Chapter Summaries

After returning from the practical training hunt, Jiang Qiu used Spear Spirit Incense and Martial Spirit Incense in Liu Zili’s borrowed tub, gaining the Spear Sense trait and strengthening his body. He concluded that he needed Advanced Su Fragrance for stronger stimulation and further metamorphosis.

• Jiang Qiu returned to Shantytown No. 13 with Liu Zili, who said she had received Martial Spirit Incense and offered to let him keep using her tub.
• Jiang Qiu took a Spear Spirit Incense medicinal bath and comprehended the Spear Sense metamorphosis trait.
• Jiang Qiu reflected that the trait came from the incense’s stimulation of his soul and recalled Wu Shan’s claims about Advanced Su Fragrance.
• Jiang Qiu used all thirteen vials of Martial Spirit Incense, gaining Iron Flesh and additional body tempering.
• Jiang Qiu decided he needed to try Advanced Su Fragrance to gain more metamorphosis traits and strengthen himself.

Jiang Qiu displayed Spear Sense during training, then learned that Director Zhao had applied for him to join the Heavenly Prodigy Project despite opposition. Wu Shan told him to prove his archery potential by choosing a greatbow and practicing before the college entrance examination.

• Jiang Qiu used his mastery-level spear technique to practice the Zhou Tian Qi Art, captivating the students in Field No. 8 with his Spear Sense.
• Wu Shan summoned Jiang Qiu and explained that No.8 Middle School had submitted an application for him to join the Heavenly Prodigy Project, but the Martial Arts Education Department opposed it.
• Wu Shan said Director Zhao had appealed directly to the Military Department, believing Jiang Qiu deserved elite resources for his talent and actions during the Practical Training Hunt.
• Wu Shan told Jiang Qiu to choose a greatbow and demonstrate archery potential, since the Heavenly Prodigy Project trained spear students to shoot down airborne demonic beasts.

Jiang Qiu chose the Blood Qi Bow Black Flood Dragon and asked Wu Shan to find a fragrance-refining expert so he could pursue Advanced Su Fragrance. Wu Shan took him to the school’s archery range and began teaching him how to use the bow.

• Wu Shan brought Jiang Qiu into the armory and explained that the remaining beginner Blood Qi Bows each cost one million.
• Jiang Qiu chose Black Flood Dragon, a bow that had killed top-tier demons, and Wu Shan let him take it before paying.
• Jiang Qiu told Wu Shan to find a fragrance-refining expert and said he would pay for Advanced Su Fragrance after the school received money from the demons.
• Wu Shan led Jiang Qiu to the archery range and explained how to nock and draw a training arrow.
• Wu Shan drew Black Flood Dragon, causing its crimson patterns and blood-red beads to flare as killing intent gathered on the arrow.

Jiang Qiu trained with the Blood Qi Bow and rapidly improved his archery, but Wu Shan informed him he had one day to face Liu Yong in an archery challenge for a place in the Heavenly Prodigy Project. Jiang Qiu’s opponent was likely already a beginner-level archer, while Jiang Qiu had only just started training.

• Wu Shan demonstrated the Blood Qi Bow, then coached Jiang Qiu through his first shots and warned him that the weapon strained his body.
• Jiang Qiu practiced archery on his own, connecting bow training to his martial arts and quickly advancing his skill.
• Wu Shan returned with news that General Mo had offered Jiang Qiu a chance to compete for one place in the Heavenly Prodigy Project.
• Wu Shan explained that Liu Yong of First High would challenge Jiang Qiu in archery the next day and was likely already at the beginner level.

Jiang Qiu prepared to challenge Liu Yong for a place in the Heavenly Prodigy Project, pushing himself through archery practice despite his inexperience and exhaustion. After a day of training, his archery remained uninitiated at 76/100, and he looked up as someone entered the range.

• Wu Shan told Jiang Qiu that the Military Department would let him and Liu Yong compete for a chance to enter the Heavenly Prodigy Project, and Jiang Qiu left determined to win.
• Jiang Qiu told Liu Zili that he and Liu Yong would compete in spearmanship and archery, and she worried that he had shot forty-one arrows with a Blood Qi Bow.
• Liu Zili let Jiang Qiu keep her wooden tub so he could use hot baths to relax his muscles, and he vowed to defeat Liu Yong.
• The next morning, Jiang Qiu practiced with the [Black Flood Dragon] bow at the Elite Training Hall, but after shooting thirty-five arrows his right arm could no longer draw it.
• Jiang Qiu saw that his Ancient Martial Arts Archery remained Not Yet Initiated at 76/100, then looked up when a bespectacled figure entered the range.

