Five Parts Subtle Force

In fewer than ten exchanges, Liu Zili was already inwardly alarmed. She gripped her spear shaft tightly, staring without blinking at the two figures and spearheads weaving and crossing.

Wang Guanjia was very strong. In Class Eight, he was like a tiger in a rat's nest. Even when he had sparred with Jiang Qiu and not used Subtle Force, he could suppress Jiang Qiu with brute strength alone. He had only lost because the Wooden Spear was brittle by nature, and because he had not fully comprehended Ming Jin.

But now, he was like a fierce tiger trapped in a cage. Whenever their spear shafts or spearheads collided, the opponent twisted his wrist, and it was as though a thousand-pound boulder pressed down on a bamboo pole, forcibly pinning his arms down and leaving him constrained at every turn!

Moreover, as the two spear shafts trembled against each other and their Subtle Forces overlapped, his opponent sank his chest like a bronze bell, unmoving as a mountain. In contrast, the muscles across Wang Guanjia's chest churned and jumped!

Even though Wang Guanjia's martial training conditions could be called unmatched among ordinary classes, and his exceptional talent allowed his strength to rival that of most Outstanding Students, the gap between him and Xie Kuang had already become an abyss.

Boom—

A tremendous crash swept through the field. Wang Guanjia, whose blood and qi were already in turmoil, was like a fish or shrimp struck by towering waves. He staggered back five steps in succession, both arms still spasming.

In an instant, cold light flashed, and the sound of something tearing through the air came hunting after him. The entire field fell silent. Liu Zili's eyes widened, while several Outstanding Students opposite them frowned and took half a step forward, wanting to speak but stopping themselves, their voices caught in their throats.

At that moment, Wang Guanjia's pupils contracted sharply and his heartbeat plunged into an abyss. His arms, shaken by crumbling Subtle Force, could no longer grip the long spear tightly. He could not turn as he retreated, frozen in place as he watched the conical spearhead stab toward a point five inches before his left shoulder in the blink of an eye, intent on crippling his left arm!

Fuck!

I can't beat him now!

At the critical moment, a black shadow flashed before him like night falling over his pupils. Like a blade cutting autumn grass, it chopped down the diamond-shaped spearhead that was lunging as fiercely as a vicious wolf!

Riiip—

The diamond spear tip tore open the black shirt over his chest, drawing a thin line of blood, before another double-edged curved spearhead slammed it onto the floor with a bang. The crack of shattered tiles pierced straight through heart and lungs, cold seeping into the marrow!

Wang Guanjia hurriedly retreated two steps. His eyes widened as he stared at Jiang Qiu, who had just stepped in front of him. His heart struck like a wooden pillar crashing into a bronze bell, shuddering deeply.

Liu Zili's mouth fell open unconsciously, her eyes blank as a stunned sparrow's.

Hu Yeye, leaning against the opposite side, had her index finger twitch twice. She stood agape, while the Outstanding Students gradually widened their eyes, held their breaths, and dared not make a sound.

Xie Kuang's fiercest thrust in more than ten exchanges had been suddenly pinned to the ground by an unexpected spearhead. In his shock, he could not turn the situation around!

Even if they had been caught off guard, the others present likely did not have the ability to launch a sneak attack to such an extent!

If it had been them, before their spearheads could press down, Xie Kuang's bursting Subtle Force would already have shaken their spear shafts from their hands!

Even Xie Kuang, whose blood and qi were at their peak, had his brows twitch before he finally met Jiang Qiu's clear, chilling eyes head-on.

"Didn't you say you were going to fight me?"

Those seven words struck like stones cast into icy water. Xie Kuang twisted his mouth, suddenly exerted force with both arms. As his muscles hardened like iron, he flicked away the spear pressing atop his own with a tap, withdrew half a step, and faced Jiang Qiu. Their gazes met like needlepoints. "You really do have some skill."

All sounds vanished. Everyone's gaze gathered on Jiang Qiu. The double-edged curved long spear slanted across the tiled floor, its blade flashing with intimidating cold light.

His tall, tightly honed body stood there like an unfallen mountain.

The two confronted each other, icy spearpoints turning as they tested each other with their steps. The most resounding clash of killing weapons was about to erupt!

"Beep—"

"Verification passed."

