Chapter 316: Gathering of Geniuses Across Nations
Chapter 316: Gathering of Geniuses Across Nations
(Requesting Monthly Vote)
Teacher Wang adjusted her black-rimmed glasses before speaking again:
"According to the competition rules, all freshmen are eligible to participate."
"Even nations will encourage students from the Ten Institute to join, although they will be prohibited from using their Special Abilities during the matches."
"For their countries' honor, they’ll all compete—this includes SS-Rank geniuses Yu Zhuoran and Huo Wanyang."
All eyes turned toward Yu Zhuoran, who sat at the center. As for Huo Wanyang, his late awakening meant his strength lagged behind Yu Zhuoran’s.
"Additionally, other countries also field SS-Rank geniuses. The competition will be extremely fierce."
"For awakened geniuses, the rules state they’ll automatically qualify as seeded candidates, securing thirteen global slots."
The room nodded in agreement—no objections arose. Awakened geniuses had already surpassed ordinary talents by a wide margin.
Few could rival Lin Qi’s ability to defeat an awakened genius.
Teacher Wang switched the projection screen and continued:
"As for you Academy Heads, I’m afraid there are no seeded slots for you."
"Unless you’re an awakened genius, your nations’ representatives—no matter their skill—must participate in tomorrow’s preliminary rounds!"
Ao Feng and others raised no objections. With Ten Institute geniuses competing, their own strengths seemed trivial. They weren’t even the protagonists anymore.
Lin Qi silently shook his head, surprised he’d have to join the preliminaries too.
But then again, he hadn’t awakened yet.
Teacher Wang adjusted the projector once more:
"Tomorrow’s preliminaries will see 24 Eastern Region nations competing, with over 100,000 participants."
"The first round will eliminate 90% of contestants, leaving only 10,000 for Round Two."
"Everyone must remain vigilant—these are elite geniuses from across the globe, each trained in vastly different martial styles."
"Past competitions are littered with examples of prodigies failing spectacularly. Don’t become one of them."
"Our Xia Kingdom stands as the strongest nation on Blue Planet, making us a target for countless rivals seeking to dethrone us."
"Never underestimate anyone—your performance will reflect not only on you, but on Azure Firmament Martial Academy itself."
Her stern tone sent a shiver through the room, prompting everyone to vow serious preparation.
"That’s all for today’s meeting. May everyone pass Round One smoothly."
She logged off first, followed by the others.
Lin Qi addressed his Azure Firmament Six Colleges companions:
"Good luck, everyone—don’t take anything lightly!"
Jiang Tao nodded confidently, "Brother Qi, we’re not that reckless!"
With nods and farewells, they all logged out.
Stepping out of the Neural Pod, Lin Qi sat cross-legged, resuming his nightly cultivation. He wasn’t worried about tomorrow’s round—he was curious about foreign fighters. After all, he’d rarely encountered foreigners in his life. He knew little about their martial techniques and fighting styles.
"Inhale… exhale…"
After adjusting his breathing, he sank into deep cultivation.
---
Minghai Martial Institute, Nine Pavilions Dormitory
Inside a villa’s martial arts hall, Li Hanjiang swung his blue greatsword in dazzling arcs.
Nearby, a holographic screen displayed a conversation:
"Hanjiang, you truly are a genius!"
"Never thought anyone besides Lin Qi could master a Minor Divine Ability!"
"If you’d mastered it during the National Championship, the title might’ve been yours."
A muscular man in blue on the screen grinned at Li Hanjiang.
Li Hanjiang balanced his spear in one hand, faint thread-like markings glowing on his bare skin.
He smiled, "Better late than never."
"My bond with Glacier Wolf runs deep. Mastering a Minor Divine Ability was fortunate, but in this Global Freshman Competition—even with awakened geniuses—I won’t be inferior."
"I’m especially eager to face Lin Qi again. I wonder how much stronger he’s become in these five months?"
The thought made him tremble with excitement.
He couldn’t wait for the competition.
"You’ll shine tomorrow", the blue-clad man chuckled, satisfied.
Lin Qi’s emergence still frustrated him—now Li Hanjiang had also mastered a Minor Divine Ability, closing the gap significantly.
---
Shanyu Martial Academy, Third College
In a luxurious villa, silver-haired Liang Yuxin pored over competition dossiers, overwhelmed by the pressure in the text.
"Last November’s National Freshman Competition ended… Now April. Five months later, my strength has surged—I’m nearly breaking into the Fourth Realm."
