High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Huo Wanyang’s Terrifying Strength

[The first match is about to begin!]

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

[The match has officially begun!]

SWOOSH—

The moment the automated voice announced the start, Chang Xiaoliu launched her attack.

Like Li Zehao, she possessed the speed of a gale. Her core was tight, and her steps were powerful.

A whirlwind of green, she brandished her Yanling Saber, unleashing an endless shroud of light from its blade.

Facing Chang Xiaoliu’s attack, Lin Qi moved in an instant, lunging forward like a bolt of lightning.

’So fast!’

Chang Xiaoliu’s expression changed drastically!

In the next instant, Lin Qi’s wrist snapped, and his spear shot out like a dragon. It was a simple thrust, yet it flew in a straight line, instantly kicking up a fierce gale and carrying a terrifying aura.

CLANG! CLANG!

Chang Xiaoliu swung her Yanling Saber to block, but the sharp Battle Saber striking the Long Spear couldn’t alter its trajectory.

A cold glint flashed, the spear striking like a dragon.

PFFT—

The spear tip pierced Chang Xiaoliu’s throat. The battle was over.

Chang Xiaoliu was dead!

[Match 1: Lin Qi (Sixth Institute) is the winner!]

The automated voice announced.

Lin Qi retracted his spear and vanished. His current strength was simply too immense; an Ordinary opponent couldn’t even withstand two of his thrusts.

Back in the stands, he understood that his physical fitness far surpassed the others. In terms of sheer strength and speed, few of the new students were his match.

CLAP! CLAP!

The thunderous applause of over a thousand students from the Azure Sky Sixth Institute erupted around him.

The rest of the audience burst into another uproar.

”Another one-hit kill! The gap is just too wide!”

”Who can possibly stop Lin Qi?” someone asked, shaking their head.

Meanwhile, in the Azure Sky First Institute’s section of the stands, the powerfully built Huo Wanyang, whose muscles flowed with lean definition, folded his arms. His rugged features made his smile seem ferocious.

”Not bad. He’s a decent opponent.”

”It’s better if he’s strong. That way, there’s a sense of accomplishment in defeating him!”

With that, he stood up.

He transformed into a pillar of crimson light, vanished, and reappeared in the arena.

Huo Wanyang emerged from the crimson pillar of light, clad in a red Combat Suit.

He stood 206 centimeters tall with broad shoulders, his muscles looking as if they were forged from steel. A tyrannical aura radiated from his body.

He wielded a heavy Red Halberd, its sharp blade gleaming with a biting cold light.

The man looked like a man-eating beast.

Across from him, Guo Heng walked out slowly, his expression grave. He too was tall and sturdy, with well-developed muscles.

He was also over two meters tall, not unlike Huo Wanyang, and wielded a Battle Saber, exuding a fierce and powerful presence.

But facing Huo Wanyang, he seemed half a size smaller. The contrast was obvious, and his own invisible aura was suppressed by the other’s might.

This was the difference in their innate physical frames.

He felt immense pressure—the crushing presence of the second-ranked fighter in the nation.

’I’d like to see just how big the gap between us really is.’

[The match has officially begun!]

The automated voice instantly announced through the air.

WHOOSH—

A terrifying aura erupted from both fighters. Guo Heng, who cultivated the Vajra Tiger Evolution Technique, seemed to manifest the form of a giant golden tiger around him.

Across from him, Huo Wanyang grinned, and the form of a massive black creature with a powerful, lizard-like body materialized.

SWISH!

Guo Heng brandished his Battle Saber, unleashing tyrannical force. He strode forward and, pouring Power into his blade, swung it out like a colossal, surging wave from the sea.

Huo Wanyang swung his Red Halberd. He stamped his foot on the ground, and the Great Halberd tore through the air, descending in a Heavy Slash like an Axe Blade.

BOOM!

The Silver Battle Saber and Red Halberd clashed violently in mid-air, making the air crackle.