The crisp sound of the door opening was like a sharp steel blade, instantly slicing apart the atmosphere of their confrontation. The Outstanding Students blocking the entrance scattered aside like fish and shrimp struck by a great whale. Xie Kuang and Jiang Qiu both looked toward the sound, their momentum like a small mountain fire doused by torrential rain. They withdrew their spears and lowered their heads together. "Teacher."

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Heavy footsteps stepped onto everyone's chests as a burly figure crossed through the open glass doors.

"There are plenty of chances to practice spearwork. Once school is over, don't clog up the field and waste your strength," Wu Shan said, walking through the crowd with his hands behind his back. His lone right eye swept over the bowed students before he suddenly stopped and looked down at the cracked tiles before his toes. "You three will each pay two thousand. Bring the money tomorrow and hand it in. Understand?"

His voice flowed into Jiang Qiu's ears as naturally as a red carp swimming through a stream. Jiang Qiu frowned, raised his eyes to stare at the expressionless martial arts teacher before him, and clenched the spear shaft in his palm until it creaked.

I did have a hand in breaking the tiles, but he's making me pay two thousand without even hearing me out?

This is far too unfair!

"Teacher," Wang Guanjia said, stepping forward half a step, his voice stiff. "I'll pay Jiang Qiu's share."

"As long as it gets paid." Wu Shan waved a hand carelessly. "Don't stay here any longer. Put the long spears in the weapon cabinet and go home."

As his words fell, the clattering of long spears being stored in the cabinets rose one after another. Xie Kuang snorted coldly and left first amid the crowd surrounding him. Hu Yeye and Wang Guanjia departed separately, while Liu Zili closely followed Jiang Qiu through the glass doors.

Crack.

In the empty center of Field No. 8, Wu Shan crouched on the floor. A triangular shard of tile glinted with cold, heavy light between his thumb and forefinger.

In his solitary right eye, murk swirled around the shard's reflection. His lips moved. "He's comprehended at least five parts of Subtle Force. Otherwise, these tiles made specifically for the Training Hall wouldn't have broken.

"Jiang Qiu, were you really born in the Slum Area?"

Sound died away in Field No. 8. Outside the windows, the paulownia trees were submerged in a sea of sunset, while the black-shirted boys and girls dragged their shadows away.

Jiang Qiu exchanged a distant glance with Wang Guanjia. Wang Guanjia left without a word, and Jiang Qiu said nothing either as he silently walked home.

"Jiang Qiu, you were amazing just now! You suddenly managed to block Xie Kuang's spear edge." Liu Zili, walking on his right, quickened her small steps, her round eyes rolling in their sockets. "You've probably comprehended three parts of Subtle Force already, right? That's already more impressive than many Outstanding Students who came here long ago. If Teacher Wu Shan agrees, maybe you'll get a share of Martial Spirit Incense this month."

"Mm."

Jiang Qiu nodded. The battle he had just witnessed replayed in his mind, and the light in his eyes drew inward.

Wang Guanjia had certainly comprehended three parts of Subtle Force long ago. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for him to trade more than ten exchanges with Xie Kuang.

But why hadn't Wang Guanjia used Subtle Force against me during the Proficiency Test?

Back then, he hadn't even used the Last Twelve Moves of the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique.

At that thought, Jiang Qiu narrowed his eyes slightly, shook his head, and shifted his thoughts.

When Xie Kuang exerted force with both arms just now, there had been a faint brass sheen reflecting from them. He had likely already entered the Copper Skin Realm after Mortal Body. Only then could his strength be great enough to suppress Wang Guanjia and even knock aside my spearhead.

His physical realm was far higher than mine.

If I still wanted to compete for the two Martial Spirit Incense allocation slots three days from now, I had to intensify my training and cultivate Copper Skin!

At that thought, brilliance bloomed in Jiang Qiu's eyes. As his five fingers clenched into a fist, his chest lifted unconsciously.

"If you can really get a share of Martial Spirit Incense in your first month, your body can undergo a minor transformation early. Maybe you'll cultivate Copper Skin very soon." Liu Zili hurried after him with a patter of steps, the dimples in her cheeks deepening. "Next month, you might even surpass Xie Kuang and become the most gifted Outstanding Student in Field No. 8, receiving two shares of Martial Spirit Incense every month!"

Jiang Qiu pondered for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"Mm. That day won't be far off."