High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 232: Chapter 232: First Move, Instant Kill

At the same time, everyone looked up at the match bracket above the arena. The various experts were also searching for their opponents.

Lin Qi quickly scanned the list for his name. His eyes, like radar, soon found it.

[Match 2: Lin Qi (Azure Sky) VS Mao Jia (Sichuan)]

He wore a strange expression. He’d only just learned Mao Jia’s name, and now, in his very first match, he was set to fight her.

”Brother Qi, your first opponent is the strongest fighter from Sichuan Martial Academy—Mao Jia.”

”It’s time to show them the power of the top expert from Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, the strongest Martial Arts University in the Xia Country,” Jiangtao said, his expression thrilled.

The others around them also grew excited.

His spar with Guan Mountain some time ago had already left them in awe of his profound skill. Now, after some time apart, the aura emanating from Lin Qi had become even more terrifying.

Even Jiangtao, who was closest to him, no longer knew just how strong Lin Qi was.

...

When the match bracket was released, an uproar went through the audience. The 30 seeded contestants also saw their respective opponents.

All of them were eager to fight, impatient to display their own strength.

”We’ve been watching matches for two days. It’s finally time to get in there and fight!”

”Time to let the people from the ordinary schools see what the strength of the Xia Country’s top geniuses really looks like.”

”My battle saber is already thirsting for a fight!”

They were like a pack of hunters, silently waiting for their prey.

...

「In the Sichuan Martial Academy spectator section.」

”Sister Jia, your opponent this time is Lin Qi from Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, one of the three great academies. Beat him!”

”We all believe you can win.”

In the center of the crowd sat a petite and delicate girl. She was only about 1.6 meters tall, with small, exquisite features and fair skin.

She wore her hair in a bun, her arms were crossed, and her aura was formidable.

Among the group of strong boys, many of whom were 1.9 or even 2 meters tall, she seemed exceptionally small.

But many of them looked at the petite girl with anticipation in their eyes.

Mao Jia was the strongest first-year at their Sichuan Martial Academy. After enrolling, she had successively defeated all the other geniuses, possessing a level of strength that far surpassed her peers.

Whether it was her Qi and Blood Value or her Martial Arts, she surpassed everyone. She was considered to have the makings of an S-class genius—a talent that had been overlooked.

A very confident smile appeared on Mao Jia’s delicate little face.

In the two consecutive rounds of the main tournament, she had displayed strength that surpassed the geniuses from the three great academies.

’The geniuses from the three great academies are nothing special after all.’

Amidst everyone’s flattery, she suddenly had such a thought.

”Lin Qi... I hear he’s the number one student at Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy. If I can beat him, it’ll prove I have the ability to compete for the championship,” she said aloud.

”Go, Sister Jia!” the people around her cheered excitedly.

...

「On the spacious arena floor.」

Three minutes into the first match of the fourth round, a victor was decided.

POOF.

One person fell and dissipated into the void. Zhou Xiyin, dressed in a white combat suit, let out a breath.

Even with her strength, winning in the fourth round had become extremely difficult.

[Match 1: Zhou Xiyin (Azure Sky) wins!]

After returning to the spectator section, Zhou Xiyin’s gaze locked onto Lin Qi beside her.

”Brother Qi’s taking the stage!”

Everyone watched as the tall, handsome, and spirited Lin Qi slowly stood up, an invisible aura radiating from his body.

Everyone’s heart trembled. It felt like encountering a man-eating tiger in the wild.

BUZZ!

Lin Qi was enveloped in a pillar of crimson light and descended onto the vast arena floor.

At that moment, the arena transformed. It now looked like a ruin, with crumbling walls, dilapidated and abandoned cars, tanks...

A wide road surface lay exposed amidst the cracked asphalt and concrete.

Two pillars of crimson light descended upon the empty arena.

Lin Qi and Mao Jia, now in their combat suits and holding their weapons, emerged from their respective crimson pillars of light.

...

Mao Jia wore a red combat suit. Though her frame was petite, her presence was powerful, radiating an intense aura.

She held a Han Sword with a red hilt, which glinted with a cold, silver light.

Mao Jia looked at the composed Lin Qi, puffed out her chest, and gave her sword a flourish. A smile appeared on her fair face as she said:

”I hear you’re the top first-year at Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy? And that you defeated Huo Wanyang, the runner-up in the national entrance exam?”

Dressed in a black combat suit and holding a Black Great Spear in one hand, Lin Qi replied calmly, ”That was me.”

”If I can beat you, then maybe I can take the championship for the national first-years.”

”I’ll make history for Sichuan Martial Academy and be the first person ever to do it.”

Lin Qi was stunned for a moment, then said, ”In that case, I can only wish you good luck.”

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

[The second match officially begins!]

...

In an area hidden from the view of other spectators was the viewing section for the leaders of each academy.

Sichuan Martial Academy was one of the Ten Great Schools, and its leaders of various levels were seated together.

One of them, a stout, middle-aged man with a smooth, bald head, looked at Mao Jia in the arena and broke into a smile. He said confidently:

”Little Jia is a genius our Sichuan Martial Academy has carefully cultivated this year. Her family isn’t well-off, so she didn’t have good resources to train with when she was young and was held back quite a bit.”

”After she enrolled, we decisively poured a ton of resources into her, allowing her to grow rapidly.”

”Now, she has lived up to our expectations and already possesses the ability of an S-class genius.”

”Even against Lin Qi from Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, she won’t be outmatched. Just you watch, this is destined to be a spectacular fight!”

”Then we shall wait and see.”

The leaders from the other academies looked at the bald man with envy. They were rarely willing to pour so many resources into a single genius.

If the student ultimately failed to meet expectations, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Thus, they were very curious to see just what level this home-grown Mao Jia had reached.

At that moment, not far away in the Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy’s section, a dozen or so school leaders also overheard the conversation.

They exchanged glances, all of them smiling and shaking their heads.

Dean Liu’s expression remained calm. He felt it was time for that man to learn what kind of place Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy truly was.

...

In the stands, the deans from Xia Imperial Military Academy and the three great academies all had their eyes on Lin Qi.

Their eyes were filled with curiosity, wanting to glimpse Lin Qi’s true strength through this battle.

...

On the ruined arena floor, the synthesized voice’s loud announcement signaled that the battle was about to erupt.

SWOOSH!

Mao Jia stomped on the asphalt road, cracking the ground beneath her. Like a gale of wind, she charged forward, brandishing her Han Sword.

The Han Sword danced through the air, nimble and swift, its movements unpredictable and ever-changing.

Just like Duan Chuchu, she practiced the Golden Snake Sword Skill.

For female fighters, dexterous and versatile swordsmanship was generally a better fit, allowing them to more effectively display their strength.

The moment she attacked, she filled the air with a flurry of sword images. Her movements were as swift as lightning as she unleashed a continuous barrage of thrusts, the afterimages of her blade as dense as a sudden downpour.

Golden Snake Sword Skill—Dance of a Thousand Snakes!

Lin Qi stood his ground. Mao Jia had been less than 20 meters away, but in the space of a single breath, she was already less than two meters from him, carried by a strong gust of wind.

His eyes were bright, his gaze like lightning. As he scanned his opponent, the movements of the Golden Snake Sword Skill seemed to slow down in his vision.

At the most dangerous moment, he finally moved, his leg muscles tensing with power.

He stomped one foot on the concrete pavement.

His figure flickered and vanished from his spot!

BANG!

A deep footprint and a web of spider-like cracks instantly appeared on the road surface.

...