Jiang Qiu, Hidden Depths Unseen

"Beep—"

"Verification successful."

Accompanied by a crisp electronic chime, the cafeteria's face-scanning machine displayed the student's information, several brief yet forceful lines of text framed by an ornate border.

[Student Name: Jiang Qiu]

[Student Grade: Outstanding Student of Senior Year Class Eight]

[Support Coverage: All meat and vegetables below Beast Meat are free to enjoy; milk tea and beverages are free to enjoy.]

Jiang Qiu glanced over the words on the screen, the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifting. He picked up a large tray of food from the counter and strolled over to an empty table.

A huge bowl of rice was piled high like a little hill. Four or five large prawns lay across a pork chop, while a golden, crispy chicken leg rested on the right, its fragrant oil steaming into the air. Greens and bean sprouts were mixed together at the side, topped with a piece of braised meat. In the small bowl of seaweed soup at the corner, egg whites floated like clumps of milk curds pressed together.

One sniff was enough to unleash a feast upon his taste buds.

He swallowed a small mouthful of saliva, then with a rip, peeled back the chicken leg's crisp skin. Tender white meat filled the space between his teeth.

"So fragrant." Jiang Qiu's appetite surged. Like a starving wolf devouring venison, he lost himself in the food, unprecedented satisfaction flowing through his Bright Sight.

The last time he had eaten a chicken leg was three years ago, when his parents had still been alive. That chicken leg had been tough, with too little oil and flesh that had not been fully fried. Blood had hidden in the meat, and a sour, astringent stench had burrowed into his nose and eyes.

But things were different now.

"I can already eat food this good just by becoming an Outstanding Student. If I become a martial artist, what will Beast Meat taste like?"

Jiang Qiu's cheeks moved as he chewed, a sharp, crystalline gleam reflecting in his clear black eyes.

Only by striving for more resources and a higher status could he eat better, even live better. Just because I was born in the Slum Area, does that mean I cannot eat the same food as students from the Commoner District?

Even Beast Meat—I will taste it someday!

Beep!

The tabletop trembled lightly. Jiang Qiu chewed his chicken, his pleased gaze sweeping toward the phone by his elbow as a message popped up.

[Class Eight Homeroom Teacher Wu Shan: @All Members, I have reflected on the mistakes in my martial arts teaching over these past years. After this year's college entrance examination, I will voluntarily resign from my position as a martial arts teacher at No.8 Middle School and will no longer participate in any teaching work.]

"Hm?" Jiang Qiu's rising lips slammed on the brakes. His right brow lifted slightly. "Resigning. In the Outer City of Plateau City, if he does not become a teacher, then he will probably have to go to the City Wall Top."

[Class Eight Homeroom Teacher Wu Shan: Therefore, you are the final class of students I will teach in my life. You are terrible, but I must fulfill my duties as a martial arts teacher. Before I completely lay down my work with Class Eight, I will spend seven days at the Training Hall explaining the essentials of the First Eight Moves of the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique!]

The instant those words appeared, the submerged diving pool suddenly exploded, monstrous waves whipping up a storm!

[Qian Cheng (Administrator): Teacher, will we still have a chance to Receive Spearheads?]

[Zhang Shan: Really, Teacher? When will you teach us the essentials of the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique again?]

[Li Si: Teacher, Teacher, will we be able to hear the full Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique this time?]

[]

This was the liveliest the class announcement group had ever been, at least in Jiang Qiu's life. It was as though sunflowers lurking in the night had suddenly turned their heads, grasping for the first ray of dawn.

He shook his head and chuckled twice, silently turning on [Do Not Disturb Mode] for every student group and the class group. He shoveled down mouthful after mouthful of rice and meat, then swallowed another scalding mouthful of seaweed-and-egg soup. Its warmth sank into his organs and lungs.

Little did he know, the all-member mute in the private student group had been lifted. It was equally ablaze with fervor.

[Li Si: What the hell happened? Why did Wu Shan suddenly admit he was wrong and say he has to resign?]

