High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Opening Champagne at Halftime

August 12th, the third day of the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition, 8:00 AM!

Deep within Area 2 of the Disaster Beast Garden.

Amidst the ruins, on a crumbling asphalt road, stood a watchtower building covered in green vines.

The stench of blood and rot hung heavy in the air.

A tall, burly figure stood clad in a red Combat Suit. Large patches of the suit were caked with dark, clotted blood, and his sharp Red Halberd was stained crimson.

”HAAH!!”

Huo Wanyang’s hair was a mess, but his presence was immense. A terrifying aura erupted from him, like that of a savage beast.

”GRAAAR~”

A massive gray figure, like an armored car at full speed, launched itself through the air. A foul stench and a gale-force wind slammed into Huo Wanyang’s face.

”THWACK!!”

A cruel smile spread across his face. He swung the Red Halberd in his hands, bringing the weapon down with the force of a collapsing mountain.

”SHLICK~”

The sharp tip of the halberd tore through the Gray Ridge Giant Wolf’s neck. Blood instantly erupted in a torrential spray.

”THUMP!”

Its head and body hit the ground at the same time, kicking up a cloud of blood-soaked dust.

Huo Wanyang casually wiped the blood from his face and plopped down on the Gray Ridge Giant Wolf’s corpse.

”This is boring. Level 3 Calamity Beasts are too weak for me now that I’m at the Peak of the Second Realm.”

”Too bad there aren’t any Level 4 Calamity Beasts in the Disaster Beast Garden. I wanted to test my strength.”

He pressed the yellow button on his smart-watch.

Two Points Charts materialized before his eyes.

On the academy-wide Points Chart, his Azure Sky First Institute was ahead of the second-place Azure Sky Ninth Institute by more than 30,000 points.

And they led the third-place Azure Sky Second Institute by a gap of almost 50,000 points.

As for the individual Points Chart, he, Huo Wanyang, was also far ahead of everyone else.

”BEEP!”

”Master, I’ve received messages from three of your classmates. They all report that Ao Feng, the Dean of Azure Sky Ninth Institute, has chosen to withdraw from the competition.”

The red metallic sphere floating behind him suddenly spoke.

Huo Wanyang stood up and said, ”Since Ao Feng has already quit, there’s no need for me to stay here any longer.”

With that thought, he pressed the red emergency button on his smart-watch, choosing to withdraw from the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition early.

...

At that moment, aboard a small rescue flyer, Ao Feng was using a clean towel to wipe the blood from his silver-white Combat Suit.

He looked at the two Points Charts before him and shook his head. ’Looks like I’m destined to be number two, after all.’

’This is fine. Even if Duan Chuchu and the Second Institute go all out, they’ll never catch up to our Ninth Institute.

I should start preparing for tomorrow’s individual matches.’

At the same time, some students from the First and Ninth Institutes also chose to withdraw.

...

A spacious white safe house was stocked with first-aid kits, compressed food, energy drinks, and simple iron-frame bunk beds.

Duan Chuchu lay on her bunk, panting heavily. Her arms ached; she had been fighting relentlessly for two days straight.

Her body was reaching its limit.

’It’s a shame we can’t use Healing Potions. Otherwise, I could hunt a lot more Calamity Beasts.’

She looked at the Points Chart and shook her head. ’Huo Wanyang and Ao Feng have withdrawn now.’

’I can’t quit yet. I need to kill a few more Calamity Beasts and earn some more money.’

...

「Red Cloud Building, Large Conference Room.」

”Ao Feng and Huo Wanyang have withdrawn from the competition,” a director suddenly spoke up.

His voice carried to the others in the room.

The Vice Dean of Azure Sky Ninth Institute, an elegant middle-aged woman in a custom-made purple dress, rose to her feet with a smile.

”We were never going to reach first place anyway. All we can do is hold on to second.”

”The top three rankings haven’t changed at all. The competition is basically over.”

”The point gaps are in the tens of thousands. Everyone has been fighting for two days straight without any Healing Potions. With only compressed food and energy drinks, it’s impossible to recover enough stamina.”

