Chapter Sixty-One: The Tiger-Headed Gold-Inlaid Spear

Park Jung-shin and Xu Hu entered the arena one after the other.

The visual contrast between the two was strikingly disjointed.

One was a delicate, fragile-looking Korean flower boy.

The other was a towering, rough-bearded, fierce-faced brute from the Northeast.

Park Jung-shins weapon was a rapier.

It was a type of thrusting sword, measuring one meter and twenty centimeters in length, weighing two jin and eight liang, featuring a solid black filigree guard and a double-edged blade.

The slender blade was nearly rectangular near the ricasso by the hilt, becoming increasingly sharp and tapered only as it approached the tip.

The advantage of this design was that it concentrated the center of gravity entirely at the hilt, greatly enhancing stability and operational control.

Among numerous weapons, the rapier could arguably be considered the ultimate dueling sword, best suited for unarmored single combat.

In stark contrast, Xu Hus weapon was a executioner blade.

In ancient times, executioner blades were predominantly heavy sabers used for decapitations.

The saber was one meter and one centimeter long, with a thick spine, a wide blade, and an astonishing weight, classifying it as a two-handed heavy saber.

Without exceptional arm strength, one would genuinely struggle to wield this piece of equipment.

The executioner blade excelled at chopping and hacking, carrying immense force; when swung, it exuded an overwhelming momentum capable of subduing superior skill with sheer power.

This was almost the exact opposite of the rapier, which favored technique and thrusting.

In principle, the two weapons had no inherent superiority or inferiority.

The old saying "an inch longer is an inch stronger" was not absolute; ultimately, everything relied on technique and combat style.

Just as in *The Wrath of Swords*, Feng Yu-xiu was able to defeat Wang Hong-ye—who wielded a steel staff over two meters long—using nothing more than a simple paper cutter.

...

Xu Hu possessed formidable arm strength, and his moves were always expansive and uninhibited. In his hands, the heavy executioner blade was wielded with considerable ferocity.

Park Jung-shin was the exact opposite.

In this brilliant arena match, Park Jung-shin perfectly demonstrated to everyone why the rapier earned the title of the King of Duels.

Throughout the bout, Park Jung-shin moved like an elegant aristocrat.

Leveraging the reach and lightness of his rapier, he bypassed the executioner blade several times in succession, striking Xu Hu on the back of the hand, forearm, chest, and right shoulder respectively.

Although the penetration was not deep, it effectively crippled Xu Hus right arm.

There had always been a saying in martial arts: "thrusts kill, slashes wound."

So-called puncture wounds carried the highest mortality rate.

Their primary flaw was insufficient stopping power during combat.

Unless instantly fatal, even a lethal puncture wound would still allow the opponent to launch a desperate dying counterattack.

However, in this match, Park Jung-shins skill level clearly surpassed Xu Hus, and he had utilized a weapon that perfectly suited his unique style.

In the end, after merely twelve rounds, he pierced Xu Hus left chest with a single thrust, maintaining a flawless, injury-free record.

Xu Hu collapsed to the ground heavily, bright red blood seeping from his chest.

The puncture wound was severe, and whether he would survive was entirely up to fate.

The bloodshed in this match was quite high; Xu Hu had been struck several times, his clothes stained crimson with blood.

Yet it ended a bit too quickly, leaving the spectators wanting more.

With just this single battle, Park Jung-shin vastly elevated his own popularity.

His injury-free, elegant combat posture and exceptionally high level of skill caused the vast majority of wealthy female patrons to grow moist with excitement.

The phrase: "Elegance never goes out of style."

Nearly became a mantra among the spectators infatuated with Park Jung-shin. Whenever Park Jung-shin gained the slightest advantage, restless cheers would erupt from the audience.

Park Jung-shin stepped down from the ring with a satisfied expression.

Upon reaching the fighters' lounge, his gaze grew increasingly brilliant.

Walking up to Song Ren, he said with self-assurance, "I told you, this place will be my stage."

Then, glancing around at the hostile expressions of the other fighters, he remained brimming with confidence: "Who objects?"

His words rang with resolute clarity.

