"... If you cannot do it, you must become a servant of the Zhang family."
Zhang Hex paused, his eyes like sharp swords, staring directly at Ding Ling:
"What do you think?"
Without waiting for Ding Ling's response, he added:
"Of course, you can completely refuse. Consider the previous spear technique instruction as an apology for my insolence in saying this!"
"I bet!"
Ding Ling was very decisive.
He had cheats.
This kind of gamble was the least of his worries!
"Are you sure?"
Zhang Hex was clearly a man of integrity, thought for a while, and said:
"To be honest, ever since I acquired this Water and Fire Dragon Capturing Staff Technique, I have diligently studied it, but due to the lack of a good mentor, I've only reached the entry level to this day, so I cannot personally instruct you.
You can only train by looking at the manual.
The difficulty is as high as reaching the heavens."
If even such a high-level item as the Water and Fire Dragon Capturing Staff Technique can be completed by you, Ding Ling, then I, Zhang Hex, would willingly admit defeat!
Zhang Hex only said this to himself, not out loud.
Obviously.
He was certain that Ding Ling could not successfully train in the Water and Fire Dragon Capturing Staff Technique!
After all, even someone like him, who had pondered over this staff technique for five or six years, was still only at the entry-level.
This Water and Fire Dragon Capturing Staff Technique is a top-level martial art, comparable to the Five Tigers Soul-breaking Spear Technique!
There was no one to guide, nor was there an initial, middle, or high tier staff technique as a transition!
It was like asking a child to lift a thousand pounds, like asking a toddler who doesn't recognize a single character to write an essay!
Saying it's as hard as reaching the heavens would not be an exaggeration.
"I'm sure."
Ding Ling was not intimidated at all, answering quickly.
Cheng Huan and Gao Lan were about to stop him, but seeing Ding Ling's resolute and confident look, they hesitated and thought:
"If Ding Ling is really confident, this could be his opportunity. It would be unwise to interrupt rashly. But isn't this gamble a bit too much?"
They did not want Ding Ling to become a servant of the Zhang family.
Because once that happened, Ding Ling would be cutting off his own future. As a servant, how high could one rank in society?
But recalling Ding Ling's previous wager to learn the Battlefield Saber Technique, they were left unsure and pondered:
"Ding Ling possesses supernatural talent in pile skill, saber technique, and spear technique. Could he really have such talent with staff technique as well?"
They found it hard to believe.
Because it was so unbelievable!
For someone who had never learned staff technique to start with a top-level staff technique! The failure rate was almost one hundred percent!
"Alright!"
Zhang Hex, being a straightforward person, did not try to dissuade further. He took out a scroll from his pocket and threw it to Ding Ling: "Catch."
Ding Ling leaped lightly, reached out in the air, and caught the scroll with the grace of a flying bird, his movements were very nimble, effortlessly catching the scroll.
Zhang Hex's eyes lit up:
"Your agility and speed have already surpassed those of an average Third-class General. In terms of strength, you're no less than a Second-class General; your potential for growth is significant. I will give you one last chance, if you don't want to bet with me, return the scroll."
"No need to say more."
Ding Ling began to read the scroll intently.
As Zhang Hex felt regret, his heart was actually cheerful. In his view, he was sure to win this time!
Earlier, Gao Lan failed.
That was surely because Ding Ling had studied the initial and high-tier saber techniques, had already acquired some mastery of saber techniques, and possessed extraordinary talent, allowing him to grasp the Battlefield Saber Technique in a short time. Though incredibly astounding, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible, after all, General Pan Feng had a similar experience with axe techniques.
But this staff technique is different!
It is a completely different discipline from saber techniques!
And there's no initial or high-tier foundation of staff techniques for Ding Ling.
Ding Ling is essentially building a castle in the sky, how could he succeed?
Without a foundation in staff techniques, how could it be achieved?
Zhang Hex grew increasingly confident, just waiting for Ding Ling to fail.
While Ding Ling meticulously read through the Water and Fire Dragon Capturing Staff Technique a few times.
On a bookshelf in the library, a book quickly materialized: "Water and Fire Dragon Capturing Staff Technique"!
Then...
[Water and Fire Dragon Capturing Staff Technique Full Level]
[Strength +1.4]
[Agility +1]
[Constitution +1.2]
Crack!
This time, the increase in strength and constitution was significant, causing a tremendous change in Ding Ling's bones, so much so that the external manifestation was exceptionally obvious, and it could be clearly seen that Ding Ling's stature suddenly grew a bit taller.
The previously well-fitting armor had now become entirely too small!
The armor that used to be loose, had already become very ill-fitting after several growth spurts.
Moreover, this time, having added a hundred more pounds of strength, combined with the original few hundred pounds of strength, it even deformed the inferior armor somewhat.
This scene was shocking to Zhang Hex, Gao Lan, and Cheng Huan.
They looked at each other, clearly seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes!
No doubt about it.
At this moment, all three of Zhang Hex's group considered Ding Ling a 'monster!'
How could a normal person train martial arts like this?!
Even General Pan Feng wasn't this freakish!
It was absolutely explosive!
Boom!
Ding Ling wielded the long spear in his hand as a staff, and with a flourish, the air was filled with 'staff shadows'. It was clearly a nimble spear, yet it was wielded by Ding Ling with a domineering strength of a thousand pounds!
It was as if a mighty general wielding a heavy staff were slashing across the battlefield, free to come and go, an intensity so fierce it would make petty foes flee in fear!
That overwhelming aura of invincibility.
At one point, Gao Lan, Zhang Hex, and Cheng Huan all believed Ding Ling was a divine being able to capture dragons!
Phew!
When Ding Ling finished performing the Water and Fire Dragon Capturing Staff Technique, and stood with the spear, bowing to the three of them.
The trio suddenly snapped back to reality.
Zhang Hex, with a sheen of fine sweat on his forehead, looked at Ding Ling as if seeing a monster, and after a long pause, smiled wryly:
"Ah, I underestimated a true genius. It seems in the eyes of a peerless genius, I, Zhang Hex, can only be considered mediocre!"
Zhang Hex felt utterly defeated.
Trained in martial arts from a young age!
A little overlord within his clan! A spear with which he remained invincible in his clan!
Even when he ventured out of the family, roaming all over Jizhou, he rarely met his match!
Yet today, a new recruit had utterly destroyed his confidence!
He nearly lost all his self-confidence!
"Indeed."
Gao Lan deeply agreed, feeling quite fortunate, he said:
"Thankfully, there are only a few people like Ding Ling and General Pan Feng in the world who possess such peerless talent, otherwise, we would have no place to survive or face to show!"
Cheng Huan would occasionally interject.
All three of them marveled from time to time.
Zhang Hex couldn't help but step forward to touch Ding Ling's bones!
In the end, he became more puzzled than ever!
Simply because Ding Ling's bones and body didn't seem unusually outstanding, how could he be so extraordinary!
[Achievement Medal Acquired...]