High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 333: Chapter 333: Battling an SS-level Genius

This made Lin Qi’s hands itch with anticipation. He wondered who was stronger—him or Victor.

This was the kind of opponent he wanted; fighting someone like that would be a huge boost to his own growth.

Victor wasn’t the only one who stunned the audience. There were also Yu Zhuoran, Havier, Miyamoto Genichiro, Alex Freck, and Song Zhengzai...

This group of SS-level geniuses displayed strength that far surpassed other Awakened geniuses.

The audience was shocked to discover that even the Awakened geniuses who could effortlessly crush ordinary ones were completely outmatched when facing the SS-level talents.

There were always new heights to reach; the gap between geniuses was far greater than they had ever imagined.

S-class Talent was merely the minimum for making it into the top 63.

An hour flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the sixth round was officially over.

The top 32 of the Global Freshman Tournament were officially announced!

”Ladies and gentlemen, let’s congratulate these 32 contestants on successfully advancing to the seventh round.”

”They will each be rewarded with 70 million Xia Country Coins.”

Xu Wenji pointed to the large screen and announced at the top of his lungs.

The stands erupted with cheers, the 70 million Xia Country Coin prize money making many in the audience incredibly envious.

But they also knew they lacked the Talent and strength to claim that prize for themselves.

”Of the 32 contestants, 18 are SS-level geniuses, 12 are Awakened geniuses, and 2 are Unawakened geniuses.”

”Every one of them is incredibly strong. They’ve all broken through to the Fourth Realm,” Guo Heng added from the side.

”Brother Qi is still the most impressive, though Li Hanjiang isn’t bad either!” Jiangtao nodded.

Lin Qi looked at the names of the 32 contestants on the large screen.

Xia Country had the most representatives.

Besides the SS-level Yu Zhuoran, Kong Ruoxuan, and Wang Mingxi, there were also Pei Jiu, Huo Wanyang, Xiang Long, himself, and Li Hanjiang.

They took up eight of the spots.

The upcoming seventh round would be another fierce competition, as even the SS-level geniuses could now be matched against one another.

And the eighth round only had 16 slots.

Only the strongest sixteen would be able to advance.

”Now, let’s move straight into the seventh round! Who will make it into the top 16? Let’s wait and see!”

After Xu Wenji finished speaking, he casually waved his hand, flinging out 32 crimson orbs of light.

BOOM!!

A giant chessboard materialized before everyone’s eyes. As the 32 crimson, meteor-like orbs landed upon it, they exploded violently.

They transformed into 32 enormous Ninth-Level Calamity Beasts with terrifying auras.

ROAR!

The Ninth-Level Calamity Beasts roared at the sky before condensing into distinct virtual figurines.

Among them, Lin Qi saw his own designated Ninth-Level Calamity Beast: the Platinum Evil Tiger.

He also saw his opponent’s beast—an enormous, octopus-like Ninth-Level Calamity Beast.

[Match 1: Lin Qi (Xia Country) vs. Sula (Tailande)]

...

Lin Qi’s brow furrowed when he saw his opponent.

’So it’s the unlucky guy from Tailande. His luck is really something else.’

”Whoa, Brother Qi, your opponent is Sula from Tailande!” Jiangtao suddenly exclaimed.

”What? Sula from Tailande!” The others stared at the bracket in surprise.

”Tailande is one of the top ten powers in the East. He’s their last remaining contestant, and also their first SS-level genius in three years.”

Guo Heng said, his expression grave.

”Brother Qi’s opponent is extremely strong this time. He’s an SS-level genius,” Li Zhou added, his tone just as grim.

Everyone’s expression grew heavy. This was an SS-level genius, after all.

Out of tens of millions of freshmen this year, there were only eighteen. An SS-level genius was one in millions.

Every single one of them was at the absolute peak of their generation.

”Have you all forgotten? Brother Qi has mastered a Little Divine Power. Taking down an SS-level genius should be a piece of cake for him.”

Jiangtao’s words were a wake-up call.

Everyone came to their senses. That was right; Lin Qi was someone who had mastered a Little Divine Power.

He wouldn’t necessarily lose.

The difference in Li Hanjiang’s strength with and without his Little Divine Power was night and day.

Let alone their Brother Qi, whose strength would only be that much greater.

Lin Qi spoke up slowly, ”Don’t worry. I’ll win.”

...

「In the Tailande spectator section」

Sula, a young man with delicate features, widened his eyes in pleasant surprise.

’The heavens are truly on my side, matching me against Lin Qi from Xia Country.’

’Do they want me to be the one to eliminate him?’

He clenched his fists. He would personally eliminate this lucky bastard.

...

Once the bracket was revealed, the 32 contestants had varied expressions, but the millions of spectators were already buzzing with anticipation.

”Next, let’s welcome the contestants for our first match! From Tailande, we have Sula, their prized SS-level contestant!”

”And from Xia Country, we have Lin Qi, the lucky genius who has defeated one strong opponent after another!”

As Xu Wenji finished, two crimson pillars of light shot up from the stands and descended rapidly upon the ruined arena.

BOOM!!

Two figures emerged from the pillars of light, an invisible aura radiating from each of them.

Lin Qi sized up his opponent, Sula.

His features were delicate, even more so than a girl’s, and he carried a soft, androgynous air. Based on looks alone, no one would ever guess he was male.

Ao Feng also had refined features, but his sturdy build made it clear he was a man.

But Sula was different. If it weren’t for a certain part of his anatomy, one could easily mistake him for a woman.

He wore an aqua-blue Combat Suit and held a sharp Longsword in one hand.

