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Chapter 268: A New Year (Happy New Year to Everyone!)
Chapter 268: A New Year (Happy New Year to Everyone!)
“Brother Qi is amazing!”
As Lin Qi stepped out of the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, he was greeted by a crowd of Sixth Institute geniuses and cheers echoing through the air.
“Brother Qi, Huo Wanyang has been crushed by you again!” Jiang Tao grinned as he delivered the good news.
“I’d say in a few months, Huo Wanyang won’t even be a challenge anymore!” Guo Heng added, his face lit with excitement.
Lin Qi remained calm. He’d heard such praise too many times to feel any impact. After agreeing to meet everyone for dinner later, he logged off.
...
Several hours later
The clock had quietly crept to 8 PM.
In Villa No.1 of Azure Firmament Six Colleges.
The spacious living room was already filled with the aroma of several tables of hotpot Lin Qi had ordered from the school cafeteria, along with countless side dishes.
He’d invited friends from the Sixth Institute to celebrate in his villa.
Sitting at the head of the table, Lin Qi scanned the room. All around him were classmates and friends:
Jiang Tao, Guan Shan, Guo Heng, Wang Qiufeng, Zhou Xi Yin, Li Zhou, Qi Yuelin, Chen Zichuan…
Just a year ago, at this same time, he had been nothing more than an average student in the Elite Class of Tianhai No.2 High School.
Now, in less than twelve months, he had shot up like a rocket, defeating countless geniuses along the way.
In November alone, he had claimed the national championship at the Freshman Competition, cementing his name as the strongest of his generation across all martial arts universities in the country.
“Brother Qi, say a few words,” Jiang Tao urged with a grin.
As everyone turned to him, Lin Qi poured himself a cup of cola and rose to his feet.
“In the new year, Azure Firmament Six Colleges will remain number one—nothing will ever change that.”
“And may all of you achieve martial prosperity!”
With that, he downed his drink in one gulp.
“Cheers!!”
Jiang Tao led the applause, clapping hard as the rest joined in. The atmosphere grew livelier by the second.
...
After the dinner ended, the clock struck 11:59 PM.
Only Lin Qi and Jiang Tao remained in the villa, stepping out onto the balcony.
“Boom!!”
At the stroke of midnight, fireworks erupted across the sky in dazzling patterns.
Colorful bursts bloomed in the heavens.
“Brother Qi, it’s already 2047 now. So much has happened without us even realizing,” Jiang Tao sighed, his voice tinged with emotion. Then he declared his goal.
“This year, I’ll become an S-Rank Genius and break into the Freshman Top Ten.”
Lin Qi glanced at Jiang Tao. His aura had indeed grown stronger—he was already on par with the likes of Ruan Qian and Ruan Yu.
With Academy Head-level innate talent and strength, he just needed to return to Tianhai City to sign his S-Rank Contract.
Watching the brilliant fireworks, Lin Qi thought of his own simple goal for the new year.
To win the global Freshman Competition, defeat every special ability-awakened genius in his school, and become the undisputed strongest freshman.
To save up 50 million yuan worth of Xia Kingdom currency to purchase the Elixir of Regeneration, restoring his father Lin Zhen’s severed arm.
Then awaken his own special ability and become an SS-Rank Genius.
Nothing extravagant—just steady, clear targets.
...
Martial Dao Calendar, January 1st, 2047.
The new year had arrived, and students at Azure Firmament Martial Academy were about to begin their first holiday.
In the Martial Arts General Education Course at Azure Whale Mansion, Sixth College.
Teacher Jia Hui addressed the class:
“There are about ten days left until winter break. Our academy will hold final exams.”
“The General Education Course will have written tests. Students who fail will face consequences—such as reduced Primordial Energy concentration in their dorms.”
At his words, the class exchanged uneasy glances.
“Additionally, the martial arts exam has three components: Spiritual Power, Vital Energy, and Martial Arts.”
“Spiritual Power grades will be based on levels cleared in the Spiritual Cultivation Arena and daily practice duration.”
“Martial Arts rankings will directly use scores from the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.”
“And Vital Energy stats will be tested uniformly.”
“Final rankings will be determined by combining all three.”
“Of course, scholarships will be awarded based on these rankings—something to look forward to.”
“Class dismissed!” Teacher Jia smiled.
Excitement rippled through the room.
“I didn’t expect finals to come with scholarships! How much could they give?”
“I only got a few ten thousand yuan in high school scholarships—never enough.”
Suddenly, someone’s voice cut through the crowd, drawing attention:
“Azure Firmament is the strongest academy in the Xia Kingdom. The scholarships won’t be small.”
“They say they’re similar to Disaster Beast Trial Tower rewards, but even more generous—after all, they’re only offered once per semester.”
A student blurted out joyfully, “I received 500,000 Crimson Heaven Points last month!”
Jiang Tao’s eyes lit up. “Even better than the Trial Tower rewards? I’ll have to work harder!”
Lin Qi couldn’t help but feel excited too.
“Ding!”
As he walked back to the villa, a message popped up on his phone:
[Message to Student Lin Qi: Another month has passed. Your performance in the December Disaster Beast Trial Tower was excellent, placing you first among Azure Firmament Six Colleges. Reward: 3,000,000 Xia Kingdom coins.]
