Chapter 412: Three Moves to Victory!
Chapter 412: Three Moves to Victory! (Requesting Monthly Vote)
In the Sophomore Audience Stand.
Wan Ming and the others watched the Stage with curiosity.
"Hey, what do you think? Do you think Lin Qi can win?" Wan Ming suddenly asked, before continuing,
"Based on my intel, Wang Rui's no pushover. He's a senior genius from Shanyu Martial Academy - basically a souped-up Xiang Long. And he broke through to the Sixth Realm ages ago. Lin Qi winning... might be tough."
Chu Yu, draped in crimson robes, chuckled.
"Beating someone like Wang Rui isn't hard. I could take him down in three moves. As for Lin Qi..." He smirked. "Well, he is my chosen prodigy."
The others exchanged glances. Somehow, this felt less like analysis and more like self-praise.
...
In the Leadership Box, Dean Liu rested his hands on the armrests, eyes gleaming at the battlefield.
"Lin Qi's gotten lucky this round. Facing Wang Rui instead of Chu Yu or Du Shanyan? That's manageable."
"If he'd drawn those SS- or Sss-Rank geniuses, advancement would've been near impossible!"
The other instructors nodded. Bypassing early rounds was practically a fantasy - with 181 contestants, only the top seeds got byes. Their subtle manipulations ensured top-tier geniuses clashed early while weaker competitors advanced smoothly.
"Still", Dean Liu mused, "Lin Qi's navigated the brackets nicely. No bye, but he's avoided the absolute elites so far."
...
Back on the ruined Stage, the battle erupted.
"Whoosh!"
Oppressive auras exploded from both warriors, whipping the air into a cyclone of dust.
Wang Rui's body erupted in golden radiance. Serpentine golden patterns crawled across his skin, sheathing him in blazing light. His Special Ability - Golden Edge - activated, condensing countless golden blades from the air. Swinging his silver battle saber, the weapon transformed into a roaring golden blade.
Like a tiger springing, he launched forward in a silver blur. His blade cleaved the sky with a deafening whistle - Sky-splitting Strike from the Skybreaking Blade Art, an abridged version of Azure Firmament's Principal Li Qifeng's legendary Heaven-shattering Blade.
Lin Qi sensed the danger instantly. Wang Rui's Sixth Realm cultivation had vastly enhanced his body, allowing him to channel Golden Edge with terrifying mastery.
But Lin Qi moved.
"Boom!"
Golden blades erupted from his form as he wielded his own Golden Edge. His golden spear blazed like lightning through the sky.
"Crash!"
Their attacks collided mid-air, golden torrents clashing violently across the Stage.
They met in person next.
Wang Rui's blade slashed downward, but Lin Qi's spear met it with Mountain Pillar Seal from the River and Mountain Spear Techniques. A magnificent landscape materialized behind him - towering peaks and endless vistas.
"Boom!"
Their weapons clashed, energy shockwaves shattering the air. Wang Rui's arms numbed instantly from the impact, his vital energy churning chaotically.
But he recovered fast, unleashing another Sky-splitting Strike.
"Boom! Boom!"
Three exchanges in rapid succession.
Lin Qi remained composed, his enhanced body shrugging off Wang Rui's power while his own strength grew with each strike. On the third blow, he swung his spear two-handed with earth-shaking force.
"Crack!"
Wang Rui's body snapped backward like a broken kite. Golden blades pierced his defenses, slicing deep gashes across his body. Though his battle suit absorbed most impact, internal damage was catastrophic.
"Boom!"
He flew twenty meters, crashing through a crumbling lighthouse tower.
Wang Rui lay buried in rubble, blood pouring from his chest where the heart had been destroyed. The arena system detected fatal injuries - his form dissolved into light.
"Match 1: Lin Qi (Sophomore) wins!"
The announcement rang emotionlessly. Lin Qi's golden glow faded as he returned to the audience stand.
His calm expression contrasted sharply with the others' shock.
Wan Ming rubbed his eyes.
"He actually won?"
"Three moves? Just like that?!" Yu Zhuoran, Pei Jiu, Xia Lian - all stunned.
Lin Qi had utterly dominated. Wang Rui, the Disaster Beast Trial Tower's #18 contender, hadn't stood a chance.
The audience buzzed with questions. What exactly was Lin Qi’s current strength? Could he still make it into the top ten?
Chu Yu, standing nearby, couldn’t hide his shock. He’d expected Lin Qi to win, but not so effortlessly. He exchanged glances with Du Shanyan, whose short hair framed a face mirroring his own astonishment.
This power level has completely surpassed that of an SS-Rank Genius!
Even Wang Hailong, who’d already competed earlier, felt stunned. Why does it feel like Lin Qi has grown even stronger?
——
On the Vip balcony, the senior officials had fallen silent.
“Lin Qi’s… strength!” Wang Yunpeng blurted out, staring at the arena.
