Chapter 153: Teaching Gun Technique

“Alright, as long as you don't go back on your word,” Zhang Xuan said with a smile, agreeing immediately.

“Teacher Zhang!”

Hearing him make such a decision, Zhao Ya and the others all looked anxious. What kind of joke was this? Although their cultivation had improved significantly in the past few days, it was still impossible for them to fight a teacher! Agreeing directly was practically admitting defeat, wasn't it?

“Since you're so confident, alright, will they come at me all at once, or in a series of one-on-one matches?” Zhou Tian looked over, a smile playing on his lips.

Zhang Xuan only had five students in total. Even if their cultivation levels were suppressed, they wouldn't be a match in a series of matches.

“A series of matches? You're overthinking it. With your strength, any one of my students could defeat you!” Zhang Xuan shook his head.

“You...” Seeing such disdain from the other party, Zhou Tian's expression turned exceedingly sour.

Ignoring Zhou Tian, Zhang Xuan looked at Zhao Ya and the others. Under his gaze, all of them felt a surge of nervousness. They couldn't even win on the training platform; challenging a teacher...

“You few didn't fight just now. Having you challenge Teacher Zhou would be a waste of talent. Zheng Yang, you're up!” Zhang Xuan surveyed the group and pointed casually.

Hearing this, everyone around felt their vision go dark. Seriously, are you really going to show off like this? Even if you want to show off, shouldn't you be realistic? This Zheng Yang, setting aside his mediocre strength, had just fought a major battle. His stamina was almost completely depleted; he couldn't even hold his spear. At this point, he probably couldn't even kill a chicken, let alone fight Zhou Tian! And it's a "waste of talent"? Waste of talent? What a joke! Looking at him now, even if Zhou Tian didn't make a move, he probably wouldn't last long and would collapse on his own...

Not only were the spectators' expressions strange, but even Zheng Yang's mouth twitched. “Teacher, I...” He was on the verge of going crazy. Was Teacher Zhang joking? He knew perfectly well what his capabilities were. At this moment, he couldn't even fend off a random student, let alone fight Teacher Zhou! Even if Zhou Tian suppressed his cultivation to Fighter 1-dan, or even nothing at all, he still couldn't win! Just as he was about to explain his physical condition to Teacher Zhang, before he could finish, he heard the other party's calm voice ring out: “Don't get excited. It's not too late to be excited after you defeat Teacher Zhou!”

Excited? What's there to be excited about? I'm about to cry, can't you tell? Zheng Yang swayed, feeling like he might faint at any moment.

“Seeking death...” Seeing this, Zhou Tian thought Zhang Xuan was deliberately trying to humiliate him. His mouth twitched in anger, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

“Before the fight, I just taught him a new spear technique. Teacher Zhou shouldn't have a problem with that, right?” Ignoring the strange expressions of those around him, Zhang Xuan looked at Zhou Tian.

“Thinking about buying a ring just before the wedding? I'm afraid it might be a bit too late!” Zhou Tian scoffed.

“Whether it's too late or not doesn't matter, as long as it's enough to defeat you!” Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and walked up to Zheng Yang. “Come, your teacher will teach you a spear technique. Watch carefully, and learn well!” With that, he took the long spear from Zheng Yang's hand, flicked his wrist, and thrust it out in a clumsy, crooked manner. The move seemed to have no method, extremely casual, not at all like a technique, but rather like a random, playful jab.

“Is this guy here to make us laugh?” “This is what he calls spear technique? Bring over a boar and let it see a sow in heat, and its 'spear technique' would be better than this!” “I've seen people trick their fathers, trick their mothers, but this is the first time I've seen someone trick their student. Zheng Yang is probably done for!” “With a teacher like this, even the most formidable student would be ruined...”

Zhang Xuan taught openly, without any concealment. Everyone saw the move clearly and found themselves unable to process it. This is called a spear technique? Even using it as a poking stick for a fire would be several times more sophisticated than this move...

“Have you learned it?” Ignoring the chatter of the crowd, Zhang Xuan looked at Zheng Yang.

“I've learned it...” Zheng Yang was on the verge of tears. Did this move even need learning? The first moves he learned with a spear when he was six were far more impressive than this.

“Alright, since you've learned it, go defeat Teacher Zhou!” Zhang Xuan nodded and patted Zheng Yang on the shoulder.

Hearing his instruction, Zheng Yang was about to burst into tears when he felt a surge of powerful true qi instantly rush along his meridians from Teacher Zhang's hand on his shoulder. This true qi was incredibly potent and remarkably pure. Wherever it passed, blockages in his meridians broke open, as if his body had instantly shattered some kind of shackles. It was like he had consumed a powerful tonic; all his fatigue vanished, and he completely recovered his vigor. Like serious illness, fatigue was also caused by meridian blockages. Under Zhang Xuan's pure true qi, these blockages were insignificant.

“Don't resist. Adjust your breathing according to the direction of my true qi's flow!” As he wondered, Teacher Zhang's voice transmission sounded in his ear. Knowing his teacher wouldn't harm him, Zheng Yang quickly concentrated and adjusted his breathing. With a series of internal shifts, the true qi that had entered his body immediately circulated along his meridians in a unique way. In an instant, Zheng Yang felt as if he had transformed into a long spear, ready to pierce the heavens at any moment.

