High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 249: Chapter 249: Dominating the Summit

In the VIP spectator stands,

The countless dignitaries watching the clash in the arena couldn’t help but show the shock on their faces.

”How is Lin Qi able to fight on par with Han Zhen, who has an Awakened Special Ability? Just how strong is his physique?”

”Is this his true strength? Has he been hiding it this whole time?”

Countless people exchanged bewildered glances. This was the first time they had ever witnessed such a situation.

Nothing like this had ever happened, even in previous National Freshman Tournaments.

The various deans of Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy were also stunned. Lin Qi’s strength had far exceeded their expectations.

”Lin Qi can actually hold his own against Han Zhen. He’s much stronger than we thought.”

”He might even win!”

Wu Yueze said, letting out a breath.

”Lin Qi’s Talent is indeed strong. But being able to contend with Han Zhen is one thing; actually winning is another matter entirely.”

”Right now, Lin Qi is on the defensive. It will still be extremely difficult for him to win,” the black-robed woman from the Third Institute remarked.

The purple-robed woman from the Ninth Institute also offered her analysis:

”Not only is Han Zhen’s Saber Technique Realm superior to Lin Qi’s, but he also practices a Silver Level Saber Technique Secret Manual—the ’Red Flame Saber Technique’.”

”This Saber Technique was specifically created for those with the Red Flame Ability. Not only are its techniques exquisite, but its utilization of Power is also on a higher level.”

”Combined with his special Power, an ordinary person’s body wouldn’t be able to withstand his barrage of attacks. Their very bones and flesh would suffer severe damage with every impact.”

”If this continues, his body will break down.”

”At that point, the battle will be over.”

The others who were listening shared the purple-robed woman’s opinion.

After hearing this, Dean Liu turned and asked Mu Hong, who was beside him:

”Do you think Lin Qi can win?”

The black-robed Mu Hong crossed his arms and pondered for a moment. ”Logically, I don’t think my disciple can win.”

”But emotionally... I hope he does!”

Dean Liu nodded. ”Same here.”

”Let’s hope Lin Qi can give us more surprises.”

***

In the Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy spectator stands.

”Brother Qi, you can do it!” Jiangtao shouted at the top of his lungs.

When they saw Lin Qi facing Han Zhen head-on without being pushed back, the crowd was both shocked and overjoyed.

They all started cheering him on—not just his friends, but many other spectators as well.

They all wanted Lin Qi to win!

***

Back in the ruined arena,

BANG!

Two figures darted about, trading blows. Their weapons clashed, sending sparks flying. Their feet slammed into the concrete, cracking the ground, shaking the earth, and sending debris scattering.

Lin Qi’s Perception was pushed to its absolute limit as he sensed mortal danger.

His muscles exploded with power. He instinctively shifted his feet, moving like a flash of lightning and dodging by a mere inch.

PFFT!

A sharp pain shot across his face, accompanied by the smell of his own flesh searing.

Han Zhen’s battle saber reflected his face. A long gash had been torn across it, and the blood that trickled out was instantly seared black by the intense heat.

Lin Qi swung his Black Great Spear to parry!

BANG!

THUD! THUD!

He stumbled backward, unable to stop himself.

Han Zhen forced himself to ignore his numb arm and took a breath. ”Lin Qi, just give up!”

”Your body is already starting to break down!”

”This fight is over!”

WHOOSH...

Lin Qi gritted his teeth. He had to admit Han Zhen was right. His body was indeed beginning to collapse. With every collision, the damage to his arms worsened.

Intense pain shot through his entire body, and his internal organs felt as if they were being scorched by flames.

This wasn’t an illusion; his organs were truly being burned by Han Zhen’s special high-temperature Power.

His once-broad arms were now completely swollen and purplish-red.

’If this goes on, I’m going to die.’

His opponent’s techniques were simply too powerful. If not for his [Steel Bones and Iron Flesh] and [Dragon Energy and Tiger Fierceness] Talents, he would already be dead.

’So, if I want to win, I have no choice but to play my trump card.’

Lin Qi exhaled, a smirk playing on his lips.

”You’re right. This fight *is* over!”

A single thought ignited his body like a fuse.

Little Divine Power, [Vajra Transformation], activate!

THUMP-THUMP!

In an instant, a vast power erupted from the depths of his being. His heart suddenly began to pound like a powerful pump, sending blood surging through his veins.

RUMBLE!

The sound of his surging Qi Blood was like muffled thunder, his blood rushing like the torrential waters of the Yellow River.

The mark on his chest lit up, and from it, thin golden lines spread across the surface of his skin.

They crawled up his neck as every muscle began to rev like a high-speed engine. His entire body was activated, his cells vibrating with energy.

His veins bulged. The twelve Great Tendons throughout his body rose like coiling dragons, and the great ”dragon” of his spine straightened.

His muscles swelled like tempered steel as an endless stream of power surged forth, making his frame appear even more imposing.

A tyrannical aura erupted from him. In that moment, he was like a Level 8 Calamity Beast—the Vajra Tiger.

His pupils flickered with a golden light, as brilliant and dazzling as pure gold.

The terrifying pressure spread outwards, compressing the very air around him. His body temperature soared, forming a white vapor.

All the pain in his body vanished, replaced by an infinite strength that made him feel he could destroy everything before him.

ROAR!

’What is...?’

The burly Han Zhen, standing opposite him, felt the drastic change in Lin Qi.

