The Ten Spear Blossoms Take Shape

Unimaginable.

If this spear struck a person, the damage it caused would be beyond measure.

A single thrust, yet it was as if dozens of spears were striking at once!

Every blow seemed powerful enough to pierce a giant tree.

When facing this spear, an ordinary person could forget about blocking it. Whether their corpse would remain intact was already a question.

Whoosh!

Tong Yuan finished demonstrating and explaining the spear technique, then looked at Ding Ling.

"How was it?"

"It's fine."

Ding Ling nodded solemnly and slowly closed his eyes.

One fierce and swift move after another flashed through his mind.

At the same time, a book quickly took shape on one of the Library's shelves.

A moment later.

Spirit Phoenix Spear Technique reached max level.

Strength +0.8

Agility +1.6

Constitution +0.8

Ding Ling completely mastered the essence of every technique in an instant.

He opened his eyes, gripped the spear, and shook its shaft. His body moved with the spear as he thrust into the air, and ten perfect spear blossoms took shape!

Clang, clang, clang!

The spear swept into motion, as swift as a violent storm, unbelievably fast!

With the naked eye,

one could only see spear shadows flashing through the air!

It was simply impossible to tell where the true spearhead was.

After a while.

Ding Ling lowered his spear and stood upright, cupping his hands toward Tong Yuan. "Senior, please advise me."

"...!!"

Tong Yuan stared speechlessly at the heavens and thought, You've already learned it to this level. How am I supposed to advise you?!

"Still just as fast."

Zhao Yun felt ashamed of himself, the pride in his heart shattered.

The image of his previous lofty arrogance was gone.

He became even more humble and steady!

It was all because of Ding Ling.

Zhao Yun discovered that he was practically trash by comparison!

How could he still feel proud after that?

Thinking of how he had repeatedly warned Ding Ling earlier, Zhao Yun couldn't help blushing in embarrassment!

Ding Ling was such a genius.

Was there any need to fear this or worry about that?

He had simply been overthinking things!

"Too powerful!"

Zhao Xiaoyu stood there dumbfounded.

Even though she had been shocked several times already, this time still left her stunned and speechless.

That was because no one knew better than her how much suffering her second brother had endured to cultivate the Spirit Phoenix Spear Technique!

Waking with the rooster was routine. Practicing thrusts wildly with his hand as a spear late at night was even more commonplace.

She looked at her second brother.

Then she looked at Ding Ling.

How could Zhao Xiaoyu not be shaken to her core, her emotions surging beyond control?!

"General!"

Zhao Bingxuan gazed at Ding Ling with dreamy eyes. She had already been completely won over by his bearing, grace, and talent.

After a while.

Ding Ling's cupped hands had begun to ache.

Only then did Tong Yuan sigh.

"Your existence has even made me start doubting my entire life."

He spoke bluntly, without the slightest concern for his status as an elder.

"My state of mind is especially unstable right now. I need a day's rest. Come back tomorrow to learn the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear."

With that,

he turned and hurried away.

He looked rather disheveled, as if a terrifying monster were chasing him from behind.

His behavior made it clear that Tong Yuan's state of mind had completely collapsed.

Almost at the same time,

a notification sound rang out:

You obtained an E-Rank Achievement Medal: You earned Tong Yuan's intense admiration!

Note: There is no doubt about it. You learned his spear techniques three times in a row within an extremely short period of time, leaving him utterly shaken and unable to compose himself!

His worldview is already on the verge of collapse.

The persistence and convictions he had maintained throughout his life began to change at this very moment!

Your appearance has caused Tong Yuan's thoughts and state of mind to undergo tremendous changes.

You successfully made a generation's Spear God stare in astonishment and feel inferior to you!

Another E-Rank Achievement Medal.

Thinking of the one Pan Feng possessed,

Ding Ling guessed that E-Rank Badges could currently only be obtained from Transcendent First-Class Experts. Alternatively, they might be awarded for killing or defeating bandits capable of rewriting the course of history, and so on.

You obtained an Achievement Medal: You earned Zhao Yun's deep recognition!

Note: Zhao Yun already felt grateful toward you. Your performance today has completely won him over!

Zhao Yun's Achievement Medal did not have an E-Rank.

It seemed that Zhao Yun was still in the growth stage.

He had yet to become a Transcendent First-Class Expert.

Ding Ling understood.

He now had a general idea of how to obtain E-Rank Badges.

Inside Zhao Yun's bamboo hut.

Zhao Xiaoyu and Zhao Bingxuan had prepared the food.

The group sat down, eating and chatting.

Zhao Yun looked at Ding Ling with admiration.

"You can now thrust out ten spear blossoms. This level is truly extraordinary! Even at full strength, I can currently only thrust out nine and a half. You're stronger than me!"

He looked extremely depressed.

"I've practiced spear techniques for years, yet I can't compare to the half hour you spent learning them! The gap is far too great."

He drank a cup of "fine" wine.

But once the wine entered his stomach, it only grew more bitter with every sip!

He knew that the bitterness in his heart and the sourness in his mouth had made both the food and wine tasteless.

"That's right."

Zhao Xiaoyu looked at Ding Ling with admiration.

"My second brother suffered tremendously while learning the spear, but reaching the point where he's about to graduate after more than a decade is already incredibly impressive!

After all, ordinary geniuses can't satisfy Master's high standards at all.

The fact that my second brother managed to do it proves that he has Innate talent and unmatched aptitude.

But now that he's compared with you, this, this..."

She did not continue.

But Zhao Yun seemed to grow even more miserable.

He drank several mouthfuls of wine in silence, still unable to let it go.

Zhao Bingxuan consoled him from the side.

"My General was already famous throughout Yecheng for his peerless talent. Whether it was General Zhang He, General Pan Feng, or even Han Fu, the Governor of Ji Province, they all held my General in the highest regard, believing him to be the number one person under heaven. A peerless talent rarely seen throughout history!

"So there's no need for you to compare yourselves with him.

"My General is simply too outstanding.

"From ancient times to the present, you might not find another person like him!"

Her words were overflowing with "honor," "pride," and "belonging."

She called him "my General" at every turn, as if afraid that others might not know Zhao Bingxuan belonged to Ding Ling.

Zhao Xiaoyu glanced at Zhao Bingxuan with a distant look in her eyes. No one knew what she was thinking. Only after Zhao Bingxuan's face turned red with embarrassment did Zhao Xiaoyu stop looking at her.

"Indeed."

Zhao Yun let out a long breath, as if he had seen things more clearly.

"Although I can't compare myself to an unparalleled figure like you, Ding Ling, the world is vast. I believe there must still be a place for me, Zhao Yun, to establish myself!"

"That's for certain."

Ding Ling spoke solemnly.

"Brother Zhao, your martial arts are extraordinary and your appearance is impressive. At a glance, anyone can tell that you have the makings of an unparalleled fierce general. I believe history will surely remember you!"

Many players had said those words to Zhao Yun before.

But Zhao Yun felt nothing when he heard them from the players.

When Ding Ling said them, however, the effect was completely different.

Zhao Yun's heart stirred, and his spirits rose considerably. He nodded and smiled.

"Even Brother Ding says so. It seems that my future is destined to be extraordinary!"

It was like the difference between a beggar saying it to Zhao Yun

and an emperor saying it to Zhao Yun!

If a beggar said it, Zhao Yun might only feel a slight ripple in his heart.

But if an emperor said it,

Zhao Yun would surely be filled with confidence and vigor!