Guo Heng’s expression changed drastically. He felt a terrifying force blast from the Battle Saber and into his body.

The intense Power tore at his muscles, and his arms went numb in an instant.

He was horrified. ’I cultivate the Vajra Tiger Evolution Technique! My Qi and Blood Value is nearly 35!’

’My Fist Power should be at least 2,600 kilograms, yet in a direct confrontation, I’m being completely suppressed by Huo Wanyang!’

BANG!

The terrifying force sent him stumbling backward uncontrollably. With one brawny arm, Huo Wanyang gripped his Great Halberd and thrust it forward. The tip sliced through the air, letting out a sharp whistle and kicking up a violent gust.

’Fast!’

Gritting his teeth against the pain in his arms, Guo Heng swung his Battle Saber to strike the Great Halberd.

CLANG!

PFFT—

His Battle Saber hit the Great Halberd but failed to alter its path. The sharp tip pierced his own heart.

Huo Wanyang looked down at the fallen Guo Heng, shook his head, and said:

”Boring. Too weak!”

In the next instant, Guo Heng dissipated into nothingness and reappeared in the stands.

He spoke grimly,

”Huo Wanyang is too strong. Sorry, I did my best, but I couldn’t even force him to reveal his true strength.”

Jiangtao comforted him, ”Don’t worry about it, Aheng. You already did great.”

The faces of the others were grim. Their impression of Huo Wanyang was one of indisputable power.

They knew how strong Guo Heng was, yet he had been crushed, completely unable to fight back.

Lin Qi frowned as he watched Huo Wanyang disappear from the arena. ’His strength really is formidable,’ he thought.

’Unmatched power, Innate Divine Strength. He can blast out terrifying force with that heavy Great Halberd, crushing opponents fair and square.’

’His Qi and Blood Value hasn’t broken through to the Third Realm, but it’s at the peak of the Second Realm.’

’Not only that, his Halberd Technique Realm is not low either. It’s almost the same as mine, having broken past 80% of Tier Two, not far from the High Second Rank.’

’Very few people can withstand his attacks.’

’He is an extremely powerful opponent.’

***

Meanwhile, in a nearby section of the stands, a pretty, short-haired woman with a heroic air shook her head.

”Aheng’s Talent is already good, but it’s nothing against an S-class genius.”

”Unless his Talent can improve further... It looks like I’ll have to give him a helping hand.”

After muttering to herself, she chose to log off.

***

「The fourth round continued.」

Lin Qi and Huo Wanyang had kicked things off, and every match that followed was thrilling. However, the fights involving the Deans tended to end very quickly.

Ao Feng, nicknamed Ghost Blade, possessed an elusive Saber Technique and incredible speed, killing his opponent in two strikes.

Duan Chuchu had a similar style, her Swordsmanship as fierce as a golden serpent’s frenzied dance.

From the stands, Lin Qi watched their battles, gaining a general understanding of everyone’s Qi and Blood Values and Martial Arts.

The fourth round officially ended at nine o’clock that night.

The final top 25 were decided. Lin Qi looked around; from his Azure Sky Sixth Institute, only Guan Mountain and Jiangtao remained. Just three of them in total.

That was still considered a good number. The Azure Sky Seventh Institute was down to just its Dean.

***

「Time passed to the next day.」

「8:00 AM」

WHOOSH—

Inside the Martial Arts Room, fierce gusts of wind swirled around Lin Qi, who was seated cross-legged.

The moment he opened his eyes, the gales completely dissipated, rustling the silver curtains.

A terrifying aura erupted from Lin Qi’s body.

[You have completed a training session. Qi and Blood Value breakthrough. Qi and Blood Value +0.1]

[Qi and Blood Value: 38.9 → 39]

...

Lin Qi exhaled as he stood up, looking at his Qi and Blood Value of 39. He was only 1 point away from 40.

He was already very close to a Qi and Blood Value of 40.