"But my opponents are awakened geniuses. I lack the confidence to defeat them."
"I’m no longer a central protagonist…"
"Perhaps only Lin Qi—who mastered a Minor Divine Ability—can compete at that level?"
Fists clenched, frustration etched her face. If only she’d awakened!
"My parents have been searching for Awakening Fruits, but found nothing."
Sighing, she lamented her luck—first Li Hanjiang, then Lin Qi. Freaks of nature.
She’d never catch up.
---
Meanwhile, across the 24 Eastern Region nations, martial universities’ geniuses prepared for the coming storm.
Western Region competitors sharpened their blades too.
Countless prodigies sought glory—some to defeat rivals, others to win renown for their homelands.
"Tomorrow, we face other nations. Nervous?"
"They say Xia Kingdom is Blue Planet’s mightiest, with the world’s strongest martial artist—Red Emperor."
"I want to see how strong Xia’s geniuses really are."
"I’ll defeat Xia Kingdom’s champions and carve my name into history!"
---
Martial Dao Calendar 2047, April 25th
Global Freshman Competition Preliminaries, Round One.
Azure Firmament Six Colleges, Villa 01
Inside the martial arts hall, Lin Qi—dressed in black robes—suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze piercingly bright, like glowing lanterns.
[You’ve completed Atlas of Calamities cultivation. Spiritual Power increased. +2]
[Spiritual Power: 251 → 253]
...
As his Spiritual Power surged, Lin Qi felt energized.
He rolled up the orange scroll before him. Having advanced, he’d now progress to yellow scrolls—Meditative Visualization Level-3 Disaster Beast combat.
His target: Grayspine Wolf.
The Atlas of Calamities martial art’s effects grew clearer—consistent cultivation meant steady Spiritual Power growth.
Putting away his materials, he glanced at the time: 8:25.
Five minutes until Round One began.
Approaching the white Neural Pod, he opened it and climbed inside.
"Vrrrr!"
In his Personal Space, a message popped up:
[Student Lin Qi: Enter Global Freshman Competition - Eastern Region? Yes/NO]
[Yes]
Without hesitation, he confirmed.
In an instant, reality shifted—transported by invisible forces to a new realm.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly immersed in vast openness, a cacophony of voices surrounded him.
"Brother Qi, you’re finally online!"
Turning, he saw Jiang Tao—tall, dark-skinned, in red-and-white uniforms—grinning beside him.
Lin Qi looked down, realizing he wore Azure Firmament’s school uniform too.
"Tao!"
"Brother Qi!"
Fellow Six Colleges members greeted him warmly.
As he nodded, Lin Qi surveyed the crowd.
Azure Firmament students clustered by institute, with Ten Institute representatives present.
Blue-uniformed Minghai Martial students and black-clad Shanyu Martial members stood nearby.
The three top Xia Kingdom academies’ geniuses gathered together, plus select elites from other top ten academies.
Figures like Mao Jia from Sichuan Shu Martial University and Yi Shaojie from Xia Imperial Military Academy nodded toward him.
Li Hanjiang’s gaze burned with intense battle will.
"Brother Qi, the floating island we’re on is the highest tier. Each country’s delegation occupies one island", Jiang Tao explained.
Lin Qi now noticed the massive Xia Kingdom banner fluttering above them. Their island towered above others, offering a commanding view of lower-tier islands.
"The second level belongs to India—our Eastern Region’s second strongest nation."
"Then Japan, Korea, Thailand, Chiland, and other powers."
Lin Qi listened as Jiang Tao listed nations surrounding Xia Kingdom—countries he’d heard of but never visited.
Beneath them, competitors from various nations gazed upward—some with curiosity, others with ambition burning in their eyes.
Then, countless crimson light particles materialized, coalescing into a colossal figure hovering above.
"Competitors of the East!"
A familiar voice boomed—Deputy Principal Xu Wenji of Azure Firmament Martial Academy.
"Allow me to introduce myself: I am Xu Wenji, Deputy Principal of Xia Kingdom’s Azure Firmament Martial Academy. I’ll oversee today’s Eastern Region selection!"
As translations scrolled across their vision, murmurs rippled through the crowd:
"Xia Kingdom’s Azure Firmament Martial Academy’s Deputy Principal?"
"Is this the same academy hailed as the world’s strongest?"
"They claim he’s an Eighth-Stage Martial Artist! An Eighth-Stage presiding over preliminaries? Impossible in our countries!"
For many, this was their first time seeing an Eighth-Stage martial artist speak in person.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
