Chapter 234: Violently Beating Lu Xun (Part 1)

If anyone in Hongtian Academy knew the most about spearmanship, it was undoubtedly him. He had practiced the spear since he was old enough to understand, day after day, year after year, integrating this weapon into his life and blood. Yet, even so, he was still miles away from comprehending Spear Intent.

He had always thought such a profound state was merely an ethereal legend, unattainable in his lifetime. He never dreamed he would witness it in a teenager barely over ten years old! Although the Spear Intent he had forged was only the most primitive and simplest embryonic form, far from true mastery, it was like a seedling that, given enough time, would undoubtedly grow into a towering tree!

"How did he do that?" He had previously thought Mo Xiao's direct surrender without even fighting was an insult to the Wang Family Spear technique, making it impossible for him to face anyone. Only now did he realize that with this move, the Wang Family Spear technique, and all spear experts, were nothing but trash! A move imbued with Spear Intent left no possibility for any other technique to defend against it. Even he himself, if he suddenly encountered it, would be unable to resist! If Zheng Yang's cultivation wasn't much different from his own, he could easily be killed with a single spear thrust!

"Could it be... this is the move father learned?" His heart jolted, and Wang suddenly recalled something. His father, Wang Chong, had recently spent an exorbitant amount of money to become a disciple and learn a spear technique. For days, he had been in seclusion, intending to comprehend Spear Intent. He had previously wondered what kind of spear technique could be worth such a sum, but upon seeing Zheng Yang's move, he finally understood... If it really was this move, not to mention three million gold coins, even ten or twenty million, or spending his entire fortune, would be worth it!

Earlier, the butler had mentioned that the person who taught his father the spear technique seemed to be an alchemist, but he hadn't paid much attention. Now, seeing President Ouyang and others personally arrive to watch Master Alchemist Zhang's competition... could it be Teacher Zhang Xuan?

His body swayed, and he felt an urge to vomit blood. "Teacher Zhang is like a half-teacher to me. He has already taught me this spear technique. From now on, when you see him, you must call him Grand-teacher, or... Grandfather!" Shaking his head, just as he was about to dismiss this absurd thought, a dignified voice rang out. He then saw his father striding towards him. The teacher's evaluation had caused such a stir that even Wang Chong couldn't resist coming to watch.

"Grand-teacher? Grandfather?" His face turned pale, and Wang was on the verge of tears.

It wasn't just him; the entire audience was now silent. The so-called "insiders" were even more stunned, their faces aghast. Although he didn't recognize it as Spear Intent, seeing Zheng Yang break the Coiling Dragon Hand with a single spear thrust, he knew it must have reached that level. A sixteen or seventeen-year-old student comprehending weapon true intent? How could something so outrageous exist in this world? And how terrifying must the teacher who taught him that spear technique be?

"It seems Mo Xiao's surrender wasn't out of deference to his friend, but because he truly couldn't resist!" "Indeed, let alone a Martial Artist Three-layered expert, even a Martial Artist Four-layered expert couldn't defend against that move." "What a powerful move! Was it really taught by Teacher Zhang?" "Teacher Zhang... not only is his movement technique, leg technique, and fist technique formidable, but his spear technique is also this strong?" All the students stood dumbfounded.

"He... he has improved again after just a few days!" Mo Xiao, standing to the side, also trembled. Looking at Zhang Xuan again, an irrepressible longing and yearning filled his eyes. Only one thought echoed in his mind... He must become his student!

"Damn it!" With his Coiling Dragon Hand broken by Zheng Yang's spear, Lu Xun felt a tightness in his chest, a ferocious expression on his face. He roared, intending to deal with the somewhat exhausted Zheng Yang, when he heard a dull thud. Not far away, Liu Yang's fist struck. At the same moment, Wang Ying appeared like a phantom nearby, delivering an aerial kick. *Swish!* The fist and kick, accompanied by a wind-tearing sound that chilled everyone, had not yet reached him. Although the power of these two moves was not as great as the previous spear thrust, they were not to be underestimated. If he were to be hit, even with his robust physique, he would likely sustain minor injuries.

"Hmph!" His face darkened, his body swayed, and he retreated two steps like a butterfly flitting through flowers. The martial art, Butterfly Steps, was executed with ghostly lightness, like butterflies flitting through flowers! Having dodged the fist and kick, and just as he was about to counterattack, he felt a chill engulf him, as if he had fallen into an ice cavern.

Immediately after, his vision blurred, and an impossibly beautiful girl appeared, while a smooth, flawless jade-like hand moved towards his chest. His pupils contracted. Although tense, Lu Xun was, after all, a peak Aperture Opening realm expert with extensive combat experience. He flipped his hands, forming a seal, and met the attack. The martial art, Pagoda Seal Flip: effortlessly flipping pagodas, shaking the earth! The Pagoda Seal Flip clashed 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's peak Aperture Opening realm. However, Lu Xun didn't fare well either. The true qi surging from Zhao Ya's palm carried an extreme pure-yin coldness, causing his entire body to tremble. He retreated three more steps, still feeling a profound chill. Furthermore, a cold true qi had invaded his meridians, making it difficult to clear in a short time.

