Chapter 15: The Art of Shooting (Please Continue Reading)
Building 3, Independent Office
Wu Kang sat in his ergonomic chair, eating a large packed nutritious meal while staring at the list displayed on the screen before him.
“Ten classes in Senior Three Martial Arts, and we have eight students from Class 3 entering the elite class.”
“Ranked third among all the classes.”
“Looks like I’ll be getting a decent bonus this time.”
A smile spread across Wu Kang’s face as he looked at the name “Lin Qi.”
“This kid, I really misjudged him. He actually made it into the elite class—what a slap in the face.”
“Well, it’s for the best. Now that he’s away from this irresponsible teacher, his talent will probably be better developed.”
“After all, the new teacher is very responsible.”
Wu Kang put down his chopsticks, took a sip of soup, and said calmly.
…
Top floor, Building 1, Principal’s Office
A spacious, bright room of over 500 square meters, furnished with luxurious black desks, chairs, sofas, and towering bookshelves.
A peculiar fragrance filled the air, and on the desk sat a flowerpot, though there was not a hint of greenery in it.
A burly, thick-haired middle-aged man leaned back in a black ergonomic chair. In front of him, a 3D projection displayed a data sheet with fifty names.
“These are the fifty best students in our Second High School, all promising talents.”
Jiang Zhiguang looked over the list and poured some water from a small white kettle into the flowerpot.
“Our Second High School, although one of the key schools in Tianhai City,”
“still ranks at the lower end overall. Every year, we can’t outperform First High School and the others.”
“Even if we can’t surpass them, we can’t keep ending up at the bottom.”
“We can’t continue like this. The senior year is critical—if we can be a little stronger, our future potential rises accordingly.”
“That’s why I invited you here—to use all your methods to properly teach this group of geniuses.”
Jiang Zhiguang glanced at the man sitting on the sofa—a burly figure radiating a beastly aura.
The man clasped his fingers tightly and grinned. “Since you’ve invited me, I won’t let you down.”
“Just curious—do any of these brats truly stand out?”
…
Chiqiong Martial Arts Hall, Room A-128
“Bang! Bang!”
At the center of the martial arts hall, two figures clad in protective gear collided with full force.
Guo Heng’s arm muscles bulged as he suddenly exerted power, his tiger claw striking repeatedly, with intense vitality coursing through his fingertips, aiming to tear through the air.
Lin Qi felt the rushing air currents, his gaze sharp as a flame. Every attack from Guo Heng became clear in his eyes.
His body darted swiftly, cat-like agility helping him dodge many strikes.
If he couldn’t dodge, he blocked with his hands.
With full force, his legs propelled him forward like a fierce tiger pouncing.
“Boom!”
Energy surged from his spine, muscles swelling, power focused through his waist, blood flowing like a waterfall; his arms swung with tiger claws.
Black Tiger Heart Strike!
He unleashed his full strength, power erupting through his clawed hands as the two collided rapidly.
“Bang! Bang!”
Pain radiated down his arms continuously, but Lin Qi remained expressionless, evading, blocking, and counterattacking.
…
A cold, stern demeanor, almost robotic.
Several minutes later,
“Bang!”
A loud crack as Lin Qi staggered backward several steps before regaining his stance.
The man opposite also stepped back twice, stopping to remove his helmet, revealing a handsome face drenched in sweat.
“All done!”
“Whew—”
Guo Heng panted heavily, sweat streaming down his cheeks and into his mouth, white hot breath escaping from the protective suit.
“You… aren’t tired?”
Guo Heng wiped sweat from his forehead, asking with heavy breaths.
Lin Qi removed his helmet, liquid pouring out.
“Drip, drip!”
Sweat fell to the floor with the helmet; his hair stuck to his scalp as if freshly pulled from water, only his heavy breathing audible.
“Tired!”
“Clearly.”
Guo Heng looked at Lin Qi with surprise: “His vitality is lower than mine, and he’s two to three hundred kilograms weaker, yet he can endure this long—his willpower is incredible.”