Jiang Qiu learned that the Heavenly Prodigy Project had no extra spot and that he would have to beat Liu Yong to earn a chance at the Military Department’s test. He resolved to win despite his limited archery training, while Zhao Gongzheng and Wu Shan disagreed over whether to secretly sabotage Liu Yong’s arrows.

• Zhao Gongzheng told Jiang Qiu that he had to defeat Liu Yong to advance to the Military Department’s test, though the demanding standards and resource shortages meant success was uncertain.
• Jiang Qiu recalled his parents’ hopes for him and decided he would not accept defeat before giving everything he had.
• Jiang Qiu resolved to shoot twenty-four arrows and reach the level needed to pierce armor before his match with Liu Yong.
• Wu Shan prepared a line of ten reinforced red shields as the archery test targets and told Zhao Gongzheng that Jiang Qiu was likely to lose.
• Wu Shan offered to rig Liu Yong’s arrows to disrupt his Blood Qi Bow, but Zhao Gongzheng refused because it would be unfair to Liu Yong.

Jiang Qiu pushed his body through an intense archery training session and arranged to obtain Blood Boil Liquid to replenish his blood qi. As students gathered outside the range to watch his challenge against Liu Yong, Wu Shan arrived with two vials of medicine.

• Jiang Qiu asked Wu Shan to bring him two doses of Blood Boil Liquid, and Wu Shan warned him about its risks and the Military Department inspectors.
• Students from No.8 Middle School gathered outside the archery range and argued about Liu Yong’s challenge, with Zhang Shan and Li Si defending Jiang Qiu.
• Jiang Qiu fired ten arrows during two hours of training, reaching 86/100 in Ancient Martial Arts Archery while exhausting his blood qi and straining his right arm.
• Jiang Qiu reviewed the archery challenge’s rules and considered how spear mastery and archery complemented each other.
• The steel doors opened, and Wu Shan appeared with two vials of medicine.

Jiang Qiu replenished his blood qi and prepared to face Liu Yong, who demonstrated his entry-level archery before challenging Jiang Qiu’s ability. Jiang Qiu then fired an arrow that struck the target, leaving Liu Yong surprised by how quickly he had progressed.

• Wu Shan gave Jiang Qiu two vials of Blood Boil Liquid and warned him to rest before the spear match.
• Director Zhao arrived with Captain Yang Qi and Liu Yong, and Liu Yong asked for the arrow wall’s aiming point to be set rotating.
• Liu Yong demonstrated his entry-level Blood Qi Bow skills and hit near the rotating target.
• Yang Qi suggested skipping the archery contest, but Director Zhao confirmed that Jiang Qiu had only practiced archery since the day before yesterday.
• Liu Yong judged Jiang Qiu to be far behind after seeing his first shot miss the target, but Jiang Qiu’s next arrow struck the black screen wall.

Jiang Qiu repeatedly fired a Blood Qi Bow before reaching the beginner level, risking severe injury as he pushed to improve his archery. His shots steadily neared the target, and he prepared to fire the final arrow.

• Jiang Qiu continued shooting consecutive arrows with the Blood Qi Bow despite warnings that the recoil could ruin his arm.
• Liu Yong, the spectators, and Director Zhao watched in alarm as Jiang Qiu insisted he was fine and kept firing.
• Jiang Qiu drank Blood Boil Liquid and continued shooting, raising his archery progress to 96/100.
• Liu Yong realized Jiang Qiu's shots had steadily improved and that the latest ones landed within a few centimeters of the aiming point.
• Jiang Qiu drew the bow again as his arm trembled and his bones cracked, then announced that it was his last arrow.

Jiang Qiu hit the distant aiming point during his warm-up and discovered that circulating Blood Qi helped his exhausted body recover. Although Zhao Gongzheng insisted the challenge would continue and Liu Yong believed Jiang Qiu was too depleted to compete, Jiang Qiu refused to back down.

• Jiang Qiu used his remaining strength to hit the white aiming point, stunning the spectators and earning cheers from students across the fields.
• Jiang Qiu’s Bow Dao Transformation circulated Blood Qi through his body, easing his exhaustion and helping repair the small fractures in his arm.
• Liu Yong declined to practice further, while Liu Qi praised Jiang Qiu’s perseverance but argued that he was too depleted to challenge Liu Yong fairly.
• Zhao Gongzheng rejected Liu Qi’s suggestion to cancel the challenge and told him to continue inspecting the field.
• Zhang Shan and the other students urged Jiang Qiu to withdraw, but Jiang Qiu asked why he had practiced if he would not compete; Liu Zili quietly gave him tissues.
• Liu Yong dismissed the students’ complaints and thought that Jiang Qiu’s depleted condition could not match his own peak strength and bowsmanship.

