Chapter 455: Top 8
Chapter 455: Top 8 (Requesting Monthly Vote)
Lin Qi quickly scanned the sixteen matchups and spotted his opponent.
[Match 3: Lin Qi (Xia Kingdom) vs. Song Yanyu (Maple Kingdom)]
...
When Lin Qi saw Song Yanyu’s name, his mind immediately recalled the available details.
Song Yanyu was a pure-blood Xia Kingdom citizen, but his nationality was Maple Kingdom. His parents, ethnic Chinese, had immigrated to Maple Kingdom before 1999. When Disaster Beasts invaded, they attempted to return home but were thwarted by the distance and the worsening crisis in Xia Kingdom. Settling in Maple, the family’s innate talents flourished—four children, all gifted, with Song Yanyu, the youngest, being the most exceptional.
An SS-Rank genius, he’d mastered a Minor Divine Ability and trained under a Nine Realms Martial Artist. Now, with Xia Kingdom’s overwhelming talent pool, he’d decided to remain in Maple Kingdom, where he was a prized asset.
On Maple Kingdom’s audience stand, a sharp-featured, athletic young man stiffened when he saw Lin Qi’s name.
“How did I end up against Lin Qi?”
“Don’t pressure yourself, Song. Believe you can win.”
A striking blonde Eurasian girl squeezed his hand reassuringly. Song Yanyu nodded, his gaze drifting toward Xia Kingdom’s section. His feelings about his homeland were tangled—once, he’d dreamed of returning as a child. But after experiencing Maple’s abundant resources, those yearnings faded.
Yet recent Disaster Beast tides had made Maple’s situation dire. With frontline sacrifices inevitable, even Xia Kingdom’s unmatched resilience now seemed enviable. His family secretly regretted not returning.
Now facing Lin Qi, he wanted to test the Xia Kingdom genius’s true strength.
Minutes later, a notification flashed:
[Song Yanyu, prepare for battle!]
He exhaled sharply, stood, and was enveloped in crimson light. With a thunderous boom, he materialized on the stage in a red-and-white battle suit matching Maple Kingdom’s flag. A single hand gripped a blazing crimson spear that emerged from the light column.
Across from him, Lin Qi stepped forward in a sleek black battle suit. Both were similar in height and build, but Song Yanyu’s expression tightened. He sensed a subtle, lethal aura radiating from Lin Qi—something none of his previous opponents had possessed.
“This won’t be easy,” he thought grimly.
[Countdown: ...3, 2, 1!]
[Round 8, Match 3 begins!]
The arena’s AI voice boomed as the battle ignited.
Song Yanyu erupted in searing flames, his exposed skin glowing with red runes. The air warped around him, heat intensifying as his power surged.
Lin Qi responded instantly, activating Golden Edge. Golden runes blazed across his body, eyes glowing with piercing golden light.
Song Yanyu’s power kept climbing. Lin Qi noted the energy surge in his opponent’s body—his metabolism accelerating, strength amplifying. A Minor Divine Ability.
No hesitation—Song started strong.
“Huaaah!”
Encased in flames, Song Yanyu lunged like a blazing meteor, spear carving crimson arcs. His style was ruthless, matching his muscular two-meter frame.
“Golden Edge!” Lin Qi countered, unleashing golden blades.
“Boom! Boom!”
Golden blades clashed with crimson flames, generating explosive gusts.
Lin Qi darted forward like a black thunderbolt, wielding his spear in the River and Mountain Technique—brutal and unyielding.
“Boom!”
The two titans collided instantly.
Lin Qi held back, curious about a Sixth Realm Peak genius’s strength with a Minor Divine Ability. He needed a benchmark for Seventh Realm combat.
“Clang! Clang!”
Their spears clashed head-on. Lin Qi felt the oppressive heat and force, but shrugged them off easily—only a slight numbness.
After a minute, Song Yanyu staggering backward, shocked.
“He’s this strong? Even with my Minor Divine Ability, I’m outmatched!”
His flames swallowed Lin Qi’s golden edge effortlessly.
Before he could react, a silver flash slashed toward him.
“Boom!”
Their spears collided midair. Lin Qi’s thrust pierced straight, while Song Yanyu’s spear flew from his grip.
Lin Qi’s spear impaled through his protective flames, battle suit, and flesh, shredding his heart.
Song Yanyu’s body dissolved.
[Match 3: Lin Qi (Xia Kingdom) wins!]
The arena erupted.
“He’s too strong!”
“Barely broke a sweat into Top 16!”
“Last season, only the top seniors made Top 16. If Lin Qi breaks into Top 8, he’ll set a record!”
On Xia Kingdom’s stand, Lei Shuang exhaled.
“We underestimated his talent.”
“Xu Qin entered Top 16 last season—that was the record.”
“But Lin Qi might beat it.”
Zhang Tianyang shook his head. “Unlikely. Xu Qin had two awakened abilities, combat power doubled.”
Shen Heng disagreed. Lin Qi’s battles were effortless. But he smirked—Lin Qi wouldn’t beat him. He’d already reached Seventh Realm.
...
Lin Qi’s victory rattled the remaining fighters.
The first round eliminated five Xia Kingdom competitors, leaving five in Top 16—the most of any nation.
The towering Mountain and River King projected onto the arena.
“No speeches. Congratulations to the Top 16! The rewards: 170 million Xia Kingdom credits, 7,000kg Grade 7 Disaster Beast flesh, 1,000kg Grade 8.”
Then, the matches began.
[Match 8: Lin Qi (Xia Kingdom) vs. Winnie David (Sunset Empire)]
Lin Qi recalled her data. Sunset Empire’s last hope—an SS-Rank genius. Stronger than Song Yanyu, but not by much.
The eighth round began.
Lei Shuang and Meng Yuxuan fell. Shen Heng and Zhang Tianyang advanced.
Finally, the last match.
Lin Qi was bathed in red light, landing on the stage.
Opposite him, a statuesque blonde beauty stepped forward—Winnie David, Sunset Empire’s strongest. Her crimson lips and smoldering gaze radiated allure.
Winnie steeled herself. She felt pressure, but trusted her strength.
On Sunset Empire’s stand, her father—a 8th Stage Martial Artist—clenched his fists.
“Winnie, win this…”
He recognized Lin Qi’s power. Victory wouldn’t come easy.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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