Thrust, stab, twine, point, deflect, flourish.
For three consecutive days, Tang Wen had become quite familiar with the basic techniques of spear fighting.
He could now attempt to channel the Visualization Force through the spear.
It wasn't that he wanted to specialize in the spear, but rather to gain insights from related disciplines.
Unlike Zhou Bing and others who had trained in martial arts since childhood and dabbled in various weapons, Tang Wen had only formally learned one weapon technique since he started training—the saber.
And it was the simplest saber technique at that.
He lacked foundational skills and a basic understanding of weapons.
"Hum!"
The spear trembled slightly, its tip creating layers of afterimages as it struck a massive boulder.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
After the explosive sounds, the boulder, as if made of weightless tofu, was left with rows of half-meter-deep spear holes.
The spear tip, however, remained unscathed.
The Contemplation Method, spear technique unleashed.
Tang Wen's understanding of Visualization Force had reached a new level.
His saber technique was fierce and straightforward—as long as he was fast enough, he could overpower any opponent.
But the spear technique was delicate and agile, with the force manifesting in various ways. Drawing parallels from this, Tang Wen's mastery of force became even more refined.
He planted the spear into the hard, gravelly ground.
Taking out a pebble, he tried again.
Visualize, throw.
As he released it, Tang Wen added a touch of Spiral Force to the throw.
"Hum!"
The moment it left his hand, the pebble flew just a few meters before breaking the sound barrier, producing a sonic boom.
Tang Wen's eyes lit up—this was the right path!
He visualized again, threw, this time with even more Spiral Force.
"Bang!"
The air exploded as the pebble smashed into a boulder twenty meters away, causing it to shatter violently. A faint burnt smell wafted through the air.
"The power is indeed greater. And more practical."
The moment the pebble was launched, it broke the sound barrier, and upon hitting the boulder, a faint glow of fire appeared.
Tang Wen aimed at a distant rock wall and launched another strike. "Whoosh!"
A streak of fire-like light.
Then came the thunderous roar.
He realized this was the result of speed far exceeding the sound barrier.
The pebble, like a meteor from the heavens, struck the rock wall with flames.
After the massive impact, the entire mountain trembled slightly, sending clouds of dust into the air.
[Flying Stone, Expert → Grandmaster (101/18000)]
Tang Wen's tense spirit relaxed, and he couldn't help but let out a long shout.
Flying Stone, Grandmaster Realm.
Success!
A flood of information surged into his mind, and a vivid image emerged.
Inside a pitch-black volcano, the ground shook, magma churned, and the internal pressure reached its peak. Suddenly, an obsidian stone fell, and a wave of heat propelled it into a spiraling ascent.
"Whoosh!"
Like a high-pressure rifle firing, the movement was subtle, but the black stone shot into the sky, piercing the clouds and transforming into a streak of colorful fire.
Tang Wen awoke with a start, his face filled with astonishment.
What was that just now?
A Visualization Diagram?
The Visualization Diagram of the Flying Stone?
No, it seemed it could also be applied to fist techniques.
He settled into a horse stance, visualized, and entered stillness. The obsidian stone soared into the sky.
A stream of heat flowed from the top of his head, filling his body and channeling into his right arm.
"Whoosh!"
He threw a powerful punch.
The air exploded with a rolling shockwave, crashing into the mountain.
The shockwave hit silently, only raising a cloud of dust.
When the dust settled, Tang Wen stepped forward to inspect. The fist imprint was over a meter deep.
Even though he had thrown the punch himself, he couldn't help but marvel.
And the first thought that popped into his mind was—
"The explosive power of this attack makes me wonder if other Martial Masters can achieve the same. It seems my Double Layer Scale Armor isn't reliable enough!"
"If I get the chance, I must acquire an inner armor with higher defensive capabilities."
"Although the Earth-Walking Beast's Bone Armor is decent, a Martial Master can still cut through it. It's not reliable..."
At that moment, a message popped up on the Experience Panel, interrupting his scattered thoughts:
[Detected a skill breakthrough to the Grandmaster level]
[Panel is about to upgrade...]
[Upgrade in progress... Estimated time remaining: 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 51 seconds...]
The panel is upgrading!!!
A huge weight lifted from Tang Wen's heart.
The panel was the foundation of his Martial Arts. If something went wrong, it would be like losing his roots.
He had no idea what changes the upgrade would bring.
Tang Wen's mind raced with wild guesses as he reached the top of the mountain spring. He drank his fill, then took out a towel, soaked it, and wiped his body before finding a sheltered spot to rest.
The wilderness was great in every way, except for the overwhelming sand and wind.
As the sky darkened, Tang Wen's eyes snapped open. Something was approaching the pond, its movements light.
