It was completely silent outside the Sword Release Hall. The atmosphere changed from the tense standoff between the two families to an eerie silence.
Zhou Huaili had his hands behind his back. Looking at his highly regarded son being helped away by the disciples while clutching his chest, there was anger in his eyes, but more of it was surprise and suspicion towards Ye Jingtang's strength.
Guang Hanlin, the Three Immortals of Sanjue Valley, seeing that Zhou Huaili remained silent for a long time, thought for a while and said:
"Even at the same level, it's very difficult to win when using a short weapon against a long spear. With Young Master Ye's martial arts skills, I'm not even sure I could get the upper hand if I were to fight. What's your opinion on this battle, Leader Zhou?"
Xuan Yuanhongzhi had already negotiated with the Zhou family about dividing the Qingjiang docks. If the Zhou family admitted defeat, both families would end up with nothing. After some consideration, he interjected:
"Yuhua has remarkable talent. We haven't seen each other for a few months, and he may have made further progress. Since he's here, it's better to have a fight."
Zhou Huaili looked at Jian Yuhua:
"Yuhua."
Jian Yuhua was surprised by Ye Jingtang's strength when he witnessed it, but he didn't lose his composure.
Seeing that all the senior martial artists were looking at him, Jian Yuhua walked down the steps unhurriedly. He looked at the sword in his hand and said:
"Swords are indeed at a disadvantage when fighting in a ring."
Ye Jingtang said indifferently: "Do you need me to shorten the staff?"
"I don't want to take advantage of Brother Ye. I naturally admire Brother Ye's extraordinary martial arts skills. However, as a martial artist, I don't like being given leniency. I still want to see Brother Ye's genuine Overlord Spear technique."
"Hmm?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone by the lakeside was taken aback, and a commotion ensued. In general, their thoughts were something like - You may not even be able to break through his moves when he's using a staff of the same height as the eyebrows. If he really uses a long spear in the ring, can you even survive one round?
Jian Yuhua didn't pay attention to these jeering words. He flicked his wrist and threw the three-foot green sword to the disciple of the Zhou family behind him:
"You all probably know about my background. I only became a disciple of the Zhou family the year before last, and I've been learning swordsmanship for at most two years. I can't demonstrate the essence of the Zhou family's swordsmanship. This battle today is related to the reputation of the Zhou family. Since I'm on the stage, I have to go all out. I believe you don't mind if I use the skills I've accumulated to fight with Brother Ye, right?"
When everyone heard this, they became a bit quieter.
Jian Yuhua came from the background of a wandering martial artist, but he didn't have a great reputation before. He only came to the fore after joining the Zhou family. They really didn't know what martial arts skills Jian Yuhua had in the martial arts world.
As for changing weapons, everyone didn't have any objections.
After all, Honghua Tower was famous for its spear techniques, but Song Chi's boxing skills and Chen Yuanqing's palm techniques were also renowned.
If Ye Jingtang couldn't win with a spear and then switched to boxing, it was also his own genuine ability, and others couldn't say anything about it.
When Ye Jingtang heard Jian Yuhua's words, he became interested:
"Since we're on the stage to face each other, we naturally have to fight until we're convinced. Whatever skills you have, feel free to show them."
Jian Yuhua smiled and hooked his hand:
"Brother Ye's staff of the same height as the eyebrows is powerful and imposing, and the strength is indeed great, but the staff of the same height as the eyebrows isn't used like this."
"Huh?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the audience.
Ye Jingtang had already been very arrogant just now. Unexpectedly, as soon as Jian Yuhua came on stage, he started by saying he wanted to teach Ye Jingtang how to use the staff. This tone was extremely arrogant.
Zhe Yunli, who was secretly observing from the second floor, was immediately annoyed:
"Is this guy blind? Brother Jingtang is so powerful, and he still wants to teach Brother Jingtang how to use the staff of the same height as the eyebrows. Does he even deserve it?"
Luo Ning had higher martial arts skills after all. She frowned and said:
"Ye Jingtang has probably only been learning the spear for about half a month. His foundation is solid, but his techniques can't compare to those of a spear and staff master. 'A staff is feared by an experienced man'. If Jian Yuhua has been learning staff techniques since he was a child, Ye Jingtang might really suffer a loss."
When Zhe Yunli heard this, she became nervous again.
Ye Jingtang also didn't expect the other party to be so arrogant. Without further ado, he threw the staff of the same height as the eyebrows in his hand to Jian Yuhua:
"You've only been practicing swordsmanship for two years, and I haven't been practicing the spear for long either. I hope you won't let me down."