Five people, six attacks. Lu Xun managed to block only one move and was forced back eleven steps. The surrounding crowd was utterly dumbfounded, all speechless. This was Teacher Lu Xun, the number one star teacher at Hongtian Academy. His cultivation was unmatched within the academy, and among those in the Aperture Opening realm, defeating him was almost impossible. Yet, he was repeatedly forced back by a few youngsters who were only at Martial Artist Layer 2 and Layer 5. If they hadn't witnessed it themselves, they would never have believed it.

"So this is their combined attack formation?" He had known that Zhao Ya and the others were secretly practicing a combined attack, but he had never seen them use it before. Now, witnessing it, Zhang Xuan's brows furrowed slightly.

"Very well, to be honest, I truly underestimated you. United, you indeed have the qualifications to challenge me!" Regulating his breathing, seeing himself being forced to retreat repeatedly by a few juniors, Lu Xun no longer held his previous disdain. Instead, his expression became solemn.

"Qualified? I think so too. Teacher Lu, look, we've exchanged blows with you, and we've vented some anger on behalf of Teacher Zhang. How about we call it a draw and not continue, to avoid mutual injury..." Yuan Tao said with a grin, walking forward as he spoke.

"A draw?" Lu Xun scoffed. "Your attacks, while novel, were able to make me wary the first time they were used. However, now that they are all exposed before me, they are useless..." He was right. Although the five's attacks were not weak, they lacked follow-up moves. They mostly relied on a single effective technique. This might work against opponents of similar level or ordinary experts, but it wouldn't be effective 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 arts, the five of them were far inferior to him.

"You're absolutely right. How about this... I'll discuss it with them, and we'll concede?" Yuan Tao's face was full of indecision as he moved forward again. Seeing that he was only a few steps away from Lu Xun, his eyebrows suddenly shot up, and he charged forward. "Hmph, again?"

After the incident with Kong Jie, Lu Xun had already been wary of this fellow. Seeing him charge again, he let out a cold snort. "You bumped into me the first time, I wasn't prepared, and I retreated two steps, taking a loss. The second time, I could easily block you with the Coiling Dragon Hand, yet you're still unrepentant and want to try a third time... You underestimate me too much!" A cold glint appeared in his eyes. He didn't dodge, raising his palm to deflect the fellow's charging force. But before he could make contact, Yuan Tao suddenly stopped, spread his arms, and fiercely wrapped them around him. This sudden change in move was so quick, he hadn't anticipated it at all. Furthermore, even if he had thought of it, he wouldn't have believed it. Who in a battle would run up and hug someone? *Snap!* In an instant, the fatty had him completely embraced, his hands locked tightly together.

"You..." A dignified teacher being hugged by a student, Lu Xun's face turned grim. He twisted his body and slammed into the fatty. A dull thud. The force of this impact was no less than that of 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 actually withstood such a powerful impact head-on! "What incredible defense..." Lu Xun's pupils contracted. At this moment, even an idiot would know that the fatty before him wasn't powerful because of his impact, but because of his... defense! He had overlooked it earlier.

"Quick, attack!" Holding Lu Xun tightly, Yuan Tao let out a long shout. Before his shout ended, a long spear whistled through the air, striking straight at him. "Damn it!" Seeing the ferocity of the spear, knowing he would be injured if hit, Lu Xun roared and stomped heavily on the ground with both feet. The powerful qi surge, channeled into the ground, forcibly lifted him and Yuan Tao three feet into the air, allowing him to dodge the fatal blow.

However, while he dodged the spear technique, he couldn't evade Liu Yang's fist. Accompanied by a cold snort, the Heavenly Dao Fist Art descended from the air, striking squarely on his back. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. "If this continues, I might really fall into the hands of these youngsters..." Spitting blood, Lu Xun's eyebrows twitched erratically, almost going mad. If he didn't find a way to break free from this fatty and remained trapped in his embrace, he would truly lose today! These five students didn't seem old, nor was their cultivation high, but the martial arts they practiced were truly too bizarre. Every move, if it landed, was enough to make even him struggle to resist.

"Let go of me!" With a furious roar, he slammed his right elbow hard into Yuan Tao's chest, who was behind him. This strike used his full ten-tenths of strength. With his physical body and power, he could instantly pierce steel. The powerfully delivered elbow landed on Yuan Tao's chest. Yuan Tao's face flushed red. However, despite the intense pain, he still didn't let go, as if his entire body had transformed into a massive chain, locking his opponent down so tightly that he wouldn't release him even until death!

"You..." He hadn't expected such a powerful elbow strike wouldn't make the opponent release him. Lu Xun was both enraged and surprised. This guy wasn't just competing; he was fighting for his life! In that moment of distraction, a foot landed heavily on his chest. At the same time, a pair of pure white, flawless jade-like hands also descended. *Thump! Thump!* With two crisp thuds, Lu Xun felt a stifling sensation in his chest and was sent flying backward.