Qi-Martial Integration Training

"Jiang Qiu, we're at the intersection. Bye!"

"Mm, bye."

Watching Liu Zili wave goodbye to him, then stroll toward the other end with two stacks of brand-new black short-sleeved shirts in her arms, Jiang Qiu let out a soft breath of stale air and turned into the cramped, narrow alleyways of Thirteenth Street.

"I never expected Liu Zili to have been born in the Slum Area too, yet she paid attention to so many things at school." Jiang Qiu shook his head with a smile. "Maybe after Mom and Dad died, there were simply fewer things I cared about."

Click.

The key turned. He pushed open the rusty iron gate and stepped once more into that stuffy, oppressive living room.

He had already eaten his fill of the free dinner at school, so there was no need to cook. The spearhead he had received today could not be taken out of school except under special circumstances, and was stored in Field No. 8.

So he simply took off his spear and practiced fist techniques, using the forms of the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique as boxing moves!

Hoo—ha—

The howl of his sleeves striking his upper arms intertwined with the air-rending sounds of his fists. Quietly, a breath of clear air entered his lungs. Muscles already taut drew even tighter, and steaming sweat seeped from his pores!

Zhou Tian Qi Art training completed once

Zhou Tian Qi Art training completed once

.

"Hoo~"

As he exhaled a breath of stale air, dripping water pattered onto the cement floor. Jiang Qiu casually tossed his wrung-out school uniform into the washbasin, then entered the bathroom bare-chested.

Mortal Body

6/100

Invisible changes deepened the lines of his abdominal muscles. The knots of muscle on his forearms faintly gleamed bronze, while his eyes resembled soft-boiled eggs with their shells peeled away.

Two days ago, when he had gripped a Wooden Spear at school to practice the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique, his muscles had been like towels soaked in water—every training session required wringing one dry. Now, matched with the rhythm of the Zhou Tian Qi Art, it felt as though he had to wring dry ten soaked towels at once. Every muscle in his body trembled!

"Mortal Body should be my physique. I never thought improving it would be this difficult."

Beneath the spray of the shower, Jiang Qiu ran both hands through the hair on his forehead and pushed it back. At once, a sour ache spread from his forearms into his upper arms, even making the sides of his chest go numb.

Along with the bathwater came wisps of black grime, faintly visible and faintly hidden.

Before dawn the next day, a brand-new figure was reflected in the square mirror on the wall. Dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt, Jiang Qiu raised a hand to tug at the round collar, smiled faintly, and felt his chest swell with vigor.

He glanced at his phone.

[March 4, 2125, 5:31 AM]

"It's still early. I can go to school and have a hearty breakfast."

With a thought, he slipped his phone into his pocket, pushed open the door, and strode toward school with his head high and chest out.

The early-rising vendors had already rolled up their shutters. The owner moving bamboo steamers of buns had just looked away when he suddenly snapped his head back, eyes widening. "Isn't that Little Qiu?"

A customer who had rolled up his sleeves turned at the sound, clutching a huge bun in his rough, dirt-caked hand. "Why isn't he wearing his school uniform today? Did he get expelled?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? That's the Outstanding Student uniform from No.8 Middle School. He became an Outstanding Student!"

Another rough-looking middle-aged man sitting on a stone block by the stall entrance had a sharp glint in his eyes. Several others standing around and chewing buns froze as well. "What? Him? He became an Outstanding Student?!"

"Our Slum Area actually produced an Outstanding Student? Tsk, tsk, tsk. That's something else."

A different light bloomed in the owner's eyes. The steam from the bamboo steamers scalded his arms, but he still bared his teeth as he set them on the long table and called out to more customers.

Jiang Qiu had walked the route from Thirteenth Street in the Slum Area to No.8 Middle School hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Nothing was different today—except that when he stepped into the Elite Training Hall, Liu Zili, who had jogged over after him, waved. "Jiang Qiu, you're here so early."

"Mm, pretty early."

Jiang Qiu smiled slightly.

"Beep—"

"Verification passed."

The glass doors of Field No. 8 slid open, and a crisp voice, as shrill as a bird tearing out its throat, came from within. "Brother Xie, you're amazing. When you have time, could you give me a few pointers?"

Looking over, Jiang Qiu saw Hu Yeye, fair-faced and red-lipped, standing to one side. She followed at Xie Kuang's heels to retrieve a long spear, her smile radiant.

"No time."

