Zhang Cheng's True Colors

"Tap, tap~"

It was September, the height of the rainy season, and all of Tianhai City was shrouded in rain.

Inside the Martial Arts Classroom, a roar like that of an enraged lion rang in everyone's ears.

"Bang!"

Zhang Cheng shot forward in a single stride and kicked the long spear from the boy's hands.

"Look at your movements—soft and weak. A spear thrust should follow a straight line. Where's your line? Even my eighty-year-old Grandmother's spear thrust is steadier than yours."

"Your Spear Technique is meant to take you onto the battlefield in the future, where you'll fight Calamity Beasts."

"Even the slightest mistake could cost you your life."

"Your Spear Technique must be fast, accurate, and ruthless. Every move must be executed properly."

"Practice the Basic Spear Technique ten more times, then practice the Bedrock Spear Technique."

The boy had been chewed out so thoroughly that his head buzzed. As a genius, when had he ever been berated like this? His eyes reddened as he stared at Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng grinned.

"Want to beat me up? Go ahead!"

"Crack, crack!"

As he spoke, Zhang Cheng began loosening up his limbs. A fierce aura, like that of a male lion, surged from his body.

The boy's gaze immediately cleared. He silently picked up his long spear and resumed practicing the Basic Spear Technique.

Zhang Cheng swept his gaze around the room and shouted in a voice like a great bell.

"What are you all staring at? Start practicing."

The onlookers immediately began practicing their weapons obediently.

Zhang Cheng picked another target and went over to give them a merciless round of pointers.

After consecutively instructing several people, he walked through the Martial Arts Room and said,

"If you don't like my teaching style, fine. Tell me, and you can practice on your own. I won't say a word about it."

"But since you've chosen to accept it, then take it."

"If a martial artist wants to improve their strength, self-discipline alone isn't enough."

"You need someone to push you, guide you, bring out all your potential, and unleash it."

"I guarantee that if you can persist, you definitely won't regret it a year from now. You may hate me now, but then you'll thank me."

Lin Qi and Jiang Tao stood apart, listening to Zhang Cheng's words as they devoted themselves to practicing the manuals in their hands.

Lin Qi inwardly sighed. Teacher Zhang's teaching methods truly were extraordinary.

On the first day, everyone had thought Zhang Cheng was no different from an ordinary teacher.

But on the second day, Zhang Cheng had unleashed his might, letting everyone experience his unique teaching style.

It had to be said that this method had extremely obvious benefits.

Its effects on improving one's martial arts were equally obvious.

"Whoosh~"

Just as Lin Qi was thinking, an intense sense of danger enveloped him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of cold light rushing toward him.

Zhang Cheng was thrusting a spear at him one-handed from the side, piercing through the air with a piercing howl.

"Clang, clang~~"

Lin Qi immediately swung his long spear, forming it into a defensive circle as he retreated and blocked.

Horizontal Block!

"Your reaction is pretty fast!"

Zhang Cheng praised him, then swung his long spear and continued his attack.

"After learning a new Spear Technique, there are three stages in total."

"The first stage is being able to execute the Spear Technique proficiently."

"The second stage is practicing every move until it becomes familiar enough to use in battle."

"The third stage is comprehending the Three Ultimate Moves."

"Lin Qi, you've already passed the proficiency stage. You can use the Spear Technique in combat now."

"Clang~"

A powerful force blasted through the long spear and traveled into Lin Qi's arms, numbing both arms and forcing his body to stagger backward uncontrollably.

Zhang Cheng looked at Lin Qi with satisfaction. Recently, he had often kept an eye on Lin Qi and could clearly sense his rapid progress.

He possessed remarkable potential. He was a genuinely promising prospect.

Good thing I came. Otherwise, such a promising prospect would have been wasted.

Zhang Cheng thought to himself.

People nearby began whispering.

"Why does it feel like Teacher Zhang is paying special attention to that Lin Qi? Could his talent be that good?"

