Chapter 731 - 290: Raging Waves

Although today’s duel had drawn a large crowd, most were Inner Sect Disciples and some Stewards. Very few of the truly high-ranking Elders and core experts from Dubhe Pavilion had actually attended.

In their eyes, a duel between a newly promoted True Inheritance and a challenger—especially when one of them had yet to enter the True Essence Realm—held little suspense and wasn’t worth observing.

However, when Chen Qing brazenly unleashed his True Essence Realm Cultivation, grievously wounded Lu Chenming with lightning-fast power, and immediately followed up by challenging the higher-ranked and more senior Zhang Baicheng, the news swept through the entire Celestial Treasure Upper Sect like a tempest!

For a moment, every peak was in an uproar.

Chen Qing’s status was simply too unique. He was the Direct Disciple of Luo Zhixian, Peak Master of Ten Thousand Laws Peak, and a Spear Path genius who had already made a name for himself.

As for Zhang Baicheng, he was a True Inheritance specially groomed by the Mystic Sun Lineage, a man who had been immersed in the Spear Path for many years and possessed formidable strength.

The clash between these two Spear Path geniuses was far more significant than the previous duel, enough to capture the attention of the Sect’s upper echelons.

By now, the area around the Seven-Star Platform was a veritable sea of people, packed shoulder to shoulder.

Those who arrived late had no choice but to levitate in the air at the periphery, or stand atop nearby hills and trees. They formed layer after layer of spectators, their gazes all fixed on the enormous platform.

The roar of the crowd surged to the heavens, the atmosphere reaching a fever pitch.

The presiding Elder, Gong Nansong, wore an incredibly solemn expression. The True Essence within him was already gathered and ready to be unleashed, and a faint aura of power circulated around his body.

He had to ensure the safety of the duel, preventing the aftershocks from the two True Essence Realm geniuses’ clash from harming any innocents, and more importantly, guard against any unforeseen incidents.

The attention on this duel was far too great; there was no room for error.

Atop the platform, a strong wind swept past, kicking up fine motes of dust.

Chen Qing and Zhang Baicheng stood a hundred feet apart, facing one another.

The anger on Zhang Baicheng’s face gradually subsided as his Heart and Spirit grew completely calm.

He slowly drew the long spear from his back. Its shaft was a dark, crimson red, as if steeped in countless Fire Spirits. It was named Liaoyuan.

A cold glint of light pulsed from its tip, locking onto Chen Qing.

"Junior Brother Chen, since you insist on this fight, allow me to see just what kind of world-shaking Spear Technique Elder Luo has bestowed upon you!"

Zhang Baicheng’s voice was low, carrying with it a searing heat.

Chen Qing held his Profound Dragon Spear with the tip angled toward the ground. His aura was as still as an abyss, a stark contrast to the blazing Momentum that faintly radiated from Zhang Baicheng.

"Your guidance, please, Brother Zhang."

The instant the words left his mouth, Chen Qing moved!

He used no fancy Body Technique, only a simple forward step. The Cyan Gang Rock beneath his feet trembled slightly, and his body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, so fast it left a faint afterimage behind.

The Profound Dragon Spear acted as an extension of his arm. He harnessed his forward momentum to execute the most basic, unadorned Middle Level Stab, aiming straight for the center of Zhang Baicheng’s chest!

There was nothing flashy about the stab, yet it was a perfect fusion of speed, power, and precision.

The spear tip tore through the air with a sharp, piercing SHRIEK.

"A fine strike!"

A keen light flashed in Zhang Baicheng’s eyes. He neither retreated nor dodged, but thrust his own spear forward to meet the attack!

His was not a direct thrust. The moment he lunged, his wrist gave an imperceptible tremor, and the spear tip traced an infinitesimally small spiral. This was the Heart-Drilling Stab from the Basic Gun Skill!

CLANG—!

Under the watchful eyes of the entire crowd, the tips of the two spears collided in midair with absolute precision!

There was no explosive burst of energy as one might expect—only a single, brilliant spark accompanied by the grating shriek of metal on metal.

An incredibly condensed Power erupted from the point of contact, spreading out in an invisible ripple that sent their robes fluttering wildly.

They broke apart in an instant!

Chen Qing felt a searing Power travel up the spear shaft, leaving his arm slightly numb.

He let his wrist sink with the momentum, transforming the thrust into a sweep. The spear shaft swung horizontally toward Zhang Baicheng’s midsection like the tail of an azure dragon—a heavy, powerful blow that whistled through the air.

Zhang Baicheng’s reaction was lightning-fast. He abruptly retracted his spear and changed his technique to a controlling bind, laying his shaft precisely on the Profound Dragon Spear Body. It wasn’t a hard block; instead, he used a viscous, pliable Power to guide it outward, attempting to both neutralize the ferocious sweep and break Chen Qing’s center of gravity.

Sensing the force on his spear being led astray, Chen Qing drove power from his waist and hips, rooting his feet to the ground to stabilize his stance. He allowed the deflected Profound Dragon Spear to follow the momentum, tracing a semicircle as its butt-end jabbed sharply upward like a scorpion’s stinger, aiming right for Zhang Baicheng’s jaw!

This change of technique was sudden and swift, a flexible application of the Eight Great Techniques from the Basic Gun Skill.

Zhang Baicheng seemed to have anticipated it. He tilted his head back slightly as the Liaoyuan Spear in his hand pressed down like a Spiritual Snake, its shaft slamming heavily onto the butt of the Profound Dragon Spear.

THUD!

With a muffled thud, the two separated once more, each sliding back several steps and leaving clear footprints on the platform with every stride.

The exchange had happened in a flash. It was only three moves, all of them the most basic of Spear Techniques, yet in the hands of two True Essence Realm Spear Path masters, they were incredibly perilous and executed with sublime skill.

Every collision was an ultimate contest of strength, speed, timing, and the subtle variations of Power. They appeared simple, yet they contained the profound principles of the Spear Technique.

Below the stage, there was dead silence. Everyone was holding their breath.

From the newly-joined Inner Sect disciples to the Elders who had been immersed in the Spear Path for many years, everyone saw something in that three-move exchange of basic techniques that made their hearts tremble.

It was an understanding of the very essence of the Spear Technique—an instinct forged through a thousand trials until it was ingrained in their very bones.

"Such solid fundamentals!" an Elder couldn’t help but murmur in admiration.

Zhang Baicheng shook out his slightly numb arm. Any trace of condescension in his eyes was gone, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity—and even a flicker of excitement.