High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Daily Spear Practice

Lin Qi stared at the balance of over thirteen thousand in his bank account with mixed feelings.

Never in his life had his account balance exceeded 3,000.

This was the first time he’d ever had so much money.

’I haven’t seen over ten thousand in more than a decade,’ Lin Qi thought to himself.

Of the thirteen-thousand-plus balance, three thousand was from his part-time job as a sparring partner.

The remaining ten thousand was his scholarship money.

”My scholarship money came in too!”

Across from him, Jiangtao also broke into a smile. 30,000 was a huge sum for him as well.

Although he had received a million Xia Country Coins from the ”genius loan,” the money wasn’t all for himself.

He had a younger sister who also needed money for resources to build a solid foundation early on, so every bit of cash was precious.

Lin Qi knew this well.

”After we eat, let’s go to the supermarket. It’s time to buy new resources,” Lin Qi suggested.

To prepare for the quiz, he had bought a large amount of Qi and Blood Capsules and Qi and Blood Potions, all of which he had used up within a week.

”Perfect, I need to buy some resources too. Let’s go together.”

”By the way, Brother Qi, you should get a new phone. Your screen is so cracked you can barely see anything.”

Jiangtao said, pointing at Lin Qi’s smartphone.

Lin Qi looked at the ancient smartphone in his hand. It was an old phone his dad, Lin Zhen, had used. The screen was now covered in a spiderweb of cracks, and the case was starting to fade. He had never been able to bring himself to replace it.

”You’re right, I really should,” Lin Qi nodded.

...

「Ten minutes later」

Red Dome Martial Arts Supermarket

Lin Qi stood in the potion section, taking box after box of Qi and Blood Capsules from the shelves.

’My body is developing at an astonishing rate, and my daily training volume is increasing.’

’To maintain this pace of improvement, I need enough nutrition and potion supplements to enhance my Qi and Blood.’

’So I need to buy more Qi and Blood Capsules and Potions.’

With that thought, Lin Qi grabbed 20 boxes of Qi and Blood Capsules before moving on to the Qi and Blood Potion shelf.

’Before, I was short on cash and only bought two bottles of Qi and Blood Potion. Now I can afford one a day.’

Lin Qi grabbed a whole row of Qi and Blood Potions and put them in his shopping basket—a full 10 bottles.

After picking up a few other resources, he got in line to check out.

”BEEP!”

”Total: 7,826!”

”Payment successful!”

Lin Qi paid with his phone, and his balance of over ten thousand instantly shrank by more than half.

’If I could become a signed prodigy of the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo, even with a 20% discount, I could save a lot of money.’

After a silent sigh, he put his items in his backpack and waited by the entrance where it was cooler.

A few minutes later, Jiangtao came out, his own backpack stuffed to its limit.

”Haha, I accidentally bought a little too much.”

”Besides the resources for myself, I also bought a lot for Miaoyin.”

”Our family was poor before. For the sake of my Martial Arts, Ayin sacrificed herself and ended up malnourished.”

”I have to help her build herself back up now, give her a good foundation.”

Jiangtao scratched his head and explained with a sheepish grin.

Lin Qi nodded. Jiangtao’s parents had both passed away. Even with government aid and working desperately at part-time jobs, they could only manage a basic standard of living.

It was unrealistic to expect both of them to be able to pursue the path of Martial Arts.

Therefore, Jiangtao’s sister, Jiang Miaoyin, sacrificed her own progress. While her brother, Jiangtao, used their money to buy and consume resources, she became malnourished. Her Qi and Blood improved too slowly, and she ranked at the bottom of their class in Martial Arts.

Lin Qi had reason to believe that the majority of Jiangtao’s million Xia Country Coins would be spent on his sister, Jiang Miaoyin.

”Come on, let’s go buy a new phone.”

”Alright!”

The two of them went to a nearby phone store and came out a moment later.

In Lin Qi’s hand was a brand-new smartphone, its black casing gleaming in the light.

”Brother Qi, you should have at least bought one for over 1,000. The 500-coin ones don’t perform well at all,” Jiangtao complained from the side.

”It’ll do for now. I don’t have much money on me. I’ll get a new one after the college entrance exams.”

”Besides, aren’t you using a 500 or 600-coin second-hand smartphone yourself?”

Lin Qi said nonchalantly as he operated his phone, transferring files.

”Hehe, you got me.”

Laden with their purchases, the two returned to school.

...

「Afternoon, Martial Arts Class」

”I know some of you have hired Martial Artists stronger than me as private tutors and don’t need my guidance.”

”I’ll allow you to return to your own Martial Arts Rooms to train.”

The sturdy Zhang City stood in the middle of the classroom, arms crossed, and announced loudly.

