High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 422: Chapter 405: Battle Against Wang Hailong

”Holy crap!”

”Brother Qi, how did you get matched up against Wang Hailong!?”

The others also looked surprised. Wang Hailong was an SSS-level Talent, after all.

”Looks like we’ve got a clash of titans!” Chu Yu chimed in, eager for the excitement.

The mild-mannered Pei Jiu frowned. ”Brother Qi is in for a tough time in the next match!”

”Wang Hailong’s rank in the Disaster Beast Trial Tower is second only to Brother Qi’s.”

”And he’s also broken through to the Fifth Realm of Refining Inner Organs and has already mastered a Little Divine Power.”

”There’s not much difference between them in any aspect. Winning won’t be that easy.”

The others nodded. SSS-level Talents were almost all Hexagonal Warriors.

The ”hexagon” here referred to six aspects in which they had no obvious weaknesses: physical talent, Awakened Special Ability, Spiritual Power Cultivation Talent, Combat Talent, Comprehension, and Little Divine Power.

As an SSS-level Talent, mastering a Little Divine Power was a must.

Comparing Lin Qi and Wang Hailong, they were similar in all respects, destining it to be a spectacular fight.

Not far away, when Wang Hailong saw that his opponent was Lin Qi, a smile spread across his face.

’Lin Qi, perfect. I was hoping to fight him!’

In the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, he had always been suppressed by him.

But now, in a real battle, he wasn’t afraid at all.

He was extremely confident in his physical conditioning.

He would defeat Lin Qi in one fell swoop!

...

[Contestants for the first match, please enter the arena!]

The automated voice announced the official start of the second round of the Celestial Vault Competition!

Lin Qi watched the battles in the arena, paying special attention to the ways Special Abilities were used in attacks. There was still a lot to learn.

Aside from a few who slipped through the cracks, basically none of the contestants who made it to the second round were weak.

They were basically all at the Peak of the Fourth Realm or in the Fifth Realm.

In the span of three months, Yu Zhuoran had also successfully broken through to the Fifth Realm.

Although he had just broken through a few days ago, his speed was already very fast. According to him, even he hadn’t expected to break through so quickly.

Not everyone was like him, with top-level Talent, reaching the Peak of the Fifth Realm in just four months.

[Next, will the two contestants for the second match please enter the arena!]

Before he knew it, the first battle was over in four minutes!

Now it was Lin Qi’s turn!

He and the distant Wang Hailong transformed into crimson pillars of light and descended upon the arena.

As Wang Hailong stepped out of his pillar of light, the dry air over the concrete surface instantly grew moist. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

This was also the first time Lin Qi had seen Wang Hailong up close. The other man was handsome, but with a powerful, streamlined physique.

Wang Hailong was clad in a blue Combat Suit, brandishing a blue Long Spear with one hand.

Just like his name, he resembled a sea dragon.

He looked at Lin Qi, smiled, and said confidently:

”Senior Lin Qi, I’ve always wanted to have a match with you.”

”I’m not Kong Ruoxuan. I hope you use your full strength, or you’ll be the one to lose.”

The corners of Lin Qi’s mouth turned up slightly. ’As expected of an SSS-level Talent, he’s radiating confidence.’

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

[Match 2 has officially begun!]

High above the arena, the automated voice announced impassively.

In the stands, countless eyes turned to watch with curiosity.

This was no ordinary match. As one of the five great SSS-level Talents, Wang Hailong was a spectacle in his own right.

What’s more, Lin Qi was no ordinary person either—he was a top-level SS-level Talent.

He was the one who had defeated an SS-level Talent and won the global freshman tournament before he had even Awakened.

Their rankings in the Disaster Beast Trial Tower were also very close.

And in just three months, both had charged into the top forty.

Many of the third-year seniors couldn’t compare to the two of them!

...

In the stands, the twenty to thirty leaders present also had their eyes light up.

”Interesting. Lin Qi versus Wang Hailong!”

”It’s a shame they’ve met so early. One of them is destined to be eliminated in this match,” someone sighed.

A middle-aged man with a rugged profile, handsome features, and a bit of stubble, was dressed in a blue robe. His aura was as vast as a boundless ocean.

He looked at Wang Hailong and smiled.

”Hailong is an SSS-level Talent, and he’s my son. His master is the Ninth Realm Title Level Martial Artist, the King of the Vast Sea.”

