In the spring of 188 AD, Ma Chao was 13 years old this year, which means Ma Chao was reborn when he was 13 years old. At this time, Ma Chao, although only 13, was already over seven feet tall, equivalent to an adult. He was born with a face like a jade coronet and eyes like bright stars. Because he liked to wear brocade robes, he was even called Jin Ma Chao by busybodies.
In the training ground, Ma Chao led his younger brothers Ma Xiu, Ma Tie, and his cousin Ma Dai in practicing the long spear. With his memories from his previous life and his peak martial prowess, which was unparalleled in the world, Ma Chao wielded a long spear with incredible power and profound skill. His brothers gathered around Ma Chao and said, “Big Brother, Big Brother, when did your spear skills improve to such an extent?” Ma Chao looked at his brothers surrounding him, filled with emotion, and said, “Brothers, don’t rush, take your time. Everything comes from practice. Only through diligent and arduous practice can you lay a good foundation for yourselves. With Big Brother teaching you, if you practice well, in the future, our Ma family’s spear skills will astound the world.” Ma Chao’s spear skills naturally needed no elaboration; after all, in his previous life, there was the saying of Golden Lü Bu and Silver Ma Chao. Moreover, with the memories of his peak state, being so young now, it was even possible for him to surpass Lü Bu in the future. He needed to hone himself well and find an opportunity to compete with Lü Bu, the number one in the world! The only thing now was that he didn’t have a suitable weapon. The long spears used for practice at home were really too light. Thinking of this, Ma Chao said, “Brothers, I feel the long spears we use for training at home are too light. Let’s go find Father together and get us all suitable weapons. What do you think?” Ma Tie and his brothers cheered loudly, clamoring to go to the front yard to find Ma Teng, all wanting to change their weapons.
Ma Teng was in his room handling military affairs when Ma Chao brother and his siblings came in noisily. Ma Teng said with slight displeasure, “You brothers aren’t practicing martial arts properly. Why are you making such a ruckus? You should know that the morning is the most important part of the day, a time for diligent and arduous effort. How can you waste time playing?” Ma Tie was the first to speak, “Father, Father, Big Brother just showed us his spear skills. They are truly profound and extraordinary, even more powerful than what you taught us! Big Brother also thinks the long spears we practice with are too light and don’t feel right. Father, I feel Big Brother is even more powerful than you now!” Ma Teng asked curiously, “Oh, is that so? Ma Chao, are your spear skills truly as good as they say?” Ma Chao replied, “I dare not hide it from Father. They have indeed improved significantly. I feel the long spear in my hand is too light to execute profound moves.” Ma Teng’s curiosity was completely piqued, and he said loudly, “Good boy, let’s go to the training ground. Let Lu Zhi test your skill!” It should be known that the spear technique Ma Teng practiced was the Ma family’s inherited spear technique, the Thousand Army Breaker. The Thousand Army Breaker emphasizes overpowering with strength, and it was created by Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Chu, during the Chu-Han Contention. It has the power to break a thousand armies. The Ma family ancestor, Ma Yuan, learned this spear technique by chance and, with it, helped Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu establish his great enterprise, which led to him being enfeoffed as one of the 26 Generals of Yuntai. Later, Ma Teng’s great-grandfather was involved in the Dou Xian case, his title was stripped, and the family declined. Ma Teng’s father, Ma Su, had no choice but to marry a Qiang woman, giving birth to Ma Teng. Ma Teng was incredibly strong from a young age and, through diligent practice of this spear technique, became unstoppable after joining the army, repeatedly achieving military merits. Only then did he revitalize the Ma family and was appointed as a General of the Household. The long spears Ma family disciples used, each weighed 30 jin and were entirely made of iron. This was precisely to build their strength and to teach them the family’s inherited spear technique.
