Chapter 29: The Yellow-Rank Mechanism Chamber

The Mu family, renowned for their mastery of secrets, truly lived up to their reputation as the second most powerful among the Four Great Factions of the Nine Mountains and Eighteen Clans. With their vast resources, providing a few external martial arts manuals was as easy as a flick of the wrist. Even presenting a formidable weapon like the Overlord’s Shadow-Chasing Spear was well within their means.

When a warrior reached the third level of the Body Refinement stage, the realm of external techniques, it became possible to study martial skills and learn to wield specialized weapons. Naturally, one needed a good weapon to begin with.

An ordinary spear could be purchased at the market for five gold coins. Yet the Overlord’s Shadow-Chasing Spear that the Mu family gifted to Chu Feng was crafted from rare materials, used in abundance, and forged with great complexity. Though it was classified as a fifth-rank weapon, its value soared to twelve thousand gold coins.

Twelve thousand gold coins—equivalent to one million two hundred thousand silver! Chu Feng knew that in the Terror Sect, not even the thirteen chiefs, let alone his close comrades like Xiong Wei or Xiong Wu, would spend such a fortune on a fifth-rank weapon.

Deeply grateful to the Mu family, Chu Feng did not voice his thanks; it was clear they already regarded him as one of their own, willing to assist him to the utmost.

"Now, with a weapon in hand and external martial arts acquired, it's time to devote myself to rigorous training," Chu Feng mused inwardly.

The Mu family possessed not only a dedicated training ground for martial arts but also the far more advanced Mechanism Chambers.

These Mechanism Chambers were divided by rank into Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow. The Yellow-grade chambers contained the simplest mechanical puppets, which posed little danger, even to careless warriors. The Mysterious-grade held far more formidable opponents. As for the Earth and Heaven grades, they were treacherous realms brimming with lethal traps—without considerable strength and confidence, one risked injury or even death.

Chu Feng had no intention of rushing his progress. The path of martial cultivation demanded steady, methodical advancement. Thus, after studying the "Basic Spear Techniques," he took up the Overlord’s Shadow-Chasing Spear and prepared to enter the most elementary Yellow-grade Mechanism Chamber.

Even among Yellow-grade, the chambers were divided into high, medium, and low difficulty. Naturally, Chu Feng chose the lowest level.

The steward guarding the chamber opened the doors for Chu Feng, who entered spear in hand.

Creak, creak.

No sooner had he stepped into the room than Chu Feng heard the grinding of wooden gears. Before him stretched a vast hall, in which a hundred or more men and women clad in black and white moved about—some tall, some short, some stout, some lean, wielding sabers, spears, staves, or swords, all exuding an air of martial prowess.

At first glance, Chu Feng nearly mistook them for living people.

But they were, in fact, mechanical puppets.

The Mu family’s craftsmanship in puppet-making was truly exquisite; these figures were lifelike in every detail. Dressed in the garb of martial artists, they were nearly indistinguishable from real people.

Chu Feng had scarcely entered, still observing his surroundings, when the nearest white-clad puppet brandished a broadsword and advanced upon him.

Clang!

Blade met spear—Chu Feng deflected the puppet’s strike with his weapon.

"Remarkable! These puppet warriors can serve not only as targets for spear practice but also engage in mock combat, even adjusting their attacks to match my proficiency!"

After a brief exchange with two or three puppet warriors, Chu Feng quickly grasped the workings of this chamber.

Immersing himself fully in the trial, Chu Feng focused on honing his spear techniques within the low-level Yellow-grade Mechanism Chamber.

In the first hour, new to the environment and awkward with his weapon, he could only parry the puppets’ attacks.

By the second hour, he grew more adept, his movements beginning to flow naturally, allowing him to counterattack.

By the third hour, Chu Feng sensed the "momentum" of the spear, easily handling the combined assault of two or three puppet warriors.

Clang!

With a resounding crash, Chu Feng, wielding the Overlord’s Shadow-Chasing Spear, lashed out—its tip thrust and hooked, whipping like a tiger’s tail to strike a white-clad puppet in the chest, sending the figure, as tall as himself, flying several yards.

"Miss Mu was right: 'A month for the staff, a year for the blade, and a lifetime for the spear; the treasured sword is always at your side.' How true it is!"

After three hours of relentless practice, spear in hand, Chu Feng was filled with insight.

Among the most common external weapons—blade, spear, staff, and sword—the spear was indeed the hardest to master.

Generally, the staff was straightforward and easy to handle, its movements broad and open. The blade, single-edged and always advancing, was bold and simple to wield. The sword, double-edged, could wound both foe and wielder, demanding the highest level of skill and sensitivity.

"The treasured sword is always at your side"—this saying urged one to keep the sword close and practice constantly, for just three days' neglect would dull one’s hand.

But the spear was all about "momentum"—borrowing and storing force. Strength was paramount; hence the saying "a lifetime with the spear," signifying the need for lifelong vigor and an ever-renewed sense of momentum.

The spear and halberd, even for the basic movements—lifting, hooking, thrusting—required painstaking effort to master. The variety and depth of spear techniques surpassed all other weapons.

"Maiden Passing the Shuttle!"

Suddenly, Chu Feng thrust his spear straight out; the tip pierced the throat of a black-clad puppet. With a powerful twist, the hefty, broad-shouldered puppet was flung aside.

"That was a fine spear thrust! Now, having reached the third level of Body Refinement, not only have I learned spear techniques and grown proficient in their use, but my strength has also increased!"

Chu Feng reflected inwardly.

In truth, the moment Chu Feng had opened the first page of "Basic Spear Techniques" with spear in hand, he had already entered the third level of Body Refinement, the realm of external techniques.

Strictly speaking, however, only now did Chu Feng truly count as a third-level Body Refinement martial artist.

Transitioning from the second to the third level was a small step in realm, but the progress was immense—not just in martial prowess, but also in longevity.

A first- or second-level Body Refinement warrior might live less than a hundred years; by their centennial, their body would be failing, life at its end.

Third-level warriors, however, lived between one hundred and one hundred fifty years, could run five hundred to a thousand miles in a day, and, after a meal, go seven days and nights without food or drink.

"Skillful Maiden Threading the Needle!"

As a puppet warrior lunged swiftly at him, Chu Feng’s spear flashed like lightning, its tip homing in as if guided by sight, striking the puppet squarely in the chest.

Though this move seemed simple and deft, Chu Feng had practiced it hundreds, even thousands of times.

"Only by possessing true strength can a warrior find peace of mind!"

As puppet after puppet fell to his spear, Chu Feng felt a surge of understanding.

Now, with the Overlord’s Shadow-Chasing Spear in hand and mastery of the "Wild Geese Descend on the Sands Spear Technique," every move followed a clear method—no longer relying solely on brute strength. This was what it meant to be a true martial artist.

"This 'Soul-Severing Thrust' is a secret manual to enhance one’s movement skills. It’s time to begin training! To attain mastery in spear techniques, one must complement them with agile footwork!"

Chu Feng opened the "Soul-Severing Thrust" manual and began to study it intently.