His aura was like that of a giant octopus from the depths of the sea—the Ninth-Level Calamity Beast, the Deep Sea Octopus.

”Lin Qi of Xia Country. You lucky guy. Allow me to end your run in this global tournament.”

SS-level geniuses were the chosen ones, the treasures of their nations.

They all possessed immense confidence and powerful personalities.

Take Sula, for instance. He believed he could dispose of Lin Qi with ease.

On what grounds? On the grounds that he was an SS-level genius—Tailande’s first and only one in three years.

He was peerless among his age group in Tailande. Even against the likes of Yu Zhuoran, Havier, or Victor, a fight would be needed to determine the winner.

Lin Qi listened and then stated calmly, ”You’re not man enough.”

There’s nothing a man fears more than being told he can’t measure up, let alone an SS-level genius.

Sula’s anger flared instantly. He could tell there was a hidden meaning in Lin Qi’s words!

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

[Match 1 has officially begun!]

The AI’s voice announced impassively from high above the arena.

Meanwhile, the Tailande spectator section erupted with cheers, and a dense barrage of comments flooded the big screen.

”Sula will win!”

”Crush that lucky bastard!”

”Show Xia Country the might of Tailande!”

The Xia Country fans were also flooding the screen with comments, cheering for Lin Qi, even though the situation looked dire for him.

But he was one of them!

”Can Lin Qi win!?”

”Of course he can!”

...

SWOOSH!

Sula struck first, wanting a quick end to the fight. His body was lithe as he shot forward like a water snake.

The Sharp Sword in his hand, cloaked in an aqua-blue Power, carved arcs through the air.

They looked just like nimble water snakes, striking at Lin Qi with a chilling intent.

Lin Qi swung his Big Gun, feeling the powerful gale whip across his face.

He knew it was a result of Sula’s Swordsmanship and his unique Power.

His opponent’s Awakened Special Ability was the same as Wan Ming’s: the Water Attribute, Flowing Water.

Flowing Water was a Water Attribute ability that granted Water Control and allowed an Awakened genius to achieve incredible speeds.

It was a perfect match for Sula, whose speed was so incredible that ordinary spectators could only see a phantom blur.

But that speed was only impressive to others. For him, it was a different story.

He found Sula’s appearance unsettling, too—neither one thing nor the other.

So, he decided to go all out from the start. In an instant, an invisible gale erupted from his body.

His Qi Blood surged, his heart pounded powerfully, and his blood rushed like a mighty river to every corner of his body.

KRAK!!

It was like flooring the gas pedal, activating all his organs, muscles, and bones.

BOOM!!

Like an erupting volcano, power surged from him in an endless, majestic wave.

SWOOSH!

His body blurred into motion. He charged forward, swinging his Black Great Spear and leaving deep footprints in the concrete pavement.

He seized the initiative. Unleashing his Body Technique, Thunder Shadow Instant Kill Step, he attacked with his full strength, transforming into what looked like a black bolt of lightning.

WHOOSH WHOOSH!!

In the face of Sula’s thrusting sword, the Black Great Spear quivered and shot forward like an enraged dragon bursting from the sea to devour him whole.

He unleashed his Mountain Shaking Spear Technique, each thrust tyrannical and aimed at shattering his opponent.

The two figures collided violently in the center of the arena with lightning speed.

CLANG! CLANG!

The Longsword and the Big Gun collided, the clash of metal Weapons sending a shower of sparks into the air.

Blue and black clashed. Lin Qi felt a current-like force travel up his Big Gun, the power of his strike being drawn into an endless vortex.

It was constantly being discharged and dispersed.

Lin Qi was inwardly shocked. ’This is Force Discharge, and an extremely masterful Force Dissipation Technique at that.’

It wasn’t as simple as just Force Discharge. It also involved the properties of Flowing Water. Sula’s Power had taken on the characteristics of flowing water, allowing it to easily absorb, disperse, and weaken the force of an attack.

Liang Yuxin from Shanyu Martial Arts University knew this move as well.

But Sula was on a completely different level. He was far beyond her.

Sula was an SS-level genius. Liang Yuxin would have to be Awakened to even begin to compare with him.

At the same time, Sula’s expression flickered. He felt an immense force, as if a giant mountain had come crashing down.

It was as solid as a rock, making it extremely difficult to absorb and disperse.

The remaining force still made his Qi Blood roil and his arms go numb.

’What is this monstrous strength?’

Sula was shocked. ’This power is even more terrifying than I imagined.’

’No wonder this Lin Qi from Xia Country made it this far. He actually has some real skill!’

’But even so, he’ll still fall to me.’

’He can’t escape my Force Discharge, so he can’t cause me any significant damage.’

’No matter what techniques he uses, I can use Force Discharge. All I need to do is find an opening between his moves and kill him with a single strike!’

...

「In the Shanyu Martial Arts University spectator section」

”Yuxin, Sula’s Force Dissipation Technique is even stronger than yours. With the help of Flowing Water, I’m afraid Lin Qi is in trouble!”

SS-level genius Wang Mingxi said to Liang Yuxin.

Liang Yuxin also frowned and nodded. ”I know Sula’s Swordsmanship. It’s the Soft Water Sword Technique.”

”That Swordsmanship is an advanced Secret Manual derived from the Flowing Water Sword Technique. Its methods of Force Discharge are far more refined.”

”His Swordsmanship Realm is higher than mine.”

”Plus, it’s aided by his Flowing Water Power. It uses softness to overcome hardness, making it perfect for dealing with aggressive, overbearing fighters.”

”But it has a weakness, too!”

...