Chapter 230: Potential Rivals
Chapter 230: Potential Rivals (Requesting Monthly Vote)
"That's a student from Azure Firmament Martial Academy!"
A startled cry rang out as the crowd scattered in all directions upon spotting Chen Zichuan's identifying emblem.
To them, while prodigies from the Ten Great Academies were formidable, those from the Three Premier Institutions were monsters—utterly unbeatable.
"I'm a genius from Shu Chuan Martial University! I refuse to believe Azure Firmament is that powerful!"
A tall man wielding a massive blue spear gritted his teeth, planting his foot to launch a charge across the earth.
"Die!"
His spear swung downward like a collapsing mountain, generating roaring winds that stripped leaves from trees.
Chen Zichuan shifted his footing, sliding sideways to evade the blow. His Battle Saber flashed.
"Clang, clang!"
The first strike deflected the spear. The second sliced his opponent's throat, blood splattering his face.
"Too strong!" The spectators gawked, fleeing immediately as their will to fight evaporated.
"Number three!"
Chen Zichuan mentally tallied his kills, cutting through the remaining fighters. His Blade Techniques were devastatingly efficient against ordinary martial artists.
Though he knew he couldn't match Lin Qi or Jiang Tao, he kept striving. After entering Azure Firmament's Six Colleges, his cultivation resources had expanded exponentially. Ranking among the top three hundred at the prestigious institution, he remained determined to catch up to his companions.
"I'm taking all 500,000 Crimson Heaven Points this Xia Kingdom currency offers!"
His heart leapt as he resumed his slaughter. Similar scenes unfolded across the forest.
The Three Premier Institutions' geniuses mercilessly culled competitors from lesser academies. Yet when facing each other, they silently respected an unspoken truce.
The 1.5 million contestants dwindled rapidly. Like wheat before a scythe, numbers plummeted.
"Die!!"
Jiang Tao's Battle Saber gleamed as he absorbed three attackers' strikes, baring his teeth in a predatory grin.
"You call this a challenge? It feels like you're just scratching my back!"
The three assailants' faces paled. Suddenly, Jiang Tao's muscles bulged, unleashing a terrifying force that sent them flying. In the next instant, razor-sharp blades flashed.
"Three down in one second!"
Encircling fighters recoiled in horror—even Ten Great Academy prodigies fled. Jiang Tao's white teeth gleamed.
"Not running yet?"
Before he could pursue, a Crimson Light Pillar enveloped him.
"Damn! Already fifty kills!"
"I wanted to cut down more..."
Back on Azure Firmament's floating island, Jiang Tao materialized, boasting to Lin Qi. "Brother Qi, you wouldn't believe how satisfying that was!"
"Pity we're limited to fifty. I could've cleared a hundred, earning millions in Xia Kingdom currency easily."
Lin Qi shook his head. "I didn't need to compete."
Moments later, Guan Shan and other elite talents returned. On the giant screen, preliminary round eliminations accelerated—over 700,000 eliminated in fifteen minutes. Three Premier Institution students regularly achieved fifty kills.
Meanwhile, lesser academies buzzed with activity. Unlike the top institutions, their floating islands hosted constant eliminations.
"Got killed already?"
"Dead in five minutes? That's brutal!"
"I met an Azure Firmament freak. His Vital Energy stats were monstrous—speed so fast I couldn't react. I suspect he's already broken into the Third Realm!"
"The gap's too wide. Minghai's weapon shattered my arm in a clash. No chance!" someone laughed bitterly.
"All our age group, yet this disparity..."
Whispers spread. "The true elites haven't acted yet. Even among the Three Premier Institutions, differences are massive. What kind of monsters are they?"
After two hours, Lin Qi reappeared as the first round neared completion.
【Survivors: 15,002/1,500,000 Crimson Heaven Points...】
With just 15,000 remaining, the preliminary round ended.
"Congratulations to our 15,000 qualifiers!" Deputy Principal Xu Wenji's projection announced. "The second round begins at 3 PM!"
Lin Qi exited the Neural Pod with Li Hanjiang and Liang Yuxin.
In the training hall, Lin Qi reflected on their meeting. "Though distant, my perception confirms—Li Hanjiang and Liang Yuxin aren't weak. Facing them will require effort."
He summoned an orange scroll, visualizing ten Level 2 Disaster Beasts—Blazing Tiger Hounds—to hone his Spiritual Power.
At Shan Yu University's Tenth College—a villa housing S-Rank Geniuses with awakened Special Abilities—a pink-haired girl lounged on a sofa, surrounded by gadgets and collectibles.
"Bored of training daily! Maybe the National Freshman Competition would spice things up!"
"I'll enter later—when they think they've won—to crush their hopes. That'll be fun!"
Her eyes gleamed with sadistic delight. "With my strength, I'll defeat them single-handedly. Winning first place sounds appealing!"
Back at the competition, Lin Qi's Consciousness Realm erupted with combat.
【Training Atlas of Calamities refines Spiritual Power. Spiritual Power +1】
【Spiritual Power: 74→75】
He exhaled, energy crackling around him. Consuming an enhancement elixir, he returned to the Neural Pod.
The arena materialized—vast spectator stands divided by school banners. Azure Firmament's group joined him.
"Competition host Xu Wenji here!" the projection announced. "15,000 qualifiers remain."
"Round Two: Thousand-Person Hunt. Fifteen matches of 1,000 contestants each. Eliminate opponents for points—survive until 100 remain."
"Top 964 advance. All qualifiers receive 500,000 Xia Kingdom currency."
Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd. Though brutal, the prize money electrified competitors—many would earn millions, life-changing sums for commoners.
"First match, 1,000 contestants—begin!"
Red light pillars descended, transforming the arena into rugged terrain dotted with massive boulders. Tension thickened—the true high-level experts had arrived.
【Countdown: 3, 2, 1...】
【Round Two, Match One—Begin!】
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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