https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-521-Three-Blood-Transfigurations/13509135/
Chapter 522: Three Months and Lurking Danger
Chapter 522: Three Months and Lurking Danger
Lin Qi frowned after hearing the news.
"Awakened two unique abilities?"
This was completely different from an ordinary Sss-Rank Genius—it doubled the Combat Power boost.
Senior Disciple Liang Tai continued, "If he’d just broken through, we could overlook it. But he’s a 28th-generation genius—only 26 this year. He reached the Seventh Realm four years ago. In the War Base Companion rankings based on Merit Points, Gu Cheng ranks 480th in the Seventh Realm. Gu Jian, though? Seventh place. Making that list means he’s already at Seventh Realm Peak. Among all Seventh Realm martial artists, he’s one of the strongest. And he’s even solo-hunted an eighth-level Disaster Beast. He and Gu Cheng aren’t in the same league—he’s a far superior genius."
Lin Qi’s frown deepened as he listened.
Following Liang Tai’s description, Gu Jian’s strength was undeniable. Lin Qi immediately opened the War Base Companion app, where a new Challenge Module notification glowed. The homepage featured the Gu family’s promoted challenge:
[Challenge Module: Lin Qi vs. Gu Jian]
Stake: 1,000,000 Merit Points
Content: I, Gu Jian, challenge Lin Qi to a duel. A year from now, we meet in the Scarlet Realm!
"I’ll choose to breakthrough to the Eighth Stage afterward. I won’t have time beyond a year."
The 1,000,000 Merit Points alone stunned Lin Qi—it equaled defeating a Level 9 Disaster Beast. Even a shattered corpse of one yielded at least 1,000,000 points, while an intact one could net millions. With 100,000 points, he could buy vast quantities of Level 9 Disaster Beast flesh or even ten Blood Spirit Elixirs. That alone would supply his Seventh Realm cultivation needs indefinitely. Nine Blood Transfigurations might even carry him through the entire trial.
He glanced at the countdown—twelve months.
Below the Challenge Module, comments exploded.
"Another spectacle incoming!"
"Guess Gu Cheng’s humiliation yesterday was too much. The Gu family’s calling in backup!"
"Gu Jian’s a top-tier genius—Seventh Realm Rank 7! This’ll be brutal."
"If he’s hunted eighth-level Disaster Beasts, isn’t this bullying Lin Qi?"
"Honestly, only someone Gu Jian’s caliber could beat Lin Qi reliably."
"The Gu family’s desperate, throwing their ace out immediately."
"Still, a year’s too short. Lin Qi might not win."
Lin Qi scoffed at the chatter, noted the deadline, and sent his response before resuming lunch.
---
Meanwhile, Gu Jian’s Challenge Module sent shockwaves through Black Dragon Base. Soon after, Lin Qi’s acceptance stunned everyone—even more so when his reply read:
"Lin Qi: A year’s too long. Three months suffice. I’ll defeat you by then."
The uproar was instant.
"Damn! Lin Qi’s got guts!"
"Three months to beat Gu Jian? Arrogant much?"
"Beating Gu Cheng inflated his ego. Now he thinks three months is enough?"
"This’ll be entertaining either way."
"Bet Lin Qi loses. No question."
---
In Demon Capital, one of Xia Kingdom’s twin powerhouses, Gu Jian sat cross-legged in a luxury villa’s simulated garden training hall. His blue-robed figure faced two holographic screens—one displaying the War Base Companion app, the other a video call with Gu Cheng.
"Jian-ge, I’m counting on you", Gu Cheng sneered. "I lost. Only you can beat him now."
Gu Jian smiled coolly. "So delusional. Three months to defeat me? Do they think I’m some nobody?"
"Originally gave him a year. Guess he’s impatient. Fine—I’ll oblige."
"A little hardship will humble this genius. Three months, 1,000,000 Merit Points—I’ll claim them all."
Gu Cheng grinned. "If he can’t pay, he’ll have to hunt more Disaster Beasts. Months of work, all for your profit. Joyful thought."
After adjusting the Challenge Module to three months, Gu Jian closed the screens and resumed cultivation.
"Six Blood Transfigurations already. Seven’s my limit."
"Pity I can’t reach eight. Even twelfth-level Disaster Beasts max at seven, except the top six. If I could get Dragon Blood Grass…"
He trailed off. Dragon Blood Grass—rare, nearly impossible to obtain. A mere 10-gram stash could tip the scales. But ambition drove him. Among Xia Kingdom’s dual-Awakened elites, he ranked third—behind only Sun Sheng and Li Tianxing. Eight Transfigurations would shatter limits.
