High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 189: Chapter 189: A Foregone Conclusion?

August 8th, two days before the freshman competition.

In the living room of a standalone Chinese-style villa at the Azure Sky Sixth Institute.

Lin Qi, dressed in a red and white school uniform, sat on the sofa with a green screen projected before him.

The webpage clearly displayed ”Red Dome House” as melodious music began to play.

’I need to buy a new combat suit. The gear the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo gave me is too low-level,’ Lin Qi thought, quickly searching for ”Combat Suit.”

The next moment, the page refreshed, revealing several sets of combat gear.

[Item: Tier One Combat Suit]

[Description: Effectively blocks the claws and bites of First-Level Calamity Beasts.]

[Price: 100,000 Xia Country Coins!]

...

Lin Qi shook his head. A Tier One combat suit could only guard against the bites of a First-Level Calamity Beast. It wasn’t very useful to him.

For this freshman competition, just like in the Practical Training Camp, the strongest Calamity Beasts released would only be Level 3.

So, a Tier Three combat suit would be sufficient.

[Item: Tier Three Combat Suit]

[Price: 2,000,000 Xia Country Coins]

...

Lin Qi let out a slow breath when he saw the price.

’A Tier Three combat suit wasn’t cheap by any means, but he had to buy it for his own safety.’

Next, he started looking at long spears.

’Weapons, just like combat suits, are divided into nine tiers. The higher the tier, the more precious the alloy.’

’High-tier weapons are supposedly made with a metallic element from the Otherworld called Delta Alloy. The higher its content, the harder, sharper, and tougher the resulting weapon.’

’My old Thunder Horn Spear and the free alloy long spear from the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo had a very low Delta Alloy content. They were barely adequate against Second-Level Calamity Beasts.’

’Against Third-Level Calamity Beasts, they’d wear down easily and their edges would get dull. I have to buy a Tier Three long spear.’

The next moment, the page before him refreshed, displaying several options for long spears.

The new spear he had bought was a Training Lance; it was simply heavy, but real combat was a different matter.

He made his choice after a moment of consideration.

[Item: Thunder Shadow Type Three-stage Long Spear]

[Price: 4,500,000 Xia Country Coins!]

...

[Item: Taiyue Type Three-tiered Spear]

[Price: 5,000,000 Xia Country Coins!]

...

Lin Qi looked at the two models. The Thunder Shadow was suited for agile Martial Artists who focused on speed.

The Taiyue brand, on the other hand, was generally the top choice for those who focused on power and defense. The spear was heavier and also more expensive.

Weapons were even more expensive than combat suits.

Not giving himself time to fret over the cost, Lin Qi sent the shop his required spear weight and physical parameters, then added everything to his cart and checked out.

[Confirm purchase of the Tier Three Combat Suit and the Tier Three Taiyue Type 3 Long Spear? With your 40% discount, the total is 6,200,000 Xia Country Coins!]

[Fingerprint verification successful!]

[Payment successful!]

[6,200,000 Xia Country Coins have been paid!]

[Your Combat Suit and Taiyue Spear will be delivered tomorrow!]

Lin Qi closed Red Dome House and returned to the Martial Arts Room. His heart ached as he looked at his bank account balance.

’Buying the *Hundred Calamities Atlas* and the Disaster Beast Map already cost me nearly eight million.’

’Over the past month, I’ve spent a lot on cultivation resources, too.’

’First, there were the Qi and Blood Pills. I’ve already used up all the ones the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo gave me, so I had to buy a large amount on my own.’

On top of that, Energy Potions, High-Level Enhancement Potions, and Level 3 Nutritional Meals all cost a ton of money.

His balance was now just under ten million Xia Country Coins.

’At this rate, who knows when I’ll be able to save up fifty million Xia Country Coins.’

Lin Qi remembered what Dean Liu had said: he should have at least one hundred million Xia Country Coins before trying to buy the Water of Rebirth.

’Forget one hundred million, I don’t even have thirty million right now.’

’I have to compete. I need to get a higher rank in the freshman competition to earn more money.’

Lin Qi clenched his fists. He was desperate for money.

...

「The next day, in the Martial Arts Room.」

ROAR—

GRR... GRR...

In Lin Qi’s Consciousness Space, a streamlined Mastiff Dog bared its fangs and brandished its claws, fighting ten Calamity Beasts at once.

CHOMP—

It leaped into the air, its sharp teeth sinking viciously into the neck of an Iron Spike Wild Boar.

GURGLE—

The Iron Spike Wild Boar collapsed and died instantly. The Mastiff Dog continued its assault, pouncing on another Mastiff Dog.

Even when its opponent bit it, it could recover instantly, relying on its powerful Recovery Ability.

As the Mastiff Dog, Lin Qi hunted down and killed all ten First-Level Calamity Beasts in succession.

ROAR—

The Mastiff Dog roared at the sky before dissolving into golden light. Lin Qi’s Consciousness Space trembled violently.

The formless gray mist expanded.

Lin Qi’s eyes snapped open, glowing like lightbulbs as a dazzling golden light flickered within them.

[You have successfully killed 10 First-Level Calamity Beasts. Your Spiritual Power has increased. Spiritual Power +1]

[Spiritual Power: 44 → 45]

...

Lin Qi slowly rose to his feet. He clenched his fists as he felt his Spiritual Power break through, sensing that his physical condition was also steadily improving.

’If my Spiritual Power is higher than my Qi and Blood Value, it provides a powerful boost to my perception.’

’If it’s lower, the effectiveness of my martial arts weakens.’

’My Qi and Blood would even be drained to supplement my Spiritual Power.’

