"Director Zhao, you’re back."

Jiang Qiu wiped the sweat from his face and quickly rose to his feet. In his eyes, Zhao Gongzheng’s face was weathered and wrinkled like old tree bark, his pupils as murky as black stones sunk in mud.

"Yes. Has Teacher Wu Shan told you about the Prodigy Program?" Bloodshot veins spiderwebbed the corners of Zhao Gongzheng’s eyes. His lips seemed pinned by an immense weight, and he had to force the words from his chest. "The Military Department originally said they might add a spot to the Prodigy Program. Tomorrow morning, you’ll compete with Liu Yong from No. 1 High. Whoever wins will proceed to the Military Department for testing.

I know you have great potential. Once you’re in Northwest University, you’ll have ample time to take up the Archery Dao and pursue Spear and Bow Dual Cultivation. You won’t be inferior to anyone. But asking you to defeat Liu Yong, who’s already at an introductory level in Bow Technique, after you’ve only practiced for two days... it’s practically impossible.

It’s unfair. I also hoped the Military Department would change the qualification standards, but in reality, they have to divert resources to help Tianshan City fight the Red Flame Spider Mother. Even students already in the Prodigy Program aren’t receiving their usual share of resources, and a large portion of them won’t be getting any Gong Su Fragrance at all.

This chance to join the Prodigy Program is incredibly hard to come by. Even if Liu Yong beats you, he’s almost guaranteed to fail the Military Department’s follow-up tests."

Jiang Qiu’s pupils contracted. His throat was too dry to swallow. "So in reality, they can’t add any more spots to the Prodigy Program?"

"No."

Zhao Gongzheng gave Jiang Qiu a deep look. "General Mo might not have completely believed me, but he’s a man of his word. It’s just that the Military Department’s testing standards are exceptionally high. The reward for passing is a serving of Gong Su Fragrance and access to the Virtual Training Pods.

A reward of this caliber usually means being groomed on par with the top ten prodigies in the program. Out of more than a hundred top geniuses, only a dozen or so can ever secure it.

But if you pass the test, you’ll get it without having to participate in any other competitions or challenges."

He paused, then shook his head grimly. "If the situation in Tianshan City wasn’t so critical, requiring a massive reallocation of resources, General Mo might have agreed to my proposed test. He has always placed great value on talented individuals.

But now, not only are the Military Department’s Martial Arts Resources stretched thin, but Liu Yong from No. 1 High also happened to apply for the Prodigy Program. That’s why you’re facing this situation.

I was too hasty."

The moment the words left his mouth, a jolt went through Jiang Qiu’s chest. His lips parted slightly, then pressed shut. In his vision, Zhao Gongzheng’s face looked ashen, like ash scattered by the wind. The director sighed. "Mastering the basics of Bow Technique isn’t done in a day. Don’t injure yourself by rushing because of my mistake. Just treat tomorrow morning’s match with Liu Yong as a friendly sparring exchange.

Afterward, rest and recuperate for a few days. I’ll have Teacher Wu Shan guide your bow practice. I’ll also ask some friends in the Central Plains Province and Jiangnan Province to see if they can find any leftover Su Fragrance or other Martial Arts Resources for you.

That’s all I can do. Get a good night’s rest, and don’t force yourself to keep practicing the bow."

PAT, PAT...

A broad hand patted gently on Jiang Qiu’s right shoulder. He clenched his fists, meeting Zhao Gongzheng’s deep gaze. After a moment of silence, his own bright eyes, which had flashed like meteors, dimmed. "Okay..."

’The Military Department’s resources are tight, and the Prodigy Program’s testing standards are high. It seems like no matter who wins tomorrow, neither of us is likely to get the spot.’

’Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. I should just go back to my original path and prepare for the college entrance exams.’

’It’s like Director Zhao’s efforts these past two days have been for nothing. There’s no point in fighting over who wins tomorrow...’

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP—

Jiang Qiu’s heart hammered against his ribs like a great war drum, each beat heavier than the last. Scalding blood rushed through his entire body. The feeling of his Qi Blood surging from his earlier practice rushed up to his Celestial Spirit Acupoint, dredging up old memories.

’My parents had hoped I’d get into a good high school, too.’

’They thought I was brilliant, able to talk at just one month old. They saw me as someone with extraordinary talent. In private, they’d sigh about how our family’s poverty was wasting my potential, but they were still so happy to have me. They hoped I’d get into high school... and what if I could even get into Northwest Martial University?’

’But they died. They never even saw me in a high school uniform.’

’Now, Director Zhao has done so much for me, hoping I can get into the Prodigy Program and have a better start in life.’

