Chapter 308: Yu Zhuoran's Shock
Chapter 308: Yu Zhuoran’s Shock
Yu Zhuoran felt immense confidence in his current strength.
He’d broken through to the Fourth Realm back during the Lunar New Year holiday, and since then, no shortage of cultivation resources had supported his progress. Consuming a Bone Tempering Elixir daily, his Vital Energy Stat had surged dramatically.
He’d pulled far ahead of his peers. While refining the Mid-Tier Primordial Energy Martial Art, he’d naturally advanced to the mid-stage of the Fourth Realm. After more cultivation, the gap would only widen.
Gazing at the Hydra Sovereign, he crossed his legs, preparing to continue his training. The Pyramid’s Primordial Energy was abundant—wasting it wasn’t an option.
“Ding!”
As he began, a sound suddenly echoed in his ears. He looked up at the large screen embedded in the wall, which displayed thirteen sections—each representing one of the Azure Firmament Martial Academy’s thirteen prodigies inside the Pyramid.
The announcement came from the screen:
[06 Pyramid: Cultivator Lin Qi has exited!]
Exiting meant cultivation had concluded. Yu Zhuoran’s assistant had explained this earlier. For Lin Qi to leave already meant he’d finished his training.
“How is that possible? I just completed mine yesterday. Lin Qi actually finished earlier?”
For the first time, surprise flickered across Yu Zhuoran’s face. Watching the screen, a premonition stirred in his heart—perhaps Lin Qi was an unprecedented genius, far surpassing their expectations.
Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone to contact his assistant and chose to exit.
…
Inside the 02 Pyramid, the burly Huo Wanyang appeared excited. Gulping down a mouthful of energy drink, he prepared to start his daily training.
“I feel close now. Just give me one more day, and I’ll achieve gene awakening, shatter my limits, and complete my cultivation.”
“Completing this training in eleven days—I might be the first to succeed!”
A confident smile graced his face.
“Ding!”
Suddenly, the screen beside him beeped. The notification sent his smile crumbling.
“Lin Qi has exited? He succeeded already? But I haven’t even finished yet!”
“Ding!”
A moment later, another alert rang out—Yu Zhuoran from Pyramid 01 had also completed his training.
Seeing this, Huo Wanyang felt an invisible pressure crash down. Urgency gripped his entire body.
“No time to be shocked anymore—I need to succeed faster!”
With renewed determination, he plunged back into cultivation.
In the 10 Pyramid, Pei Jiu saw the screen’s news and froze.
“That fast?”
He felt the pressure rising. Unconsciously, Lin Qi—a once-ordinary genius—was catching up, even surpassing him.
“I’ve unconsciously grown complacent. I must complete my training sooner too.”
Feeling the weight, Pei Jiu pushed himself even harder.
Elsewhere, the others saw the same notifications.
“Lin Qi’s insane! How did he do it?” Wan Ming exclaimed.
“Impossible! This Lin Qi might’ve just finished meditative visualization and plans to awaken his genes later when he returns!” Shen Zhenzhen refused to believe Lin Qi had truly succeeded.
“That Lin Qi actually surpassed Senior Brother Pei?” Han Zhen stood dumbfounded, his heart reeling. He hadn’t even completed meditative visualization yet, while Lin Qi was already done.
Everyone felt shocked—Yu Zhuoran and Pei Jiu, their academies’ strongest, had been overtaken by Lin Qi in mastering the Mid-Tier Primordial Energy Martial Art. A suffocating pressure settled over them like a mountain.
…
Fifteen minutes later, outside the 02 Pyramid’s entrance, Xia Xiaoshuang and the staff eagerly awaited, eyes fixed on the metallic door.
“Ding!”
With a low rumble, the steel gates slowly parted, revealing a tall, muscular figure in a red-and-white form-fitting uniform accentuating his athletic build.
The young man exuded a commanding presence, his aura sharp and imposing.
As Xia Xiaoshuang saw Lin Qi emerge, an overwhelming aura of martial might radiated from him—a terrifying presence, like a blade freshly unsheathed or a Ninth-Rank Disaster Beast, the Platinum Malevolence Tiger, standing before them. The pressure was unmistakable.
Everyone knew—Lin Qi hadn’t lied; his success was real. His aura had undergone a complete transformation.
“Lin Qi, congratulations on your success!” Xia Xiaoshuang led the applause.
Lin Qi smiled. “Thank you for your hard work!”
“Vroom!”
At that moment, a white shuttle vehicle pulled up. I Wei, Mu Hong, and Dean Liu stepped out one by one.
“This aura…”
Staring at Lin Qi, I Wei expressed astonishment. As the Disaster Beast Pyramid’s overseer, he knew well that mastering the Mid-Tier Primordial Energy Martial Art would drastically alter one’s aura—strong Vital Energy fluctuations, a massive surge in strength.
