High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 441: Chapter 423: 5th Place on the Overall Leaderboard

「Martial Arts Calendar, Year 2048, January 2nd」

The official website for the Celestial Vault Institute issued a notice to its 182 geniuses. It strongly advised them to remain at the institute for the Spring Festival and avoid returning home unless absolutely necessary.

Of course, if they insisted on going back, that was fine too.

At the same time, they also made arrangements for family members to visit and spend the winter break at the Celestial Vault Institute.

This notice surprised everyone at the Celestial Vault Institute. Many students asked their instructors to find out what was going on.

As a result, many of them decided against going home.

「Villa 36, Star Residence」

In the spacious living room, the burly Jiangtao couldn’t help but speak up after seeing the notice:

”Brother Qi, the situation isn’t good right now.”

”You’re an SSS-level genius now. If you go back to Celestial Sea City, you might be assassinated.”

Lin Qi, who was sitting on the sofa, nodded.

”I’ve already decided not to go back this time.”

”I’ll have my parents come to the Celestial Vault Institute for the Spring Festival. It’s a good opportunity to use the institute’s environment to help them improve their strength.”

”Oh, right, Brother Qi, the official website posted another notice,” Jiangtao said, his expression suddenly growing excited.

”The Celestial Vault Institute’s final exams will be based on the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, and the rewards will be double the usual amount.”

He had just arrived at the Celestial Vault Institute a couple of days ago. Since he was ranked last in the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, he received a month’s worth of missed rewards: 500 kilograms of Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood.

It had increased his Qi and Blood Value by a large margin.

He had already fully experienced the benefits of Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood.

If the rewards were doubled, his strength could increase by another huge margin.

...

「Time slowly passed. In the blink of an eye, it was January 15th.」

Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy and the Celestial Vault Institute held their final exams simultaneously.

In a lecture hall on the 3rd floor of the Celestial Dome Tower.

After collecting the exam papers, Dean Liu said with a smile:

”The final exam for the Martial Arts General Education Course is over!”

”You may all log on for the Disaster Beast trial and fight for your rankings.”

”Additionally, we will be calculating and distributing the rewards after midnight tonight!”

The 51 people in the classroom quickly dispersed, rushing back to their villas to log on to the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.

They hadn’t received their rewards at the end of last month, waiting for them to be calculated along with the final exams.

’I have to push further.’

’I’ve been doing the Calamity Beast trials for the past half a month. My strength has improved immensely—enough to climb a few spots in the rankings.’

’Even one more spot means dozens or even a hundred kilograms more of flesh and blood. That’s worth tens of millions of Xia Country Coins.’

Everyone was buzzing with discussion, exceptionally concerned about the rewards. With the final exam rewards doubled, everyone’s fighting spirit was ignited.

「Villa 36, Star Residence」

Lin Qi had also rushed back. He didn’t hurry to enter the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, instead starting on his lunch.

He simply ate 30 kilograms of Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood, finishing off all that was left.

Feeling a pleasant warmth spread through his body, he exhaled a large amount of turbid air. His Qi Blood surged as his body rapidly metabolized and absorbed the essence from the flesh and blood.

Only then did he get into the white Virtual Cabin and log in to the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.

BUZZ!!

When he opened his eyes again, his surroundings had transformed into a wilderness area. Before him stood the towering, immense Disaster Beast Trial Tower, soaring into the clouds.

Around the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, others began to log in and enter.

”Brother Qi!”

Not far away, the tall Jiangtao walked over with great strides.

”Brother Qi, you’re ranked 9th right now, but I’m sure you’ll climb even higher,” Jiangtao said with a confident smile.

Lin Qi nodded and then looked at the overall rankings.

[First Place: Shen Heng, Floor: 16]

[Second Place: Zhang Tianyang, Floor: 16]

[Third Place: Meng Yuxuan, Floor: 16]

...

[Ninth Place: Lin Qi, Floor: 15]

...

In the overall rankings, Lei Frost had fallen off completely, replaced by Meng Yuxuan, a third-year SSS-level student.

