Do Everything Possible

It was morning again. Jiang Qiu walked out of the Slum Area along the stone-paved road, heading for the Elite Training Hall of No.8 Middle School as he considered his plans for the days ahead.

Ever since his Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique had entered the path of mastery, his previous drills could no longer improve it. It was as though ordinary training and combat had reached their limit, and he needed to find another path.

Yet he could not find a way to further improve his Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique. For the next two months, he could only devote more time to tempering his body.

There were only two ways to temper his body: Martial Spirit Incense medicinal baths, or practicing spear techniques through the Zhou Tian Qi Art. The former was hard to come by, while the latter was relatively inefficient.

"Morning, Brother Jiang!"

A greeting suddenly interrupted Jiang Qiu's thoughts. He nodded instinctively. "Morning."

He looked toward the voice and saw the bald student in a black shirt. They had met a few times before.

After exchanging a few polite words, they headed toward their respective fields.

Whenever he encountered students in black shirts along the way, they took the initiative to greet him, and Jiang Qiu responded with a nod.

"Beep—"

"Verification passed."

The moment his right foot crossed into Field No. 8, a timid greeting sounded out. "Morning, Brother Jiang."

"Mm, morning."

Jiang Qiu glanced at Hu Yeye, who was wiping sweat from her face after putting away her spear, then silently walked over to the weapon cabinet. Click. He slid open the glass door and took out a black-shafted spear.

A cold gleam flashed across the double-curved blade spearhead, while the icy shaft settled into his palm.

The armory had recently replaced its spear shafts. This one weighed fifty pounds, was highly rigid yet slightly flexible, felt somewhat heavy in hand, and had a satisfying heft.

With a flick of his wrist, the entire spear instantly began to hum, sounding like an azure dragon roaring through an empty valley.

Whoosh—

He casually spun the spear behind his back, its movements like a phoenix wheeling at his right side as Transformative Force formed a full circle.

Not far away, Hu Yeye froze mid-motion, her left hand paused against her cheek. Her peach-blossom eyes widened soundlessly.

Those two seemingly casual movements contained the essence of the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique and his own understanding of it. They were domineering and fierce, yet supple like an azure dragon coiling its body, without any intent to kill.

There was an official term for this wondrous feeling in martial arts: Spear Sense.

Once one's spear practice reached a certain level, the spear became an extension of the arm. There was no need to memorize basic forms; the spearhead moved as the heart wished, retracting and extending freely.

Achieving this required many years of spear practice, yet some martial artists failed to find the feeling they sought even after a lifetime.

Maybe she had seen it wrong. Perhaps geniuses like Jiang Qiu, who had entered the path of mastery, all practiced their spears this way.

Qi-Martial Integration practiced once

Iron Flesh

503/1000

Jiang Qiu's eyes lit up. He rotated his right wrist. "With this Spear Sense, the breathing technique of the Zhou Tian Qi Art flows more smoothly."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

For a time, the spear's hum was like a dragon's roar, while his figure darted like a running wolf.

Qi-Martial Integration practiced once

Qi-Martial Integration practiced once

.

By the time all the students of Field No. 8 had arrived, they stood dumbly along both sides. Not one spoke. Their eyes were wide, their heads swaying as their gazes remained locked onto the double-curved blade spearhead as it swept left and right, shot upward and plunged downward.

Liu Zili, Wang Guanjia, Zhang Shan, and the others stared intensely. The fingers gripping their spear shafts twitched rhythmically. For a moment, they had no idea what was so captivating about it; it simply felt different.

It was rather like admiring a landscape ink painting—something that could be understood but not expressed.

Even Xie Kuang, huddled in the farthest corner, lowered his heavy brows. In the dark eyes he secretly cast over, Jiang Qiu's figure flowed continuously. Spear Sense?

"Whew..."

After completing a set of Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique, Jiang Qiu tapped the butt of his spear against the tiled floor with a click. Frowning, he glanced at the crowd. "Is it that hard to get back into spear practice on your first day after returning from the Practical Training Hunt? Why are you all staring at me?"

"Nothing. We just think Brother Jiang looks really cool."

Li Si grinned as he jumped in first, and several other students nodded in agreement.

"Heh."

Jiang Qiu's lips curved slightly. Of course I know that.

"Beep."

"Verification passed."

Wu Shan entered through the door, his expression as heavy as rain-laden clouds. His lone right eye immediately fixed on Jiang Qiu. "The rest of you, continue your usual spear practice. Jiang Qiu, come out with me. I have something important to tell you."

"Mm, okay."

Soon, the glass door closed, and Jiang Qiu and Wu Shan disappeared outside. Everyone in the field immediately widened their eyes. "Damn, judging by Teacher's expression, this doesn't feel like good news."

