High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Merely a Bit of Wind and Frost

In the Shanyu Martial Arts University spectator stands.

Liang Yuxin was teleported back to her seat. She kept her head down, using her silver hair to hide her face.

This prevented her friends from the same university from getting a clear look at her expression.

She gripped her hair, the tearing pain on her scalp the only thing that made it feel real.

She had lost!

She had lost to Lin Qi. Her speed and her Yirou Ke Gang Force Dissipation Technique were completely useless against Lin Qi’s ferocious power.

She suddenly recalled what her teacher had told her not long ago:

”Yuxin, Force Discharge is just a combat technique. You can practice it, but don’t become obsessed with it. Your Swordsmanship is what’s truly key.”

”When you face a top-level master who possesses terrifying strength and unparalleled destructive power, your Force Dissipation Technique will be completely insignificant.”

At the time, she had dismissed his words, believing her technique was invincible against anyone at the same level.

Now, it seemed her teacher had been right. She had been a frog in a well.

...

[Match Two: Lin Qi (Azure Sky) Wins!]

Above the arena, an automated voice announced the result, devoid of all emotion.

”Let’s congratulate contestant Lin Qi from Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy! He has successfully defeated contestant Liang Yuxin of Shanyu Martial Arts University, powerfully advancing to the tenth round and becoming the second of the final nine contestants!”

”The battle between the strongest of these two great academies has finally come to a conclusion.”

”Let’s congratulate contestant Lin Qi!”

Vice Principal Xu Wenji’s voice also resounded in the ears of everyone in the audience.

CLAP! CLAP!!

Waves of applause and a tsunami of cheers erupted from the stands.

”Lin Qi is still terrifyingly consistent. I almost thought he was going to lose, but the moment he put in some real effort, Liang Yuxin couldn’t hold on.”

”Betting on Lin Qi is always the right move. He’s the only one who carries an air of invincibility. Besides the two geniuses with Awakened Special Abilities, he’s the strongest!”

”Lin Qi is incredible!!”

Countless spectators in the stands marveled at Lin Qi’s strength, gaining a more direct understanding of what it meant to be a master.

If any of them had gone up, they would have been instantly defeated.

This was the power of Xia Country’s top-level geniuses!

...

In the Nether Sea Martial Academy stands, Wei Peng, who was built like a savage bear, also began to applaud with a smile.

Now Huo Wanyang, himself, and Liang Yuxin—the top three scorers of the college entrance exams—had all been defeated at Lin Qi’s hands.

He felt much better now. Since everyone had lost, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

He knew from the very beginning of the fight that Liang Yuxin couldn’t win.

Lin Qi’s strength was even greater than his own; how could he possibly be defeated by a technique like Force Discharge?

Then, he looked toward Li Hanjiang in the distance. ’If Li Hanjiang loses too, I’ll feel even better,’ he thought.

...

In the leadership viewing area, the moment Liang Yuxin lost, the expression of the woman in yellow instantly turned grim.

”It seems the so-called strongest of Shanyu Martial Arts University was actually eliminated in the ninth round.”

The purple-robed woman from the Azure Sky Ninth Institute said with a smile.

”It seems I was right. There’s nothing wrong with Liang Yuxin’s Force Discharge, and the Flowing Water Sword Technique is also very powerful.”

”But against Lin Qi, while that method could theoretically counter him, her lack of sufficient strength meant she was countered instead,” Dean Liu said with a chuckle.

Everyone around could hear the boastful tone in his voice.

The people from Shanyu Martial Arts University fell silent.

This year’s National Freshman Competition might just set a new record for their university’s worst performance.

Their strongest, Liang Yuxin, was eliminated in the round of 18, leaving only Zhong Xinyan and Tan Pei’er.

If Tan Pei’er could win the championship, it would save them some face. If not, the outcome would be unthinkable.

...

In a corner of the Shanyu Martial Arts University stands, the pink-haired Tan Pei’er wore a disdainful smile.

”What an embarrassment to Shanyu Martial Arts University.”

”If it were me, I could take care of Lin Qi in just a few moves.”

”Liang Yuxin is just too weak.”

...

In another corner of the stands, the three geniuses from the Tenth Institute had also watched the entire battle.

The round-faced Han Zhen smiled. ”This Lin Qi is very strong. His power is immense, and his techniques are extremely destructive. Those are his advantages.”

”But the moment he faces me, those advantages will vanish completely.”

The two beside him didn’t object; they thought so too.

’Lin Qi is, after all, just an ordinary genius.’

’He hasn’t Awakened a Special Ability. He wouldn’t understand.’

...

In the spectator stands for the Azure Sky Sixth Institute.

Lin Qi was teleported back, and Jiangtao and the others immediately grew lively again.

”Brother Qi, you actually got tangled up with Liang Yuxin for over forty moves. I’m so disappointed.”

Jiangtao shook his head, annoyed that he had lost 100 Xia Country Coins.

Lin Qi also smiled. ”Liang Yuxin isn’t weak. Once we started fighting, I couldn’t control the flow entirely.”

’The real reason is that I’m still adapting to my Little Divine Power and wasted some time. Besides, Liang Yuxin did indeed cause me considerable trouble. Her Body Technique and Swordsmanship have both broken through to Tier Three. The Flowing Water Sword Technique excels at Force Discharge and combines fast and slow movements, making it very difficult to defeat her smoothly. Only someone like me could defeat her so easily. Anyone else who faced Liang Yuxin, with the probable exception of Li Hanjiang, would most likely have lost to her.’

Lin Qi clenched his fists. Now that he had entered the tenth round, his opponents were dwindling.

He would soon have to face the likes of Li Hanjiang, Tan Pei’er, and Han Zhen.

...