Shen Heng’s hold on first place was as unshakable as a Pan Stone; no one could move him.

’I really haven’t tried to climb the rankings in a long time.’

’This time, I plan to push my rank higher and get more Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood.’

With that thought, he stepped into the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.

BUZZ!

[Student Lin Qi, welcome to the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.]

[15th Floor Trial: Kill 1,000 Calamity Beasts within 80 minutes. 300 Level 3 Disaster Beast Gray Ridge Giant Wolves, 290 Level 3 Disaster Beast Blood-Scaled Iron Pigs, 200 Level 3 Iron-Scaled Eagles.]

[100 Level 4 Disaster Beast Steel-Armored Eagles, 100 Level 4 Disaster Beast Bronze Bulls, 10 Fifth-level Disaster Beast Split Claw Apes.]

[The trial is failed if all Calamity Beasts are not killed within the specified time...]

He had already seen the details of the 15th-floor trial several times, and had even entered it a few times.

But he failed every time, completely unable to hunt them all down within 80 minutes.

His goal today was to pass the 15th floor and enter the 16th-floor trial.

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

[15th-Floor Trial has officially begun!]

...

RUMBLE!

Standing at a dilapidated intersection, the concrete road beneath his feet trembled continuously, and loose stones bounced.

AWOOO~

HUFF... HUFF...

Not far away, the massive bodies of Gray Ridge Giant Wolves, Blood-Scaled Iron Pigs, and Bronze Bulls thundered across the ground, their iron hooves kicking up clouds of dust.

They surged toward him like a tidal wave.

Behind this tidal wave were ten colossal figures, each as large as a small mountain. They possessed tall, burly frames, terrifying muscles, and razor-sharp claws.

Their cruel gazes were fixed on him as they charged, and an intense, oppressive aura filled the air.

BANG!

In that same instant, Lin Qi shot forward.

His figure moved like a bolt of black lightning. He executed his Body Technique, *Thunder Extreme Nine Flashes*, moving so fast that he left several afterimages in the air.

The Black Great Spear in his hand danced through the air in a brilliant flourish, kicking up a fierce gale.

AWOOO~

The Level 3 Disaster Beast Gray Ridge Giant Wolf stood over two meters tall, its body lean and agile.

Its steel-like spine glinted with a cold light as its claws struck the ground and it lunged forward.

As a gaping, bloody maw lunged at him, a magnificent vision of mountains and rivers materialized around Lin Qi.

Majestic mountains and ceaselessly flowing rivers empowered his Spear Technique.

PFFT~

The Great Spear shot out in a precise stab, piercing the air.

In an instant, a shocking, bloody hole appeared in the Gray Ridge Giant Wolf’s neck.

THUD!

The Gray Ridge Giant Wolf’s body crashed to the ground from mid-air, kicking up a spray of dust.

But Lin Qi’s spear strikes had not ended!

SWISH SWISH SWISH!!

In a single moment, he controlled every muscle in his body, pushing his speed to the absolute limit.

In that instant, he unleashed a hundred precise, consecutive stabs.

Within the tight space, the necks of the lunging Gray Ridge Giant Wolves, Blood-Scaled Iron Pigs, and Steel Feathered Eagles were all slit open.

Within three minutes of the trial’s start, more than 50 Calamity Beasts had been killed.

At the same time, nearly a thousand Calamity Beasts had also surrounded him.

ROAR~

A massive Split Claw Ape roared, leaped high into the air, and came crashing down like a giant hammer.

At this moment, Lin Qi was completely boxed in by Gray Ridge Giant Wolves, Blood-Scaled Iron Pigs, and Steel Feathered Eagles.

If the Split Claw Ape’s strike landed, he would undoubtedly die.

BOOM!

In an instant, Lin Qi channeled his Thunder Extreme Realm. His leg muscles exploded with power, launching him high into the air from where he stood. He flipped in mid-air and swung his Great Spear.

Enveloped by the Mountain and River Realm, he thrust his Black Great Spear forward in a fluid motion, like flowing water.