It sounded like a small deer or some other lightweight animal.
Just as he had finished the lamb leg, it didn't matter what size the newcomer was—as long as it was edible.
Tang Wen reached out and pulled out a length of steel cable, forming it into a loop, ready to capture it alive.
He moved around the rocks and looked out.
He froze. A tall black horse!
Its size was unusually large!
What?
Tang Wen blinked.
Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop!
The black horse was extremely alert. Seeing Tang Wen, it turned and bolted, its speed far surpassing that of an ordinary horse.
In the blink of an eye, the black horse raised its hooves, kicking up dust as it galloped over a kilometer away.
Tang Wen was stunned. This wasn't just a matter of being faster than an ordinary horse!
It was faster than most Mutated Beasts!
This horse was a Mutated Beast!
Tang Wen's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Without bothering to grab his bag, he immediately unleashed several bursts of speed, launching himself like a cannonball in pursuit.
As he closed the distance, he noticed the horse was entirely black, its coat as smooth as silk, gleaming with a glossy sheen. Only its raised hooves resembled pure snow.
Black Cloud Treading on Snow?
Or was it called Wuzhui?
Tang Wen's heart raced with excitement.
After all, men!
They are naturally drawn to creatures that can be ridden and controlled.
This horse was his, no matter what.
Not even the heavens could stop him.
In a chase that felt like a blur, the two of them crossed several barren hills in the blink of an eye.
The black horse's speed didn't falter, moving like a black lightning bolt.
This horse was truly sharp.
It didn't care about my strength, it just turned and fled.
It didn't seem like a timid, low-level Mutated Beast.
But if it were a Superior Exotic Beast, given the aura I displayed, which was only that of an ordinary Martial Master, why would it run away?
So, was it a Mid-level Exotic Beast?
Tang Wen sprinted at full speed, matching the black horse's pace, which was known for its running prowess.
He was somewhat surprised himself. In terms of speed, it was comparable to a supercar from his previous life, wasn't it?
If mounts had tiers, this Mutated Beast black horse would undoubtedly be a supercar.
And a limited edition one at that!
The black horse's speed began to slow.
Was its stamina failing?
Tang Wen felt a mix of joy and disappointment.
Joy because he was about to succeed, and disappointment because if it was already tiring, it might indeed just be a Mid-level Exotic Beast.
"Neigh!"
The black horse suddenly turned its head, a black light flickering between its eyes.
"Damn!"
Something was wrong!
Tang Wen cursed as his feet were suddenly enveloped by a black cloud, making it impossible to stand.
With the force of his momentum, he was flung forward, crashing to the ground.
"Neigh!"
The black horse neighed triumphantly and turned to gallop towards the hill.
"Damn it!"
Tang Wen shielded his head with his arms and tumbled out in a flurry of dust.
Fortunately, his robust physique and the Scale Armor he wore saved him from serious injury.
But being mocked by a horse was a blow to his pride.
"Pah!"
Tang Wen spat out the grit from his mouth and cursed at the retreating figure of the black horse, "Run! Do you think you can escape?"
"Howl!"
No sooner had he cursed than Tang Wen's expression changed. The horse was cunning!
It had led him straight into the territory of the Sand Wolves.
He wasn't afraid of ordinary Sand Wolves, nor even the Sand Wolf King.
But Sand Wolf packs often had two leaders, a male and a female.
Their strength surpassed that of ordinary Superior Exotic Beasts.
Could I really be that unlucky?
To run into the Wolf King?
In the blink of an eye, a large pack of Sand Wolves surrounded him.
Tang Wen sighed deeply and shot a fierce glance in the direction the black horse had fled.
He turned and hurled three pebbles around him, sparks flying.
The Sand Wolves approached swiftly but retreated even faster.
However, Tang Wen noticed that seven or eight wolf cubs, the size of calves, did not retreat but instead spread out.
Their red, bloodthirsty eyes glinted as they stood their ground against Tang Wen, unafraid of the sparks from the Flying Stones.
Without a doubt, these Sand Wolves were nearly, if not already, at the level of Superior Exotic Beasts.
"Trouble!"
Another Silver Wolf appeared, and with just one glance, Tang Wen sensed danger.
If it were one-on-one, he might have been interested in testing his mettle.
But now, it was better to retreat. With a burst of speed, he maneuvered through a few turns and quickly left.
It's not t
hat I'm cowardly, but they're not playing fair, trying to gang up on me.
On his way back, Tang Wen tried to track the black horse's trail, but the strong night wind had blown away all traces.
Feeling regretful, he encountered two Black Rock Sheep on his return journey and captured them alive, bringing them back to the inner city.
A tribute to a friend's new book, heh, everyone should go check it out.
(End of Chapter)