Spear Dao Metamorphosis: Spear Sense

The sun set behind the western hills, red clouds filling the horizon. As usual, the bun shop in Shantytown No. 13 was putting away its steamers, while men returning from overtime work gathered at the entrance and gnawed on buns.

"I heard the practical training at several high schools got wiped out by demon beasts. Hundreds died. Things had only been peaceful for a few years, and now this happened again."

"Exactly. The high school in our District No. 8 organized practical training too, but there's still been no word of anyone coming back."

"Poor little Qiu. His parents died years ago, and he worked hard enough to become an Outstanding Student. But no one's seen him these past two weeks. Most likely he..."

"Huh? Look there, little Qiu brought a girl back!"

At the startled shout, several men and the bun shop owner turned toward the alley entrance. Jiang Qiu strolled along with a black backpack in hand, while a short-haired girl whose head reached just above his shoulder smiled sweetly, holding a black backpack stained dark red in her arms as well.

"Hehe, it's so great that I ran into you. Everyone at our Field No. 8 got a Martial Spirit Incense. Once I finish my medicinal bath, I should be able to break through to the Copper Skin Realm before the college entrance exam," Liu Zili said with a bright-eyed, toothy grin, two dimples spinning on her cheeks. "Hehe."

"That's good. By the way, do you need the tub urgently? I can help you carry it home later."

The corners of Jiang Qiu's lips naturally rose as warm breath flowed from his nose.

He had borrowed that large wooden tub and unexpectedly kept it for over half a month. It was time to return it.

It was just that buying a new medicinal bath tub would take quite a bit of time. He would have to take many rides through the major Commoner Districts and search the big malls one by one.

"Huh? The tub?" Liu Zili's cheeks suddenly flushed. Her round eyes darted from side to side, and her delicate body stiffened before she shook her head. "Ah, no, no need. Use it first. I'll come get it after you're done. I'm not in a hurry at all. I walked too far without noticing. Sorry, I'm going home first. Bye-bye!"

She raised her fair wrist over her shoulder and waved. Then, with light steps, she turned into the alley she had come from, her figure disappearing around the corner in an instant.

Jiang Qiu stood there blinking. She walked all the way here with me. Wasn't she planning to pick up the tub?

And what had that tub held before, anyway? Half a month has passed, yet she isn't in a hurry to use it?

Raising an eyebrow, he chuckled as he headed home. "Fine. It'll be convenient for a Spear Spirit Incense medicinal bath tonight. Tomorrow, I'll get myself a bath tub. I can't keep borrowing hers."

As the boy's figure gradually receded, several men in front of the bun shop gulped down their bun fillings, their eyes widening. "Damn, did I just hear something about Martial Spirit Incense? It seems like you can't buy it even with hundreds of thousands, yet each of them got one!"

"From what that girl said, little Qiu is pretty outstanding, huh?"

"How could he not be? He's wearing an Outstanding Student uniform. That girl probably isn't ordinary either. What incredible luck."

Amid their laughter, the bun shop owner curled his lip. "It's good enough that they came back from the Practical Training Hunt smiling. More than three hundred high school students from the neighboring districts died altogether. Even the Slum Areas are deathly quiet."

Splash—

A large basin of hot water poured into the large wooden tub in the living room. Billowing steam surged upward, coating Jiang Qiu's face with a moist sheen.

He took an exquisite wooden box from the black bag and opened it with a click. Taking out a vial, he saw silver flower-like patterns around its edges, encasing the violet-glowing Spear Spirit Incense within.

Drip.

A large drop of purple liquid fell into the wooden tub, transforming moments later into dark-purple floating wisps that dissolved into the water.

"Spear Spirit Incense doesn't stimulate the body, so absorption should be quick," Jiang Qiu said, glancing at the thirteen fluorescent-blue vials of Martial Spirit Incense lined up on the chair. "While the water's still hot, I'll pour in the Martial Spirit Incense too."

He pulled off his clothes from the bottom up and climbed naked into the wooden tub.

The moment he sat down, the pores across half his body opened, greedily absorbing the invisible essence within the water. Like a filter straining out impurities, countless wisps of essence flowed through his hair and body into his blood vessels and tendons, surging into his mind like a thousand rivers returning to the sea. Jiang Qiu's eyes snapped open.

