High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 380: Chapter 374: Raising the Upper Limit of the SS-level

CLANG! CLANG!!

In an instant, Yu Zhuoran once again unleashed his Rapid Slash, simultaneously releasing the Power of Thunder and Lightning from within his body.

Countless small Thunder Serpents continuously broke through Lin Qi’s Golden Protective Shield.

Lin Qi felt waves of electric shocks coursing through his body, greatly affecting his speed.

Facing Yu Zhuoran’s fierce assault, he could only use his Body Technique, Thunder Shadow Instant Kill Step, to evade.

For a moment, he was at a disadvantage.

In the audience, everyone’s reactions were different.

Wan Ming shook his head and said,

”I knew it. Lin Qi only just awakened his Special Ability. This is his greatest weakness—or rather, his disadvantage.”

”The Special Ability he awakened is called Jin Feng.”

”It provides a terrifying boost to one’s strength, but since he just awakened it, he can’t control the power of Jin Feng very well yet.”

”Zhuoran has seized this point and is pressing the attack relentlessly. If he’s not careful, he could be defeated in an instant.”

Pei Jiu, who was beside him, spoke up. ”This is exactly the right time to spar!”

”In a few months, once Lin Qi can control his Special Ability, Zhuoran will be no match for him.”

The others nodded. They were also tempted; they had just missed their only chance to defeat Lin Qi.

Xiang Long also frowned as he watched the battle on the field. He had also awakened the Special Ability, Jin Feng.

He couldn’t be more familiar with this Special Ability.

Given Lin Qi’s current lack of skill with it, the gap in physical fitness and Martial Arts could be completely overcome.

’I might have been able to defeat him myself.’

Not far away, the various leaders had also noticed what was happening.

Vice-Principal Xu Wenji spoke with a chuckle,

”Zhuoran has clearly put in a lot of hard work controlling his Special Ability. His control over Thunder is already extremely refined.”

”He can command it as easily as his own limbs. Whether it’s for speed or unleashing attacks, he does it with practiced ease.”

”His style is to kill opponents with lightning-fast speed, and the power of Thunder Frenzy makes up for his weaknesses.”

”Right now, his strength and speed are balanced. He has almost no weaknesses.”

After hearing this, Xue Zhou also shook his head and said,

”Lin Qi awakened too late. He hasn’t even practiced the Five Elements Fist, so his control is too poor.”

”If you say that Power is like Flowing Water, not too difficult to control...”

”...then a Special Ability is like a wild horse that has broken its reins, hard to tame.”

”Lin Qi can only defend instinctively right now, and his defenses are being easily pierced by Yu Zhuoran’s Thunder.”

Dean Liu, standing nearby, nodded as well. He had to admit that any other student from the Tenth Institute wouldn’t have had their defenses pierced so easily.

However, this also highlighted Lin Qi’s strength. Even with his defenses broken, he only suffered minor injuries.

He relied on his powerful physique to endure all the damage, which was astonishing.

Even now, Lin Qi was only at a disadvantage and hadn’t been seriously hurt.

Any other student from the Tenth Institute would have lost long ago!

”If it goes on like this, Lin Qi is going to lose!” someone said.

”But through this fight, he’ll gain combat experience and learn to better control his Special Ability,” someone else added.

”Lin Qi can’t lose,” someone else offered a different opinion.

Everyone looked over. The newcomer was dressed in black, with an upright posture and an icy demeanor brimming with killing intent. It was Mu Hong, who had suddenly come online today.

He continued,

”The gap between Yu Zhuoran and Lin Qi is too great. A small advantage isn’t enough to bridge it.”

The others nodded secretly. What Mu Hong said made sense.

Dean Liu asked in surprise,

”Old Mu, what are you doing back?”

Mu Hong replied, ”Things have calmed down in North River Province recently. The Ninth-Level Calamity Beasts on the other side have been beaten into submission.”

”Right now, only Eighth-Level Calamity Beasts are still launching attacks, but their numbers have dropped significantly.”

”I came back to settle down and reflect for a bit!”

”As soon as I returned, I saw the spar between Lin Qi and Yu Zhuoran.”

Dean Liu and Xue Zhou nodded, then turned their gazes back to the arena.

At that moment, the situation in the arena changed.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!!

Facing Yu Zhuoran’s rapid chain of slashes, each strike as fast as lightning, one after another, with electric currents flowing along the sharp blade. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

The currents were like sharp arrows piercing through his defenses, shocking Lin Qi’s muscles.

But the vast Power within his body was released, and his muscles, Great Tendons, and the nearly forged Slaughter Tiger Bone resisted the electric currents.

Although Lin Qi felt pain and numbness, his combat effectiveness was not significantly affected.

In the heat of battle, he was continuously strengthening his control over Jin Feng.

Yu Zhuoran noticed this as well, and his expression became exceptionally grim.

’His strength is incredible!’

He now felt an intangible pressure. His body was wreathed in Thunder, yet he could still feel the Sharpness in the air.

It felt like a Sharp Blade scraping against his own body, especially when combined with Lin Qi’s fierce Power during their close-quarters exchange.

It was like a Giant Blade cleaving down; his body trembled, the terrifying force numbing his muscles. At the same time, his Snake Emperor Bone, which was two-thirds of the way to completion, throbbed with a dull pain.

’If this keeps up, I’ll be the one who loses.’

CRACKLE! POP!

At this thought, he erupted, unleashing the full Power of Thunder and Lightning and compressing it onto his Battle Saber, which emitted a piercing hum.

His eyes flashed with electricity, and the aura around him soared.

He stepped forward, charged, and leaped into the air, raising his Silver Battle Saber high above his head.

