Spearmanship

"I, the Xia Dynasty’s ‘Dark Ice Knight’, Yu Yuan Han, have left this spear technique here."

Crammed on one of the pages of the golden leaf book, several small drawings depicted an individual practicing a spear technique.

"Weng-"

A mysterious and mighty power made the air in the room vibrate.

"Hm?" Shocked, Dong Bo Xue Ying raised his head to look at the scene in front of him. A dazzling silvery white light materialized from the opened pages of the golden leaf book. The mystical light slowly condensed into the shape of an old man holding a spear, dressed like a beggar. This silver figure was extremely tiny, barely taller than the book.

Suddenly, an ice-cold aura enveloped Dong Bo Xue Ying, who couldn’t help but shudder.

"Hua!" The image of the old beggar started to practice technique after technique, all of which used the spear in his hand. The spear was like a dragon; raging, thrusting, lashing, and blocking....

This was too familiar; this was the spear method that Dong Bo Xue Ying had been practicing since he was six years old. In the Dragon Mountain Empire, this very common spear technique was called "Soul Spear Technique".

"Soul Spear Technique"was taught around the world. It was the simplest and most basic technique, often referred to as the origin of all spear techniques. There was no particularly amazing killing technique, only basic techniques. Many spear experts started from learning the "Soul Spear Technique"when they first started learning to use a spear.

"I have practiced the Soul Spear Technique for almost three years now; why haven't I realised that this spear technique was actually so impressive?" Dong Bo Xue Ying stared at the spiritualized practicing warrior with widened eyes. A simple thrust of the spear by this old beggar could make the body of spear shoot out spiraling like a water snake. Dong Bo Xue Ying couldn't help but feel excited by the powerful thrust because when the spear was retrieved, it was spiraling like before but in the opposite direction.

He started practicing at six years old, and now he was eight years old. It was now winter, he had indeed practiced his spear for nearly three years.

"The spear technique father has passed down to me is very standard. He also taught me according to this set of spear methods, but why do I still feel that my spear technique is different from his?" Dong Bo Xue Ying carefully observed the misty figure.

They were the same basic spear techniques.

However, when a master practiced them, it was indeed different from the technique of a newbie.

"There's an inner strength. Every movement has a surge of strength, as if the entire strength of the body was perfectly used in harmony with the spear." Dong Bo Xue Ying faintly judged to an extent..

The book was still opened, and this set of "Soul Spear Technique"was continuously repeated.

Only after an hour and countless rereadings did he finally flip to the next page.

This page was full of cramped words.

"The basics are important in spear techniques. The first set of spear technique I will teach is the origin of all techniques "Soul Spear Technique". Only when you practice this to perfection, is there hope of learning my spear technique."

"There's a set of Qi circulation methods below."

"My spear technique is known for it's speed! Using this Dou Qi method, you’ll be able to wield the spear even more quickly!"

All of the other densely packed characters were all about the Dou Qi method.

The words of this Transcendent Knight were very casual, but in fact, this technique was a priceless treasure! If there were two equally ranked knights, the knight with this unique Dou Qi technique would be able to make four to five moves while the opponent would be only be able to make two to three moves. The victor would be decided in moments.

"My spear technique is called the"Dark Ice Spear Technique" which has three realms."

"The first realm is Drifting Snow. If you learned this technique, you have crossed the threshold and are now considered a master of spear."

"The second realm is Blood Rain. If you have learn this technique, you have surpassed the Legend rank and have hopes of stepping into the Transcendent realm!"

"The third realm is Dark Ice. Every Transcendent has their own path, and this technique represents my Transcendent path This is why I am called the Dark Ice Knight! My path may not necessarily suit you if you can reach this level... Or you can just borrow some Dou Qi circulation techniques."

Dong Bo Xue Ying became more excited as he continued reading.

It was indeed the spear techniques left by a Transcendent Knight; it can lead you all the way to Transcendence!

He continued to flip through the book, the page after was Dark Ice Spear Technique's densely packed explanations along with some unique methods of Qi circulation..... These explanations were written on more than twenty pages. They were very direct, even Dong Bo Xue Ying could understand what this elder was talking about, but Xue Ying's spear fighting skills were currently too shallow. There was no possibility of him learning this set of spear techniques at this moment.

He flipped to the last page.

There were some cramped pictures that immediately guided the light to project a materialization of the old beggar as he began to perform the Dark Ice Spear Techniques.

The old beggar first practiced the usual Drifting Snow of Dark Ice Spear Technique, embodying one word, fast! Just one strike manifested the strength of hundreds and thousands of spears, like numerous falling snowflakes... To say the least, Dong Bo Xue Ying's naked eyes could not clearly see them. Then, he began practicing slowly, and as if in slow motion, Dong Bo Xue Ying could see all of them clearly.

Afterwards he practiced the Blood Rain of Dark Ice Spear Technique and at the very end, the Dark Ice of Dark Ice Spear Technique!

This set of spear techniques can only be described with one word- Fast!

It was extraordinarily fast.

...

Naturally, he continued practicing the "Soul Spear Technique". Only when he had mastered this technique would he be able to begin practicing the most basic technique of the "Dark Ice Spear Technique", Drifting Snow.

Younger brother Qing Shi really clung onto Xue Ying even after he coaxed him into bed that night. He noisily pestered Xue Ying on his bed for nearly an hour before finally going to sleep.

The next day, after eating breakfast.

The martial practice grounds.

"This is the martial practice grounds." Dong Bo Xue Ying said as he swept his eyes over it. In the past, his father practiced here everyday.

"Let’s begin then."