[As the Newcomer Supremacy, you receive an additional 5,000,000 yuan. Furthermore, for being the first newcomer to conquer Trial Tower’s Fourth Layer, another 5,000,000 yuan reward is granted!]
Lin Qi’s eyes lit up with excitement. As soon as he cleared the fourth floor, the rewards from all three categories had surged dramatically.
Adding them up, the total amounted to a staggering thirteen million Xia Kingdom Currency coins. This more than covered his expenses for investing in two new secret manuals.
“The Final Exam’s rewards aren’t inferior to those from the Disaster Beast Trial Tower. Who knows—I might earn another fortune,” Lin Qi mused. He suddenly tightened his grip. “That means I absolutely cannot let Huo Wanyang take first place.”
Determined, he returned to his villa and immediately logged into the Crimson Heaven Residence marketplace to purchase cultivation resources. Vital Energy Pills, Skin Tempering Balms, Advanced Revitalizing Elixirs…
For the last ten days, he’d spare no expense. His martial arts strength had room to surge further.
【Payment of 10,230,000 Xia Kingdom Currency coins processed!】
Lin Qi exhaled sharply. Spending money like water was necessary if he wanted rapid power gains.
Time flew. Eleven days passed in a blink, and the Xia Kingdom’s thirty-six martial arts universities reached their semester finals. At Azure Firmament Martial Academy, the ten colleges began their final exams.
January 13th—The day before the Final Exam.
Inside the martial arts training hall of Villa 01, the academy’s elite residential complex.
“Heh~”
A breeze stirred the curtains, rustling them as Lin Qi sat cross-legged at the room’s center. Faint halos shimmered around him, accompanied by swirling winds.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. Golden light blazed in his pupils as a ferocious aura burst outward.
Lin Qi glanced at his Status Panel.
【You completed a Primordial Energy cultivation session. Your Vital Energy Stat has increased. +0.3】
【Vital Energy Stat: 89.7 → 90】
He stood, stretching his joints.
“This training hall’s Primordial Energy concentration is still too low. Even with the Gravity Chamber, I only gain 0.3 Vital Energy Stat per session.”
“This indirectly proves that the higher my Vital Energy Stat, the slower my progress becomes.”
“But I’ve still got a month and a half until March. Reaching 95 should be feasible.”
He clenched his fists, comforted by the steady climb in his strength.
His gaze drifted to the Punch Force Analyzer nearby. A thought struck him.
“Tomorrow’s the Final Exam. Time to test how strong my current body is.”
“Beep!”
The Vital Energy Analyzer activated. As he moved, his joints cracked like thunderclaps, his vitality flowing smoothly.
Suddenly, the air stilled. Lin Qi’s expression sharpened, the calm before a storm.
His body coiled like a compressed spring before exploding with terrifying force. His muscles surged as his legs drove power into his waist. His spine arched like a dragon, tendons straining as power surged to his arms.
He threw a punch—a volcanic eruption of force.
It felt like an eighth-grade Disaster Beast, the Golden Vajra Tiger, launching a charge as he struck the punching target.
“Boom!!”
The impact created a shockwave. The machine rattled violently, nearly launching off its base.
The screen flashed—“6,025.3 kg!”
Lin Qi’s eyes gleamed. Over six thousand kilograms of fist strength. The fourth realm’s minimum was 5,000 kg. He’d surpassed that by a full ton. When he broke through to the fourth realm, he’d likely hit 7,000 kg.
His strength far exceeded ordinary cultivators. Battling a fourth-circle martial artist would pose no challenge. If he activated the 【Golden Vajra Transformation】, he might even dominate fourth-circle experts. If he unlocked its second stage, perhaps even fifth-circle martial artists wouldn’t be safe.
After all, fifth-circle martial artists’ minimum punch strength was 10,000 kg!
“Next, test my speed!”
Two minutes later, his legs exploded into motion. He dashed like a black lightning bolt, howling winds in his wake.
The speedometer flashed—“60.2 m/s.”
Nodding in satisfaction. The fourth realm’s minimum was 54 m/s. His speed and strength were perfectly balanced, both light-years ahead of his peers.
“No one could imagine how strong my body has become,” he mused.
“Even if Huo Wanyang’s body evolves again, he won’t surpass me.”
He clenched his fist. His innate talent now exceeded SS-Rank standards. Without a Special Ability, he still held his own against anyone.
The next day—January 14th. The Final Exam.
“Time’s up!”
In a classroom at Azure Whale Mansion, the academy’s testing center.
“All examinees, stop writing!” The announcement echoed. Students dropped their pens and filed out.
“I didn’t expect the Martial Arts General Education course to be this tough. I hope I pass.”
“Same here. It was brutal!” murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“All students, proceed to the first-floor hall for Vital Energy testing!” The announcement blared again.
Lin Qi, Jiang Tao, and their class exited the exam room, heading downstairs.
The first-floor hall was vast, now lined with over twenty red-and-white Vital Energy Analyzers. Supervising teachers waited impatiently. Freshmen lined up by class.
“Class One, over here!”
Cheeks plump with baby fat, Teacher Lu Wei waved them over. Dressed in her monitoring uniform, she called out names.
“Step forward when your name’s called for testing!”
(End of Chapter)
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