Jiang Qiu and Liu Yong competed by shooting at stacked red armor, and Liu Yong pierced four layers with a powerful arrow. Jiang Qiu then drew his bow with astonishing control, leaving Liu Qi convinced that he had mastered beginner-level archery despite his shaky test shot moments earlier.

• Liu Qi set the contest rules and told Liu Yong to shoot before Jiang Qiu.
• Liu Yong strained beyond his limits and fired an arrow that pierced four layers of red armor near the target circle.
• Zhang Shan and Zhao Gongzheng praised Liu Yong's skill, while Liu Qi explained why the Heavenly Prodigy Project could not add him.
• Zhao Gongzheng declared Jiang Qiu Heaven's Chosen, and Jiang Qiu drew the [Black Flood Dragon] Bow with steady blood qi.
• Liu Qi realized Jiang Qiu's control surpassed Liu Yong's and wondered how Jiang Qiu had mastered the technique after his earlier shaky shot.

Jiang Qiu stunned the students by piercing ten layers of armor with one arrow, leaving Liu Yong furious and humiliated. Despite his exhaustion, Jiang Qiu accepted Liu Yong’s challenge to a spear contest, and the two entered the combat circle ready to fight.

• Jiang Qiu’s arrow pierced the Red Armored Shield and all ten layers of armor behind it, shocking Liu Yong and the watching students.
• Liu Yong concluded that Jiang Qiu had already mastered entry-level archery, admitted defeat in the bow challenge, then demanded a spear contest.
• Liu Qi asked whether Jiang Qiu would compete despite his exhaustion, and Jiang Qiu agreed.
• Jiang Qiu put away the [Black Flood Dragon] bow, took up a spear, and entered the combat circle without resting.
• Liu Yong entered the circle with his black-tasseled greatspear and gathered Transformative Force at its tip.

Jiang Qiu held off Liu Yong despite his depleted vitality and defeated him by breaking his forbidden Hundred Shadows Stab. The match ended with Liu Yong disarmed and Jiang Qiu admitting that his strength was spent.

• Jiang Qiu repeatedly deflected Liu Yong’s spear attacks, leaving the watching students and instructors impressed by his spear sense.
• Liu Yong, unable to break through Jiang Qiu’s defense, gathered his Transformative Force and prepared to use Hundred Shadows Stab.
• Liu Qi warned Liu Yong that Hundred Shadows Stab was forbidden in spear sparring, but Liu Yong lunged with the technique anyway.
• Jiang Qiu swept aside the spear shadows with Azure Dragon Probes the Moon, broke Liu Yong’s grip, and leveled his spear at Liu Yong’s brow.
• Liu Yong dropped his Black Tasseled Spear, and Jiang Qiu lowered his weapon and acknowledged that he could not keep fighting.

Jiang Qiu defeated Liu Yong in their challenge, revealing his exceptional spearwork and Spear Sense. Liu Qi rebuked Liu Yong for breaking the rules and urged him to learn from stronger rivals, while the students and Wu Shan recognized Jiang Qiu’s talent.

• Jiang Qiu flicked Liu Yong’s spear away, ending the match, and Liu Qi praised Jiang Qiu’s talent to Zhao Gongzheng and Wu Shan.
• Liu Qi apologized to Jiang Qiu for Liu Yong’s rule-breaking and said he would report the match to the Military Department ahead of the test in half a month.
• Liu Qi scolded Liu Yong for using Hundred Shadows Stab and warned him that refusing to accept defeat would keep him from improving.
• Liu Qi told Liu Yong that Jiang Qiu was far beyond his current level and urged him to find stronger targets to surpass; Liu Yong said he understood.
• The students discussed Jiang Qiu’s decisive spearwork, and Wu Shan explained that Jiang Qiu had comprehended his own Spear Sense.

Zhao Gongzheng encouraged Jiang Qiu to prepare for the Military Department’s dangerous test and promised to help him obtain Intermediate Su Xiang. After training at the archery range, Jiang Qiu left with Liu Zili, who asked to observe his spear practice.

• Zhao Gongzheng told Jiang Qiu he could pass the Military Department’s test and said he had arranged Intermediate Su Xiang to help him train.
• Zhao Gongzheng explained that the classified test would likely involve live combat against demons and could earn Jiang Qiu a top-candidate spot, access to a Virtual Training Pod, and Bow Su Xiang.
• Jiang Qiu continued practicing archery and cultivating Iron Flesh until evening, improving his skills and progress.
• Liu Zili told Jiang Qiu her father had made her a new medicinal-bath barrel and said she hoped to reach Copper Skin and earn more Martial Spirit Incense.
• Liu Zili asked to observe Jiang Qiu’s spear practice, and he agreed while warning her that Spear Sense could influence her martial arts.

