Chapter 85: Chapter 85: The Contest Begins

After Liu Qi finished speaking, the other end of the communication ring went silent for a moment before a soft sigh was heard. "Thirteen days to master Shadow Stepping, and he’s a Horizontal Training genius who has surpassed Yang Zheng. It seems Zhao Gongzheng wasn’t wrong about him.

Send a notice to all students in the Prodigy Program and all non-commissioned officers ranked senior and above. Tomorrow, they will witness the recording of Jiang Qiu’s Spear Skill.

Regardless of whether he can surpass Lin Wei or not, reward him with at least 1,000 Contribution Points in my name."

"Yes!"

...

After more than twelve hours of preparation, Virtual Training Pod 8 switched entirely to recording mode.

Dressed in a black shirt, Jiang Qiu stood holding a long spear with a Double Arc Blade, his eyes reflecting a virtual time display.

[April 30, 2125, 8:55 AM]

’In another five minutes, it’ll be the starting time I agreed on with Officer Liu Qi. I’ll be projected into a training pod large enough for several thousand people, where I’ll demonstrate Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven for all to see.’

’This is a good thing. It’s like free advertising for my Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven. Once it’s successfully recorded, plenty of people will pay Contribution Points to learn it.’

Jiang Qiu was more than happy with this arrangement. He hoped to earn a good number of Contribution Points—after all, just 400 could get him a dose of Bone Su Fragrance.

But there were always unexpected turns.

After Liu Qi left last night, he had suddenly called again. He said that the Executive Committee held an impromptu meeting and came up with two suggestions.

First, they suggested he unleash Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven with his full power to ensure the recorded data was complete and suitable for other Martial Artists to learn from.

Second, they suggested setting up a "personal experience" session after his demonstration of Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven. This was standard procedure and would also help other Martial Artists learn.

’The first suggestion was understandable, but this was the first he’d heard of the second. However, Officer Liu Qi had explained it was a sign that the base’s high command had great expectations for him. Apparently, the same thing happened when Lin Wei recorded Moon Ascending Slash. It was a different kind of "sparring exchange."’

At this thought, Jiang Qiu gave a wry smile. "Luckily, the Virtual Training Pod can replenish Qi Blood instantly. As long as my body holds up, I should have no problem unleashing Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven ten or twenty times."

"At least I won’t end up with my Qi Blood completely depleted, like that first time I fought King Niu..."

While he was lost in thought, the time soon ticked over to ten o’clock.

"Requesting entry to the central training pod."

[Request approved.]

As the electronic prompt sounded, the world before Jiang Qiu’s eyes tore apart. The already spacious pod seemed to stretch outward endlessly.

His internal organs vibrated in resonance, and his Qi Blood churned. A powerful sensation of his Soul being peeled from his body overwhelmed him, lasting until countless human figures condensed into view and his consciousness reconnected with his form.

In the blink of an eye, gasps of surprise erupted from all directions. Hundreds, even thousands, of non-commissioned officers and students stood outside a massive, transparent Barrier. Liu Qi and several other captains led a few dozen Martial Artists in a separate area, gathered around a young man in a short-sleeved shirt who stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He had black hair, dyed white.

Ten paces away, his opponent’s form had already materialized. The figure held a three-pointed, double-edged spear. He stood seven feet tall, with sharp brows and eyes like stars. Two powerful, Flood Dragon-like arms extended from the sleeves of his dark cyan shirt. The way he held the spear was like a Divine Spirit, radiating an innate arrogance as if he were a Celestial Star looking down on the world.

’This man’s presence was powerful, but his eyes lacked any Spirit Charm. He was just a virtual construct, after all, like the faceless man.’

However, a flicker of movement in his peripheral vision made Jiang Qiu raise an eyebrow.

In the spectator area, a hundred paces away, one man stood alone. With arms crossed, he stood out like a crane among chickens. He looked ninety-nine percent identical to the opponent, with only one difference—

His eyes held a living spirit, like black Go stones formed from molten jade. He carried none of the arrogance, standing at ease as the focus of everyone’s attention.

"Holy cow, didn’t Lin Wei go out with Committee Member Lin to find the perfect material for Refined Jade Sinews? How is he here too?"

