Zhao Cheng Breaks Through

In the afternoon, at Zhao Cheng's small courtyard.

Ever since Lu Cheng left in the morning, Zhao Cheng had been practicing those six forms of the halberd technique without pause.

The more he practiced, the more anxious he felt.

This was because he lacked the subsequent moves of the River-Blocking Halberd Technique.

He had been trapped at the early stage of Refining Strength for nearly two years.

Over these two years, he had traveled across half of Dongyang Prefecture.

He first purchased various secret manuals of halberd arts, and later sparred with various masters of the spear and halberd.

During that time, he even encountered a martial artist who practiced a Low-Grade Human Tier halberd technique.

Yet, he had failed to deduce any subsequent moves.

Consequently, he no longer held much hope in his heart.

Following Lu Cheng to Yang City, he had harbored the intention of trying to join the Long Wind Escort Agency and switching his cultivation method.

Who would have expected that before he could even act, Lu Cheng would give him such a massive surprise.

Although there were only six forms, the moment he practiced them, Zhao Cheng immediately understood that this halberd technique was absolutely authentic.

As he swung the moves, his body's breathing began to change accordingly.

His internal organs finally sensed a surging force.

This was a sensation he had never experienced before.

However, no matter how much Zhao Cheng practiced, that force remained trapped within his body, unable to circulate outward.

It left Zhao Cheng feeling as if he were suspended in mid-air—unable to ascend higher, yet unable to descend, which was quite frustrating.

It was not until the courtyard gate was pushed open.

When Lu Cheng appeared, it was as if he had seen sunlight breaking through gray clouds.

"Brother Lu! You've finally returned!"

"I have been waiting so anxiously!"

Lu Cheng laughed heartily:

"Brother Zhao, do not be anxious; am I not here now?"

Not to mention Zhao Cheng, even Lu Cheng himself had been quite impatient.

If not for waiting to receive the Blood-Activating Powder from the Lin Martial Arts Hall, he would have returned long ago.

His comprehension of the River-Blocking Halberd Technique was far inferior to Zhao Cheng's.

Therefore, his original plan was merely to familiarize himself with the halberd technique to defend against Yang Xiong's sword, and seize the opportunity to use the Seven Strikes of the Black Hawk to defeat the enemy.

But after the battle with Yang Xiong, he was deeply shocked by the formidable nature of this halberd set.

During the Refining Strength stage, especially when both sides were wielding weapons, this halberd technique was simply too advantageous.

After calming Zhao Cheng down, Lu Cheng did not say another word; he took the River-Blocking Halberd and demonstrated the remaining eighteen forms one by one.

Beside him, Zhao Cheng watched, completely enthralled.

After Lu Cheng finished the first demonstration, Zhao Cheng could not wait to practice along with him empty-handed.

Five times in a row, and by the start of the sixth time, his movements had already caught up to Lu Cheng's.

Two more times later, he was no longer watching Lu Cheng's movements, but was performing the thirteenth to twenty-fourth forms on his own.

"Brother Zhao, borrow the halberd." Seeing this, Lu Cheng tossed the long halberd to Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng did not even open his eyes; relying on the sound of the wind, he reached out to catch the River-Blocking Halberd and practiced with abandon.

At first, the sound of the long halberd breaking the wind echoed through the courtyard, but after a while, other strange movements emerged.

It sounded like the rumbling in the belly of a starving man, or the low growl from the throat of a tiger or leopard in the mountains.

After another while, Zhao Cheng's movements suddenly slowed down, each move appearing as sluggish as a beginner's.

The sound of breaking wind vanished, but that peculiar movement grew louder.

Looking at Zhao Cheng's chest and abdomen, it seemed as if a mass of energy was swelling within his body, drifting to his left chest one moment and darting to his lower abdomen the next.

Finally, Zhao Cheng abruptly stood the halberd upright.

The swelling energy in his chest and abdomen erupted from his mouth and nose, and a long howl like a tiger roaring in the mountains issued from his throat.

"Roar~"

The sound lasted for a full five breaths before it ceased.

The intensity was so great that the birds inside and outside the courtyard were all startled, flapping their wings in a hurry to ascend into the sky and flee into the distance.

This commotion was completely different from when Lu Cheng had made his breakthrough.

Zhao Cheng opened his eyes, a look of irrepressible surprise radiating from his pupils.

Without waiting for a reply, Lu Cheng pressed his fingers together, using them as a halberd to jab toward him.

"Well struck!"

Zhao Cheng immediately raised his own halberd-fingers to parry.

