The years flew by, the boys grew up training on a daily basis, rapidly improving faster than their parents had ever thought possible.
As the time pasted Yichen grew up he grew more mature and discipline in his attitude towards his training. One day after a particular difficult training session he broke through a reached the basic stage of the movement technique and had an epiphany.
'System I really have to thank you for all you have done for me, by forcing me to train my visualisation technique for all those years. The improvements in my willpower, attention to detail and focus have been exponential, back on earth I never would have been able to train for this long without getting bored.'
'Congratulations host, you have discovered one of the hidden effects of your training and your visualisation technique, as a reward you have unlocked the lottery wheel function of the system.'
'The lottery wheel function requires you to complete quests from the system and upon the successful completion of the quest a number of lottery spins will be given out. Currently only the foundational lottery wheel is available to you, and you have a bonus one spin as a reward for unlocking it. Host would you like to spin the wheel?'
A wheel appear in the mind of Yichen, setup like a typical game show wheel, the different colours on the represent the different types of prize.
Red is piece of equipment, Gold is a technique, Green/brown is herb or raw mineral, blue is a special system card and grey are pills or talismans.
'Actually, I think I will save the lottery spin for later when I need something.'
'Okay host, you are able to activate the wheel whenever you want.'
Yichen thanked the system and went back to his daily training routine, trying to achieve the higher realms before his brother.
Training even more hours than Ning and even setting aside extra time for training archery something Ning seemed to have given up on. Sleep was for the weak, Yichen gave up on sleep to cultivate his visualisation technique and his body cultivation technique, he was able to achieve this simultaneously due to his ability to split minds.
…
Within the training courtyard, a youth clad in beast fur was wielding a black blunt spear. He stood there, and around him there were nine tall and powerful warriors. These valiant warriors all wore armour and wielding long spears, swords, and sabers, and other weapons in their hands. But none of the weapons had been edged or sharpened.
Nearly six years have gone by since his final session with Master Blindfish and Yichen knew his brother would soon reach one with the sword realm, he was running out of time. Yichen was now nearly ten years old. But because in this life, he had been training in accordance with the [Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens mark 2], he had already reached a height of 1.6 meters tall, just twenty centimetres shorter than he had been in his previous life. His appearance was completely different to how he had looked in his previous life, unsurprising as he was from the UK in his previous life.
A thin but unbreakable film was stopping his breakthrough to the one with spear realm, similar with his one with the bow
"Same rule as always." Yichen stared at the people around him, his gaze even more terrifying than that of monsters. "As long as any of you can strike me, each person will be awarded a beasthead of gold!"
"Grr!"
"Careful, young master!"
"Haha, a beasthead of gold. Brothers, let's let the young master see how powerful we are." These brave warriors began to roar. They were the mightiest warriors within the armies of the Ji clan of the West Prefecture; the Ninefang Warriors! For someone to be awarded the title of Ninefang Warrior required their internal energy to have reached the limits of the Houtian level, and also be warriors with significant battle experience.
A beasthead of gold meant ten pounds of gold. Gold coins were used as a form of currency in the countless tribes, and ten pounds of gold, to these powerful warriors, was an extremely attractive offer.
But they didn't dare to be incautious, because Yichen's power had spread across the army long ago. He had often sparred in the army with some of the elite soldiers…and thus, Yichen's ability had risen rapidly, as these warriors all knew. Even if nine of the most powerful warriors joined forces against him…defeating Yichen would still be a hard task. However, it was still possible.
The blunt black spear in hand, Yichen stared quietly at the surrounding people. Actually, ever since he had learned the reputedly most complicated of spear techniques [God Slaying Spear] and mastered it to the point where his father nodded in satisfaction, sparring with the metal puppet had become meaningless. Thus, he was permitted to begin sparring with the large number of soldiers and warriors in their army. While sparring, they always used blunt weapons.
At the same time, his father had given him a strict order you are only permitted to use a tenth of your real strength!
Although Yichen's fame had become widespread across the army and he had been acknowledged as a rare talent, that was just the tip of the iceberg. But of course, when engaging in battle, Yichen used all of his available skill in the 'spear techniques' and in the 'footwork' techniques.
….
The nine warriors surrounded Yichen, walking in a circle around him while staring at him as though staring at their prey. Yichen just stood there, as unmoving as a mountain.
"Shua!" One of the nine soldiers surrounding him suddenly charged forward. The bald soldier was wielding a long spear in his hands, and struck out with it like a viper, instantly arriving next to Yichen.
Faced with this fierce spear, Yichen's body flickered, and he drew near the bald warrior's body, causing the spear to miss its mark. Spears were weakest against close quarters combat!
Yichen's punch out, as the fist shot towards him, the bald warrior hurriedly used his feet to kick against his long spear, sending it sweeping towards Yichen as he himself rolled back into the array of soldiers surrounding Yichen.
"Wow, that was dangerous. I almost got ended in one exchange. Brothers, be careful." The bald warrior quickly called out as he returned to the others.
Yichen had already stepped on top of that long spear, staring at the people around him. "It is better if you come all at once. Otherwise, you'll have no chance."
"Let's go."
"Let's do it."
