Chapter Thirty-Nine: Martial Arts Secret!

“How could this be?”
At that moment, Liu Zhengqing was seized by terror. Although he had witnessed the power of that pale blue spiritual energy during Yang Yan’s previous battle with Xu Shaoguang, he had attributed Yang Yan’s easy victory not only to the instability caused by Xu Shaoguang’s forced strength from forbidden medicines, but also to Yang Yan’s advantage of water restraining fire. Thus, though he regarded that blue spiritual energy with a certain seriousness, he was far from viewing it with true dread.

But now, personally experiencing its effects, Liu Zhengqing realized how thoroughly he had underestimated it!

As his cultivation at the third level of Sense Spirit Realm was unleashed, the spiritual energy infused in his spear and the force radiating from each swing was at least twice as powerful as before. He had intended to overwhelm Yang Yan with this increased and ferocious momentum, to defeat him before Yang Yan could absorb and transform his spiritual energy. Never did he expect, however, that with the appearance of Yang Yan’s pale blue spiritual energy, the metallic energy within his own body would start draining away even faster than before!

Worse yet, each time Yang Yan’s sword, glowing with that faint blue light, touched his spear, a barely perceptible blue filament, as thin as a hair, would slide along the spear shaft and seep into his meridians!

As their duel stretched on, these blue threads accumulated within him; Liu Zhengqing’s right arm, gripping the spear, grew cold as ice, his movements slowing, and even his spiritual energy began to circulate with difficulty, as though freezing over from this chilling alien power!

“I must end this quickly. If this continues, with my strength fading while his grows, defeat is inevitable!”

With that thought, Liu Zhengqing abruptly withdrew, positioning the butt of his spear at the crook of his right arm, pulling the weapon back as his left foot stepped forward, right knee bent, his entire body leaning back in a posture reminiscent of drawing a bow. The stance looked strange, almost unnatural.

“Yang Yan, if you can withstand my next attack, then I concede this match to you!”

Liu Zhengqing’s face was proud, but his voice was solemn.

“So, he’s about to use his trump card... That’s just as well...”

At this moment, all eyes watched as Liu Zhengqing’s metallic spiritual energy surged from his right arm into his spear. Rings of golden spiritual energy rippled along the shaft, gathering at the spear tip. Simultaneously, everyone noticed the air around the jade platform begin to ripple as if the very energies of heaven and earth were being drawn in a vortex toward Liu Zhengqing’s spear!

“What!? Is he about to use a Martial Technique?!”

“This can’t be! The third level of the Sense Spirit Realm is the minimum required to begin learning Martial Techniques, but few can actually perform them at this stage. And judging by his movements, he’s about to unleash a Law Technique!”

A wave of startled exclamations swept through the crowd.

Only those who had reached the third level of the Sense Spirit Realm were eligible to train in Martial Techniques; yet, very few could truly master and execute them at this level, let alone a Law Technique!

A Law Technique, being a specialized branch of Martial Techniques, was created specifically for particular weapons. If one could only be performed with a spear, it was called a Spear Technique; with a sword, a Sword Technique. The first condition for executing such techniques was complete harmony between person and weapon—otherwise, not only would the technique fail, but the practitioner might suffer a backlash from the spiritual energy channeled through the weapon, with consequences ranging from injury to death.

At this time, Elder Li, seated among the honored guests, gazed at the two young figures with unconcealed delight. The shock and joy brought to him by these two most outstanding youths of Jinhuan City were beyond measure. Once they joined the Azure Profound Sect and received proper training, they would surely become pillars of the sect!

Zhang Tai, however, watched with growing concern, thinking to himself, “If Liu Zhengqing manages to unleash his Martial Technique, this will be no trivial matter. Yan’er’s blue spiritual energy may be formidable, but I fear it alone cannot withstand such an attack...”

His gaze fell on Yang Yan’s calm face, and an inexplicable trust welled up within him. “Could it be this boy still has some trump card kept secret from me...?”

Meanwhile, as Liu Zhengqing continued to pour his metallic energy into the spear, the point of black light at the spear’s tip grew ever deeper, resembling a black hole that could swallow souls.

At last, all his power and energy was drawn into that singularity. Liu Zhengqing was drenched in sweat, his arm trembling from the effort, clearly paying a tremendous price to unleash this Martial Technique!

Yet as Liu Zhengqing stood ready to strike with overwhelming force, Yang Yan, to everyone’s shock, calmly returned his sword, “Moonshadow Frost,” to his storage pouch.

“Is he insane? To face a Martial Technique with just his bare hands? Is he courting death?”

A commotion erupted in the stands; no one could fathom Yang Yan’s intent.

But Yang Yan’s next move soon gave them the answer.

He set aside his sword and stood firm, his hands flying through a series of seals. Wisps of pale blue spiritual energy rose from his lower dantian, coursing along his arm meridians into his palms. The blue energy danced in his hands, forming intricate patterns, as if he were drawing a sigil. At the same time, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around the jade platform was drawn inexorably toward his palms.

“He’s... using a Martial Technique as well?!”

“Impossible, am I seeing things?!”

The arena was in an uproar. The shock of this duel had far surpassed anyone’s expectations. If Liu Zhengqing, executing a Martial Technique at the third level of the Sense Spirit Realm, was already a prodigy, then Yang Yan, performing a Martial Technique at only the second level, could only be described as a true monster.

At the front of the stands, Elder Li could no longer suppress his elation and burst into booming laughter that echoed throughout the martial arena. Zhang Tai, overcome with joy, was moved to tears, his vision blurring as he gazed at the not-so-tall silhouette of his son.

“Three years—your father has waited nearly three long years for this moment. At last, you have not let me down!”