High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Defeating Guo Heng, Another Step Forward

「The next day, December 30th」

[Yang Jian, welcome to the Red Realm!]

Ignoring the pop-up message, Lin Qi quickly summoned his personal panel.

[Nickname: Yang Jian]

[Rank: Star]

[Win Rate: 95%]

[Points: 743]

[Red List Ranking: 65]

...

Lin Qi shook his head as he looked at his ranking. Compared to others, he hadn’t spent much time in the Red Realm, so his rank had risen rather slowly.

In contrast, Guo Heng actually spent four days a week in the Red Realm, and his ranking had already climbed to 25th.

According to him, his Points were already approaching 900, not far from the Bright Moon Rank.

[Begin Matchmaking!]

Lin Qi chose to match with an opponent. He was quite satisfied that the opponents he’d been matched with recently were getting stronger and stronger.

A moment later, Lin Qi vanished on the spot.

BOOM!

On the vast, desolate arena floor, two pillars of red light appeared in an instant. From within them, two figures quickly materialized.

Guo Heng, whose nickname was [General Heima Li Guo], stared straight ahead.

He wore a purple, form-fitting Combat Suit that strained against his powerful muscles. In his hand, he held a Battle Saber so sharp it reflected the light, and he radiated an intense aura.

”Yang Jian?”

Guo Heng’s expression was one of surprise.

”I promised Lv Xiang and the others I’d get some payback for them. To think I’d finally get matched with you today.”

The corners of Guo Heng’s mouth turned up. He swung his Battle Saber, stirring up gusts of wind, clearly impatient for the battle to begin.

’Guo Heng?’

Beneath his mask, Lin Qi was also quite surprised to be matched against him.

Guo Heng was very strong. Ranked 25th on the Red List, he was one of the experts Lin Qi had hoped to face.

Now, the two met in the Red Realm Arena. There were no restrictions, and their Life Strength was identical.

Without any fear of injuring the other person, they could unleash their full strength. This one battle would decide the winner.

”So you’re Yang Jian!”

”Remember my nickname. You’ll never forget it!”

Guo Heng shouted as he swung his Battle Saber, its sharp tip pointed at Lin Qi.

Lin Qi didn’t speak, afraid his voice would be recognized.

Instead, he slowly raised his fist, extended his middle finger, and crooked it beckoningly.

Guo Heng instantly flew into a rage. ”You’re fucking dead!”

[Match preparation beginning!]

[3... 2... 1...]

[Match has officially begun!]

The moment the automated voice announced the start, Guo Heng launched his attack, unable to wait.

Just like his personality, his charge was wild, like a beast pouncing on its prey.

The sharp Battle Saber in his hand sliced through the air. Each slash seemed to carry immense power, as if it could sever steel.

His Saber Technique was domineering and unparalleled, enough to make anyone tremble in fear.

”I’m going to chop you to pieces.”

Gold Shattering Saber Technique—Charging Slash!

Seeing this, Lin Qi’s figure flashed. He brandished the Long Spear in his hand and strode forward, striking like lightning.

He had fought Guo Heng many times and couldn’t be more familiar with his attack patterns.

Facing his former rival, Lin Qi thrust his Long Spear forward. The spear struck like a dragon, its afterimages flickering.

The spear was like a straight line of water, stabbing forward ferociously to strike the enemy’s vitals.

Drip Water Spear Skill—Water Line Rapid Stab!

BANG!

CLANG!

In the center of the arena, two phantoms collided head-on like titans on a battlefield!

Saber and spear clashed. The tip of Lin Qi’s spear struck the tip of Guo Heng’s saber, and a powerful force transmitted through their arms.

Guo Heng’s expression changed drastically. Their weapons were knocked apart by the violent collision. They immediately used Force Discharge to recover and swung again to attack.

Guo Heng broke out in a cold sweat. ’What just happened?’

’Wasn’t Yang Jian supposed to use the Mountain Shattering Spear Technique?’

’Why did it change to the Drip Water Spear Skill?’

’That Water Line Rapid Stab just now was absurdly fast. If my saber tip had been even 0.1 seconds slower...’

’I would’ve been killed instantly!!’

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The cold gleam of his opponent’s spear tip flashed as he launched a barrage of attacks from all directions, like a sudden, violent storm.

Guo Heng was forced to retreat nonstop, having no choice but to swing his Battle Saber to parry and discharge the force, forming a circular defensive barrier.

Lin Qi felt exhilarated. He hadn’t expected the Drip Water Spear Skill to be so effective. The technique was as swift as the wind, each thrust like a falling drop of water, allowing him to quickly pierce his opponent’s defenses.

