Chapter 24: Zhang Cheng's True Colors
"Da-da~"
It was September, the rainy season, and the entire city of Tianhai was shrouded in rain.
In the martial arts classroom, a roar like that of an angry lion echoed in everyone's ears.
Bang!
Zhang Cheng shot out in a large step, kicking away the long spear of the boy in front of him.
"Look at your movements, limp and powerless. A spear thrust is a straight line. Where is your line? Even the spear thrust of my 80-year-old grandmother is more stable than yours."
"Your spearmanship is meant to be taken to the battlefield in the future, to fight against Disaster Beasts."
"The slightest carelessness could lead to your death."
"Your spearmanship must be fast, accurate, and ruthless. Every single move and form must be executed perfectly."
"Practice the basic spear technique ten more times, then practice the 'Bedrock Spear Technique'."
The boy was berated until he was dizzy. As a genius, he had never been scolded like this before. He looked at Zhang Cheng with red eyes.
Zhang Cheng grinned and said:
"You want to beat me up? Go ahead!"
Crack! Crack!
After speaking, Zhang Cheng began to move his hands and feet. A ferocious aura, like that of a male lion, was released from his body.
Seeing this, the boy's eyes instantly cleared up. He silently began to practice his spear, practicing the basic spear technique.
Zhang Cheng looked around and shouted, his voice like a great bell:
"What are you looking at me for? Get practicing."
The onlookers instantly and obediently began to practice their weapons.
Zhang Cheng switched to another target and went up to give him a piece of his mind.
After guiding several people in a row, he walked within the martial arts room and said:
"If you don't like my teaching style, that's fine. You can tell me, and you can go practice on your own. I absolutely won't say anything to you."
"But since you chose to accept it, then you have to endure it."
"For a martial artist to improve their strength, relying on their own self-discipline is not enough."
"You need someone to stimulate you, to guide you, to bring out all your potential, to release that potential."
"I can guarantee that as long as you can persevere, in a year, you will absolutely not regret it. You may hate me now, but you will thank me then."
Lin Qi and Jiang Tao were separated, listening to Zhang Cheng's words while practicing the manuals in their hands with all their might.
Lin Qi sighed in his heart. Teacher Zhang's teaching method was indeed unusual.
On the first day, everyone thought Zhang Cheng was no different from an ordinary teacher.
But on the second day, Zhang Cheng began to show his power, letting everyone experience his unique teaching style.
It had to be said that the benefits of this model were also extremely obvious.
The improvement in their martial arts was also extremely significant.
Swish~
Just as Lin Qi was thinking, a strong sense of danger enveloped him.
He glanced to the side, and a cold light attacked him.
Zhang Cheng was holding a spear with one hand and thrusting from the side, piercing through the air with a whistling sound.
Clang! Clang!~~
Lin Qi immediately brandished his long spear, creating a defensive circle as he retreated and blocked.
Horizontal Block!
"Quick reaction!" Zhang Cheng praised, then brandished his long spear and continued to attack.
"After learning a new spear technique, there are a total of three stages."
"The first stage is being able to execute the spear technique proficiently."
"The second stage is having trained every move to proficiency and being able to use it in battle."
"The third stage is comprehending the three ultimate moves."
"Lin Qi, you have now passed the proficiency stage and are able to apply the spear technique in combat."
Clang~
A tyrannical force blasted out along with the long spear, transmitting to Lin Qi's arms. It shook him until his arms were numb, and his body couldn't stop retreating.
Zhang Cheng looked at Lin Qi with satisfaction. Recently, he had been paying close attention to Lin Qi and could clearly feel his rapid progress.
He possessed extraordinary potential and was a truly good seedling.
"Thankfully I came, otherwise such a good seedling would have been wasted," Zhang Cheng thought to himself.
Not far away, someone was discussing in a low voice.
"Why does it feel like Teacher Zhang is paying a lot of attention to that guy named Lin Qi? Could it be that his talent is very good?"