At that moment, it felt as though his consciousness had been tied to a ten-thousand-pound bronze cauldron and violently plunged into the depths of the ocean. The crushing descent tugged at his soul, and one spear cry after another burst forth, like swift blades slicing flesh.

Then, scenes of the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern. With each thrust, jab, and sweep, his footwork shook the air. The spearhead moved like a dragon and phoenix, whirling and advancing around his body.

The Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique flowed sharply and naturally. Though there was no enemy to contend with, every move seemed to carry the clash of weapons and the howl of wind.

Spear Dao enlightenment: once

Spear Dao Metamorphosis

Buzz.

Like the tremor of a bronze bell, Jiang Qiu closed his eyes and shuddered. When he opened them again, the rim of the wooden tub and the cement-colored ceiling filled his vision. His brain core swayed as though being torn from his skull, while thunderous pain shot through him.

Spear Sense

Trait: Before the mind moves, the cold gleam has already arrived

"I comprehended a metamorphosis trait?" Jiang Qiu casually wiped the bead-like sweat from his face and rubbed his temples. His eyes shone like pearls. "The effects of Spear Spirit Incense are actually this good!"

Though he had yet to test the effects of Spear Sense, Copper Transformation, also a metamorphosis trait, could greatly raise his current physical strength, while Penetrating Force could instantly erupt with the strength of all four limbs. Used together, they could form the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique's mastery-level move, Soaring Dragon Thrust.

Spear Sense surely held no small potential.

And he had comprehended such a metamorphosis trait merely from a Spear Spirit Incense medicinal bath!

Wu Shan's words suddenly echoed in Jiang Qiu's mind: "As an Intermediate Su Xiang, a single dose of Spear Spirit Incense will benefit you for life. Even if you have already comprehended the mastery level of the Ancient Martial Spear, it will still be useful—far better than ten million doses of Martial Spirit Incense!

"But Spear Spirit Incense is not on the same level as Advanced Su Fragrance."

Thinking of that, Jiang Qiu's brow sank. "Copper Transformation was gained from enduring the bone-deep, soul-rending pain of body tempering during my first medicinal bath. Penetrating Force was gained through a Life and Death Simulation against the Red-Armored Great Lizard. Obtaining these metamorphosis traits requires sufficiently intense stimulation.

"The stimulation from a Spear Spirit Incense medicinal bath is concentrated on the soul, which is why I comprehended Spear Sense.

"Teacher Wu said someone in the Jiangnan Province Region had used Advanced Su Fragrance to metamorphose into dragon form. The stimulation and pain of breaking bones and reshaping tendons must have been unimaginable. If I could undergo an Advanced Su Fragrance medicinal bath, I would surely comprehend a powerful additional trait."

As he muttered, Jiang Qiu reached out and grabbed two bottles of Martial Spirit Incense from the chair beside the tub, pouring them into the water with two drips.

Sizzle.

The essence of the fluorescent-blue Martial Spirit Incense rushed toward Jiang Qiu all at once, drilling into him through his pores. Yet it felt like ants crawling up a wall, the biting pain barely noticeable.

Jiang Qiu could not help frowning. He climbed out and poured in another bottle of Martial Spirit Incense, feeling a faint itch across his skin.

He poured in two more bottles, and his pores expanded slightly.

Drip, drip.

All thirteen bottles of Martial Spirit Incense were empty.

Medium-quality body tempering: once

Iron Flesh

502/1000

A surge of heat suddenly broke through every blockage in Jiang Qiu's body, and the long-absent sensation of his muscles being pulled spread through all four limbs and every bone.

One medium-quality body tempering added one hundred.

However, the stimulation was already far inferior to when he had first used two bottles of Martial Spirit Incense. He only needed to clench his fists slightly to endure the tempering.

The lingering heat diminished with each subsequent dose.

Low-quality body tempering: once

Low-quality body tempering: once

.

"To gain more metamorphosis traits and strengthen myself, this level of stimulation is far from enough." Jiang Qiu's palms burned, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes. "I need to try Advanced Su Fragrance!"