High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: The Sixth Round, a Top-Level Master

Meanwhile, in a small conference room upstairs.

Wen Rui, a scholarly-looking man wearing a black-rimmed, single-lensed mechanical eyepiece, sat in the center. To his right were the three members of his group.

To his left was Yue Feng, dressed in a black suit and leaning back in a silver ergonomic chair.

He spoke with a smile:

”Members of the inspection team, today also happens to be the sixth round of the Genius Tournament.”

”The subject of your observation, Lin Qi, is also participating in this round, which is part of his evaluation.”

After speaking, he nodded to Manager Sun beside him, who opened a tablet, accessed the backend system, and started a live broadcast.

”The Genius Tournament... Lin Qi actually hasn’t been eliminated.”

”This is the round of 64. Lin Qi is stronger than we thought!” the group members murmured among themselves, their heads lowered.

Wen Rui, looking rather surprised, pushed up his glasses and commented, ”He’s got good luck.”

Then, his gaze shifted to the live feed.

On the broad, silent arena floor, two dazzling, crimson pillars of light suddenly descended upon the solid ground.

Two figures slowly emerged from within them.

Their nicknames and information appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Lin Qi, clad in a black Combat Suit and wearing a black mask, stepped out holding a Black Great Spear.

Opposite him, a tall, long-haired woman with a sharp aura, dressed in a cyan Combat Suit, walked forward to meet him.

Seeing the opponent, Wen Rui expressed his surprise. ”It’s actually Feng Qingyue from Shanghai. What a coincidence.”

”She’s also under observation. Currently ranked 39th on the Red List.”

”Interesting. Lin Qi is in trouble now. Feng Qingyue is very strong; she’s a classic example of a genius whose actual strength far exceeds her rank!” Wen Rui shook his head.

Beside him, Yue Feng unconsciously clenched his fists, thinking,

’Lin Qi, you have to win this!’

’This determines whether or not you can get that S-level Contract!’

...

「In the Red Realm Arena」

[Welcome back, Yang Jian!]

[Do you wish to participate in the sixth round of the Genius Tournament? If you succeed, you will be rewarded with 1,500,000 Xia Country Coins.]

[Yes!]

Lin Qi chose to participate without the slightest hesitation.

The sixth round still offered a cash reward.

This meant he would have to pass the seventh round and become one of the final 16 to get the most substantial rewards.

And he was already very close.

The instant he tapped [Yes], he vanished from his spot.

The next second, he materialized in the arena. He also saw his opponent for this match.

A woman with delicate features, a tall figure, and a cold aura emerged, holding a longsword and dressed in a cyan Combat Suit.

[Nickname: Qingyue (Shanghai)]

[Red List Ranking: 39]

...

[Nickname: Yang Jian (Cang Province)]

[Red List Ranking: 99]

...

Feng Qingyue’s features were delicate and soft, yet her expression was blank. Holding her longsword, she radiated a piercing Sharpness.

Her beautiful eyes fixed on Yang Jian, and upon seeing his rank of 99, she inwardly relaxed.

Rank 99. No matter how strong he was, there had to be a limit. Besides, he wasn’t a genius from the Imperial Capital or Shanghai, or even from North River Province.

This greatly increased her perceived chances of advancing.

When Lin Qi saw his opponent’s rank, he also let out a breath.

”Good thing she’s not in the top twenty!” he suddenly said.

His words made Feng Qingyue laugh in anger. ’Is he looking down on me?’

”You’re just number 99 yourself!” she retorted.

”Just stating the facts!”

Lin Qi shook his head, swung the Black Great Spear in his hand, and held it one-handed in a teardrop stance.

His strength had improved immensely in the past week. He had learned new Spear Technique and Body Technique Secret Manuals and hadn’t logged into the Red Realm.

Now was the perfect time to test his strength against a powerful opponent.

And Feng Qingyue was the perfect candidate!

[The sixth round of the Genius Tournament is about to begin!]

[Countdown: 3, 2, 1...]

[The match has officially begun!]

...

”Arrogant fool!”

’Where does he get this confidence?’

Feng Qingyue’s gaze became as sharp as the sword in her hand. She decided to teach this guy calling himself ”Yang Jian” a good lesson.

