Chapter 93: Storm Staff

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

It was completely silent outside the Seeking Sword Hall. The atmosphere changed from a tense confrontation between the two forces to a strange silence.

With his hands behind his back, Zhou Huaili looked at his son, whom he highly valued, holding his chest and being helped away by his disciple. There was anger in his eyes, but more than this, he was surprised by Ye Jingtang’s strength.

Seeing that Zhou Huaili was silent for a long time, ‘Three Absolutes Elderly Immortal’ Guanghan Lin thought for a moment and said, “A short-ranged weapon against a long spear, even if they’re at the same level, the chances of winning are slim. With Young Master Ye’s martial arts skills, even 1 might not be able to gain an advantage when 1 go on stage. This battle… Sect Master Zhou, what do you think?”

Xuanyuan Hongzhi and the Zhou family had already discussed dividing up the Clear River Wharf. If the Zhou family admitted defeat, both families would gain nothing. After some consideration, he interjected, “Yuhua’s talent is extraordinary. I haven’t seen him for a few months. He’s likely improved again. Since he’s here, he should fight.”

Zhou Huaili looked at Jian Yuhua. “Yuhua.”

Jian Yuhua was surprised to see Ye Jingtang’s foundation, but he didn’t lose his composure.

Seeing the elders of Jianghu looking over, Jian Yuhua walked down the steps unhurriedly and looked at the sword in his hand. “Swords are indeed at a disadvantage when fighting him.”

Ye Jingtang said calmly, “Do you need me to cut another section of the staff?”

“I won’t take advantage of you, Brother Ye. Your martial arts skills are extraordinary, so I naturally admire you. But as a martial artist, I don’t like others being modest with me. I still want to see your true Overlord Spear.” “Hmm?”

As soon as he said this, everyone at the lakeside was stunned, and there was a lot of noise everywhere. In summary, the meaning was probably: You might not be able to break my move with the eyebrow staff. But if you use a spear to fight, can you survive a round?

Jian Yuhua didn’t care about the crowd’s jeers. His wrist shook slightly, and he threw the three-foot-long sword to the Zhou family disciple behind him. “I’m sure everyone knows my story. I just became a disciple of the Zhou family two years ago. I have only learned swordsmanship for two years, so I’m unable to display the essence of the Zhou family’s sword. Today’s battle concerns the Zhou family’s reputation. Since I’m going to participate, I have to do my best. Everyone shouldn’t mind if I use my accumulated skills to exchange blows with Brother Ye, right?”

Hearing this, everyone fell silent.

Jian Yuhua had been a Jianghu wanderer, but he hadn’t been famous in the past. He only came to prominence after joining the Zhou family. They really didn’t know what Jianghu skills he had.

As for changing weapons, no one had any objections.

After all, the Red Flower Pavilion was famous for its spear technique. However, Song Chi’s fist technique and Chen Yuanqing’s palm technique were equally famous.

If Ye Jingtang couldn’t defeat his opponent with a spear and switched to using his fists, this was also his own true ability, and outsiders wouldn’t be able to say anything about it.

Hearing what Jian Yuhua said, Ye Jingtang became interested. “Since we’re going to compete on stage, we naturally have to convince the other. Just show me what you have.”

Jian Yuhua revealed a smile and raised his hand. “Brother Ye, your eyebrow staff is fierce and powerful, but that’s now how the eyebrow staff is used.” “Huh?!”

As soon as this statement came out, the entire place was in an uproar.

Just now, Ye Jingtang was already crazy and arrogant enough. They didn’t expect Jian Yuhua to go on stage and say that he wanted to teach Ye Jingtang how to use the staff. His arrogant tone could break through the sky.

Zhe Yunli, who was secretly observing on the second floor, immediately became furious. “Does this guy have eyes? Brother Jingtang is so domineering, but he even wants to teach Brother Jingtang to use the eyebrow staff. Is he worthy?”

Luo Ning’s martial arts skills were higher after all. She frowned. “Ye Jingtang has probably only been learning the spear for more than half a month. His foundation is solid, but his skills are not comparable to spear and staff Grandmasters. If Jian Yuhua has learned the staff since he was young, Ye Jingtang might really be at a disadvantage.”

Hearing this, Zhe Yunli became nervous again.

