Chapter 45: Shi Yu, Who Are You Really?!

As an experienced martial artist at the Qi-Opening Realm, Zhao Peng had spent more than twenty years immersing himself in the mastery of staff techniques.

He had seen countless experts and prodigies in his time.

Yet, a high school student like the one before him was a first.

The young man's movements were agile yet brimming with power, as though the long staff had become an extension of his own body.

"His martial technique has already reached the fourth realm—the realm of a true master!"

Zhao Peng evaluated silently in his heart.

Generally speaking, weapon-based martial techniques were divided into ten levels:

Glimpsing the Threshold, Handling with Ease, Achieving Thorough Mastery, Entering the Chamber (Mastery), Moving with Facility, Standing Out from the Crowd, Pure and Refined, Transcending the Mundane, Reaching the Pinnacle, and Unifying All Things.

For instance, the other students currently practicing staff techniques in the martial arts hall were mostly lingering at the stage of Glimpsing the Threshold.

Shi Yu, however, had long since surpassed that stage, having already ascended to the fourth level: [Entering the Chamber].

At this realm, a martial artist gains a profound comprehension of the essence of the technique, allowing them to fully unleash the formidable power contained within its stances.

A level of weapon mastery at this stage entitled one to be called a master.

Zhao Peng had practiced the staff for twenty-three years, yet he had only attained the [Standing Out from the Crowd] realm, merely two levels higher than Shi Yu.

He simply could not fathom how this student before him trained. Had he started practicing from inside his mother's womb?

"Teacher Zhao?"

All the students had already finished running through the basic movements several times, only to notice Zhao Peng standing in front of Shi Yu in a daze.

Coming back to his senses, Zhao Peng gave a cough and said, "Everyone take a break. We will continue in ten minutes."

"Shi Yu, stay behind."

Hearing this, Shi Yu stopped in his tracks and looked curiously at Teacher Zhao.

He had simply been performing the basic movements normally and obediently according to instructions; how could he possibly know the myriad profound nuances perceived by the master of staff arts standing before him?

"You... have you practiced staff techniques before? For how long?" Zhao Peng asked.

Holding the staff in his left hand, Shi Yu scratched the back of his head with his right. "I have indeed practiced before. I practiced the [Celestial Constellation Universe Staff Technique]."

"Which... cultivation method?" Zhao Peng paused, as if he hadn't heard clearly, and asked again.

"The Celestial Constellation Universe Staff Technique."

Shi Yu answered honestly. Was there something wrong with this cultivation method?

"Hiss..."

Zhao Peng drew in a slight breath. Naturally, he was well aware of this Heaven-tier staff technique.

Others might not fully grasp the weight of this cultivation method, but how could a staff practitioner like him not know?

This staff technique was created by Zhao Dongwu, one of the twelve pillars guarding the Great Xia nation.

Its power and intricacy ranked in the top three across the entire Great Xia.

A cultivation method of this caliber could never be measured by mere money, nor could ordinary people easily obtain it.

At the very least, Zhao Peng knew full well that he stood no chance whatsoever of acquiring such a technique.

He looked at Shi Yu before him; this young man not only possessed astonishing innate talent, but his background was also unfathomable.

No wonder he was able to enter the municipal training camp.

"Teacher Zhao, is it very difficult to obtain this staff technique?"

Shi Yu had always been a perceptive person, and upon seeing Zhao Peng's expression and reaction, he immediately guessed as much.

Hearing this, Zhao Peng offered a wry smile.

It seemed this really was someone from a wealthy and influential family. Judging by the youth's expression, he simply had no inkling of the hurdles and connections involved.

His elders probably hadn't said much and had simply tossed the manual to him for practice.

Zhao Peng pulled Shi Yu over to find a spot to sit down, explaining everything to him in complete detail.

Listening to Teacher Zhao's words, Shi Yu fell silent.

Back when he had first come into contact with this set of staff techniques, Shi Yu had harbored doubts, wondering how such a powerful cultivation method could possibly cost a mere 300,000.

Now, it had finally been confirmed.

Behind the scenes, Song Yunwei must have paid an unimaginable price and made countless sacrifices.

Yet, she had never mentioned a single word of this.

"Sister Song..."

He murmured quietly. As of today, he finally called her sister from the bottom of his heart.

He had barely set foot upon the path of martial arts, yet he had already accumulated a mountain of favors.

Shi Yu resolved to keep all of this firmly etched in his heart.

If others treat you with peach and plum, you must repay them with jade and gems.

After finishing, Zhao Peng asked another question, "Have you mastered the Celestial Constellation Universe Staff Technique?"