The golden patterns emerging on his skin and the golden gleam in his eyes, in particular, gave Han Zhen a terrible premonition.

’I’ll end this with one strike!’

BANG!

His entire body erupted with power. A special Power surged out of him like a volcanic eruption as crimson patterns appeared on his skin.

The scorching Power enveloped the battle saber in his hand, making it look as if it were on fire and causing the air temperature to spike dramatically.

He let out a furious roar and shot forward with an explosive step. With the force of a landslide, his battle saber kicked up a wave of heat.

He controlled the Flow of Power, and its friction with the air seemed to form a giant bird that slashed toward Lin Qi, as if he and his saber had become one.

Red Flame Saber Technique—Soaring Charge!

He hadn’t even used this level of power when he faced Tan Pei’er.

Lin Qi’s expression was calm as he gripped the Black Great Spear with both hands and swung it in an instant.

He continuously poured his immense Power into the great spear.

VMMMM!

The shaft of the spear began to hum. His gaze locked onto Han Zhen, his Heart Eye Talent pushed to its peak, searching for the perfect moment to strike.

SWISHHH!

In that split second, Lin Qi stomped his feet, his figure transforming into a black, lightning-like afterimage, leaving deep footprints and cracks in the ground where he had stood.

Lin Qi felt as if everything around him had frozen, with only him moving through it all.

His physical attributes had increased by a huge margin, and that included his speed.

He felt his current speed had already surpassed 54 m/s.

He had exceeded the minimum speed of a Fourth Realm Martial Artist.

His eyes, brilliant as gold, watched the approaching heatwave. Han Zhen’s every movement seemed to slow down in his vision.

He gathered power in his Black Great Spear, perfectly fusing the Power in his body, now like refined steel, into the tip of the weapon.

At the perfect moment, under his precise control, he thrust the Black Great Spear forward with unstoppable force.

He unleashed the terrifying force within him, thrusting with enough power to split a mountain. The surrounding air was instantly torn apart.

HISS... HISS...

The air compressed into a single point in an instant, forming a white ring of vapor that collided with the red heatwave released by Han Zhen.

The next moment, Lin Qi erupted again. The tip of the black spear shot forward, making the air ripple as if it would shatter everything in its path!

Mountain Splitting Spear Technique’s Third Killing Technique—Mountain Splitting!

BOOM!

Everyone in the audience stared wide-eyed at the scene, unable to comprehend what was happening.

All they knew was that Lin Qi had suddenly become immensely stronger, initiating another cataclysmic collision.

BANG!

In that instant, Han Zhen’s expression changed. His eyes went wide as he watched Lin Qi move through what felt like frozen space.

It was a speed far greater than his own.

His battle saber, wreathed in crimson Power, collided with the tip of the spear. The terrifying force within exploded like a meteor striking the earth!

The air cracked, and a deafening sound echoed throughout the arena.

An invisible shockwave radiated out from their position, kicking up clouds of dust.

Lin Qi once again felt the scorching Power wash over him, but this time his body withstood it, feeling none of the earlier pain.

THUD! THUD!

He took four or five steps back, stamping deep footprints into the ground to stabilize himself.

With his physical attributes soaring, he had managed to endure the impact.

Han Zhen, on the other hand, was not so fortunate.

He felt his battle saber tremble as a force far beyond his ability to withstand washed over him like a deep-sea tsunami.

His body felt as if it had been slammed by a high-speed train.

The Red Flame Power he had gathered and unleashed was instantly shattered by the terrifying force.

CRACK! CRACK!

The force traveled up the blade and slammed into his body, wreaking havoc inside him—tearing his muscles, rupturing his blood vessels, cracking his bones...

Both of his arms went numb instantly. The battle saber was knocked from his grasp and sent flying to who-knows-where.

THUD!

Han Zhen’s burly frame slammed heavily onto a massive boulder, his body embedding itself into the rock as rubble rained down.

His body went rigid. An intense pain flooded his senses, his Qi Blood churned, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

’How is this possible...?’

Lying in the rubble, Han Zhen stared wide-eyed at the tall, black-clad figure slowly emerging from the dust not far away. Lin Qi radiated a terrifying aura, his eyes glowing with golden light, like a Level 8 Vajra Tiger reborn.

”How... how did you do that...?”

Han Zhen was horrified. Even after unleashing his full power, he had been no match for Lin Qi, who had grievously wounded him in a single move.

His opponent’s speed and power had skyrocketed in an instant, completely surpassing his own.

Otherwise, with his powerful physique, he never would have been beaten to the point of his body going numb.

”Han Zhen, the fight is over!”

Lin Qi spoke slowly as his Black Great Spear shot forward, whistling through the air.

The sharp tip of the spear glinted with a cold light, accompanied by a faint breeze.

PFFT!

Han Zhen’s eyes widened as he watched the spear tip thrust forward, viciously piercing his chest and shredding his heart.

A spray of blood erupted. Along with a final, searing pain, his consciousness slowly faded as he dissipated into nothingness, vanishing into thin air.

The battle was over!

The final match had concluded. Lin Qi was the victor!

***

In a corner of the Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy’s spectator stands, the burly Han Zhen was instantly teleported back.

He stood there, his gaze vacant, his body trembling.

’I lost!’

’I actually lost!’

’I’m an S-class genius who has Awakened a Special Ability! A prodigy from the Tenth Academy of Azure Sky Martial Arts University!’

’Where did it all go wrong...?’

***