After Liu Yong publicly admitted that Jiang Qiu outclassed him, students at Field No. 8 celebrated Jiang Qiu’s reputation as a spear-and-bow prodigy. Hu Yeye regretted her failed attempts to get close to him, then resolved to grow stronger so she could stand beside him.

• Li Si showed the students at Field No. 8 a viral post reporting that Liu Yong admitted Jiang Qiu was far superior to him.
• Zhang Shan and the other students praised Jiang Qiu’s skill with the spear and bow and compared his talent to Sun Yongsheng’s.
• Hu Yeye noticed Liu Zili was absent from the spear practice area and learned that she had gone to the archery range to practice with Jiang Qiu.
• Hu Yeye reflected on her loneliness and her unsuccessful efforts to get close to Jiang Qiu.
• Hu Yeye decided to master her spear technique and gain enough strength to stand beside a genius like Jiang Qiu.

Jiang Qiu learned that the Military Department test could offer enough money to fund Advanced Su Fragrance, but it would involve dangerous real combat against powerful demons. After leaving the range, he saw that his Iron Flesh progress was close to a breakthrough.

• Jiang Qiu and Liu Zili practiced archery and spear techniques together at the range, and Liu Zili made progress with hidden force.
• Wu Shan told them Field No. 8 would receive Martial Spirit Incense, with Jiang Qiu receiving six portions, and said the hunt’s payments would arrive the next day.
• Wu Shan warned Jiang Qiu that refining Advanced Su Fragrance faced costly difficulties because mutated pebbles were hard to process.
• Wu Shan explained that the upcoming Military Department test could let Jiang Qiu earn millions by killing demons, but warned of the serious dangers and the need to use a Blood Qi Bow against demon birds.
• Jiang Qiu left the range and saw that his Iron Flesh progress had reached 901/1000 while his archery remained at beginner level.

Field No. 8 distributed Martial Spirit Incense, and Liu Zili challenged Pi Wu to earn a larger share. After Liu Zili defeated him with spear skill she had learned from Jiang Qiu, Director Zhao arrived with two metal boxes for Jiang Qiu.

• Wu Shan announced the resource rules and named the students eligible for two portions of Martial Spirit Incense, including Pi Wu.
• Liu Zili challenged Pi Wu, believing she could use the Spear Sense she had learned from Jiang Qiu.
• Liu Zili defeated Pi Wu, impressing the students with her strength and spear technique.
• Wu Shan gave Liu Zili Pi Wu's resource slot, and she received two portions of Martial Spirit Incense.
• Zhao Gongzheng approached Jiang Qiu with two metal boxes bearing the insignias of the Military Department and the Martial Arts Education Department.

After defeating Liu Yong, Jiang Qiu received a valuable Purple-Gold Pattern Storage Ring from General Mo and Bone Spirit Incense from Zhao Gongzheng. He resolved to pass the Military Department test and earn a place in the Heavenly Prodigy Project.

• Zhao Gongzheng gave Jiang Qiu a Storage Ring that General Mo had sent to reward his talent.
• Jiang Qiu bound the Purple-Gold Pattern ring and discovered it held a 5m x 5m x 5m storage space.
• Zhao Gongzheng gave Jiang Qiu Bone Spirit Incense and explained it could help him break through to the Steel Bones Realm after he tempered his Iron Flesh.
• Jiang Qiu thanked Zhao Gongzheng and resolved to claim a place in the Heavenly Prodigy Project by giving his all at the Military Department test.

Jiang Qiu used Bone Spirit Incense to break through from Iron Flesh to the Steel Bones Realm, then used his strengthened arms and doubled blood-qi capacity to practice archery at remarkable speed while teaching Liu Zili spearwork. Four days later, a scarred middle-aged man arrived at the archery range.

• Liu Zili thanked Jiang Qiu for teaching her spearwork and said she wanted to attend Northwest Martial Arts University so she could keep learning from him.
• Jiang Qiu added Bone Spirit Incense to his medicinal bath, endured the shattering and reforging of his arm bones, and broke through to the Steel Bones Realm.
• The next morning, Jiang Qiu shot more than a hundred arrows in a short session and explained that his blood-qi capacity had doubled and his arms had strengthened.
• Jiang Qiu spent the next two days practicing archery and gained the Aiming trait, which helped him hit rapidly moving targets.
• Four days later, a middle-aged man with a cross-shaped scar on his right cheek entered the archery range, drawing Jiang Qiu and Liu Zili's attention.