Chapter 246: Advancing to the Top Three
Chapter 246: Advancing to the Top Three (Requesting Monthly Vote)
Faced with Li Hanjiang’s sudden assault, Lin Qi responded with speed of his own.
“Hiss! Hiss!!”
The heavy Black Long Spear in his hands moved effortlessly, the weapon body blurring into streaks of meteors as he unleashed the Meteoric Spear Art, engulfing Li Hanjiang in a storm of spear strikes.
Both fighters launched attacks simultaneously, their movements so swift that only afterimages remained.
“Clang!!”
In the span of a breath, they clashed head-on. The spears met with a shower of sparks.
Li Hanjiang’s azure Silver Long Spear danced in the Blizzard Lance Form, its shadowy trails multiplying endlessly, like snowflakes drifting from different angles to pierce Lin Qi’s body.
Invisible vital force surged from his core into the spear.
“Clang! Clang!!”
Lin Qi swung his Black Long Spear like a meteor blazing across the sky, the two warriors exchanging blows in an instant.
The spears collided, edges flashing, creating a symphony of metallic clangs. Li Hanjiang’s thrusts were met with unyielding resistance as Lin Qi deflected them all.
At the same time, Lin Qi felt an intangible vital force racing through his weapon, freezing his veins, muscles, and tendons like subzero ice. His movements faltered, his arms numb and aching, severely hampering his speed.
Lin Qi realized his opponent’s spear techniques were no ordinary skill.
The Blizzard Lance Form condensed a unique vital force—Snowdrift Vital Force—that mimicked the sensation of ice, its frigid energy instantly damaging an opponent’s organs.
A delayed counterattack would result in a fatal strike to the heart, ending the battle. The higher one’s mastery of spear techniques, the stronger this vital force became.
Li Hanjiang was proof of this. Lin Qi, after their brief exchange, sensed his opponent had surpassed the third stage of spear techniques, his skill level nearly equal to his own.
No wonder he defeated Wei Peng. Truly a prodigy.
“Clang! Clang!!”
The spears clashed again. Li Hanjiang’s spear tip arced upward, precise and elegant as plum blossoms braving the snow, parrying Lin Qi’s strike.
At the same time, piercing vital force surged through the weapon like needles, penetrating Lin Qi’s defense, searing pain through his arms, leaving them numb.
“Lin Qi’s skill with vital force is indeed formidable,” Li Hanjiang thought, his gaze sharpening. This was no ordinary foe.
Victory over Lin Qi would not come easily. This would be a grueling battle.
...
On the spectator stands, Minghai Martial Institute’s leaders watched. Among them, a middle-aged man in blue with a beard nodded approvingly at the arena.
“Hanjiang’s talent is exceptional. He’s fully grasped the essence of the Blizzard Lance Form—his spear techniques have reached perfection.”
“This art suits him perfectly. His movements are as light and fluid as falling snowflakes.”
“He’s mastered speed to its absolute extreme. At Minghai—or even among all this year’s freshmen—none can match his velocity. Not even Tan Peier.”
“Speed is power. At such extreme speeds, the damage output is unparalleled. That’s how Wei Peng was defeated.” A leader chuckled.
“Lin Qi’s speed isn’t bad, but he has a fatal flaw. He specializes in direct assaults yet chose the Meteoric Spear Art and a heavy spear, which will inevitably slow him down.” Another leader opined.
The man in blue smiled faintly but humbly replied, “The battle isn’t over. It’s too early to conclude.”
Inwardly, he was certain of Li Hanjiang’s victory. Beyond vital force and spear techniques, Li Hanjiang possessed an innate talent for combat, often prevailing against stronger opponents. Lin Qi, though a near match, would ultimately fall.
Analyzing it from any angle, Li Hanjiang held the advantage.
Nearby, Wu Yueze, the vice dean of Azure Firmament Martial Academy, frowned.
“What is Lin Qi doing?”
“He cultivates the Golden Vajra Tiger Evolution Method, his strength and speed far beyond ordinary humans. If he unleashes the Split Mountain Spear Techniques in a frontal assault, Li Hanjiang couldn’t withstand it.”
“Why use the Meteoric Spear Art? Is he trying to defeat Li Hanjiang using his own specialty?”
The vice dean in purple nodded. “That seems to be the case.”
“If it works, he’s brilliant. If it fails, he’ll pay dearly. He’s still young.”
Dean Liu, known for his large ears, spoke calmly, “Don’t rush. We must trust Lin Qi. He’ll surprise us.”