"Good at what? He probably just gives Lin Qi extra attention because his family is poor," Yang Lei said sourly from the side.
...
In the evening.
Chi Qiong Martial Arts Hall, Martial Arts Room A-128.
The sound of rain was blocked out. Two figures in protective gear, their fists colliding, were evenly matched.
Bang! Boom! Boom!!
After their fierce tiger claws collided several times in a row, the two of them each retreated several steps.
Guo Heng took off his helmet and panted heavily:
"Let's stop!"
"I'm tired. Lin Qi, your strength is getting stronger and stronger. Unless it's a real battle, I can no longer do anything to you."
Lin Qi also took off his helmet. Under a head full of sweat, his face was still calm.
"Young Master Guo, are we not going to practice with weapons?"
Guo Heng walked to a corner and plopped down on a stool. He took out a bottle of a sports drink and began to drink it in large gulps.
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!~
A few seconds later, the bottle of sports drink was empty.
Hooo~
"Don't call me Young Master Guo. Call me Ah Heng."
"It's not urgent right now. I'm someone who doesn't know how to hold back, especially when using weapons."
"I'm afraid I'll accidentally injure you and delay your martial arts cultivation. Sparring partners like you are not easy to find. If you all run away, wouldn't I suffer a great loss?" Guo Heng slowly explained his reasons.
Lin Qi nodded. Although he had only met Guo Heng a few times, their relationship had grown closer very quickly.
Now they had practically become friends.
He was very clear why a genius like Guo Heng was willing to be friends with him and Jiang Tao.
It was entirely because he and Jiang Tao were also geniuses. They had good talent, which made Guo Heng look at them with high regard.
"Oh right, wash up. I'll take you to see something good."
"Something good?" Jiang Tao was curious.
A few minutes later.
Guo Heng, with Lin Qi and Jiang Tao who had changed into their school uniforms, walked down the corridors inside the Chi Qiong Martial Arts Hall.
"The Chi Qiong Martial Arts Hall, besides independent martial arts rooms and recovery rooms, has another place."
A moment later, the three of them passed through the corridor and arrived at the end.
Here, there was a metal door twice the size of an ordinary martial arts room's. People were constantly going in and out.
The two of them followed Guo Heng inside, only to find that it was a huge space, extremely open.
Lin Qi was secretly astonished. This was too big, even bigger than the martial arts classroom at their No. 2 High.
Next, what came into view were rows of huge, silver-white machines. They resembled oval-shaped eggs embedded in cubes.
They were much larger than ordinary recovery pods, and next to each machine was a metal prism.
"Is this... a holographic virtual pod?" Jiang Tao said with wide eyes.
"That's right!" Guo Heng nodded.
"A holographic virtual pod. It's said that it can simulate over 90% of the human body, allowing our nerves to connect to a virtual helmet and have a real sense of touch and experience."
"In reality, fighting can easily lead to injury, and one cannot use their full strength. But in the virtual world, it's completely different. You can fight with all your might, even to the death."
"I've only ever seen it in the news," Jiang Tao's expression was excited.
"Taozi is right!"
Lin Qi's surface was calm, but in his heart, he was also curiously looking at the holographic virtual pods.
"Virtual technology has made huge breakthroughs in recent years."
"The holographic virtual pod is a masterpiece, allowing us to enter a virtual world to improve our martial arts skills."
"Then couldn't you also play holographic games?" Jiang Tao suddenly asked.
After hearing this, the corners of Guo Heng's mouth turned up slightly and he said:
"Of course. And I can tell you that holographic games are incredibly fun to play, beyond what you can imagine."
Guo Heng's words sent Jiang Tao's imagination running wild.
"But playing games is just relaxation after training," Guo Heng said as he began to walk inside.
"Heng-ge is here!"
Someone saw Guo Heng and greeted him with a smile, and it wasn't just one person.
Guo Heng also responded with familiarity.
Soon, the three of them arrived in front of a holographic virtual pod.
"I came here today to let you guys experience the competition in the virtual world."
...
(End of this chapter)
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