High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 480: Chapter 462: Pinnacle Battle

After watching the fight, Shen Heng couldn’t help but remark:

”After watching this match, I’m more convinced than ever that even I would find it exceptionally difficult to defeat Lin Qi.”

”No, maybe I would lose too.”

”If Ivan Petrov’s Saber Technique hadn’t broken through to Tier Four Late-stage...”

”Lin Qi might have actually had a chance to win the championship.”

Even now, he still didn’t favor Lin Qi. It had always been this way.

...

In the upper spectator stands, within the section for Tianzhu Country, Venerable Ice sighed upon seeing the result:

”It’s just one match. I hope Niting doesn’t dwell on the outcome, but instead learns from this experience to become stronger.”

He then looked toward the Xia Country District, a trace of envy in his eyes.

They were both populous nations, yet Xia Country was able to continuously produce geniuses.

Almost every year, the champion came from Xia Country.

As for their Tianzhu Country, the highest they had ever reached was the semi-finals. The gap was immense.

...

Meanwhile, Xia Country’s High Realm Martial Artists all had different reactions.

Xue Zhou, dressed in a blue robe, stroked his chin and said:

”I didn’t expect Lin Qi to win so much more easily than I imagined.”

”It seems he still hasn’t used his Little Divine Power!”

”If he keeps fighting like this, he might actually have a chance at the championship!”

The King of Mountains and Rivers, whose presence was as heavy and stable as a mountain, also nodded.

”Lin Qi has already displayed his Talent and strength. I’m greatly looking forward to his battle with Ivan Petrov!”

”It might produce some unexpected results.”

Nearby, the domineering Liy Qifeng, clad in a golden robe and radiating a powerful sharpness, also nodded.

”Lin Qi isn’t like the others. He has a chance of winning.”

At this, the North River Sword King, his eyes as sharp as swords, shook his head.

”You’re all being cautious, but I see it differently. I believe Lin Qi can win.”

”He can set a new record.”

The others couldn’t get a word into the trio’s discussion, but they all shared the same curiosity: could Lin Qi defeat Ivan Petrov?

...

In the Xia Country stands, Lin Qi was teleported back. He looked at the shocked crowd and smiled.

”Only one match left!”

Jiang Miaoyin nodded earnestly. ”Brother Lin Qi, you’ll definitely win the championship.”

The atmosphere was so charged that no one dared to say anything discouraging.

Chu Yu also spoke up.

”Brother Qi, you’ll definitely take the championship.”

The expressions on the faces of the others turned subtle, especially those of Wan Ming, Yu Zhuoran, and Pei Jiu, students from the Celestial Vault Institute.

Chu Yu used to just call him by his name, so it was a surprise that he had changed how he addressed him.

Chu Yu looked at Lin Qi, now completely and utterly convinced of his superiority.

The gap between him and Lin Qi was only growing wider.

He knew very well that with his own Talent, even if he became stronger than Niting or Jenos by his senior year, it would only be by a limited margin.

But Lin Qi was different. He could already defeat Jenos and Niting.

In just a few months, Lin Qi had lapped him. He had no choice but to accept it.

So, when he called him ”Brother Qi,” he truly meant it.

At the same time, he also hoped Lin Qi could win the championship and not let it fall into the hands of another country.

”Esteemed guests and contestants!”

Above the arena, a projection of the King of Mountains and Rivers appeared once again.

His voice drew the attention of everyone who had been talking.

The spectator stands fell silent instantly.

The King of Mountains and Rivers scanned the crowd and began to speak slowly.

”After six long days, our 35th annual Global Martial Arts Tournament is about to reach its grand finale.”

”And let us congratulate the two contestants who have successfully made it to the very end.”

CLAP! CLAP!!

Amidst the thunderous applause, he waved his hand, and projections of two enormous mountains materialized.

Lin Qi and Ivan Petrov stood on the mountaintops, while the projections of a Ninth-Level Calamity Beast, the Platinum Evil Tiger, and a Nine-headed Serpent Emperor faced off.

”In the final championship match, Lin Qi from Xia Country and Ivan Petrov from the Bear Country will battle to determine the ultimate champion.”

”One is Contestant Lin Qi, a dark horse who has fought his way through every obstacle.”

”The other is a top contender for the championship title.”

”Who will take home the title? It will all be decided in this one match.”

”Let’s welcome our two contestants to the stage!”

The atmosphere in the stands grew extremely tense.

The Global Martial Arts Tournament, the largest Martial Arts event in the world, was only held once a year.

With over twenty million Martial Artists competing, anyone who could win the championship was almost guaranteed to break through to the Ninth Realm in the future.

This was especially true for Xia Country, where several of its Ninth Realm Martial Artists had previously won this very championship.

In the Bear Country’s stands, the tall and sturdy Ivan Petrov slowly rose to his feet.

He still wore a confident smile as he grinned at his talented friends around him.

”The final match!”

”Remember this moment. The Bear Country’s first-ever champion of the Global Martial Arts Tournament is about to be born.”

”Ivan!!”

Everyone around him roared with excitement, waiting for their king, Ivan, to return with their first championship title.

After saying this, he was enveloped in a crimson light.

A pillar of light shot into the sky, descending alongside another onto the newly simulated arena.

WHOOSH!!

BOOM!

The crimson pillar of light landed, kicking up a gust of wind. As the light dissipated, two figures emerged, holding their weapons after having selected their combat gear.

Lin Qi wore a black, form-fitting Combat Suit, holding a black great spear in one hand.

