High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Just a Bit Stronger Than You

Yang Lei glanced sideways at Lin Qi, thinking,

’Lin Qi’s family is poor. He can’t afford Potions. No matter how well he’s trained his fundamentals, it’s practically impossible for his Qi and Blood Value to break 6.0.’

At this thought, a peculiar sense of superiority welled up inside him.

HUUUH~

Lin Qi exhaled and strode over to the Fist Power testing machine.

He relaxed his body, feeling everyone’s eyes locked on him.

But he wasn’t nervous. He had a clear understanding of his own strength.

Lin Qi’s eyes narrowed. He erupted with sudden force. Power originated from his feet, traveling up like a kinetic chain, link by link, transferring all the way to his waist.

His waist then drove the momentum. As his Qi and Blood surged, his body tensed like a drawn bow.

The power generation of the Tiger Form Fist relied on an instantaneous muscular explosion. His fist was like a stick of dynamite, detonating with the full force of his body.

His fist shot out like a cannonball, tracing an arc before smashing into the red Punching Target.

BANG!!

He threw a ferocious punch, and the Punching Target began to sway violently.

In the next instant, a string of numbers appeared on the machine’s electronic screen—”640.5 kg!”

”640 kg?”

Someone couldn’t help but gasp.

The round-faced Li Shaodong said in astonishment, ”I remember last semester, Lin Qi could only hit 510 kg, which was lower than my score. Did he really improve by over a hundred kilograms in just one summer?”

Yang Lei’s eyes widened in disbelief.

kg?

’Isn’t that the same as me?’

BANG! BANG!!

”643 kg!”

”646 kg!”

Lin Qi threw two more consecutive punches. The Fist Power was nearly identical for each. A smile appeared on his face when he saw the numbers.

’Not too much, not too little. Just enough to beat Yang Lei.’

”Speed test is next!”

Wu Kang couldn’t help but nod.

Lin Qi walked slowly to the starting line of the track. Before him was a speed-testing zone marked by infrared beams.

SWOOSH~

In an instant, Lin Qi’s back arched, and he shot forward like an arrow released from its bow.

His leg muscles exploded like gunpowder, kicking up a gust of wind. In the space of a breath, he crossed the infrared beam at the finish line before decelerating to a stop.

The speed-tester’s screen flickered, and the data appeared—”14.4 m/s!”

”A Fist Power of 646 kg and a speed of 14.4 m/s... His Qi and Blood Value has definitely broken 6.0.”

”Yes! Brother Qi is amazing! Just a little bit better than Yang Lei.”

From the crowd, Jiangtao laughed boisterously.

HAHA!!

The others also broke into smiles.

Yang Lei’s face turned livid. He curled his lip. ”I just had an off day. If I went again, I’d definitely beat him.”

Satisfied with his results, Lin Qi returned to the crowd and bumped fists with Jiangtao.

”You’re incredible, Brother Qi!”

”I knew you’d have no problem at all.”

Jiangtao smiled and gave a thumbs-up.

”We’re going to the Elite class together, after all.” Lin Qi offered a rare smile.

...

”Jiangtao!”

”Here!”

As students were called one by one, it was soon Jiangtao’s turn.

CRACK!

”Finally my turn.” Jiangtao cracked his knuckles and warmed up, eagerly walking over to the Fist Power testing machine.

He was about 1.85 meters tall, powerfully built, with long arms. Combined with his tanned skin, he looked like a fearsome, upright Ape.

His muscles bulged and veins popped. Twisting at the waist and hips, he shot both fists out like cannonballs.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The Punching Target swayed violently, and the numbers appeared.

”814 kg!”

”815 kg!”

”816 kg!”

”Damn, Jiangtao’s progress is incredibly fast, too. His Fist Power is getting better with every punch. He’s already broken 800 kilograms.”

Someone cried out in amazement. Even Lin Qi was startled.

’Looks like I’m not the only one improving. My best friend is making rapid progress, too.’

’With his Fist Power already over 800 kilograms, his Qi and Blood Value has probably broken 8.0.’

’Jiangtao’s Talent is truly impressive.’

He was happy for Jiangtao.

「A few minutes later」

”Zhu Yuqi, Fist Power 879 kg!”

”Yu Jing, Fist Power 901 kg!”

”Add Jiangtao to that list... The top three in the class are frighteningly strong. They’re on a completely different level from everyone else.”

The surrounding crowd was in an uproar, their gazes fixed on the three as they broke into discussion.

”Alright, clear this equipment away. Next, we’ll test Fist Technique.”

”When your name is called, come up and demonstrate your Fist Technique.”

After the Fist Power and speed tests were over, Wu Kang stood up and spoke.

”Zhou Ping!”

Zhou Ping stepped forward and gave a cupped-fist salute. He then settled into a fighting stance and lunged, his movements nimble, using stillness to control motion.