”Trying to close that gap in the final hours is practically impossible.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than the Vice Dean of the First Institute, a refined, scholarly middle-aged man, also stood up.

”That’s right. As far as I’m concerned, the team competition is over.”

”I have other business to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.”

With that, he turned and left, quickly vanishing from sight.

Hearing this, the others also began to leave one by one, until only two or three people remained in the vast conference room.

”Old Liu, you’re not leaving?” a sturdy, square-jawed man asked.

Dean Liu calmly shook his head. ”I want to see this through to the very end.”

As he spoke, he focused on Lin Qi’s feed on the live broadcast. ’There are nine hours left. It’s time for you to make your move, Lin Qi!’

...

In Area 2, the resting members of the Azure Sky Sixth Institute took out their smartphones and saw they had received a signal.

’The plan is starting!!!’

’I’m exhausted, but for the Sixth Institute’s ranking, I have to see this through to the end.’

Zhou Xiyin, dressed in her white Combat Suit, thought to herself.

With that, she gripped her Longsword, strode out of the safe house, and began hunting Calamity Beasts with all her might.

...

’I’m from North River. I can definitely hold out until the very end.’

’People from North River are second to none.’

Leaning against a crumbling wall, Guan Mountain, drenched in blood, slowly pushed himself to his feet. Though he was only 1.85 meters tall, he radiated a powerful presence.

...

’Is it finally time to start?’

”HAAH~”

Sitting at the entrance of the safe house, Jiangtao, clad in a silver Combat Suit, swallowed the mouthful of compressed food and took a swig of his energy drink.

He could feel his stamina steadily returning.

’I’ve still got plenty of stamina. Our Sixth Institute will definitely break into the top three this time.’

With that thought, he brandished his Battle Saber and charged toward the distant jungle.

...

「Deep in Area 2, Inside a White Safe House.」

Dressed in a black Combat Suit, Lin Qi was cultivating a Source Energy Skill right where he stood.

Surrounding Source Energy Particles flowed into his body, mending his fatigue.

This was a method he had discovered for rapidly recovering stamina, but not everyone could clear their minds of distracting thoughts as quickly as he could.

”Master, a message has arrived!” Little Chan suddenly piped up, projecting a green screen into the air.

”HAAH~”

Lin Qi opened his eyes, a Golden Light flashing within them. He felt a significant amount of his stamina had returned.

A smile touched his lips as he looked at the message projected before him.

He slowly rose to his feet and removed the two pairs of Gravity Rings he was wearing, which weighed a total of 800 kilograms.

”CLANG!”

The Gravity Rings crashed to the floor with a heavy clang, and Lin Qi instantly felt as light as a feather.

He then looked at another Points Chart.

[First Place: Huo Wanyang, Points: 6501]

[Second Place: Ao Feng, Points: 6021]

[Third Place: Duan Chuchu, Points: 5896]

[Fourth Place: Lin Qi, Points: 5800]

[Fifth Place: Li Lei, Points: 5768]

...

Lin Qi stared at the rankings. This was the individual Points Chart for new students. Teacher Luu Wei must have compiled it by asking students from the various institutes for their scores.

’Li Lei is right on my tail. He doesn’t actually think he can overtake me, does he?’

Lin Qi’s gaze shifted to Huo Wanyang’s score. He thought to himself,

’It’s time for me to go all out, too. First target: surpass Huo Wanyang’s 6,500 points.’

He then checked the Sixth Institute’s individual Points Chart. The scores of Guan Mountain and the others below him had also started to rise rapidly.

’Everyone’s starting to make their move.’

’I can’t fall behind!’

He walked to the doorway and glanced at the overall Points Chart. Their Azure Sky Sixth Institute was in fourth place.

They were a full 50,000 points behind the first-place Azure Sky First Institute.

’Over fifty thousand points... It’s not an impossible gap to close.’

At this thought, Lin Qi’s expression turned serious. His body flickered.

He vanished from the spot like a bolt of Lightning, rushing into the jungle.

...