[Zhang Shan: Yeah, this is insane. Wu Shan is actually going to teach us the essentials of the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique for another seven days. That is crazier than the sun sinking into the sea! I was not there—what happened during this morning's Proficiency Test?]

[Li Xueming: Mainly because when Director Zhao brought the Inspection Team to supervise Wu Shan's Proficiency Test, Jiang Qiu challenged Wang Guanjia, the top-ranked student on the list, right in front of them—and won decisively. Wu Shan's rigged list was exposed in broad daylight.]

[Zhang Shan: What? Jiang Qiu challenged Wang Guanjia!]

[Zhang Shan: Who is Jiang Qiu?]

[Li Si: The loner who always has a faint sour smell on him. But how could Jiang Qiu beat Wang Guanjia? Wasn't he born in the Slum Area?]

[Liu Zili: So what if he was born in the Slum Area? Jiang Qiu has already cultivated the Ming Jin of the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique into Spear Tip Pierces Armor. He deserved to win!]

[Li Xueming: Mm, that is right. Jiang Qiu has extremely high Martial Arts Talent and has hidden his strength deeply. Director Zhao already acknowledged him this morning. He has a chance of getting into Northwest Martial Arts University.]

[Zhang Shan: Holy shit, awesome! If Director Zhao said that, then his chances must be huge. He is about to turn his life around!]

[Li Si: We were both born in the Slum Area—how did he hide himself so deeply? Damn it, I missed out on a fortune!]

In the blink of an eye, it was two in the afternoon. At the entrance to the Class Eight Training Hall, the four Outstanding Students who had risen above the rest gathered there. None spoke, but each secretly clenched a fist.

They were about to Receive Spearheads and obtain the first proper weapons of their lives!

Jiang Qiu's eyes shone as his thoughts soared.

Beyond the honor represented by Receiving a Spearhead, what truly stirred one's heart was the weapon's value.

In Plateau City, where resources depended on transport and supply convoys, Ancient Spearheads were expensive because of their exceedingly complex manufacturing process. Not only could a Slum Area family save for a lifetime and still never afford one, even most families in the Commoner District would not dare stake their finances on one. After all, that tiny spearhead alone was enough to overturn an entire family of five.

Yet it was worth every bit of its price. Below the level of martial artist, it could serve its owner for life and be passed down through generations.

Even for a long time after one became a martial artist, its edge would not diminish.

Tap, tap, tap.

Heavy footsteps struck the concrete as Wu Shan's brawny figure once again entered everyone's sight. "All of you, follow me to Receive Spearheads."

The murky light in his sole right eye crashed toward Jiang Qiu like an anchor being dropped, then abruptly withdrew. He turned and headed in another direction.

The four followed close behind him. Their expressions were varied, but every pair of eyes was filled with anticipation.

"You are all Outstanding Students now. From now on, you will train at the Elite Training Hall—the place where you will Receive Spearheads shortly," Wu Shan said. His face could not be seen from behind, but his voice was like a mountain pressing down upon them, deep and blunt. "Once you receive your spearheads, they will be the roots of your lives. Do not lose them even if you die. It makes recovery easier.

"Even within the school, you will have to fight for future resource allocations with your spearheads. Only those with the best spear technique and the strongest tempered bodies can receive the most martial arts resources."

"After arriving at the Elite Training Hall, you will be at Training Ground No. 8, learning the remaining Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique from me, along with the matching Body Tempering Cultivation Method." Wu Shan paused, his voice cold and hard. "Originally, I could have spent more time teaching you. But Director Zhao has ordered me to teach the complete Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique to the Regular Students of Class Eight, so I will initially give you only seven days to learn. By then, it will happen to be time for resource allocation.

"Based on your individual strength, I will distribute resources among all the Outstanding Students under me. After that, I will have to go to the Regular Training Hall and continue teaching those Regular Students. Understand?"

The moment his words fell, Jiang Qiu's pupils contracted. It was as though a pitch-black eyeball would emerge from the sharp, short-haired back of Wu Shan's head and stare directly at him, sending a sudden chill through his heart.

These words were meant for him.