Age of Evolution

“Immovable like a mountain!” Lin Zhen repeated.

“Correct, immovable like a mountain is my martial technique. To practice this technique, first, you must have a solid foundation, which you have already cultivated to a certain extent. However, you must continue to polish it in the future. More importantly, you need to comprehend.”

“Comprehension? What do you mean?”

“Spear techniques are vast and profound, and can be practiced for a lifetime. They have their advantages and disadvantages. The greatest advantage is the ferocious attack combined with the defense of a long weapon. Once you have integrated all the basic spear techniques, you can try to comprehend the immovable like a mountain. As for the disadvantage, it is the vulnerability to short weapons when in close combat, as it is not as flexible, so it is essential to focus on practicing defense skills.”

“Immovable like a mountain has three realms. The first Realm is called Spear Like a Mountain. The meaning of this first realm is to fully exploit the characteristics of the long spear, imagining that the spear in your hand is like a mountain, such that you are not afraid of any attack from the opponent.

Whether it’s a gentle breeze or a powerful Gale or Storm, how can it affect your spear’s mountain-like defense? Within three feet is the restricted zone, and no one can break through it.”

Lin Zhen nodded, “No wonder, when you held the spear, you seemed like an unshakable mountain. I’ve already employed my speed to its full extent in our fight just now, but I still could not break through the defense of your long spear. Is this the Spear Like a Mountain?”

“Yes, that’s the first realm that I’ve comprehended—Spear Like a Mountain. As long as I have my spear, you can’t break my defense. Of course, the gap between the two combatants cannot be too significant. If you were to go on a rampage for a while longer, my strength would collapse, and I would naturally be defeated. Besides, I feel like you haven’t reached your speed limit yet. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to resist it. After all, the most unbeatable thing in the world is speed.”

Zhang Guanyue wiped his sweat, “If you can comprehend Spear Like a Mountain, then with your speed, as long as your opponent is not several times stronger than you, they probably won’t be able to break your defense until your power is exhausted. So, if you use this technique, you’ll be much stronger than me.”

“What about the second realm?”

“I am also pondering the second realm’s martial technique, which I call Body Like a Mountain.”

“Body Like a Mountain?

“Yes, in the first realm, you still need to have a long spear in your hand with spear techniques as the basis of defense. But in the second realm, it’s different. Your body itself is like a mountain peak, and you can execute perfect defense with any weapon or even when empty-handed. At that time, you can get rid of your dependence on the long spear. However, I still haven’t comprehended this realm. I guess I won’t have the chance in this lifetime,” Zhang Guanyue said with a smile.

Lin Zhen nodded again. It seemed that this second realm was even more challenging to comprehend.

“And there’s the third realm, which is called Heart Like a Mountain. At that time, even if you just stand there casually, you will give people an overwhelming sense of an unattainable mountain. You don’t need to fight, as many people will be unable to bear your aura and be defeated. However, this idea is quite vague to me, so just listen and think about it.”

After explaining the three realms, Zhang Guanyue patted Lin Zhen’s shoulder and said, “You have learned all the basic spear techniques, so I have nothing more to teach you. There’s one more day before tomorrow. You can try to comprehend Spear Like a Mountain in my courtyard. As long as you succeed, you will have graduated. And if you fail….”

“How do you define success and failure?”

“Success is simple. Do you see the pine tree in the yard? You dance your spear technique under the tree. If no pine needle falls within your three-foot radius, you have succeeded. If a pine needle lands on you or falls to the ground, you have failed.”

Lin Zhen glanced at the tree and laughed, “Don’t worry, even if I fail, I’ll still give you the 10 million.”

“Hehe, I didn’t mean that… What I mean is… I’m all sweaty, so I’ll go take a bath first.”

Zhang Guanyue, with his thoughts exposed, left somewhat embarrassed.

Lin Zhen didn’t go inside but walked to a huge pine tree in the courtyard.

This tree was the only one in the courtyard. According to Zhang Guanyue, he was reluctant to move because of this tree.

The tree was indeed thriving, as tall as five or six stories and so thick that it took seven or eight people to encircle it, with lush green pine needles still on it.

Leaning against the tree, Lin Zhen felt the breeze blowing and the night deepening.

In his hands, he held the Black Dragon Spear.

“Comprehension is definitely not easy. Zhang Guanyue only told me about his experience, but it may not be suitable for me. There are millions of ways to practice martial arts, but they will eventually converge. As long as I find the way most suitable for me, I can do it.”