The Power of Thunder and Lightning on the saber’s blade exploded in an instant. Power and the Power of Thunder and Lightning combined, forming a massive, thunderous Blade Aura.

Thunder Shocking Saber Technique’s second Killing Technique—Thunder Fury!

Wherever the Blade Aura passed, the air was torn apart, and Thunder Serpents danced wildly around it. Its might was terrifying.

Lin Qi could feel the terror contained within it.

He immediately switched from the Rainbow Transformation Spear Technique to the Mountain Shaking Spear Technique.

His body moved violently, vibrating wildly as immense Mountain Shaking Power formed and merged with his Golden Edge Power.

His eyes shone with a dazzling light. The Golden Edge Power gathered along the spear’s shaft, causing the metal to resonate with a deafening roar.

He and his Long Spear became one. Using his waist as an axis, he spun abruptly, the Power of his Sharpness converging into a tide, like a storm of blades.

Once he had gathered enough power, he unleashed it. His muscles bulged, veins popped, and his blood surged like the waters of the Yellow River.

All his immense strength was channeled through the upward thrust of his Black Gold Spear, swinging out with the force to sunder a mountain.

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

A great blow can create a miracle; one true strength can overcome ten skills.

Lin Qi blasted out with his Special Ability, Jin Feng, and his Mountain Shaking Power combined.

It wasn’t a subtle move, but against someone like Yu Zhuoran, it was more than enough.

In the audience, everyone was watching with rapt attention, not even noticing that another person had suddenly appeared among them.

They watched the clash between the two Killing Techniques. The victor would be decided after this exchange.

In the arena, Yu Zhuoran, like a descending Thunder God, unleashed his Killing Technique. It clashed with Lin Qi’s Black Gold Snake Spear, which swung out like a Divine Weapon. ”Kill!”

BOOM!!!

Thunder and Gold clashed once more. The air exploded as Energy scattered in all directions, tearing the very atmosphere.

Space itself seemed to ripple like a disturbed lake, sending out turbulent waves as the Thunder and Gold shattered.

The two forces collided violently. Lin Qi felt a frenzied electric current slam into him, scalding and brutal. Intense pain flooded his senses.

But his Slaughter Tiger Bone was like a Platinum Evil Tiger, devouring the current completely.

His skeleton was like a Heaven-Supporting Pillar that even the Thunder could not shake.

”Aargh!!”

Yu Zhuoran, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. His face changed dramatically as he let out a pained roar.

At the moment of impact, he felt a terrifying Sharpness and Power.

It was like a colossal steel blade hacking toward the sky, capable of destroying a mountain in an instant.

BOOM!!

The force traveled into his body, Tearing his muscles. A sweet taste filled his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood containing fragments of his Inner Organs.

CRACK!!

The Snake Emperor Bone Liquid he had been refining shattered, and his body suffered a devastating blow.

The Silver Saber flew from his grasp, and his body was sent flying like a kite with a snapped string.

BANG!

As his entire body slammed onto the ground, Yu Zhuoran assessed his condition and knew clearly that he had lost.

It was a miserable defeat. He had been completely crushed by Lin Qi’s single, powerful move.

He gave a bitter smile. ”I’m no match for you. I’ve lost!”

After saying this, he dissolved into the Void and disappeared.

[Match Over. Winner: Lin Qi!]

Above the arena, an automated voice announced the final result.

The next moment, Yu Zhuoran reappeared in the arena, all his injuries healed.

He looked at Lin Qi and shook his head.

”You’ve gotten even stronger!”

”Can you tell me what your Qi and Blood Value is?”

Lin Qi hesitated for a moment before answering, ”390.”

Yu Zhuoran was stunned, then said,

”Farewell. We’ll spar again next time!”

He was inwardly horrified. ’A month and a half ago, his Qi and Blood Value was only 310, and now it’s 390?’

’Is that a growth rate an SS-level genius can even have?’

He couldn’t accept it and chose to log off.

Lin Qi was taken aback, then chuckled in amusement. ’Looks like I dealt a pretty big blow to Yu Zhuoran’s confidence!’

Meanwhile, the audience was in an uproar.

Wan Ming’s eyes widened in astonishment.

”Holy crap, he won just like that!”

”Zhuoran and Brother Qi both used their Killing Techniques in a direct confrontation.”

”And the result? Brother Qi is completely fine, while Zhuoran died instantly. He got one-shotted?”

The others were too shocked to speak. Pei Jiu finally said,

”This result can only mean one thing: the destructive power of their Techniques isn’t on the same Level at all.”

”And since Thunder and Jin Feng provide similar power enhancements, the only explanation is the difference in their physical conditioning.”

”Zhuoran has gotten stronger, but it’s still not enough compared to Lin Qi.”

The others also sighed with emotion. Yu Zhuoran was already a top-tier SS-level genius.

But then Lin Qi had appeared out of nowhere, directly raising the ceiling for what an SS-level genius could be.

It was a real eye-opener for them. They never knew an SS-level genius could be this powerful.

”Truly impressive!”

A voice suddenly sounded next to Wan Ming. He turned his head and jumped in surprise.

”Chu Yu, what are you doing here watching the fight?”

Everyone looked and saw that another person had appeared beside them without anyone noticing.

The newcomer wore a custom-made crimson robe. He was tall and sturdy, with strong, defined features and a handsome face that had a somewhat Western look.

He didn’t look very old. He smiled as he watched Lin Qi in the arena, sighing in admiration.

He was none other than the only SSS-level genius among the sophomores at Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy.

A true Top Level genius, he was even a year younger than them.

Chu Yu looked at the group and said, ”Long time no see, everyone!”

He exuded a powerful and scorching aura, as dazzling as the great sun.

The auras of everyone present were instantly suppressed.

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