The matches of the ninth round continued, with the nine battles proceeding at a very fast pace.

This was because Tan Pei’er and Han Zhen, the two geniuses from the Tenth Institute, once again displayed strength that far surpassed the others.

They crushed their opponents yet again, easily advancing to the tenth round.

「Half an hour later」

”Dear students and teachers, the ninth round has now officially concluded.”

Xu Wenji appeared and projected a screen from his hand, displaying only nine names:

[Lin Qi, Han Zhen, Tan Pei’er, Li Hanjiang, Huo Wanyang, Ao Feng, Zhong Xinyan, Yi Shaojie, Duan Chuchu.]

Looking at the nine names, the students of Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy were ecstatic. Of the final nine, their academy accounted for five.

Nether Sea Martial Academy was left with only one person, Shanyu Martial Arts University still had two, and Xia Imperial Wuda had one.

Nether Sea, considered the second of the three top academies, was left with only Li Hanjiang.

Discussions broke out in the spectator stands.

”Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy truly lives up to its name as Xia Country’s number one martial arts university. Their overall strength is undeniable.”

”Nether Sea Martial Academy had bad luck. Wei Peng was eliminated early on, and they didn’t have any geniuses with Awakened Special Abilities participating.”

...

In the Nether Sea Martial Academy spectator stands.

Li Hanjiang looked at the list of the final nine, his expression calm as he said, ”So what if I’m the only one left? Once I crush everyone and take the championship, Nether Sea will still be the biggest winner.”

”This current situation is merely a minor setback.”

...

”Next, we will proceed to the tenth round. Contestants who successfully advance will receive a prize of 8 million Xia Country Coins.”

”Additionally, because we have nine contestants, according to the rules, one contestant will receive a bye and advance directly to the eleventh round.”

”After all, luck is also a part of strength.”

”The tenth round now officially begins!”

After Xu Wenji’s loud announcement, the nine names transformed into virtual figurines. They jumped onto a board that materialized, pairing up two by two to form a new match table.

Only one virtual figurine leaped into Xu Wenji’s hand, the name above its head exceptionally conspicuous.

[Tenth Round: Lin Qi (Azure Sky) receives a bye!]

...

”Let’s congratulate contestant Lin Qi on receiving a bye!” Xu Wenji announced clearly.

”Brother Qi, you got a bye!” The group from the Azure Sky Sixth Institute was also delighted.

With every round Lin Qi advanced, the more points he earned. In the final point rankings, their Sixth Institute’s ranking would only get higher—they might even take first place.

Although they were confident in Lin Qi’s strength, they believed he would most likely lose against Tan Pei’er and Han Zhen.

And moving forward, the probability of being matched against either of them was not low.

Lin Qi calmly gazed at the new match table. ’No matter who I’m matched against, I will make it to the end.’

[Match One: Li Hanjiang (Nether Sea) vs. Duan Chuchu (Azure Sky)]

[Match Two: Han Zhen (Azure Sky) vs. Yi Shaojie (Xia Imperial)]

[Match Three: Tan Pei’er (Shanyu) vs. Ao Feng (Azure Sky)]

[Match Four: Huo Wanyang (Azure Sky) vs. Zhong Xinyan (Shanyu)]

...

As soon as this match table was revealed, the expressions of Ao Feng and Yi Shaojie changed drastically.

Being matched against Tan Pei’er and Han Zhen meant they were as good as eliminated.

They wouldn’t be making it to the eleventh round.

Still, reaching this round was already their limit. They wouldn’t have been able to beat the other two remaining contestants either.

...

「Fifteen minutes later, the tenth round of the main competition concluded!」

Tan Pei’er and Han Zhen once again powerfully defeated their opponents, Ao Feng and Yi Shaojie, to advance.

In the stands, Ao Feng, with a sour expression, said to the others around him:

”This year’s champion is destined to be Han Zhen. He’s too strong. Not even Lin Qi can beat him.”

...

”Dear students and teachers, the competition has now reached the eleventh round.”

”These five contestants will compete for the final championship in the upcoming matches.”

”Our competition is only getting more and more exciting.”

Five virtual figurines hovered above Xu Wenji’s palm.

[Lin Qi, Han Zhen, Tan Pei’er, Li Hanjiang, Huo Wanyang.]

”In the eleventh round, we will eliminate two contestants, with only three advancing to the semifinals.”

”One contestant will now receive a bye directly into the semifinals.”

As Xu Wenji finished speaking, the five virtual figurines began to spin.

Soon, one of them landed in his palm.

[Semifinals Bye: Tan Pei’er (Shanyu)]

The remaining four landed on the virtual arena, forming two matches.

[Match One: Han Zhen (Azure Sky) vs. Huo Wanyang (Azure Sky)]

[Match Two: Lin Qi (Azure Sky) vs. Li Hanjiang (Nether Sea)]

...

”Let’s congratulate contestant Tan Pei’er from Shanyu Martial Arts University on receiving a bye directly into the semifinals.”

After Xu Wenji spoke, there was little reaction from the crowd. Only Tan Pei’er shook her head and laughed.

”How boring. It would have been more interesting if I had been matched against Han Zhen and eliminated him in the eleventh round, preventing him from even reaching the semifinals.”

...

The crowd erupted again upon seeing the match table. Xu Wenji didn’t hesitate and immediately called the two contestants for the first match to the stage.

”Next, let’s welcome two contestants from Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, Huo Wanyang and Han Zhen!”

At that moment, Huo Wanyang’s expression was grave as he sat in the stands. His physical foundation was at the limit for an ordinary genius.

But against a genius with an Awakened Special Ability, he was still a tier below.

The next second, his gaze became resolute. He was determined to see for himself just how strong Han Zhen really was.

...