Chapter 163: Spear Fundamentals: Jun Laoye's Breakthrough

"I don't think I'll wait," Jun Laoye said with a chuckle. "The wind blade is targeting you. As long as I stay out of its range, I'll be fine."

"

Hehe

, still laughing? Seems like you still don't understand the essence of spells. Combat can only be resolved with combat, and only through mastery can a single technique be applied in countless ways..."

With a cold roar, Wind Dragon split the massive wind blade into two, sending them hurtling toward both of them.

"What the... it split? How is that even possible?" Jun Laoye shouted, dodging faster as the blades charged. "Senior Wind Dragon, I never said I wanted to learn all those spells! Why is the wind blade still chasing me?"

Nantian Wan'er hovered in midair, calling down, "Brother Jun, the blade has locked onto you because it sensed Brother Yijian's aura on you."

"

Hahaha

! Good! Good!"

Hearing Nantian Wan'er's explanation, Nantian Yijian laughed even more wildly. "Little Jun, blame yourself for leaving me and escaping alone. Now you've got no other choice! Let's run together!"

"Damn it!" Jun Laoye growled, pushing forward. "I'm not running with you. I can handle the wind blade only when I'm alone, even if just barely."

He drew his Heavenly Dao Spear and began using clever maneuvers to wear down the blades.

Watching him, Wind Dragon sneered. "

Hehehe...

that Jun brat is clever. He's already grasped my intention. But how is that Nantian brat still so clueless?"

"I should remind Brother Yijian," Nantian Wan'er said, flying above him. "Brother Yijian, focus! Pay attention to the changes within the spell."

"

Huh?

Focus?" Nantian Yijian ran frantically, spirit qi flashing beneath his feet, even using movement arts he hadn't practiced in ages. "I can barely keep up and am almost out of breath! How can I focus on anything?"

"Did you forget what Lord Wind Dragon just said? Resolve combat with combat. You specialize in sword arts, after all."

"

Oh

, right... I do... How did I forget that?" Nantian Yijian froze. "But... How do I resolve combat with combat?"

"Quick, move aside! The wind blade's coming!" At that moment, Jun Laoye, clothes tattered, charged from another angle with another wind blade. "Move, move!"

After hundreds of exchanges, the wind blade had lost its sharp outline. Its jagged edges had worn smooth, shifting toward a spherical shape.

"Face it head-on, Little Jian. Otherwise, your stamina will drain fast," Jun Laoye said, standing beside him. He hurled his Heavenly Dao Spear at the incoming blade. "Confront the wind blade directly, and you won't be trapped passively. Each strike weakens it."

Jun Laoye smashed the spear into the wind blade, slicing off a large chunk. The energy within the wind blade visibly waned.

"See? The wind blade isn't that strong. Resolve combat with combat. Why did I waste time dodging back then?"

He summoned the spear back with spirit qi, gripping it tightly. Holding it horizontally, he recited an incantation inwardly and charged again. "

Ha...

Let's get this done!

"So what if I can't use my clan's techniques? So what if I only have Mortal Tier Spear Combat Technique and Lightning Palm? I'm chasing the Heavenly Dao! How can these mere wind blades stop me?"

Following a roar, spirit qi erupted from Jun Laoye's hands. Lightning flashed across his right palm and traveled along the spear to its tip. He hurled it, the weapon vibrating as it pierced through the wind blade.

In the next instant, Jun Laoye caught up to the spear and gripped the spear's shaft. He snorted, planting his right foot firmly, and spun the weapon violently. "Spear Combat Technique, Horse Stance Thrust!"

A hollow had already formed in the center of the wind blade, and his movements widened it further and further.

Nantian Yijian stared in disbelief. "Resolve combat with combat? Defeat spells with spells?"

By now, the wind blade had lost much of its force. It still exerted pressure, but it no longer rattled Jun Laoye's mind.

"The blade is weakening?" Nantian Wan'er murmured as she watched him.

"It's not the blade weakening. It's the brat's battle momentum growing stronger," Wind Dragon said, narrowing his eyes. "I knew it. That Jun brat has never managed to unleash his true potential. He may wield the highest-tier spells, but those same spells were suppressing his spear skills. It's no wonder he's been restrained.

"I am convinced Jun Wudi must have seen through this as well. Preventing him from using his clan's techniques wasn't just to keep his true identity hidden; it was also to sharpen his spear.

"I suspect that once he achieves Heaven-Man Unity with his spear without relying on spells, he'll be ready to use his clan techniques again. That's when he'll be evenly matched with Little Lu."