The nine warriors, sensing the disparity in power, didn't launch any more probing attacks. They immediately charged forward at full strength.
The wind howled. Sabers flashed. The shadow of swords agilely danced about. Spears hissed through the air like dragons. Sticks smashed down like ferocious tigers. Attacks came from every direction towards Yichen, while Yichen just stood there, just occasionally taking a step back or turning. These seemingly minute movements resulted in many of the warriors' attacks missing.
The clanging sounds of weapons bashing against each other could be heard like thunderclaps. Clearly, these blows carried great force. Occasionally, the sound was just a whisper-soft snick.
"Ninefang Warriors really live up to their name. These nine have really good teamwork. If it was just five or six of them…I would be able to beat them in an instant. But the nine working together have put me at a complete disadvantage." Yichen found it very difficult to deal with the storm of attacks from these nine warriors. After all, he only had one speaer. Under this sort of pressure, he was forced to use his spear techniques and his footwork techniques to their utmost.
"Hu!"
"Hu!"
The spear howled, Yichen suddenly felt intoxicated. Right at this moment, his body and his spear seemed to be in perfect harmony, and he seemed to feel the 'body' of the spear, and even the wind which blew past the spear at high speed.
"Chi!" The blunt black spear gently chopped against a cavalry saber. It trembled, but then with a twist, it pushed the enemy's blade to the side and out of the enemy's control. And then, the tip of the spear went forward, stabbing into the warrior's chest. The warrior felt the pressure against his chest, and he immediately retreated two steps, then sat down.
"Hu." The blunt black spear slashed through a curved pattern in the air, easily avoiding the opponent's blocking long spear, then slapping with the flat against the bald warrior's face. With a bang, one of the man's tooth went flying and was knocked away.
Time seemed to past as slowly as a leaf falling down in the autumn wind.
Yichen's spear had suddenly become extremely nimble, and the movements of his spear tip were careful and minute, able to change in a flash. In a life and death battle…a momentary advantage was enough to change the outcome of a battle into a victory. Thus, although Yichen had previously found it very hard to resist those nine warriors, he now, in the blink of an eye, was able to knock them all down.
"Congratulations, young master."
"Congratulations, young master, on your spearplay reaching the 'advanced' stage, 'one with the spear'."
The warriors were both shocked and excited. All of them congratulated him.
A youth who was merely ten years old was able to reach the 'advanced' stage of spearplay, and become 'one with the spear'. This was more incredible than even the accomplishments of his father, the 'Raindrop Sword', Ji Yichuan.
"Hahaha…" Yichen was extremely excited as well. Six years. Six years of constantly training with the spear. Every day, aside from the time he spent training his archery skills outside the city at dawn, he spent virtually all of his time training with the spear. Sometimes he would train with his father, while sometimes he would train with his father's disciples. Sometimes, he would spar against his brother, and the armies soldiers.
The spear had long ago imprinted itself into his bones.
After training with the spear for ten million times, his accuracy with the spear had reached a terrifying level a long time ago.
And, with his ability to split his mind, his spear techniques became all the more elusive and unpredictable.
He had the body of a Fiendgod, and in terms of Ki Refining, he had already reached the peak of the Houtian stage in internal energy. This caused his spear attacks to be unstoppable.
And finally, today!
All of these accumulated experiences had formed a cohesive whole, and he entered the 'advanced' stage of spearplay, 'one with the spear'!
"Everyone, today you have helped me to make a breakthrough. Although I don't have much, I am giving each of you a beasthead of gold. Don't try to refuse." Yichen laughed loudly.
The nine warriors exchanged glances, then said in unison, "Thank you, young master!"
If they had simply lost, they wouldn't have accepted it. After all, these Ninefang Warriors had their own pride and dignity. But for young master Yichen to reach the 'one with the spear' level was a major, joyous occasion.
Such a joyous occasion…it was only fair and proper that they, too, receive some gifts.
"Nine of them."
His maid Spring Grass hurriedly ran over with stone platters. Atop the stone platters were nine beastheads of gold. They were all the highest quality gold! The nine warriors laughed as they accepted it, while at the same time, feeling moved…young master Yichen truly was powerful. But they had all seen with their own eyes how hard Yichen had worked over these years.
"Congratulations, young master. Felicitations, young master." After the nine warriors left, his maid face was covered with joy and celebration.
Six years had passed, and the two maids were now twenty years old. This was the most bewitching age for a woman. Maids such as these would usually be their master's women, which is why they had long ago in their hearts decided to consider Yichen as their world, as their god. To see their young master become so powerful, they naturally were extremely happy.
"Hahaha…" Yichen laughed as well.
Anyone would be excited. After all, he had trained bitterly since he was young. How could he not be excited upon succeeding?
Only after training with the spear for two years had his father decided that his 'body' and his 'mind' were prepared to learn spear techniques. Only then had he been taught the [God Slaying Spear] technique.
After another year, when he mastered the first level, his father permitted him to spar with others.
After three more years, culminating in this day today, he had finally reached the second level, the 'advanced' level, becoming 'one with the spear'.
"Spring Grass, come with me." Yichen called out. What he wanted to do the most right now was to go see his parents and his brother, the rewards from the system can wait.