High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 472: Chapter 454: Top 8

Lin Qi soon saw the sixteen match-ups for the next round, as well as his own opponent.

[Match 3: Lin Qi (Xia Country) VS Song Yanyu (Maple Country)]

...

When Lin Qi saw that his opponent was Song Yanyu, information about the man quickly surfaced in his mind.

Song Yanyu was of pure Xia Country descent, but his nationality was Maple Country.

His parents were of Chinese descent and had immigrated to Maple Country before 1999.

After the Calamity Beasts invaded, they wanted to return, but they were too far away, and with the dire situation in Xia Country, they couldn’t make it back.

So, they stayed in Maple Country. Unexpectedly, their family’s Talent turned out to be quite good. They all embarked on the path of Martial Arts and became Middle Realm Martial Artists.

They had four children, all with decent Talent, but the youngest, Song Yanyu, had the best Talent of all.

He was an SS-level genius who had even mastered a Little Divine Power. He was a treasure in Maple Country and had taken a Ninth Realm Martial Artist as his master.

Now, he no longer planned to return to Xia Country. There were too many geniuses there, and the Cultivation Resources he would receive would be completely different.

In the Maple Country stands, a handsome, masculine young man with sharp features saw that his opponent was Lin Qi, and his expression changed slightly.

”How could it be Lin Qi?”

”Song, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Believe that you can win.”

A beautiful, mixed-race girl with blonde hair and blue eyes sitting beside him said.

Song Yanyu squeezed his girlfriend’s hand and nodded.

”I know!”

He looked toward the Xia Country section, his feelings about the nation complex.

Xia Country was the strongest nation in the world. He himself was of Xia Country descent and had wanted to go back when he was a child.

Later, after discovering his own Talent and enjoying a wealth of Cultivation Resources, that desire faded.

But in the last two years, Disaster Beast Tides had become frequent, and the situation in Maple Country was growing more and more difficult.

If things continued like this, the probability of him dying on the battlefield in the future was not low.

But as the strongest nation, Xia Country would persevere even if all other countries were annihilated.

His family was also beginning to regret not having returned.

Now that he was matched against Lin Qi, he also wanted to see for himself just how powerful a Xia Country genius truly was.

「A few minutes later」

A message popped up in front of him:

[Contestant Song Yanyu, prepare to enter the arena!]

He let out a breath, stood up, and was enveloped in a crimson light as he descended into the arena.

”BOOM!”

He had changed into a red-and-white Combat Suit, the same colors as the Maple Country flag. He walked out of the pillar of light holding a sharp, red Big Gun in one hand.

Across from him, Lin Qi, dressed in a black Combat Suit, also walked out slowly.

The two were similar in height and build.

But Song Yanyu’s expression was grave. He keenly sensed a faint yet distinct aura of danger emanating from Xia Country’s Lin Qi.

It was something none of his previous opponents had possessed.

’This is going to be tough!’ he lamented inwardly.

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

[Main Tournament, Round 8, Match 3, officially begins!]

Above the ring, the automated voice sounded, and the battle was about to erupt.

”BOOM!”

Scorching flames erupted from Song Yanyu’s body. Red patterns appeared on his exposed skin, and the temperature around him began to rise steadily.

The dancing flames seemed to Twist Space itself.

Not only that, but his aura also continued to rise, showing no signs of stopping.

”BUZZ!”

Lin Qi also instantly activated his Special Ability, [Jin Feng].

Dazzling golden patterns emerged as his entire body radiated a Golden Sharpness.

His eyes flashed with a brilliant light. Golden patterns swirled within his pupils as his golden eyes opened.

His opponent Song Yanyu’s aura was still growing stronger.

Under his observation, the Energy inside his opponent’s body exploded, and all his bodily functions were greatly enhanced under the stimulation—a situation that only occurred when a Little Divine Power was activated.

This time, Song Yanyu had used his Little Divine Power right from the start. A very decisive move!

”SWOOSH!”

”WHOOSH~”

Engulfed in scorching flames, Song Yanyu charged out, brandishing his Big Gun like a burning Meteor streaking across the sky.

The flames were scorching and domineering, and so was Song Yanyu’s Spear Technique style.

He was two meters tall with a strong, muscular build. His strength and speed were not weak; he was very well-balanced in all aspects.

’I’ve activated my Little Divine Power now. I’ll try to catch Lin Qi off guard.’

’As long as I can achieve victory, the means don’t matter.’

Song Yanyu thrust his crimson Big Gun, and a scarlet spear light shot out like a rocket.

At the same time, he unleashed his full power, the flames enveloping his body burning even more intensely as he moved at high speed.

Seeing the spear light, Lin Qi controlled his Golden Sharpness, forming it into a volley of Sharp Blades that shot forward.

”BANG! BANG!”

Jin Feng and Red Flame collided. The pure Energy collision created waves of Gale-force winds.

”WHOOSH~”

Lin Qi himself transformed into a streak of black Lightning and charged out. He swung his Big Gun, executing the fierce and domineering ”Mountain and River Spear Technique.”

”BANG!”

In the span of a breath, the two collided in the arena.

Lin Qi wasn’t in a hurry to end the fight, so he didn’t use his full strength.

’I want to see how strong a genius Martial Artist at the Peak of the Sixth Realm is after activating a Little Divine Power. It’ll give me a reference point for Seventh Realm Martial Artists.’

”CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!”

The two clashed head-on. Lin Qi could feel the scorching heat and waves of force impacting his body.

But that was it. Aside from a slight numbness, he felt nothing else.

「One minute later」

”BANG!”

The heat and Jin Feng collided in mid-air. Song Yanyu felt a terrifying force strike him, and his entire body was uncontrollably knocked backward.