"Okay, then... the teacher hasn't arrived yet. Can I watch while you practice your spear?"

"Get lost."

"Oh, sorry for disturbing you."

The moment Hu Yeye turned around, the corners of her mouth sank. She secretly hummed twice under her breath, only to run into Jiang Qiu and Liu Zili, who had just entered. Pouting, she looked away—then Xie Kuang's clear voice rang out behind her. "Jiang Qiu, right? You're here pretty early. This girl beside you said yesterday that you could beat Wang Guanjia after learning only the First Eight Moves of the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique. Pretty impressive.

Want me to teach you the complete Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique now? We can compare skills."

Under Hu Yeye's furrowed and twisted stare, Jiang Qiu walked to the weapon cabinet where the students' long spears were stored and pressed his thumb against the handle. "No need. The teacher will teach me."

Click. The tempered glass door slid open, and he drew out a double-edged spear with an arched tip.

Without looking back, he headed for the Small Room. Liu Zili took out her own silver-gray four-edged long spear and quickly followed him inside through the one-way glass door.

"Tsk—" Xie Kuang cast a sidelong glance after them. "With such a dull, wooden personality, Wang Guanjia actually lost to him?

Is he trash?"

"Oh, right. You there—you came with them too. Tell me, how did Wang Guanjia lose to him?"

Hu Yeye, carrying her spear toward the Small Room, shuddered. When she turned around, her face was once more wreathed in a lotus-like smile. "Brother Xie, should I start from when Jiang Qiu first arrived in Class Eight?"

Swish—

Stab—

Cold light flickered inside the Small Room. Before Wu Shan and Wang Guanjia arrived, Jiang Qiu and Liu Zili each practiced the First Eight Moves of the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique, coordinating them with the Zhou Tian Qi Art.

Their rhythmic breathing seemed like needles threading through cotton, winding around the trembling spear shafts.

Neither spoke. Liu Zili followed Jiang Qiu's rhythm, and before long sweat rolled down her cheeks as she clenched her pearly teeth.

Only when Wang Guanjia and Hu Yeye entered the Small Room did the howling of spearpoints cutting through the air temporarily cease. Then Wu Shan stepped in, holding a long spear freshly taken from the armory yesterday, and a more powerful sound of training erupted, crashing and echoing like the sea hurling itself against a cliff.

"The Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique emphasizes unity of man and spear. You must always treat the long spear as your own arm, not a weapon outside your body. Only then will you have a chance to cultivate Subtle Force. Understand?" Wu Shan narrowed his right eye as he studied the four imitating his spear technique. Suddenly, he fixed his gaze on Hu Yeye, the slit of his left eye splitting open. "What the hell are you practicing? Why are you twisting your waist around? Look at yourself—do you think that twisting looks right?

Don't tell me you got complacent just because you became an Outstanding Student. If the school didn't require it, do you think someone with your talent could come here?!"

His spittle made Hu Yeye's body tremble. She gave an awkward smile, forcibly straightened her chest, and held her waist steady. Her momentum twisted into shape, making her posture three parts straighter.

"And you—skinny arms and skinny legs, can't muster any strength? Such a fine long spear turns into a toothpick in your hands. Going to use it to pick an evolved beast's teeth during the college entrance exam? Borrow strength from your legs!"

As Liu Zili's gaze sharpened, the air-rending howl of her spear thrust suddenly broke through. Wu Shan watched with narrowed eyes for a moment before turning his single eye toward Wang Guanjia. "Not bad. You've already practiced the complete Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique, and your foundation is solid. But don't grip the shaft so tightly. That's the only way you can fully comprehend Ming Jin and Subtle Force, instead of remaining at the shallow level of thirty percent."

Finally, his gaze swept over Jiang Qiu at the side. His eyes, sharp as icy points, targeted him for a long moment before he gave a cold snort. "Pay attention to the rhythm of lifting your chest and drawing in your abdomen. Let the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique adapt to the Zhou Tian Qi Art—don't put heaven and earth upside down."

Jiang Qiu froze for a moment. Following Wu Shan's instruction, he drove his spear forward with a boom. Its tip was like a lone boat pushing against river waves, forcing the air backward.

Just then, a breath of stale air left his nostrils. In a daze, the airflow had already completed one full cycle through his lungs and viscera.

Qi-Martial Integration training completed once

Ancient Martial Spear (Beginner)

41/500

Mortal Body

7/100