Chapter 233: Beating Up Lu Xun (Part 1)

In Hongtian Academy, when it came to understanding spearmanship, he was undoubtedly the expert.

Since childhood, he had been practicing spearmanship, day after day, year after year, having long ago integrated this weapon into his life, into his very being.

Yet even so, he was still nowhere near reaching "spear intent."

He had thought this realm was merely an ethereal legend, something he would never achieve in his lifetime, never dreaming he would witness it in a teenager only in his teens!

Although the spear intent he had manifested was only the most primitive and rudimentary form, far from true mastery, it was like a sapling that, given enough time, would undoubtedly flourish and grow into a towering tree!

"How did he do it?"

He had previously thought Mo Xiao's immediate surrender, without even attempting to fight, was an insult to the Wang family's spearmanship, making him lose face. Now he understood that once this move was unleashed, the Wang family's spearmanship and all other spearmanship masters were rendered utterly insignificant!

A move imbued with spear intent made all other techniques utterly incapable of resistance.

Even if he himself were to suddenly face it, he would be unable to resist!

If Zheng Yang's cultivation was comparable to his own, he could be killed with a single spear thrust!

"Could it be... this was the move Father learned?"

Wang felt a jolt, suddenly remembering something.

His father, Wang Chong, had recently paid an exorbitant price to learn a spearmanship technique from a master. He had been in secluded cultivation for days, intending to comprehend spear intent. Previously, he had wondered what kind of spearmanship could be worth that much money, but upon seeing Zheng Yang's move, he finally understood...

If this was truly the technique, then not only three million gold coins, but even ten or twenty million, even utter bankruptcy, would be worth it!

Earlier, the butler had mentioned that the one who taught his father spearmanship seemed to be an alchemist. He hadn't paid it much mind, but now seeing President Ouyang and others personally arrive, saying they wanted to watch Master Alchemist Zhang's competition... Could it be this Teacher Zhang Xuan?

He swayed, feeling an urge to vomit blood.

"Teacher Zhang, who is like a partial mentor to me, has already passed on this spearmanship technique. Henceforth, when I see him, I must address him as Grandmaster, or even... Grandfather!"

Shaking his head, just as he was about to dismiss this absurd thought, he heard a majestic voice, and then saw his father stride up to him.

The Master Teacher Evaluation was so sensational that even Wang Chong couldn't resist attending to watch.

"Grandmaster? Grandfather?"

Wang's face turned pale; he was on the verge of tears.

Not only did he look like this, but the audience below was also completely silent.

The so-called "informed sources" from earlier were even more dumbfounded, their faces a picture of disbelief and frustration.

Although he hadn't recognized it as spear intent, seeing Zheng Yang shatter the Coiling Dragon Hand with a single spear thrust, he knew it must have reached that realm!

A student of sixteen or seventeen, comprehending the true essence of a weapon?

How could such an astonishing thing exist in the world?

And how terrifying must the teacher who taught him spearmanship be?

"It seems Mo Xiao's surrender wasn't simply out of deference to a friend, but because he genuinely couldn't withstand it!"

"Indeed, let alone a Martial Artist 3-dan, even a Martial Artist 4-dan couldn't possibly withstand this move."

"What a powerful move, was it really taught by Teacher Zhang?"

"Teacher Zhang... he's not only formidable in movement, leg, and fist techniques, but his spearmanship is equally powerful?"

All the students stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded.

"After just a few days, he... has improved again!"

Mo Xiao, standing to the side, also trembled, looking at Zhang Xuan again, unable to suppress the longing and aspiration in his eyes.

There was only one voice in his heart...

I must become his disciple!

"Confound it!"

With the Coiling Dragon Hand shattered by Zheng Yang's spear, Lu Xun felt a suffocating tightness in his chest, a grim expression spreading across his face. With a roar, just as he was about to confront the somewhat exhausted Zheng Yang, he heard a dull thud. Not far away, Liu Yang's fist came hurtling towards him.

At the same moment, Wang Ying appeared like a phantom nearby, delivering an aerial kick.

Swoosh!

The punch and kick, accompanied by the ripping sound of wind, sent shivers down everyone's spines even before they landed.

Although the power of these two moves was not as great as the spear thrust before, they were not to be underestimated. If he were truly hit, even with his powerful physique, he would likely suffer minor injuries.

"Humph!"

His face darkened, and he swayed, retreating two steps like a butterfly flitting through flowers.

Martial skill: Butterfly Steps – ephemeral and graceful, like a butterfly flitting among flowers!

Having dodged the punch and kick, just as he was about to counterattack, he felt a chill engulf his body, as if he had fallen into an ice cavern.

Immediately after, his vision blurred, and an impossibly beautiful girl appeared in his sight; simultaneously, a smooth, flawless, jade-like hand reached his chest.

His pupils constricted. Although tense, Lu Xun was, after all, a peak Aperture Opening realm expert, battle-hardened. He flipped his hands, forming a seal-like gesture, and met the attack.

Martial skill: Toppling Pagoda Seal – toppling pagodas at will, shaking the earth and mountains!

The Toppling Pagoda Seal collided with the opponent's palm.

Zhao Ya's body trembled, and she was sent flying backward.

She was only at the peak of the Dingli realm, a significant gap from Lu Xun, who was at the peak of the Aperture Opening realm.

However, Lu Xun was not having an easy time either. The True Qi surging from Zhao Ya's palm carried an extreme pure Yin coldness, making his entire body tremble. He retreated three more steps, still feeling cold all over.

