Chapter 54: A Stunning Success (Please keep reading)

Chiqiong Martial Arts Hall, top-floor Hall Master's office.

"Beep!"

A massive screen projected into the air, where a burly, powerful man sat reclined in an intelligent chair.

On the green screen, the battle between Lin Qi and Fan Yong played clearly.

"So this is the Lin Qi that Chengzi mentioned. He's using the 'Mountain-Crushing Spear Technique.' Looking closely, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly special about it."

"His spear technique hasn't broken through the second rank. If he wants to deal with the second-realm 'Heavy Mountain Saber Technique,' he likely won't be able to break through the defense."

"This saber technique excels at counterattacking. Once an opportunity is found, it will end the fight with a single strike."

"If Lin Qi cannot secure a victory, he won't be able to obtain the B-grade contract from our Chiqiong Martial Arts Hall."

Yue Feng shook his head and continued watching.

A moment later, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Huh?"

"Swish!"

He suddenly sat upright, watching intently, because the combat situation on the field had undergone a massive shift.

...

At the Chijie Arena.

On the side of Songbai High School, someone said with a relaxed smile, "It looks like the first match is about to end."

The others also smiled easily upon hearing this.

"Liang Kai, why the frown? Don't you think highly of Fan Yong?" someone asked Liang Kai.

"It's hard to say," Liang Kai replied, shaking his head.

Just as another person was about to say more, a massive change occurred in the battle on the field, drawing everyone's gaze.

On the arena floor.

"Clang! Clang!"

The long spear and the great saber collided. As their forces clashed, Fan Yong once again defended against Lin Qi's spear.

However, there was no longer any smile on Fan Yong's face. His expression was grim; he could feel a terrifying force transmitting through his arms, constantly impacting him.

It left his arms numb and aching, making them feel incredibly heavy.

*What is wrong with this Lin Qi? His strength is actually greater than mine.*

*Does he have no limit to his stamina?*

Anxiety began to rise in Fan Yong's heart. He possessed a powerful physique and extreme endurance, but now he had the illusion that he might be worn down to death by Lin Qi's sheer persistence.

He had to counterattack!

His gaze locked onto Lin Qi's spear technique, searching for a flaw.

"There!"

Fan Yong's eyes lit up. He exerted sudden force, his body exploding in an instant, his muscles bursting like gunpowder.

His blood accelerated, flowing to every corner of his body. A surge of power rushed into his arms, veins bulged, and his entire body turned flushed red.

Using the "Mountain Split," he concentrated all his strength into the tip of his saber and swung violently.

The saber light sliced through the sky like lightning, appearing as if a mountain were collapsing.

The second killing move of the "Heavy Mountain Saber Technique"—The Mountain-Breaking Strike!

At the critical moment, the corners of Lin Qi's mouth curled up slightly.

*He finally took the bait!*

Lin Qi took a step back to create distance. His veins bulged as endless power surged into his arms for a full-strength burst.

A sharp light flashed in his eyes, and his aura erupted like a tiger descending from a mountain.

The long spear in his hand thrust out like lightning, piercing through the air and arriving in an instant.

The point was broken!

"Clang!"

The tip of the spear flashed with a cold light, striking the exact point of impact on the great saber as Fan Yong unleashed his killing move.

The force was released violently through that single point.

In an instant, Fan Yong's fierce aura stalled, his saber technique became sluggish, and his body involuntarily retreated two steps.

*My killing move was broken?*

Fan Yong was stunned.

"Now!"

Lin Qi seized the momentary opportunity. He lowered his waist and rooted his legs into the ground. Once his momentum was fully gathered, his power reached its peak.

With an instantaneous burst, Lin Qi injected a massive, overwhelming force into the spear. His blood boiled, his muscles activated, and his strength surged.

The spear momentum was like a rolling thunderclap, striking out with an unstoppable force.

The spear tip crashed down like Mount Tai, seemingly capable of splitting peaks and shattering the earth.

The second killing move of the "Mountain-Crushing Spear Technique"—The Mountain-Crushing Split!

*Not good!*

Fan Yong panicked. A massive spear appeared before his eyes, bearing an incomparable momentum as it crashed down toward him.

He immediately swung his saber to block.

"Boom!"

As the two sides collided, Fan Yong's face instantly contorted. A terrifying force transmitted into his arms.

"Crack!"

"Bang!"

