Chapter 25: First Style of Gun River, Gale!

"Gale Martial Arts Hall sees the rise of a super genius, personalized medicine boosts physique by 99%!"

"New record in Hua Xia, the 99% miracle, Gale's ascent is imminent!"

"Four levels up, Gale's second-class student, Lin Zhen, advances to first-class, sparking a custom-made craze in Base City."

Post after post appeared on Ice City's Martial Artist forum, sparking a frenzy across Base City and drawing the attention of countless people.

The majority of those posting were Gale's martial artists, all witnesses to Lin Zhen's live performance that day.

This was a sensational event, with many people even inquiring about Lin's secret concoction ratio for the potion. If this method could be popularized, it would be a tremendous blessing for the entire martial artist community, a 99% enhancement with each use would enormously increase martial artists' collective strength.

Yet how could Lin Zhen possibly provide an answer? He only remembered his own data and couldn't match others; he could only respond with a dismissive laugh, claiming it was just good luck.

However, not everyone online was singing Lin Zhen's praises—many spoke strangely of him.

For example, Ouyang Yu from the Dragon-slaying Academy, posted online under the name "Meteor Shower."

"Sure, a 99% improvement from the Genetic Potion is remarkable, but in the end, it merely saves the martial artist some time—a few months, half a year, or a year? Lin Zhen enhanced his strength too much at once, which could easily lead to overconfidence. It's very possible he'll underestimate the dangers in the Wilderness Area and act recklessly. Maybe this isn't a good thing. It could even cost him his life, and a dead genius is worthless. So, Lin Zhen, you better stay in the martial arts hall and be your genius self while I'm preparing to enter the Wilderness Area."

This post actually found agreement with a few, mainly students from various martial arts halls angrily denouncing Lin Zhen online.

This Lin Zhen, a former second-class student, was now becoming increasingly prominent, and these students, all full of pride and arrogance, challenged Lin Zhen on the forum.

Naturally, Lin Zhen didn't bother with these people, but their unanswered challenges only made them more rampant, claiming Lin Zhen's significant enhancements were merely down to luck and that he was just a straw bag when it came to real combat, destined to fade into mediocrity.

Of course, there was also a positive side; students from various martial arts halls started training desperately, vying to take the Genetic Potion sooner to surpass Lin Zhen.

Subsequently, more followed suit to use their custom concoctions, but none succeeded.

Martial Artists all harbor the ambition to reach the peak, so it wasn't just Lin Zhen who tried the personalized concoction. However, the daunting success rates were disheartening, with no one else achieving the super enhancements like Lin Zhen. Instead, many students with promising potential became mediocre due to rashly using personalized concoctions.

The day after Lin Zhen's breakthrough, Chen Jingchou from the Long Wind Martial Arts Academy had success with his personalized concoction, improving by 79% and advancing to a Seventh-level Warrior.

On the third day after Lin Zhen's breakthrough, Lei Ming, a first-class student from the Dragon-slaying Academy, achieved success with his concoction, enhancing his physique by 75% and advancing to the Seventh-level Warrior.

Although these two pieces of news were far less shocking than Lin Zhen's 99% improvement, they were still rare happenings in Ice City Base City, invigorating the folks from Long Wind and Dragon Slayer. They also challenged Gale and Lin Zhen, especially Ouyang Yu, who became a staunch Lin detractor.

Within the Dragon-slaying Academy, Ouyang Yu made another disparaging post about Lin Zhen. Right after signing off, he received a call from Zhang Huai.

"It's time to meet Lin Zhen and his crew. The idea to hire someone to beat up Lin's dad in my bar was yours. Now come with me."

"Brother Zhang, there's no danger, is there?" Ouyang Yu, who was knocked down by three punches from Lin Zhen, although drunk at the time, still felt some fear towards him.

"Don't worry. When I, Zhang Huai, was out hunting monsters, Lin Zhen was still just a schoolboy. Even though he's made quite the name for himself now, he wouldn't dare to challenge me. My nickname 'Butcher' isn't just for fun. If I can't even protect you, I might as well not mix in the martial arts circles. Besides, our Blood Hand Squad will be there in full force. Let's see what kind of tricks the Gale folks can pull."

With Zhang Huai's assurance, Ouyang Yu felt much relieved. The Blood Hand Squad, with which Zhang Huai was affiliated, was led by a Fourth-level War General. Lei Ming had also joined the Blood Hand Squad as a senior student. With these people present, he wasn't afraid of Lin Zhen.

Traveling in two modified off-road vehicles, the Dragon-slaying Academy's Blood Hand Squad, along with Ouyang Yu, headed straight for the rendezvous point agreed upon with Lin Zhen and his group.

********

Inside the Gale Martial Arts Hall, Zhao Liang waited with three martial artists at the entrance of the small training field.

