High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 447: Chapter 429: Xue Zhou Seriously Injured

「A few days later.」

Inside a luxurious villa at Star Residence, located in the Celestial Vault Institute.

Dean Liu, dressed in a long white robe, strode quickly into the blue, ocean-themed living room.

”You’re here...”

On the blue and white sofa, Xue Zhou, clad in a long blue robe, sat with a pale face and bloodless lips, his aura faint and weak.

He was sitting cross-legged, and when he saw Dean Liu, he spoke in a feeble voice.

Dean Liu sat down on a nearby sofa with a worried expression and asked,

”What happened to you?”

”I heard you were severely injured by a Ninth-Level Calamity Beast during the Disaster Beast Tide at the Steel Great Wall?”

”Are you alright?”

Xue Zhou let out a breath, shook his head, and slowly began to speak.

”I nearly died this time. I managed to kill two Eighth-Level Lava Sparrows, but I never expected to be targeted by a Ninth-Level Calamity Beast, the Red Flame Bird.”

”I clashed with it, and it proved I’d overestimated myself. I’m no match for a Ninth-Level Calamity Beast yet.”

”If Old Yu, the North River Sword King, hadn’t stepped in to block the Red Flame Bird’s attacks, I really would have died on that battlefield.”

”But I was still gravely injured, so I came back to recuperate for a while.”

”I’ve already taken some Water of Life, and my injuries have started to heal.”

Hearing this, Dean Liu also let out a sigh of relief.

”I didn’t realize the situation had gotten this bad.”

”This Disaster Beast Tide has been going on for over a month, and three Ninth-Level Calamity Beasts have even appeared.”

”There are countless High-Level Calamity Beasts, too. The pressure of defending is immense, and there’s barely any time to rest.”

Xue Zhou shook his head in response.

”The offensive in this Disaster Beast Tide is just too fierce. Too many Martial Artists have been sacrificed.”

”As far as I know, in just one month, over ten thousand Low and Middle Realm Martial Artists have been sacrificed.”

”Several High Realm Martial Artists have fallen as well. And Old Liang... he was sacrificed too.”

”I have to attend his funeral in a couple of days. His students will need a new teacher...”

”It’s only been a little over three months this year, and the number of sacrificed Martial Artists has already surpassed last year’s total.”

After they spoke, both of their expressions turned grim.

A moment later, Xue Zhou said with a serious look,

”This brush with death has also led me to a breakthrough.”

”Once I’m fully healed, I should prepare to break through to the Ninth Realm.”

”Otherwise, if I wait a few more years, my chances of breaking through will become even slimmer.”

Dean Liu said with a grave expression, ”Old Xue, you must not force it.”

Xue Zhou shook his head. ”I know my limits.”

...

In the span of a few days, significant changes occurred at the three top academies.

Many High Realm Martial Artists departed for the various War Bases.

Their students, in turn, could only redouble their efforts in Cultivation.

Lin Qi was also keeping an eye on his teacher, Mu Hong, who was currently stationed on the Steel Great Wall, spending every day in bloody combat with Calamity Beasts.

Looking at his teacher, Mu Hong, on the screen—a new scar on his face, his body stained red with blood, and an aura thick with killing intent—Lin Qi felt a renewed sense of urgency. ’I have to get stronger.’

After hanging up the video call, he slung on his backpack and headed for the Gravity Room.

Along the way, he saw many familiar faces, all heading to the Gravity Room for Cultivation.

With the Global Martial Arts Competition drawing closer, the pressure from the outside world and the impending clash between geniuses made it impossible for the geniuses of the Celestial Vault Institute to relax.

...

Time trickled by, and in a flash, it was early April.

「Azure Sky Sixth Institute, inside luxury villa #03 in the residential area.」

「Inside the Martial Arts Room.」

Jiang Miaoyin, tall and slender with small, delicate features, sat cross-legged in a white Martial Arts Uniform. With her palms facing the heavens, she closed her eyes and began to circulate her Source Energy Skill.