As for Lin Qi? A footnote in his journey. He’d only accepted the match at his father’s insistence.
---
Back in Black Dragon Base’s elite residential district, Lin Qi walked past barracks for Imperial Military, civilian martial artists, and luxury apartments.
"Lin Qi!" A burly Seventh Realm martial artist called. "Three months. Hope you beat Gu Jian. Go get ’em!"
"Will do", Lin Qi nodded, arriving at his top-tier apartment. The door slid open, revealing a traditional-style living room with soft music. Three figures sat sipping tea—Mountain and River King, Bei Jiang Sword King, Master Mu Hong, and Dean Liu, who poured the brew.
"The guest of honor arrives", Dean Liu chuckled, serving tea.
Mountain and River King gestured for Lin Qi to sit. The tea aroma sharpened his senses instantly. Sipping it, Lin Qi felt energy surge to his mind, his thoughts racing.
"Amazing tea", he gasped.
"One-of-a-kind", Mountain and River King said. "Take 10 grams home. Boosts Martial Spirit Techniques during cultivation."
The others envied the gift.
"Thanks, Senior", Lin Qi bowed.
"Gu Jian’s Challenge Module", Bei Jiang Sword King interjected. "Three months. Confident?"
"Xia’s had ten dual-Awakened geniuses in decades—Sun Sheng, Li Tianxing, Xu Qin, Gu Jian… and you. You’re the fifth in Seventh Realm. Don’t underestimate him."
“Sun Sheng and Li Tianxing need no introduction.”
“You know Xu Qin too!”
“Let me tell you more about Gu Jian.”
“Gu Jian is an Sss-Rank Genius who’s Awakened two Special Abilities—the number one prodigy in the Gu family.”
“He ranks 9th on the Beastblood Colossus leaderboard.”
“His master is one of the founders of the Abyssal Maw Martial Arts Gym—the Sword Sovereign.”
“He’s 7th on the War Base Companion Seventh Realm Rankings.”
“Earlier today, a Seventh Realm martial artist broke through to the Eighth Stage, so he’s now sixth.”
“A genius like him only emerges once every few decades in our Xia Kingdom—among hundreds of millions of talents.”
“Not to mention, he’s already undergone six Blood Transfigurations. Once he completes the seventh, he’ll ascend to the Eighth Stage.”
“He also has confirmed records of slaying Grade 8 Disaster Beasts!”
“Facing such a genius, do you really believe you can win within three months?”
After Bei Jiang Sword King recited Gu Jian’s accomplishments, he turned to Lin Qi.
Dean Liu, Mu Hong, and Mountain and River King—all four pairs of eyes fixed on Lin Qi.
Classical music still played in the background, but Lin Qi felt the invisible pressure.
Gu Jian loomed like an unscalable mountain.
Lin Qi didn’t reply immediately. He calmly raised his teacup, drained it, and finally spoke:
"To be honest, Sword King, Junior, after hearing all that, Gu Jian does seem formidable."
Bei Jiang Sword King blinked. After all that buildup, Lin Qi reduced it to “formidable”?
“You’re truly confident in your own strength?”
Lin Qi continued, “I said three months to give myself some pressure.”
“A year is too long. Defeating Gu Jian after a year would be as easy as defeating Gu Cheng—too effortless, no challenge at all.”
Dean Liu and Mu Hong exchanged glances. What is this guy saying?
A year to casually defeat Gu Jian?
But recalling Lin Qi’s age—how he’d surpassed countless geniuses in just three years—a year was excessive.
Mountain and River King suddenly grinned:
“Excellent!”
“Surpassing Gu Jian within a year is inevitable.”
“But now you’ve only got three months. You’ll need to push yourself harder than ever.”
Lin Qi nodded, smiling. “I understand.”
……
Half an hour later, Lin Qi left with 10 grams of premium tea leaves.
Only Mountain and River King and the other three remained in the living room.
“Master Huo,” Dean Liu asked, “do you think Lin Qi can win?”
Mountain and River King replied calmly, “We’ll know in three months.”
“But Lin Qi has broken countless records. Like he said—pressure breeds growth.”
“Perhaps on the battlefield, he’ll evolve even faster.”
Bei Jiang Sword King turned to Dean Liu:
“Liu Jing, when do you plan to breakthrough to the Eighth Stage?”
“You’ve got Blood Spirit Elixirs now. It shouldn’t be difficult, right?”
Dean Liu slowly replied, “Soon. I’ll refine my foundation further before consuming more Blood Spirit Elixirs.”
