My Arts Evolve When Perfected

The iron box had meandering patterns, and the engraved inscriptions were symmetrical and neat, possessing a natural, masterful beauty.

Zhai Song channeled his Fiery Flame Spirit Charm with his fingertip and triggered the mechanism. The deep grooves instantly lit up with a red glow.

CLICK—

With an unusual sound from the inscriptions, the lid slowly slid open. A cold light burst from the gap, and a frigid sensation washed over Jiang Qiu’s face like a wave, making his spirit tremble.

SWISH—

The lid slid completely open, revealing a straight steel spear resting peacefully in a white jade slot. The silver-black spearhead reflected the stubble on Zhai Song’s chin. Its snow-white patterns echoed the white jade, remarkably similar to the patterns on the grip of the Qi Blood Bow, yet far more profound.

The slightly curved edges of the blade cut through the light and shadow. A dragon’s head was carved where the blade met the shaft, its silhouette simple yet formidable. The dragon’s eyes were inlaid with gold, looking as if they would soar to the heavens with just a touch of spiritual light.

For a moment, it resonated with the Dragon Spirit in Jiang Qiu’s eyes. He held his breath as his heart skipped a beat.

The moment his fingertips touched the ink-black, patterned shaft, a chill seeped into his bones. The Dragon Spirit hidden deep in his mind immediately began to writhe like a maggot, and his Qi Blood burned like fire.

This spear was forged with a hard, distinct form, similar to a lance. Its butt end was also tipped with a spike, making it lethal on both ends.

THUMP.

The moment his right hand fully gripped the shaft, Jiang Qiu’s brow furrowed. As he slowly lifted it, the veins on his arm became faintly visible.

It weighed well over a thousand pounds.

SWOOSH—

Jiang Qiu casually gave the spear a little twirl. The clear, crisp sound of it cutting through the air was like a Dragon’s Roar, making the little Dragon Spirit leap about excitedly.

Watching him wield the long spear, his Bright Eyes shining, Zhai Song slowly closed the box and remarked in a deep voice, "This must be one of Grandmaster Yuan’s proudest works. He etched multiple Ancient Inscriptions onto the spear, giving it immense potential for advancement. That’s why he named it [Chuyuan]."

"Once you and [Chuyuan] complete [Weapon Forging and Spirit Fusion], it will be considered your Lifebound Weapon. At that point, your ability to combine the spear with your Spirit Charm will reach an unprecedented level. This is the very beginning of our path as Soldier Cultivators."

"Come, grip the shaft with both hands. I will guide you through the binding process."

HUMMM—

As Jiang Qiu held the shaft horizontally with both hands, a large hand tapped the middle of the spear. It was like a drop of water falling into a clear pond; ripples of Spirit Charm washed over Jiang Qiu’s heart and lungs.

[Matching Lifebound Weapon]

[0/100]

The moment the panel flashed across his vision, the Dragon Spirit was like a carp finding a lake. It swam along the sinews of his arm toward his fingertips, blinked, and then with a TAP, it turned toward the spearhead.

Ready to make a new home.

"The so-called [Weapon Forging and Spirit Fusion] is the process of infusing a weapon with the spirituality of a Great Demon and then adapting to it through constant training and use," Zhai Song said earnestly, slowly retracting his right hand. "Right now, I am just building a bridge for the spirituality inside your body. The process is complete once you’ve guided all of that spirituality into your Lifebound Weapon."

"This process often takes three or four months, or even a year or two. However, the spirituality I borrowed back then was an extremely good match for me, so it only took me seven days."

"You must not rush the [Weapon Forging and Spirit Fusion] step. Only by spending a great deal of time on the fusion and adapting to the Lifebound Weapon can one go far on the path of a Soldier Cultivator..."

BUZZ!

Suddenly, a burst of flame shot out from the spearhead! The dragon eyes at the base of the blade glowed crimson, the light spreading up along the snow-white patterns and unleashing a palpable, murderous aura.

Zhai Song’s voice came to an abrupt halt. Reflected in his wide eyes was the sight of the flaming spearhead, where it looked as if a Dragon Spirit was dancing in the fire. "..."

[Lifebound Weapon Match Complete]

[Lifebound Weapon: Chuyuan]

[Feature 1: Dragon Spear Spirit, Flame-Forged Skills]

Jiang Qiu’s eyes lit up. He instantly shook the flames from the spearhead and cupped his hands in thanks. "Thank you, Senior Brother, for helping me bind my Lifebound Weapon."

With the Dragon Spirit, the so-called spirituality wasn’t some ethereal, scattered mist, but a complete entity. All it had to do was burrow inside and make its home, and the process was complete.