"I've only mastered the first form."

"How long did it take?"

"About a week." Shi Yu did not conceal the truth, because Song Yunwei's handover of this staff technique could easily be verified with a simple inquiry; it was impossible to hide.

He might as well answer truthfully.

His greatest trump card was not his martial techniques anyway, so let this simply add another brick to his reputation as a prodigy.

This time, it was Zhao Peng's turn to fall silent.

A turbulent storm raged in his heart. A Heaven-tier staff technique, and yet the first form could be mastered in just a single week.

Upon mastering it, he had even managed to elevate his martial technique straight to the realm of [Entering the Chamber].

Back in the day, he had barely managed to establish his foundation during university, after which he obtained the Earth-tier staff technique [Wind-Thunder Annihilation Staff] with the help of the Xia family.

It had taken him a full month just to learn the very first move.

At the time, the martial arts instructor who taught him had even praised his exceptional talent in staff arts.

If that was the case, to what terrifying degree had Shi Yu's aptitude reached?

Zhao Peng's gaze grew fiery.

His own martial technique realm had remained stuck at [Standing Out from the Crowd] for many years, unable to advance any further.

But Shi Yu was different; such extraordinary talent was enough to support him in going much further!

Perhaps he wouldn't just advance to [Pure and Refined], but might even climb to those legendary final three realms:

Transcending the Mundane, Reaching the Pinnacle, and Unifying All Things!

At this thought, Zhao Peng felt an irresistible itch. To think he would actually cross paths with such a rare prodigy!

He had long forgotten his initial reluctance to come to the training camp, or how Xia Xingqiu had forced him to take on the teaching role.

Old Xia was truly wise!

"Shi Yu, would you mind demonstrating the Celestial Constellation Universe Staff Technique?" Zhao Peng asked.

"You only need to display the stances; there is no need to circulate your inner cultivation method to condense vital energy."

"Of course!"

Merely watching someone else perform physical stances was never enough to truly learn a martial technique. If that were how it worked, how could anyone use martial techniques to slay enemies on the battlefield? Would enemies just need to watch a few times to learn them?

Wielding the heavy iron staff, Shi Yu walked alone to the staff practice arena.

The students practicing the staff all looked at him with curious eyes.

Once Shi Yu settled into his stance, he gripped the staff tightly, bent his knees slightly, and planted his feet as though rooted in the bedrock of a mountain, radiating a presence as steadfast as a boulder.

Zhao Peng's eyes lit up; he truly possessed the demeanor of a master.

"Watch closely, everyone! This is the direction you should be striving toward!" he said in a deep voice to the remaining students.

With a low shout from Shi Yu.

The profound iron staff in his hand lashed out fiercely, whipping up a sharp gale. The staff traced a graceful arc through the air, streaking across like a black star.

Immediately following that, he slammed his feet hard against the ground.

The massive rebound force drove his body into a rapid spin, and his staff technique unfolded in an endless torrent, fierce and fast like a storm.

At times he swept low, the afterimages of the staff surging like tidal waves.

At times he leaped high into the air, the tip of the staff pointing straight toward the firmament.

As the staff technique reached its climax, Shi Yu let out a long whistle, his entire person seemingly merging as one with heaven and earth.

The long staff in his hand vibrated violently, and a majestic momentum burst forth from the shaft.

Even without condensing vital energy, the sweeping staff still unleashed an unmatched, fierce power!

It still emitted a deafening roar as it tore through the air!

Earth-shattering!

The onlookers were left dazzled and mesmerized, gasps of astonishment rising one after another.

"Damn, that is ridiculously cool!"

"This... how is this even possible?"

"Is this the level a student is supposed to have?" Someone couldn't help but exclaim, their voice filled with incredulous shock.

Not only the students practicing the staff, but many students in the distance practicing other weapon arts also halted their movements, drawn in by Shi Yu's figure.

Sheng Jianxing stood far in the distance, instinctively tightening his grip on the three-foot-long sword in his hand.

"Such a martial technique..." he murmured, "Shi Yu has actually reached this stage..."

However, the astonishment of everyone present paled in comparison to that of a single individual.

Qian Mingjie stood at the entrance of the martial arts hall, staring in utter shock as Shi Yu leaped and bounded through the air like a great roc spreading its wings.

In his eyes, Shi Yu's figure gradually overlapped with that of the user named "Ten Feathers" on the Hongmeng Network.

The exact same staff stances!

The exact same oppressive momentum!

Qian Mingjie felt as though he had been struck by lightning, a single question echoing endlessly in his mind:

Shi Yu, who on earth are you?！！