[In-Depth Drill x1]
[In-Depth Drill x1]
[In-Depth Drill x1]
[Qi Martial Integration Drill x1]
[...]
THRUST—SWISH—
The long spear pierced the air, its cold gleam tracing a crescent arc that sliced through flying beads of sweat. Jiang Qiu had mastered the four new forms of the Ancient Martial Spear Technique.
With every move, his Strength slithered like a snake through his meridians, tearing at his muscles, tempering his bones and sinews, and expelling impurities. The Ancient Martial Spear Technique was gradually merging with his Circulation Qi Technique.
[Ancient Martial Spear (Novice)]
[145/500]
[Mortal Body]
[22/100]
Over the course of the day, he had performed fifteen Qi Martial Integration Drills. His In-Depth Drills had also become more precise and efficient, allowing him to complete well over half again as many as the sixty-or-so he had managed per day when sparring with Li Xueming a few days prior.
His Ancient Martial Spear Technique progress increased by about one hundred points, and his Mortal Body by fifteen. His efficiency was on a whole new level.
"Alright, that's enough for today. I'll teach you the next four forms tomorrow," Wu Shan said with a wave of his hand. He puffed out his chest, clasped his hands behind his back, and left, leaving two words behind: "Class dismissed."
"WHOOSH~"
Exhalations of stale air sounded one after another as Wang Guanjia and Hu Ye'ye successively ended their training. Jiang Qiu also put away his long spear. Seeing that Area 8 was now completely empty, he stored his weapon and walked toward the training hall's main entrance, carrying his soaking wet black shirt.
CLACK CLACK CLACK...
"Jiang Qiu, you're learning the Ancient Martial Spear Technique so fast! It feels like you're already close to mastering the rhythm of the Circulation Qi Technique," Liu Zili said, hurrying to catch up before slowing her pace to walk beside him. She tugged at the collar of the black shirt stuck to her neck, revealing a wide smile and bright, white teeth. "If you had become an excellent student sooner, you'd probably be on par with Li Juefeng by now...
Even Wang Guanjia, whose Talent once surpassed Xie Kuang's, isn't improving as fast as you. Among the current excellent students, besides the top two from each area, you should be able to surpass the rest very soon.
If you had been selected as an excellent student two years ago and gotten the Wusu Fragrance early on, your progress would definitely have been even faster."
A faint smile touched Jiang Qiu's lips. "As long as we're excellent students and have the chance to receive Wusu Fragrance, it's not too late."
"Mm, but we only just became excellent students, and the college entrance exams are just three months away." Liu Zili's brows fell, and her almond-shaped eyes dimmed. "We definitely won't get any Wusu Fragrance in the first month. They're distributing it in just six days, and the slots were probably already assigned to Xie Kuang and the others. We haven't even fully mastered the basics of the Ancient Martial Spear Technique...
We can only work hard for a month and try our best to catch up to those excellent students who've been here since their first year. Maybe then we can receive a standard portion of Wusu Fragrance."
Jiang Qiu raised an eyebrow. "What's the maximum number of Wusu Fragrance portions a student can receive each month?"
Of course, for a precious resource like Wusu Fragrance, the more, the better. One portion was a minor transformation; an extra portion was a major one.
However, in Area 8, only Xie Kuang managed to claim two portions per month. The other six recipients each got one, and even that wasn't guaranteed.
In fact, since becoming an excellent student, who knew how many portions of Wusu Fragrance Xie Kuang had received in total...
"Well, normally, the student with the most Talent in each area gets two portions, which is pretty stable. But the one in Area 1 is different. He can receive five portions every month." Liu Zili paused for a moment in thought, then her eyes widened in understanding. "But I guess that's normal, since he's Li Juefeng, the number one student in all eight areas. Plus, his father is the head of Area 1 and the director of the resource department."
'Oh, so it's Li Juefeng.'
'He has both Talent and connections. Five portions are definitely not something I should be thinking about. I should focus on securing two first.'
Jiang Qiu shook his head with a light laugh, but his fists had already clenched tightly. His eyes were as sharp as a spear's tip, faintly reflecting the image of a sneering, spear-wielding youth.
'Even though this is just my first month as an excellent student, I *must* get some Wusu Fragrance.'
'I will not miss any opportunity to improve myself!'
...
「Three days passed in a flash.」 Before sunrise, Jiang Qiu would often run into Liu Zili at the school gate, and they would head to the excellent students' training hall, Area 8, to learn the Ancient Martial Spear Technique from Wu Shan.
