High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 329: Chapter 329: 2x Speed Overpowering Kill

CLANG!

With eyes like torches, Lin Qi precisely thrust his spear against the body of Li Hexuan’s blade.

A deafening sound, like the ringing of a great bell, echoed as the weapons collided, sending sparks flying.

HISS~

The moment their weapons clashed, Lin Qi felt a bone-chillingly cold Power surge from the shaft of his spear into his body, causing him to shudder involuntarily.

The surrounding temperature plummeted, and even the Mountain Shaking Power he unleashed seemed to freeze, its might drastically reduced.

Waves of coldness swiftly rushed toward his muscles and organs.

It felt like countless ice needles, both numbing and painful, capable of instantly stiffening his muscles and preventing Qi Blood from circulating throughout his body.

For a moment, his body became unusually heavy, slipping from his conscious control.

But the sensation came as quickly as it went.

BOOM!

A tyrannical surge of Qi Blood erupted from Lin Qi, his powerful physique suppressing the discomfort.

Across from him, Li Hexuan’s expression turned to shock. He felt a majestic Power erupt from the body of his blade.

It was like the opening of a great floodgate, unleashing a tyrannical Power that his own could barely withstand.

’This Lin Qi... such immense strength!’

Li Hexuan’s body wavered as he reeled in shock. His opponent’s strength was astounding.

But he knew exactly how to defeat an opponent stronger than himself.

CLANG!

His first strike having missed Lin Qi, he immediately changed his attack. The Tang Blade spun rapidly in his hand, its cold light glinting.

He unleashed the true might of his Saber Technique, launching swift attacks from various angles. Each swing carried a bone-chilling cold.

His body trembled—muscles and bones vibrating—as his unique Ice Source Energy fused with his Power, transforming completely into Ice Force.

He then executed his most proficient Saber Technique—the Extreme Cold Saber Technique.

Facing Li Hexuan’s assault, Lin Qi swung his Black Great Spear, skillfully parrying with thrusts, deflections, and entangling maneuvers. He retreated while defending, carefully studying his opponent’s offensive.

To outsiders, it looked as if Lin Qi had been forced onto the back foot.

”Lin Qi is on the defensive!”

”Is this contestant from the Silla Kingdom that strong? He’s actually managed to push Lin Qi this far,” someone said with concern.

”Shouldn’t it be Lin Qi who’s strong? He’s Unawakened, you know!” another person commented.

”This is making me so anxious! Lin Qi absolutely cannot lose!” someone said nervously.

However, compared to the ordinary contestants, the Awakened geniuses, and even the SS-level geniuses, saw more to the exchange and had different thoughts.

In the stands for Xia Country’s Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy.

Wan Ming, dressed in a blue robe, leaned back in his smart chair. Seeing the current situation, he shook his head and said, ”This Li Hexuan has some skill.”

”But in my opinion, he’s no match for Xiang Long!”

Nearby, Xiang Long scoffed, ”Him, compared to me? He’s on the same level as Song Qing, at best.”

A short distance away, the cool-tempered Song Qing’s face darkened. ”Xiang Long, that’s a pretty low blow.”

...

In the Silla Kingdom’s section, several Awakened geniuses wore grave expressions.

”Why do He Xuan’s attacks seem ineffective? His Ice Force is capable of freezing an opponent’s blood and temporarily robbing them of their ability to fight.”

”So why does it look like Xia Country’s Lin Qi is completely fine?” a curvy woman asked in confusion.

”Maybe Brother He Xuan isn’t going all out?”

”Idiot!”

Song Zhengzai, the only SS-level genius among them, cursed, ”It’s because that Lin Qi from Xia Country has immense physical conditioning and superb Spear Technique! He Xuan’s attacks are being completely blocked.”

”The situation is extremely unfavorable for him right now.”

”Unless He Xuan goes for an all-out gamble, he’s very likely to lose!”

His expression grew solemn as he thought to himself:

’I really can’t underestimate Xia Country. To think a genius like Lin Qi would appear.’

’It’s as if He Xuan’s Ice Force is having no effect at all. How is he doing that?’

...

Back in the ruined arena.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The temperature in the air continued to drop. Li Hexuan swung his Battle Saber, its trajectory like icicles dancing in a winter Blizzard.

But his expression was grave.

He had already unleashed his full strength.

His Ice Force was constantly being released, but his opponent remained at ease, seemingly completely unaffected.

Not only that, but it was as if his Saber Technique had been completely seen through.

Every one of his techniques was easily blocked by Lin Qi.

With every clash of their weapons, amidst the flying sparks, a majestic Power would surge forth.

It made his arms go numb and sent waves of pain through his muscles and organs.

He had a bad feeling.

’If this keeps up, I’m going to lose!’

At this thought, he steeled himself. His entire body trembled as he began to execute a Killing Technique, no longer conserving his stamina.

”It’s time to end this!”

A continuous stream of Source Energy and Power combined, converging in his arms and flowing into his Tang Blade. It even detached from the blade, fusing with the air and seemingly condensing into projected Ice Cones.

PFFT!

Lin Qi tilted his head slightly as a sharp pain stung his cheek, as if it had been grazed by a blade.

A small cut had opened on his face, and a trickle of blood seeped out.

’His Ice Force is something else!’

The next moment, he sensed danger as an invisible aura erupted from Li Hexuan.

’He’s about to unleash a Killing Technique!’

The corner of Lin Qi’s mouth curved upward slightly. ’You want to use a Killing Technique? Did you ask for my permission?’