Moreover, a frosty True Qi had invaded his meridians, and it would be difficult to clear it in a short period.

Five individuals, six attacks. Lu Xun only managed to parry one strike and was forced back eleven steps.

The surrounding crowd was dumbfounded, utterly speechless.

This was Teacher Lu Xun, the top-ranked star teacher of Hongtian Academy. His cultivation was almost unparalleled in the academy, and among those in the same Aperture Opening realm, it was nearly impossible to defeat him.

Yet, he was repeatedly forced back by a few youngsters who were only at Martial Artist 2-dan and 5-dan. If they hadn't witnessed it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it.

"This was their combined attack formation?"

He had known that Zhao Ya and the others had been secretly practicing combined attacks, but he had never seen them execute it before. Upon witnessing it now, Zhang Xuan's brows furrowed slightly.

"Very well, to be honest, I truly underestimated you. Together, you certainly have the right to challenge me!"

Regulating his breathing, seeing himself being forced to continuously retreat by a few youngsters, Lu Xun no longer held his previous contempt; instead, he became solemn.

"Qualified, huh? I think so too, Teacher Lu. Look, we've exchanged blows with you, and we've vented some anger for Teacher Zhang. How about we call it a draw and not continue, to avoid mutual injury..."

Yuan Tao said with a grin, advancing as he spoke.

"A draw?" Lu Xun snorted. "Although your attacks are novel and could make me wary the first time you use them, now that they are all exposed to me, they are useless..."

He was right.

Although the five's attacks were not weak, they lacked follow-up techniques, essentially being "one-trick ponies." They might be effective against opponents of the same level or ordinary powerful cultivators, but not against a teacher like Lu Xun, who possessed the potential of a master teacher.

After all, in terms of both insight and understanding of martial skills, the five were far inferior to him.

"You're absolutely right. How about this... I'll discuss it with them, and we surrender?"

Yuan Tao's face was full of indecision as he advanced again. Seeing that he was only a few steps away from Lu Xun, his eyebrows suddenly shot up, and he charged forward.

"Humph, coming again?"

After what happened with Kong Jie, Lu Xun had already been wary of this fellow. Seeing him charge again, he let out a cold snort.

"You hit me the first time, and I was unprepared, retreating two steps, which was a disadvantage. The second time, I could easily block with the Coiling Dragon Hand, yet you still haven't learned your lesson, wanting a third time...

You underestimate me too much!"

A cold glint appeared in his eyes. Without dodging, he raised his palm, intending to deflect the force of this guy's charge. However, before he could even make contact, Yuan Tao suddenly stopped, spread his arms, and fiercely embraced him.

This change of tactic was so swift, he hadn't anticipated it in the slightest.

Furthermore, even if he had anticipated it, he wouldn't have believed it. Who would run over to embrace an opponent in the middle of a fight?

Snap!

In an instant, the fatty had him in a complete bear hug, his hands locked tightly together.

"You..."

A dignified teacher being embraced by a student, Lu Xun's face turned grim. He twisted his body, ramming into the fatty.

A muffled thud.

The force of this collision was no less than his fist. Even an ordinary Aperture Opening realm expert would likely spit blood, yet the fatty holding him merely trembled, his clasped hands not loosening in the slightest.

He had actually endured such a powerful impact head-on!

"What formidable defense..." Lu Xun's pupils constricted.

At this moment, even a fool would know that this fatty's strength lay not in his charge, but in... his defense!

He had actually overlooked it before.

"Quick, attack!"

Holding Lu Xun tightly, Yuan Tao let out a loud cry.

Before his cry had even ended, a long spear came whistling, thrusting straight towards them.

"Damn it!"

Seeing the ferocity of the spear's approach, knowing that a direct hit would wound him, Lu Xun roared and stomped his feet hard on the ground.

The powerful surge of energy, acting on the ground, lifted him and Yuan Tao three feet into the air, allowing him to evade the fatal blow.

"Get down!"

However, having dodged the spearmanship, he couldn't evade Liu Yang's punch. Accompanied by a cold snort, the Path of Heaven Fist Technique arrived from mid-air, landing squarely on his back.

A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.

"If this continues, I might genuinely be defeated by these youngsters..."

Spitting out blood, Lu Xun's eyebrows twitched uncontrollably; he was on the verge of madness.

If he didn't find a way to break free from this fatty, remaining held by him, he might truly lose today!

These five students, though seemingly young and with modest cultivation levels, the martial skills they had cultivated were truly too bizarre. Each strike, if it connected, proved difficult for even him to withstand.

"Release me!"

With an angry roar, his right elbow savagely struck towards Yuan Tao behind him.

This strike used all his strength. With his physique and strength, he could instantly pierce through steel.

The full-force elbow landed on Yuan Tao's chest.

Yuan Tao's face flushed.

However, despite the intense pain, he still didn't let go, as if his entire body had become a massive chain, locking the opponent firmly, refusing to loosen his grip even if it killed him!

"You..."

He hadn't expected such a powerful elbow strike wouldn't make the opponent let go. Lu Xun was annoyed and somewhat astonished at the same time.

This guy wasn't just competing; he was fighting for his life!

Just as he was momentarily distracted, a foot landed heavily on his chest.

At the same moment, a pair of flawless, jade-like hands also descended.

Thump! Thump!

With two sharp impacts, Lu Xun's chest tightened, and he was sent flying backward.