Though the Heavy Staff Form was forceful and weighty, it ultimately sacrificed agility. It simply could not keep up with Chen Meng’s speed.
In an instant, Lin Ye’s thoughts raced.
【Staff Stance Switch · Flowery Staff Form!】
The style of the long staff in his hands changed abruptly.
No longer did he bring it down in heavy, ferocious chops and smashes. Instead, it transformed into a whirlwind, sweeping out staff shadows that filled the sky.
Clang, clang, clang!
The dense sounds of collision rang out like rain striking banana leaves, blending into one continuous stream.
Lin Ye’s figure constantly darted and shifted amid the spear shadows, the long staff in his hands moving at an inconceivable speed and frequency, precisely tapping every spear tip Chen Meng thrust at him.
He had completely given up on attacking, pouring all his energy into defense.
Not even water could splash through!
Not a single drop leaked past!
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
If the head-on clash just now had displayed Lin Ye’s astonishing strength,
then what he was showing now was a staff technique and reaction speed they simply could not comprehend!
Even though anyone with eyes could tell that their homeroom teacher, Chen Meng, was holding back by an ocean’s worth,
they knew that if they went up themselves, they still could not achieve what Lin Ye was doing now.
“This… this is fucking Basic Staff Technique?”
“How can his staff move that fast? It’s like a windmill!”
The corner of Chen Meng’s mouth lifted in a faint smile.
He had confirmed his guess.
Judging from the way this kid used his staff, he had definitely reached the Intent-Unity realm.
Time passed, second by second.
The one-minute mark had long since been crossed.
【Ding! Emergency Mission “Fight or Die” completed!】
【You have obtained: EXP +150, Skill Point +1!】
【New Mechanic Unlocked: Soul Furnace!】
The system notification sounded in his mind, but Lin Ye did not dare let himself be distracted in the slightest.
Because he could feel it—Chen Meng’s offensive had become even sharper!
“Not bad defense.”
Chen Meng’s voice rang out again. This time, there was a trace of genuine approval in it.
“But it’s too formulaic. Too easy to see through.”
The instant his words fell, Chen Meng’s spear momentum climbed once more!
The spear in his hands was no longer merely fast. It now carried a rhythm.
A heart-stopping rhythm of life and death!
At times it was like a torrential downpour; at times like a spring breeze brushing willow branches; at times like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, sinister and fatal.
Fast and slow interwoven, hard and soft complementing one another!
Lin Ye’s defensive circle was torn open in an instant!
Hiss!
A wisp of spear wind grazed past his cheek, bringing with it a scorching sting.
Cold sweat seeped from Lin Ye’s temple.
He knew he could no longer keep up.
Chen Meng had only made a slight move, raising the temperature a little, and Lin Ye was already unable to withstand it.
This was not something talent and hard training could make up for in a short time.
What should he do?
Fight head-on, and he would die.
Defend to the end, and he would still die.
Since death awaited him either way…
Then he would seek life amid chaos!
【Staff Stance · Chaotic Staff Form!】
Under everyone’s astonished gazes, Lin Ye’s originally airtight staff technique instantly collapsed!
The long staff in his hands became utterly without pattern, utterly without logic.
One moment he swung at the head; the next he launched a sneak attack from behind; at times he even used the butt end of the staff to jab at Chen Meng’s ankle!
It was completely the style of street thugs brawling!
And yet, this seemingly absurd fighting method actually caused Chen Meng’s flowing spear technique to show a trace of stagnation.
Because he could not calculate Lin Ye’s next move.
He was also shocked by this staff technique of Lin Ye’s, which looked like a tangled mess yet was surprisingly effective.
And in the instant that trace of stagnation appeared,
Lin Ye seized the opportunity. With a furious shout, the long staff in his hands smashed toward Chen Meng’s right wrist—the hand holding the spear—from an angle no one could have expected!
This strike was far too unexpected.
Chen Meng’s expression changed slightly.
He had no time to change moves. He could only sink his wrist and block with the shaft of his spear.
Clang!
Another tremendous crash rang out!
Chen Meng’s figure was actually knocked back half a step by this staff strike!
Although Lin Ye still had not broken through his defense, this was the first time Chen Meng had retreated since the battle began!
The entire venue fell deathly silent.
Everyone stood motionless, as if they had been struck by a binding spell.
Had he won?
No.
After forcing Chen Meng back with that strike, Lin Ye had also overexerted himself, exposing a massive opening.
This time, Chen Meng did not hold back.
He released the spear’s tail with his left hand, reached out like lightning, and seized the middle section of the shaft. The long spear instantly became a short spear.
His wrist flicked.
A streak of silver light flashed and vanished.
Lin Ye only felt his vision blur, and an icy chill was already pressed against his throat.
The spear tip stopped steadily there, not off by even the slightest fraction.
The victor was decided.
Sweat poured down Lin Ye’s entire body like rain.
Exchanging blows with a martial artist of this level, even at the same realm,
made Lin Ye feel as though his whole body were trembling.
The pressure was truly immense!
But the gains were also extraordinary!
Lin Ye drew the long staff behind him and bowed to Chen Meng with utmost respect.
“Thank you for your guidance, Teacher!”
Chen Meng slowly withdrew his spear.
The killing aura that had been pressing down so hard it made it difficult to breathe also dissipated along with it.
He once again became that stern, unsmiling homeroom teacher.
“Who taught you your staff technique?”
Chen Meng asked in a deep voice.
He truly could not understand how the Federation’s widely taught Basic Staff Technique could be trained to produce such results.
Especially that final unpredictable chaotic staffwork—it was simply unheard of.
“Reporting to Teacher, I just fumbled around with it myself.”
He couldn’t very well say, It was taught to me by my Goblin System.
Chen Meng looked deeply at Lin Ye and did not press further.
On the path of martial arts, everyone had their own opportunities and secrets.
Those with talent were always somewhat different from others.
“Not bad. Keep working hard.”
For students who understood his personality, that simple sentence was already the highest level of praise.
He turned around, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue, his voice returning to its usual authority.
“Did you all see that?”
“In martial arts cultivation, there are no shortcuts—only tempering through repeated trials!”
“But likewise, there are no fixed forms! A true expert dares to break convention and walk their own path!”
“Lin Ye has taught all of you a lesson today!”
“Class dismissed!”
With that, Chen Meng’s figure turned into points of light and directly exited the virtual space.
Only after he left did the atmosphere in the entire arena seem to thaw, instantly erupting into an uproar!
Countless gazes turned in unison toward Lin Ye, filled with curiosity, awe, and probing scrutiny.
“Ah Ye, you were fucking insane today!”
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen Old Tiger Chen praise someone!”
Li Jun was the first to rush over, excitedly jabbing Lin Ye with his elbow.
“When did you get this fierce, kid? You were hiding way too deep!”
Lin Ye merely smiled and did not explain.
All his attention was immersed in his system panel.
【Host: Lin Ye】
【Race: Goblin】
【Level: LV2 (162/400)】
【BOSS Mechanics: Out-of-Combat Health Regeneration (White), Soul Furnace (Green)】
【Current Phase: P1, other phases not yet unlocked】
【Free Attribute Points: 1】
【Skill Points: 2】
One battle had earned him 150 EXP and 1 Skill Point!
Sure enough, facing someone stronger than himself directly yielded far more experience than burying his head in training alone.
It seemed that fighting powerful opponents was the fastest way for a BOSS to level up!
His gaze finally landed on that brand-new mechanic.