Lu Mingfei, why are you slaying dragons if you're not involved!

Chapter 129 The "Humble" Overlord Spear, Alchemy Realm! (4.7K)

"I've never heard of the Tai Chi spear before."

Lu Mingfei asked curiously.

"Judging from the name, it's also part of the martial art 'Tai Chi'?"

"Of course, in reality, most martial arts you've heard of include weapons. In fact, for most martial arts, the weapons aspect is the core."

We need to teach weapon handling skills, so we can't do it in the boxing ring. That space is fine for hand-to-hand combat, but if you have something in your hands, you can't really fight effectively.

They arrived at the bodyweight training area. All the barbells, benches, and weight plates had been cleared out, making room for them.

"Actually, the reason is very simple. In a real battle, how much of an advantage do you think a person armed has over someone unarmed?" Zhang Shanfeng asked.

"Forehead……"

Lu Mingfei instinctively replied with a lame remark, "Like... using a rifle against a melee weapon?"

"...Are you trying to play a game of weapon upgrades and combat here?!"

Zhang Shanfeng couldn't help but complain.

“Mainly because I haven’t tried it before…” Lu Mingfei muttered to himself.

"Don't try it, because there are countless examples of this. Most of my students are of mixed race, but I always tell them that even when facing ordinary people, they should not be arrogant and choose to fight unarmed against armed opponents."

Zhang Shanfeng entered teaching mode as a teacher.

"David Reed, former U.S. middleweight boxing champion, has an outstanding professional record and his physical qualities, reaction speed, ability to withstand blows, and fighting skills far exceed those of ordinary people."

However, in 2006, while trying to mediate a dispute outside a Philadelphia nightclub, he got into a fight with a thug named Marcus Ridley.

Unlike a boxing match, this thug had a knife. Although Reed was a top boxer, his boxing skills were almost useless in close-quarters combat when faced with a knife attack.

He was stabbed in the chest, injuring his heart and lungs, and died after being taken to the hospital. A seasoned professional boxing champion was thus 'single-handedly killed' by an ordinary thug wielding a knife.

The scenarios depicted in movies and novels, where someone disarms another with their bare hands, are extremely rare in reality. The human body is ultimately too fragile; even a small, sharp knife, if it only slightly pierces a vital area, can provide a decisive advantage.

"So, even if you just grab a random telephone pole from the roadside to use as a weapon, it's still better than being empty-handed?" Lu Mingfei suddenly realized.

“Even a typical cement utility pole… weighs several tons.”

Zhang Shanfeng was a little tired. "If you can swing a telephone pole, with that strength and physical power, even if the other side is armed with a rifle, they'd have to run away, right?"

"I'm mainly thinking that the city's sanitation work is so good now that it's hard to find bricks..."

So what does this have to do with bricks?
Zhang Shanfeng was starting to understand—when chatting with Lu Mingfei, you couldn't take every word he said too seriously unless you had the same wild imagination and thought process!
"In short, what I mean by this is that weapons are far more important than fists and feet. Fists and feet are only a last resort in desperate situations, and most people won't be able to master them even after a long period of training."

Zhang Shanfeng steered the conversation back on track.

"So it's normal that you've only heard of Tai Chi Chuan before, because Tai Chi spear is too important and involves too much danger, so it's destined to be impossible to promote... Okay, now let's get down to business, about Tai Chi spear!"

Lu Mingfei was on high alert and listened attentively.

It was past seven o'clock, precisely the time for the execution of the [Tai Chi] plan. Although hands-on instruction hadn't yet begun, learning the underlying concepts was still part of the teaching process, so he wouldn't be warned with an electric shock.

But if you don't pay attention in class, you'll experience that soul-crushing pain again.

"First of all, I must emphasize one point."

Zhang Shanfeng's gaze fell on the Overlord Spear in Lu Mingfei's hand. "Theoretically speaking, the Overlord Spear is completely unsuitable for the key points of Tai Chi spear techniques."

"what?"

Lu Mingfei was stunned.