He was demonstrating the Crane Form Fist. Its style was characterized by rapid contraction and expansion, moving like a shuttle through a forest, and perching on a branch with even greater deftness.

After finishing his Fist Technique, he looked at the teacher expectantly.

Wu Kang said impassively, ”Zhou Ping, Good-.”

”Next!”

Zhou Ping returned to the crowd, his face grim.

”The Boxing Realm can’t be assigned a numerical score, so it’s simply divided into four grades: Excellent, Good, Average, and Poor. Each grade is then modified with a plus or a minus.”

”To get ’Excellent+’, you have to achieve the Great Success Realm in the Five Elements Fist.”

The round-faced Li Shaodong spoke up again from the crowd.

”That’s way too hard. You can probably count the number of people who can do that on one hand.”

As the crowd murmured, the test continued.

”Li Yu’an, Good+!”

”Cui Chengshan, Good-!”

”Luu Xingjuan, Excellent-!”

”...”

As the students took their turns demonstrating their Fist Techniques, the five styles—Dragon, Tiger, Crane, Ape, and Snake—were all put on display.

Wu Kang only needed a few glances to determine each student’s result before announcing it dispassionately.

HUUUH~

HAAAH~

Yang Lei had a powerful build with huge muscles and thick fingers. When he performed his Fist Technique, he moved with the power and prestige of a tiger.

He also used the Tiger Form Fist. His Tiger Claw strikes were like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, whipping up gusts of wind.

BANG! BANG! BANG!!

As he executed the Techniques with his arms, a series of crisp cracks echoed!

”Yang Lei, Excellent+!”

Wu Kang announced in a clear voice, swiping on his tablet.

”Brother Lei is a beast! Qi and Blood Value over 6, and Great Success in Tiger Form Fist. He’s a shoo-in for the Elite class now.”

Someone flattered him.

Yang Lei relaxed his stance, inwardly gloating at the flattery.

”Of course! Who do you think I am?”

”Lately, I’ve been getting guidance from the teacher during the day, and when I go home, my family has a private tutor just for me.”

Yang Lei bragged with a wide grin.

”Gotta admit, Yang Lei has some skills, but he’s lost his edge compared to Brother Qi.”

Jiangtao muttered under his breath.

”Lin Qi!”

Wu Kang called out, his gaze turning to Lin Qi with curiosity.

”I’m up!”

After speaking, Lin Qi stepped out from the crowd. He walked to the center under everyone’s gaze and performed a cupped-fist salute.

He took a deep breath. His eyes narrowed, and an invisible aura radiated from him.

Then he began to demonstrate the Tiger Form Fist.

The key points of the Tiger Form Fist flashed through his mind.

In the next instant, his gaze and his entire aura transformed.

Power erupted from his waist, surging to his fingertips. His Tiger Claw strikes were ferocious.

His Qi and Blood churned, giving him the presence of a newly-born tiger.

One moment, he was a fierce tiger descending a mountain; the next, an angry tiger bursting from the woods; then, a hungry tiger pouncing on a lamb...

His movements were savage and sharp, the wind from his fists whistling.

BANG! BANG! BANG~~

Each and every one of his Techniques produced a crisp crack, like an air cannon firing.

”One of the signs of reaching the Great Success Realm in the Five Elements Fist is being able to produce a crisp, loud crack with every technique.”

”The Tiger Form Fist has six Techniques in total. That was six cracks. Lin Qi has also reached the Great Success Realm in his Tiger Form Fist,” someone exclaimed.

”Lin Qi might be a bit thin, but he possesses the spirit of a true tiger. It makes him look completely different,” someone remarked.

As Lin Qi finished his routine, he heard Wu Kang’s surprised gasp.

Wu Kang stared at Lin Qi, thinking in astonishment:

’This kid improves so quickly. He actually managed to reach the Great Success Realm in Tiger Form Fist.’

’He’s already mastered the spirit of the Tiger Form. Fierce in heart, yet subtle in execution.’

’Lin Qi has truly given me a huge surprise. I completely misjudged him.’

A satisfied smile spread across Lin Qi’s face.

He concluded with a cupped-fist salute, then turned, returned to the crowd, and bumped fists with Jiangtao.

Watching Lin Qi walk away, many people had the inexplicable feeling that he had changed somehow.

...

「Half an hour later」

”I declare this quiz officially over. You’ll be able to see the detailed results and rankings in half an hour.”

”Many students have shown tremendous improvement in their Martial Arts this time, and I am very pleased.”

”Entering the Elite class will be a new beginning.”

”Dismissed!”

Wu Kang announced loudly after the last person was tested.

After Wu Kang’s announcement, some people grew tense, while others bustled about, washing up and getting ready to head back to the classroom to await the results.

Wu Kang, for his part, returned to his office alone.

’The results of this quiz were quite different from usual. An unexpected person had emerged.’

...