An invisible aura emanated from his body.

Twenty meters away, an equally sturdy figure emerged opposite him.

Ivan Petrov had switched to a white Combat Suit this time. He was tall and well-built, standing at 1.95 meters.

Around the same height as Lin Qi, he had three silver Flying Knives tucked into his belt.

One Flying Knife was too few, four was too many, but three was just right to make full use of his abilities as a Spiritual Mind Master.

In his hand, he brandished a long, sharp, silver Battle Saber.

He also exuded a tyrannical aura, like that of a Ninth-Level Calamity Beast, the Nine-headed Serpent Emperor.

This was from the Evolution Technique he cultivated. After his breakthrough to the Seventh Realm, his aura had grown even thicker, and an invisible pressure was already bearing down on Lin Qi.

It was the unique oppressive feeling that only a High Realm expert could produce.

Ivan looked at Lin Qi. With his broad face, high-bridged nose, and chiseled features, he looked down on Lin Qi with a confident smile.

”Lin Qi, you’re very impressive!”

”You’re a true genius. We all believe that you’ll be the undisputed champion of the next Global Martial Arts Tournament.”

The corners of Lin Qi’s mouth tilted up slightly.

”The next one?”

”No, I’m taking the championship this year!”

Ivan Petrov was taken aback for a moment.

”You’re even more confident than I thought.”

”But you can’t take this championship. It belongs to the Bear Country.”

”I will become the first genius from the Bear Country to win the Global Martial Arts Tournament.”

As he spoke, his emotions intensified, and powerful fluctuations of Spiritual Power erupted from him.

’This Spiritual Power is far greater than my own.’ Lin Qi was startled. ’He’s a Seventh Realm Martial Artist. His Spiritual Power has most likely reached the Eighth Realm.’

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

[The final match has officially begun!]

Above the arena, an automated female voice emotionlessly announced the start of the finals.

”Ivan!!”

”Lin Qi!!”

In the stands, the spectators from Xia Country and the Bear Country erupted into cheers.

The live comments flew across the screen.

”The championship definitely belongs to our Bear Country!”

”Shen Heng from Xia Country already lost. Lin Qi is also destined to be defeated by Ivan.”

”The Bear Country will finally rise!”

The audience from Xia Country wasn’t about to back down.

”It would be hilarious if he lost to Lin Qi.”

”In every major tournament Lin Qi has entered, he has never lost once he reached the finals.”

”This time will probably be the same.”

...

While the audience argued heatedly in the stands, the battle in the arena began.

BZZZT!!

Before Ivan Petrov even moved, his Flying Knives shot out. He had taken the initiative.

His eyes narrowed, and intense Spiritual Telekinesis erupted from his body.

The three silver Flying Knives at his waist, controlled by an invisible hand, lifted off and shot forward.

SHOO! SHOO! SHOO!!

The three Flying Knives were like streaks of silver lightning, leaving three trails of light in the air.

The knives whistled toward Lin Qi, their speed so great it was almost impossible to react.

At the same time, Ivan himself moved, brandishing his Battle Saber. His figure dashed out like a phantom, the blade glinting as it sliced through the air with a series of whooshes.

BOOM!!

In an instant, Golden Light erupted from Lin Qi’s entire body, and vivid golden patterns appeared on his skin.

Golden Sharpness flowed around his body, creating powerful gusts of wind.

Lin Qi mentally controlled the Sharpness, forming it into three Golden Blades that slashed outward.

BANG! BANG!!

Upon impact with the silver Flying Knives, the Golden Blades instantly exploded into countless motes of golden light, but the knives themselves continued whistling toward Lin Qi.

’Energy can’t block my Flying Knives?’

Ivan, who was charging forward, revealed a confident smile.

’Just as I thought, it’s not working!’

Lin Qi thought to himself. Although the arena restricted the material of the Flying Knives—for example, the Combat Suits they wore were Tier Six, and all their weapons were of Tier Six strength—there was no way they would give Ivan Tier Seven materials. Pure Energy still couldn’t contend with Flying Knives forged from Tier Six Delta Alloy.

’If this were reality and he were using Tier Seven Flying Knives, they would be even more powerful.’

BZZZT!

Sensing extreme danger, his eyes burst with Golden Light as he instantly activated [Golden Eyes].

The speed of the silver Flying Knives slowed down in his vision, and Lin Qi instantly calculated their trajectory.

He could almost see silver ribbons trailing from the ends of the knives—that was Ivan’s Spiritual Telekinesis.

He immediately channeled his power. ’Since Golden Sharpness is useless against the Flying Knives, I’ll just kill their master, Ivan, directly.’

BZZZT!

Golden Sharpness and Power flowed into his long spear.

The spear struck out like a dragon, its tip vibrating and creating a sky full of afterimages.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!!

The tip of the top-level spear struck the Flying Knives with pinpoint accuracy, sending sparks flying and knocking them away with crisp, metallic clashes.

WHOOSH!

In that same instant, Ivan’s attack arrived. The sharp blade seemed to cleave through space as it came down in a Heavy Slash toward Lin Qi’s head.

SWOOSH!

In a flash, Lin Qi advanced instead of retreating. His body became as agile and swift as Lightning, turning into an afterimage to dodge Ivan’s attack.

The saber’s gleam struck the afterimage.

’So fast!’

Ivan marveled inwardly. Even with his powerful Perception, Lin Qi’s reaction speed was simply too fast.

...