"To be precise, it is not suitable for any spear technique that focuses on 'skill,' even the Baji Spear, which emphasizes power and ferocity," Zhang Shanfeng added.

"why?"

Lu Mingfei snapped out of his daze and subconsciously glanced at the quiet and unassuming Overlord Spear in his hand. "Is there something wrong with the living spirit inside?"

"What problems could a living being have?"

Zhang Shanfeng shook his head.

"Don't think of the Living Spirit as something high-class or sophisticated. It actually only serves as a 'qualification check.' Once you pass it, you've essentially gained absolute access to it, and you can use it like a carrying pole to transport things without any problem."

Lu Mingfei suddenly realized: "It's like a card-swipe authentication gate, except this gate verifies bloodline? So there are no restrictions after passing through. But then..."

The question that was about to slip out caught in his throat, and Lu Mingfei subconsciously looked at the Overlord Spear in his hand.

If it's not a "software" limitation, then it can only be a "hardware" limitation.

"Hardware" refers to the Overlord Spear itself. After transforming into this desired form, the biggest difference between this spear and ordinary spears lies in...

The characteristics that Zhang Shanfeng had mentioned earlier, combined with his impression of ordinary large guns, revealed the differences and reasons behind them in an instant.

"It's all metal!"

Lu Mingfei suddenly realized.

"So theoretically it's not suitable for any 'skill'... because one of the key points of using skills is 'bullet', but the Overlord Spear can be considered a rigid body!"

"That's right! The spear is the king of all weapons, but also the thief of all weapons. The 'king' is in sweeping away thousands of troops, and the 'thief' is in its ever-changing nature."

Zhang Shanfeng nodded with satisfaction. The greatest happiness for a teacher is being able to teach smart students. They understand things quickly and can even apply what they've learned to other situations. It doesn't require too much effort, yet he can still enjoy the sense of accomplishment from successful teaching.

"In fact, the characteristics of this Overlord Spear... are more like a spear than a gun. A spear is a variant of a spear—thin, light, and elastic, with a tassel, and skill is paramount. As the saying goes, 'A month for a staff, a year for a knife, a lifetime for a spear.'"

But the spear is different. The spear is the most primitive, basic, and universally used long-handled stabbing weapon of mankind. Its characteristics are large, heavy, and rigid, with strength as its primary factor, which perfectly fits the description.

However, calling it 'Overlord Spear' sounds a bit strange and doesn't fit the usual convention, so let's just call it Overlord Gun.

"The king of the earth and mountains, Xiang Yu, was strong enough to lift a tripod... He relied mainly on strength rather than skill, which is quite reasonable."

Lu Mingfei nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "But even so, Teacher Zhang, you're still planning to teach me Tai Chi spear?"

"Yes, because you're using it like a spear, I have nothing more to teach you. This is a weapon born for the incredibly strong to charge into battle on horseback amidst a vast army. To use it, you only need the simplest straight thrusts, slashes, and sweeps!"

Zhang Shanfeng picked up a barbell from the side, clearly intending to use this 20-kilogram weight as a "teaching weapon." For a hybrid, this weight was roughly equivalent to lifting a bamboo pole of the same size and length.

"But your strength is far from sufficient right now, and strength is not something that can be easily improved in a short period of time. So I hope you will still use it as a real gun, because guns rely on skill, and your talent in Tai Chi is unparalleled, even I am ashamed of myself."

Martial arts novels often mention that "grass, trees, bamboo, and rocks can all be used as swords." This means that once your skills reach a certain level, you no longer need to be bound by the form of the weapon. I believe in your potential!

"Ha ha……"

Lu Mingfei gave a stiff, dry laugh. He really wanted to say, "Actually, I think my talent in Tai Chi is pretty average," but Zhang Shanfeng had already blocked that idea.

Zhang Shanfeng is undoubtedly one of the top Tai Chi masters of our time, one of the very best. He himself admitted his talent was inferior, so for Lu Mingfei to say he was just average... that's not "humility," it's tantamount to insult.