Nantian Wan'er stared at Jun Laoye in awe. "Lu-gege can easily defeat someone at the Qi Condensation Realm. Even so, Brother Jun could still go toe-to-toe with him? Is his potential really that great?"

"How about Brother Yijian? How's his talent? If he can comprehend Wish Power, he should be just as talented, right?"

"You're mistaken," Wind Dragon replied. "That kid's physique and comprehension are poor. If he hadn't met Little Lu, he might have stayed stuck at the Qi Absorption Realm his whole life."

"How could that be? Brother Yijian wasn't slow in learning spells and techniques..." Nantian Wan'er glanced at Wind Dragon, confused, then back at Nantian Yijian. "Judging by how quickly he's been learning spells, he would already be considered faster than many disciples in the Nantian Sect. How can you still say his talent is lacking?"

"Have you noticed that, aside from using his guqin, he hasn't relied on any other secret arts?"

"Guqin? What do you mean?"

"That's the Thirty-Six Cosmic Sword Guqin, a weapon of the God of Slaughter from thirty thousand years ago. It's the life-bound treasure of the Imperial Lord of Rituals."

Wind Dragon gazed at the ancient guqin behind Nantian Yijian and let out a long sigh. "I don't know how it ended up in his hands, but with the Lord of Rituals' life-bound weapon and his former cultivation base, even a fool would pick it up quickly.

"But he can only draw three swords. If the Lord of Rituals were still on the continent, he would surely be disappointed to see his life-bound treasure in this state."

Seeing Nantian Yijian still dazed, Nantian Wan'er asked softly, "If his cultivation is so weak, why do you value him so highly? Could it be because of Lu-gege?"

"It's not because of Little Lu. That Nantian brat lacks talent and comprehension, but in some ways, he surpasses Little Lu.

"For instance, his mindset for rebellion. He harbors a deep obsession with resisting injustice. He's already begun to fight back, and for a cultivator, that is the most important thing.

"Moreover, his spirit qi has been completely replaced by Wish Power. With the Lord of Rituals' weapon and spells, he doesn't need innate talent or comprehension to learn other techniques.

"This set of sword arts and the artifact alone make him formidable. If he ever encounters the Lord of Rituals, he could even learn all of the lord's cultivation techniques, compensating for his own spell deficiencies."

Nantian Wan'er nodded. "Hehe, now I understand why you didn't let him choose the techniques himself."

"Indeed," Wind Dragon chuckled. "If you look at it like a story, that brat seems more like the true protagonist than Little Lu does. Starting with almost no talent, and seemingly unable to progress, after acquiring treasures, his strength leaps forward dramatically."

While watching the wind blade drain against Jun Laoye, Wind Dragon secretly infused more power into the wind blade, maneuvering it to encircle Nantian Yijian. "Alright, let's go. It's time to change the Nantian boy's perception of cultivation."

He exhaled sharply, drawing Jun Laoye close. "Perhaps one day, he'll truly become like the Imperial Lord of Rituals, inheriting the mantle of the new God of Slaughter on this continent."

"Senior Wind Dragon, did I do it?" Jun Laoye rose into the air, eyes wide. "That was close. I nearly exhausted all my spirit qi."

"

Heh

, you should have gained some enlightenment by now. Sit and rest for a while."

Jun Laoye settled cross-legged beside Wind Dragon, letting his spirit qi recover. "Yes, I've gained some insight. Before this, I relied solely on the power of techniques, overlooking the importance of my own skill."

"With this, it seems my goal in the Scripture Hall has been achieved. I no longer need those high-tier techniques. From now on, I'll rely solely on the Spear Combat Art and Lightning Palm until I can reach Heaven-Man Unity with my Heavenly Dao Spear using only my body.

"By then, even Little Lu will have to think twice before challenging me. Senior Wind Dragon, I feel a breakthrough coming. Please guard me."

"Alright, Jun brat. Feel it fully."

"Thank you, Senior Wind Dragon. Wan'er, keep an eye on Little Lu. He went into the stone pillar to cultivate some time ago. He should be awakening soon."

"Don't worry, Brother Jun. I've been watching him," Nantian Wan'er said with a smile. "With Lord Wind Dragon watching Brother Yijian, you can focus entirely on your cultivation."

Jun Laoye nodded and slowly closed his eyes. Sparks crackled across his body as blue spirit qi rose from his forehead, abdomen, and ankles. It surged steadily through him.

One... two... and three levels...

The moment he closed his eyes, he broke through four levels in an instant, reaching the fifth level of the Qi Regulation Realm. Endless lightning surged through his meridians, tearing and repairing his flesh as it wrapped around him.