High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 433: Chapter 415: The Grand Competition Concludes

A new match-up bracket materialized.

Lin Qi glanced over and saw his opponent for the next round.

[Match 3: Lin Qi (Year 2) VS Shen Heng (Year 4)]

When he saw his opponent was Shen Heng, he calmly exhaled.

’It’s actually Shen Heng!’

The others sighed when they saw Lin Qi’s opponent was Shen Heng.

If it had been anyone else, Lin Qi might have had a chance to win, but it was Shen Heng.

The guy’s strength was in a league of its own. Who could possibly be his opponent?

From the leadership seats, Dean Liu and Mu Hong also sighed.

The sixth round began, and it was also the most exciting one.

「Half an hour later.」

BANG!!

SIZZLE!

On the ruined arena floor, two figures clashed, swinging sharp weapons. Silver lightning collided with a golden sharpness.

CLANG! CLANG!!

”Junior Lin Qi, I’m one year older than you.”

”At your age, I would have been no match for you.”

Shen Heng, clad in a black combat suit and wielding a thunder battle sword, couldn’t help but sigh with admiration.

As he finished speaking, the silver power of thunder and lightning around him erupted, and he unleashed a killing technique.

BOOM!

A few seconds later, Lin Qi dissipated into the void.

[Match 3: Shen Heng (Year 4) wins]

...

Lin Qi was teleported back to the spectator seats. Hearing the AI’s announcement, he shook his head.

’I lost!’

Wan Ming comforted him, ”Brother Qi, it’s just one loss. You’re already very strong.”

Xia Lian also spoke up, ”You’re the first person to last so long against Shen Heng.”

Lin Qi smiled. ”Don’t worry, I’m fine!”

He was already mentally prepared for the fact that he couldn’t beat Shen Heng.

He had gained more from this battle than from his fight with Chu Yu.

Shen Heng’s strength was two whole tiers above Chu Yu’s.

He was already at the Peak of the Sixth Realm, and his Swordsmanship Realm wasn’t far from the Tier Four Late-stage.

He even suspected that some ordinary Seventh Realm Martial Artists would be no match for Shen Heng.

It wasn’t that difficult for him to cross realms and fight Sixth Realm Martial Artists.

But if the opponent was in the Seventh Realm, that was a whole other level.

Without using [Double Golden Gang Transformation]... the difficulty was still immense.

So, losing was normal. Unless he had a few more months, then he’d be confident he could defeat him.

He looked at the three names that appeared in the arena.

The ones who advanced to the semifinals were Shen Heng, Zhang Tianyang, and Meng Yuxuan!

The previous second-place contender, Lei Frost, had been eliminated by Meng Yuxuan.

Among the three of them, two were SSS-level geniuses, and one was an SS-level genius.

In the following seventh round, Shen Heng received another bye, advancing straight to the finals, while Zhang Tianyang and Meng Yuxuan competed for the other final spot.

In the end, Zhang Tianyang advanced to the finals, relying on his superior physique and skill.

Zhang Tianyang was a top-level genius from the fourth year and had also mastered a Little Divine Power.

He was powerfully built with a determined expression, having defeated several strong enemies to reach the finals.

He looked at Shen Heng with a grave expression. His opponent was incredibly strong, and he wasn’t fully confident he could win.

「A few minutes later.」

Zhang Tianyang was run through the chest by the battle sword and dissipated into the void.

The finals were officially over. Shen Heng had won the Celestial Vault Competition!

”Fellow students, let us congratulate contestant Shen Heng on winning the championship!”

High above the arena, Vice-Principal Xu Wenji, dressed in a red robe, announced loudly.

CLAP! CLAP!!

More than two hundred people applauded. This time, Shen Heng’s championship was well-deserved.

Vice-Principal Xu Wenji continued to speak:

”The first Celestial Vault Competition officially comes to a close here!”

”The rewards for all contestants will be delivered today or tomorrow.”

”The purpose of holding the Celestial Vault Competition is to let everyone advance their martial arts through competition.”

