Chapter 121: Chapter 120: He’s the Legendary Jiang Divine?

The next morning, after breakfast, An Ling led Jiang Qiu to the Soldier Cultivation Academy.

Wide brick roads crisscrossed between training halls arranged in neat, orderly rows. The view was dominated by a vast expanse of low-slung buildings, with few towering skyscrapers to be seen.

As they set foot on campus, many upperclassmen hurrying by would call out, "Captain An Ling!" upon seeing him, before gathering their assigned freshmen and heading to various training halls to assemble.

"Martial Uncle, the training halls for our Spear System are in this area. This one right here is run by my master."

Following An Ling’s gaze, Jiang Qiu saw an enormous training hall looming before them. It was so large it dwarfed the others, a single building bigger than two halls from other departments combined.

’So many people in the Northwest Province use the spear,’ Jiang Qiu thought with an inward sigh, following An Ling inside.

WHOOSH—

The glass doors slid open automatically, and a wave of cool air washed over them, carrying with it the sound of cheerful chatter. A single glance revealed several thousand students already gathered in the front hall.

Over a dozen upperclassmen—already in the Spirit Body Realm or even the Bright Soul Realm—clutched lists and shouted out names. The place was a chaotic mess, like ants on a hot skillet.

"Give me a moment, Martial Uncle."

An Ling offered an apologetic smile and strode toward the crowd of freshmen, a glint as sharp as a blade flashing in his narrowed eyes.

"QUIET—"

The resounding shout crashed over the hall like a clap of thunder. Everyone flinched, their gazes snapping in one direction. They were shocked to see the dozen or so upperclassmen, all of them established Martial Artists, respectfully handing their lists to a cold-faced youth with narrowed eyes.

"Who’s that?"

A student from out of town asked curiously.

"That’s Instructor Zhai Song’s only direct disciple. The instructor is one of the ten most famous at our Soldier Cultivation Academy, and in all these years, he’s only ever taken on one student. An Ling’s now the captain of a powerful Martial Arts Team—he’s the real deal. The top one hundred freshmen with the most potential will be taught by him."

A local freshman from Yongjiang City clicked his tongue, his gaze filled with unabashed admiration.

Back in high school, he’d often heard his teachers share news from Northwest Martial University. They never failed to marvel when they spoke of An Ling, who was even younger than them.

They all hoped their students would get into the Soldier Cultivation Academy’s Spear System and receive An Ling’s guidance. After all, studying under someone who had achieved so much at such a young age meant more opportunities and a chance to learn far more.

"Who’s that guy standing behind him?"

Another freshman curiously pointed at Jiang Qiu standing in the distance, causing the local freshman to frown slightly. "Never seen him..."

"That’s Jiang Qiu, Jiang Divine! The number one in this year’s college entrance exam!"

A sudden gasp went through the crowd, and several nearby freshmen’s eyes went wide. "For real? He’s the Jiang Qiu who rescued hundreds of examinees from Celestial Xin Hall?!"

"You bet. He’s the one who saved us."

At this, everyone instinctively turned around. Even freshmen a little farther away looked over in stunned silence. They saw the sturdily-built Zhang Shan roll up his sleeves, planting his hands on his hips with his chest puffed out. The buzz-cut Li Si wore a smirk, and about ten others were gathered behind them.

"Holy shit, I think those are the kids from Outer City Eighth Middle School. The rumor is they cheated death thanks to Jiang Qiu, and every one of them reached the Full Steel Bone Realm. Once they get the resources, they can start preparing to Cast Jade Sinews!"

"Damn it... A single school from the Outer City, the Eighth Middle School, produced over eighty students at the Full Steel Bone Realm. The top ten high schools in Yongjiang’s Inner City combined probably don’t have that many."

The local freshman who had just spoken clenched his fists in frustration, muttering dejectedly, "All my years of hard work don’t even compare to Jiang Qiu leading them on a three-day dip in some pool. Why couldn’t I have met a prodigy like him..."

