High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 519: Chapter 495: Epiphany

Lin Qi’s gaze was locked on the entire Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar.

The many Calamity Beasts carved onto the pillar’s body were of all shapes and sizes. Some completely defied logic; there were even Calamity Beasts of shapes he had never seen before.

Some resembled giant birds but had nine heads, while others looked like colossal serpents but possessed a pair of wings.

There were Calamity Beasts of every form imaginable, packed so densely that it was dizzying to look at, making it hard to know where to even begin choosing.

At the same time, the pillar’s surface was covered in arcane patterns that seemed to merge with the Calamity Beasts under the dazzling lights.

Each Calamity Beast seemed alive. Lin Qi subconsciously activated his Golden Eyes.

A Golden Light bloomed in his eyes. He was a good few dozen meters away from the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar, but he could see it clearly.

Now, activating his Golden Eyes again and unleashing his Super Vision, he could see every single detail on the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar with perfect clarity.

”This is...?”

Lin Qi’s brow suddenly furrowed. In his vision, the carved body of a giant serpent Calamity Beast magnified, revealing the details upon it: a series of arcane patterns.

These arcane patterns seemed to be expounding some kind of mystery.

Lin Qi was instantly captivated.

”HISS~”

The next moment, a serpent’s hiss seemed to ring in his ears. The carved serpent instantly opened its eyes and met his gaze.

”BOOM!!”

Its massive body instantly pulled free from the blood pillar, shuttling through the air as it charged toward Lin Qi.

”Not good!”

’This is bad!’ Lin Qi thought. He instantly shut his eyes and deactivated his Golden Eyes.

A powerful aura slammed into his Spirit, causing his Consciousness Space to tremble.

A moment later, he opened his eyes again.

His heart was still pounding with fear, and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

’Did I... just comprehend a High-Level Source Energy Technique?’

Lin Qi stared at the serpent statue. A moment ago, he had been completely immersed in a state of comprehension.

It was exactly like what Director Fu had described—the process of comprehending a High-Level Source Energy Technique.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar was truly miraculous. The Cultivation Techniques were hidden within the statues, requiring one to use comprehension and a resonance in their bloodline to receive the information transmitted through the Void.

If he hadn’t cut it off just now and had allowed the giant serpent to charge into his mind, he would have comprehended a High-Level Source Energy Technique.

And it had only taken a few minutes. He hadn’t even consumed the blood of the Platinum Evil Tiger yet.

An ordinary genius would need several months, or even a year, to comprehend a Cultivation Technique from a Tenth-Level Calamity Beast.

But for him, a few minutes was all it took.

And yet, he hadn’t accepted it.

’A technique comprehended from a Tenth-Level Calamity Beast isn’t what I’m looking for.’

’If we use a Star Level rating, a technique from a Tenth-Level Calamity Beast is a Three-star rating at best.’

’An Eleventh-Level Calamity Beast is Four Stars, and a Twelfth-Level is Five Stars.’

’A High-Level Source Energy Technique comprehended from one of them is what I truly want.’

Lin Qi thought to himself. His goal was crystal clear: he wanted to observe a Twelfth-Level Calamity Beast.

He looked at the serpent statue. It was just one of the countless Tenth-Level Calamity Beasts at the very bottom of the stone pillar.

The entire Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar was divided into three tiers. The bottom tier consisted of Tenth-Level Calamity Beasts, which were the smallest in size and greatest in number.

The middle tier housed the Eleventh-Level Calamity Beasts. They were larger, with one being comparable in size to several Tenth-Level Calamity Beasts.

And at the very top were the Twelfth-Level Calamity Beasts. They were the most massive of all, and the fewest in number.

Looking down on the lower-tiered Calamity Beasts, they were the innate kings and leaders.

The entire Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar was like a food Pyramid, with the strongest being the Twelfth-Level Calamity Beasts at the apex.

Lin Qi stepped onto the white platform and began to walk.

He wasn’t in a hurry to begin observing. To him, it was more important to first find a suitable subject.

He opened the box, took out a drop of blood from the Platinum Evil Tiger, and placed it in his mouth, swallowing it.

”BOOM!!”

After the blood entered his body, it was rapidly digested. At the same time, his body became active, and a special aura was released from him.

It was the aura of a Platinum Evil Tiger, which began to interact and collide with the Calamity Beasts on the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar.

This would help him find the most compatible Calamity Beast.

There were quite a few others doing the same as him, most of them walking around the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar.

They would first give all the Calamity Beasts a cursory look, then search for one similar to the Evolution Technique they had previously practiced.

For example, someone who practiced the ”Nine-headed Serpent Emperor Evolution Method” would focus on the serpent-type Calamity Beasts.

As time went on, more and more geniuses began their Cultivation.

Many of the Seventh Realm geniuses were learning about the various aspects of the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar from the accompanying receptionists and their nations’ High Realm Martial Artists.

Among the group from the White Eagle Federation, a dozen or so geniuses listened to the explanation of a burly man, their eyes filling with excitement.

”I’m going to observe an Eleventh-Level Calamity Beast!”

”Maybe I should just stick to observing a Tenth-Level Calamity Beast?”

The burly man was an Eighth Realm Martial Artist. He crossed his arms, grinned, and said:

”I know many of you are very confident in your own Talent.”

”So, I won’t stop you from observing stronger Calamity Beasts.”

”But remember, don’t get carried away. If you observe for a whole week without making any headway, it means it’s not the right fit for you.”

”Stop observing immediately, or you’ll be the only one to regret it in the end.”

”Alright, go on. Begin your Cultivation!”

After the crowd dispersed, the burly man said to Jenos:

”Jenos, you’re an SSS-level genius. You can try observing a Twelfth-Level Calamity Beast!”