"Good, my ass. Teacher Zhang is probably only giving him extra attention because his family is poor," Yang Lei said sourly from the side.

That night

Red Sky Martial Arts Hall, Martial Arts Room A-128

The sound of rain was shut out as two figures in protective gear exchanged punches, neither gaining the upper hand.

"Bang, bang, bang!!"

After their fierce Tiger Claws collided several times in succession, both sides retreated several steps.

Guo Heng removed his helmet and panted heavily.

"Let's stop!"

"I'm tired. Lin Qi, you're getting stronger and stronger. Unless we fight for real, I can't do anything to you anymore."

Lin Qi also removed his helmet. Though drenched in sweat, his expression remained calm.

"Young Master Guo, aren't we going to practice with weapons?"

Guo Heng walked to a corner, dropped onto a stool, grabbed a bottle of Energy Drink, and gulped it down.

"Glug, glug~"

A few seconds later, the bottle of Energy Drink was empty.

"Whew~"

"Don't call me Young Master Guo. Call me A Heng."

"There's no rush. I don't know how to hold back, especially when using weapons."

"I'm afraid I might accidentally hurt you and delay your martial arts training. Sparring partners like you are hard to find. Don't all run off, or I'll be taking a huge loss."

Guo Heng slowly explained his reasons.

Lin Qi nodded. Although he had only met Guo Heng a few times, their relationship had grown much closer very quickly.

They had now practically become friends.

He understood very well 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. Their decent talent was what made Guo Heng think highly of them.

"By the way, wash up. I'll take you to see something good."

"Something good?" Jiang Tao asked curiously.

A few minutes later

Guo Heng led Lin Qi and Jiang Tao, now changed into their School Uniforms, through the corridors inside Red Sky Martial Arts Hall.

"Besides independent Martial Arts Rooms and Healing Pods, Red Sky Martial Arts Hall has another place."

A moment later, the three passed through the corridor and arrived at its end.

There stood a metal door twice the size of an ordinary Martial Arts Room's entrance, with people constantly coming and going through it.

Lin Qi and Jiang Tao followed Guo Heng inside, only to discover an enormous, exceptionally spacious area.

Lin Qi was secretly astonished. This place was huge—larger even than the Martial Arts Classroom at their No. 2 High School.

Then, rows of enormous silver-white machines came into view. They resembled oval eggs embedded within cubes.

They were much larger than ordinary Healing Pods, and each machine had a metal prism beside it.

"Is this... a Holographic Virtual Cabin?" Jiang Tao said, widening his eyes.

"That's right!" Guo Heng nodded.

"A Holographic Virtual Cabin can supposedly simulate more than ninety percent of the human body. It connects our nerves to a virtual helmet and provides real sensations and experiences."

"Fighting in reality makes it easy to get injured, and you can't go all out. But in the Virtual World, it's completely different. You can fight with everything you have, even kill."

"I've only ever seen them in the news." Jiang Tao looked excited.

"Tao Zi's right!"

Lin Qi appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly, he was also curiously examining the Holographic Virtual Cabins.

"Virtual technology has made enormous breakthroughs in recent years."

"The Holographic Virtual Cabin is one such achievement. It lets us enter the Virtual World and improve our Martial Arts Skill."

"Then doesn't that mean we can play holographic games too?" Jiang Tao suddenly asked.

Guo Heng's lips curled slightly when he heard that.

"Of course. And I can tell you, holographic games are incredibly fun—far beyond anything you can imagine."

Guo Heng's words sent Jiang Tao's imagination running wild.

"But games are only for relaxing after training."

As Guo Heng spoke, he began walking farther inside.

"Brother Heng is here!"

When someone spotted Guo Heng, they greeted him with a smile. More than one person did so.

Guo Heng responded with practiced ease.

Before long, the three arrived in front of a Holographic Virtual Cabin.

"I brought you here today to let you experience competition in the Virtual World."