But Lin Qi didn’t have that problem. His high Spiritual Power, combined with his Heart Eye Talent, gave his spear and body techniques a massive boost.

He checked his status panel again.

[Name: Lin Qi (18)]

[Template: True Monarch Erlang Yang Jian]

[Fusion Degree: 15.6%]

[Spiritual Power: 45]

[Qi and Blood Value: 38.1]

[Fist Technique: Tier Two 92%]

[Spear Technique: Tier Two 79%]

[Body Technique: Tier Two 52%]

...

’This is the full extent of my current power,’ Lin Qi thought, looking at the panel.

His gaze fell upon the Punch Force Tester in the distance.

’The freshman competition starts tomorrow. I should test my fist power again.’

BEEP!

He strode over to the Punch Force Tester and switched it on. As the digital screen lit up, he finished gathering his power.

He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowed, and he planted his feet. A terrifying aura exploded from him.

He seemed to transform into a Vajra Tiger, an explosive aura erupting from his fist.

Every muscle in his body tensed as his Qi and Blood surged. Veins bulged on his arm as he unleashed his coiled fist like a cannonball.

It whipped up a gale, slamming heavily into the punching target.

BANG!!

With a massive bang, the punching target shuddered violently, and the digital screen instantly refreshed with a new number—3180.1 kg!

A smile spread across Lin Qi’s face when he saw the number.

Next, he began to test his speed.

Three minutes later.

WHOOSH!!

Lin Qi dashed across the spacious Martial Arts Room, transforming into a terrifying bolt of lightning that streaked through the air.

BEEP!

A string of data instantly appeared on the digital screen—33 m/s.

Fist Power: 3180 kg!

Speed: 33 m/s.

These stats had completely surpassed the minimum physical requirements for a Third Realm Martial Artist.

’The minimum fist power for a Third Realm Martial Artist is 2,500 kilograms. I’m almost at 3,200 kilograms now, exceeding the base requirement by 700 kilograms. That’s even 200 kilograms more than the 3,000 kilograms recorded for a Vajra Tiger.’

’And this isn’t even my limit. Once my Qi and Blood Value breaks through 40, my fist power will jump again.’

Lin Qi clenched his fists, feeling an endless wellspring of power surge through him.

’Huo Wanyang... his nickname is Marquis Wen. He’s a fan of the strongest warrior from the Three Kingdoms era—Lv Bu.’

’He uses a Great Halberd and has Innate Divine Strength. He broke the fist power record when he enrolled, hitting over 2,800 kilograms.’

’I wonder how he compares to me now.’

Lin Qi was really looking forward to a match with Huo Wanyang.

Ao Feng and Duan Chuchu were strong, but neither gave him a true sense of rivalry.

Huo Wanyang was the sole exception. The guy was incredibly strong—a worthy opponent.

He let out a breath.

’Now to think about the freshman competition.’

He pulled out his phone and contacted Jiangtao, Guan Mountain, and the other top-ranked prodigies.

...

「Azure Sky First Institute. Top floor of the main academic building, in a spacious Martial Arts Room.」

”Wanyang, with your strength, you have no equal in this year’s freshman competition.”

”You are one of the strongest geniuses I have ever seen who hasn’t awakened a Special Ability.”

A bald, middle-aged man in a red martial arts uniform smiled at Huo Wanyang.

As one of the few Seventh Realm Martial Artists who used a Great Halberd, he was very satisfied with this student of his.

As Huo Wanyang’s teacher, he was certain to earn a great deal of Teaching Points in the future.

The powerfully-built Huo Wanyang grinned. ”None of the other freshmen are a match for me. The gap between us is just too wide.”

”Perhaps only Wei Peng from Nether Sea Martial Academy and Liang Yuxin from Shanyu Martial Arts University are even remotely interesting.”

”Ever since I was a kid, my targets have always been the geniuses who have awakened Special Abilities.”

”Even without a Special Ability, I can still surpass them,” Huo Wanyang said, looking up and clenching his fist confidently.

...

「Azure Sky Ninth Institute. Martial Arts Room, academic building.」

Ao Feng, clad in a white Martial Arts Uniform that highlighted his handsome features and fair skin, swung the Tang Cross Saber in his hand, its blade flashing with a cold light.

His figure flickered around the Martial Arts Room like a phantom.

SWISH! SWISH!!

A moment later, Ao Feng stopped, the blur of light from his blade freezing in place. An excited smile spread across his face.

”I’ve used up all my time in the Gravity Room and the Trial Tower, but my strength has really improved.”

”Even against Huo Wanyang, I can win. Power Type Martial Artists like him are most afraid of opponents like me.”

”The individual championship is as good as mine!”

...

「Martial Arts Calendar, Year 2046. August 10th. The weather was scorching.」

RUMBLE!!

The door to Villa 01 of the Azure Sky Sixth Institute rumbled open, and a tall Lin Qi emerged, dressed in a black Tier Three Combat Suit.

More than twenty electric vehicles were already parked at the entrance.

A sleek, black electric vehicle was parked right at the door.

”Brother Qi!!”

Lin Qi saw that everyone—Jiangtao, Guo Heng, Guan Mountain, Wang Qiufeng, Zhou Xiyin, Li Zhou, and more than a dozen others—had their eyes fixed on him. He announced decisively:

”Let’s move out!”

With that, he picked up his backpack and a black metal cylinder, got into the vehicle, and a blue metal sphere followed him.

RUMBLE!!

The fleet of electric vehicles roared to life and set off in a grand procession toward the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition. A large screen was projected in the air, displaying four words: Azure Sky Sixth Institute.

...