High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 287: Chapter 287: Earning 30 Million

[During your intense battle with Ding Danxuan, your mastery of Mountain Shaking Power has greatly increased. Spear Technique breakthrough. Spear Technique +2%]

[Spear Technique: Tier Three 43% → 45%]

...

Lin Qi exhaled and nodded to himself.

Sparring with Ding Danxuan was the right call. He could feel the Power she released from her entire body and clash with it intensely.

Just one simple sparring session had taken his mastery of Power to the next level.

A month had passed since Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy started its new semester after the Spring Festival.

His Spear Technique Realm had also risen to Tier Three 45%.

He could feel that after reaching Tier Three in Spear Technique, every 1% increase was a struggle.

If he hadn’t recently been comprehending Power Separation, he might not have been able to break past Tier Three 40%.

This was also evident from Ding Danxuan. She was the Dean of the Sixth Institute for second-year students.

Among the twelve S-class geniuses in the second year, she was ranked fifth from the bottom.

Although she was stronger than him, the gap was limited. She was much weaker than he had imagined, probably around the Tier Three Middle Stage, which was about Tier Three 60%.

Lin Qi felt that he could surpass her in another two or three months.

’Next up is the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition tomorrow!’

’This is my chance to make some money.’

Lin Qi slowly stood up.

”Master, Dean Liu is calling!” Little Chan suddenly spoke while Lin Qi was lost in thought.

”Answer it!”

”Yes, Master!”

The blue-robed Little Chan next to him projected a large green screen.

The face of Dean Liu, fair-skinned with large earlobes, appeared on the screen.

”Lin Qi, the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition is tomorrow.”

”It’s a crucial event for you.”

Hearing this, Lin Qi frowned in confusion.

Seeing his reaction, Dean Liu began to explain:

”After the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition, you’ll need to prepare to go to the Otherworld to cultivate a Source Energy Technique.”

”There are three major expenses involved: an Intermediate Source Energy Technique, the blood of a Ninth-Level Calamity Beast, and the opportunity to observe a Ninth-Level Calamity Beast.”

”Each of these costs a fortune, and all three are indispensable. Together, you’ll need at least forty million Xia Country Coins.”

”Lin Qi, do you have enough money right now?”

Lin Qi’s heart sank. ’So expensive?’

He needed at least forty million. His expenses over the past half-month hadn’t been low—energy drinks, nutritional meals, cultivation resources, and so on. He was left with less than thirty million Xia Country Coins.

The money he had now was definitely not enough.

Seeing his expression, Dean Liu chuckled.

”That’s why in tomorrow’s Disaster Beast Hunting Competition, you have to go all out and hunt as many Calamity Beasts as you can. You must last until the very end.”

Lin Qi understood then just how critical tomorrow would be.

He nodded and said, ”I understand!”

After hanging up, Lin Qi frowned and began to calculate silently.

If a trip to the Otherworld cost at least forty million, he also had to account for the cost of other cultivation resources later on.

He would need to earn at least thirty to forty million Xia Country Coins.

In other words, compared to last semester, he had to earn at least three times as much money from hunting Calamity Beasts for points.

The task was daunting, but not impossible.

’Looks like I’ll have to go all out for the next three days.’

Lin Qi took a deep breath, feeling the immense pressure.

He walked over to the Punch Force Tester, wanting to check his current strength.

”BEEP!”

The machine’s electronic screen lit up.

”CRACK! CRACK!”

Lin Qi warmed up on the spot, his joints cracking as his abundant Qi and Blood flowed to every part of his body.

His relaxed muscles tensed in an instant, like a wild horse breaking free, and his entire body began to move violently.

He didn’t mobilize his body’s Power, relying purely on muscular strength.

He made his muscles operate like high-precision instruments. His vertebrae stacked up one by one, coiling his body like a powerful spring.

Finally, his fist shot out like a cannonball, compressing the air as it slammed heavily into the Punching Target.

”BOOM!!”

With a tremendous bang, the Punching Target shook violently, looking as if it might shatter at any moment, yet it remained standing.

”BEEP!”

A string of data immediately appeared on the electronic screen—”7531.6 kg!”

Lin Qi smiled as he looked at the data on the screen.

He clenched his fist. Compared to the 6,000 kg of Fist Power he tested at the end of last semester, his strength had increased by more than 1,500 kg.

’My Fist Power has already surpassed 7,000 kg just from breaking into the Fourth Realm, far exceeding the minimum requirement of 5,000 kg.’

’As my Talent continues to evolve,’ Lin Qi thought, ’the gap in Fist Power will only grow wider.’

Especially once he cultivated an Intermediate Source Energy Technique, the difference would become even more terrifying.

’Time to test my speed!’

Lin Qi turned and activated the Speed Tester.

He exploded from the starting point, vanishing on the spot. All that could be seen was a black afterimage, like a flash of lightning on a rainy day.

”BEEP!”

”Speed: 65 m/s!”

Lin Qi nodded at the data on the Speed Tester. After breaking through to Fourth Realm Bone Cultivation, his physical attributes had improved across the board.

At full speed, he could run 100 meters in under two seconds.

’Now, all that’s left is to wait for the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition tomorrow.’

Lin Qi sat down cross-legged and began his nightly Source Energy Cultivation.

...

「Martial Arts Calendar, Year 2047, March 16th」

Azure Sky Sixth Institute, Villa No. 01.

Inside the Martial Arts Room, Lin Qi, who was sitting cross-legged with his hands in the Five Hearts Facing Heaven Technique posture, suddenly opened his eyes.

”Hooo...”

A golden light flickered in his pupils as a terrifying wave of air erupted from his body.