Lin Qi embodied all these signs perfectly, confirming his success.
“Teacher, Dean Liu, Master I Wei—you came to pick me up?” Lin Qi asked, surprised.
“We came to welcome you!” Dean Liu chuckled.
“Didn’t expect you to succeed in just ten and a half days!” Mu Hong, clad in black, expressed admiration.
Lin Qi modestly replied, “Even I was surprised—it was faster than I expected.”
“I guess I’m particularly compatible with the Platinum Demon Tiger Evolution Method.”
I Wei nodded. “If someone is exceptionally compatible with a martial art, their progress naturally accelerates.”
One minute later, Lin Qi boarded the shuttle, slowly departing into the distance. Xia Xiaoshuang waved goodbye, witnessing the rise of a new genius firsthand. Grateful, she added Lin Qi on Wechat.
…
Outside the 01 Pyramid, Yu Zhuoran stood in his purple custom uniform—tall, sharp-featured, and handsome.
“Vroom!”
The shuttle stopped before him.
“Zhuoran, get on!” I Wei invited with a smile.
Nodding, Yu Zhuoran stepped onto the vehicle, his eyes fixed on Lin Qi. He could feel the dense, sharp aura radiating from Lin Qi—a powerful Vital Energy, rivaling his own.
“This year, we’ve produced two top-tier geniuses.”
“Even SS-Rank Geniuses usually require about twelve days. Never expected both of you to succeed in just eleven!” I Wei remarked.
Yu Zhuoran felt no joy—he hadn’t been first. Lin Qi, an unawakened genius, had mastered the Mid-Tier Primordial Energy Martial Art faster than him.
Lin Qi, too, radiated an intense aura. Inside the Pyramid, Yu Zhuoran had also made a significant breakthrough—likely reaching the mid-stage of the Fourth Realm.
“With Yu Zhuoran and Lin Qi as our talents, Xia Kingdom will surely win the Global Freshman Competition in a month,” I Wei suddenly added. Dean Liu and Mu Hong nodded in agreement.
The two prodigies, exceptional beyond ordinary standards, would dominate any generation.
Yu Zhuoran glanced at Lin Qi.
“You’re impressive. I’ve never seen a genius like you.”
“I underestimated you.”
Lin Qi smiled modestly. “I was just lucky. You’re amazing too.”
This was their first conversation, yet their distance closed slightly.
“Luck is still part of strength,” Yu Zhuoran replied. “What you did isn’t luck—it’s innate talent.”
“For so long, I’ve grown complacent.”
For the first time, he felt pressure—a tight urgency he’d never experienced, not even from Pei Jiu.
He’d always been a top-tier genius, effortlessly achieving the impossible. A true academic prodigy, recognized as an SS-Rank Genius at 17 after awakening the Special Ability [Lightning].
Yet today, for the first time, another had made him feel this pressure.
“But he’s still not stronger than me—yet.”
“I need to become even stronger.”
His thoughts churned, complex and restless.
…
On the balcony of E83 Villa’s dormitory area, Xiang Long sat sipping tea, phone in hand, occasionally glancing toward the Pyramid.
All the dormitories were empty—he was the only one left.
“Xiang Long, still watching the Disaster Beast Pyramid?”
“Don’t bother. With that kid Lin Qi’s innate talent, he’ll barely finish in fifteen days.”
Cheng Lei, a bald muscular man in a black tank top, stepped forward, grabbing an energy drink from the table.
Xiang Long stood.
“After our last fight, I reviewed it repeatedly.”
“In direct combat, Lin Qi was no match for me.”
“My only mistake was being too careless.”
“My innate talent? If I enter the Pyramid, twelve days will be enough. I’ll even stay an extra day to absorb more Primordial Energy.”
“Great! No wonder you’re my disciple!” Cheng Lei roared with laughter.
His disciple’s encounter with Lin Qi was just the beginning. He believed the final victory would be theirs.
Just then, a white shuttle slowly rolled into view.
Xiang Long’s eyes lit up.
“Could someone have succeeded already?”
“Pei Jiu, perhaps? As a Psychoflux Wielder, meditative visualization against a Ninth-Rank Disaster Beast holds no difficulty.”
Then he saw Yu Zhuoran.
“Of course, Yu Zhuoran—the Ten Institute’s acknowledged SS-Rank Genius, the strongest opponent I recognize.”
Xiang Long smiled, but when he spotted Lin Qi behind him, his expression froze.
“Lin Qi?”
“He’s back too?”
Shock and confusion flashed across his face.
Beside him, Cheng Lei frowned.
The shuttle halted. Lin Qi stepped out, glancing up at Xiang Long’s balcony.
“Xiang Long, my training’s done. Now it’s your turn.”
Mu Hong descended, smirking as she addressed Cheng Lei.
“There’s no need to doubt—Lin Qi has indeed succeeded.”
(End of Chapter)
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