Breakthrough in Spear Technique

Xu Qing could only suppress his emotions.

The joy of having just broken through, of bringing his Fist Technique to Perfection, was doused like cold water by the scene before him.

The gap.

This was the gap brought by strength.

The weak could only be slaughtered by others.

He was still not strong enough.

Xu Qing silently thought to himself.

If he were strong enough, he alone could solve every problem.

He was angry too.

Celestial God Company was practically half his home.

It was also where his life in this world had begun.

Now, his home had been ransacked by others.

Nine out of ten people would feel anger.

Xu Qing was no exception.

"No one knows how many experts that gang has. Unless we have the ability to defeat them all, they can keep coming back to harass us."

"And if I had absolute strength, I could even intimidate them into not daring to act."

In the end, it was because he was not strong enough.

"Still too weak!"

"I'm not even confident in myself. How can I go fight?"

"I need to keep getting stronger!"

Xu Qing decisively turned and walked back.

After returning to the woods behind the dormitory,

Xu Qing began practicing the Xing Yi Five Elements Spear.

Standing with his spear in hand.

Xu Qing carefully felt the texture of the long spear in his grasp.

Spear techniques were different from Fist Techniques.

The spear was harder.

Thrusting, stabbing, striking, parrying, coiling, circling, blocking, seizing, pouncing, pointing, deflecting.

Every move placed extremely high demands on one's control over strength.

Although he had never encountered martial arts before,

Xu Qing had heard the saying, "A month for the staff, a year for the saber, a lifetime for the spear, and keep the sword by your side."

That showed just how difficult it was to master spear techniques.

And the Xing Yi Five Elements Spear was even harder.

Because Xu Qing needed to reproduce the spear intent within the Fist Technique.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, Xu Qing shot out with his spear, like a hidden dragon breaking from the water as he erupted in an instant.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"

For a time, the sounds of air being torn apart filled the woods.

Xu Qing wielded the long spear as though he were practicing a Fist Technique.

Every movement carried the distinct flavor of Xing Yi Fist.

Crushing Fist, Cannon Fist, Horizontal Fist, Splitting Fist, Drilling Fist—under his practice, each was transformed into a spear technique.

But soon, Xu Qing swiftly withdrew his spear and stood still, coming to a stop.

His spear technique had broken through.

It had changed from the third realm, Slight Achievement, to the fourth realm, Profound Understanding.

Unfortunately, Xu Qing was dissatisfied.

"Something still feels wrong."

Xu Qing frowned as he stood in the woods, closing his eyes and repeatedly recalling the spear techniques he had just performed.

Comparing the gap between them and his Fist Technique.

His Xing Yi Fist had now reached the realm of Perfection.

His understanding of the Fist Technique had also reached its highest possible level.

Naturally, his comprehension of spear techniques had improved across the board as well.

Yet he still felt that his spear technique seemed to be missing something.

Otherwise, his spear technique should have made a far greater breakthrough.

"Ah," Xu Qing sighed. "It would be great if I had a good teacher. Having no one to guide me is such a hassle."

But he quickly adjusted his mindset.

"Forget it. I'll keep trying for another week. If I still can't break through, I'll add points."

As he walked back, Xu Qing considered his next plan.

After half a year of tempering, the E-grade Gene Potion had only a very slight effect on his strength and genetic enhancement.

The increase in his lifespan had also stopped at eighty-five years.

He had asked Wang Yang about it.

For ordinary people, taking four sets of E-grade Gene Potions was the absolute limit.

And the effects of the fourth set were almost nonexistent.

Only wealthy children who did not care about the cost would buy them.

So Xu Qing gave up on them.

His funds were limited, and he needed greater efficiency.

If he wanted better results, he had to choose the more valuable Grade D Gene Potion.

But a small place like 0122 County did not have any.

Xu Qing could only go to the larger neighboring 0121 County.

However, Grade D Gene Potions were not cheap.