His entire body grew hot, his Qi and Blood surged, and his streamlined muscles rippled.

On his golden panel, his Martial Arts data began to update.

[You have completed one session of Source Energy Cultivation. Your body has been refined. Qi and Blood Value +0.5]

[Qi and Blood Value: 128 → 128.5]

...

Lin Qi stood up and shook his head as he looked at his Qi and Blood Value of 128.5.

In half a month, he had consumed four more vials of Bone Tempering Liquid, raising his Qi and Blood Value from 112 to 128—an increase of 16 points.

This had cost him over ten million Xia Country Coins.

He was still far from 150, and reaching a Qi and Blood Value of 200 would be even more difficult.

He checked his current stats again.

[Name: Lin Qi]

[Template: True Monarch Erlang Yang Jian]

[Fusion Degree: 23.1%]

[Spiritual Power: 135 (Fourth Realm)]

[Qi and Blood Value: 128.5 (Fourth Realm)]

[Fist Technique: Tier Three 60%]

[Spear Technique: Tier Three 45%]

[Body Technique: Tier Three 28%]

...

He glanced at his stats. In just half a month, every one of them had progressed by leaps and bounds.

Compared to his stats one month after enrolling last August, the change was earth-shattering.

’In this Disaster Beast Hunting Competition, I need to earn at least thirty million Xia Country Coins.’

Lin Qi set his goal for the competition, then turned to change his clothes and grab his gear, preparing to leave.

...

A few minutes later, the door to Villa No. 01 opened. Lin Qi, dressed in a black Combat Suit and carrying the black, Tier Three Taiyue Spear, glanced at the crowd of people on dozens of electric vehicles at the gate and said:

”Let’s move out!”

With that, he boarded his own black electric vehicle.

”VROOOM!”

Taking the lead, he sped to the very front.

The other vehicles followed, forming a massive convoy heading toward their destination.

...

「Half an hour later.」

Azure Sky Base, Base No. 6.

A jet-black Steel Fortress stood there, with tall metal walls and an atmosphere thick with slaughter.

”RUMBLE!!”

In the huge plaza, nearly 9,000 freshmen were arriving in succession, either by tour bus or electric vehicle.

As 10:00 a.m. approached, all the students lined up according to their respective academies.

A projection of Vice-Chancellor Xu Wenji expertly materialized before the crowd.

”Students!”

”A new round of competition between the academies begins now!”

”The rules are the same as always. The points of the top one hundred students from each academy will be summed up to determine the rankings.”

”Three days from now, when the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition ends, the final point ranking will be the final academy ranking.”

As soon as he said this, the competitive atmosphere among the Nine Great Academies intensified once again.

Everyone wanted a higher rank.

Xu Wenji continued:

”The rules haven’t changed!”

”Kill a First-Level Calamity Beast for one point and a reward of 1,000 Xia Country Coins!”

”Kill a Second-Level Calamity Beast for 10 points and a reward of 10,000 Xia Country Coins!”

”Kill a Third-Level Calamity Beast for 100 points and a reward of 50,000 Xia Country Coins!”

Everyone nodded. Each hunting competition was also a chance for everyone to earn money.

”Of course, this year’s competition has one new rule.”

”Kill a Fourth-Level Calamity Beast for 1,000 points and a reward of 250,000 Xia Country Coins!”

”If you want to hunt them, head to the deepest area of Zone 2, near the entrance to the Space Gate. There will be Fourth-Level Calamity Beasts there!”

”Three days from now, at one in the afternoon, the Space Gate will release the Fourth-Level Calamity Beasts on schedule.”

When Xu Wenji said this, an uproar went through the crowd.

”They’re bringing out Fourth-Level Calamity Beasts?”

”Has someone already broken through to the Fourth Realm?”

The crowd looked toward Huo Wanyang and Lin Qi. They were the only ones who might have the ability to kill a Fourth-Level Calamity Beast.

”Then I declare the second freshman Disaster Beast Hunting Competition officially open! I will see you all in three days!”

After his loud announcement, Xu Wenji dissipated into nothingness, vanishing into thin air.

”BOOM!!”

The massive steel gate before the crowd slowly rumbled open.

”CHARGE!!”

Nine thousand talented Martial Artists poured through like a river, rushing into the forest thick with green trees.

Among them, the top geniuses from each academy shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow, disappearing into the green jungle.

The most dazzling among them was Huo Wanyang, clad in a red Combat Suit. He was burly and wielded a red Great Halberd.

Red patterns appeared on his skin, and his body was shrouded in flames, making him look like a walking inferno.

His gaze was resolute. Just yesterday, he had successfully broken through. By using a massive amount of resources, combined with his own Talent, he had finally reached Fourth Realm Bone Cultivation.

He now felt stronger than ever before.

’Even though I’ve Awakened and my points for killing Calamity Beasts will be multiplied by a factor of 0.9, our First Institute will definitely take first place.’

’Lin Qi may be powerful, but when it comes to physical strength, the First Institute is superior.’

’I’m a Fourth Realm Martial Artist now. I’m going to hunt Fourth-Level Calamity Beasts.’

It wasn’t just Huo Wanyang; other competitors also wanted to hunt Fourth-Level Calamity Beasts.

Top geniuses at the Third Realm were naturally capable of Crossing Realms to kill Fourth-Level Calamity Beasts.

Thus, many of them rushed toward Zone 2.

The hunt for Calamity Beasts had officially begun!

As for Lin Qi, he was doing the same. His mind was filled with one thought: a Fourth-Level Calamity Beast was worth 250,000 each.

He was going to make a fortune in the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition over the next three days.

This time, he wouldn’t stop until he had earned at least thirty million Xia Country Coins.

...