"I think he came back a couple of days ago. A batch of Demon Blood Fragrance refined from Vermilion Li Essence Blood just became available. That’s pretty much the best material there is for Casting Jade Sinews, so why would he still need to search? Ancestral Demon Beasts aren’t easy to kill, and Mutated Spiritual Treasures are hard to find."

"True. But honestly, do you guys think Jiang Qiu’s technique can really compare to Lin Wei’s Moon Ascending Slash?"

The prodigies from both the Outer and Inner Cities glanced at the young man in the dark cyan shirt, who stood alone in an open space at the very front. They whispered among themselves, their hushed words like the flicking of a snake’s tongue.

Hundreds of prodigies chattered noisily, while the thousands of non-commissioned officers also conversed with one another. The squads who had survived the Military Department’s grand test were recounting Jiang Qiu’s story to the others.

Liu Qi stood at the forefront of the Martial Artist contingent, ignoring the murmurs of greetings and discussions behind him. His gaze swept over Lin Wei, standing not far away, and he slowly drew in a breath.

’The Executive Committee’s requirement for all students to have a chance to ’experience’ Jiang Qiu’s Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven... to put it bluntly, it was an open invitation to challenge him.’

’Their so-called "suggestion" was, in reality, a direct order.’

’There was nothing inherently wrong with it. The Military Department valued public conviction, and the strong always had to prove they were worthy of their resources, reputation, and status.’

’And Lin Wei’s presence here meant the contest for the top spot in the overall rankings might be decided far sooner than expected.’

’If Jiang Qiu’s Spear Skill truly surpassed Lin Wei’s and took the number one spot on the rankings, a battle between them today would be inevitable.’

’But Jiang Qiu had only just entered the cranial phase of the Steel Bone Realm, whereas Lin Wei had been at the Full Steel Bone Realm for three years!’

At this thought, a muscle in Liu Qi’s jaw twitched, and the cross-shaped scar on his cheek flushed a shade redder. His tiger-like eyes subconsciously swept over the young man leading the Martial Artists before him, and he cursed inwardly, ’Lin Xiao is too damn young to be on the Executive Committee! All he does is stir up trouble the second he’s back!’

Suddenly, Lin Xiao spoke.

"Liu Qi, both you and General Mo seem to think highly of him. Do you think the number one spot for Spear Skills is about to change hands?"

Lin Xiao glanced back at him, his voice cold and deep like an undercurrent in a placid lake. The words were spoken casually, fading as soon as they were uttered.

Liu Qi’s expression turned serious. "We’ll only know after they fight."

"Heh, I agree. Only the most supreme prodigy deserves the best resources, and the best way to determine that is through combat." Lin Xiao’s cold, sharp gaze landed on Jiang Qiu in the center of the arena, his chest swelling with a sense of resentment. "Throughout the history of the Great Xia, plenty of geniuses have emerged from nowhere, but a great many of them have also lost their way."

"I heard Jiang Qiu mastered Shadow Stepping in thirteen days, so I came to see for myself whether this late-blooming Horizontal Training genius can actually take the number one spot for Spear Skills."

Liu Qi’s brows furrowed like heavy mountain ranges. His solemn gaze followed Lin Xiao’s, landing once more on Jiang Qiu. He muttered inwardly, ’His perception is so sharp... he must be close to stepping into the Dharma Realm.’

[Recording Trial Will Begin Shortly]

An electronic voice suddenly swept across the entire arena. The countless whispers ceased as abruptly as a sudden shower, vanishing in an instant.

Thousands of eyes surrounding the hundred-meter-diameter Barrier snapped to the center of the arena like iron filings drawn to a powerful magnet. Everyone seemed to hold their breath. High above, a large display panel lit up.

[Rules for this Recording Session]

[1. The user will fight a sparring partner. Both sides are permitted to use only a single technique: Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven (Unverified) and Moon Ascending Slash (Five Stars).]

[2. The sparring partner’s physical data is benchmarked to match Lin Wei’s strength at the time he recorded Moon Ascending Slash, i.e., newly entered the cranial phase of the Steel Bone Realm.]

[...]

Jiang Qiu lowered his head, pulling his gaze away from the panel. He looked levelly at the sparring partner ten paces away, who held the three-pointed, double-edged spear in one hand. He took a single step forward, as if crossing a predetermined battle line. The moment he did, a heaven-storming killing intent washed over him.

[Recording Trial Commences]