Unrivaled—a term of the highest praise.

This just went to show that Shadow Stepping had immense Martial Arts potential and was an outstanding Body Technique.

Jiang Qiu clenched his fists resolutely. "Sir, I know Shadow Stepping is difficult to learn, but the improvement I’d gain after mastering it would be enormous. I want to learn it."

Meeting that scorching gaze, which seemed hot enough to refine True Gold, the corner of Liu Qi’s mouth twitched. "Don’t be so quick to decide. You have a month at most, so you need to be careful.

After all, it took even Lin Wei a full year to learn Shadow Stepping, and Yang Zheng, who’s the most naturally suited for this Body Technique, still needed three months.

I have no doubt you’ll master Shadow Stepping one day, but you only have a month right now. You’d be better off learning more Spear Skills. Besides, in my opinion, your aptitude for the Spear Dao is, in some ways, on par with Lin Wei and his Martial Arts Talent. Don’t waste it."

As he spoke, his expression grew stern. "There’s also something important I need to tell you. Because the Dongqi Lake operation was a success, Gao Yuan City has acquired a massive amount of resources.

The resources committee has decided to allocate a portion of those resources to our Tianjiao Base. After a decision by General Mo and several executive committee members, they will be distributed as a final reward for the Optimizers before the college entrance exams.

In other words, in one month, a batch of specially refined Demon Blood Fragrance will be sent to Tianjiao Base. Since the effects vary depending on the grade of the Demon Blood Fragrance, you’ll have to compete with the other Optimizers for the right to choose first..."

’Demon Blood Fragrance?!’

Jiang Qiu’s pupils constricted, and his heart skipped a beat.

According to what he’d read online, it was the absolute best item among Middle Level Su Fragrances. Although it was in the same category as Bone Su Fragrance—both for Casting Body—their value was worlds apart.

The effects of Demon Blood Fragrance, after all, varied depending on the primary ingredient; there was no fixed formula. One made from especially precious materials would naturally surpass any ordinary Middle Level Su Fragrance.

And the Dongqi Lake operation had wiped out a gathering spot for the Demon Race. A great number of Transformed Great Demons had died, so there would be more than enough materials to produce the Demon Blood Fragrance.

’And online sources say Demon Blood Fragrance is the optimal resource for breaking through the final stage of the Steel Bone Realm. This is my ticket to reaching the Jade Sinew Realm in one month!’

At this thought, Jiang Qiu’s eyes burned with intensity as he looked at Liu Qi. "Is the competition based on sparring with Spear Techniques and Bow Techniques?"

"No. With the college entrance exams so close, we can’t risk any accidents from having you Optimizers spar or duel. So, General Mo’s intention is to judge you based on your comprehensive mastery of Spear Dao, Archery Dao, and Body Technique."

Liu Qi’s gaze sharpened. He swiped a finger across the silver screen on the steel door, his tone deep. "Look. Each Optimizer’s training progress is already compiled into rankings. There’s a list for Spear Dao, one for Archery Dao, and one for Body Technique. These lists provide a multi-faceted display of an Optimizer’s strength and potential.

In one month, the selection will be based on your overall ranking. The higher your rank, the sooner you get to choose a higher-quality Demon Blood Fragrance. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

For example, the Lord of Dongqi Lake, a Flood Dragon Type Ancestor Demon named Zhu Li, was jointly slain with the participation of six executive committee members at the Dharma Martial Artist level.

The Demon Blood Fragrance refined using a single drop of its Ancestral Essence Blood as the primary ingredient will be the top prize. Its effects are in a class of their own, making it the highest grade of this Su Fragrance.

However, there’s only one. It can only be claimed by the Optimizer with the highest potential and greatest strength.

You joined the Tianjiao program too late, and there’s still a considerable gap between you and the strongest, Lin Wei, so you don’t have a chance at that one. However, if your overall rank can break into the top ten or so, you’ll still be able to choose a Demon Blood Fragrance made from the Essence Blood of a Spiritual Great Demon.

Spiritual Great Demons are on par with Bright Soul Realm Martial Artists like me. Most of them possess remarkable Talents, so if you get one, you might benefit from it.

As for Transformed Great Demons, some might have decent bloodlines, but they’re rare. After all, most Demon Beasts cultivate step-by-step from ordinary beasts. Their bloodlines are mediocre. The Demon Blood Fragrance refined from them is based purely on their individual power and is far inferior to the two tiers above."

