Martial Spirit Incense Distribution List

Combat Training Session ×1

Combat Training Session ×1

Qi-Martial Integration Training Session ×1

Combat Training Session ×1

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Sweat soaked Jiang Qiu's black shirt. During a pause, his chest rose and fell slightly as he expelled foul air in great gulps through his nose and mouth. Beads of sweat slid down his cheeks and jaw before dripping from the tip of his chin.

His black martial arts shirt clung to his muscles, the broad muscles of his back stretching open its wrung-wet folds. As his abdomen quivered faintly, the contours of his muscles could just barely be seen.

His upper arm, protruding from his sleeve, sank slightly. The perfect curve tapered precisely into his forearm, and with a crack, the end of the spear shaft struck the tiles.

Ancient Martial Spear (Proficient)

Traits: Spear Momentum Like a Dragon, Spear Shaft Shatters Armor

330/1000

Copper Skin

Traits: Temper the Body and Hammer the Skin, Skin Hard as Copper

20/500

These past few days of sparring had rapidly improved both his strength and spear technique. He had gradually found the knack for circulating the Zhou Tian Qi Art, and the skin on his body had begun to undergo a transformation beyond that of a Mortal Body.

His skin was gradually hardening, and his strength grew along with it.

At a thought from Jiang Qiu, force flowed across the surface of his skin, hard as a bronze bell, as though he were clad in iron armor.

The upright spear shaft hummed and trembled. It seemed that if the veins in his arms bulged just a little more, the tiles beneath his feet would crack apart!

"If I can get Martial Spirit Incense, my body's transformation will definitely speed up, and my strength will grow even greater!"

With that thought, a sharp gleam burst from Jiang Qiu's eyes. The tip of his spear quietly lifted off the tile that would cost two thousand yuan to replace, without trembling in the slightest.

As he waited, his gaze swept over unconsciously. Wang Guanjia stood with his spear braced against the ground, his chest heaving like stormy waves. Light gleamed in his tiger-like eyes on his face, rigid as sunken stone.

Liu Zili continuously exhaled warm breath between her lips and teeth, her eyes calm as water mirrors. She let beads of sweat roll over a five-inch gash on her pale left arm, salt seeping into the wound.

Though those who had learned the Zhou Tian Qi Art possessed decent self-healing abilities, and a wound of this level was nothing serious—perhaps even the scab would fall off in a dozen or so days—it was still frightening at first glance. It looked as if a strip of flesh had been gouged out, exposing vivid red beneath.

Further away, Hu Yeye sat on a bench, her left hand wrapped in white gauze around her right arm. Murky beads of blood mixed with sweat and dripped from her chin. There was a neither shallow nor deep bloody cut across her right cheek.

Several Outstanding Students who already knew her joked beside her. "Hu Yeye, you people really know how to stir things up in the Small Room, huh? The day before yesterday, you had your waist wrapped up; yesterday, your foot was bandaged; and today, you've cut up your face. Hahaha."

"Making such a fuss... don't tell me you're trying to put on a good performance for the teachers so you can get a share of Martial Spirit Incense?"

"Take our advice. Among you, only Wang Guanjia has a chance. Even Jiang Qiu might not get any after what he did right in front of Director Zhao. What makes you think you can compete with us? Because you're pretty?"

"Haha, with your face all cut up, what's pretty about you now? Your face was already plastered with makeup, and now Brother Xie definitely won't give you another look."

The mocking voices buzzed around like mosquitoes. Jiang Qiu merely glanced over, unable to make out Hu Yeye's face hidden beneath her bangs and side hair.

Xie Kuang, however, stood at the front of the dozen or so students with a long spear in hand, standing out like a crane among chickens, his chin held high.

"Beep—"

"Verification passed."

With the sound of a footstep entering, all voices abruptly fell silent. Aside from Hu Yeye, who kept her head lowered as she wrapped gauze around herself, everyone narrowed their eyes and looked over.

Wu Shan held a sheet of paper in his left hand and carried a safe that reflected metallic glints off its edges in his right.

His lone right eye swept over the crowd as he stopped in the center of Field No. 8.

Everyone gathered around like one upright spear after another, their burning gazes fixed on the heavy safe.