Both men channeled their strength into their fingers, employing the same River-Blocking Halberd Technique.

For the first thirty moves, there was a balance of offense and defense.

After thirty moves, Lu Cheng was forced mostly into a defensive stance.

By the time they reached sixty moves, Lu Cheng was constantly being struck on the wrist by Zhao Cheng, only managing to remain undefeated because his own martial cultivation was a hair higher than Zhao Cheng's.

Lu Cheng drew a sharp breath; Zhao Cheng's halberd technique was truly exceptional.

"Brother Zhao, my apologies."

As he spoke, his left hand shifted, turning from a palm into a claw, and he lunged toward Zhao Cheng's halberd-fingers in one fluid motion.

Zhao Cheng let out a grunt, his own middle and index fingers snapping together to form a secondary defense, intercepting from the side.

In terms of proficiency, Lu Cheng's current mastery of the Seven Strikes of the Black Hawk was not as refined as his River-Blocking Halberd Technique.

However, because the two were using their hands as halberds, the distance between them had been significantly shortened.

Furthermore, many of the complex halberd maneuvers could not be executed at such close range.

With Lu Cheng having closed the distance, Zhao Cheng instantly became flustered.

In less than fifteen moves, his wrist was seized by Lu Cheng.

Even so, Zhao Cheng's joy was written all over his face.

The two withdrew their hands, and Lu Cheng smiled, cupping his fists to congratulate Zhao Cheng.

"Congratulations to Brother Zhao on your martial advancement."

Zhao Cheng shook his head.

"Compared to Brother Lu, I am still far behind."

He then bowed deeply to Lu Cheng, his tone filled with emotion.

"Many thanks, Brother Lu. I will never forget the grace of your instruction."

"From this day forward, whatever you command, I, Zhao Cheng, will give my all to fulfill, even if it means death!"

Lu Cheng accepted the gesture with composure.

The River-Blocking Halberd Technique deduced by the [Heavenly Mandate] was more than just a mid-grade human-tier martial art.

Combined with Zhao Cheng's general outline of the River-Blocking Halberd Technique, it was a martial cultivation method even more profound than the Mystic Eagle Technique.

In other words, if Zhao Cheng and Lu Cheng were at the same cultivation level, Lu Cheng would not be able to defeat Zhao Cheng without using the Seven Strikes of the Black Hawk.

Anyone would be moved to tears of gratitude for such a gift.

Moreover, deducing the subsequent twenty-four forms of the halberd technique had almost become an obsession for Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng stood up, only to see Lu Cheng staring at him with a smile, not blinking once.

His heart skipped a beat, and he took two steps back, discreetly grabbing the long halberd from the side and planting it in front of him.

"Brother Lu... why are you looking at me like that?"

Lu Cheng noticed Zhao Cheng's gaze and immediately curled his lip.

"Where has your mind wandered, Brother Zhao? I, Lu Cheng, prefer proper, graceful ladies; a rough man like you is an eyesore to me."

"However, there is indeed something I would like your help with."

Zhao Cheng showed no sign of annoyance and laughed heartily.

"As long as it isn't a matter of romance, Brother Lu, feel free to command me."

Lu Cheng spoke seriously.

"Brother Zhao, do not speak of 'commands.' Although we have not known each other long, it is rare to find someone with whom one feels such an instant connection. Even without the instruction I provided, I would still have asked for your help."

Hearing Lu Cheng say this, Zhao Cheng also became serious, gripping the shaft of his halberd.

"Brother Lu is right; I was being reckless."

Lu Cheng waved his hand, cutting straight to the point.

"If you were to break through to the Late Stage of Strength Refining, Brother Zhao, how long do you estimate it would take?"

"To break through..." Zhao Cheng closed his eyes to calculate for a moment before speaking slowly.

"About four months."

So long?

Lu Cheng could not help but be extremely surprised.

"Is it because the Blood-Activating Powder is insufficient?"

Zhao Cheng shook his head.

"I've been a guard at the Liu Family for over half a year, so I have enough Blood-Activating Powder."

"What I mean is, with sufficient Blood-Activating Powder, you'll break through to the Late Stage of Strength Refining in four months."

Lu Cheng was momentarily unable to process this.

Four months, even with enough Blood-Activating Powder?

Then how long would it take if it wasn't enough?

Could Zhao Cheng's talent really be that poor?

But if it was that bad, how did he manage to refine his strength with the incomplete River-Blocking Halberd Technique back then?

"Wait a moment, Brother Zhao, I think we need to sort this out properly."