Agonizing pain shot through his arms as muscles tore and bones snapped. The battle saber flew from his hands, smashing into the ground.

Before his eyes, the cold light of the spear tip flashed, radiating a chilling killing intent.

"Puff—"

Lin Qi exerted force through his arms, thrusting the spear forward. It violently pierced through Fan Yong's chest, splashing a large amount of blood.

"It's over!"

Fan Yong spat out blood, his arms falling limply at his sides, his expression vacant.

"It's over, you clown!"

As soon as Lin Qi finished speaking, Fan Yong turned into nothingness, dissipating into the air.

【The first battle has ended. Tianhai No. 2 High School, Lin Qi wins!】

An intelligent female voice announced the final result through the air.

In the Songbai High School spectator stands.

Fan Yong's figure reappeared, his expression still dazed.

"I lost??"

The shock to his brain was suppressed by his indignation; his entire mind was occupied by Lin Qi's spear strike just now.

"What happened? Fan Yong actually lost."

"What happened in those two seconds?" someone asked, bewildered.

"Fan Yong lost. That Lin Qi is not simple!" the top student of the grade suddenly spoke up.

She was a beautiful girl with short hair, a tall stature, and a cold temperament.

"That Lin Qi is very strong. He simply showed a flaw, and Fan Yong fell for it, only to be defeated by the opponent's combo."

"It seems Tianhai No. 2 High School is not weak. We cannot be careless," Cao Bin said with a solemn expression.

Fan Yong was by no means weak, and he was an expert at counterattacking, yet he had lost so easily.

This Lin Qi had actually been playing the pig to eat the tiger.

Liang Kai patted Fan Yong on the shoulder to comfort him

"Don't worry. I already lost to this Lin Qi in the Chijie yesterday."

"So that's how it is!"

Hearing this, Fan Yong immediately relaxed, feeling as though it wasn't so bad after all.

...

Inside the virtual classroom.

The remaining students in the class were also in an uproar.

"Holy crap, Lin Qi actually won."

"That Fan Yong was ridiculously strong. I felt like no one could break his defense, yet he just lost like that."

"It's because Lin Qi is too strong!"

"Didn't you see those two spear strikes? Each one was harder than the last. His grasp of timing was incredible; his hands are so steady," someone lamented.

When everyone looked, they realized the speaker was actually Qiu Jie, which felt a bit strange.

Looking at Lin Qi on the screen through the monitor, Qiu Jie's heart was filled with nothing but awe.

As a spear practitioner, it was only as a bystander that he realized just how strong Lin Qi truly was.

He didn't feel wronged at all for losing to him.

...

Chiqiong Martial Arts Hall.

"Good kid. Powerful psychological quality, keen intuition, and fundamental skills as steady as a rock!"

"His future is limitless!"

Watching Lin Qi's upright figure on the screen, Yue Feng liked him more and more; that unique temperament was something he admired.

As a high-level Seventh-Rank martial artist, he saw more in the footage than anyone else.

"It is certain that he is a true genius—the kind of genius our Chiqiong Martial Arts Hall needs."

The corners of Yue Feng's mouth curled up slightly as he pulled out his smartphone and dialed a number.

"Supervisor Sun, start contacting Lin Qi. Invite him to come to the Chiqiong Martial Arts Hall to discuss the contract."

"What contract?"

"The B-grade contract, of course!"

...

At the Chijie Arena.

Lin Qi returned to the spectator stands with a calm expression. He was met by Jiang Tao, who couldn't stop shaking his head in amazement

"Brother Qi, you are too awesome!"

"I can say for certain, I am no longer your match."

"That Fan Yong from Songbai High School had no idea how powerful you are."

Lin Qi shook his head and said, "It was just luck. I'm no match for you!"

Not far away, Li Zhou spoke up in praise

"Lin Qi, you are too modest. Your strength is immense. We should have a chance to exchange techniques sometime."

"Alright!" Lin Qi nodded, sensing Li Zhou's goodwill.

This was his first interaction with Li Zhou, someone who had once been an existence he looked up to.

And all of this was brought about by his growing strength.

At this time, others also stepped forward to offer their congratulations. Only Yu Jing stood aside, silent and unmoving.

"Alright, the exchange matches have only just begun. Lin Qi has given us a winning start; everyone else, strive to win in one go!" Zhang Cheng spoke up.

...

(End of Chapter)