Ma Teng led his sons to the training ground. Ma Teng and Ma Chao each took a long spear and stood on opposite sides. Ma Teng smiled, “Ma Chao, go all out and attack. Let Lu Zhi see how skilled you truly are now.” Ma Chao told his father to be careful, then rushed forward. In the midst of their spear dance, they had already exchanged seven or eight rounds. Ma Teng grew increasingly surprised as they fought, shedding his three-tenths of laxness and focusing with twelve-tenths of his spirit to respond. Unconsciously, they had already fought for thirty or forty rounds. Gradually, Ma Teng even felt a sense of being suppressed. Both of their spear techniques were equally fierce, but Ma Chao, in his fierceness, also had many subtle changes and ingenious maneuvers that made him unfathomable. Sometimes, with the same move, the angle of his spear thrust was incredibly tricky, making it impossible to defend against. Ma Teng was already considered a first-rate general in the world, yet he felt as if he couldn’t win. Moreover, Ma Chao still complained that the long spear was too light and not suitable. If he had a suitable weapon, Ma Teng might have already lost in thirty or forty rounds. Ma Chao, amidst his ferocity, also had wonderfully changing moves that were truly unfathomable. One must know that in a battle between generals, a single mistake can determine victory or defeat.
Ma Teng grew increasingly alarmed as they fought, gradually becoming overwhelmed. Ma Chao also saw that his father was struggling, so he intentionally exposed an opening. When Ma Teng attacked, he deliberately let his long spear slip from his hand, then flipped over and knelt on the ground, “Father’s power is truly divine! Your son is impressed.” Ma Teng knew that Ma Chao did not want him to lose face, so he laughed heartily, helped Ma Chao up, and patted Ma Chao’s shoulder, “My son, to have such martial arts at such a young age! If you diligently refine them, you will surely be a famous general in the world someday. You are truly the Ma family’s Kirin!” Turning to his other sons, he said, “You brothers should learn from your Big Brother, diligently train your martial prowess, and quickly become Lu Zhi’s right-hand men. You all continue practicing; I will discuss the matter of forging weapons with your Big Brother.” The Ma family’s young men were greatly encouraged and began practicing with renewed vigor.
Ma Teng led Ma Chao to the study, and the two sat down separately. Ma Teng said, “Ma Chao, after sparring with you, I found that your spear skills have improved so much. If you hadn’t intentionally lost, Lu Zhi truly couldn’t have defeated you. In martial arts, only through persistent effort, diligent practice, and breakthroughs on the battlefield can one achieve such significant progress; it’s impossible to make such great strides so easily. Today, I finally believe what you said that day. As the saying goes, Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, and a butterfly dreamed he was Zhuang Zhou. Perhaps what you said might all be true.” Ma Chao said, “I dare not hide it from Father, I truly feel that I might have genuinely experienced it. Everything felt so real and so long.” Ma Teng said, “Ma Chao, Lu Zhi doesn’t care if what you experienced is real or a dream, as long as you are my Ma Chao, healthy and well, Lu Zhi will be content. Also, regarding what you said about forging weapons, over ten years ago, a meteor fell in the Qiang territory east of Liang Province. A small tribe obtained nearly two hundred jin of meteorite iron from outside the heavens and presented it to the Qiang King. The Qiang King searched for artisans within his tribe and, after countless difficulties, chipped off a corner, inlaid seven gems, and forged it into a short blade, calling it the seven star treasure blade. It was incredibly sharp, capable of cutting hair with a breath. Later, when the Qiang rebelled, General Huangfu presented it to the Emperor after quelling the Qiang rebellion, and the Emperor bestowed it upon Situ Wang Yun. This meteorite iron is extremely difficult to refine; I think it should still be in the hands of the Qiang.” Ma Chao was overjoyed upon hearing this. In his previous life, the seven star treasure blade was very famous, after all, it was the very blade Cao Cao used to assassinate Dong Zhuo. Ma Chao said, “Father, your son wishes to make a trip to the Qiang to obtain this meteorite iron and forge a weapon. I hope Father grants permission.” Since Ma Teng said this, he also had this intention, so he decided to let Ma Chao go and began arranging Ma Chao’s travel preparations.