High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 453: Chapter 435: Brand New Format

”Brother Qi, congratulations on successfully advancing to the main tournament.”

After returning to the Xia Country District, Guo Heng offered his congratulations.

Jiangtao shook his head upon hearing this. ”Aheeng, you’ve got it all wrong.”

”What’s there to congratulate him for right now? It won’t be too late to congratulate Brother Qi when he makes it to the top 64 in the main tournament.”

The others laughed as well. Compared to the other districts, the atmosphere here was very relaxed and cheerful.

Lin Qi, however, had his eyes locked on his status panel.

[In the second round of the preliminaries, by battling innumerable Calamity Beasts, your comprehension of the Mountain and River Realm has reached a new level. Spear Technique +1%]

[In the second round of the preliminaries, by battling innumerable Calamity Beasts, your Body Technique, Thunder Extreme Nine Flashes, has achieved a breakthrough. Body Technique +1%]

[Spear Technique: Tier Four 58% → Tier Four 59%]

[Body Technique: Tier Four 55% → Tier Four 56%]

...

Lin Qi still felt a lingering sense of wanting more. During the preliminaries, he had faced an endless siege of Calamity Beasts.

The immense pressure it placed on him had forced out his potential, allowing both his Mountain and River Spear Technique and Thunder Extreme Nine Flashes to break through.

If he’d had a few more hours, his Spear Technique might have successfully broken through to the Tier Four Late-stage.

’I was so close.’

With this in mind, he exchanged a few quick words with Jiangtao and chose to log out.

He would continue his Spear Technique cultivation in the Gravity Room.

His Spear Technique would be able to break through within the next few days.

’My second Special Ability should be awakening soon, too. The more I train, the higher the probability of a breakthrough.’

...

「Another day passed, and the second round of the preliminaries officially came to an end.」

「May 3rd」

When Lin Qi logged back into the Red Realm and entered the Global Martial Arts Tournament,

the area he was in had undergone a massive transformation.

A grand swell of melodious music suddenly boomed in Lin Qi’s ears.

The scene before him suddenly opened up; he had been transported to the spectator stands of a magnificent arena.

The entire battle stage was a massive, circular platform made of white stone, suspended in the Void. It appeared to be a kilometer in diameter.

The spectator stands surrounded the stage, rising in tiers like an Ancient Greek colosseum, exuding a majestic aura.

Lin Qi found himself sitting in a smart seat, which he could adjust for comfort.

Various large screens were projected in front of him, showing that the entire audience was divided into 80 sections by country.

Their own Xia Country section was further subdivided by school.

The screens clearly showed that ten million people were already seated in the stands.

This wasn’t the Red Realm’s limit; it was simply because some of the smaller countries didn’t have enough Virtual Cabins.

Otherwise, there would have easily been a hundred million people.

The sounds of shouting and discussion filled Lin Qi’s ears, creating a noisy and lively atmosphere.

Although many contestants had been eliminated, the crowd’s enthusiasm remained high, eager to see their own country’s representatives crush the competition.

Winning the championship would be a great source of inspiration.

”Brother Qi!”

At the same time, Jiangtao, Wan Ming, and Yu Zhuoran also logged on and greeted him.

There was another familiar figure as well.

”Brother Lin Qi, I came to cheer for you too.”

The tall and slender Jiang Miaoyin, with her delicate features, said with a smile.

”Amiao!”

A smile instantly appeared on Lin Qi’s face when he saw Jiang Miaoyin.

”Contestants!”

A booming voice echoed in everyone’s ears.

Above the stage, a projection of the King of Mountains and Rivers appeared once more—a tall, imposing figure in a silver robe, as solid and weighty as a mountain.

His aura was as immovable as a mountain, forcefully suppressing the clamor of the ten million spectators.

The King of Mountains and Rivers began to speak slowly:

”To our audience and our contestants, welcome to the grounds of the Global Martial Arts Tournament.”

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!!

Thunderous applause and a tsunami of cheers erupted from the stands.

”After three days and two intense rounds of preliminaries, let us congratulate the contestants from all over the world. You have successfully distinguished yourselves from a field of twenty million.”

CLAP! CLAP!!

After another round of thunderous applause, the King of Mountains and Rivers continued:

”Next, our twenty thousand remaining contestants will enter the main tournament.”

”For the first round of the main tournament, according to the rules, you will be divided into 10 matches, with 2,000 contestants per match.”

”You will engage in a half-hour battle. Your opponents will not be other contestants, but rather Insect Race Modified Martial Artists.”

”For every Modified Martial Artist you kill, you will receive one Point.”

”After all 10 matches are over, only the 1,000 contestants with the most Points will advance to the second round.”

”Of course, it is also possible for you to be killed by the Insect Race Modified Martial Artists.”

”Once you are killed, you are considered eliminated by default. There will be no revival option, and your Points will be locked in.”

Insect Race Modified Martial Artists?

At these words, everyone wore a curious expression.

The existence of Insect Race Modified Martial Artists was now taught in the Martial Arts General Education Course.

However, many had never seen one before and never expected to encounter them now.

Lin Qi also looked curious. He had once faced a siege of Insect Race Modified Martial Artists.

’Among all the prodigies here, no one has more experience with them than I do.’

’And there’s a deeper meaning behind these two rounds of the competition.’

’We’re being made to face humanity’s two greatest enemies: the Calamity Beasts and the Insect Race.’

’Are they using the tournament to give all the prodigies more experience?’

It wasn’t just him; some of the third- and fourth-year students—prodigies who had participated in previous Global Martial Arts Tournaments—were also puzzled.

Previous tournaments didn’t have this kind of stage.

The audience was in an uproar, with countless people whispering amongst themselves.

”Interesting. Insect Race Modified Martial Artists.”

”In class, the instructors made them sound like mythical beings. I really want to see just how powerful they are.”

The King of Mountains and Rivers continued speaking:

”Of the twenty thousand contestants participating in the first round of the main tournament, only one thousand will advance to the second round. They will also receive a prize of 80 million Xia Country Coins.”

Compared to the previous round, the prize money had increased by another thirty million.

For any of the prodigies, this was no small sum.

”The first round officially begins now!”

In the spectator stands, two thousand prodigies were instantly enveloped in crimson light, transforming into pillars of light that descended upon the battle stage.

The entire stage began to simulate terrain, transforming into a landscape of crumbling walls and ruins.

BOOM!!

The pillars of light dissipated, revealing contestants who were fully geared and holding their weapons, ready for battle.

Jiangtao was one of them. His physique had become even more robust, with every muscle seeming to contain the explosive power of a volcano.

He swung a large Silver Battle Saber with one hand, curiously looking around.

HUMMM!!

Suddenly, among the ruins, figures began to materialize one after another.

They looked like Ordinary Martial Artists, with builds ranging from lean and tough to tall and sturdy, and even some who were burly giants.

They wore ordinary athletic wear but were also brandishing various weapons.

Suddenly, they all raised their heads. Their exposed skin began to change color as their gazes locked onto the nearby contestants.

Cyan, gold, and black.

As the three skin colors appeared, they all began to emit terrifying auras.

[The first round of the main tournament has officially begun!]

...