Chapter 35: Collapse Thrust
Chapter 35: Collapse Thrust (Please Follow Read)
The first challenger was a towering figure, swinging a silver longspear with ferocious, unyielding techniques, charging forward in thunderous strides.
Lin Qi recognized the style instantly—it was the Mountain-Shattering Spear Method, the same martial art he practiced.
“So, they want to test our spear mastery through direct clashes?”
Lin Qi deduced the exam’s mechanism in a flash, his body already reacting. He darted forward, a blur of motion.
Whoosh~
Like a lithe panther, he surged ahead, his black longspear carving arcs through the air. The razor-sharp tip pierced the atmosphere with rapid, lethal strikes.
Cloud Piercer!
Shshsh~
A flurry of spear shadows flowed seamlessly, dazzling yet laced with deadly intent.
Clang! Clang!
The two longspears collided midair, and Lin Qi felt the challenger’s immense strength. He pressed harder, seizing a split-second opening as the opponent shifted techniques, and struck with a ruthless thrust.
Pfft!
The challenger, unprepared, was impaled through the chest, his body dissolving into mist.
Lin Qi remained calm. To him, the challenger’s spear art was crude, riddled with flaws. He could’ve bested this opponent even when he’d first learned the Mountain-Shattering Spear Method.
It reminded him of how Zhang Cheng had once viewed his early attempts at the same technique—full of glaring weaknesses.
[Challenger #1 Defeated!]
A status window popped up, accompanied by a robotic female voice.
Seconds later, the same white-clad challenger reappeared in the chamber, spear in hand, the number on his chest now “2.”
[Defeat Challenger #2!]
The second challenger lunged, his Mountain-Shattering Spear Method noticeably smoother and more practiced. Yet to Lin Qi, it still felt amateurish.
He charged again, and within two moves, his spear shot forward like a viper.
Collapse Thrust!
Pfft!
The silver spear pierced the challenger’s throat. Another body vanished.
“To earn a higher score, I must defeat more challengers,” Lin Qi realized. Facing the emerging #3, his eyes gleamed. He swung his spear, a dragon unleashed, the tip gleaming with cold fury…
---
In the Virtual Chamber, Zhang Cheng explained to the onlookers, “This martial exam has ten challengers, all using the Mountain-Shattering Spear Method. Their mastery increases progressively. The more you defeat, the higher your score. If you fail to defeat them, your score depends on survival time.”
“Theoretically, the stronger you are, the longer you’ll last in the Neural Pod.”
Suddenly, someone gasped, “Someone’s finished already!”
A Neural Pod hissed open. Liu Yiheng stepped out, blinking in confusion at the stares.
“Guess Liu’s the weakest,” a voice sneered.
Liu flushed crimson, humiliation burning his ears.
“The next person enters immediately,” Zhang Cheng announced. “Rank determines replacement order.”
“Wonder how many challengers Big Bro can take down,” Jiang Tao mused. Zhang Cheng, too, watched the Pods with growing curiosity.
---
Back in the exam chamber—
Clang! Clang!
Silver and black figures clashed violently on the metallic floor, sparks flying as spears met in furious duels.
The endless spear shadows brimmed with lethal intent, both combatants wielding the Mountain-Shattering Spear Method with overwhelming force.
“Time to end this!”
Lin Qi dodged a thrust, seized the opening, and twisted his wrist. Power surged through his spear as he spun, unleashing a devastating helix strike.
Spiral Sunder!
Clang!
Pfft!
The rotational force wrenched the challenger’s spear from his grip. Lin Qi’s black spear pierced his chest mid-air.
[Challenger #6 Defeated!]
Lin Qi exhaled, lowering his spear. This was his sixth victory. The challengers had grown far stronger, their techniques increasingly refined.
Even he had to push his limits to win. Unlike the test drones in the Human-Machine Tests, these opponents possessed advanced AI, their spear mastery escalating in terrifying precision.
Emotionless and errorless, they became deadlier with every rank-up.
Moments later, Challenger #7 emerged, silver spear gleaming.
[Defeat Challenger #7!]
Whoosh!
The white-clad figure charged, movements fluid, his spear a dragon’s wrath.
Lin Qi’s expression darkened. This foe’s aura was significantly stronger.
A smirk tugged his lips. The stronger, the better.
He lunged, power surging through his limbs. His spear struck like a collapsing mountain, its momentum earth-shaking.
Cloud Piercer!
Boom!!
Clang!
The clash roared like wind through pines. Lin Qi leapt high, channeling strength into his arms for a crushing downward strike.
Leap Sky!
The spear tore through air, aiming to pierce all.
The challenger parried emotionlessly, spinning his spear into a defensive vortex.
Clang!
The silver spear blocked, the black spear attacked—a storm of strikes. Sparks flew, but Lin Qi’s assault faltered.
Undeterred, he shifted tactics—blitzing thrusts, sweeping counters, piercing jabs…
The Mountain-Shattering Spear Method’s twelve forms flowed endlessly. His foe mirrored him perfectly.
Though evenly matched, Lin Qi found himself on the defensive.
“This… is the gap in our spear mastery,” he analyzed. Against an average warrior, this would be insurmountable.
The challenger’s skill neared the Second Stage threshold—a deadly hurdle.
Most would falter here. Not Lin Qi.
His eyes sharpened. His spear techniques shifted subtly, an imperceptible aura rising.
Shshsh!
He became lightning itself, closing in. His speed and presence surged.
The challenger, bound by programming, attacked in turn.
Their spears met—silver and black, fury against fury.
The Mountain-Shattering Spear Method’s ultimate move—Collapse Thrust!
Challenger #7, overwhelmed, barely raised his spear in cross-block.
Clang!
Pfft!
The impact shattered his defense. The black spear pierced his chest, blood spraying.
[Challenger #7 Defeated!]
[You’ve battled a powerful foe. Mountain-Shattering Spear Method Proficiency increased. Spear Techniques +1%]
[Your intense duel boosted physical mastery. Body Techniques Proficiency +2%]
[Spear Techniques: 1st Stage 91% → 92%]
[Body Techniques: 1st Stage 85% → 87%]
---
Lin Qi stood still, withdrawing his spear, savoring the lingering thrill.
"My first practical combat use of a killing move… it’s truly something else."
In half a month, his progress had been meteoric—his spear techniques refined, his mastery of the Mountain-Shattering Spear Method’s first ultimate move complete.
“Now, let’s see what #8 brings,” he muttered, locking eyes with the next challenger.
(End of Chapter)
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