[River-Blocking Halberd Technique] Deduction Complete

"Are you Lu Cheng?"

Surprise flashed through Yang Xiong's eyes.

In an instant, he had recognized the man before him as Lu Cheng.

He hadn't meant to hold back that palm strike.

He'd aimed to knock a mouthful of Fatty's teeth loose.

But he hadn't expected someone his own age to stop it so easily.

The Long Wind Escort Agency had only been accepting disciples for a year. There was no one remarkable among them.

Word was that their strongest disciple was named Chen Qing, but given how long he'd been training, he shouldn't have been standing in this position.

That being the case, the only person who could have blocked his palm was Lu Cheng.

Yang Xiong's sudden attack had badly frightened Fatty.

It took him a good while to come back to his senses.

But he was a shameless sort, and actually pointed at Yang Xiong and shouted:

"I thought you were supposed to be so impressive. Looks like you resort to sneak attacks too!"

Yang Xiong glanced at Fatty and said coolly:

"The fury of the incompetent."

Then he ignored Fatty and turned to Lu Cheng:

"Zhou Yunxiang lost to you, and he wasn't wrong to. But if you think that's all the Lin Martial Arts Hall has to offer, you're sorely mistaken."

Lu Cheng:

"..."

It would've been fine if Yang Xiong hadn't brought up Zhou Yunxiang. The moment he did, Lu Cheng felt something was off.

The Lin Martial Arts Hall's disciples aside, why were they all so arrogant?

Or was that just how people who practiced swordsmanship acted?

Back in Liu Village, Xiao Kuang and Zhou Yunxiang had each tried to outdo the other in showing off.

Now he'd run into Yang Xiong, who was willing to put down even his own people just to look impressive.

Oh, Zhou Yunxiang had already been heartlessly kicked out of the Lin Martial Arts Hall and put on a wanted list.

By the looks of it, the problem went all the way back to their ancestors' graves.

Lu Cheng drew a deep breath.

"I've heard the Lin Martial Arts Hall's Pine Cloud Sword Technique is peerless in its ferocity. Seeing it today, I can say the rumors are true."

"Though I haven't yet experienced the sword technique firsthand, I've already felt the Pine Cloud Sword Intent through Senior Brother Yang. I'm impressed."

Yang Xiong gave no particular response.

A few steps away, Lin Wanxiong suddenly threw back his head and laughed.

"You've got a silver tongue, kid. What a pity you didn't join the Lin Martial Arts Hall."

"Yang Xiong, go easy on him. Don't cripple him until twenty moves in."

Huh?

Lu Cheng was now utterly at a loss.

Compared to Lin Wanxiong, Zhou Yunxiang and Yang Xiong seemed downright normal.

Lu Cheng didn't want to waste any more time.

He was afraid that if he listened much longer, he'd start cursing too, just like Fatty.

He didn't ask Yang Xiong to move elsewhere. Instead, he signaled to his fellow disciples to clear some space.

Everyone immediately scattered, and in the blink of an eye, they'd cleared a circular area two zhang across.

"Since that's settled, I ask Senior Brother Yang to favor me with your guidance."

Yang Xiong didn't waste words. He turned and gave a disciple of the Lin Martial Arts Hall a look.

The disciple hurriedly tossed him the sword in his hand.

Yang Xiong caught it and drew it at once, the tip slanting toward the ground as he looked coldly at Lu Cheng.

With a sword in hand, Yang Xiong's entire presence changed in an instant. His earlier air of overbearing arrogance vanished.

He truly seemed like a razor-sharp sword.

His weapon in particular appeared to be pointed at the ground, but Lu Cheng felt its aura had already locked firmly onto him.

No matter which way Lu Cheng moved, the moment Yang Xiong raised his hand, the blade would be at his chest.

Lu Cheng's heart sank.

The Pine Cloud Sword Technique was indeed extraordinary.

Yang Xiong had likely already trained it to Minor Achievement.

This was going to be troublesome.

Seeing that Lu Cheng made no move, Yang Xiong said coolly:

"Where's your weapon?"

"Are you planning to fight bare-handed? Or have you learned the Seven Strikes of the Black Hawk too?"

"Even so, I'd advise you to take up a weapon. Though the Seven Strikes of the Black Hawk is a Mid-Grade Human Tier martial skill, fighting bare-handed at the Refining Strength stage will still put you at a disadvantage."

Lu Cheng shook his head.

"I'm not good with—"

He'd meant to say that he wasn't good at using weapons, but before he could finish, golden light suddenly blazed through his Consciousness Sea.

