Chapter 65: Meteor Arrow Technique, Unlocked!
The atmosphere was eerily quiet.
Zhang Ren stood frozen like a statue, the spear tip still pressed against his chest.
Chen Fan slowly wiped the smile from his face. Had he actually managed to unsettle Uncle Zhang?
After being stabbed countless times himself, landing this single hit hadn't been easy. Without his recent skill upgrade, he'd never have succeeded.
He glanced at his skill panel:
[Basic Spear Technique: Lv4 (1.8%), Attributes: Strong Body Lv4, Power Lv4, Agility Lv4, Armament Lv4, Critical Strike Lv1]
[Critical Strike: Each level increases attack accuracy or block success rate by 30% when wielding polearms]
The new Critical Strike attribute unlocked at level 4 had been crucial to his success. Combined with Armament's 120% block rate boost, these upgrades let him survive several extra rounds against Zhang Ren's onslaught.
"Not bad." Zhang Ren's voice broke the silence, his gaze complex. "Though I was careless, you seized the opening decisively. Well done."
Chen Fan scratched his head, unaccustomed to such praise. Beneath Zhang Ren's calm exterior raged turbulent thoughts - he'd underestimated the boy's frightening growth rate during their sparring sessions. At this pace, even his restrained combat prowess might soon prove inadequate.
"Shall we continue, Uncle Zhang?" Chen Fan pressed eagerly.
In one night, his Basic Spear Technique had skyrocketed from level 1 to 4. That single successful strike had granted nearly 2% progress at its current level. Simple math suggested fifty more hits would trigger another upgrade.
Zhang Ren's next words doused his enthusiasm. "It's late. We'll stop here."
After stowing their spears, Chen Fan's stomach growled loudly. "Hungry, Uncle Zhang?"
The answering rumble from Zhang Ren's belly needed no translation. "Let's roast meat," Chen Fan suggested cheerfully. Their recent successful hunts meant no need for rationing anymore.
Three pounds of meat later, Chen Fan departed with twenty new potential points. Zhang Ren watched him leave, consoling himself that the boy had earned this feast through his own efforts.
Dawn found the village bustling with preparations for Gu Jianghai's group. Chen Guodong led a team to escort the vulnerable caravan - mostly elderly and children burdened with possessions.
Waking refreshed, Chen Fan immediately checked his status panel. Right on schedule:
[Meteor Arrow Technique: Complete Novice (0%)]
He punched the air in triumph. With this new advanced skill joining Zhang-Style Taiji Quan, plus the upcoming Baji Quan and Eight Extremes Spear Technique, he'd soon command four specialized disciplines. While ideal for both ranged combat and close quarters, he frowned at the looming experience point crunch - just upgrading Taiji Quan to level 2 required 50 points.
The faint crunch of approaching footsteps interrupted his calculations...
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(End of Chapter)
