High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Potential Opponents

"It’s a student from Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy!"

Someone cried out in alarm. After seeing the emblem above Chen Zichuan’s head, the surrounding people scattered in different directions.

To them, if the geniuses from the Ten Great Schools were experts, then the geniuses from the three top academies were like ravenous beasts—utterly undefeatable opponents.

"I’m a genius from Sichuan Martial Academy! I refuse to believe Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy is really that powerful."

A tall man wielding a blue Big Gun gritted his teeth, planted his feet on the ground, and charged.

"Die!"

He swung the Big Gun in his hand, bringing it crashing down like Mount Tai, stirring up a fierce wind that stripped the leaves from the trees.

Chen Zichuan planted his feet on the dirt, then suddenly shifted his footwork. He slid to the side, dodging his opponent’s Spear Splitting attack, and immediately swung his Battle Saber.

"CLANG! CLANG!"

"SPURT~"

The first strike clashed with the Long Spear, and the second slit his opponent’s throat, spattering blood on his face.

"Too strong!" The onlookers were stunned. They turned and fled, completely abandoning any thought of resistance.

’Number three!’

Chen Zichuan mentally tallied his kills as he charged toward the others.

His Saber Technique was swift and concise, a curb-stomp battle against students from Ordinary Martial Arts Universities.

He knew he couldn’t compare to Lin Qi and Jiangtao, but he was still quietly working hard.

After getting into the Azure Sky Sixth Institute, his Cultivation Resources had become much more abundant.

His strength ranked within the top 300 at the Azure Sky Sixth Institute, and he strove to keep pace with Lin Qi and Jiangtao.

’I’m taking home all 500,000 of those Xia Country Coins this time.’

He inwardly rejoiced and resumed his slaughter.

Meanwhile, similar scenes were unfolding in every corner of the forest.

The geniuses from the three top academies were casually slaughtering students from the other schools.

When they encountered other students from the three top academies, they shared a tacit understanding and held back.

One and a half million participants seemed like a lot, but as the competition progressed, the numbers were being whittled down at an astonishing rate.

The count dropped rapidly, like wheat being scythed.

"SPURT~"

"BANG!!"

Jiangtao swung his sharp Battle Saber, his body absorbing the force as he easily parried the attacks of three opponents. A ferocious grin spread across his face:

"Are you guys trying to tickle me?"

The faces of the three attackers changed instantly.

Then, Jiangtao’s muscles tensed. A terrifying force erupted from his burly frame, and the three assailants felt a colossal power slam into them, sending them flying uncontrollably.

In the next instant, a cold light glinted as his blade flashed.

"SPURT~ SPURT~ SPURT~"

Within a second, all three had their throats slit.

"We can’t win!!"

Fear appeared on the faces of the onlookers. Even geniuses from the Ten Great Schools turned and ran.

"Don’t run!!" Jiangtao flashed his pearly white teeth.

Just as he was about to give chase, his body was enveloped in a pillar of crimson light.

"Dammit, I’ve already killed 50 people."

"I wanted to kill a few more, too."

On the Floating Island of Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, Jiangtao’s figure materialized from the crimson pillar of light.

Seeing Lin Qi in front of him, he started to brag. "Brother Qi, you have no idea how satisfying all that killing was."

"It’s a shame we can only kill 50. I feel like I could have killed one or two hundred and made one or two million Xia Country Coins, no problem."

Lin Qi shook his head. "There was no need for me to participate in this kind of match."

"WHOOSH~"

A moment later, several more pillars of light appeared. Guan Mountain and the other top-ranked geniuses had all returned.

Lin Qi watched the large screen in front of him, which displayed the number of contestants in the preliminaries.

The number was decreasing rapidly. In just over ten minutes, more than 700,000 contestants had already been eliminated.

Among them, most of the geniuses from the three top academies had managed to kill 50 people, and that number was still growing.

At this time, the Floating Islands of the various Martial Arts Universities on the second and third tiers were also buzzing with activity.

Unlike the three top academies, their students were constantly being eliminated.

"You got killed too?"

"How did you get killed too? The prelims just started five minutes ago. Isn’t that a little too fast?"

"I had the bad luck of running into a monster from Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy. His Qi and Blood Value was insane, and he was so fast I couldn’t even react. I suspect he’s already broken through to the Third Realm."

"The gap is just too wide. I clashed weapons with someone from Nether Sea Martial Academy, and my arm actually fractured. There was no way to fight back," someone said with a wry, bitter smile, shaking their head.

"We’re all the same age, but the gap is enormous," someone lamented.

"And the absolute top-tier geniuses haven’t even made a move yet. I heard the skill gap is huge even within the three top academies. I can’t imagine what kind of monsters they are," the crowd murmured amongst themselves.

They felt a stark difference in strength—an insurmountable chasm.

Two hours later, Lin Qi came back online as the first preliminary round was nearing its end.

[Survivors: 15,002 / 1,500,000...]

As only the last 15,000 people remained in the forest, the preliminary round officially concluded.

"Greetings, students!"

Vice Principal Xu Wenji’s projection slowly materialized.

"After more than two hours of intense fighting, the first preliminary round has officially ended."

"Let us congratulate the 15,000 contestants who have passed the first round. You will be moving on to the second round of the main tournament."

"At 3:00 PM, the second round of the main tournament will officially begin!"

Xu Wenji’s figure dissipated. Everyone began to log off. Lin Qi glanced at Li Hanjiang and Liang Yuxin, who were also logging off.

...

In the Martial Arts Room, Lin Qi stepped out of the Virtual Cabin.