In an instant, the entire lounge crackled with a hair-trigger atmosphere.

He Ping, possessing a fiery temper, flew into a rage on the spot: "I fucking object!"

"Korean, it's windy in here, watch your tongue."

"If you run into me in the ring later, I'll teach you how to behave immediately!"

The rest of the fighters mostly looked over with gloomy, cold gazes, though they refrained from uttering harsh threats.

After all, judging by the match they had just witnessed, this Korean punk indeed possessed some genuine skill.

Wielding a rapier as if performing an elegant dance, he effortlessly pierced Xu Hus chest in a dozen rounds, leaving him critically wounded and on the verge of death.

Park Jung-shin cast a look of disdain at He Ping, ignoring him entirely.

He Ping was infuriated by the look, yet unable to erupt right there.

Song Ren patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to pay no mind.

No amount of empty, trivial trash talk compared to stepping into the ring oneself.

...

Meanwhile, the suspended screens displayed the contenders for the second weapon match.

Still nursing his sullen anger, He Ping froze the moment he looked at the display screen.

He Ping versus Liu Yun-xing.

Six-Harmonies Great Spear versus Miao Dao.

He Ping was proficient in Baji Quan, and the weapon at which Baji practitioners excelled above all others was the great spear.

Part (1/3) of (3)

Part (2/3) of (3)

He Ping was also a standout in this regard, particularly skilled in the Six-Harmonies Spear.

Correspondingly, the fighter Liu Yun-xing possessed considerable personal strength as well, wielding his Miao Dao with fluid, effortless grace.

He excelled at exploiting the long reach of the Miao Dao to strike shorter opponents.

Also known as the Qi family saber, the Miao Dao was a long-handled saber evolved from Japanese swords, usable with either single or dual hands, combining the dual advantages of both saber and spear.

Among current edged weapons, the Miao Dao ranked as a top-tier blade.

Ordinarily, however, Liu Yun-xing relied on the length of the Miao Dao to master techniques of overcoming shorter weapons with length.

When facing He Ping, this strategy evidently rendered him somewhat helpless.

He Ping's Six-Harmonies Great Spear was over three meters long—nearly double the length of the Miao Dao.

Even among all types of cold weapons, the Six-Harmonies Great Spear ranked near the absolute top in length.

When He Ping stepped into the arena wielding his spear, his expression held a hint of smug triumph.

An inch longer means an inch stronger; your Miao Dao is nothing compared to mine.

Especially when He Ping pressed down on the shaft with a single arm, the three-meter-long Six-Harmonies Great Spear practically pointed right at the tip of Liu Yun-xing's nose.

Conversely, the Miao Dao's length of around one meter six couldn't even reach He Ping's spear-wielding arm at that moment.

Liu Yun-xing's favored saber technique of using length to defeat shorter weapons fell into complete disarray against He Ping, plunging into a total disadvantage.

Throughout the entire match, just like the first, he didn't even get a chance to close the distance before a spearhead was pressed directly against his throat, its cold glare flashing threateningly.

Cold sweat beaded heavily on Liu Yun-xing's forehead. If the spearhead advanced even a fraction of an inch further, he would likely die right where he stood.

He Ping withdrew his spear and stood straight, saying, "You lost."

Liu Yun-xing's expression flickered uncertainly, but in the end, he said nothing more. He voluntarily looked toward the referee outside the ring and, after a moment of silence, stated, "I concede."

The referee's face darkened.

Damn it, a match decided by a light touch upon contact?

You come to the top-floor arena of Fusheng Building to play at light-touch sparring...

Are you trying to play the living Buddha, kid!

In truth, this match was also executed brilliantly.

Particularly when He Ping whirled the Six-Harmonies Great Spear into a roaring gale, the spearhead tracing sweeping afterimages in the air and forcing Liu Yun-xing to retreat without gaining an inch.

The entire bout suppressed the opponent into utter silence.

Yet, just as mentioned earlier, not a single drop of blood was shed from start to finish. No matter how splendid the match, it lacked the bloody atmosphere characteristic of top-tier arena fights.

