My Arts Evolve When Perfected

The students in Training Ground 8 were no longer practicing with their spears. Some were laughing and roughhousing, while others were clustered together, chatting about everything under the sun.

Liu Zili sat alone on a bench at the edge of the grounds, wiping her spear shaft and silently listening to the din of excited chatter around her.

"This year’s college entrance exam is actually in Kunlun City, a place that fell to ruin decades ago. The exam area is just massive. I heard that after the Demon Race trampled it, all sorts of Secret Realms popped up. It won’t be easy to sweep it clean."

Li Si shook his head with a sigh. Zhang Shan shot him a look, his thick brows furrowed. "The examiners even chose our Eighth Middle School. You think it’s going to be easy? The official announcement said that the seven major cities, not including Tianshan City, are each sending a Major General leading hundreds of High Tier Martial Artists to Tianshan City to set up the exam grounds. A Major General leading the team! And hundreds of High Tier Martial Artists! Can you even imagine?

Hell, if you told me they were going to go pick a fight with the Demon Race’s main force, I’d believe you!"

"Sigh. If we hadn’t stumbled upon that ’landmine’ the Red Flame Spider Mother planted who-knows-when during our last practical training hunt, our Gao Yuan City would’ve been one of the exam locations. Then we wouldn’t have to travel so far to the ruins of Kunlun City..."

"What’s the matter, Li Si? You scared?" Zhang Shan planted his hands on his hips, his eyebrows shooting up. "So what if it’s full of random Secret Realms and overrun with Demon Beasts? Our Eighth Middle School has Brother Jiang leading us! He’s an Optimizer who got into the program a whole month before the exam. Do you have any idea what that kind of credential means?"

"Look, I know Brother Jiang is incredible," Li Si sighed. "But even Medium-sized Secret Realms have sprung up in Kunlun City. It’s already dangerous enough. Plus, during the Dongqi Lake operation, that bull-like Top Tier Demon Beast and several heavily wounded members of the Demon Race fled in that direction. What if the exam prep team didn’t clear everything out and we run into them? I’m afraid even Brother Jiang won’t be able to look after himself, let alone us..."

BEEP—

"Verification successful."

The crisp electronic tone sounded, and every head turned in its direction. The chatter died instantly. Li Si, caught mid-sentence, wrung his hands nervously and forced a smile. "Heh heh, Brother Jiang, you’re back..."

"Don’t worry," Jiang Qiu said lightly. "If I can’t even look after myself, I’ll be the first one to run."

Jiang Qiu’s casual joke ignited a wave of excitement. The top students swarmed around him like a pack of wolves welcoming their Wolf King home.

After greeting everyone, his gaze swept over Hu Ye’ye and Qian Cheng, who stood together in a corner, and then past Xie Kuang, who was slightly off to the side. His eyes finally landed on Liu Zili as she scrambled to her feet. Their eyes met, and they shared a knowing smile.

A tremor went through Liu Zili’s heart. Her short hair framed her face, her faint dimples showing. A warm breath she seemed to have been holding for a long time caught in her chest, sending a hot flush to her cheeks.

Jiang Qiu looked exactly the same as when he’d left: a simple black shirt, eyes as dark as jade. He radiated a natural confidence, yet there was nothing cold or distant about him. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

They hadn’t seen each other in over thirty days, but it felt as if they had only parted yesterday.

’But now that he’s here, I don’t know what to say. My heart just keeps THUMP-THUMP-THUMPING...’

After reuniting, everyone followed Jiang Qiu to the conference hall for a meeting. They listened as Principal Sun De and several directors took turns explaining the rules for the college entrance exam and outlining Eighth Middle School’s goals.

"This year’s college entrance exam is different from previous years," the principal began. "The exam site contains numerous small, and even Medium-sized, Secret Realms. Furthermore, its location in the ruins of Kunlun City places it closer to the Demon Race’s gathering grounds than any exam in history. Correspondingly, the force of Martial Artists assembled by the exam committee is the largest ever."

"But you cannot be timid. Without violating the exam regulations, you must do everything in your power to get into Northwest Martial University!"

The principal’s voice, as heavy as a mountain, settled over the hearts of every young man and woman with blazing eyes. He sat at the head of the stage, looking down on them all. "This year, because of Jiang Qiu, the Martial Education Department has concentrated the resources of several high schools onto us. You, our top students, have all received more resources than usual."

"Because of this, you have greater potential. You must unite during the exam and slay more Demon Beasts!"

