Lu Ming heard the deeply insulting words and saw red.
He struggled to get up from the ground so he could retort.
"You!"
But the sharp pain in his chest made him collapse back to the floor after barely pushing himself halfway up.
"Pfft!"
Unable to catch his breath, he broke into another fit of violent coughing.
Lin Qiu let out a scornful laugh at the sight, then stylishly twirled his blade and slid the Alloy Battle Blade back into the sheath on his back.
Amid the awe and envy of his classmates, Lin Qiu turned and strolled out of the Training Room.
He acted as though he had merely stepped on an annoying ant.
Watching Lin Qiu walk away, Lu Ming clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Humiliation!
An unprecedented humiliation!
Just then, a hand reached out and helped him up.
It was Jiang Hao.
"Are you all right?"
Jiang Hao asked, guilt in his eyes.
Lu Ming took the tissue and wiped the bloody froth from the corner of his mouth, then lowered his head in dejection.
"Sorry, Jiang Hao."
"I couldn't... I couldn't beat that guy."
Lu Ming's voice was full of frustration and unwillingness to accept defeat.
"I bet that bastard's going to make some snide remarks in the Class Group again tonight."
Jiang Hao watched him in silence.
A few seconds later!
Jiang Hao patted Lu Ming on the shoulder.
As Lu Ming raised his head, Jiang Hao looked him in the eye with absolute seriousness.
"Give me half a month."
"What?"
Lu Ming stared at him, taken aback.
"In half a month, I'll avenge you."
Jiang Hao spoke each word deliberately.
"I'll settle this score myself."
Jiang Hao's voice was quiet, but it carried an unshakable certainty.
Lu Ming stared at Jiang Hao, at those placid eyes that seemed to conceal an unfathomably deep sea.
Lu Ming couldn't help scratching his head!
Half a month.
Could someone with a Blood Qi Intensity of 8.1 challenge Lin Qiu, who had a Blood Qi Intensity of 8.8 and had mastered a Martial Skill?
That was even more outrageous than the 0.3 gap he'd faced today.
It was simply impossible.
Yet, for some reason, looking at Jiang Hao's expression, Lu Ming found himself nodding.
"All right."
Though he held no hope at all.
Even great mastery of Stance Training couldn't help someone cross such a chasm in half a month.
The crowd in the Training Room gradually dispersed.
The students talked about Lin Qiu's strength and left clustered around him.
With Jiang Hao supporting him, Lu Ming limped off to the Infirmary.
The huge Training Room soon emptied out.
Ten minutes later!
Jiang Hao returned alone.
He had taken Lu Ming to the Infirmary, then come back instead of leaving.
Jiang Hao walked into the Training Room and went to the weapon rack, where he took down an Alloy Spear he usually practiced with.
The shaft was cool and 1.9 meters long. It felt familiar in his hands.
Without a word!
Jiang Hao took a deep breath and assumed his stance.
He had to train his Spear Arts!
His Blood Qi Intensity had to improve!
His Spear Arts had to keep up, too!
Otherwise, he'd just be a brute, not a Martial Artist!
Martial Skills.
Lin Qiu's strength didn't lie in that 0.3 difference in Blood Qi Intensity.
It lay in the Martial Skill Shadowless Blade.
On Jiang Hao's panel, the words [Spear Arts Accomplishment (10/100)] stood out painfully.
He had to improve as quickly as possible.
Without hesitation, Jiang Hao began practicing his Spear Arts.
The Alloy Spear became a blur in his hands as he repeated the Basic Spear Technique over and over.
[Ding, completed one "Spear Arts" practice session] [Proficiency +1] [Spear Arts Accomplishment (11/100)]
Jiang Hao didn't stop. Sweat soon soaked through his back.
The second time.
[Ding, completed one "Spear Arts" practice session] [Proficiency +1] [Spear Arts Accomplishment (12/100)]
The third time.
[Proficiency +1] [Spear Arts Accomplishment (13/100)]
The fourth time.
[Proficiency +1] [Spear Arts Accomplishment (14/100)]
As Jiang Hao focused and prepared to begin his fifth practice session.
A calm voice suddenly came from a corner of the Training Room.
"Your Starting Stance is using your waist incorrectly."
Jiang Hao's movements faltered. He glanced over and saw Instructor Song Jun standing at the Training Room entrance. He hadn't noticed when he arrived.
"You're generating force from your shoulders. It's too scattered."
Song Jun's voice rang out, devoid of emotion.
"The spear is the king of weapons. It demands Unity of Man and Spear. Force begins at the ground, takes root in the feet, turns through the waist and hips, flows through the shoulders and arms, and finally reaches the spear tip."
"Try the 'Mid-Level Stab' again."
"Imagine your spine as a great dragon, with your waist as the pivot where its body turns."
"The instant you thrust, tighten your waist and hips sharply, then whip your whole body's strength out in one swift lash, like a whip!"
"The sensation has to be right!"
"Thrust!"
Song Jun's voice rang in Jiang Hao's ears like the tolling of a temple bell at dawn.
Jiang Hao's heart stirred. Without hesitation, he followed Song Jun's instructions, adjusting his breathing and posture.
His feet planted firmly, as if taking root in the earth.
His waist suddenly drove forward!
"Hah!"
With a fierce shout, the Alloy Spear in Jiang Hao's hands seemed to transform into a mighty dragon awakening!
"Vrrm—!"
The spear tip shot forward with unprecedented speed!
The air tore apart with a sharp crack, far more piercing than before!
"Bang!"
After completing the thrust, Jiang Hao slowly drew back his spear and stood at attention. He hadn't yet recovered from the strange sensation of generating force, but the prompt in his mind sent a tremor through him.
[Ding! Under the guidance of a Martial Master Level expert, your understanding of "Spear Arts" has greatly deepened!] [Ding, completed one "Spear Arts" practice session] [Proficiency +15] [Spear Arts Accomplishment (29/100)]
Fifteen points!
Just one practice session and one piece of guidance had boosted his proficiency by fifteen points!
It was even better than practicing on his own fifteen times!
Jiang Hao's heart surged.
The feeling of his proficiency skyrocketing was incredible!
So this was the insight of a Martial Master Level expert?
As expected, training behind closed doors could never compare to having a renowned master show the way.
Getting such detailed guidance from a Martial Master Level expert was an opportunity worth a fortune.
He hadn't expected to be so lucky.
Suppressing his excitement, Jiang Hao turned toward Song Jun and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for your guidance, Instructor!"
Song Jun's expression remained indifferent, as though he had done nothing worth mentioning.
He didn't respond to Jiang Hao's thanks.
He simply turned and headed for the door.
"The Training Room is closing."
"Hurry up and leave."
His calm voice drifted back, but Song Jun had already disappeared from the doorway.
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