This halberd was both a heavy hammer and an extension of technique, capable of thrusting, slashing, hooking, pecking, smashing, and cleaving, most suited to fully unleash the power of his formidable physique.
This halberd is primarily made from a type of ore called black iron, a specialty of the Land of Iron.
This mineral has only average chakra conductivity, but it possesses two extremely outstanding characteristics: extreme heaviness and unparalleled hardness.
The iron rod that Soichiro Yagyu had carried for many years was also forged from this rare black iron.
"Hmph, I'm not so old that I need your concern!"
Soichiro Yagyu sneered, holding his iron rod horizontally in front of him, his eyes sharp as knives: "As for you, you've been causing trouble everywhere these past few months, so it seems your swordsmanship hasn't declined. However, if you think you can act recklessly just because of this little bit of progress, you're far from it!"
Before he finished speaking, the snow beneath his feet exploded with a roar, and his burly figure stirred up a wave of snow.
The iron rod was no longer a simple smashing and sweeping motion, but transformed into a series of heavy iron rod shadows, like a sudden storm or a collapsing mountain, combining power and technique to envelop Isshin's vital points!
Isshin's eyes blazed brightly; instead of being surprised, he was delighted and laughed loudly, "Excellent!"
His katana, in left-hand, rose like a dragon, parrying and deflecting, precisely cutting into the gaps in the iron rod's shadow and neutralizing the heavy attack; his halberd, in right hand, was like a giant python emerging from its cave, sometimes using the shaft to parry, sometimes using the crescent-shaped blade to bite, its power fierce and domineering, colliding fiercely with the countless shadows of iron rod!
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
"Boom!"
More intense and frequent collisions erupted in the snowy wilderness.
Where the two fought, snow and mud flew everywhere, and a shockwave radiated in all directions, like an invisible giant meat grinder turning the area upside down.
On the hillside, Genya Yamagami was so moved by what he saw that he almost forgot to breathe.
What the two fighters displayed was a kind of strength he had never imagined, a strength that was pure and violent!
It doesn't rely on bizarre illusions or dazzling Ninjutsu, but is rooted in a body forged through countless trials, exquisite skills, and an unwavering will!
In the battlefield, after more than ten rounds of fierce collision, Soichiro Yagyu was once again shaken by the brute force erupting from the heavy halberd, causing his blood to surge and him to slide backward.
He barely managed to regain his footing, and seeing that the fighting spirit in the young man's eyes had intensified, and that he seemed to show no signs of fatigue and was about to charge again, he quickly slammed his iron rod into the snow and raised his hand to shout: "Stop! Stop!"
"That's it! That's enough for today!"
Upon hearing this, Isshin abruptly halted his attack, his halberd resting firmly on his shoulder. A slight regret crossed his face, but his breath remained long and steady: "President, have you had your fill already?"
"Had my fill?"
Soichiro Yagyu snorted irritably, shaking his slightly numb arm. "If we keep fighting, these bones of mine are going to fall apart. You kid, you're a monster... alright, let's head back to the city!"
His words carried seven parts of helplessness and three parts of genuine emotion.
Soichiro Yagyu was exceptionally gifted from a young age, renowned for his superhuman strength. His physique and that dark iron rod had crushed countless opponents.
Since his debut, he has been virtually unbeatable in the battle of pure strength and has long been accustomed to fighting with brute force to overcome skill and overwhelming technique.
But the boy named Isshin in front of him was an absolute anomaly. When they first met, his strength was already terrifying, but at least he could still fight back and hold his own for dozens of rounds without being at a disadvantage.
Now, in just a few short months, after barely a dozen exchanges, he was already unable to endure further, and afterward was even suppressed by the other party.
Isshin didn't press the matter further and smiled nonchalantly: "Then I'll listen to you, president."
He hoisted the halberd back onto his shoulder and turned to leave with Soichiro Yagyu.
However, just as he turned around, he glanced, seemingly unintentionally, toward a snow-covered hillside to his side.
On the hillside, Genya Yamagami, who was concentrating intently, subconsciously tensed up, as if he had been pricked by a cold needle.
But when he looked again, Isshin had already withdrawn his gaze and was walking side by side with Soichiro Yagyu towards the direction of Akazonae City. Their figures quickly disappeared into the vast snowstorm.
"Was it just my imagination... ?"
Genya Yamagami was filled with doubt and uncertainty, but then, a stronger emotion overwhelmed his doubts.
He slowly stood up from behind the snow slope, brushed the snow off his body, and stared intently in the direction where the two had disappeared, especially the tall figure carrying a halberd.
Within his chest, the heart that had been repeatedly battered by hatred, family vendetta, and cold reality, nearly numb, now pounded with unprecedented force.
Every frame of that battle was like a red-hot branding iron, deeply imprinted in his mind.
The thunderous clash of metal, the might that shattered snow and split earth, above all, the towering youth's display of pure strength and battle frenzy, like a ferocious humanoid beast!
That kind of power... It's domineering and pure power!
"Is this... the power of a samurai?"
He muttered to himself, his voice hoarse.
Isn't this exactly what he needs? Isn't this the sharp blade that can cut through the hypocritical veil of the Holy Church and demand blood debts from the high and mighty traitors of the Land of Hot Water?
He must become his disciple! He absolutely must become his disciple!
No matter the cost, he must learn this extraordinary martial art from that Master Swordsman named Isshin!
His resolve hardened like quenched steel amid the boundless wind and snow.
Genya Yamagami suddenly stood up completely from behind the snow slope. Ignoring the numbness in his limbs caused by lying prone for a long time, he patted the almost frozen snow off his body and checked the sword at his waist and the musket in his arms.
He pulled the hood down even lower to cover most of his face, revealing only a pair of eyes burning with unwavering determination.
Then, he strode forward, no longer concealing himself, and walked resolutely towards the city that would determine his future. His feet pierced the snow that reached above his ankles.
The wind and snow intensified, as if trying to prevent the young man, burning with the desire for revenge, from getting closer.
But his silhouette against the backdrop of pure white sky revealed an unusual stubbornness and clarity.
......
"You want to become my disciple, kid?"
Isshin crossed his arms and looked at the kneeling boy with great interest, his face still bearing that carefree, smiling expression.
After returning to the city with President Soichiro, he shamelessly ignored Soichiro's increasingly dark expression and stayed at the Tranquil Mind and Enlightened Wisdom Dojo for a sumptuous lunch before finally strolling back, completely satisfied.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived at his doorstep, he found that someone had been waiting for him for a long time.
It was the same guy who had been hiding on the snowy hillside outside the city, spying on him and President Soichiro's sparring match.
This kid was quite direct; the moment he saw me, he knelt down firmly and immediately asked to be accepted as his disciple.