’So strong!’

Song Yanyu’s eyes were filled with shock as he stared at Lin Qi. He had already activated his [Little Divine Power].

’And I’m still not his match!’

The power he unleashed was like a stone sinking into the ocean, completely swallowed up.

”SHING!”

”SWISH!”

In the instant his focus wavered, a cold glint of light flashed and appeared in his vision.

’Not good!’

By the time he tried to raise his spear to block, it was too late to unleash his full power.

”BANG!”

The two Big Guns collided instantly with a crackle in the air. Lin Qi’s spear, mid-thrust, remained perfectly straight.

But Song Yanyu’s red Big Gun had already flown from his grasp.

”PFFT~”

Lin Qi put force into his arm, and his Long Spear pierced through Song Yanyu’s protective Red Flame, his Combat Suit, his skin, and shredded his heart.

He watched as his opponent dissipated into the Void.

[Match 3: Lin Qi (Xia Country) wins!]

As the automated voice announced it above the ring, Lin Qi successfully advanced to the top 16.

In the stands, many spectators were now looking at him with increased attention.

”This Lin Qi is so strong!”

”He made it to the top 16 so easily.”

”I remember last time, aside from the fourth-year seniors, the strongest competitor only made it to the top 16.”

”If Lin Qi makes it to the top 8, won’t he break the record?”

In the Xia Country stands, Lei Frost let out a breath.

”It seems we all underestimated Lin Qi’s Talent.”

”I remember last time, Xu Qin made it to the top 16, which was the standing record.”

”It’s a shame she was eliminated on her way to the top 8, but she still set a record.”

”Now it looks like Lin Qi has a good chance of breaking her record.”

Beside them, Zhang Tianyang shook his head.

”I think it’ll be difficult. Xu Qin, after all, was a Top-Level genius who had Awakened two Special Abilities.”

”Her Combat Power was boosted by more than double, and even she couldn’t do it.”

”Let alone Junior Lin Qi. He’s only Awakened one Special Ability, after all.”

He was not at all optimistic about Lin Qi’s chances.

Shen Heng, however, had a different opinion. The truth was, Lin Qi’s fights had all been handled with ease.

He hadn’t encountered an evenly matched fight; it seemed like he could end any battle the moment he decided to exert himself.

He was winning too easily.

Now, even he was finding it a bit hard to see through Lin Qi.

But he soon broke into a confident smile. ’No matter how strong Lin Qi is, he can’t beat me. Because I’ve already broken through to the Seventh Realm.’

...

Lin Qi’s victory once again made all the remaining contestants take note of him.

If he kept fighting like this, even they weren’t guaranteed a win against him.

Lin Qi returned to his seat in the stands and continued to watch the following matches.

Round 8 had become exceptionally brutal. Some countries had only a single contestant left, carrying the hopes of their entire nation.

The atmosphere in the stands grew more intense, and the air was constantly filled with thunderous applause and all kinds of cheers.

...

「Half an hour later, the 16 matches were over.」

The final top 16 were decided. Two more from Xia Country had been eliminated.

A total of five of their people made it to the top 16, making them the country with the most advancing contestants.

...

The tall and sturdy King of Mountains and Rivers appeared as a projection once again. He began,

”Without further ado, congratulations to the 16 contestants who have advanced to the ninth round...”

The King of Mountains and Rivers once again announced the rewards: 170 million Xia Country Coins, 7,000 kilograms of Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood, and 1,000 kilograms of Level 8 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood.

Then, Round 9 officially began.

Lin Qi also saw his next opponent.

[Match 8: Lin Qi (Xia Country) VS Winnie David (Sunset Country)]

Information about this contestant from Sunset Country also surfaced in Lin Qi’s mind.

Winnie David, an SS-level genius from Sunset Country and also their last remaining contestant.

If she was eliminated, Sunset Country would be completely wiped out.

Recalling her previous matches, she was stronger than his last opponent, Song Yanyu, but only by a limited margin.

While he was thinking, Round 9 officially began.

Match 1: Ivan from Bear Country versus Lei Frost.

Lei Frost was tragically eliminated.

Match 2: Jenos from the Silver Federation, the SSS-level genius with the greatest strength, successfully eliminated Meng Yuxuan.

But in Match 3, Shen Heng eliminated an SS-level genius from the Silver Federation.

Match 4: Zhang Tianyang barely defeated a contestant from Bear Country and successfully advanced to the top 8.

Match 5: Tianzhu Country eliminated the Silla Kingdom’s strongest genius.

Match 6: A contestant from Germany successfully advanced.

Match 7: Japan’s strongest contestant, Araki, successfully advanced.

...

Before he knew it, it was time for the final match of the round.

Lin Qi was enveloped in crimson light and descended into the arena.

Across from him, a tall, beautiful woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and bold features walked out. She had striking red lips.

She exuded a glamorous aura. This was Winnie David, the strongest genius of Sunset Country.

Facing Lin Qi, Winnie also felt the pressure.

She wasn’t certain of victory, but she had confidence in her own strength.

Meanwhile, in the stands, many of the contestants were watching with interest.

”Whether Lin Qi can set a new record all comes down to this match.”

”Winnie’s no weakling. It might be a little difficult for him to advance.”

In the upper-level stands, the High Realm Martial Artists from Sunset Country also grew tense.

If Winnie lost, they would be completely wiped out.

Failing to get anyone into the top 8 would be too great a blow for them.

’Winnie, you have to win!’

a burly, blond-haired man thought nervously. He was Winnie’s father, an Eighth Realm Martial Artist.

His judgment was sharp, and he could see Lin Qi’s power. It would not be easy for Winnie to win.

...