“And his reflexes and awareness—it’s beyond ordinary.”
“Lin Qi, you’re not an ordinary person.”
“You’re weaker than me in vitality and tiger claw boxing, but I can’t gain any advantage against you. That’s really strange.”
“You and Jiang Tao are indeed geniuses and worthy of being my friends.”
“If you ever need help, just ask.”
“Thanks, Guo Shao!” Jiang Tao, resting nearby, smiled in gratitude.
Lin Qi nodded despite his fatigue and took a large gulp from the functional drink handed by Jiang Tao.
As Guo Heng removed his protective suit, he spoke:
“I have something to attend to today, so I’ll leave first.”
“The next sparring session will involve weapons. You should get familiar with them quickly—don’t disappoint me.”
With that, Guo Heng grabbed his clothes and walked into the restroom.
Minutes later, after freshening up, he added suddenly:
“Oh, by the way—the martial arts room will be available for another 40 minutes. You can use it freely.”
Lin Qi and Jiang Tao, sitting and resting, brightened at this. Once Guo Heng left, only the two remained in the hall.
“Qi, your tiger claw boxing is already mastered. Like Guo Heng said, we should focus on weapons now.”
“After all, for the college entrance exam, cold weapons rank just below vitality.”
“When we step onto the battlefield, we’ll need weapons to kill disaster beasts.”
Jiang Tao finished speaking and stood, walking to the wall to take down a training sword from the mounted rack.
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
He swung casually, the long blade slicing arcs through the air with sharp technique.
His boxing skills were already mastered; now he was practicing swordplay.
Lin Qi set aside his empty functional drink bottle and slowly stood.
…
After a few minutes of rest, his weary body had regained much strength.
“Yeah, the test is over; it’s time to practice spear again.”
For a week, Lin Qi had devoted himself wholly to the Circular Stake and Tiger Claw Boxing.
He hadn’t touched the spear once.
In high school, the Circular Stake, Tiger Claw, and spear techniques were trained together.
Lin Qi approached the wall. Inside a black metal cabinet, six training spears were neatly arranged.
He took one—a two-meter seventy-long spear with a rounded tip, unsharpened, adorned with a red tassel.
His gaze fixed on the panel.
[Name: Lin Qi (17)]
[Template: Erlang Shen · Yang Jian]
[Fusion Rate: 2%]
[Spear Technique: Level 1, 60%]
[Body Movement: Level 1, 57%]
…
A week had passed, with no change in spear technique or body movement.
It was time to improve.
With that, his eyes narrowed. Gripping the spear without holding the handle, he braced it against his waist and began practicing spear techniques.
“Swish! Swish!”
His right wrist flipped, the rear hand rolled at the waist and abdomen, the front hand guided with force, standing in horse stance.
In an instant, the spear thrust out, the shaft vibrating as his body stepped forward.
He twisted his waist to strike, shoulder aligned with the spear, shifting the horse stance into a bow stance.
Block, catch, stab…
The spear’s fundamentals were executed instantly, the weapon tracing perfect arcs, slicing through the air.
Lin Qi then shifted spear techniques; the basic spear moves he had drilled countless times, ingrained in his body.
One move after another unfolded.
From block, catch, and stab, to smash, chop, thrust, flick, entangle, lift, poke, and brace…
He fully demonstrated the foundational spear techniques.
The basic spear method is a set of thirty-six moves derived from ancient spear skills, designed as foundational training for martial arts novices in Xiaguo.
All spear moves derive from this basic spear method.
Though he hadn’t trained in a week, Lin Qi’s spear techniques flowed like running clouds and flowing water.
His mind constantly reviewed key points, growing ever more proficient.
[You have gained new insight into the basic spear method, Spear Technique +2%]
[Your practice of the basic spear method has brought new understanding, Spear Technique +2%]
[Through practicing the basic spear method, you have become increasingly skilled, Spear Technique +1%]
[Spear Technique: Level 1, 60% → 65%]
…