All sorts of hushed discussions broke out as a sea of freshmen gazes converged on Jiang Qiu, many of them belonging to those he had rescued from Celestial Xin Hall.

"..."

Jiang Qiu stood tall, bathed in the crowd’s burning gazes. His hands hung naturally at his sides, his eyes as placid as a clear pond. Within his pupils, dark as jade, were flecks of starlight.

Envy, jealousy, doubt, desire, reverence, adoration...

A web woven from all kinds of emotions enveloped him. He was long since used to it.

He could faintly overhear a few hushed, astonished discussions. "He seems to have come in with Captain An Ling, and the captain is being pretty warm to him. Could he already be some instructor’s direct disciple?"

"I heard his entrance exam record includes slaying a Transformed Great Demon. That’s a first in history. An instructor must have reached out to him beforehand."

"Holy crap, no tests, no trials, just walking in the door as an instructor’s direct disciple? How damn sweet is that!"

Amid the hushed chatter, the assignments were complete. Upperclassmen began leading their designated groups of a hundred freshmen to their respective areas for orientation, while the hundred students assigned to An Ling followed behind him and Jiang Qiu.

A large procession made its way down a wide corridor.

"All right, Training Hall 1 is right here. Go on in and don’t wander off. I have to take Martial Uncle to see my master."

An Ling gestured toward a large steel door to their side, then continued leading Jiang Qiu deeper into the building, leaving behind a crowd of freshmen who looked as if they’d been struck by lightning.

"Martial Uncle?"

"Jiang Divine?"

The one hundred freshmen with the highest scores and greatest potential in the Soldier Cultivation Academy’s Spear System stood frozen on the spot. They watched the two figures—one leading, the other following slightly behind—recede into the distance. The top-tier Optimizers from every city, the local prodigies, Lin Wei, Li Juefeng, Zhang Shan, Li Si—all of them frowned in thought.

A moment of tangled thoughts gave way to a sudden realization, their eyes flying wide. "Holy shit! Captain An Ling’s Martial Uncle... Is he the Dean’s direct disciple?!"

...

At the end of the corridor stood an electronic alloy door with a plaque that read: [Master Instructor Classroom].

"BEEP—"

"Access Granted."

Following the crisp electronic tone, the door slid open. Jiang Qiu stepped inside after An Ling and saw a middle-aged man with the sturdy build of a bear standing in the center of the room. An exceptionally long case rested flat on his left palm, its metallic corners glinting as he shifted his weight.

The fingers of his right hand were pressed on top of the case, mirroring the palm supporting it from below. A Fiery Flame Spirit Charm flowed over its surface.

"Master, Martial Uncle has arrived."

An Ling announced their arrival. In the blink of an eye, Zhai Song recalled the Fiery Flame Spirit Charm flowing from his hand and nodded. "You may go. Get back to your duties."

"Right."

CLICK. The door slid shut, and An Ling’s figure vanished. Jiang Qiu took a shallow breath, looking at the burly man’s sharp-jawed face. "Senior Brother Zhai Song..."

’According to the academy’s public records, this Senior Brother was thirty-six years old. He was the Dean’s youngest direct disciple, yet he was already one of the academy’s top ten instructors. And I’m only eighteen.’

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Jiang Qiu loosely clenched his fists and met Zhai Song’s gaze, which was as sharp and focused as the tip of a spear. His heart began to pound, and a faint tingle spread through his veins.

"Most of the other direct disciples I meet can’t hold my gaze. Their eyes always dart away. You’re much younger, Junior Brother, yet you meet my eyes without flinching. You are indeed well-suited for the spear."

Zhai Song let out a hearty laugh and waved Jiang Qiu over. "Inside here is a piece by our Northwest Casting Grandmaster, Yuan Shunhua. Elder Luo asked me to give it to you.

"I hear you’ve already learned a Cultivation Technique from Elder Luo. Come, get a feel for this. If it feels right and the weapon is compatible, you might be able to bind it as your Lifebound Weapon in just ten days or so."