Dong Bo Xue Ying put on some weights and began running around the whole circumference of the inner castle. The inner castle took up half of a kilometre. He had already established a daily routine of running several kilometers everyday.

After he finished running, Xue Ying returned to the martial practice grounds and removed his weights. Sweating all over, he leisurely walked to an area with many short spears. Every single short spear was roughly 2.5 kg. They were all specially made for Xue Ying.

"All right!" said Xue Ying as he picked up a short spear and casually threw it 80 meters, hitting a thick target. This target had long since been scarred with various cuts.

"Go, go, go."

Dong Bo Xue Ying started to run while throwing another short spear.

He continually threw spears as he moved!

He hit the target while in motion…..

"Throw it for me!" Xue Ying yelled.

"Yes master." The servant on the side obeyed and began throwing some small targets into the sky. Xue Ying began running from 80 meters away, throwing spears at the targets. Sometimes he hit the target, and sometimes he missed by a bit. Clearly his throwing movements were still lacking.

Father had said——‘Short spears are merely an aid. It’s possible to hit everything while running and throwing. In the future, you must practice everyday and throw 200 times to warm up so you can maintain this feeling.’

...

After throwing one thousand short spears, Xue Ying felt both of his arms aching. His whole body was dripping with sweat. He had long since gotten used to this feeling.

After finishing his short spear practice.

Xue Ying began practicing a set of fist techniques that strengthened the muscles and bones throughout the body. It was a Dou Qi technique called the "Three Stage Flame Technique". Father had spent a large amount of money to obtain this technique. Originally the technique father had learnt while he was in the army was only a lower grade one.

The effect of Qi cultivation was the best when the body was exhausted!

This fist technique combined both strength and gentleness. While matching his breathing to the technique, his training made his whole body feel comfortable while a faint mysterious power drilled into his body, numbing it. This caused his physical strength to quickly recover.

After practicing the "Three Stage Flame Technique" twice, both his arms had recovered.

"Good. Time to begin practicing the spear technique."

Xue Ying picked up a spear at his side. In accordance with his height, the spear was also 1.8 meters long and weighed 5 kg.

"Hè!" Xue Ying began practicing the "Soul Spear Technique".

He had already practiced this spear technique for nearly three years. He was already very skilled in it. However, today he felt completely different.

"Right, using force this way is the most comfortable." Xue Ying had watched the Transcendent Knight practice spearmanship yesterday. He couldn’t help but begin imitating the knight while he was practicing. Immediately, he had harvested quite the reward.

"Whoosh"

His left hand lightly gripped the spear near the head while his right hand held the butt of the spear. Abruptly, he began exerting force.

With a turn of his right wrist...

The spear shot out like a big snake, rotating rapidly. If an enemy encountered this attack, it would look like the spear was aimed at his face, but as the spear spun closer, it would tilt down and bury itself into his throat! There were two purposes for using this attack: the first would be to confuse the enemy, while the second would be to efficiently penetrate the enemy’s defenses.

"Pa!" The spearhead was thrusted into the body of a practice dummy. This dummy was fixed in the ground and was made out of two types of metal. The inside of the dummy was made out of cast metal. While the surface of the dummy was coated with alchemized gold, which made it very durable and self-repairing. These dummies were so durable that it was impossible for knights under the star tier to destroy them, but in the entire field, there were only five of these dummies because each dummy costed 500 gold coins!

In addition to the dummies on the field, there was one alchemized gold dummy in his mother’s laboratory in order for her to conduct her experiments.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh." Dong Bo Xue Ying repeatedly thrusted with his full strength.

He thrust from the middle, from below, and from above.

From the Left, and from the right.

This simple thrust was the foundation upon which every spear technique was based upon. With every thrust, Dong Bo Xue Ying tried to remember the feeling of when he trained with the Transcendent Knight’s spear technique.

After thrusting a thousand times, Dong Bo Xue Ying’s right arm ached, and he was bathed in his own sweat. In the past, he would only thrust five hundred times before he ended his training, but now he pushed himself even further.

"Pa." Finally, after thrusting the dummy with full force once more, the spear was repelled. His arm became numb, and he lost his grip on the spear. "Bang." The spear fell to the ground

Dong Bo Xue Ying knelt, gasping for air. Sweat dripped from his whole body as he gazed at the spear lying on the ground.

Even though he was determined to go on, he was exhausted, and he was tempted to give up.

Dong Bo Xue Ying looked up, in the past his father would stand above him, angrily scolding Xue Ying.

"Coward!"

"You are already tired? You only thrusted 300 times! With your body, you could strike 500 times without feeling tired, and you should only feel tired after thrusting 1000 times. Your limit should be five times what you have done, 1500 thrusts! Even the damage caused by reaching your limit... ... it will be healed by the medicinal bath that is awaiting you this evening! This medicinal bath, it will be as if you hadn’t been injured at all because any fractures and wounds would be healed...The medicinal bath will invigorate you and restore your condition to full health by the next day! What did I have when I was training as a child? Was I as fortunate as you? You can’t even thrust 500 times! Get up!"

"Get up! If you don’t stand up then you are a coward!"

"Only 500 times. Why can you, a noble young master, not do it?"

"Get up! The son of Dong Bo Lie is no coward"

"Stand up!"

Father's roar dimly sounded in his ear.

"Stand up! Get up!" Dong Bo Xue Ying grabbed the spear and stood up.

"Whoosh"

Dong Bo Xue Ying thrust with full force again.

Dong Bo Xue Ying’s eyes were red as he thrust again and again as if he was mad. "Father, I really want you to scold me… I wouldn’t mind if you called me a coward… I would still be happy."

One only knew how valuable something was after losing it.