High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Body Technique Breakthrough, Full Firepower

In the large conference room of the War Base

The entire conference room was filled with a futuristic, high-tech aesthetic, with precision instruments crafted from special alloys and numerous holographic screens visible everywhere.

In the open space of the conference hall, three distinct areas were sectioned off, each furnished with desks made from elliptical, dark black stone.

The men and women in each area wore different uniforms, with distinct emblems embroidered on their chests.

Before them all was a massive holographic screen, broadcasting the real-time progress of 2,470 students in Ruins Town. Their every move could be seen with perfect clarity.

At the same time, a Points Chart was projected onto the ceiling, showing the point rankings of all 2,470 students.

The rankings updated in real-time, undergoing massive changes with every passing moment.

Each person had a smaller screen at their desk, allowing them to enlarge and project the feed of any student they wished to observe.

Some were even monitoring the feeds of several people at once. As the observer groups watched, they took notes.

"They’re all human, yet some tremble and freeze up when facing a Calamity Beast for the first time, unable to even hold their Weapon steady."

"But others can overcome their fear, bravely taking up their Weapon to fight back and kill the Calamity Beast."

A man in a blue uniform, with a blue river emblem on his chest, sighed as he watched the monitor.

"That’s the difference in Psychological Quality and willpower."

"All Martial Artists go through this."

"But as long as they can get past that inner hurdle, they’ll all become good fighters."

"Still, Innate Combat Talent isn’t something you come by easily," another woman with a round face lamented.

"The current first place, Wang Qiufeng, is killing Calamity Beasts at an incredible speed. He’s far ahead of everyone else."

"Zhou Xiyin is the same. Agile contestants have a bigger advantage in the early stages of combat training."

"Our Nether Sea can try to recruit them."

A beautiful middle-aged woman dressed in blue robes watched Wang Qiufeng and Zhou Xiyin, the top two, and spoke slowly.

The members of the observer group nodded and took note, preparing to contact them for recruitment after the combat training was over.

...

In another area not far away, a tall man in a gray uniform with a mountain emblem on his chest smiled as he watched Chen Li easily slay a Calamity Beast on the screen:

"This Chen Li is the genius we want. That Wang Qiufeng and Zhou Xiyin up front have no idea how important stamina is."

"They’re going all out from the start. Once their stamina is depleted in the Late Stage, it’ll be all over for them."

"Chen Li is different. He kills his opponents simply and cleanly, without expending too much energy."

"It won’t even take two hours for him to rush to first place, and he’ll stay there."

"This is the Top-Level genius our Shanyu Martial Arts University needs!"

A young woman beside him looked at the few screens in front of her, confused.

"What’s the deal with Lin Qi? He was outstanding during the warm-up match."

"How is he only in seventh place now?"

"Is he waiting for a final burst of power?"

"It’ll be too late by then."

Someone next to them saw this and laughed, "We’ve had students like this in previous years. They try to make a final sprint, but it’s too late, and they regret it bitterly."

"But a genius like him is still someone we should try to recruit."

"Right!"

...

The last area was occupied by a group of men and women in white uniforms, their chests embroidered with an emblem of an ancient Longsword.

At the center of the group was a short, stocky, middle-aged man with a small mustache. The most conspicuous thing about him was his pair of large earlobes.

He took the coffee prepared by his subordinate, took a sip, and then watched the video projected before him with a rather bored expression.

The video showed a figure in a black Combat Suit, wielding a Black Great Spear, constantly shifting and dodging.

Across from him, a Shadow Cat with jet-black fur and a canine-like build was attacking relentlessly.

"Using real combat to hone his Body Technique. Not a bad idea!"

"He’s got guts, too, but it’s still not impressive enough."

"Is this the Top-Level genius Little Wan and Wen Rui were talking about? This is it?"

A woman in her early twenties with a bit of baby fat on her face frowned and said, "Vice Dean, are you really here to watch Lin Qi?"

The Vice Dean’s eyes narrowed. "When we’re out, you’re to call me Dean."

"Yes, Dean!" the woman said, startled.

"Dean, Lin Qi’s current performance... it doesn’t quite justify your presence."

Dean Big Ear tilted his head back, his expression profound. "Just keep watching!"

’I can’t just admit I misjudged him, can I?’ he complained internally.

The woman could only continue watching, while Dean Big Ear had already projected the feeds of other students to observe.

...

「Two hours after the combat training began in Ruins Town, the time was now 12:00 PM.」

Some, in their first real battle, didn’t know how to conserve stamina and were already feeling exhausted, forcing them to rest.

Some were even injured and had chosen to withdraw from the combat training.

On a certain street, the ground was rough and uneven. The concrete road was covered in countless cracks, and large flagstones had shattered into small, scattered rocks.

"ROAR~~"

A cat-like Calamity Beast, entirely jet-black, bared its sharp teeth and attacked ferociously, its speed astonishingly fast.

It launched itself forward on all fours, a black phantom impossible to guard against.

Lin Qi’s gaze locked onto the Shadow Cat. His leg muscles tensed as he dodged and weaved along a set path.

Like bolts of Thunder, he flashed, leaving afterimages.

"WHOOSH~"

Lin Qi swerved to the side. His footwork changed, and he suddenly accelerated, his movements becoming more agile as he brushed past the Shadow Cat.

He flipped his wrist, twisting and drilling with the Black Great Spear in his hand. The sharp tip quivered and then shot forward in a fierce thrust.

"PFFT~"

The spear pierced through the Shadow Cat’s neck, sending blood spattering.

"BAM!!"

"ROAR~"

The Shadow Cat’s body slammed onto the ground like a ragdoll, a mournful wail escaping its mouth before it fell completely silent.

Points +1

[You have honed your Body Technique by fighting the Shadow Cat. Your Body Technique has reached Minor Achievement, Body Technique +5%]

[Body Technique: Tier Two 23%→28%]

...

Lin Qi stopped and a smile touched his lips as he looked at the panel.

’It wasn’t easy. Over a month, plus today’s combat training, to finally get the Thunder Light Body Technique to Minor Achievement.’

’Since my Body Technique has broken through, I’ve accomplished my first objective.’

’Now I can move on to the second one.’

Lin Qi pressed a yellow button on his watch, projecting a green screen. The Points Chart appeared before his eyes.

[Points Chart]

[1st Place: Wang Qiufeng, Points: 258]

[2nd Place: Chen Li, Points: 249]

[3rd Place: Zhou Xiyin, Points: 240]

...

[15th Place: Lin Qi, Points: 156]

...

’Wang Qiufeng and Chen Li are really fast. Their points are already past two fifty.’

’I didn’t expect to still be in 15th place even while focusing on honing my Body Technique.’

’Looks like the other contestants aren’t that strong!’

Lin Qi mused to himself.

His gaze locked onto a black building in the distance.

It was a small safe house made entirely of black metal, its exterior scarred with bloodstains and the claw marks of Calamity Beasts.

Lin Qi walked up and entered his name on the door handle’s keypad.

"BEEP!"

The lock disengaged. He turned the handle and went inside.

It was a small room, piled with silver-packaged compressed food and energy drinks.

Lin Qi didn’t hold back. He grabbed some compressed food and began to eat, then took large gulps of a drink.

Half an hour later, his rest was over, and he walked out of the safe house.

Hearing roars in the distance, he gripped his Black Great Spear.

"Now, it’s time to hunt Calamity Beasts with everything I’ve got!"

...

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