Volcanic Age

The Yang Family Spear Technique.

It was a spear technique passed down by Yang Miaozhen, a female general of the Southern Song Dynasty, and the technique later became famous during the Ming Dynasty.

Although its fundamentals were excellent, over time, it was even further developed in the hands of many warriors, eventually becoming the greatest spear technique.

To paraphrase the words of a martial arts master, it was recognized as a peerless technique of the imperial troops and was only taught to generals.

"Hmph, so you've figured it out."

Meng Gang frowned as if he was displeased.

"It's obvious just from how you hold the spear," Zhou Xuchuan replied.

"Well, it's not like this type of technique doesn't exist in the murim, though, right?"

"Well, you're not wrong."

There were many martial artists who devoted their entire lives to martial arts. They created various techniques for various weapons, among which, while there may not have been many, were also techniques for spears.

As the fame of the Yang Family Spear Technique spread, some martial artists even created spear techniques based on its strange nature.[1]

"However… the walls here remind me of a fortress. Then there are the bows most martial artists wouldn't use… and the way these bandits have been trained," Zhou Xuchuan said.

Everything here reminded him of the imperial government's troops.

He continued, "With all this, are you still saying you have nothing to do with the imperial troops?"

"Enough," Meng Gang replied. It wasn't worth answering, and Zhou Xuchuan hadn't really expected a response.

Meng Gang tightened his grip on the spear, his eyes growing even fiercer.

His aura changed completely, radiating a newfound confidence. He was a different person altogether from when he wielded a sword.

The very air trembled, and then, as if life had drained from the world itself, only a profound silence remained.

Neither Zhou Xuchuan nor Meng Gang moved.

They stared each other down, paying no mind to their surroundings.

A normal person might become restless and find themselves unable to stand still. Yet the two masters remained unfazed, as motionless as they had been before.

Tap!

The world that had frozen began to move again. The blades of grass fluttering in the wind tilted to the side.

Swish!

A pure white beam of light shot out, making a hole in the atmosphere.

The first to break the silence was Meng Gang and his spear.

He took a step forward and thrust his spear with full force. Holding it at the base, he naturally extended his reach, and with each step, his range grew. What was scary was that his thrust was still as sharp as lightning and just as powerful.

It's dangerous!

Zhou Xuchuan quickly leapt back, as if repelled by an invisible force.

Where do you think you're going?!

Meng Gang's eyes glinted coldly as he fiercely pursued Zhou Xuchuan, intent on making his retreat useless.

Boom!

Imbuing the spear in his hand with strength, he lifted his spear, causing the spear's body to bend like a stick of candy.

Meng Gang used the elasticity to spin the spear around in a circle, the tassel swirling with it.

It's an illusion!

All spears of the Central Plains, no matter what kind of spear they were, had a bundle of threads called a tassel. The tassels had three purposes.

The first was to dazzle the eyes by shaking the threads wildly so that the spearhead couldn't be seen properly.

The second was to prevent blood from running down the handle when stabbing the enemy, keeping it from getting slippery.

The third was just simple decoration.

The Yang Family Spear Technique applied the first use extremely well. It deliberately advanced while drawing circles, deceiving the opponent with flashy movements before stabbing at the center of the chest.

"Hmph!"

However, Zhou Xuchuan didn't fall for the illusion. He twisted his body, dodging the circular jab, and swung his sword forcefully to deflect the decisive blow.

Clang–!

The sound of metal striking metal rang out, the impact of the collision reverberating down their weapons.

Just being able to block the Phoenix Point Head this easily was amazing enough, but to think he could still produce this kind of power?

Meng Gang's face hardened. The more he exchanged attacks and moves with Zhou Xuchuan, the more he was daunted by the monster in front of him.

Zhou Xuchuan didn't particularly get panicked or even surprised. He just casually took on the blow, blocking it just like he had been blocking the others until now.

I have to kill him!