His gain from this morning was seeing Li Hanjiang and Liang Yuxin.

’The distance was a bit far, but my Perception won’t fail me. Li Hanjiang’s and Liang Yuxin’s strengths are definitely not to be underestimated.’

’If I run into them, it’ll still be a bit of a hassle.’

’The National Freshman Competition is progressing quickly. I need to hurry up with my Cultivation, too.’

Lin Qi sat down cross-legged. He hadn’t seen anyone from the Tenth Institute today, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t show up.

"Little Chan, order four Level 3 Nutritional Meals to be delivered!"

"Yes, Master!" The Blue-robed Little Chan nodded earnestly and quickly ordered Lin Qi’s lunch.

Lin Qi, meanwhile, took an orange Scroll from the cabinet. He sat down cross-legged, his consciousness beginning the visualization of a Second-Level Calamity Beast—the Fierce Tiger Dog!

He used his will to activate the Scroll, summoning ten Second-Level Calamity Beasts to fight to the death and temper his Spiritual Power.

...

Shanyu University, Tenth Academy

The place where S-class geniuses who had Awakened Special Abilities resided.

Inside one of the detached villas, in a luxuriously decorated living room, trinkets, figurines, and various electronics were piled together.

A girl with dyed pink hair, large eyes, and delicate, doll-like features.

She lay on the sofa, a bored expression on her face as she watched the large projected screen in front of her.

"Cultivation every day... so boring!"

"Maybe I should join the National Freshman Competition. It might be interesting."

"And I’ll show up late. I’ll join right when they think they’re about to win the championship, just so I can make them feel true despair."

"Now *that* would be fun!"

As she said this, her eyes lit up. She stood up with a smile as a tyrannical aura erupted from her body.

"With my strength, they wouldn’t be able to beat me even if I fought with one hand tied behind my back."

"Winning the championship seems like a good idea, too!"

The pink-haired girl’s heart pounded with excitement at the thought of her own malicious fun.

...

「Afternoon.」

Inside the Martial Arts Room, within Lin Qi’s Consciousness Space.

"ROAR~"

A Fierce Tiger Dog, as sturdy as a full-grown tiger, lunged forward, its massive jaws clamping down on a Unihorned Black Pig.

At the same time, other Fierce Tiger Dogs and Unihorned Black Pigs were also tearing at its body.

"ROAR!"

Amid the roars, the Fierce Tiger Dog dissipated, and the Consciousness Space trembled violently.

[You have cultivated the "Hundred Calamities Atlas," and your Spiritual Power has been tempered. Spiritual Power +1]

[Spiritual Power: 74→75]

...

"Hooo~"

Lin Qi exhaled and opened his eyes, which seemed to glitter with a sharp light.

He slowly stood up and released his Spirit Perception, becoming more keenly aware of the changes in the surrounding air currents.

’My strength has increased a little again!’

Lin Qi picked up the High-Level Enhancement Potion next to him and drank it down before re-entering the Virtual Cabin to join the National Freshman Competition.

BZZZT!

After a numbing sensation washed over his body, he opened his eyes again to find that the Floating Island was gone. He was now in a massive grandstand.

It was a colossal arena with grandstands that stretched as far as the eye could see. The stands were divided into numerous sections, each marked by the fluttering banner of a school.

"Brother Qi!"

Next to Lin Qi, the others from the Azure Sky Sixth Institute also came online.

A cacophony of noise filled his ears.

"This arena is huge!!" Jiangtao exclaimed beside him.

Lin Qi looked at the arena before him. It was even larger than the one Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy had used for its own freshman competition, and its floor was made of a special stone material.

Countless particles of red light and shadow converged to form a giant figure. Vice Principal Xu Wenji was once again projected before everyone.

"Esteemed contestants!"

"I am your host for the National Freshman Competition—Xu Wenji!"

"After a fierce competition, a total of 15,000 contestants have successfully advanced to the main tournament!"

"The second round of the main tournament, which we have named the ’Thousand-Man Hunt,’ will be divided into 15 matches, each with 1,000 contestants."

"In each match, 1,000 contestants will fight each other. You will earn one point for every person you kill. The match ends when only 100 people are left standing."

"Finally, the Points Chart will be tallied, and the top 964 contestants will advance to the third round of the main tournament."

"Additionally, everyone who has advanced to the main tournament will receive a reward of 500,000 Xia Country Coins."

After Xu Wenji announced the rules for the second round, a commotion broke out in the grandstands.

The competition was getting more and more brutal. Of the 15,000 who had fought so hard to reach the main tournament, more than ninety percent would now be eliminated.

Every little difference in strength would determine who advanced.

But the reward of 500,000 Xia Country Coins also excited many of the geniuses. Combined with the money from the preliminaries, many of them could earn close to a million Xia Country Coins.

For many geniuses from ordinary families, this was a huge sum of money.

"Without further ado, let’s have the 1,000 contestants for the first match take the stage!"

After speaking, Xu Wenji began to dissipate!

From the grandstands, 1,000 contestants transformed into pillars of crimson light and descended into the arena. At the same time, the arena itself began to transform.

It changed into a stretch of rolling hills, littered with brown rocks of all shapes and sizes.

The 1,000 contestants were scattered throughout the terrain. After selecting their weapons, they watched their surroundings warily.

A thick, imposing atmosphere filled the air. This was the second round; the weak had already been weeded out.

Those who made it to the main tournament were the cream of the crop, true experts.

If they weren’t careful, they could be overturned at any moment.

[Countdown: 3, 2, 1...]

[The first match of the second round of the main tournament now begins!]

Above the arena, an automated voice announced loudly!

...

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