A golden pillar that pierced heaven and earth flickered wildly.

A flash of delight crossed Lu Cheng's face and vanished. He hurriedly sent a wisp of his consciousness into his Consciousness Sea.

[Heavenly Name: Ten Thousand Laws Into One]

[River-Blocking Halberd Technique deduction complete!]

[River-Blocking Halberd Technique can be deduced.]

[Deduce?]

Huh?

It could still be deduced?

The River-Blocking Halberd Technique's completion was a pleasant surprise, but not an unexpected one for Lu Cheng.

What made him suspect he'd misread something was the new prompt that said it could be deduced again.

He checked the golden light's message once more. Confirming that it really could be deduced further, he eagerly gave the command.

[River-Blocking Halberd Technique is being deduced...]

[Deduction failed]

[River-Blocking Halberd Technique can be deduced.]

[Deduce?]

Lu Cheng paused, then gave the command to "deduce" again.

[Deduction failed]

[River-Blocking Halberd Technique can be deduced.]

[Deduce?]

After two failed attempts, Lu Cheng could confirm the problem wasn't with the Heavenly Mandate.

It seemed he hadn't accumulated enough resources for the Heavenly Mandate to use in its deduction.

But Lu Cheng wasn't disappointed.

First, this proved the River-Blocking Halberd Technique was even more extraordinary than he'd imagined.

Second, he'd have more chances to deduce it further.

Ignoring the "Deduce?" prompt, Lu Cheng focused on the pillar of light that was his Heavenly Mandate.

A black figure holding a great halberd quickly took shape within the pillar.

As soon as it appeared, the figure began to swing the halberd wildly.

Lu Cheng already knew the first twelve forms well, but even so, the figure's demonstration revealed many details that were more refined.

That was the Heavenly Mandate's power of perfect deduction!

After the first twelve came another twenty-four forms, one after another.

Those were less familiar to Lu Cheng.

But with his experience of the first twelve forms, he was able to follow along.

All thirty-six forms of the halberd technique surged with the power of a rainbow, like waves piling upon waves on a great river, their momentum overwhelming.

As the moves flowed together, they were like a full moon cutting through water; before one move had run its course, the next variation had already emerged.

Their might was in no way inferior to the Seven Strikes of the Black Hawk!

Suppressing his excitement, Lu Cheng checked the description and thought, Just as I expected!

[River-Blocking Halberd Technique]

[Grade: Mid-Grade Human Tier (Upgradeable)]

[Realm: Entry (39/200)]

[A rare technique originating from an ancient martial arts school. It is both a killing art and a martial path. Halberd techniques place great importance on momentum and emphasize overpowering skill with strength. This technique, however, combines twelve stances and forty-eight methods into thirty-six moves, while also incorporating intricate variations.]

Good!

Good!

Good!

Lu Cheng silently praised it three times.

The River-Blocking Halberd Technique was truly extraordinary.

Lu Cheng had already learned the first twelve forms from Zhao Cheng, so he'd gained some understanding of halberd techniques.

Halberds were heavy weapons, usually wielded with great force to overpower skill with strength.

But that approach inevitably had its weaknesses. If an opponent found an opening, it could become a glaring vulnerability.

This fully deduced River-Blocking Halberd Technique, however, combined power with technique and balanced hardness with softness!

Furthermore, during deduction, the River-Blocking Halberd Technique had absorbed and incorporated [Fishing with a Fork]. Lu Cheng had also practiced the first twelve forms for quite some time. Now that the technique had been fully deduced, his proficiency had risen directly to thirty-nine.

While Lu Cheng was distracted, checking the River-Blocking Halberd Technique, Yang Xiong continued:

"If you're not good with weapons, then you can't blame me for taking advantage of you."

Lu Cheng shook his head.

"Though I'm not good with weapons, as Brother Yang said, fighting unarmed at my current level would put me at too much of a disadvantage."

"Would you be willing to wait an hour while I get used to a weapon, then fight me?"

Yang Xiong gave a cold laugh.

"Trying to sharpen your spear at the last minute? Very well. I'll let you lose with no complaints, and keep people from saying the Lin Martial Arts Hall won by unfair means."

"I'll wait for you even if it takes a full day, so long as you don't take longer than that."

Lu Cheng smiled.

"Then thank you. I'll be right back."

As he spoke, he took a long halberd from the nearby weapon rack.

Amid the crowd's astonished looks, he hurried away.