Meng Gang's killing intent grew even deeper. This wasn't just about saving face anymore—he had to eliminate Zhou Xuchuan for the future.

Thump!

Meng Gang's muscles bulged, veins standing out as he used his physical strength to the fullest extent.

Not only was he using his physical strength, he also leveraged his qi.

Using the strength overflowing from his entire body, he slashed with his spear in rapid succession.

Thwip, thwip, thwip!

He advanced with precision and retreated with speed. His movements were incredibly swift as he delivered dozens of stabs.

Impressive!

Zhou Xuchuan was genuinely amazed.

The longer the spear, the more difficult it was to handle and the lower its maneuverability. Moreover, as it got heavier, it was normal for the speed of its attacks to become slower.

However, Meng Gang's spear didn't have any of those shortcomings.

On the contrary, although his spear was longer than an ordinary spear, it was as fast as lightning. Moreover, its movements were no different from an unshakable mountain.

Ha-a-eup!

Zhou Xuchuan's qi sensitivity heightened as his senses sharpened.

All of the information regarding the spear entered his brain from his vision and hearing.

Zhou Xuchuan's sword also followed the movement of the spear. He countered each jab as if he couldn't afford to let a single blow slip through.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

Two streaks of lights sliced through the air. One line became two, and two split into several, tracing patterns in the air.

However, that line didn't reach his opponent. Before it could reach him, it was dissipated by another line that that intercepted it mid-air.

Clang-!

The sword and spear clashed fiercely, sparks flying as they both withdrew.

"You crazy bastard!"

Did you really just block all of this?

Meng Gang swallowed his words as his jaw dropped in shock.

This was different from when he was using his sword.

He was confident in his spear.

He had even given his all without showing any mercy.

Yet, somehow, Zhou Xuchuan had blocked it all.

Zhou Xuchuan had moved so fast that it made his palms sweaty. He still couldn't believe that little brat had blocked all of his moves.

Just how did he block it?

Meng Gang was puzzled.

If it was just speed, he wouldn't be this surprised.

The aura contained in the spear wasn't small, and the movement of the spear was so fluid and varied that its unique nature made it no ordinary technique.

Above all, wasn't he in the Harmony Realm? From the reaction speed, qi circulation, strength, and agility—there should have been a difference from the very beginning.

No matter how many elixirs one consumed or how much qi they built up, that alone wasn't enough to deal with someone in the Harmony Realm.

None of that matters now.

He had to kill him!

He concentrated everything on that one thought.

His killing intent bloomed, and he put pressure on Zhou Xuchuan with his qi. It was a pressure that most experts would have a hard time withstanding.

Zhou Xuchuan paused for a moment.

Meng Gang smiled in satisfaction.

Bang!

Meng Gang shot forward, his movement still lightning-fast. He moved so fast that it made one wonder if he was really holding a spear.

His unkempt beard fluttered in the wind, his eyebrows moving along with it.

He's coming!

Zhou Xuchuan slightly bent his knees. He also imbued strength into the hand holding his sword, the circulation of his qi speeding up.

Boom! Boom!!

Meng Gang's spear drew another circle. The red tassel flickering, drawing attention.

While the spearhead and the spear tassel tried to dazzle him, Zhou Xuchuan's gaze didn't waver.

As if he wouldn't miss it, he only kept his eyes on the spearhead. Thanks to that, he discovered the spear aura that formed within the afterimage of Meng Gang's attack.

Here it comes!

Finally, the move he had been preparing from the start emerged.

Meng Gang's eyes were filled with overconfidence. Thinking that this was his moment, he slashed down with all he had.

"You idiot! This is the end!"

Meng Gang couldn't hold back his laughter and shouted excitedly.

Clang!

"What?!"

Meng Gang's face twisted in shock, his mouth falling open in disbelief.

The spear that had been advancing rapidly suddenly stopped.

Normally, it shouldn't have stopped. It should have kept going, slicing through his opponent's sword. Not even a sword forged of Thousand Year Cold Iron would have been able to withstand it.

