https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-243-One-Force-Subdues-Ten-Techniques/13507301/
Chapter 242: Clash Against Shanyu's Strongest
Chapter 242: Clash Against Shanyu’s Strongest
At the ruined arena, Li Lei stepped forward in a silver combat suit. Towering over two meters, his hulking frame and battle axe were nearly identical to Wei Peng’s, even mimicking his fighting style. Yet Li Lei lacked Wei Peng’s sheer power—a slightly weaker, smaller version of the warrior.
Across from him stood Han Zhen, a similarly muscular giant, though just over two meters tall. His buzz-cut hair framed a round face, every inch of his body taut with dense muscle, as if molten lava surged beneath his skin. The moment their eyes met, an overwhelming aura erupted from him. Gripping a crimson heavy saber in one hand, he grinned.
“Brother, I think you should just surrender now,” Han Zhen chuckled. “Otherwise, you’ll look pretty pathetic later.”
Li Lei shook his head firmly, gritting his teeth. “As a martial artist, I can never surrender. Come!”
“Match 11 officially begins!”
Lin Qi in the audience locked his gaze on the fight. The moment Li Lei attacked, he swung his silver axe overhead—a crushing, sky-splitting slash charged with raw power. Wind howled as the blade tore through the air.
But Han Zhen merely flicked his crimson saber upward in a simple, brutal arc.
Whoosh!
The air trembled, a terrifying force surging outward.
Lin Qi maximized his Mind’s Eye talent, analyzing every nuance of Han Zhen’s strike to gauge his true strength.
Boom!!
Steel clashed. The collision detonated a shockwave, and the next instant—Li Lei’s body launched backward, his axe flying from his grasp.
Crack!
Eyes wide, he felt an unstoppable force surge through his arm. Numbness followed instantly as bone shattered. His axe might as well have struck an unyielding adamantine wall—too hard, too absolute.
Then, a flash of cold light. Han Zhen stomped, fracturing the ground beneath him, the scent of scorched earth rising.
Pfah!
A single slash. Han Zhen’s blade sliced through Li Lei’s neck effortlessly, sending his head soaring. Gasps echoed as spectators turned away, horrified.
Two strikes. The match was over.
“Han Zhen (Azure Firmament) wins!”
Li Lei returned to his seat, dazed. The agony in his hands lingered, but worse was the despair gnawing at his mind—a feeling he’d never known even in the Freshman Competition.
Like an ant crushed beneath an elephant’s foot.
---
“Let’s give Han Zhen a round of applause for his victory and advancement to the ninth round!”
Clap! Clap!
With Xu Wenji’s announcement, thunderous applause erupted once more.
The audience had grown numb. Han Zhen’s dominance was absolute—his opponents falling like dominoes.
Han Zhen himself grinned as he returned to his seat. There was a thrill in overwhelming the competition, a sensation he’d never felt at Ten Institute.
“Enjoying yourself bullying these geniuses?” A girl with striking eyes teased.
“Heh, yeah, they’re just too weak. None of them last two strikes,” Han Zhen replied, scratching his head.
“Their level’s just not ours,” a gentle-voiced young man added.
The girl and Han Zhen nodded in agreement. Ordinary geniuses? Barely a step above ants.
---
At Azure Firmament’s section, Jiang Tao exhaled sharply. “I knew it. Han Zhen’s terrifyingly strong.”
“Li Lei’s power ranks fourth at Azure Firmament, yet he couldn’t even withstand a single strike. How can we fight him?”
Despair hung heavy in the air.
Lin Qi, however, remained calm. Han Zhen had used only two strikes, yet his strength was overwhelming, his speed unmatched. He was superior in every way. Even Lin Qi couldn’t claim to do better.
Still, something felt off.
“Han Zhen’s power feels… strange.” Lin Qi frowned. He’d sensed a searing heat—similar to Vital Force but distinct.
Tan Peier and Han Zhen stood apart from the rest. If he wanted the championship, he’d have to face both.
---
Half an hour later…
Pfah!