“This is the internal energy circulation method for spear techniques?” At this moment, even a fool like Zheng Yang understood what was happening. Whether it was a spear technique or any martial art, it wasn't just about the moves; the most crucial element was the method of internal energy circulation. Only with correct internal energy circulation could a spear technique be activated to its full potential. Otherwise, the so-called moves would be nothing more than flashy displays with almost no power. Although Zheng Yang had never encountered any powerful spear techniques, having grown up with a spear, its essence had long been ingrained in his bones. The moment this internal energy method formed within him, he immediately understood that it was far superior to any spear technique he had ever learned or even seen! The move from earlier had seemed ordinary, something even an idiot could learn. But combined with this mental cultivation method, it transformed into something profound, simplifying complexity and achieving great skill without elaborate technique!

“There's actually such a formidable move in this world...” For a moment, his face was blank with disbelief. This move could no longer be described as profound; it was simply unimaginable.

As he was filled with excitement, Teacher Zhang's voice sounded in his ear once more. “Don't hesitate. Quickly familiarize yourself with the internal energy circulation method, then match it well with the spear technique!”

“Yes!” Knowing that Teacher Zhang was teaching him a profound spear technique, Zheng Yang stopped his wild thoughts and concentrated on comprehending the internal energy circulation. Every martial art technique had a unique method of internal energy circulation. Practitioners had to clear blocked meridians bit by bit, like paving a road, which was incredibly troublesome and required a tremendous amount of effort. Taking Zheng Yang as an example, his cultivation was only at the Fighter 1-dan Gathering Breath realm. He only had internal energy, not even true qi. To learn this move and open up the circulation channels for internal energy would typically be impossible without one or two years of dedicated effort.

However, things were different now. Teacher Zhang's true qi was incredibly pure. Wherever it went, all the blockages in Zheng Yang's body cleared, and in less than two breaths, a smooth circulation pathway was established. His internal energy surged freely, without any further restrictions.

“It's done just like that?” With his internal energy flowing smoothly, Zheng Yang instantly understood that he had completely mastered this spear technique, as if he had practiced it for several years.

“Alright, keep this true qi inside you for now. Continue to act as if you're exhausted, and when you fight Zhou Tian, make sure to hit him with one strike!” Zhang Xuan's voice continued.

Understanding his instruction, Zheng Yang secretly nodded, wondering at the same time why Teacher Zhang's true qi could remain within him without causing any conflict. Different cultivation methods produced different true qi attributes. Therefore, if one person's true qi entered another's body, not only would it not help with breakthroughs, but it could easily cause conflict and lead to qi deviation. The fact that Teacher Zhang's true qi entered his body without any conflict or contradiction was simply incredible to him. However, he also knew this was not the time to ponder such things. Struggling to clasp his hands in a respectful gesture, he said, “Teacher Zhou, come!” With that, he staggered toward the dueling platform.

Seeing him look as if he could be blown away by a gust of wind at any moment, the onlookers exchanged bewildered glances. My goodness, is this for real? How could he fight with a spear technique that even a pig could perform, and a body that looked like it would collapse at any moment?

Zhou Tian's face also twitched, and a thought suddenly occurred to him. He'd been tricked. This guy must have intended to abandon this student all along and was deliberately trying to humiliate him. Teaching a move that couldn't even kill a chicken, and then using it against him—didn't that imply he was worse than a chicken?

“Zhang Xuan, you're ruthless!” Believing the other party was intentionally humiliating him, Zhou Tian gritted his teeth and leaped onto the platform.

“Teacher Zhou, please be merciful...” Feigning weakness, Zheng Yang struggled to raise his long spear. Seeing him break into a sweat from such a simple movement, everyone was speechless. The teacher's dueling platform hadn't been challenged in many years. Who would have thought the first challenge would be so bizarre? If news of this got out, it would truly astound heaven and earth.

“Teacher, perhaps I could take Zheng Yang's place?” Zhao Ya couldn't help but interject.

“Just watch!” Zhang Xuan offered no explanation. Seeing her teacher's confident demeanor, Zhao Ya was full of doubts but dared not ask more, turning her gaze back to the platform.

“Mercy? If you must blame someone, blame your Teacher Zhang!” Guessing Zhang Xuan's intentions, Zhou Tian seethed with anger.

“Then, this student will be impolite!” Zheng Yang knew that if he didn't make a move, the other party, constrained by his status, couldn't strike first. Without further ado, he flicked his long spear and thrust it straight forward. The spear tip was crooked and seemed to lack any power. It was precisely the useless move Zhang Xuan had just taught him.

“Hmph!” Seeing that this fellow actually dared to use it, Zhou Tian grew even angrier. With a cold snort, he suppressed his cultivation to Fighter 1-dan Gathering Breath realm and, without using any weapon, met the attack with his palm. Bare-handed against a long spear! Even so, not a single person in the audience favored Zheng Yang, convinced that he was in for a miserable defeat.

“Now's the time...” Seeing that the opponent indeed underestimated him and approached bare-handed, Zheng Yang's eyes lit up. The true qi Zhang Xuan had left in his body suddenly activated, and his entire demeanor changed in an instant. If he had been a gentle lamb just moments before, he now became a fierce tiger.

Boom! A flash of spear light shot straight out, aiming directly for Zhou Tian's chest.

“What?!” His pupils contracted, and the hairs on Zhou Tian's body suddenly stood on end.