’And yet it seems all that effort is about to fall short at the last hurdle, forcing a compromise with fate.’

’And I’m the one failing to seize this chance. A chance to enter the Prodigy Program, get more resources for my bow training, break through to the next level of Martial Arts, advance my Ancient Martial Spear technique, and even achieve Spear and Bow Dual Cultivation.’

’Did I go through all that high-intensity bow training yesterday and today for nothing?’

’No.’

’It’s not a loss until I’ve given it my absolute all!’

At this thought, Jiang Qiu clenched his trembling fists, his eyes shining like pearls wiped clean of dust. "Director Zhao, I will win tomorrow! And then I will take the Military Department’s test!"

"..." The corner of Zhao Gongzheng’s eye twitched. When he met the young man’s burning gaze, his own dull, stone-like eyes felt as if they were staring down the point of a spear, and his heart jolted. "Good, good, good! The spirit of youth is powerful and untamed. It’s like giving wings to a tiger. I wasn’t wrong about you.

Go back and get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow morning, give it everything you’ve got. Even if your archery can’t match Liu Yong’s right now, in my eyes, the fact that you’re willing to draw the bow is a victory in itself."

"Right."

He hung the Black Flood Dragon bow on its wooden rack. Jiang Qiu clenched his fists and walked out of the archery range, the light in his eyes as sharp as the sun and moon piercing the heavens.

’If I don’t reach the entry-level, if I can’t achieve the state where my arrows can pierce armor, I won’t beat Liu Yong. And I’ll have no hope of passing the Military Department’s high-standard test that Director Zhao mentioned.’

’And to do that, I have to make my Qi Blood erupt in an extremely short period of time and force myself to shoot 24 arrows!’

As he thought of this, Jiang Qiu drew a deep, cold breath into his chest, where it collided with his feverish lungs. The image of a crimson bottle flashed through his mind.

...

THUD!

A steel base holding a Red Shield was slammed onto the floor of the archery range. Wu Shan clapped his hands, his gaze sweeping over the ten one-meter-tall Red Shields lined up together. The arrangement of the interlocking plates resembled the back of a Red Armored Giant Lizard.

They were all made from materials taken from a Red Armored Giant Lizard. After a special process, their defensive attributes were greatly enhanced, making them very close to a High Tier Defensive Demon Beast.

Even a student who had mastered thirty percent of the Hidden Force would struggle to pierce one with a spear. A powerful strike might only leave a dent; it would be impossible to break through without reaching the level of Spear Rod Armor Shattering.

Using a Qi Blood Bow would consume an enormous amount of Qi Blood in exchange for high armor-piercing damage. Someone in the Iron Flesh Realm could indeed pierce one with a single arrow, but to shoot through ten in a single attempt, one’s arrows must achieve true armor penetration.

After a moment of silence, Wu Shan glanced at the two quivers at his feet, then looked towards Director Zhao, who was sitting on a bench in the distance, lost in thought. He picked up the quivers and walked over. "Director Zhao, the venue for tomorrow’s archery competition is set up."

"Mm."

Zhao Gongzheng nodded, his thick glasses filmed over as if with dust, blurring his eyes. His breathing was heavy.

"Jiang Qiu has only practiced the bow for two days. He’s going to lose."

Wu Shan stood before Zhao Gongzheng, his right eyeball glowing faintly like a Luminous Pearl. "You already used such an important favor to see General Mo. Are you really content to let a genius like Jiang Qiu lose his chance to enter the Prodigy Program?

Jiang Qiu won’t have much trouble with the Spear Technique portion; he just needs to win the archery.

I can rig one of the quivers of Tipped Arrows to interfere with the explosive effect of the Qi Blood Bow. The resulting armor-piercing force would be uncontrollable even for a Non-Martial Artist, and there are very few Martial Artists in the Military Department who could detect it..."

"Absolutely not."

Zhao Gongzheng raised his head solemnly, a sharp glint flashing across his glasses, his eyes like a goshawk hunting. "That would be unfair to Liu Yong!"

"Is fairness important? I only know that Jiang Qiu is a student I taught, and you also think his potential is extraordinary!" Wu Shan’s right eyebrow lowered, his voice like thunder. "Even if General Mo privately promised you that he would give Jiang Qiu some help as compensation when he joins the Military Department in the future, how many years from now will that be?

Besides, I can take responsibility for the arrows being ’improperly prepared’. It’s not a big deal!"

"..."

Zhao Gongzheng’s eyes were like daggers hidden in mist, and the sound of his heavy breathing was like a long-brewing thundercloud.

Wu Shan’s right eye bulged like a pearl while his left narrowed to a slit. He puffed out his chest defiantly.

The two men’s gazes clashed.