"Alright."

Jiang Qiu nodded. Yang Yu sat down lightly across from him. Her eyes, like ice souls reflecting the daylight, regarded him with a natural intensity, as if she were a pilot gazing up at her giant mech. "Thank you for saving me. I’m alive because of you.

Once we get back, you should become one of the Tianjiao Project’s Optimizers, with access rights to Virtual Training Pod number thirty..."

After a pause, Yang Yu pursed her lips. Her gaze focused entirely on Jiang Qiu’s eyes, like an ice needle probing a pool of water. "Will you compete for the top spot among the Ten Heaven’s Chosen?"

"I will."

Jiang Qiu smiled faintly, not shying away from the question.

’The top spot among the Ten Heaven’s Chosen belongs to whoever is capable enough to take it. Why be afraid to say so?’

’But this Yang Yu is a bit strange. We don’t know each other—this is our first formal meeting—yet she looks at me as if she’s been waiting for years.’

’Or is the gash on the bridge of my nose, the one from the One-eyed Owl’s purple feather, that conspicuous?’

At this thought, Jiang Qiu’s right hand slowly drifted up to the bridge of his nose. He rubbed the small, slit-like gash and raised an eyebrow. "It’s not deep..."

"You really do look like my older brother," Yang Yu said, a hint of sorrowful starlight in her eyes and an almost imperceptible upturn to her lips. "He used to touch the bridge of his nose when he talked, too."

"Hm?"

Jiang Qiu’s right hand froze for a moment before he quietly lowered it.

’This "older brother" was once the top of the Ten Heaven’s Chosen, but it wasn’t long before he was convicted of treason...’

Thinking of this, he glanced at Yang Yu, who was sitting with her knees hugged to her chest like a small cat. "Did you come find me for something important?"

"Yes. There’s only a month left until the college entrance exams. I believe you have a good chance of making it into the ranks of the Ten Heaven’s Chosen, but competing for first place will bring immense pressure."

Yang Yu spoke slowly, her gaze like melting ice in summer. "All thirty Optimizers are in the Steel Bone Realm. The top few are geniuses who have achieved Mastery in five or six Spear Skills and Bow Skills. Moreover, a few of them have already cultivated their Steel Bones to the torso stage.

They are all pre-selected candidates for the Ten Heaven’s Chosen, highly regarded by the upper echelons. Their talent is exceptional."

Hearing this, Jiang Qiu saw a fleeting glimpse of unyielding tenacity in her eyes. Her palms, like blood-stained white jade, had clenched into fists at some point. "And there’s another one, Lin Wei, who is only a step away from the Jade Sinew Realm. He might even break through before the exams.

He possesses the [Martial Arts Talent]: Innate Strength. The Spear Skills he learned in the Virtual Training Pod have been integrated into a wide, sweeping style with immense killing power. He’s peerless in this year’s Tianjiao Project; few dare to challenge him, and even fewer can withstand a single one of his skills..."

"The [Martial Arts Talent]: Innate Strength?"

Jiang Qiu’s brow furrowed, and his fingers tapped lightly on the ground.

’The general education textbook mentioned it briefly. Some geniuses practice Martial Arts as easily as drinking water. They make large, steady strides on their Martial Arts path precisely because they possess a [Martial Arts Talent].’

’But it never explained what they were in detail, only giving a few examples: Xiang Yu from the super-ancient era who could lift a cauldron, the unrivaled Lü Bu, and Guan Yu who could slay generals in a single cavalry charge.’

’Military Generals like them, who carved out their fame through slaughter, mostly possessed a [Martial Arts Talent]. If they were born in the modern era, they would surely dominate the world of Martial Arts.’

’So-called Innate Strength probably isn’t just about simple physical power. His comprehension of Martial Arts must also be exceptional, perfectly suited for powerful, forceful skills...’

At this thought, Jiang Qiu’s gaze darkened slightly. "I didn’t expect a student with a [Martial Arts Talent] to appear in the Tianjiao Project this year."

Most information about the Tianjiao Project was classified. Only a little would be made public after the college entrance exams, and even that was just the necessary disclosure for those who earned the honor of being one of the Ten Heaven’s Chosen.

Outsiders didn’t know what kind of prodigies were being cultivated in the Tianjiao Project, what specific tests they took, or what scores they achieved.

This was the first time Jiang Qiu had ever heard the name Lin Wei.