"That shouldn't be the case. Brother Jiang's strength is obvious to everyone. He's a genius who has already entered the path of mastery in Ancient Martial Spear, and he turned the tide in the secret realm. He'd be among the best in any high school in the Outer City. What could have made Teacher look so grim?"

"Could it be something unrelated to our school?"

In the corridor, Jiang Qiu followed behind Wu Shan, his brows drawn together. "Teacher, what happened?"

"You know about the Heavenly Prodigy Project, right?"

The weighty words struck Jiang Qiu like a boulder, shaking his heart. "I do."

The Heavenly Prodigy Project had begun selecting a group of gifted youths from the Outer City and Inner City during middle school and sending them to train in the Military Department. It was a program specifically meant to cultivate prodigies for Plateau City.

These prodigies were the equivalent of Li Guang, who could shoot an arrow into stone; Lu Bu, who shot a halberd through the gate; Yang Youji, who could pierce willow leaves from a hundred paces; Changsun Sheng, who could bring down two birds with one arrow; and even Xiang Yu, whose generals never needed to meet the enemy's commanders.

They were all people destined to achieve greatness in the future.

As far as the college entrance examination was concerned, their archery skills were exceptionally strong. With long-range killing power, they could score more easily than ordinary candidates.

Unless one's spear mastery had reached a very high level, their performance in the college entrance examination would basically fall short of those who pursued Dual Cultivation of Spear and Bow.

But there were only two months left until the college entrance examination. What did that have to do with me?

"At yesterday's meeting, Director Zhao hoped to secure you a place in the Heavenly Prodigy Project. Every teacher involved in the Practical Training Hunt, myself included, supported it. After the Principal approved it, the application was submitted to the Martial Arts Education Department that afternoon."

At this, Jiang Qiu's pupils trembled. He stared blankly at the broad back in front of him.

The Heavenly Prodigy Project. Archery. Prodigies. Additional resources for entering Northwest Martial Arts University in the future. A sunlit path that did not belong to ordinary people.

There were only two months left until the college entrance examination. Could he really apply to join the Heavenly Prodigy Project?

At the thought, Jiang Qiu blurted out, "The application was rejected?"

"No, the result isn't fully out yet. But many people in the Martial Arts Education Department oppose it. And more than ten days ago, No.1 Middle School also applied for a student who entered the path of mastery at the brink of death during the Practical Training Hunt to join the Heavenly Prodigy Project. They failed."

Jiang Qiu's heartbeat slowed, and his fingers silently clenched into a fist.

That was No.1 Middle School—the source of the Outer City's finest students, gathering the best teachers and students. They had stepped forward for a genius who had reached the realm of mastery, yet still failed to secure approval.

"So the Heavenly Prodigy Project is probably beyond my reach?"

Jiang Qiu lowered his chin slightly, his eyes as still as a pool of water.

Maybe for me, getting in would be an unexpected delight. Failing to get in would be only natural.

"No. Director Zhao is still fighting for you. He bypassed the Martial Arts Education Department and went directly to the Military Department to speak with the person in charge of the Heavenly Prodigy Project."

Jiang Qiu's chest surged. An image flashed through his mind: the back of a middle-aged man standing with his hands behind his back, thick glasses on his face. A belated rush of heat rose to Jiang Qiu's cheeks, making them tingle faintly.

The person in charge of the Heavenly Prodigy Project had to be at least a Major General. Someone of that status was not easy to approach.

Why was he fighting for a place in the Heavenly Prodigy Project for me? Even if I had no chance of getting in, I wouldn't lose anything. Yet now Director Zhao would owe someone a favor instead.

At that thought, Jiang Qiu clenched his fist tightly.

"In Director Zhao's eyes, you are not comparable to an ordinary genius like that student from No.1 Middle School. At most, that student comprehended the Ancient Martial Spear move passed down by his father when he was on the verge of death. He relied on it to survive until the secret realm experts opened the secret realm, but he could not protect anyone else.

"But you comprehended a spear move of your own in a desperate situation and killed a Demon Plant. What could have been a total wipeout was reduced to the lowest possible casualty rate.

"Director Zhao believes you deserve the best resources. Whether in temperament or talent, you are qualified to enter the Heavenly Prodigy Project.

"Moreover, you have already stepped onto the path of mastery in Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique. At your current stage, it is almost impossible for you to make any greater progress. The best solution is to enter the Heavenly Prodigy Project and learn archery, so you can shoot down those demonic beasts occupying the skies during the college entrance examination.

"This is one of the reasons the Heavenly Prodigy Project exists. Students proficient in the spear must also possess promising talent in archery.

"So I will take you to choose a greatbow. You need to prove to the Martial Arts Education Department and the Military Department that you possess talent in archery as well!

"Reaching proficiency in archery within two months is unrealistic, and even getting started will not be easy. Practice as much as you can. I believe Director Zhao will fight to secure the greatest possible opportunity for you."