*Mountain and River Spear Technique*—Flowing Water Stab!

As the power of the Mountain and River Realm surged forth, Lin Qi felt his Great Spear’s thrusting speed increase, breaking past its previous limits.

He brushed past the Split Claw Ape, its sharp claws missing him by less than two centimeters. He released a burst of Power to increase the distance between them.

PFFT~

The sharp spear tip instantly pierced the Split Claw Ape’s neck, and his Mountain and River Power erupted.

It instantly tore the Split Claw Ape’s heart to shreds.

ROAR~

With a final roar, the Split Claw Ape’s body crashed down from the sky, crushing several Calamity Beasts beneath it.

One Iron-Scaled Iron Pig was hit and smashed into a pulp.

Lin Qi swung his Great Spear, its butt striking the ground. He performed a backflip to steady himself, then shot forward again like a bolt of lightning to continue the slaughter.

PFFT~ PFFT~

One Split Claw Ape was dead, but there were still nine more. Each and every one of their moves carried immense power.

Lin Qi could only continuously dodge, guiding them to kill the other Calamity Beasts.

He pushed his Body Technique to its limits, even starting to use the surrounding buildings to his advantage.

In the process, the footwork from his usual Body Technique training became ingrained in his very bones.

His proficiency with the Body Technique *Thunder Extreme Nine Flashes* was also constantly increasing.

Before he knew it, he felt as if wind was sprouting from his feet. His Body Technique broke through to a new level, and his body became even lighter.

WHOOSH!!

Amidst gusts of fierce wind, the Thunder Extreme Realm merged with his body, making him faster and faster.

The Gray Ridge Giant Wolves, Iron-Scaled Iron Pigs, Bronze Bulls, and Steel Feathered Eagles launched a relentless, airtight assault.

Each attack missed him by less than a centimeter. It was incredibly perilous, like walking a tightrope.

The slightest misstep would mean being crushed to pieces.

In the blink of an eye, 78 minutes had passed.

Only two minutes remained before the end.

ROAR~

A Split Claw Ape stomped on the ground, and the concrete road, unable to withstand the force, spiderwebbed with cracks.

WHOOSH~

Lin Qi dodged past it. Feeling a sense of danger from behind, he abruptly spun around and thrust out his Great Spear.

PFFT~

The sharp spear tip pierced the neck of a Bronze Bull.

He kicked its body, sending it crashing violently into the nearby Split Claw Ape.

Lin Qi regulated his breathing. His body trembled uncontrollably; his stamina was almost completely depleted.

His body felt unnaturally heavy. He looked ahead and saw one Split Claw Ape remaining.

Meanwhile, a display screen materialized in mid-air, showing a countdown.

Less than thirty seconds remained.

Only one last Split Claw Ape stood between him and passing the 15th-floor trial.

ROAR~

The Split Claw Ape charged. Lin Qi summoned all his strength, a final surge of power allowing him to maintain his extreme speed.

He swung the Black Great Spear, golden Mountain and River Power enveloping the Long Spear.

BOOM!!

He swung it violently. The Mountain and River Realm empowered the spear’s shaft, causing it to hum with power.

He leaped up, seizing the opportunity to bring it crashing down, condensing and releasing all the strength in his body.

The spear’s momentum was like shattering mountains and rivers, shaking the very heavens and earth.

The Great Spear tore through the air, whistling as it carved a deadly arc!

*Mountain and River Spear Technique’s* Killing Technique—*Mountain and River Shattered*!

BANG!!

CRACK!

The Split Claw Ape’s jaw was shattered. The Power blasted through its head, scrambling its brain into a paste.

CRASH!!

The Split Claw Ape’s enormous body collapsed, and the timer stopped with just 10 seconds remaining.

[Student Lin Qi, congratulations on completing the 15th-floor trial.]

[Class Ranking: 1]

[Overall Ranking: 9 → 5]

[Proceed to the 16th-floor trial of the Disaster Beast Trial Tower? Yes/No]

...