”I believe that over these past few days, all of you have managed to improve.”

”And next, in 2048, which is early May of next year, the Global Martial Arts Tournament is about to begin.”

”Your opponents will no longer be just the geniuses of our Xia Country.”

”They will be from all over Blue Star, across three grade levels—the strongest among tens of millions of geniuses.”

”I hope that when the time comes, all of you can achieve even greater results!!”

After speaking, he also dissipated in the sky, turning into particles of red light.

This Celestial Vault Competition was now officially over.

It had lasted for two and a half days, and everyone felt that the time had passed a little too quickly.

Everyone had gained something different.

...

「A few minutes later, at Villa 36 of Star Residence.」

Inside the quiet Martial Arts Room, the Virtual Cabin opened.

Lin Qi stepped out. The scent of incense filled the air.

”Little Chan, order two Level 5 Nutritional Meals!”

”Yes, Master!”

「Ten minutes later, in the spacious living room.」

As Lin Qi ate, he looked at the information and data instantly updating on his panel.

[In the Celestial Vault Competition, you engaged in a fierce battle with SSS-level genius Chu Yu and successfully defeated him. Your mastery of Spear Technique and Body Technique has improved. Spear Technique +1%, Body Technique +1%]

[In the Celestial Vault Competition, you engaged in a fierce battle with SSS-level genius Shen Heng and were regrettably defeated. Your mastery of Spear Technique and Body Technique has improved. Spear Technique +1%, Body Technique +1%]

[Spear Technique: Tier Four 36% → Tier Four 38%]

[Body Technique: Tier Four 34% → Tier Four 36%]

...

Lin Qi revealed a satisfied smile. Since breaking through to the Tier Four Mid-stage yesterday, he had fought Chu Yu and Shen Heng today.

This had allowed his Spear Technique and Body Technique to break through once again.

No one else could improve at his speed.

’Today is the 28th. Only two more days until December.’

’The rewards from the Celestial Vault Competition and the Disaster Beast Trial Tower should be settled soon.’

Lin Qi thought to himself. His gains had been enormous.

The Celestial Vault Competition alone would give him 2,000 kilograms of Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh, plus 100 kilograms of Level 8 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood.

Plus, for placing in the top ten of the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, his reward of Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood would also exceed 2,000 kilograms. All of this would be enough to feed him for a month.

After the meal, Lin Qi returned to the Martial Arts Room.

He had Little Chan project the panel so he could summarize his progress.

The Celestial Vault Competition was over, but the Global Martial Arts Tournament was about to begin!

’There are still five months.’

He didn’t win the Celestial Vault Competition because his realm was too low. It was normal that he didn’t win.

But in a few months, his strength would see another explosive increase.

At that time, his goal would be to fight for the championship.

By then, he would have broken through to the Sixth Realm. Even if he faced Shen Heng again, he wouldn’t necessarily lose.

’So, the primary goal now is to break through to the Sixth Realm of Marrow Refining!’

Lin Qi sorted through his thoughts. Right now, the improvement of his Spear Technique and Body Technique had begun to slow down.

But his Qi and Blood Value was a different story. Once the Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood arrived, his Qi and Blood Value would also experience a huge surge.

...

「That evening, in a large conference room at the Celestial Dome Tower.」

Twenty to thirty figures were seated, along with numerous projections.

Xue Zhou, Dean Liu, Mu Hong, Liu Ran, and other High Realm Martial Artists were all present. Even the newly appointed Southern Patrol Envoy, Wuu Lingyun, appeared as a projection.

Vice-Principal Xu Wenji, in his red robe, scanned the room and spoke slowly:

”Everyone present is from the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo.”

”Today’s meeting is to discuss one thing!”

”Whether or not student Lin Qi possesses the potential of an SSS-level genius.”

As soon as he said this, everyone looked at each other.

Just then, the dashing Xue Zhou was the first to speak:

”Isn’t that obvious?”

”What’s there to discuss?”

...