Hearing this, a portion of the students picked up their things and walked out, including the top three in the grade: Li Zhou, Qi Yuelin, and Yu Jing.

In a matter of moments, more than ten people had left.

Most of them were in the top ten of the grade, which fit the common stereotype: those with good family backgrounds wouldn’t be lacking in Martial Arts strength.

”The rest of you, train freely. I want to see your skill level.”

The thirty-plus remaining students spread out, each finding a spot to begin their practice.

Lin Qi, dressed in his Martial Arts Uniform, took a blister pack of Qi and Blood Capsules from his bag, popped out three, and swallowed them, following it up with a bottle of Qi and Blood Potion.

He looked around but didn’t choose to practice with a Weapon right away like the others.

Instead, he began practicing his Fist Technique.

”WHOOSH WHOOSH~”

His footwork was steady, his breath sinking to his Dantian, as firm as a tumbler doll.

He combined motion and stillness. When still, he had the posture of a crouching tiger; when moving, the agility of a cat.

”BANG! BANG! BANG!!”

Crisp sounds echoed as he struck out with his Tiger Claw, his fist generating force that shot through to his fingertips.

Lin Qi was completely absorbed in his practice. His body grew hot as if a fire was burning within him, his Qi and Blood surged, and a continuous stream of power flowed out.

The key points of the Tiger Form Fist appeared in his mind.

[By practicing the Tiger Form Fist, you have gained new insight into Fist Techniques. Your control over your body has improved. Fist Technique +1%]

[Fist Technique: Tier One 91% → 93%]

...

Lin Qi pulled back his fist, steam rising from his body as sweat began to bead on his forehead.

Feeling that his body was sufficiently warmed up, he picked up his Training Lance.

”SWISH! SWISH!”

The Long Spear danced as he executed the Basic Spear Skill. With a flick of the spear, he created a flurry of afterimages.

’A breakthrough in Fist Technique really does help with improving my Spear Technique. It’s twice the result for half the effort.’

’Practicing with a Weapon also consumes more stamina than just practicing fist forms.’

A few minutes later, Lin Qi stopped, already drenched in sweat. He wiped his face, drank a bottle of water, and then continued his training with the Mountain Shattering Spear Technique.

”Opening Stance, Cloud Picking, Beng Ci...”

”When practicing the spear, the spear must not leave the body. Hide your body behind the spear. Drive the tip with the root.”

”The root can be the waist and hips, or the shoulder driving the tip. When using the spear, the root and tip can interchange, like a python coiling around its prey, adapting swiftly to the situation.”

”Practice slowly and fully. Your body should be like an air pump, fully charged, then contracting and expanding like a bellows. The spear twists, wraps, drills, and flips. The man follows the spear, and the spear follows the man...”

Zhang City’s resonant voice echoed throughout the Martial Arts Classroom.

As Lin Qi brandished his Long Spear, he listened, and a flicker of understanding seemed to dawn on him. The execution of his Spear Technique became even smoother.

”Tier One Spear Technique is the foundation. It’s all about proficiency. It’s not that profound—you just have to practice more...”

”The more you practice, the more your Spear Technique Realm will naturally rise.”

After speaking, Zhang City looked over at Lin Qi.

It was as if his words had been meant specifically for him.

”SWISH SWISH~”

”BANG!”

Lin Qi continued to practice the Mountain Shattering Spear Technique. Zhang City’s thoughts aligned perfectly with his own: more practice was all it took.

With every repetition, his proficiency increased.

[Under the guidance of Teacher ”Zhang City,” your understanding of Spear Technique has deepened. Spear Technique +1%]

[Spear Technique: Tier One 70% → 71%]

...

In the distance, Yang Lei, who was also wielding a Long Spear, had an ugly look on his face.

’Why does Teacher Zhang always guide Lin Qi? How am I any worse than him?’

...

「9:30 PM」

Lin Qi and Jiangtao headed home together.

They both lived in the Rongshan District, a massive complex known as one of Celestial Sea City’s poorer neighborhoods.

Lin Qi lived in Building 4, while Jiangtao was in Building 3, so they weren’t exactly close neighbors.

Usually, Lin Qi wouldn’t wait for Jiangtao when leaving, because Jiangtao had to take care of his sister, Jiang Miaoyin.

”Brother Qi, see you tomorrow!”

”Alright!”

The two parted ways at the intersection, each heading toward their own home.

...

Apartment 301. Lin Qi stepped through the door of his home.

Unlike usual, a gust of cool air greeted him.

In the living room, a standing, cube-shaped air conditioner was humming as it blew out cold air.

”The air conditioner’s here!”

A smile spread across Lin Qi’s face. On the worn-out sofa, his parents, Lin Zhen and Fang Huiyi, were also enjoying the cool air.

...