’After the individual competition ends, I should prepare to break through to become a Third Realm Martial Artist,’ Lin Qi thought to himself. He couldn’t help but marvel at how the university was truly a Martial Arts Sacred Land; the rate of improvement was just too fast.

After some brief contemplation, he entered the Virtual Cabin to begin today’s individual competition.

Today, he would officially rise to the top of the new student body at Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy.

BEEP!

BZZZT!!

After a tingling sensation passed, he opened his eyes again to the clamor of a noisy and lively crowd coming from all directions.

The arena stands were as boisterous as ever, filled with heated discussions.

”From 25 down to 13, besides the twelve S-class talents, there’s one A-level talent. Maybe I’ll get a bye and advance directly,” Jiangtao said.

The others laughed when they heard him, but they all had to admit that Jiangtao was improving very quickly.

Without anyone really noticing, his strength had risen from around tenth place in the Sixth Institute to the level of third place.

Only then did everyone realize that he too was a Top Level talent.

”Brother Qi, yesterday on the school forums, someone posted a poll asking who would win the championship.”

”Huo Wanyang got the most votes, Ao Feng was second, you were third, and Duan Chuchu was fourth.”

”Most people aren’t betting on you. You have to prove them all wrong!” Jiangtao said indignantly.

”They will pay the price for underestimating him,” Zhou Xiyin added.

A smile touched the corners of Lin Qi’s mouth as he said,

”Then let’s give them a little surprise!”

Jiangtao smiled too. He knew Brother Qi was about to get serious. The championship of this year’s new student individual competition would definitely belong to their Azure Sky Sixth Institute.

***

”Students!”

The Vice-Principal began speaking with practiced ease, and the entire audience immediately fell silent.

”Today is the final day of the new student individual competition. The ultimate champion will also be decided today.”

”The 25 contestants who advanced yesterday will now compete to determine the final 13 who will enter the sixth round. At the same time, they will also receive a reward of 3 million Xia Country Coins!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he extended his hand. Special effects formed 24 small virtual figures that began to pair up, leaving one standing alone in his palm.

When Lin Qi saw this, he smiled.

[Contestant with a bye: Lin Qi (Sixth Institute)]

”Lin Qi from the Azure Sky Sixth Institute gets a bye!”

At the same time, the match-ups for the other 12 pairs were all revealed.

Many in the audience had mixed expressions upon seeing the pairings, because it was almost always a Dean versus another student, with no instances of Deans fighting each other.

It was hard not to suspect the school was pulling strings behind the scenes, but they accepted the result nonetheless.

Lin Qi sat in the stands and watched the battles of Huo Wanyang, Ao Feng, Duan Chuchu, and the others.

He also made sure to memorize the Secret Manuals and Body Techniques they used.

Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat.

He was sure that Huo Wanyang and the others would also be investigating his Mountain Splitting Spear Technique and Thunder Light Body Technique.

’I wonder if my future opponents can give me any surprises,’ he thought.

***

「Half an hour later.」

The fifth round officially ended!

The final top 13 were decided. Aside from the twelve S-class talents, there was one A-level talent: Guan Mountain.

”Old Guan, amazing!” Jiangtao exclaimed, looking at Guan Mountain.

The corner of Guan Mountain’s mouth curved up. ”If I don’t get serious, you all really think I’m weak!”

”In North River Province, I was also a top-five talent.”

Everyone nodded. From the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition to the individual tournament, Guan Mountain had already demonstrated his top-level combat prowess. Within the Azure Sky Sixth Institute, he was the strongest besides Lin Qi.

”Students, the fifth round has now concluded,” Vice-Principal Xu Wenji said slowly. ”Next, let’s officially begin the sixth round. Of the thirteen contestants, only seven will be able to advance to the next round. Each of them will receive 3.5 million Xia Country Coins.”

At the same time, 12 of the virtual figures combined to form the new match-up bracket.

The battle between Deans that everyone had been waiting for was about to begin!

***