’According to Yang Yu, if I still want to compete for the top spot, I’ll have to cross three stages of the Steel Bone Realm to break through to the Jade Sinew Realm in this last month, and also make a huge leap in my Spear Dao or Archery Dao.’

’Of course, that’s also the minimum requirement to kill King Niu. After all, once King Niu fully recovers, it will be a true Top Tier Demon Beast.’

’The Jade Sinew Realm is just the baseline for matching a Top Tier Demon Beast. The gap between different practitioners in the Jade Sinew Realm can also be immense.’

"Yes. Lin Wei is not only a promising candidate favored by General Mo, but also the grandson of a general in the Martial Education Department. They have high hopes that he will compete against the top prodigies from every city in the college entrance exams.

Barring any surprises, he’s the one most likely to become the head of the Ten Heaven’s Chosen..."

Her voice dropped. Yang Yu stuck her hands into the pockets of her light blue jacket, her gaze growing focused. "If you can enter a Virtual Training Pod in this last month and comprehend a Body Technique, I believe you’ll have a chance to fight for the honor that will most likely go to Lin Wei!"

"Comprehend a Body Technique in a Virtual Training Pod?" Jiang Qiu’s eyes lit up. "Is that a type of footwork that can make you look more agile?"

"Yes. The most basic Body Technique is actually already taught within the Ancient Martial Spear Technique. The Body Techniques taught in the Virtual Training Pods are closer to actual skills," Yang Yu nodded and sighed lightly. "However, of the Spear Skills, Bow Skills, and Body Techniques in the pods, Body Technique is the hardest. That’s because its training perfectly matches the cultivation method for the Steel Bone Realm. Mastering a Body Technique means advancing from the limbs stage to the torso stage of the Steel Bone Realm.

Right now, only a handful of Optimizers have managed to comprehend a Body Technique. Most have had little success and choose to spend more time inheriting Spear Skills or Bow Skills instead.

Even so, they might not comprehend a single skill even after entering the Virtual Training Pod for a whole year. Those with slightly lesser talent might take two and a half years just to properly inherit one.

And the Body Technique is even more difficult. It even took Lin Wei a full year..."

Jiang Qiu’s brow was knitted in thought, his breathing slowing imperceptibly.

’A Body Technique that takes the most brilliant genius a year to learn... and I only have one month. This won’t be easy.’

’Unless the Virtual Training Pod can really boost one’s Martial Arts cultivation as much as the rumors say, and I can practice Body Technique the same way I practiced the Ancient Martial Spear... ’

Time drifted by. Jiang Qiu listened as Yang Yu recounted stories of the exceptional prodigies in this year’s Tianjiao Project. Occasionally, she would also mention her brother, Yang Zheng, but only briefly, like a dragonfly skipping across water.

His Qi Blood gradually recovered. A sharp, powerful whistle blast cut through the air, interrupting their rest, and everyone scrambled to their feet.

"Rest is over. I’ve already transmitted the data from this test back to the base. Once we return, we will hold a vote.

To select one more person for an Optimizer slot."

As he said this, gaze after gaze drifted toward one person, like fireflies seeking a lantern. The burning eyes of Cheng En, Hu Tianlin, Sun Yongsheng, Qiu Hu, Yang Yu, and the others all turned to Jiang Qiu. Liu Qi also gave him a deep look.

At that moment, Jiang Qiu pressed his lips together. His cheeks tingled with heat, and both of his hands clenched into loose fists.

’Not only will I get into the Tianjiao Project, but I’ll also become an Optimizer. I should be making Director Zhao and Teacher Wu Shan proud...’

"Also, as is customary, the Contribution Points earned by those who were sacrificed will be distributed among you."

Liu Qi puffed out his chest, making the three bloody claw marks on it look even more fearsome. "But because there were too many sacrifices on this mission, including the loss of two students from the Tianjiao Project, I have already submitted a request to General Mo. An extra one thousand Contribution Points will be approved as a commendation for the most outstanding performer!

You have no objections, I presume?"

"None!"

The shout shook the heavens. Countless gazes reflected onto Jiang Qiu like the glint of True Gold in a water mirror. The pupils of the younger students like Sun Yongsheng and Qiu Hu widened. Then, after a moment’s thought, they shook their heads with a light chuckle, their expressions a mixture of astonishment, envy, and deep respect.

Jiang Qiu raised his eyebrows.

’What can Contribution Points be used for?’ 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

’To exchange for Su Fragrance?’