Chapter 64: The Future is Limitless

Hearing this, Lu Yu felt a sudden jolt in his heart and blurted out, "Wang Shu, are you saying that from now on, you're going to spar with me for real?"

"That's right." Wang Liang nodded slightly, his eyes full of admiration. "Your progress is unbelievably fast. If I keep defending blindly like this, it's only a matter of time before you hit me with your spear."

Lu Yu smiled sheepishly; was this considered a backhanded compliment?

"Don't get cocky too soon." Wang Liang saw right through his thoughts. "The best defense is offense. When your attacks can suppress your opponent into only defending, that's when you can be proud, but you clearly haven't reached that level yet."

"I understand." Lu Yu shrugged helplessly; this was Wang Shu's style, always so incisive.

"Rest for a while first. A word of warning: it won't be this easy from here on out."

Wang Liang's expression was calm, but his tone brooked no argument. In reality, his heart was already churning with stormy waves. What kind of monstrous, gifted prodigy was this child?

It had taken him at least two or three years to reach the level Lu Yu was at now, but for him? It had only been a few hours.

If he hadn't experienced it himself, he wouldn't have believed it even if he were beaten to death.

"Given time, this child's future will be limitless," Wang Liang sighed in his heart.

After a short rest, the two stood face to face once again.

"Before we start, I have a question for you."

"Alright, Wang Shu, feel free to ask." Lu Yu nodded in response.

"Are you currently at Body Tempering First Layer?"

Lu Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he cursed silently. He had been too focused earlier, using his full strength in every strike without holding anything back.

Seeing his reaction, Wang Liang understood. "If I'm not mistaken, your strength should have reached Body Tempering Third Layer. Then I will use the strength of Body Tempering First Layer to spar with you." As he spoke, his gaze became calm and firm.

Lu Yu was startled. He had assumed Wang Shu would use the strength of Body Tempering Third Layer. He realized instantly that if Wang Shu brought out his full Body Tempering Third Layer strength, combined with his rich experience, he would definitely have no power to fight back.

"B-Body Tempering First Layer." Lu Yu licked his lips, feeling inexplicably nervous.

"Here I come!" As soon as the words fell, Wang Liang flicked his long spear, and his entire aura instantly became incomparably sharp.

"Swish!"

"So fast!" Lu Yu widened his eyes and hurriedly raised his spear to block.

"Clack!" A crisp sound of impact echoed all around.

Wang Liang shook his head inwardly; this child still lacked too much practical combat experience.

Immediately after, he lifted his front hand slightly and pressed down hard with his back hand, the spear tip moving like an Agile swimming snake, heading straight for Lu Yu's chest.

"Clack!"

"What!" Wang Liang widened his eyes in disbelief. In his view, Lu Yu's previous move had been full of openings, yet when he chose one to attack, it had been blocked steadily?

"Phew..." Lu Yu was also secretly relieved. He had thought he wouldn't be able to block it, but his body's reaction had been faster than his brain, and he had performed the defensive move subconsciously.

"Watch out!" Wang Liang's voice sounded again, the long spear flickered once more, and a new round of fierce attacks unfolded.

A series of dense impact sounds echoed continuously. Lu Yu barely held on; from the beginning until now, he hadn't found a single opportunity to counterattack, constantly being suppressed by Wang Liang.

Moreover, he could clearly feel that even though Wang Liang was the one attacking, his own stamina was being consumed much faster than his opponent's.

However, the shock in Wang Liang's heart was growing stronger and stronger.

He had originally thought Lu Yu's spear technique had reached a certain level of proficiency, at least having plenty of momentum when attacking; if it were someone who had practiced blades or swords for a few years, they really wouldn't be his match.

But he hadn't expected this child's defensive ability to be even more astonishing! Several times when he was about to land a hit, he was blocked from all sorts of tricky angles.

Finally, after two more strikes, Wang Liang seized an opening and accurately poked Lu Yu in the chest with his spear.

Lu Yu retreated several steps, feeling his blood and Qi churning within. Fortunately, he was a Body Tempering Third Layer Martial Artist; if it were an ordinary person, even if Wang Liang had held back, they would have been sent flying.

"Wang Shu, I lost." Lu Yu smiled bitterly and conceded, though he had expected this moment to come.

"Hmm." Wang Liang responded, though he felt a bit frustrated. He had thought that using Body Tempering First Layer strength to deal with Lu Yu would end the fight in a few strikes, but he hadn't expected it to take so many rounds.

"Can you continue? Or should we rest for a while?"

"It's fine, Wang Shu, let's continue. I can still hold on." Lu Yu's tone was firm, his gaze revealing an unyielding spirit.

Because he clearly saw that after the recent combat, the proficiency of 【Basic Spear Technique】 was skyrocketing, looking like it was about to reach 3%. This was a Level 3 【Basic Spear Technique】!

Previously, he had launched 33 consecutive strikes, and the proficiency had only increased by less than one percent.

At this rate, it wouldn't be a problem for 【Basic Spear Technique】 to reach Level 4 tonight.

By then, he might be able to unlock new traits just like with 【Basic Archery】.

Even if there were no new traits, he would be one step closer to the threshold of learning 【Xingyi Great Spear Art】.

"Good." Wang Liang nodded. He didn't believe it; could he really be having such a hard time dealing with this child using Body Tempering First Layer strength? Next time, he would definitely end it quickly.

This time, as soon as Wang Liang shouted start, Lu Yu took the initiative and thrust his spear forward.

"Not bad, you know how to seize the initiative now." Wang Liang nodded inwardly, blocked easily, and immediately returned a strike.

Lu Yu hurriedly pulled his spear back to block, but he quickly fell into Wang Liang's attacking rhythm again.

On the eighth strike, Lu Yu was tapped on the shoulder and stumbled back a few steps.

However, this time the proficiency increased by 1.5%, a bit less than the last time.

"I have to hold on longer." Lu Yu silently cheered himself on; the longer he held on, the more the proficiency increased, and vice versa.

Wang Liang relaxed his brows slightly; this was more like it, but it was still far from enough.

During their third exchange, after Lu Yu acted decisively and was preparing to thrust a second strike, Wang Liang predicted it in advance, and the situation became one-sided again. Fortunately, Lu Yu held on for a long time this time, only being hit on the eleventh strike.

Just like that, the two went back and forth on the training ground, fighting to a standstill.

About an hour and twenty minutes later, that familiar warm current surged through Lu Yu's body again.

"So that's how it is."

Lu Yu understood in his heart, his face remaining calm. At this moment, Wang Liang had already thrust the tenth strike. After dozens of rounds, a smile of certain victory appeared on Wang Liang's face, thinking the fight would end in two more moves.

The eleventh strike.

The twelfth strike.

"?" Wang Liang was full of astonishment. What was going on? The speed at which this child blocked seemed to have become faster? Was it his own illusion? No, it definitely wasn't!

"Now is the time!" A flash of sharp light streaked through Lu Yu's eyes, and his long spear thrust from bottom to top, swift and fierce like a dragon emerging from the water, accurately striking Wang Liang's chest under his astonished gaze.

At this very moment, the Skill proficiency on the interface soared by nearly 2%!