The atmosphere in the audience seating cooled noticeably, the restless clamor from the previous match fading into indifference.

He Ping, however, cared little. He climbed into this ring partly to earn some money and partly to pursue higher realms of martial arts.

Bothering with other people's opinions was the last thing on his mind as he strode gracefully out of the ring.

...

The chilling atmosphere outside the ring did not last long.

Because two brand-new fighter avatars appeared on the suspended screens.

Song Ren versus Valerio.

The Black fighter Valerio had a minor reputation even within the top tier.

With his robust physique, rounded and powerful muscles, he looked at first glance remarkably like a gorilla.

He seemed to have anticipated this battle for a long time.

The moment he saw his avatar appear on the screen, he charged into the arena with uncontained excitement.

Valerio's weapon was a two-meter-long glaive-spear.

The grip was wrapped in black binding tape, the spearhead sharp and slender, gleaming with lethal intent.

One side of the tip integrated a ferocious battle-ax.

The weapon combined the piercing capability of a spear with the devastating chopping power of a battle-ax.

Yet, correspondingly, its weight was extraordinary; forged entirely of metal, it demanded exceptional arm strength and supreme physical stamina from its wielder.

In this regard, Valerio was undoubtedly a master.

He slammed the glaive-spear heavily onto the stone floor of the arena.

Clang!

The bluestones of the ring trembled slightly, producing a resounding echo.

Valerio pounded his muscular chest fiercely and let out a harsh, roaring bark toward Song Ren:

"WHO!!!"

The sound was exceptionally loud, echoing straight up to the high rafters with lingering reverberations.

Most of the audience members seated close to the ring instinctively covered their ears.

What kind of madness was this gorilla-like lunatic going through?

Only Song Ren roughly understood that this fellow was still harboring resentment over that single kick from last time.

Without a word, Song Ren walked silently toward his weapon rack.

Park Jung-shin watched with a hint of curiosity.

Song Ren lifted the pure white cloth draped over the rack, reaching out to grasp a flash of blood-red underneath.

As the cloth fluttered down to the floor, Song Ren reversed his grip with one hand, holding a long spear horizontally behind his back as it materialized before everyone's eyes.

The bright silver metallic shaft was intertwined with blood-red thunder-patterned striations crisscrossing upward.

Atop it rested a golden tiger-head socket, from which extended a foot-long silver-white spearhead gleaming with chilling light.

The Gold-Inlaid Tiger-Head Spear!

Measuring two meters and forty centimeters in total length, it was forged using modern alloy manufacturing technology.

Its weight was quite staggering; even for Song Ren, it required the blazing "Hoof" character seal branded on his spine to wield the Gold-Inlaid Tiger-Head Spear with ease.

Part (2/3) of (3)

Part (3/3) of (3)

Song Ren spun the spear a few times, creating flashing blossoms of steel, before stepping onto the ring.

His pair of dark eyes burned with an eager intensity that could no longer be contained.

The spear reigned supreme among the four major classical weapons, known as the King of a Hundred Weapons, and stood as one of the most lethal signature weapons on ancient battlefields.

Song Ren's Gold-Inlaid Tiger-Head Spear had been rapidly crafted through modern mature metallurgical techniques, thanks to Li Yu-yao's connections.

When it was first completed, the master blacksmith had been endlessly curious, for all-metal great spears of this kind were exceedingly rare in the modern era.

In the present day, and even in ancient times, aside from mighty generals with extraordinary arm strength or specialized military formations, great spears were predominantly crafted with wooden shafts.

This was because manufacturing techniques were extremely complex, and wooden shafts could not be easily snapped apart.

Wooden-shafted spears offered a more user-friendly weight.

Whereas this all-metal spear shaft, even if not completely solid, possessed a truly exaggerated weight.

Song Ren's Gold-Inlaid Tiger-Head Spear had never been officially weighed on a scale.

Yet, without borrowing the inherited power of the "Hoof" seal, relying solely on his physical body, while he could swing this spear, he could hardly maneuver it freely, let alone wield it with fluid mastery.