“A few more bottles, and I’ll ascend.”
Bei Jiang Sword King and Mountain and River King nodded. Another Eighth Stage martial artist meant more Grade 7 Disaster Beasts slain.
……
In another world, deep within an underground base.
Scales Commander entered a vast chamber. The air reeked of metallic tang—the distinct odor of the Vermin Race.
He’d long grown accustomed to it.
Before him, the walls housed rows of oval-shaped eggs embedded in metal. They glowed crimson, revealing silhouettes of muscular humanoid figures inside.
“You’re here.”
A deep voice rumbled. Nearby, on a silver pedestal, sat a towering figure in an emerald-green battle suit.
Three meters tall, humanoid in outline but armored in sleek, black exoskeleton plating. No arms—only razor-edged scythes glinting with cold light.
Green skin striped with black markings, he radiated oppressive might as he sat cross-legged.
“Kazi Commander.” Scales Commander bowed respectfully.
Kazi Commander’s mask flickered open, revealing glowing green eyes. Scales Commander felt the piercing gaze lock onto him.
“I’ve received your report.”
Scales Commander began, “Lin Qi, Xia Kingdom’s top genius, has arrived at Black Dragon Base.”
“He’s shattered Sun Sheng’s record on the Beastblood Colossus.”
“He’s even manifested a Golden Emperor Tiger—a top-tier Disaster Beast—in his Meditative Visualization.”
“And upon arrival, he defeated Gu Cheng.”
“This genius is a future threat to our Vermin Race.”
Kazi Commander nodded. “The Empress has issued orders. We must eliminate him at all costs.”
“His potential exceeds Sun Sheng’s. He’ll become an Overlord Ba at minimum.”
He didn’t mention Red Emperor—another tier entirely. A single Red Emperor-level genius per planet was already extraordinary. Another would mean the Blue Planet itself had anomalies.
“When do we strike?”
Scales Commander paused. “We need the right opportunity. Mountain and River King guards Black Dragon Base now. If Overlord Ba intervenes, they’ll act immediately.”
Kazi Commander asked, “Another Colossal Disaster Beast Tide?”
Scales Commander grinned. “Exactly. When Level 10 and Level 9 Disaster Beasts surge forth in endless waves…”
“They’ll have no choice but to commit fully to hunt the Level 10. They won’t hide their strength or protect Lin Qi.”
“That’s when we strike.”
Kazi Commander nodded. “I’ll deploy four Vermin Race warriors.”
Scales Commander laughed, “This time, we’ll succeed.”
“Trust me—it’ll take only three or four months.”
……
Martial Dao Calendar, August 21, 2048 AD.
10:25 AM. A Colossal Disaster Beast Tide erupted at Bei Jiang Province’s Black Dragon Base.
“Wu—wu!!”
Sirens blared across the base. Imperial Military soldiers rushed to their posts, manning heavy artillery.
Laser cannons, vulcan cannons, plasma cannons—all locked onto targets.
Outside the base gates, hordes of martial artists gathered, blades glinting under the sun.
Their faces grim.
“Boom!!”
Fighter jets roared overhead. Metal spheres—far more numerous and larger than before—blasted into the sky.
Everyone braced themselves.
Above, seven figures in radiant battle suits hovered midair, surrounded by thick Steel Qi.
Only Nine Realm Titleholders could defy gravity here.
Lin Qi stared at the seven silhouettes. Two new faces joined the five Ninth Realm martial artists he’d seen days earlier.
One stood out—a towering figure in a purple battle suit, gripping a rifle in one hand. His entire body crackled with silver lightning.
Flanked by Mountain and River King and Dao Huang, he radiated terrifying power, as if summoning storms at will.
Lin Qi wished to fly, but true flight required the Ninth Realm’s physical transcendence. For now, he could only leap higher.
Tension thickened the air.
Senior Disciple Liang Tai beside him spoke:
“Junior Brother, a Colossal Disaster Beast Tide isn’t like the large ones we’ve seen.”
“Large tides only bring Grade 8 Disaster Beasts—limited numbers.”
“But this time, we don’t know how many Grade 9s will emerge.”
“An extra Grade 9 could overwhelm the entire base.”
“A Grade 10? That’s an existential crisis.”
“Grade 10s command Grade 9s. If one appears, countless Grade 9s will follow.”
Lin Qi nodded, eyes locked on the distant Spatial Gate.
“Boom!!”
The Spatial Gate activated. Violent winds kicked up dust as a blinding white beam pierced the sky. Space itself fractured, forming a colossal rift.
……
(End of Chapter)
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