After listening, Jiang Qiu’s eyelid twitched, and his heart pounded in his chest.

’Right now, I’m still a ways off from even becoming a Martial Artist, let alone those Dharma Realm Martial Artists who can manifest a Dharma Aspect—people I’ve never even encountered. And an Ancestral Great Demon is something even they have to team up to kill.

Even a Spiritual Great Demon, comparable to a Martial Arts Team Captain like Liu Qi, is a formidable being whose death is major enough to trend on the news.

And a Demon Blood Fragrance refined from the Essence Blood of a Transformed Great Demon... that was something I never even dared to dream of before. Online, they say it’s many times more precious than Bone Su Fragrance.

But now I have a chance to compete for the right to choose a Demon Blood Fragrance. This is the benefit of being an Optimizer. I have to work even harder.’

’Break into the top ten! Fight for first place!’

The thought struck his mind like a bolt of Thunder. Jiang Qiu’s gaze was as firm as a boulder. "Sir, I’ve still decided to learn Shadow Stepping."

"Hm?" Liu Qi’s expression froze, and his brow furrowed. "Few people have ever learned this Body Technique. After a month, you might not have much to show for it besides forging a few more Steel Bones. It’s extremely time-consuming and won’t help your overall rank..."

"But Sir, if few people have learned the Body Technique, and I manage to learn Shadow Stepping, wouldn’t I instantly rank in the top ten on the Body Technique list?"

At these words, Liu Qi’s eyebrows shifted slightly, and he fell silent.

’He has a point. Master a Body Technique and you’re instantly in the top ten. That’s much easier to compete for than the other lists.

No, wait. How could he possibly learn it in a month?’

Thinking this, he took a deep breath, his eyes like a hawk’s watching a fledgling. "If you insist on learning Shadow Stepping, don’t regret it. I won’t approve a change of direction until you’ve finished, because the resources consumed to activate the Virtual Training Pod are immense.

Have you thought it through?"

"I have!"

Jiang Qiu’s eyes were like the tip of a spear, radiating a fearless sharpness.

"Good. With that kind of spirit, who cares if you don’t master Shadow Stepping?" Liu Qi laughed heartily, the cross-shaped scar on his cheek trembling as his enthusiasm surged. "I’ll activate it for you. A one-month training period."

CLICK—

He swiped the mechanical ID Card in his hand through a slot on the steel door. A special settings interface popped up on the silver screen. After a flurry of sharp taps—TAP TAP TAP—there was a CLANK as the steel door’s internal lock disengaged.

WHIR—

Liu Qi pulled the handle, revealing a mechanical chamber the size of a large indoor badminton court. The four walls had no lights, yet light emanated from them. There were no windows, yet a wind swept through, bone-chillingly cold.

"Go inside. The smart program will tell you what to do next."

THUD.

As his left foot landed on a floor tile engraved with strange patterns, it felt as if he had stepped into another world, one where the very heavens were about to turn upside down.

THUD. THUD.

Once he was fully inside, a strange feeling of immense weight, like a heavy scale-weight, pressed down on his shoulders and head. The world seemed to flip on its axis.

"Jiang Qiu, I hope you make significant progress in the coming month."

As Liu Qi’s words faded, the steel door slammed shut with a BANG. A thought flickered in Jiang Qiu’s mind, and a strange ripple seemed to respond.

DING. A virtual screen projected before his eyes, and a cold, rigid, electronic female voice surrounded him from all directions—

[Scan complete. Identity confirmed: Optimizer Jiang Qiu. Selected training program: Body Technique, Shadow Stepping.]

[Loading sparring partner projection.]

[Initiating first sparring session. Your opponent’s level: Steel Bone Realm, torso stage Perfection. Has mastered Steel Arm, Steel Foot, and Steel Body—]

As the electronic voice’s final syllable echoed, the lights all around suddenly dimmed, as if daylight were about to be swallowed by night.

A chill shot up from the soles of his feet to his Celestial Spirit Acupoint. Jiang Qiu clenched his fists, his eyes slowly narrowing.

In the center of the chamber, countless streams of fluorescent blue light converged to form a shirtless, faceless figure.

It looked like a faceless reaper, descending upon the world at sunset.