Her aura fluctuated, sometimes strong, sometimes weak, but overall, it grew steadily more powerful.

At a certain moment, her momentum reached its peak, and a powerful wave of spiritual energy erupted from her body.

Jiang Miaoyin felt a splitting headache, and the intense pain forced her to stop her Cultivation.

In the end, the pain became unbearable, and she passed out.

...

The next day, every first-year student knew that the top-ranked student, Jiang Miaoyin, had Awakened.

The news quickly spread throughout the entire academy, and all the school leaders were informed.

The Azure Sky Forum was also buzzing with activity.

”Jiang Miaoyin actually Awakened?”

”My goddess Awakened! She was already an S-class Talent, so doesn’t this mean she’s going to become an SS-level Talent now?”

”If I remember correctly, her brother is also an SS-level Talent. A pair of SS-levels in one family... that’s just insane.”

”That’s nothing. They grew up with Lin Qi in the same neighborhood.”

”Lin Qi’s even more ridiculous. There are rumors that he’s on his way to becoming an SSS-level Talent.”

”Those three are absolute monsters!”

A crowd of people on the internet expressed their shock and envy.

The second-year students, however, were already used to it. It was just one more SS-level Talent, that’s all.

They were completely out of their league.

...

「Three days later, at the Celestial Vault Institute in the Otherworld.」

’So this is the Otherworld?’

On the airfield, a Sparrowhawk Fighter landed on the plaza.

Jiang Miaoyin, tall and elegant with delicate features, stepped out wearing a custom-made purple robe. She looked around, her expression filled with curiosity.

”Amiao!”

Not far away, two figures approached with welcoming smiles.

A minute later, a luxurious black electric car was heading toward Star Residence.

”Amiao, I knew you would Awaken too!”

”A little faster than I expected, even.” Jiangtao burst out laughing.

As her older brother, he was the happiest person about Jiang Miaoyin Awakening a Special Ability.

”Plus, now that you’re here, I’m not in last place anymore.”

Lin Qi also smiled. This confirmed that the mysterious red gemstone the two of them had taken was indeed a Supreme Treasure.

’To think it can continuously improve one’s Talent and even allow them to Awaken a Special Ability.’

’Combined with Jiangtao’s background, he really fits the protagonist mold.’

”Amiao, what Special Ability did you Awaken?” Lin Qi asked curiously.

The corners of Jiang Miaoyin’s lips turned up. She extended her hand, and a sharp, silver Flying Knife flew out of her pocket.

A vast wave of Spiritual Telekinesis emanated from her. Seeing this, Jiangtao’s eyes lit up.

”A Spiritual Mind Master!”

”That’s a great Special Ability. Your future Combat Power definitely won’t be weak.”

After the three of them had chatted for a bit, Dean Liu, who was sitting in the back seat, slowly began to speak,

”Classmate Miaoyin, the environment at the Celestial Vault Institute is a bit better than at Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy.”

”However, there’s less than a month until the National Freshman Competition.”

”If you want to achieve a better result, you’ll have to work even harder.”

Hearing this, Jiang Miaoyin nodded seriously.

”I will work even harder!”

Lin Qi nodded to himself. ’The environment at the Celestial Vault Institute is excellent, and there’s also Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood offered as a reward.’

’A month is enough time for Jiang Miaoyin’s Realm to advance by leaps and bounds.’

「An hour later.」

Jiang Miaoyin was assigned her villa. As an SS-level Talent, her living quarters wouldn’t be too shabby.

After this little interlude, Lin Qi threw himself back into his Cultivation.

Just as Dean Liu had said, there was less than a month left until the Global Freshman Competition.

And after the Global Freshman Competition, it would be the Global Martial Arts Competition.

’My strength still isn’t enough.’

’A month is enough time for my strength to rise to another level.’

...