"Lianger, Lin Zhen hasn't left the small training field for three days. Isn't this guy pushing himself too hard?"

The speaker was Zhao Liang's captain of the Demon Hunter Squad, named Shi Lei, a Third-level War General specializing in the long sword and practicing Gale Sword Skill—a typical Gale martial artist.

"Yes, excessive practice is just as bad as not enough, and training here can never match the speed of real combat skills honed by hunting down monstrous beasts outside. Liang, you'll have to fill us in on this Lin Zhen. Actual combat is the real test; flowers grown in a greenhouse can never thrive."

This person's name was Gao Yan, a First-level War General, and the team's sniper.

A typical Martial Artist team would have one or two members armed with firearms, as long-range sniping is a very necessary tactic. However, those who used firearms basically had no chance of advancing to become War Gods. Their main objective was to kill monsters for money, and after earning enough, many would choose to retire and step away from the frontline.

"Gao Yan is right, although Lin Zhen's 99% improvement is remarkable, he hasn't proven his capabilities in real combat yet. Fighting monsters is a completely different concept from brawling in a bar. Zhao Liang, you're vouching for Lin Zhen, so don't let us down. If he ends up being a drag on our team, I have no obligation to take care of him like a child."

This person's name was Ye Tiancheng, a Second-level War General who wielded dual swords and followed the path of agility.

"You guys just relax. I know this kid Lin Zhen well. Both his combat awareness and willpower are strong. If it weren't for our slight connection, this promising youngster might not have ended up in our squad. Just wait, the time is almost up. I estimate he'll be out soon."

All of them fell silent, silently waiting for the emergence of the prodigy Lin Zhen that Zhao Liang had mentioned.

At this moment, however, Lin Zhen was at a critical point.

Having secluded himself in a small training ground for three days, Lin Zhen had devoted all his energy to practicing his spear technique.

Nine Layers Spear River was an ancient set of techniques, its origins unknown to anyone, but the techniques recorded within were exceptionally powerful.

Lin Zhen, in his previous life, had once purchased the first volume. The first volume mainly contained the basics of spear techniques, along with one ultimate move. It was precisely because of this ultimate move that Martial Artists couldn't directly learn the second level. Without mastering the first level, it was impossible to advance to the second.

Lin Zhen had been practicing non-stop for three days, which had allowed him to almost fully recover the sensation of spearmanship from his past life.

What he lacked now was to re-master the first level of spear techniques he had learned in his past life.

Sweating profusely, Lin Zhen sat cross-legged on the ground, steam rising from his body. The Black Dragon Spear was placed in front of him. With his eyes tightly closed, he recalled the essentials of the first level of spear techniques in his mind.

"Nine Layers Spear River, rumored to consist of nine ultimate moves, named Gale, Storm, Waterfall, Long River, Overturning River, Sea Treading, Sky Splitting, Star Fall, and Collapse. In my previous life, I had mastered Gale. What I need to do now is to re-master it."

"The essence of Gale, I've already grasped; the only thing lacking is that this body is still a bit weak. Although after three days of hard training, my strength has reached the peak of a Seventh-level Warrior, it's still not quite there."

"But this slight physical deficiency isn't a big deal, it's not decisive. As long as I re-master Gale, with this spear technique and my exceptional neural reactions, I can take on Level Nine Warriors, and even survive against early-stage War Generals."

Recalling in his mind, remembering the enlightenment of his past life, Lin Zhen's heart was filled with howling gales, even though he was indoors.

With a "Snap!" he extended one hand, lifting the 150-pound Black Dragon Spear to chest height and slowly opened his eyes.

"Gale, a spear technique understood through the wind. When facing enemies, it strikes like an invasive gale, fierce and brutal. It has remarkable effectiveness against weaker opponents. Utilizing the spear's unstoppable advantage, it renders shorter weapons defenseless. That's the advantage of the spear!"

"Ha!"

Lin Zhen felt like he had touched the true essence of Gale again. Suddenly, he leaped up, his long spear flickering in hand, charging towards a soft-bodied dummy ten meters ahead.

The soft-bodied dummy, made of a new type of rubber and containing special materials, would automatically restore itself after being struck, making it the best material for practice.

With a flick of his spear, the Black Dragon streaked across creating an arc. What appeared to be an ordinary jab suddenly transformed!

With a "Whoosh!" a gale sprang from nowhere. A bunch of spear flowers flashed before his eyes, tumbling forward like fireballs exploding in the night. Before the spear tip even touched the dummy's body, shallow pits appeared on the soft body – wounds inflicted by the spear's light!

As the wind rose, the sensations of his previous life returned!

"That's it, to return to the peak and surpass oneself, it starts now!"