Nobody knew how strong the experts within the Void Realm were as the Hell's Gates had their own restrictions. As of then, all those that could make it out of there were at most at the level of mid-tier Innate Stage. However, their strongest forces were definitely far beyond the Innate Stage. Upon entering the Hell's Gate, one had to be prepared to die.

Ye Lingchen was sure of that.

"How are things in the Void Realm?" Ye Lingchen asked.

"Forests, rock formations, and countless unknown flora. That's all that I can remember. Back then I was only thinking of staying alive. Why would I bother appreciating their environment?" Chen Qi chortled.

"Did Director Xiang break through after entering Hell's Gate?"

Chen Qi shook his head. "He's different. I went in because I had no way to break through. Meanwhile, his talent was much better than mine. The reason he went in was to look for more resources."

"Him?" Ye Lingchen was surprised. He did not forget how that person scammed him during their very first meeting.

"Our resources are tight right now. He's doing that in order to save as much as he can, therefore turning him into a cheapskate."

"Are you trying to absolve him of his mistakes?" Ye Lingchen gave Chen Qi a suspicious glance.

Chen Qi rolled his eyes. "Absolve him? He still owes me two hundred merit points! Among us Warriors, apart from those poor blokes, who else did he not scam?"

After a moment's pause, he patted Ye Lingchen on the shoulder and said, "Little Boy Ye, someone will pick you up to Hong Kong in three days. Once you're there, someone will meet up with you and head over to Buff Island. Go get yourself prepared for the International Martial Arts Tournament. Director Xiang was the one that strongly recommended you to take part. Don't embarrass us."

Ye Lingchen nodded.

"Moreover," Chen Qi fished out a thin book from his pocket and casually passed it to Ye Lingchen, "the last time you traded in items for merit points, you saved a spear for yourself. That should be your favored weapon, right? This is a book on spear technique. Try to familiarize yourself with it. Take it as our sponsorship for you this time. It would be best to win, and even if you lose, make sure it's a good loss!"

"Thanks. Don't worry, we'll win this for sure!" Ye Lingchen laughed.

After that, he bid farewell to Chen Qi and looked for a place to read through the book.

Spear technique: Phoenix Spear.

That spear technique was a famous one as it was the signature technique of Zhao Yun from the time of the Three Kingdoms. He did not know where the Warrior's Department sourced it from, but Ye Lingchen speculated that it might have been obtained from a descendent of Zhao Yun.

The spear technique was extraordinary and should be at the same level as the Heart Destruction Palm. It was considered a rather advanced martial art.

'Host is self-learning Phoenix Spear, proficiency +1'

'Host is self-learning Phoenix Spear, proficiency +1'

'Host is self-learning Phoenix Spear, proficiency +1'

…

Along with the notice from the system, Ye Lingchen's understanding of the spear technique improved further. When his proficiency reached 100%, he put the book down and turned around to pick up the spear.

It was a pure white spear, a trophy of his previous battle with the Void Realm. The materials were special, something not of this world.

Although his spear technique was fully trained, it still required him to experience it himself. Otherwise, he might be in a state where his body reacts slower than his mind.

Ye Lingchen held onto the white spear, sparkling in his hands and causing the air around him to take on a bone-biting chill.

"Spear, king of weapons! Tip, shaft, and heel!"

Ye Lingchen touched the white spear in his hand with a gentle motion and slid his finger down the length of the spear shaft as though caressing the skin of a lover's skin. His eyes filled love in the process.

In order to use a spear, one must first understand his own weapon and treat it as part of his own body!

"A spear skill splits into block, grab, and stab. Block and grab are defensive skills. Block is for intercepting an enemy's attacks, grab for stealing an enemy's weapon, while stab is the only attacking spear skill! Those are the basics.

"Apart from that, there are flick, suppress, vibrate, reverse spear and other advanced techniques. They are considered the essence of the spear."

Phoenix Spear had an extremely detailed record on spear techniques, ranging from basic to advanced. Moreover, its techniques were ever changing and carried extraordinary power. It was no wonder that Zhao Yun could make a name for himself using this spear technique.

While replaying the basic spear skills in his mind, Ye Lingchen held onto the spear's heel with his right hand and placed his left hand on the middle section of the shaft. He then lowered his legs and stood according to the spear technique's initial position, starting right from the basics.

"Stab is split into high-level, mid-level, and low-level, with mid-level being the strongest."

"As the saying goes, mid-level spear is supreme among spears, the most difficult to defend!"

With a kick on his left foot, the energy from his leg was transmitted to his waist. Twisting his waist increased the strength and immediately pushed it to his right hand. Finally, with a push from his right hand, the spear burst into a stab to the front.

Whoosh!

The spearhead cut across the air, whistling with a high pitch.

"Strike like a hidden dragon, return like a ferocious tiger!"

After a mid-level spear stab, Ye Lingchen quickly retrieved the spear and executed another stab. Stab and return, the movements were connected and speedy.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The spear was like a vicious dragon whistling back and forth in Ye Lingchen's hands as he stabbed it out repeatedly. The sharp spearhead continually cut through the air, creating high pitched whistling sounds.

Although a mid-level spear stab seemed simple with just a stab and return motion, it contained a lot of know how. The most important thing was the linear motion of the stab.

What did it mean to have a linear motion?

During the execution of the mid-level stab, the hand must quickly push the spear shaft forward while keeping level with the spear, stabbing in a linear motion and pushing all its strength to the tip of the spear in an explosive manner. Not only must the stab be quick, but the returning motion had to be quick as well.

Only then one could fully utilize the advantage of a weapon with long reach, staying true to the saying where every extra inch increases power and maximizes the offensive strength to ensure a one-hit kill.

"Although the mid-level spear seemed easy, it's physically demanding. At the same time, it's the spear technique with the highest offensive capability. That brought about the saying of 'Nine out of ten would suffer mortal wounds to best a mid-level spear.'"

He maintained the same posture without rest. After several hundred spear strikes repeatedly, even Ye Lingchen's body started to sweat and felt fatigued in his hands.

One should know that each of his spear strikes was at full force.

However, he relied on his physique and did not pause. That practice session went all the way to nightfall.

Martial arts practice focused heavily on small improvements with repetition. Nevertheless, Ye Lingchen was not bound by such limitations. His physical condition gave him a big advantage while knowledge in his mind did not have the slightest issue. Each movement was executed perfectly without a fear of overcompensating.

Regardless of the weapon, the foundation was the most important part of the training!

The basic movements required repeated and dedicated practice in order to achieve something in the future. If one could not even hold the weapon firmly, there was no need to consider killing the opponent.

"Stab, sweep, flick, press, swirl…"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Under Ye Lingchen's execution, the spear tore through the air viciously as it brought forth more whistling sounds.

With the huge force he poured into swinging the spear around, even its body was bent. If that landed on anyone, it would instantly shatter bones.

The basic techniques may look simple, but it was the foundation of everything. Furthermore, each move was crucial. If one wanted to kill the enemy, one had to depend on these basic moves as the other techniques were all for show!