It felt as if he had performed a Soul Binding with [Chuyuan], and the Dragon Spirit was the bridge that made it possible.

[Fiery Flame Dragon Body]

[Soldier Cultivation Method: 1/3]

The first step of the Spirit Body Realm, [Weapon Forging and Spirit Fusion], was complete. He could now proceed to the second stage.

"Junior Brother..." Zhai Song took a deep breath, the fingers of his right hand, clasped behind his back, twitched slightly. "What did you borrow spirituality from that it could be such a perfect match?"

"I didn’t borrow it, I absorbed it completely. From a Great Demon named Zhu Li."

Jiang Qiu answered frankly.

He had heard that cultivation among Martial Artists was extremely demanding. It was especially dependent on comprehension and opportunity; so many things came down to compatibility and finding a suitable path.

It could easily mean decades of bitter cultivation without ever achieving enlightenment.

’It seems I was fortunate to have Grand General Luo’s guidance and to have absorbed Zhu Li’s remnant soul...’

Zhai Song’s pupils trembled, and the corner of his mouth twitched twice. "Zhu Li’s remnant soul?!"

The most famous young prodigy of the Demon Race from Dongqi Lake, a Flood Dragon Type Ancestor Demon! News of the battle at Dongqi Lake had spread throughout all of Northwest Martial University.

Zhu Li was no ordinary character.

Zhai Song half-closed his eyes, sizing up the youth who only came up to his neck. He drew several deep breaths through his nose and sighed inwardly. ’No wonder Elder Luo recommended him to our Master. It wasn’t just because he led people out of the Celestial Xin Hall; he has this astonishing side to him as well.’

"Junior Brother, in two days, there will be a Spirit Fusion Test at the university. I’ve already signed you up for it." He placed a large hand on Jiang Qiu’s right shoulder, his eyes glinting with fire. "Based on how quickly you adapted to [Chuyuan], your fusion results definitely won’t be poor. We can also use the opportunity to get a more accurate test of your Jade Sinews’ level."

"As our Master’s sixth direct disciple, I hope you can grow both quickly and steadily. If you can take first place in the Spirit Fusion Test, I’ll apply for more Flame Spirit Melting Fragrance for you."

Jiang Qiu raised an eyebrow. "Flame Spirit Melting Fragrance?"

"It’s a type of Middle Level Su Fragrance related to Spirit Charm. It’s more difficult to create than most types, and naturally more precious than most of the fragrances you saw during your Martial Arts Foundation Establishment. Martial Artists with a Fiery Flame Spirit Charm can use it to improve the degree of fusion between their spear and their spear skills."

Zhai Song’s brow hardened. With a flick of his wrist, the long box in his hand was replaced by a large, red spear. The flash of its blade stung Jiang Qiu’s eyes. "Back up to the door. I’ll show you the second step for a Soldier Cultivator—[Weapon Skill Fusion]."

Carrying his [Chuyuan] spear, Jiang Qiu quickly retreated more than ten meters until his back was against the large steel door. His heart pounded in time with the flames gathering on the tip of Zhai Song’s horizontally-held spear, his own blood growing hotter in resonance.

The Dragon Spirit, which had quietly drifted out from the curved spearhead, also watched intently, its dark green, vertical pupils reflecting the scorching flames on the spear’s tip.

"The spear skills you mastered before the Spirit Body Realm will be enhanced when you use them with the power of Spirit Charm. That’s the basics, but it needs to be taken a step further." Zhai Song sank into a half-horse stance and slowly raised his spear with his right hand, glancing at Jiang Qiu out of the corner of his eye. "Watch closely. This is the Tier One Spear Skill, [Sky-Spinning Stab], and this is the effect after completing [Weapon Skill Fusion]."

His waist was as solid as a pile. The moment his eyelids lowered, killing intent flared in his tiger-like eyes. As he twisted his right hand, his crimson Spirit Charm coalesced into a ferocious tiger.

"ROAR—"

The tiger’s roar shook one’s very core as flames shot through the air.

In an instant, a fierce tiger of flame burst from the spear’s tip, opening its cavernous maw as it pounced toward a distant training pile.

A CLANG rang out. Jiang Qiu stared intently. The polished surface of the pile was scorched black as if burned by a blazing fire. At its center was a small, concave hole that spiraled inward like a vortex, five inches deep.

Jiang Qiu’s eyes widened, and his palms grew hot.

’This is far more refined, domineering, and perfectly executed than the [Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven] I used to kill the Transformed Great Demon [Grief]!’

’And if the most basic, one-star difficulty [Sky-Spinning Stab] can be this shocking, what would happen if I used [Spear Technique Melting] on my [Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven]?’