SWOOSH~

Her figure flickered, and she moved like a Spiritual Snake emerging from its lair. With a swing of her sword, the air was instantly filled with afterimages of the blade.

The sword followed her movements like a shadow. Her speed suddenly increased, and in a flash, she lunged to attack.

Lin Qi’s brow furrowed. An expert knows another by their first move.

This was a Top Level master. Her movements and her thrusts were as swift as a clap of thunder, leaving no time to react.

She was even faster than Lone Wolf from North River Province whom he had faced before.

In an instant, he too became like an agile cheetah. He pushed off the ground, strode forward with his long spear, and twisted his waist and hips.

Power surged to the spear’s tip. The Black Great Spear shot forward, fast and fierce as an arrow loosed from a bow, whistling as it cut through the air.

Mountain Splitting Spear Technique—Wind-Breaking Thrust!

In the same instant, Feng Qingyue’s sword danced, creating afterimages that swirled around her like a Gale.

Shadowless Swordsmanship—Wind Shadow Step!

BANG!!

CLANG! CLANG!!

Their gazes were sharp as their figures closed in. Their weapons clashed in an instant. Faced with Lin Qi’s fierce thrust, she activated her Body Technique, tapping her feet to shift her body and brush past him.

The next second, a furious storm of attacks rained down.

’Retreat!’

Lin Qi sensed the killing intent surrounding him and immediately retreated, spinning his long spear into a defensive posture.

He twirled the spear’s shaft, creating a circular afterimage that formed a shield-like barrier.

CLANG! CLANG!!

The longsword struck the spear more than a dozen times, scraping against the shaft and sending a shower of sparks into the air.

’So fast!’

Lin Qi was inwardly shocked. The speed of her Swordsmanship was incredible, like a raging tempest.

She wasn’t giving him any chance to counterattack.

Not only that.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG~~

Lin Qi blocked countless Techniques, but at the instant their weapons collided, a force like piercing silver needles was transmitted into his arm muscles, sending waves of stinging pain through them.

It felt like his own ability to exert force was being hindered, limiting his performance.

’What is this?’

’Is it a special kind of Power generated by her Swordsmanship?’

Lin Qi could feel that the stinging pain wasn’t intense, but it was severely affecting his speed.

He could only keep retreating.

This opponent was truly strong. If it had been him before he learned the Mountain Splitting Spear Technique, he likely would have been killed in an instant.

...

Back in the conference room, Wen Rui saw Feng Qingyue completely suppressing Lin Qi and leaned back with a smile.

”Feng Qingyue is quite famous in Shanghai. In terms of strength, she ranks among the top five there.”

”Her Fast Sword technique is something few can withstand.”

”The Shadowless Swordsmanship she’s using now is as swift as the wind, so fast it’s traceless, like a flash of lightning, dazzling the eye.”

”The path of her sword is unpredictable, as if a thousand trajectories are rushing forward at once.”

”Once she seizes the initiative with a fierce assault, the battle is as good as over.”

”It seems Lin Qi has just learned a new Spear Technique Secret Manual and can’t apply it effectively in combat yet.”

”This fight is about to end!”

”Indeed!” The other members of the group nodded in agreement.

Yue Feng also smiled. ”Group Leader Wen, Lin Qi isn’t like the others.”

”Just keep watching and you’ll see.”

He thought to himself, ’Kid, what are you waiting for? If you don’t counterattack, you’re really going to lose.’

Manager Sun, standing nearby, also watched Lin Qi with a worried expression.

...

「On the Red Realm Arena Floor」

CLANG! CLANG~

Feng Qingyue continuously executed her Swordsmanship, using her rapid Techniques to force her opponent to reveal an opening, which she would then exploit to finish the fight in one move.

This was her fighting style.

She was waiting for Lin Qi to slip up, ready to end the battle at any moment.

’Almost, almost!’

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. In his hasty defense, Lin Qi’s movements faltered, revealing a huge opening.

In that instant, she unleashed a sky full of sword afterimages, as if the stars themselves were falling from the heavens. Her Sword Momentum crisscrossed as one sword became many, thrusting from all directions.

Shadowless Swordsmanship—Shadows of Falling Stars!

At the same time, Lin Qi also thought, ’This is bad.’

But on second thought, ’This is also my chance.’

’It’s time to counterattack!’

...