“It’s Fourth-Circle Midphase! His Spear Techniques have advanced to Fourth-Circle Midphase!”
“He broke through!” someone exclaimed.
Xue Zhou added, “The spear breakthrough is only part of it. The real reason is the difference in body constitution.”
“Though Lin Qi hasn’t reached the Sixth Realm, his physique already outmatches Wang Rui’s. This is a crushing advantage!”
Dean Liu nodded. “The gap is too vast. Lin Qi has already exceeded the limits of an SS-Rank Genius. I suggest considering promoting him to Sss-Rank.”
The group fell quiet at his words. Finally, Deputy Principal Xu Wenji said, “Let’s finish watching the matches first. We’ll discuss this later.”
They turned their attention back to the arena.
——
In the senior-year spectator section, Sang Yuzhen smirked at Wang Rui, whose face darkened with defeat. “Laughing at others, Wang Rui? You lost too, remember?”
Wang Rui stood motionless, still reeling from the loss. He’d been obliterated by Lin Qi’s three spear strikes.
They weren’t even on the same level anymore. This was absolute dominance.
But he was a Sixth Realm martial artist! His organs had been refined to fourth-tier quality, and he’d mastered the Platinum Demon Tiger Evolution Method. Their martial arts foundations were equal. So why had he been crushed? Just how wide is this gap?
——
Top geniuses like Shen Heng, Meng Yuxuan, and Zhang Tianyang also watched in disbelief.
An SS-Rank Genius advancing to the Top 12?
Lin Qi’s performance sent shockwaves through the crowd. But the tournament continued.
After Lin Qi’s match, the following rounds grew increasingly thrilling. Fewer instant knockouts occurred—victories required exhausting every ounce of strength.
【Match 11: Shen Heng (Senior) victorious!】
An hour later, Shen Heng’s effortless win concluded the fourth round.
“Students, the fourth round is now complete!” Deputy Principal Xu Wenji’s holographic projection appeared. With a wave of his hand, twelve names materialized in midair.
“Congratulations to this round’s finalists advancing to the fifth round. Each will receive 2000 kilograms of Grade 7 Disaster Beast flesh!”
Lin Qi nodded. Another 500 kg. Combined with my Trial Tower reward, I’ll have enough meat for a month.
Xu Wenji continued, “Competitors reaching the sixth round will receive 2500 kg of Grade 7 flesh and 100 kg of Grade 8 Disaster Beast flesh!”
Gasps of envy rippled through the crowd. Grade 8 beasts are far more valuable!
Lin Qi’s eyes gleamed. If Grade 7 flesh was potent, Grade 8 would be extraordinary. That reward is mine.
With another gesture, Xu Wenji summoned twelve radiant suns—six crimson, six azure. They merged into six red-blue taijitu symbols, forming the new bracket.
All eyes locked onto the matchups. Lin Qi’s gaze sharpened.
【Match 2: Lin Qi (Sophomore) vs. Chu Yu (Sophomore)】
Among the six matches, this one drew the most attention. Both were sophomore prodigies—SS versus Sss-Rank.
Will Lin Qi keep defying expectations, or will the Sss-Rank Genius prevail?
“Brother Qi, you’re facing Chu Yu?” Wan Ming exclaimed, surprised by the pairing.
Yu Zhuoran and Pei Jiu exchanged curious glances. The atmosphere between Lin Qi and Chu Yu turned electric.
Chu Yu blinked at the bracket, then grinned. “Didn’t expect us to meet this soon. I’ve been longing for this fight.”
Lin Qi smiled. “Same here.”
As the first fifth-round match began, the crowd’s discussions intensified.
“Chu Yu vs. Lin Qi—who’s stronger?”
“Obviously Chu Yu! Sure, Lin Qi outclasses other SS-Ranks, but Chu Yu is an Sss-Rank. His cultivation stage is higher—he’s already reached the Sixth Realm, refining his marrow. Plus, he’s ranked 12th in the Disaster Beast Trial Tower and has mastered a Minor Divine Ability.”
“Lin Qi stands no chance.”
Wang Hailong nodded. “I don’t believe an Sss-Rank Genius like Chu Yu would lose to Lin Qi.”
Others agreed. Sss-Rank was in a different league than Wang Rui. Defeating them required overwhelming strength.
Yet Wan Ming watched Lin Qi’s unwavering stance on the arena and felt a strange certainty. This time, Lin Qi might not lose.
Yu Zhuoran shared the feeling. After all, Lin Qi had shattered their expectations time and time again.
——
The automated announcer echoed:
“Lin Qi (Sophomore) and Chu Yu (Sophomore), please enter the arena!”
The two rose from the sophomore stands.
“Boom!!”
Crimson light pillars engulfed them as they descended into the ruins-style battlefield.
The audience’s murmurs swelled. The next clash was about to begin.
(End of Chapter)
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