Spears thrust, breaking the wind, and swept out like waves. Under the watch of Wu Shan's focused, owl-like right eye, four long spears of varying lengths danced without end. Amidst his constant shouts and curses, each practitioner began to develop their own Spear Stance.
Some were like a tiger swiping its claws, some a spiritual flood dragon raising its head, some a demonic fox baring its fangs, and another... an Azure Dragon emerging from the sea!
BOOM—
An extreme shockwave of sound swept out like a great river crashing against the shore. Jiang Qiu stood with his chest out and waist lowered, his eyes still fixed on the crescent-shaped airflow that had streaked past his spear tip.
[Qi Martial Integration Drill x1]
[Ancient Martial Spear (Proficient)]
[Features: Spear Stance like a Dragon, Spear Rod Armor Shattering]
[1/1000]
[Mortal Body]
[70/100]
"..."
In an instant, the small room fell silent, as if a bonfire had been doused by a tidal wave. Wang Guanjia and Hu Ye'ye both frowned deeply. A spark of light danced in Liu Zili's round eyes. Wu Shan, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, stared intently for a long moment, his aura growing as heavy as a great stone sinking into the sea. "You practice the Ancient Martial Spear Technique to kill demons and save your lives, not to see who can make the loudest noise. A silent thrust that conceals Hidden Force is what you should be pursuing. Understand?"
"Tomorrow, you'll have practical combat sparring. That's all for today. Class dismissed."
CLICK—
Wu Shan stepped through the one-way glass door he had just pulled open. His tall, bear-like back lingered in Jiang Qiu's vision for a long time. Only after Wang Guanjia and Hu Ye'ye walked out with grim expressions did he and Liu Zili slowly follow.
"Finished learning the Ancient Martial Spear Technique?"
The sudden shout stopped Jiang Qiu in his tracks. He swept his gaze over and saw Xie Kuang standing amidst a crowd, a cone-tipped long spear resting on his shoulder. He was blocking Wang Guanjia and Hu Ye'ye's path, but his predatory gaze was fixed disdainfully on Jiang Qiu. "Since you're done learning, Jiang Qiu, fight me right here, in front of old Wang. After that, I won't have any interest in bothering you again..."
Jiang Qiu lifted his head and glanced at the security camera gleaming coldly in the corner. His eyes were as deep as a dark pool. His five fingers tightened on his spear, pressing the shaft down slightly until the tip was about to touch the ground.
'There's no need to get worked up over a few taunts. After all, I can't gain anything from Xie Kuang right now.'
'But... I've already comprehended Hidden Force. I'll avoid a fight, but I won't fear one!'
SWISH—
Suddenly, the glint of a spearhead flashed across Jiang Qiu's vision, cutting off his thoughts. Wang Guanjia had stepped in front of everyone, his spear tip aimed directly at the droopy-eyed Xie Kuang. He roared like thunder, "Xie Kuang, do you just have to humiliate me? Then let's fight! Let's see how much you've improved in the two years you've been in Area 8!"
The moment his voice fell, Wang Guanjia lunged. He was a blur of motion, his attack so fast that the wind seemed to chase his clothes and the sound his spear tip. The ferocity of his tiger-like charge terrified the other excellent students, who scattered back. Xie Kuang, standing alone like a wolf, just smirked. The long spear on his shoulder bounced up, and with a CLANG, it smashed aside the incoming thrust!
"Wang Guanjia, even if your dad can secretly get you some Wusu Fragrance to temper your body every now and then, it's nothing compared to my two portions a month!"
"You haven't even developed Copper Skin, and your Hidden Force training is garbage. Are you even worthy of fighting me?"
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, THRUST—
The shadows of the two long spears clashed and intertwined. The grating screech of metal on metal, amplified by the contest of Hidden Force, vibrated through the air as if trying to tear through the chests of everyone present.
With another loud CLANG, a figure was knocked back. Wang Guanjia's arms trembled violently, muscles bulging. His neck was flushed red, and purplish-blue veins coiled on it like young dragons. Baring his teeth and glaring, he looked like an enraged tiger!
"If you want to fight, then let's fight! I can fucking take a loss! Why do you have to be so damn indirect with your insults!"
"So what if you beat Jiang Qiu? Are you trying to mock me for not even being able to do that? Even if you beat me ten thousand times, your Talent is still worse than mine! You'll never be able to erase the fact that you got a bloody nose in front of all the Martial Arts Instructors!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the temperature in the room seemed to plummet. A flicker of murderous intent emerged from the corners of Xie Kuang's slanted, narrow eyes!