"There's no way!"

A solid mass of qi clashed between them, sending shockwaves through the spear shaft and into his hand, making it tremble.

"H-harmony Realm!"

Meng Gang's voice was filled with disbelief and shock.

Ha-eup!

Zhou Xuchan didn't let Meng Gang's overconfidence go, he counterattacked immediately.

Pulling back his sword, he twisted his wrist, launching a full-powered thrust.

Swish!

The sword strike became like a spear itself, its force rivaling any thrust Meng Gang had displayed before.

It wasn't the Violet Haze Sword Sutra or the ultimate strike of the Twenty-four Sword Forms of the Plum Blossom, but a simple strike made with raw physical power and qi.

It tore through the wind, parting the air, leaving an arc that shimmered with a faint purple glow as it advanced.

No!

Meng Gang's face turned as pale as a sheet.

He wasn't just sitting back and watching. His hands holding the spear were moving busily.

In order to block Zhou Xuchuan, who had weaseled his way into arms reach, he raised the spear shaft with his left hand then lowered it with his right, channeling his power into a centripetal motion. As the shaft bent, he used its recoil to lift the left end even faster.

"AGH!"

Squelch!

However, he was too late. His right chest was hit.

Although he twisted his body as much as he could, he still wasn't able to get out of range. Moreover, his defensive qi barrier was erected too late to block it. The spear that responded too late also lost its target and stopped.

While it should have fallen to the ground as long as it wasn't caught before it fell, Meng Gang's pride wouldn't allow that.

Despite being mortally wounded, Meng Gang grabbed the spear, which an ordinary person wouldn't be able to lift, with one hand and held it up.

"You, you b—!"

Bleergh!

Meng Gang vomited blood.

"Did you get help from the Dark Heavens Association?" Zhou Xuchuan muttered.

Meng Gang flinched.

"While things might be okay if you were a bandit in the remote countryside, a former military general wouldn't be able to hide in a conspicuous place like the Red Forest."

Meng Gang had hidden his true strength well.

Judging by his uneasy expression while using the Yang Family Spear Technique, he feared his true identity might be exposed.

"While there are many deserters, you being a general is a different story. The imperial government would never leave you alone."

It was obvious that he was a general—a military officer of high rank. Someone of his status wouldn't leave the post easily.

In the first place, the idea of living quietly wasn't an option for someone on that level. Those of the opposing faction would be happy to find him, seeing it as an easy way to eliminate someone who opposed them. Meanwhile those from the same faction would wish for his death, fearing he would reveal their dirty secrets.

The emperor, too, wouldn't be pleased, worried that someone like Meng Gang might be hiding in the provinces, plotting a rebellion.

In fact, there was a precedent for this in history.

"Was it Blessed Existence?"

"Heh, heh…"

Meng Gang let out an inflammatory laugh.

"How funny, how funny…"

"What is?"

"You were bragging that the world… was in the palm of your hand… to think that wasn't the case, so we have nothing else but to laugh…"

As expected, Meng Gang was under the protection of the Dark Heavens Association. Even if the entire Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest may not have been involved, their general was, at the very least, a part of them.

"Since you've defeated me, as a reward… I'll tell you something. What I know is… well, not much. I just don't want to see those damned northern barbarians anymore… I wanted to get out of this hellish place, and I just wanted to help the others."

Cough!

His words were slurred as if he wasn't feeling well. His complexion was also pale, but that was because he vomited blood.

"How impressive… they were. They even changed… my face… so that… I could become… a new person… and…."

His voice grew fainter with each word.

Zhou Xuchuan wanted to learn more, but it seemed things would end here.

"Kahahaha… The world has been fooled. Not only the Dark Heavens Association but even the murim. We've been fooled by the monster of Mount Hua…"

Meng Gang shouted with every bit of strength he had left, but his voice only reached Zhou Xuchuan.

1. The Miao in Miaozhen means strange. ☜