...
On the spectator stands, the crowd watched two figures—one black, one blue—dart and clash across the ruins.
“Too fast! Their speed is unbelievable!”
“Lin Qi and Li Hanjiang… are they really the same age as us?”
“My eyes can barely follow their movements. This is the ultimate showdown. Whoever wins, the title of strongest freshman spear-wielder will be theirs.”
Whispers of awe rippled through the audience.
...
In the Azure Firmament Six Colleges section, Jiang Tao, Guan Shan, and others tensed. This was the first time they’d seen someone challenge Lin Qi so evenly.
Earlier, Lin Qi had crushed opponents like Huo Wanyang effortlessly. This was different.
“Brother Qi will win!” Jiang Tao declared, his voice brimming with confidence.
As Lin Qi’s closest friend, he occasionally glimpsed his comrade’s thoughts. Lin Qi’s goal had always been the championship—against anyone, even Tan Peier or Han Zhen.
...
Back in the ruins arena:
“Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!!”
“Clang! Clang!!”
The spears clashed again, the force of impact sending both warriors staggering backward.
“Lin Qi, it ends now!” Li Hanjiang declared, his voice brimming with confidence.
“Your greatest mistake was choosing a heavy spear.”
He began gathering energy, preparing to finish the battle.
Lin Qi stepped back, steadying himself, a faint smirk on his lips. “Is that what you think?”
“But you’re right. This fight is ending.”
During the battle, Lin Qi had fully grasped his Minor Divine Ability. He was ready to unleash its power.
Li Hanjiang was formidable, but like Huo Wanyang, if he couldn’t overpower Lin Qi decisively, victory would still be his.
“Heh.”
Li Hanjiang’s aura shifted. Drawing a deep breath, he recharged his energy, his entire presence transforming.
He activated every muscle like a revving engine, explosive power surging. He launched forward, spear techniques swirling in a blur.
His philosophy was simple: speed was attack.
At maximum velocity, his spear became unrivaled. Faster, faster, faster!
He screamed inwardly, pushing his speed to its absolute limit, becoming a snowflake gliding through space.
His sinews tensed, concentrated vital force flowing, the spear’s movement stirring the air.
The spear, infused with vital force, accelerated into a flurry of afterimages.
This was his ultimate strike—Third Annihilation Move: Drifting Snow of the Blizzard Lance Form.
In an instant, Li Hanjiang appeared before Lin Qi, a storm of spear tips like endless snowflakes, each seemingly real.
Lin Qi’s body tensed, his muscles coiled, his spine erect. Twelve major sinews bulged on his surface, veins twisting like coiled dragons across his arms.
Power erupted like a volcanic surge, muscles expanding, vital force exploding, controlled and focused.
With a twist of his waist, he channeled all his energy into the Black Long Spear.
The spear roared as Lin Qi thrust it forward with earth-shattering force—Split Mountain Spear Techniques, Third Annihilation Move: Mountain Sunder.
This was the first time Lin Qi had fully unleashed this move in combat.
“Boom!!”
The air compressed at the spear’s tip, friction igniting a white energy ring that erupted outward.
“Hiss!!”
The blue and black figures collided in a flash, the audience leaning forward, breathless.
The outcome hinged on this single strike.
Lin Qi’s eyes blazed. Amid the blizzard of spear tips, he followed instinct, targeting the perfect spot.
“Hss!”
“Clang!!”
The spears met head-on, force and vital force colliding.
Li Hanjiang’s body jolted. A terrifying force rippled through him, freezing his movements. His Drifting Snow vital force shattered like glass.
Could his Third Annihilation Move not withstand this?
Lin Qi’s power had spiked impossibly.
The impact slashed across his face like razors, the spear tip piercing his defense for a fatal strike.
Air rippled like water, the overwhelming force of the attack collapsing all barriers—a single, unstoppable strike.
“Pfft!”
The spear pierced flesh, blood spraying. Pain erupted in Li Hanjiang’s chest.
His azure Silver Long Spear scraped Lin Qi’s face, leaving a bloody streak.
Li Hanjiang’s knees buckled, but he remained upright, gazing at Lin Qi.
“This is your true strength?”
“I don’t regret losing.”
His body dissolved into mist.
The battle was over. Li Hanjiang fell. Lin Qi won.
He had decisively defeated Li Hanjiang, advancing to the semifinals as one of the top three!
(End of Chapter)
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