"Though thousands upon thousands of other candidates are competing against you, you must always remember your only true enemy: the Demon Beasts!"

"If your ranking falls, don’t waste time wishing that those ahead of you would be eliminated by some accident. Instead, you should be asking yourself if it’s because you haven’t killed enough Demon Beasts!"

"Furthermore, the exam includes team rankings. Eighth Middle School is a collective. If all of you increase your kill counts, you will all have more opportunities to stand out and even gain access to resources you would normally never see."

"Following the recommendations of teachers like Director Zhao and Wu Shan, as well as students like Sun Yongsheng and Li Juefeng, Jiang Qiu will be the student leader for our Eighth Middle School collective. Once you are on the exam grounds, you will follow his lead. Are there any objections?"

"NO!"

The roar was deafening, making the very walls of the great conference hall tremble. Sun De nodded. "Very good. I expect your team ranking to surpass that of Outer City First Middle School. Earn more honor and opportunity for yourselves!"

Amidst a series of resounding, soul-stirring shouts, the meeting concluded. The boisterous crowd parted, forming a path. Students on all sides greeted Jiang Qiu as he walked through the middle, and he nodded to each of them in turn.

The sun was still high in the sky when the top students of Eighth Middle School were dismissed. They would go home for two days to say their goodbyes to their families or make final preparations for the exam.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qiu and Liu Zili were strolling along the narrow paths of the Shantytown. He walked with his hands in his pockets; she secretly twisted the hem of her clothes.

"Are you close to the Iron Flesh Realm?"

"Yeah, almost..."

Liu Zili pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on the tips of her shoes as they alternated with each step. An empty feeling settled in her heart.

’Even though I’ve given it my all, practicing my spear every single day without rest, I still haven’t reached the Iron Flesh Realm. During the exam, I’m definitely going to hold Jiang Qiu back...’

"Here, take these ten portions. Have another medicinal bath before the exam. Maybe you’ll break through."

Ten portions of Wusu Fragrance rested in Jiang Qiu’s palm as he slowly extended his hand toward Liu Zili.

’These ten portions of Wusu Fragrance were my reward for placing first in the Military Department’s test. They aren’t much use to me anymore, but they should be a huge help to Liu Zili.’

’I should help her if I can. After all, breaking through to the Iron Flesh Realm will greatly increase her chances of getting into Northwest Martial University.’

"This... so many portions of Wusu Fragrance... isn’t this too valuable? I can’t possibly pay you back right now."

Liu Zili’s eyes widened. She swallowed hard, her hands clenched into loose fists at her sides.

’If I fought my way into the top six every month to get my two portions of Wusu Fragrance, this would still be five months’ worth.’

’I absorb Wusu Fragrance really well. With these, I could definitely break through to the Iron Flesh Realm. I might even be able to advance a little further—enough to match or even surpass Wang Guanjia and Xie Kuang.’

’But that’s exactly the problem. The help these ten portions represent is too great, too precious. I can’t just take something from Jiang Qiu for free. At the very least... at the very least, I have to be able to pay him back.’

With these thoughts running through her mind, Liu Zili bit her lip, her bright eyes darting away. "The few hundred thousand I got from the practical training hunt... I already used it to get Middle Level Armor. And my family doesn’t have much money..."

"I don’t need money. Just consider it a return gift for the big wooden barrel you gave me. Wusu Fragrance doesn’t have any effect on me anymore, so it’s perfect for you. Go on, take it."

After Jiang Qiu’s continued urging, Liu Zili finally suppressed her racing heart. She accepted the ten portions of Wusu Fragrance with both hands, her gaze full of sincerity. "Thank you. I swear I’ll pay you back after I get into Northwest Martial University!"

"Okay. We’re at the crossroads. I hope you successfully break through to the Iron Flesh Realm when you get back. See you."

"Okay. See you."

Liu Zili departed, clutching the ten portions of Wusu Fragrance. Jiang Qiu walked in the opposite direction. After a moment, on a whim, he suddenly turned back, only to see her, a hundred paces away, also sneaking a look back.

"Is something wrong?"

"N-No, nothing...!"

The girl’s cheeks, already red from holding her breath, flushed brighter under the sun. She broke into a run, her small, quick steps going tap-tap-tap on the pavement as she scurried into the distance, her hands clutching the ten portions of Wusu Fragrance tightly.

Jiang Qiu let out a soft breath and turned toward his own brick house. "I guess it’s time for me to take a medicinal bath with the Advanced Su Fragrance, the Demon King’s Origin."