“The spear in my hand is my partner, my most trustworthy and intimate partner. Since I chose the path of practicing spear techniques, I must persevere.”

“Whether it’s a wooden spear or a golden spear, as long as I believe in it and believe in myself, it will protect me, fight for me, and kill my enemies. Even if we don’t have the same mind and intention, I should treat it as a part of myself rather than a mere weapon.”

In Lin Zhen’s thoughts, the moon rose high above, and Zhang Guanyue came out once to look at him before returning to the house. He had a feeling that this Lin Zhen might create a miracle. This was a Martial Arts Prodigy.

He sat there motionless all night until a hint of white appeared in the east. Lin Zhen opened his eyes.

“I think I understand. The immovable like a mountain in spear techniques is the unity of man and spear, with the spear as a part of the body. Combined with my remarkable neural response and unparalleled speed, accomplishing all defenses is to be immovable like a mountain!”

“Of course, I still need to test how to combine the spear and myself into one!”

Lin Zhen suddenly stood up from under the tree and began dancing with the long spear in his hand.

He didn’t use any offensive moves. Instead, he focused on defensive techniques like parrying, blocking, lifting, hanging, and slashing.

The dancing speed became faster and faster, and as Lin Zhen’s spear dance accelerated, the pine needles on the tree started to fall one after another.

One pine needle, ten pine needles, a hundred pine needles.

Although it was winter, the pine tree did not fear the cold, and there were countless pine needles on it. When they fell, they were like raindrops.

Lin Zhen’s defense area was within three feet around him, and each pine needle was an attack. He could not let any pine needle fall to the ground.

“Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!”

In the blink of an eye, Lin Zhen had already knocked down fifty pine needles.

A torrent of spears rained down, and a pine needle fell to the ground in front of Lin Zhen’s eyes.

“I’ve failed. It this were an enemy’s attack, my defense would have already been breached.”

“Pine needles fall very fast, and some of them are elusive. If I can’t hit them precisely, even a slight miss will result in failure. This kind of defense is difficult.”

“But if it’s not difficult, who can comprehend it?”

Lin Zhen took a deep breath and began his second attempt.

This time, Lin Zhen had knocked down seventy pine needles before failing.

“Still not enough, let’s try again!”

On the third attempt, Lin Zhen knocked down a hundred pine needles but still had one fall on his shoulder.

The fourth time, one hundred and fifty needles….

The fifth time….

From daybreak to sunrise, from sunrise to noon, and from noon to dusk, Lin Zhen only stopped to eat once at noon. The rest of the time, he practiced his spear nonstop.

As the sun set, Lin Zhen’s movements did not slow down but rather grew faster and faster.

Every time he shot out with his spear, the pine needles were easily swept away, with just the right amount of force. Within the three-foot radius around him, pine needles had piled up nearly a foot thick, while not a single needle could be seen within the radius.

“This is the feeling! This is the feeling!”

“I’ve found the feeling of the mountains, my spear feels like a towering mountain, and these pine needles cannot reach the mountain’s height. This is the realm of having a spear like a mountain!”

“But I feel like something’s still missing. The number of pine needles falling is decreasing, and soon it will be difficult to truly comprehend this. I need a more intense attack. It would be good if it would rain now. At this moment, I have a feeling that even if a storm were to fall, I could knock down every drop of rain within the three feet range!”

Just as Lin Zhen’s feeling was intensifying, Zhang Guanyue, who hadn’t appeared all day, finally showed up.

In his hand was a large basin filled with water – black water.

Zhang Guanyue strode towards Lin Zhen, holding the basin and shouting, “Lin Zhen, this is my footwashing water. If a single drop lands on your clothes, you’ll be kicked out!”

Splash!

A basin of black water was poured down, and the sky was filled with black water, even more intense than a storm.

Having reached the final stage of his training, Lin Zhen roared. The spear in his hand suddenly danced wildly, his speed increasing several times faster than before.

Each movement was perfect, each attack was precise. In Lin Zhen’s eyes, these droplets of water were the enemy, and no enemy could be spared.

Light and shadow flashed, and a burst of electricity surged. In an instant, everything returned to calm.

Lin Zhen stopped and stood with his spear, his chest heaving violently.

Three feet beyond him, the pine needles were all soaked, but within the three feet, not a drop of water could be seen on the ground!

Bang!

Zhang Guanyue threw the basin onto the ground and laughed at Lin Zhen, “Congratulations Lin Zhen, you performed exceptionally. Your ‘immovable like a mountain’ power has surpassed me.. I can now tell you that you’ve

graduated!”