”He has been exceptionally gifted since childhood. His physical strength and flexibility far surpassed his peers. He Awakened at sixteen, mastered a Little Divine Power, and became an SSS-level Talent.”

”Although Lin Qi is also a top-level SS-level Talent, and he might have the upper hand in Martial Arts, when it comes to physical conditioning, he’s no match for Hailong.”

Wang Yunpeng revealed a confident smile.

Dean Liu looked at Wang Yunpeng. The man was one of the vice-principals of Nether Sea Martial Academy.

He was also Wang Hailong’s father. As for why Wang Hailong had come to Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy...

...it was because the Ninth Realm Title Level Martial Artist, the Vast Sea Spear King, was from Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy.

After listening, Xue Zhou, who was also clad in a long robe, shook his head.

”Old Wang, I wouldn’t be so sure about that!”

Wang Yunpeng asked, puzzled:

”You think Lin Qi can win?”

”SS-level and SSS-level are not in the same league.”

Xue Zhou shook his head. ”Let’s just watch the match. The results will be out soon enough.”

BOOM!

The two erupted with intense Energy fluctuations simultaneously. Wang Hailong had also Awakened the Special Ability [Flowing Water].

It was the same Ability as Kong Ruoxuan’s.

But his aura was far stronger than hers. The difference was as vast as that between an ordinary Water Snake and a shark.

Wang Hailong brandished his blue Long Spear, his eyes erupting with astonishing blue light.

Blue patterns emerged as water droplets materialized in the air, gathering into streams of water, and finally converging into a Water Dragon that coiled around his body.

He swung his spear, sweeping out like a tidal wave.

’Instead of using Flowing Water for ranged attacks, it’s better to cover my body with it and merge it with my Spear Technique. That’s how I can unleash even greater power.’

Lin Qi felt the air grow moist. He too erupted with a golden light, his Black Great Spear becoming coated in a Golden Sharpness.

SWOOSH—

He shot out like a bolt of golden Lightning, and under his control, a formless Golden Sharpness detached from his body.

The surrounding air seemed to transform into countless Sharp Blades, circling nearby.

BUZZ! BUZZ!

The golden Great Spear let out a buzzing hum. The terrifying Golden Edge Power merged with his body’s Power and was injected into the Long Spear. Wisps of Golden Sharpness sliced through the air.

Spear tip pointing down, its shaft stood tall like a mountain peak. He gripped the spear with both hands, veins bulging on his arms.

A terrifying, immense force was unleashed through the Great Spear.

With a sudden upward thrust, the spear’s momentum was like a Mountain Collapse and Earth Split!

Mountain and River Spear Technique—Mountain Town!

Meanwhile, Wang Hailong also executed the Mental Realm Level Spear Technique Secret Manual he had recently learned, the Vast Sea Gun Skill.

His entire body’s Power was as violent as a tsunami. His spear thrust out like a tidal wave, its shaft sweeping with the Flowing Water before suddenly chopping down, like a collapsing tsunami.

Vast Sea Gun Skill—Tsunami Collapse!

WHOOSH!!

The Flowing Water and Golden Sharpness in the air were the first to collide, kicking up a powerful gale.

Their Great Spears clashed in mid-air. The air cracked, Energy collided, and a violent shockwave erupted.

Lin Qi felt as if a surging tsunami was crashing down on him. The Flowing Water Power within it relentlessly battered his Body-Protecting Golden Blade.

It sought to break through his defenses, and at the same time, the force traveled up the spear’s shaft and into his body.

His body shuddered and his Qi Blood churned. He couldn’t stop himself from stumbling back several steps.

His feet sank into the concrete, leaving deep footprints as he redirected the Power into the ground.

Wang Hailong’s expression changed, however, as the Flowing Water clashed with the Golden Edge.

BANG!!

In the instant of the head-on collision, the Golden Edge Power shattered the Flowing Water, striking his Flowing Water Armor like countless Sharp Blades.

BOOM!!

At the same time, his body shuddered, and his muscles trembled from the violent force.

The combination of terrifying force and Power was like a mountain crashing down on him.

His Vast Sea Power was instantly shattered, and the force impacted his muscles, bones, and organs—all of them were affected.

At the same time, his thin protective armor was pierced, and the golden sharpness struck his body like a volley of sharp arrows.

”What is this... power?”

His entire body went out of control, flying backward like a kite with a snapped string.

BANG!!

He crashed heavily into a massive boulder like a cannonball.

...