Compared to Valerio's two-meter-long, equally all-metal glaive-spear, Song Ren's Gold-Inlaid Tiger-Head Spear possessed an even greater visual impact purely in terms of length.

In fact, the overall weight of Valerio's glaive-spear was equally substantial; the fact that he could bring such a weapon into the arena demonstrated that Valerio's arm strength was terrifyingly impressive.

Except—

Song Ren was cheating.

In the ring.

Valerio stood nearly two meters tall, muscles corded tightly across his body, his bulky physique resembling a small mountain.

The eagle totem on the side of his face, the numerous dreadlocks at the back of his head, and his dark complexion all combined to project an aura of unadulterated ferocity.

Yet, looking at the Gold-Inlaid Tiger-Head Spear held behind Song Ren's back, Valerio still felt a trace of shock. A long spear of this length would require immense effort even for him to handle.

Seeing Song Ren's clear eyes burning with a flame-like intensity, Valerio subconsciously felt a chill run down his spine, but he quickly cast aside these distracting thoughts.

A fellow who had never fought in a weapon match before—no matter how formidable his empty-handed kung fu might be, he refused to believe this person could be omnipotent in every aspect.

The arena match began!

Valerio's momentum surged, veins bulging on his forehead as he let out an explosive roar. His lowered posture resembled a rampaging black bear as he lunged forward fiercely.

His glaive-spear thrust forward with full force, aiming straight for Song Ren's chest.

Song Ren stepped forward in a charge, meeting him head-on. With a vibration of his arms on the shaft, he forcibly intercepted the glaive-spear mid-air.

CLANG!!!

The massive impact was near-deafening!

The moment Song Ren blocked the glaive-spear, his wrist instantly flipped.

The spearhead of the Gold-Inlaid Tiger-Head Spear pressed down against the glaive-spear, spinning in a circle mid-air. As he forced the enemy's spearhead down, he leveraged the power of his waist and hips to deliver a fiercely piercing counter-thrust.

Basic movements of spear technique flowed like moving clouds and flowing water in his hands, swift as a soaring dragon.

Shock flashed in Valerio's eyes as he jerked his head aside in a clumsy dodge.

The razor-sharp spear blade grazed the side of his face, slicing a shallow gash and sending a spray of bright red blood droplets flying into the air.

Before Valerio could counterattack, however, Song Ren pressed his spear down and swept it sideways with explosive force.

The spearhead struck Valerio's cheek at close range!

The tiny blood gash burst open instantly, sending a spray of blood droplets flying as his entire head was knocked violently sideways!

He staggered two steps to the side.

Before he could steady his footing, Song Ren unleashed the combined power of his waist and hips, sharply twisting his torso.

Wielding the heavy Gold-Inlaid Tiger-Head Spear, he traced a lethal, vertical arc of steel through the air.

A flash of cold light flickered across Valerio's throat in a split second!

Bright red blood droplets chased the spear tip, scattering in a fan-like spray!

Valerio's eyes widened in panic. In a daze, he dropped the glaive-spear from his hands, both palms flying up to clutch his brutally severed throat.

Bright red blood gushed like a spring, continuously seeping between his fingers, quickly dyeing his entire collar and the hem of his tunic crimson.

Thud!

Valerio dropped to his knees.

He was still whimpering while clutching his neck, but within moments, he collapsed face-forward onto the arena floor.

He fell completely still, leaving only a pool of bright red blood steadily spreading out from beneath his body.

Song Ren retracted the Gold-Inlaid Tiger-Head Spear, using the cloth wrapping to wipe away the bright red droplets clinging to the blade, and turned to look at the referee outside the ring: "You can announce the result now."

Only then did the referee snap out of his astonishment.

The match had simply ended far too quickly.

If there was anything brilliant to speak of, it was only the near-deafening impact produced when the two weapons collided.

Yet immediately after, Song Ren had ended the match in a single instant.

Slashing a throat with a long spear—this was something no one had anticipated.

Spears were fundamentally designed for piercing, yet Song Ren hadn't even had the chance to showcase the true charm of the King of a Hundred Weapons to the spectators.

There was simply no help for it.

This Valerio, who looked like a black bear, was simply too weak.