Li Hanjiang’s azure long spear pierced his opponent’s chest. Another victory.
“Match 18: Li Hanjiang (Minghai) wins!”
Li Hanjiang’s eyes were cold. His only rivals were Lin Qi, Tan Peier, and Han Zhen. The rest? Insignificant.
---
Xu Wenji’s projection reappeared. On the screen, only 18 names remained.
“I declare the eighth round of the national Freshman Competition concluded. Congratulations to the 18 competitors who’ve advanced to the ninth round—each earning seven million Xia Kingdom Credits.”
“Ahead lies the ninth round. Only nine will reach the tenth.”
As the screen shifted, 18 figures materialized. Some tensed, others stood rigid, while Tan Peier and Han Zhen lounged casually.
“Let’s begin the ninth round immediately!” Xu Wenji declared.
The 18 projections swirled, rearranging into a fresh bracket.
“Let the ninth round begin!”
All eyes locked onto the matchups.
Lin Qi found his name immediately.
“Match 2: Lin Qi (Azure Firmament) vs. Liang Yuxin (Shanyu)”
Lin Qi’s gaze sharpened. His ninth-round opponent was Shanyu Academy’s strongest.
Looks like their luck ran out.
---
The audience’s reactions ranged from anxiety to dread. Those matched against Tan Peier and Han Zhen paled instantly.
At Shanyu’s section, Liang Yuxin smiled, silver hair tied into a ponytail.
“I might not win,” she murmured, “but I’ll push to the end. Lin Qi first.”
---
“Now, let’s welcome the first match’s competitors!”
Xu Wenji announced. No rest between rounds—only relentless combat.
---
Four minutes later…
“Congratulations to Huo Wanyang! He advances to the tenth round!”
Huo Wanyang exhaled, clenching his fists. One step closer to his goal.
The next round would be tougher—eight rivals, each a threat.
“Now, for our second match: Lin Qi of Azure Firmament Martial Academy and Liang Yuxin of Shanyu Martial Academy!”
“These two champions of their respective academies promise a spectacular showdown!”
The audience roared. Compared to the Ten Institute prodigies, a clash between academy titans felt far more thrilling.
Lin Qi rose.
“Brother Qi, aim for twenty moves. I’ve bet twenty on it!” Jiang Tao grinned.
Lin Qi smirked. “I’ll try.”
In a crimson flash, he vanished.
Back at the ruined arena, Lin Qi and Liang Yuxin materialized.
Liang Yuxin wore a silver combat suit, her tall frame accentuated by the sleek ensemble. A silver saber hung in one hand, her eyes locked on Lin Qi.
Her goal? Third place. Defeating Lin Qi and Li Hanjiang would secure it.
“Lin Qi, this is where your journey ends.”
Lin Qi raised his black long spear, face calm.
“Your words suit me better.”
“Countdown: 3… 2… 1…”
“The second match begins!”
Lin Qi struck first. His aura erupted like thunder, a mountainous force crashing toward Liang Yuxin. The ground split beneath him as he lunged—a black dragon surging from the sea.
Liang Yuxin leapt aside, her body techniques as fluid as a breeze. Dodging effortlessly, she wrapped her saber in a strange, soft Vital Force.
clang!!
The impact reverberated through Lin Qi’s spear, yet her force felt unlike any he’d faced—entirely dissipating his power.
Lin Qi’s brow furrowed.
Unyielding strength was his forte. But her skill? A master of redirection.
---
At Shanyu’s section, Huang Yi, a middle-aged woman, smirked.
“Lin Qi’s unlucky. My disciple excels at speed and redirection.”
“She’s trained in the Flowing Stream Sword Method—a technique designed to neutralize brute force. Zhong Xinyan fell to her because of it. Lin Qi’s no exception.”
She glanced at Dean Liu. “Sorry, Liu Dage. This ninth round is where your disciple’s journey ends.”
Dean Liu’s expression remained calm. “There’s a limit to how much force one can redirect. No one can deflect everything.”
---
(End of Chapter)
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