Therefore, if he wanted to continue increasing his lifespan quickly, he not only needed money, but also needed to find other methods.

At present, aside from Gene Potions, cultivating powerful martial arts or Gene Guidance Techniques was the proper way to steadily increase his lifespan.

Several hours later, the alarm was lifted.

Xu Qing immediately went to find Zhou Yu and ask about the situation.

Because of Zhou Tong, Xu Qing was now considered friends with the boss's family.

So in the face of Xu Qing's concern, Zhou Yu did not hide the truth.

Sure enough, Celestial God Company had paid the gang called the Hunting Tiger Gang 4.5 million in "protection fees" to settle the matter.

Even then, they had only been exempted from another five hundred thousand because the other side took into account that the company had a Second-Order Martial Artist.

The face of a Second-Order Martial Artist was worth five hundred thousand.

"Uncle Zhou, how many gangs are there in our county? Could it be that we have to pay protection fees to every gang? And after taking protection fees, don't those gangs do anything?"

Although Xu Qing knew the answer, he still asked.

As for the County Government Hall, Xu Qing did not even bother asking.

Those useless bastards would be of use only if the sun rose in the west.

And Zhou Yu's answer did not surprise him.

"There are two major local gangs in our county: the Thunder Dragon Gang and the Water Fire Alliance. They collect two million in protection fees every year."

He sighed.

"I heard that the Hunting Tiger Gang was driven out of 1201 County, but it is still quite powerful."

"The man leading them today, their Second Chief Pang Zhan, is a Third-Order Martial Artist."

"I just didn't expect those bastards to demand five million the moment they opened their mouths."

Zhou Yu shook his head. "As for protection fees, do you think they protect us with that money? No. Those fees protect us from being harmed by them."

Xu Qing fell silent.

"Alright, you don't need to worry about these matters. Focus on practicing your martial arts. Tongtong has been worrying herself sick over your affairs."

At that, Zhou Yu suddenly grinned.

It seemed that five million was nothing to him.

"Zhou Tong?" Xu Qing looked puzzled.

Zhou Yu smiled. "Tongtong thinks you're too young, and staying at the company as a worker is ultimately a waste, so she asked me to find a way to send you to study on the moon.

"However, I think I should ask what you want first. Think it over, and give me an answer when you've made up your mind."

Xu Qing froze for a moment, then felt complicated emotions.

After thanking Zhou Yu a couple of times, he returned to the dormitory.

Study on the moon?

Leave Blue Star?

Xu Qing thought it over carefully and ultimately decided to refuse Zhou Tong's kindness.

The moon was not peaceful either.

In this age of advanced technology and interstellar navigation,

Money, strength, connections—those were the greatest forms of capital.

Without them, one could only be a commoner wherever one went.

Xu Qing knew that he currently had no capital at all. Leaving Blue Star would not necessarily change his life.

Moreover, after more than a hundred years of development, the moon's class hierarchy had long since solidified.

A green kid like him had neither strength nor capital.

How could he possibly make a name for himself there?

Although Blue Star's current situation was chaotic, it was also full of opportunities.

Most importantly, it had become the least noticed place in the Milky Way. The class hierarchy had already been broken apart.

Xu Qing could slowly grow and develop here.

There was one more reason, of course.

Xu Qing felt that the Zhou Family did not owe him anything.

He had truly acted on impulse, so there was no need for them to pay such a great price to repay him.

It would make him feel uneasy.

So the next day, Xu Qing gave Zhou Yu his answer.

When Zhou Yu heard his refusal,

the expression on his face showed no disappointment. Instead, it revealed a trace of relief.

After giving it some thought, Xu Qing understood what it meant.

But he could understand Zhou Yu, so he did not say anything more and left.

Life continued peacefully like this.

Over the next half month,

Xu Qing continued living the same routine every day.

The only change was that Zhou Tong would occasionally call him on the satellite phone to tell him stories about school, annoying Xu Qing to no end.

However, there was good news.

Xu Qing's spear technique had made a new breakthrough.