Liang Qu soaked in the bath barrel.
Ah Wei crawled along his shoulder to the edge, its many legs dangling down.
The two-finger-wide barrel rim fit just right with its width, the two affixed like a perfectly snug slot.
The bath wasn't for healing but was a herbal soak that complemented the Ape Fist.
His injuries from fighting the mountain spirit had mostly healed after taking the Flesh-Replenishing Pill.
His sparring with Senior Brother Hu left a few bruises, but they weren't serious enough to warrant special treatment.
The medicinal power seeped through his pores, gradually strengthening his body.
Once the brown medicinal liquid turned pale yellow, Liang Qu got up, dried himself, and put on a pair of pants to practice the Ape Fist.
The consumed blood qi surged back, slightly increasing in length and width, proving its extraordinary effect.
After exercising, Liang Qu washed off the sweat and returned to his room, falling into a deep sleep on his bed.
The day's events had been overwhelming and exhausting.
The next morning, Liang Qu sent Chen Jiechang to inform the academy that he was taking a leave.
He then sparred with Hu Qi at the Martial Training Grounds.
Apprentices sat around, cheering when Liang Qu made a brilliant counterattack and booing when he was knocked down again.
Initially, many apprentices were disgruntled when Liang Qu, hailing from Righteous Prosperity City, was taken in as Yang Clan's personal student.
Yet over more than half a month, they had to accept this reality, slowly getting used to it.
The atmosphere became more amicable.
Some sharp apprentices wanted to invite Liang Qu for meals to build a rapport, but couldn't find the opportunity since his appearances at the Martial Hall became less frequent after becoming a disciple.
Among the apprentices, there were a few who would shout "Well done" loudly.
They joined later and, after hearing Liang Qu's story, considered him an idol to admire.
They hoped and awaited a day when they themselves would face injustice, fight back, and gain the favor of a wise master.
It's quite normal.
Most martial learners, at the age of fourteen or fifteen, are supported by their parents and haven't realized how many people's regrets and grievances lie beneath their dreams.
"Hoo, ha!" Liang Qu was once again pushed back by Hu Qi, his skin reddened and gasping for air, with his blood qi completely depleted again.
This was the second round of the morning.
Compared to last night, when he toppled after one hit, today he managed to exchange two or three moves without faltering, showcasing significant progress.
Hu Qi, inwardly impressed, recognized that martial talent didn’t necessarily equate to battle talent; many had potential but couldn’t demonstrate it.
Some trained well but shivered during actual fights.
However, Liang Qu’s combat instincts were promising, with rapid progress.
He fought bravely, absorbed experience like a sponge, showing improvement each time, proving he was thoughtful and strategic.
Seeing Liang Qu getting ready to continue, Hu Qi tapped his short stick on the ground and shook his head, "Let's stop here for now, it's already past noon. You should eat first. After eating, it's time for your session with Senior Brother Lu. We’ll continue when you get back. Take this time to recover some of your qi and blood."
Liang Qu glanced at the copper hourglass, confirming it was indeed past noon.
The apprentices dispersed in small groups.
Exhausted from the morning's exertion, Liang Qu had an enormous appetite, quickly consuming four bowls of rice and loads of beef, feeling warm and refreshed all over.
After bidding farewell to Hu Qi, he hurried to Senior Brother Lu’s residence.
After half a month of anticipation, the spirit weapon would finally take shape.
Liang Qu was overwhelmed with excitement.
The blacksmith workshop was as quiet as ever.
Lu Gang wasn't at the large red furnace but was engraving something on a redwood table.
Curious, Liang Qu moved closer to see it was a piece of gray-brown thin leather.
Using an ink-dipped brush, Lu Gang covered the leather with mysterious patterns.
Liang Qu controlled his breath and watched silently, careful not to interrupt.
With the last stroke completed, the entire piece lit up with silver brilliance.
The patterns vanished, and Lu Gang wiped the sweat off his forehead, explaining, "This is Shadow Bat Skin, existing between illusion and reality. It can dive into shadows and collect blood essence. It's essential for shaping your spear."
Although Liang Qu didn't understand why leather was needed for shaping, he nodded quietly.
This experience would be invaluable; observing more and speaking less was wise.
When Lu Gang lifted the beast skin, its texture was remarkably curious, semi-transparent and as if ethereal.
Truly magical.
In the red furnace, the Scarlet Fire Gold Feather was activated, continuously infusing golden energy into a piece of soft red metal on top with faint red strands seeping out.
This must be what Senior Brother Lu mentioned as the tungsten’s balanced state, retaining life energy while excluding fire energy.
The golden energy was waning; the forging process was at its second phase's end.
The first phase involved softening the tungsten, followed by thousands of strikes to refine and bolster its toughness.
The second phase released the feather’s energy for absorption by the tungsten.
Just as the golden flames dwindled, nearing extinction, Lu Gang handed Liang Qu a knife and a bowl, instructing, "Blood, half a bowl!"
Without hesitation, Liang Qu sliced his palm, letting the blood flow.
The pain was intense; cutting oneself, especially when mentally prepared, was challenging.
The bowl soon filled with bright red blood, which Lu Gang poured something into, followed by a sprinkle of silver powder into the furnace.
A loud boom filled the air, the furnace's temperature spiking, forcing Liang Qu a step back.
Lu Gang, unperturbed, plunged his hand into the furnace, pouring the blood over the softened metal.
The collision of fresh blood and hot metal erupted in a thick blood mist.
From the tungsten burst a red bird phantom, striving to repel the blood, but its lingering spirituality, being rootless, couldn't sustain, vanishing swiftly.
The blood seeped into the nearly molten metal, neither evaporated nor baked into fragments, but quietly absorbed, as if half a bowl of blood were spilled over cotton.
A faint resonation arose within Liang Qu’s heart.
"So, this is shaping?" Liang Qu thought, genuinely feeling an extension of his being.
When Lu Gang withdrew his hand, he tossed the Shadow Bat Skin over, which wrapped automatically around the metal like a bloodthirsty bat, glowing with silver light.
The thin skin contracted, gathered, stretched – it molded a spearhead from a lump of metal!
A twelve-inch spearhead, resembling half a sharp sword, formed effortlessly, followed by the part covering the spear pole and an iron core extending from the middle! Lu Gang grabbed a long box from the table, revealing three poles soaked in an unknown oil, two black and one white.
He chose the white one, inserting it into the flaming furnace.
The unknown oil blazed instantly, spreading over the entire pole.
Lu Gang seemed unfazed, aligning the pole with the iron core, inserting it seamlessly.
He attached the complete pole, securing it with an end cap.
The Shadow Bat Skin, initially enveloping only the spearhead, shook as it extended to cover the pole, extinguishing the oil fire, then remaining motionless.
Approximately two quarters of an hour later, the skin began to move again, retracting from the spearhead region, maintaining a grip on the pole, and hardening into a shiny grey film.
Lu Gang exhaled deeply, lifted the spear from the furnace, and handed it to Liang Qu.
"It's done."
Liang Qu: "???"
(Chapter End)