Lu Mingfei knew why Zhang Shanfeng thought he was a peerless Tai Chi genius—he had only practiced Tai Chi for a few hours, yet he had already mastered the core principle of Tai Chi: "using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds"!

That's something that ordinary people might not be able to master even after decades of practice, and even geniuses need years of hard work!

"But I was able to do this entirely because I have the [Force Analysis] and [High-Speed ​​Calculation] entries, not because I have a natural talent for Tai Chi!"

Lu Mingfei cried out in his heart.

This feeling is like a husky finally managing to blend into a wolf pack by its coloration and appearance, only to have the pack leader look it over and say, "You used to be able to grow so strong and healthy on your own, with shiny fur and boundless energy. You're pretty awesome, even better than me back in the day. You should be the leader!" The wolf leader has no idea that the husky earned its food from humans through hard work and performance!
"Wait...it doesn't seem like a bad idea after all."

Lu Mingfei suddenly realized that both of his entries were usable normally, so it wouldn't be wrong to call them his "Tai Chi talent".

"Come on, smash me with the Overlord Spear."

Zhang Shanfeng slightly raised the barbell with one hand, signaling Lu Mingfei to start.

Clearly, the lesson has begun; this is the initial "demonstration" segment.

Lu Mingfei knew that without using any entries, comparing himself to Zhang Shanfeng was like Tyson fighting Taro – they were simply not even in the same species.

Without any hesitation, he raised the Overlord Spear high with both hands and slammed it down!

This move was somewhat forced.

The Overlord Spear, an alchemical weapon forged from "recycled metal," possesses a series of advantages compared to conventional alloys, such as "low density" and "high strength," but it is, after all, solid.

too heavy!
This thought flashed through Lu Mingfei's mind.

"With my current strength, I'm afraid it's not suitable to use it as a primary weapon..."

Just as this thought arose—

The Overlord Spear suddenly made a sound again, a sound like the soft roar of a giant dragon!
In an instant, an invisible domain "opened up".

Lu Mingfei felt the Overlord Spear in his hand suddenly become half the weight! This sudden change made his feeling of the Overlord Spear instantly change from "barely under control" to "effortlessly under control".

Zhang Shanfeng's expression changed slightly.

It wasn't because of the sudden increase in the speed of the descent, but rather—that the domain also covered him.

Unlike Lu Mingfei, who felt lighter, he was "locked in" as the direct target of the Overlord Spear! Instantly, a heavy, invisible pressure enveloped him.

That wasn't a psychological pressure, but a real, tangible force...

gravity!

The blood flow that was originally smooth suddenly slowed down, and the muscles and bones that used to move easily and freely required more effort to achieve the same effect. Even the barbell in my hand felt twice as heavy.

But Zhang Shanfeng didn't back down; instead, he instantly adjusted and adapted his body. The barbell returned to normal speed, meeting the falling Overlord Spear head-on!
In terms of the physical property of being a "rigid body," the barbell and the spear are the same.

But in Zhang Shanfeng's hands, this long and heavy weapon became "soft".

The shaft easily "stuck" to the Overlord Spear. With a flick of Zhang Shanfeng's wrist, Lu Mingfei felt the force of his slamming down instantly redirected to the side. The power was transmitted through the Overlord Spear, almost causing him to stumble.

Such skill is no less than performing an ear-cleaning act with a rolling pin; it's blatant "showing off."

But Zhang Shanfeng showed no smugness. Instead, he called out "Stop for a moment" and walked forward with a serious expression.

"Wh...what's wrong?" Lu Mingfei was a little confused.

"You didn't feel anything?" Zhang Shanfeng was taken aback.

"I... I did feel that the Overlord Spear had become lighter just now."

Lu Mingfei weighed the Overlord Spear in his hand, somewhat hesitant.

"But now it has returned to its original weight."

Chu Zihang and Ye Sheng, who had been watching from the sidelines, also came up at this moment.

