Chapter 2

Xu Jingming looked at their expressions and guessed the thoughts of these young people. He smiled and said, "I've reviewed your files. There are eleven of you in the Jiangnan Province team who use the long spear, and you're all here this time. Three of you are high school students, specially recruited. The three of you, come forward one by one and put on your armor."

In martial arts competitions, it is mandatory to wear armor, helmets, and even neck guards, among other protective gear.

In cold weapon combat, the weapons are not sharpened and are wrapped with cushioning material, but the impact force is still terrifying. Without professional equipment, it can be fatal.

Xu Jingming also put on his armor and helmet, looking at the team members through the face mesh.

"Everyone, come into the ring," Xu Jingming said, holding a long spear and walking through the metal gate into the arena. The eleven team members and their coach, Liu, also entered.

"Everyone else, stand to the side. Feng Yu, you go first, and Liu Hao, get ready," Xu Jingming said.

In official matches, only two combatants should be in the ring, but this was just a training session. The 20-meter by 20-meter area was more than enough for Xu Jingming to guide the provincial team members, so he allowed the other team members to come in and observe. Without the wire mesh obstructing the view, the observers could see more clearly.

"If you can reach half of Coach Xu's level, you can make it to the World Martial Arts Championship," Coach Liu Chongyuan said. The other team members also held their breath and watched closely, as it was a rare opportunity to see a master like Xu Jingming, the Spear Demon, in action.

A young man, also in armor and holding a long spear, walked to face Xu Jingming, standing ten meters apart.

"Activate the referee system," Xu Jingming said.

A holographic image descended from above the ring, forming a large face that looked down and said, "The match begins."

Nowadays, martial arts competitions are judged by intelligent systems. The cameras can slow down the action by a thousand times, ensuring accurate judgments, and there has never been a mistake.

"Come on," Xu Jingming said, looking at the young and inexperienced Feng Yu. High school students who are specially recruited are generally weaker, but they are selected for their great potential and are given focused training.

"Coach, be careful. In my matches, many opponents can't even block my first spear thrust," the young and confident Feng Yu said.

"Prove it by touching me first," Xu Jingming teased.

Feng Yu confidently took a sudden step forward, moving extremely fast and fiercely. In just a few steps, he was close, and his thrust with the long spear produced a whistling sound in the air.

Feng Yu practiced this thrust every day, five hundred times, each time with full effort. He started practicing with the spear at twelve years old, and after five years, his thrust was as fast as a blur, capable of piercing even thick armor! Even though the competition spear had a rounded tip and was wrapped in cushioning material, the impact force was still over 800 pounds.

"Boom!" The sound of the spear piercing the air was clear, but Xu Jingming only took a step back.

The tip of the spear stopped twenty centimeters from Xu Jingming, not touching him at all.

"Huh?" Feng Yu was slightly stunned and immediately changed his technique, turning the spear into a circle and jabbing at Xu Jingming.

Each jab was a powerful attack, but Xu Jingming moved like a cat, easily evading all the thrusts.

"High school students in the provincial team," Xu Jingming thought, remembering his own younger self, who was also once so inexperienced.

"How can I not touch you? I can't even get within twenty to thirty centimeters," Feng Yu attacked repeatedly, his spear techniques dazzling, but he couldn't touch Xu Jingming at all.

After dozens of thrusts, Xu Jingming, who had been moving, made his first move. He raised his spear and, the moment it touched Feng Yu's spear, the tip of his spear blurred, and a terrifying force erupted.

"Bang!"

A low, heavy sound, the sound of the spear shafts colliding, and Feng Yu's spear was sent flying.

Feng Yu's eyes widened, and his hands trembled. He stared at the spear that had fallen to the ground far away: "I have at least 200 pounds of grip strength in one hand. How could it fly out just from one touch?"

He had been holding the spear with both hands, and with just one collision, his hands went numb, and the spear flew out.

"Your footwork is weak, and your spear techniques are average," Xu Jingming commented. This opponent wasn't even worth his full armor, but martial arts competitions don't allow for carelessness, as a moment of inattention could lead to a lifetime of regret.

"I don't know much about spear techniques," Coach Liu Chongyuan laughed, "but this kid's footwork is weak, and to us, it's like watching slow motion."

Feng Yu looked at Xu Jingming with confusion: "Coach, even with my weak footwork, how can I not touch you with a spear over two meters long?"

"Your arms and spear have a fixed length. The maximum attack range is fixed," Xu Jingming explained. "Based on your footwork, I can determine the maximum range your spear can reach. By maintaining the distance, I can keep you from touching me. This is a basic skill for professional fighters."

"The maximum attack range is fixed? By maintaining the distance, I can't touch you?" Feng Yu murmured, feeling that Xu Jingming's movements were simple, but he couldn't touch him no matter how he tried.

"The essence of footwork is, first, neural reaction, second, spatial awareness, and third, body balance control," Xu Jingming said. "You are rough in all three areas. As Coach Liu said, your footwork is like slow motion to professional fighters."

