summarized manuals, had only one move, yet it transformed complexity into simplicity, aligning with the essence of the Grand Dao. As the move was executed, true qi surged throughout his body, and the spear resembled a colossal dragon emerging from the sea, soaring instantly.

"What?" Wang Chong, who had been completely unconcerned and dismissive, felt a chill run down his spine as he saw the spear thrust. He was nearly scared out of his wits. Although the move looked simple, unrefined, and utterly without flair, it concentrated the practitioner's spirit, energy, and all their power into a single point, unleashing it with an explosive force. It was simply... simply the most brilliant spear move!

*Boom!* There was no time for further thought. Wang Chong's full power erupted instantly, meeting the spear with his own. As he exerted his full strength, his cultivation was revealed: late-stage Tongxuan Realm, Martial Artist Seven.

*Clang, clang, clang!* The two spears clashed in mid-air, the raging qi currents swirling around them like a whirlwind.

*Thump, thump, thump!* Zhang Xuan retreated seven or eight steps before stopping, while Wang Chong remained rooted to his spot. In this simple exchange, the difference in skill was immediately apparent. Zhang Xuan hadn't used his full strength, suppressing it to just over forty *ding* of power, so he naturally couldn't withstand the impact of a late-stage Tongxuan Realm expert. However, his physical body was robust, and his true qi was pure; though he retreated, he suffered no injuries.

"As expected of a spear master, truly formidable!" Zhang Xuan exclaimed, sighing inwardly at how easily the opponent had blocked a move created by the Heavenly Dao. He secretly admired Wang Chong, while Wang Chong himself was terrified, barely avoiding fainting. The seemingly simple spear thrust from Zhang Xuan had forced him to use every bit of his hidden strength. The most crucial part was that despite not moving his feet and appearing to have a slight advantage, he felt a tightness in his chest, his vital energy stagnant, indicating he had already sustained a considerable injury. Had he not forcibly held back, he would likely have spat out a mouthful of blood. It was important to remember that he was a late-stage Tongxuan Realm expert, while the opponent was only at the Aperture Opening Realm. There was a full major realm difference between them. Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to fight across such a significant cultivation gap. Of course, if he knew that the young man opposite him had only used less than half of his power, who knew what he would think then.

"This move is incredible..." It took Wang Chong a long time to steady his breathing before he finally managed to praise it. It wasn't just good; it was absolutely brilliant! He had always considered himself a genius and had created many spear techniques, but compared to this move, they were utter trash, like the difference between dirt and jewels!

"That's good then," Zhang Xuan couldn't help but say, "I plan to teach this move to my student. Senior Wang, could you help me review it and see if there are any issues I should correct?"

"Issues..." Wang Chong's face flushed. "Grandmaster Zhang, are you trying to humiliate me? Leaving aside the fact that you've comprehended Spear Intent and can produce spear techniques at will, the most crucial thing is... I don't even understand this move myself, so how can I possibly give you pointers?" As a spear master, failing to even grasp how his opponent's move was executed or how it attacked made him feel so ashamed he wanted to commit suicide.

"This move... has no issues. You can teach it directly to your student!" After saying this, Wang Chong felt his face burn again. Just an hour ago, he thought the young man in front of him didn't understand spear techniques and was insulting them. Now... he felt like he was insulting spear techniques himself. This person had read for an hour, not only comprehending Spear Intent but also creating such an extraordinary spear technique, while he, after practicing the spear for over forty years, was still in this pathetic state. In that instant, he felt a mouthful of blood welling up in his chest, ready to burst out at any moment.

After the awkwardness subsided, a bold idea surfaced. This move of Zhang Xuan's, which concentrated and unleashed all of one's power while imbued with the essence of Spear Intent, might allow him to break through his final barrier and comprehend Spear Intent if he could learn it.

"Grandmaster Zhang, could you... could you teach me this move?" he asked, his face red after half a moment of hesitation.

"You want to learn it? Of course, I can teach you!" Zhang Xuan was surprised for a moment, then chuckled.

Ouyang Cheng, listening to their conversation from the side, nearly stumbled. "Didn't Zhang Xuan come today to learn spear techniques from Wang Chong? How did it... end up... completely reversed?"