The people by the lakeside were skeptical of these words. After all, judging from Ye Jingtang's imposing manner, it wouldn't be surprising if he said he had been practicing the spear since he was three years old.
However, "It takes a month to learn the staff, a year to learn the saber, and a lifetime to learn the spear." Judging from Ye Jingtang's appearance, he was probably around twenty years old. Practicing the spear for seventeen years indeed couldn't be considered a long time in the realm of spear techniques.
Seeing that the Zhou family was being so arrogant, Chen Yuanqing didn't throw another staff of the same height as the eyebrows to make Ye Jingtang humiliate himself. Instead, he took out a long spear wrapped in black cloth and threw it to Ye Jingtang.
Ye Jingtang raised his hand to catch it. He unhurriedly unwrapped the black cloth, revealing the jet-black long spear.
This spear was called "Black Qilin". It was 2.3 meters long, with a spearhead 1.3 chi long. It ranked eighth among the "Ten Famous Spears" listed in the martial arts world. It was forged by Xiaoshan Fort in Jiangzhou during the previous dynasty and was originally presented to the court of the Great Yan Dynasty. The Emperor of the Great Yan often carried it when hunting. After the country was destroyed, it strayed into the martial arts world and was acquired by Honghua Tower.
The renowned martial artists present, seeing this legendary famous weapon, showed a hint of eagerness in their eyes.
Ye Jingtang held the long spear with both hands, gripping the end of the spear with his right hand and supporting the spear with his left hand. He slid his feet one in front of the other and took up the stance of "Breaking Spear and Supporting the Tripod". His figure was as steady as a mountain:
"Please."
Jian Yuhua held the staff of the same height as the eyebrows at his waist, with the tip of the staff pointing forward. His stance was solid, and his entire demeanor changed, like an unshakable pine tree.
Whoosh~~~
It became quiet in front of the Sword Release Hall. Everyone subconsciously held their breath, and their expressions were solemn.
Most of the moves of the spear and the staff were similar. When using a spear against a staff, each had its own advantages, and the outcome depended entirely on the level of attainment of both sides.
Just from the imposing manner of Jian Yuhua's stance, he was evenly matched with Ye Jingtang, who had amazed everyone just now. This battle was probably not going to be simple.
Whoosh whoosh...
The tide lapped against the shore, and the two men faced each other with their long weapons.
Jian Yuhua's eyes were focused and calm. He gently shook his hands, and the staff of the same height as the eyebrows made a loud cracking sound:
Crack——
Then he advanced step by step, pressing forward.
Ye Jingtang didn't take the initiative to attack. Instead, he changed to a starting stance of a horizontal thrust, concentrating on observing Jian Yuhua's steps.
Ta ta...
Soon, the tip of Jian Yuhua's staff was almost touching the jet-black spearhead.
This distance was a crucial point in the fight between long weapons. Normally, whoever could strike and press on the opponent's weapon would gain the "vital position", and vice versa would be in the "deadly position".
The renowned martial artists in front of the hall were all staring at the slightest changes in the two men, trying to see the details in advance.
But unfortunately, the two men on the stage didn't fight according to the normal martial arts routine at all.
When the weapons of the two sides were about to touch, Jian Yuhua suddenly shook his arms vigorously:
Crack——
The sound was like a thunderclap on dry land, seizing the initiative and almost ear-piercing.
The long staff exerted force within a few inches, but it forcefully knocked Ye Jingtang's spearhead three chi away. If it were an ordinary person, the weapon would probably have been knocked out of their hand by this blow.
As soon as Jian Yuhua's strike was successful, his figure shot up. He took a big step forward, and the long staff in his hand silently pointed forward, directly aiming at Ye Jingtang's throat.
There was no gap between the two moves, and the speed was so fast that only the afterimage of the staff could be seen.
The people by the lakeside were astonished when they saw this incredible opening move.
Some experienced senior martial artists in the martial arts world had a long-forgotten term from the martial arts world flash through their minds - The Fu Family's Wind and Wave Staff!
The Wind and Wave Staff was the signature staff technique of the prestigious military family in the northwest during the previous dynasty. Throughout the entire Yan Dynasty, it was one of the top-notch unique skills in spear and staff techniques, known for its unexpectedness and thunderous momentum.
According to the experience of the martial artists present, the young leader of Honghua Tower, caught off guard by such a move, would most likely be defeated in one strike and wouldn't even have time to counterattack.
But in the next instant, the eyes of the renowned martial artists present all turned to astonishment!