"This kid was just recruited to the provincial team after his college entrance exam. He has a lot of raw talent, but his footwork needs a lot of practice," Liu Chongyuan added.

Feng Yu asked, "Coach Xu, what are the problems with my spear techniques?"

He admitted his weak footwork but was confident in his spear techniques.

"Your spear techniques... strictly speaking, only the initial thrust, where you channel all your momentum into one thrust, is at a professional level. The other thrusts, slashes, and blocks are weak," Xu Jingming said. Weapon combat is not a game; it is the most dangerous form of combat, where serious injuries and disabilities can occur. Since he was their coach, he had to point out their issues clearly.

The other ten team members felt the pressure from Xu Jingming and were eager to try.

...

"Bang." The second high school student's spear was also sent flying when it touched Xu Jingming's spear. Even with preparation and effort to hold on, it was useless.

...

"Bang" "Bang" "Bang" "Bang" "Bang" "Bang" ...

One after another, the spears were sent flying!

The team members were stunned.

Even the two experienced national team members, Huang Feng and Zhang Qi, were powerless against Xu Jingming.

Among them, only Zhang Qi managed to make Xu Jingming use two spears! The first spear deflected Zhang Qi's spear, and he managed to hold on, but he was left wide open. Xu Jingming's second spear thrust hit Zhang Qi's chest, and the impact lit up the red light on his armor, indicating his defeat!

For the other team members, Xu Jingming only used one spear, and it was a defensive block. Their spears were all sent flying, and they couldn't hold on.

"Is this the Spear Demon?"

"The World Martial Arts Championship has been held for nearly thirty years, and in terms of spear techniques, Xu Jingming is universally recognized as one of the top ten. Even though I imagined it, the actual difference is too great!"

"The Spear Demon Xu Jingming's most famous move is the 'Shadow Thrust,' but he didn't even need to use it against us."

"If our spear techniques could reach half of his level, we could make it to the World Martial Arts Championship."

The team members were both excited and passionate.

Only by experiencing it firsthand could they understand how terrifying the top ten spear techniques in history were. They even felt that the Spear Demon Xu Jingming might still be at his peak, or even stronger!

Two hours later.

"Today's initial training, I hope everyone is clear about their own weaknesses," Xu Jingming said, looking at the team members, who were all excited and passionate, feeling that this training was truly worth it.

"In the next nine days, we will focus on one basic training each day. After the training camp, you should continue to practice daily. Spear techniques require years of practice, and the natural transfer of power into each thrust requires both insight and hard work," Xu Jingming said.

"Yes, Coach," the eleven team members responded in unison, clearly convinced and admiring of Xu Jingming.

"Good, dismissed," Xu Jingming nodded.

"Everyone, go back to the hotel by car," Liu Chongyuan instructed.

"Sure thing," the team members put down their weapons and left in groups.

"Achen, take Coach Liu to sit down," Xu Jingming said. "Daxiong, I'm sweaty, I'll go take a shower and change. We'll meet downstairs. There's a barbecue restaurant next to our martial arts gym, and it's my favorite in Binhai City."

"Oh? I'm looking forward to it," the bear-like Liu Chongyuan said, eager to try. These professional fighters have high training volumes and eat a lot, and they all love meat.

Xu Jingming quickly went to shower. After two hours of training, even as a coach, he was drenched in sweat. However, he was used to it. In martial arts training, it's common for clothes to be soaked and wrung out multiple times.

...

After showering and changing into a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, Xu Jingming saw a middle-aged man smoking outside the door.

"Brother, why are you here?" Xu Jingming asked in surprise, recognizing the man as Fang Xinglong, the owner of the Starry Martial Arts Gym! The Starry Martial Arts Gym is a top-notch gym in Binhai City, covering over 11,000 square meters. Xu Jingming, a professional martial artist, didn't have such a grand setup; he was invited to be the head coach.

Fang Xinglong's main business is selling alcohol, and he is a billionaire who is passionate about martial arts and weapon combat. He is willing to invest heavily and is well-known in the martial arts community. He is also a disciple of "Fierce Tiger" Liu Hai.

The World Martial Arts Championship has been held for nearly thirty years, and Liu Hai has been the national team's head coach for twenty years. Most of the national team members call him "Master."

In the first World Martial Arts Championship, Liu Hai was already forty-five years old. As an elder martial artist, he was thrilled by the competition and participated in five consecutive championships, competing against top fighters from around the world. Early competitions were more dangerous due to less stringent safety rules. Liu Hai won third place twice, second place twice, and first place once! After winning the world championship, he announced his retirement and became the national team's head coach at fifty, retiring at seventy.

Xu Jingming was once a key member of the national team and a beloved disciple of Liu Hai. Fang Xinglong, an amateur fighter, is also a passionate martial artist who managed to become a disciple of Liu Hai.

"Jingming," Fang Xinglong, smoking, looked at his good friend, "Did you offend someone?"