”But I have to give you a heads-up: even geniuses who have Awakened two Special Abilities aren’t guaranteed to succeed in their comprehension.”

Jenos nodded seriously and said with confidence, ”I believe I can do it.”

After speaking, he turned, took his metal box, and leaped down from the platform to begin observing the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar.

The burly man watched Jenos’s retreating back and shook his head. No matter how many times he said it, as SSS-level geniuses, they would all try to observe a Twelfth-Level Calamity Beast.

Reality would provide the answer. When he failed to make any progress after a few days, he would naturally choose to give up.

Meanwhile, the many Seventh Realm geniuses from Tianzhu Country also stepped onto the platform.

The bald Niting Reddy was among them. He looked at the towering pillar and thought to himself:

’My teacher said that with my Talent, I won’t be able to comprehend a Twelfth-Level Calamity Beast.’

’I don’t have enough Comprehension to grasp a High-Level Source Energy Technique from it. An Eleventh-Level Calamity Beast is what’s most suitable for me.’

’But I still want to try!’

’Otherwise, I’ll have regrets!’

Niting Reddy consumed a drop of Ninth-Level Calamity Beast blood and looked up toward the very top of the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar.

He scanned the hundred-odd Twelfth-Level Calamity Beasts carved there, searching for the one most compatible with him.

...

「Outside the black building」

Inside a spacious, antique-styled office.

Dean Liu and Director Fu sat facing each other at a tea table.

Dean Liu accepted the hot tea, took a sip, and savored its subtle notes. A moment later, he couldn’t help but exclaim:

”Excellent tea!”

”Only Director Fu would have something of such top-grade quality.”

Then, he asked:

”Director Fu, with your decades of experience, do you think Lin Qi can comprehend a High-Level Source Energy Technique from a Twelfth-Level Calamity Beast carving?”

Fu Xuan took a calm sip of tea and said:

”In my decades, I’ve seen more geniuses than there are on any ranking list.”

”Among all the geniuses I’ve ever seen, Lin Qi is certainly in the upper echelon!”

”Observing a Twelfth-Level Calamity Beast... I can’t say it’s 100%, but there’s at least a 90% chance he’ll succeed.”

”The only concern is how long it will take him to succeed in his Cultivation.”

”I’m guessing 60 days. Two months, that is.”

”After all, he’s a genius who broke through to the Seventh Realm as a sophomore.”

Dean Liu smiled and said, ”Then I’ll take your auspicious words for it, Director Fu.”

...

「Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar」

On the spacious platform sat over a hundred people, all from different parts of the country.

Some had just arrived and were curiously observing each Calamity Beast.

Some geniuses stared excitedly at the Eleventh-Level Calamity Beasts.

Others were completely focused on a single Calamity Beast, their brows tightly knit.

’That’s... Shen Heng!’

As Lin Qi circled the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar, he soon spotted a familiar figure.

Shen Heng, dressed in a dark-colored robe with a slender figure, seemed to sense something and turned to look over.

Lin Qi nodded.

Upon seeing Lin Qi, Shen Heng’s expression was one of astonishment, but he then nodded back.

He was shocked. ’Why is Lin Qi at the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar too?’

’Could he have already broken through to the Seventh Realm?’

’So fast!’

Shen Heng was amazed at Lin Qi’s speed; it was simply too fast.

He himself had only been at the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar for a little over two months, and Lin Qi had already broken through.

He suddenly felt a wave of pressure.

However, he was now at the most crucial juncture. He felt that he could succeed in his Cultivation within a month at the soonest.

...

Lin Qi looked at Shen Heng, keenly aware that the fluctuations of the aura around him had changed.

It was beginning to show signs of converging with the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pillar, his aura waxing and waning.

This seemed to be a sign that he was close to succeeding in his comprehension.

Lin Qi continued walking and soon saw Ivan Petrov from the Bear Country.

He also seemed close to succeeding. In another month, he and Shen Heng would most likely complete their Cultivation.

After walking for several hours, Lin Qi returned to his original spot.

He closed his eyes, and the Calamity Beasts appeared in his mind one by one. All 9,528 of them flashed past.

He then opened his eyes and looked at the carvings at the top. Among the 9,528 Calamity Beasts, only a hundred or so were Twelfth-Level.

There were far fewer Eleventh-Level Calamity Beasts compared to the Tenth-Level ones, and even fewer Twelfth-Level ones.

”HUU! HUU!!”

Lin Qi’s entire body was active, his Qi Blood growing stronger. The Evil Qi of the Platinum Evil Tiger also emerged as he began to observe the tiger-type beasts among the hundred-odd Calamity Beasts.

The first tiger-type carving was of a Calamity Beast with wings on its back, its entire body radiating Cold Ice.

Lin Qi felt a sense of familiarity, and the roar of a tiger echoed in his ears.

He had a gut feeling that if he comprehended this Calamity Beast, he would quickly grasp its cultivation method.

But he shook his head. This one wasn’t suitable for him. He moved to the next one: a giant tiger-type Calamity Beast with bulging muscles, wreathed in Red Flame.

The moment his Perception touched it, the surrounding Space seemed to be incinerated.

’This one won’t work either. I have the Metal Attribute.’

Lin Qi continued looking, one tiger-like monster after another, some with features fused from other types of Calamity Beasts.

For example, a combination of a tiger and a serpent, a Calamity Beast possessing both Fire and Water Attributes.

There was also a nine-headed tiger beast that possessed three different powers simultaneously, making it exceptionally strong.

Lin Qi felt that if he cultivated that one, his body would undergo a massive transformation.

He examined them one by one, seeing all sorts of Attributes, until he finally stopped in front of a particular Calamity Beast.

...