In the next instant, a tyrannical aura burst from his body. A malevolent Evil Qi filled the air, as if a Platinum Evil Tiger had awoken.

He abruptly changed his grip on the Black Great Spear. His bones vibrated as a waterfall of Power fused with Source Energy and converged.

Now that he was familiar with Li Hexuan’s Extreme Cold Saber Technique, he began to exert his own power!

Gathering and unleashing his power happened in a single instant.

SHING!

Every major and minor muscle group in his body began to operate at high speed under his control.

He and Li Hexuan changed their techniques at the same time, but in the eyes of many spectators, it was as if they were in two different spaces.

One was moving at normal speed, while the other was moving at double speed.

Just as Li Hexuan was executing his Killing Technique, Lin Qi’s Black Great Spear had already thrust out ferociously, like a Black Dragon emerging from the sea.

Power condensed at the spear’s tip, piercing the air and tearing through everything around it.

The thrust came with the force of a thunderbolt!

When Li Hexuan saw this, his eyes bulged, and he roared frantically in his mind:

’Faster!!’

WHOOSH!!

Amidst the howling wind, a cold light flashed. The spear tip traveled in a straight line, meeting no resistance as it plunged directly into Li Hexuan’s neck.

The Mountain Shaking Power exploded, mangling flesh and extinguishing life.

SPURT!

The spear tip, dripping with hot blood, emerged into the cold air.

At that moment, Li Hexuan’s Tang Blade was still three centimeters from Lin Qi. The Power leaving the blade grazed Lin Qi’s skin, drawing a tiny drop of blood.

”It’s over.”

Li Hexuan stared at Lin Qi, his eyes filled with nothing but confusion and disbelief.

In the end, he faded into nothingness, disappearing from the arena.

[Match 1: Lin Qi (Xia Country) wins!]

An automated voice announced the result over the silent arena.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

The stands were quiet for a moment before erupting into thunderous applause and a tsunami of cheers.

”He won again!”

”He actually managed to defeat another Awakened genius and advance to the fifth round!”

”As expected of a Top Level genius from Xia Country! He’s too strong!”

”How can such a powerful genius exist?”

”Is he really not Awakened?”

”I seriously suspect this Lin Qi has already Awakened and is just hiding his strength!”

In the Silla Kingdom’s spectator section.

Li Hexuan was teleported back to the stands, his face pale and bloodless.

He was abnormally silent.

”He Xuan, don’t be discouraged. There’s no shame in losing to Xia Country’s Lin Qi.”

”His strength far surpasses yours!”

Hearing this only made Li Hexuan feel worse. ’Song Zhengzai really doesn’t know how to comfort people!’

”I don’t understand how Lin Qi from Xia Country can be so strong.”

”He’s Unawakened, yet his Talent is already greater than mine. What does that make me?”

The others exchanged glances. It seemed Li Hexuan had taken a heavy blow to his confidence.

...

In the stands for Xia Country’s Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy.

When Lin Qi returned, he was once again greeted with enthusiastic applause.

”Haha, I knew Brother Qi would win!”

”A puny Li Hexuan is no match for Brother Qi. He handled him with ease.”

”With Brother Qi’s strength, he has a shot at making it to the top 32, maybe even the top 16,” Jiangtao said, his voice the loudest of all.

But his words made the others from the Sixth Institute nod in agreement.

With their Dean’s strength, getting through the next fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds would be no problem.

Lin Qi just smiled at this. His goals were far loftier.

...

The competition continued in full swing.

Over the course of the morning, all 125 matches were completed.

As most people had predicted, 99% of those who advanced to the fifth round were Awakened geniuses.

The Unawakened geniuses like Jiangtao and Ao Feng were all eliminated.

Among the Unawakened geniuses, besides Lin Qi, only one other person managed to advance.

That person was Li Hanjiang, which came as a surprise to everyone.

He had narrowly defeated an S-class genius from the Sunset Country.

This shocked many people in the audience.

Lin Qi was also quite surprised. The guy’s strength was truly out of the ordinary.

It also gave him the feeling that there was more to this Li Hanjiang than met the eye. His intuition told him that this might not even be the full extent of the other man’s strength.

「Afternoon arrived.」

”Esteemed contestants and viewers, welcome to the fifth round of the Global Freshmen Tournament.”

The projected image of Xu Wenji looked around at the crowd and began to speak slowly.

”Before we knew it, the tournament has already reached its fifth round. After four rounds of competition, only 125 contestants remain!”

”They are true Elite geniuses, and they will now compete in the fifth round to determine the 63 contestants who will advance.”

”As you have all noticed, with 125 contestants, there is one extra person.”

”According to the tournament rules, that one extra contestant will be very lucky and receive a bye, advancing directly to the next round.”

As soon as he said this, the eyes of many contestants lit up.

Many contestants felt they weren’t strong enough to make it through the upcoming fifth round.

But if they were lucky enough to get the bye, they would secure a higher ranking and an additional 10 million Xia Country Coins.

Only the geniuses who were extremely confident in their own strength didn’t care about receiving a bye.

After speaking, Xu Wenji opened his palm, and a giant golden egg appeared, covered with the names of the 125 contestants.

WHIRRR!!

The golden egg began to spin under everyone’s watchful gaze.

BANG!!

After a full three seconds, the golden egg suddenly exploded!

A small virtual figure appeared before everyone. Floating above its head were several large words.

[Bye: Lin Qi (Xia Country)]

...