Chu Zihang silently checked Lu Mingfei's condition, confirming that there was no problem. Ye Sheng, an outstanding graduate, then spoke up and asked a question.

"Teacher Zhang, was that the alchemical realm just now?"

“That’s right… it’s the realm of alchemy. Based on my experience, the effect should be ‘gravity,’ which is in line with the authority of the King of Earth and Mountains.”

Zhang Shanfeng looked Lu Mingfei up and down with a slightly strange expression, as if he were about to get to know him all over again.

"I never imagined your bloodline was so high that you could even activate and use this! The effect is comparable to a miniature Word of Power: Royal Authority, not to mention it can even become lighter in your hands... Such exquisite control, truly worthy of being the alchemical weapon of the King of Earth and Mountains."

"This... shouldn't be anything that indicates danger, right?"

Lu Mingfei asked cautiously.

"Theoretically speaking, the only danger is that alchemy practitioners will extract the user's life force as 'fuel' to sustain their consumption, most commonly in the form of 'blood-sucking'."

Ye Sheng explained, "But you didn't feel anything... It's possible that the alchemical field within the Overlord Spear is of the [energy storage] type, and it still has reserves after so many years."

"Phew... thank goodness, I don't need to get a tetanus shot."

When Lu Mingfei heard Ye Sheng say "draw blood," he checked the palm of his hand that had just held the Overlord Spear to make sure there were no wounds before he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He threw out a nasty remark and seamlessly transitioned into a rant.

"It's been over two thousand years, how could they still have reserves? What kind of Zentradi technology is this!"

"Dragons are creatures that can defy modern scientific understanding to some extent. We know very little about them now and can only wait to explore them."

Zhang Shanfeng stroked his beard thoughtfully, "Do you remember how you activated that alchemy domain just now?"

"More or less...it seems to be just like before when I thought it was too long and too thick."

Lu Mingfei thought for a moment, "At first I felt it was a bit heavy to use... then it felt lighter. Come to think of it, its length, thickness, and weight can all change, this thing is practically a replica of the Ruyi Jingu Bang!"

Upon hearing this, the other three all turned their gazes toward the Overlord Spear.

This behavior of completely ignoring everyone else, but being completely devoted to one person, and activating the alchemical field with a single thought... isn't it a bit too "humble"?
You have to admit, you were once the alchemical weapon of the King of Earth and Mountains!

Zhang Shanfeng's duration was the longest—simply because he was infuriating!

This little episode passed quickly, and Zhang Shanfeng asked Lu Mingfei to continue learning from him using the Overlord Spear, but not to activate that alchemy domain again.

Consider it a workout for your arm strength.

The Tai Chi Spear is essentially an application of Tai Chi. It's just that this time, Lu Mingfei didn't activate [Force Analysis] or [Super-Speed ​​Calculation].

He realized a problem: using these two terms in combat was equivalent to having the ability to consistently use minimal force to deflect great force, but he had not actually mastered the individual Tai Chi techniques.

But this can increase your proficiency in Tai Chi!
"You can increase your proficiency significantly by relying solely on your own abilities during the learning process without needing to do anything else."

Lu Mingfei pondered.

"But there's no need to worry about combat. We can use the entry during the practical training with Senior Brother Ye Sheng later..."

Beside him, Ye Sheng, using the excuse that "you will also have to handle affairs when you officially take office as the president of the Lionheart Society next semester, so you can learn and adapt in advance and learn by analogy," finally managed to get Chu Zihang to help him out, which made things a little easier.

In his spare time, he secretly observed Lu Mingfei's movements and assessed his strength.

As an outstanding senior who has already graduated, it would be a bit embarrassing to be defeated by a junior who hasn't even enrolled yet in a practical training exercise.

Although he is only B-rank, while Lu Mingfei is S-rank, Lu Mingfei has clearly not awakened yet!
Fortunately, he found that Lu Mingfei's progress in "Tai Chi Spear" was relatively normal.

"Looking at it this way, it shouldn't be a disaster..."

He breathed a sigh of relief.

(End of this chapter)