Ye Jingtang didn’t expect the other party to be so arrogant. He didn’t waste any time and threw the eyebrow staff in his hand to Jian Yuhua. “You’ve only been practicing the sword for two years, and 1 haven’t been practicing the spear for long. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

The surrounding people had doubts about this statement. After all, looking at Ye Jingtang’s skills, it wouldn’t be strange for him to say that he had started practicing the spear when he was three years old.

However, ‘the staff for a month, the saber for a year, and the spear for a lifetime’. From Ye Jingtang’s aura, they estimated that he was around 20 years old. Even if he had been practicing the spear for 17 years, it was indeed not that long in terms of spearmanship.

Seeing that the Zhou family was quite arrogant, Chen Yuanqing didn’t throw another eyebrow staff to Ye Jingtang to embarrass himself. He took out a long spear wrapped in black cloth and threw it to Ye Jingtang.

Ye Jingtang raised his hand to catch it. He untied the black cloth unhurriedly, revealing a completely black spear.

This spear was called ‘Black Oilin’. The shaft was 2.3 meters long, and the spearhead was 40 centimeters long. It ranked eighth among the ‘Ten Famous Spears’ listed in Jianghu. It had been forged by Jiang Province’s Xiao Mountain Fortress during the previous dynasty. It had originally been given to the Great Yan Imperial Court, and the Great Yan emperor had often carried it when hunting. After the country perished, it had wandered around Jianghu until falling into the hands of the Red Flower Pavilion.

When the famous figures of Jianghu present saw this legendary weapon, their eyes burned.

Ye Jingtang held the spear with both hands, holding the end of the spear with his right hand and the shaft with his left hand. One of his feet slid forward while the other slid backward. His opening stance was the ‘Cauldron Supporting the Crushing Spear Stance’. His body was as stable as a mountain. “Please.”

Jian Yuhua held the eyebrow staff at the side of his waist, with the tip of the staff pointing forward. His posture was steady, and his entire aura changed, as if he were a pine tree that wouldn’t fall.

Whoosh!

Silence fell in front of the Seeking Sword Hall. Everyone subconsciously held their breaths with solemn expressions.

Most of the moves of the spear and staff were similar. The spear and the staff each had their own strengths. Victory and defeat depended on the attainments of both sides.

Jian Yuhua’s aura alone evenly matched that of Ye Jingtang, who had stunned everyone just now. This battle probably wouldn’t be simple.

Whoosh, whoosh…

The waves hit the shore, and the two of them faced each other with their long weapons.

Jian Yuhua’s eyes were focused and calm. His hands trembled slightly, and the eyebrow staff emitted an explosive sound.

Thump!

Then he advanced step by step.

Ye Jingtang didn’t take the initiative to attack. Instead, he changed to a straight stance and focused on observing Jian Yuhua’s footsteps.

Tread, tread…

Soon, the tip of Jian Yuhua’s staff was about to touch the black spear.

This distance was the key point in a battle between the long weapons. Under normal circumstances, whoever could control it would occupy the ‘Gate of Life’, and vice versa would occupy the ‘Gate of Death’.

The famous figures in front of the hall were all staring at the subtle changes in the two of them, wanting to see the details in advance.

Unfortunately, the two people on the stage didn’t fight according to the normal Jianghu routine.

Just as the weapons of both sides were about to come into contact, Jian Yuhua’s arms trembled violently.

Thump!

The sound was like a clap of thunder on dry land. It was a show of strength, and the sound was almost ear-piercing.

The long staff exerted strength within an inch, but it forcefully knocked Ye Jingtang’s spearhead three feet away. If it were an ordinary person, they would probably lose their weapon from this strike.

Jian Yuhua’s attack succeeded. His figure exploded, and he took a big step forward. The long staff in his hand silently pointed forward and went straight for Ye Jingtang’s throat.

There was no gap between the two moves. The speed was so fast that only the afterimages of the staff could be seen.

When the people by the lake saw this unimaginable starting move, their eyes were full of astonishment.

A name that had long been unfamiliar to Jianghu flashed across the minds of some experienced and knowledgeable Jianghu elders—the Fu family’s Storm Staff!

The Storm Staff was the signature staff technique of the northwest generals of the previous dynasty. Throughout the Great Yan Dynasty, it was the ultimate technique among spear and staff techniques. It was famous for being unexpected and having thunderous momentum.

According to the experience of the people present, the young master of the Red Flower Pavilion had been caught off guard when encountering this move. There was a high chance that he would be defeated in one strike and wouldn’t be able to counterattack at all.

But the next moment, the gazes of the famous figures present turned into shock!