Although the Mountain Shattering Spear Technique also had fast-striking moves, they couldn’t compare to the Drip Water Spear Skill, whose entire style was focused on speed.

He locked his gaze on Guo Heng and thrust out madly.

Drip Water Fall!

Water Splash!

Rain and Dew!

One technique flowed into the next. The transitions were seamless, like a raging tempest, giving Guo Heng no room to counterattack.

”Damn it!”

Guo Heng felt completely suppressed. When had he ever been in a situation like this?

’No, if this keeps up, the moment I reveal an opening, I’ll be killed instantly.’

His gaze turned fierce, as sharp as a hunting eagle’s, as he observed Lin Qi’s Spear Technique.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up!

’Found it!’

Immediately, his body roared to life like a tank engine. Power surged from his feet, through his waist, and into his arms.

His muscles tensed, and like an enraged tiger, he erupted with a heaven-shaking aura.

Concentrating all his strength, the power of his saber was like Mount Tai crashing down, as if it could cleave a mountain in two!

Guo Heng suddenly exerted his power, swinging his Battle Saber down from the sky.

Killing Technique—Gold-Shattering Slash!

The moment Guo Heng unleashed his Killing Technique, a smile appeared on Lin Qi’s face beneath his black mask.

It was an opening he had intentionally revealed. He knew Guo Heng too well; his opponent would never let such a chance slip by.

Thinking this, Lin Qi took a deep breath, drew back his spear to gather power, and focused the strength in his arms.

In the next instant, the afterimages of his spear became as dense as a downpour, its speed and power reaching their peak.

He unleashed an overwhelming torrent of slashes and stabs at Guo Heng!

CLANG! CLANG!

The sharp weapons clashed violently, a head-on collision of saber and spear.

Facing the Killing Technique, Lin Qi had countless spear thrusts blocked.

Guo Heng took a breath and unleashed his Killing Technique again, executing two consecutive slashes and closing the distance to Lin Qi.

He was fired up. ’Just one more slash and I’ll win.’

In that very instant, Lin Qi finished gathering his power. The Long Spear in his hand spun as he thrust it out. This time, he held nothing back, attacking with his full strength and without any mental burden.

The tip of the Long Spear flashed with a cold light, carrying with it an endless killing intent.

Drip Water Spear Skill—Water Vortex Spin!

Guo Heng’s eyes widened as he swung his Battle Saber.

’It’s over!’

’My momentum is gone! I wasn’t ready! I’m a beat too slow!’

His Battle Saber sliced through the air. Its tip touched the Long Spear but was deflected by the spinning weapon.

A cold light flashed!

In that instant, Guo Heng felt a searing pain.

PFFT!

His body flew backward uncontrollably. Looking down, he saw his chest had been pierced through.

[Unfortunately, you have died!]

In disbelief, Guo Heng dissolved into the void.

Back in his personal Space, a wave of fatigue and dizziness washed over his mind.

It took a full minute for him to recover.

The image of that final spear thrust replayed endlessly in his mind.

’I actually lost?’

’When did it all go wrong?’

Guo Heng couldn’t believe it. His opponent had seized an opening and killed him in a single move.

From the very beginning, his opponent had been completely at ease, with everything under control. It was as if he could see right through him, even predicting his attacks.

’This Yang Jian...’

Guo Heng gritted his teeth, feeling utterly unwilling to accept the outcome.

He had promised to avenge Lv Xiang, but in the end, he lost too.

’How embarrassing!’

Guo Heng was inwardly vexed, and he thoroughly committed the name ”Yang Jian” to memory.

’He’s probably not Lin Qi. After all, Lin Qi uses the Mountain Shattering Spear Technique.’

Guo Heng suddenly remembered that he had suspected Lin Qi before. But now, seeing his opponent use the Drip Water Spear Skill, he figured he could rule Lin Qi out.

...

「Meanwhile」

[Yang Jian, congratulations on your victory!]

[Points +3]

[Points: 746]

[Ranking: 45]

...

Lin Qi’s gaze fell on his ranking. Defeating Guo Heng had raised him 20 places.

’I finally defeated Guo Heng!’

Lin Qi stared at the message, a dazed look on his face as he recalled the battle.

He had defeated Guo Heng head-on, and with a newly learned Spear Technique at that.

In the past, he could only serve as Guo Heng’s sparring partner; he was no match for him at all.

And now, he had killed him in a direct confrontation.

And it had only taken him four months.

Times had changed. He had unknowingly surpassed many of his former rivals.

Phew...

Lin Qi snapped back to reality and chose to continue matchmaking.

’I’m starting to get a feel for my third Killing Technique.’

’Just a few more matches should be enough.’

...