"Today is the eleventh. As usual, Martial Spirit Incense will be distributed to Outstanding Students with potential."

That single sentence set the tone. Everyone held their breath, and Jiang Qiu also fixed his gaze on the paper Wu Shan was gradually unfolding.

Only three months remained until the college entrance exams. As an Outstanding Student who had only joined in his senior year, it was difficult to see potential to get into Northwest Martial Arts University from any angle.

What was more, he was the "culprit" responsible for forcing Wu Shan to resign on his own after the college entrance exams. Yet Wu Shan held the authority to distribute Martial Spirit Incense tightly in his hands. Whether Jiang Qiu had potential or not was up to Wu Shan, not himself.

If he wanted to secure two portions of Martial Spirit Incense, he could only take a desperate gamble and challenge Xie Kuang, the strongest person in this field!

If Wu Shan refused or did not recognize it, then he would have to report the matter to Director Zhao at the Martial Inspection Department and seek justice!

That also meant he would be pushed completely onto Wu Shan's opposing side. Until Wu Shan left the school, his days would certainly not be easy!

Thinking of this, Jiang Qiu took a deep breath. Light reflected in his obsidian-like pupils just as Wu Shan shot him a glance, like a heavy hammer smashing into his chest and making his burning heart pound.

"I'll read the names first, then distribute the Martial Spirit Incense." In the stillness of Field No. 8, Wu Shan's cold, heavy voice struck down each word. "Wang Guanjia, one portion."

As his words fell, everyone glanced at Wang Guanjia. Quite a few clenched their fists, their chests tightening even further.

"Zhang Shan, one portion.

Li Si, one portion.

Pi Wu, one portion."

Three names in a row. The three of them let out sighs of relief, but the air grew even tenser. The Outstanding Students hoping to compete for Martial Spirit Incense had eyes like burning coals as sweat evaporated from their bodies.

The students who had enjoyed Martial Spirit Incense longed to receive a portion every month, using it to forge even stronger, sturdier bodies.

Those who had yet to enjoy it had also coveted it for a long time. They had worked twice as hard for months, all in hopes of receiving Martial Spirit Incense once before the college entrance exams and achieving the most complete transformation possible, akin to Marrow Cleansing.

Aside from the strongest, Xie Kuang, who steadily claimed two portions, Wang Guanjia, who had inserted himself into the mix, had taken one. At present, one portion remained for everyone to compete over.

The gap in strength between them was not especially great, so there was still a chance.

Even if the names might have been printed on that sheet of paper a day ago, they still clenched their fists, their spirits taut as fully drawn bows!

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Wu Shan slowly spoke. "Xie Kuang, one portion."

"Huh?"

A chorus of muffled exclamations rose from Field No. 8. The heavy atmosphere that had been brewing for so long seemed overturned by a sudden joke. Xie Kuang's sharply raised brows sank deeply, and the corners of his mouth dropped.

Wang Guanjia, who had remained silent, raised his tiger-like eyes in shock and stared at the expressionless Wu Shan.

Liu Zili, her face cold as she clenched her fists, had a tremor pass through her eyes. Her heart gradually rose to her throat.

Behind the others, Hu Yeye, sitting alone on a bench, abruptly looked up as well. Her moist gaze passed through the scattered spearheads and heads, landing through sniffles on Wu Shan's fierce, naturally intimidating face.

Jiang Qiu's chest also jolted. Hesitation flashed in his pupils, which suddenly brightened. Blood that had been seared by his heart rushed through his limbs and bones, making his cheeks tingle with heat.

The five fingers gripping his spear shaft creaked softly. He was only one thought away from asking for a trial!

"Teacher, did you read it wrong?"

Wu Shan glanced at the Outstanding Student who had spoken and snorted coldly. "Do you think that just because I only have one eye now, I'm blind?"

"N-No."

The one who had spoken up lowered his head, and everyone else held their breath.

The narrow corners of Xie Kuang's eyes stretched apart like a vengeful wolf's. The knuckles of his left fist crackled as they trembled, and his spear tip had already pressed against the tiled floor.

"The final two portions of Martial Spirit Incense for Field No. 8," Wu Shan said, withdrawing his eagle-sharp gaze, his voice like a stone sinking into the sea. "Belong to..."