Chapter 202 - Successful Integration
Thud!
Cheon Chang's spear slightly slowed down as he focused on observing Leo's. Leo tried to use this opportunity to push back, but his senior brother's momentum recovered along with a small change in expression.
'It's as impossible as ever.'
Leo recalled the endless draws that they fought to as his attempt to turn the tables flopped. However, rather than being disappointed, he was smiling inwardly.
Throughout the course of almost two years, the timed meals were Leo's only method to distinguish day and night. His perfect sleep schedule had been extinguished in favor of meditation, rendering his biological clock useless, but it was all worth it!
With a minimum of 6 to 8 hours spent for the sake of his secret project per day, Leo had achieved great success! He wasn't winning, but Cheon Chang's skill was slowly elevating, reflecting the progress that he had achieved!
The target was to develop the full potential of the Black Dragon's Transformations through a correct combination, but the byproducts were already more than enough!
'Well, if only I could…'
Things might be a little different if he tried out the martial art that he succeeded in integrating into his Spearmanship just the day before, but revealing everything to Cheon Chang was still a no-go… Or so Leo thought.
'What exceptional memory…'
Having been watching over Leo for years now, Cheon Chang was honestly surprised. It wasn't incredibly shocking, but this junior brother of his seemed to have memorized at least two dozen martial arts, even successfully learning them…
Although Leo believed that he was hiding everything by using the basic Black Dragon's Transformations during their spars, what he did was still something that couldn't escape the eyes of the Absolute Spear!
As someone who developed his skills by absorbing the experience contained in books, even Leo couldn't stop his style from being impacted by the different styles that he learned, his Spearmanship was ever-changing across battles, and Cheon Chang had easily noticed that.
Leo was similarly aware of this point. In fact, that was exactly the reason he had only succeeded in integrating 12 martial arts into each of his main two. The more that he learned from different 'teachers', the higher the chance to negatively affect his skills.
No matter how easy it seemed, higher skills couldn't be simply obtained through piling up lower ones. In order to correctly make use of what he obtained from the Heavenly Demon's Library, binge reading wasn't the answer. Spending enough time to learn, understand and pick the aspects that he desired from each martial art was more than necessary.
Most importantly, in order not to mess up. Leo followed up by integration rather than direct mastery. Focusing on feeding the dragon and tiger rather than increasing the 'beasts' under his command.
Naturally, there was a limit to how much layering could be done. Adding one martial art after the other exponentially increased the time required to layer the next one. From days and weeks to months, in particular, Leo had greatly struggled in order to add in the most recent one.
At the very least, Leo believed that this process would allow him to remain unnoticed. However, even he wasn't aware of the tiny habits that his Spearmanship conveniently picked up from each style…
'It's not bad.'
Unlike the worst-case scenario that Leo was trying to avoid, Cheon Chang didn't find his action suspicious. He had also silently observed Leo's binge reading at the library, so he understood the source of it.
Among all kinds of special people that he met, photographic memory wasn't something rare. In fact, this was something that Martial Artists eventually obtained alongside their advancements. If anything, this was a talent similar to being born with cleared Energy Channels.
'At least he got master's spirit.'
Despite his greatness, the Sword Spear Unity Lord was actually the least restrictive teacher that Cheon Chang had interacted with. Just like he was currently doing, his master had only handed him the key to his path before supporting him from behind!
He wasn't guiding him towards a certain path, neither did he limit his vision to a certain route. The only thing he did was push him forward so that the ship could sail in whichever way it wanted. Cheon Chang knew that if he was guided otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up as the Absolute Spear at any moment in his life.
Although failing to follow his master's path was his greatest regret, he adopted his master's perception in letting time take its course. From a personal perspective, Cheon Chang found Leo to be more and more suitable for his master's teachings as the days went by!
Just like the master modified the Black Dragon's Transformations and the White Tiger's Transfigurations to mesh up with each other, his junior brother was strengthening the main concept of 'change' that his master sought. As the senior brother, let alone discouraging him from doing it, Cheon Chang could only support Leo's chosen path.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
All of the sudden, Cheon Chang's drifting thoughts came to a halt as Leo's spear vigorously clashed with his before drastically slowing down. It seemed like…
'I guess he is making up for it.'
[ The Second Chapter of the Reader's 'Spearmanship' has ended. ]
'Ah.'
There were no sparks or surges that surrounded his spear, nor were there any sort of premonition this time. However, Leo could instinctively sense it this time. The barrier that he broke through Ray's assistance last time was now slowly opening up on its own!
[ 'Intermediate Swordsmanship' has been corrected to 'Advanced Spearmanship'. ]
Considering his speed up to this current point, this moment felt like it had been greatly delayed, but Leo understood that it came at the perfect moment as he savored the clearness that his mind felt. Despite having long halted, his spear was swiftly dancing in a hand that was identical to his own…
[ The Third Chapter, 'Advanced Spearmanship', has started. ]
It was finally time to stand at a higher stage.