Chapter 419 - 403: Peak of the Fifth Realm

Chapter 419: Chapter 403: Peak of the Fifth Realm

Meanwhile, after learning about the Celestial Vault Competition, the 181 geniuses of the Celestial Vault Institute began training individually to prepare for the matches the next day.

"My Trial Tower rank doesn’t fully represent my true strength."

"I’m not afraid of real combat at all!"

"With my Innate Divine Strength, real combat is where I truly shine."

...

「Martial Arts Calendar 2047, November 26.」

「Day One of the Celestial Vault Competition.」

「Star Residence, Villa 36.」

Inside the Martial Arts Room, a fierce gale roared as Lin Qi, dressed in a black Martial Arts Uniform, slowly opened his eyes.

A powerful aura erupted from him, and Evil Qi swirled around his body. Golden patterns flickered on and off his skin.

A power was gestating within his body. Lin Qi could feel its unusual activity, and it seemed as if it might awaken in just a few more months.

[You have completed a session of Source Energy Cultivation. Your physique has improved. Qi and Blood Value +3]

[Qi and Blood Value: 977 → 980]

...

Lin Qi rose to his feet, his posture ramrod straight, like a Big Gun meant to pierce the Azure Sky.

His height remained 1.92 meters; he hadn’t grown any taller.

However, his bones had been tempered, broadening his frame. His muscles seemed forged from steel, and his physical proportions were superb.

It was a perfect blend of aesthetic beauty and violent power—a true golden ratio.

He checked the data on his panel.

Three months had passed. His Qi and Blood Value had reached an impressive 980, and he had begun refining the final and most difficult stage—the Six Viscera.

He had progressed rapidly through the first 500 points, finishing in just two months.

But now, nearly a month later, he was still stuck on the last 20 points of the final 100.

The Six Viscera were six different organs, and refining each one was incredibly time-consuming.

THUMP-THUMP!!

He could feel his now-purified organs, his heart thumping powerfully.

As his organs worked in concert with his formidable muscles, power surged endlessly from within him.

He then checked his other stats.

[Name: Lin Qi (19)]

[Class: Martial Artist]

[Template: True Monarch Erlang Yang Jian]

[Fusion Degree: 27.6%]

[Talents: Stomach Enhancement, Dragon Energy and Tiger Fierceness, Steel Bones and Iron Flesh, Heart Eye, Extreme Ascension, Jin Feng]

[Cultivation Techniques: Hunyuan Posture, Vajra Tiger Evolution Technique, Platinum Evil Tiger Evolution Method]

[Secret Manuals: ..., Vajra Fist, Mountain and River Spear Technique, Thunder Extreme Nine Flashes]

[Spiritual Power: 999]

[Qi and Blood Value: 980]

[Fist Technique: Tier Four 40%]

[Spear Technique: Tier Four 29%]

[Body Technique: Tier Four 23%]

...

He had made huge progress in three months.

His Realm had reached the Peak of the Fifth Realm, but as for his combat prowess, even he didn’t know how strong he had become.

Visceral Quality was divided into five grades. He felt his own was Fifth-Grade, and his organ function was stronger than ever before.

Winning against a Sixth Realm Martial Artist wasn’t out of the question.

With that thought, he slowly entered the white Virtual Cabin beside him.

’Today’s Celestial Vault Competition is the perfect chance to test my strength.’

WHIRRR!!

「Red Realm, Personal Space.」

Lin Qi materialized out of thin air. He glanced at his panel, quickly navigated to the official website, found the link for the Celestial Vault Competition, and clicked it.

BOOM!!

The space around him shifted, and in the next instant, he found himself in a vast, open area.

This was the plaza in front of the Celestial Dome Tower, which now served as an arena. Spectator stands materialized around the perimeter.

Lin Qi found himself seated in the stands.

Around him, Wan Ming, Yu Zhuoran, Pei Jiu, Chu Yu, and the others had all logged on.

The stands weren’t crowded—only 181 people were present—but every single one of them was a top-tier genius.

Each one radiated a terrifying aura.

Chu Yu leaned back lazily in his seat and said with a smile,

"So, it’s finally starting?"

"I can’t wait!"

Meanwhile, a holographic figure materialized high above the translucent arena floor.

"It’s Principal Xu!" Wan Ming exclaimed upon seeing the projection.

Lin Qi was also puzzled. ’Principal Xu is in the Otherworld too?’

Vice Principal Xu Wenji said with a cheerful laugh,

"Greetings, students. I am Xu Wenji, and I imagine most of you already know who I am."

"Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy is now the host of the National Freshmen Competition."

"And so, I will also be hosting this inaugural Celestial Vault Competition!"

"As for the rules, the Celestial Vault Competition will use a random-matching format."

"There will be eight rounds in total, continuing until a final champion is crowned!"

"To give you all plenty of motivation, the rewards for this competition will be exceptionally generous."

"Every contestant who makes it to the second round will be rewarded with 800 kilograms of Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood."

At this, the eyes of ninety percent of the students lit up.

To them, the allure of Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood was immense.

Just eating the flesh could raise their Qi and Blood Value.

And if they paired it with Martial Arts training in the Gravity Room, the effects would be even more pronounced.

In just three months, their physiques had all undergone a transformation.

It was already the end of the month, and the Disaster Beast Trial Tower rankings would be finalized in a few days.

An extra 800 kilograms of flesh and blood would be enough to last for several days.

The tangible reward was enough to get many of them fired up.

Seeing their expressions, Xu Wenji gave a satisfied smile and announced,

"And with that, I declare the first round... officially open!"

As he spoke, he waved a hand, and a vast, blue river of stars materialized before him.

Great, spectral hands reached in and scooped out the stars.

There were 181 stars in total. One of them shone with particular brilliance, its light coalescing to reveal a name.

[Bye: Shen Heng!]

"Congratulations to contestant Shen Heng, who receives a bye and advances directly to the next round!" Xu Wenji announced.

Seeing the result, the rest of the students in the stands breathed a collective sigh of relief.

This was the best possible outcome for them.

No one wanted to be matched against Shen Heng in the first round.

Meanwhile, in the fourth-year section of the stands.

A young man with a lean face and a wiry, powerful build stood there, clad in an ink-black robe and radiating a potent aura.

A smile touched his lips when he saw the result.

’A bye. Perfect.’

’I can’t be bothered to fight these newbies anyway.’

’It’d be perfect if I just got byes all the way to the finals!’

...

With the bye decided, the first-round bracket materialized, unfurling like a celestial scroll of stars.

One hundred and eighty pairs of eyes instantly locked onto the bracket, searching for their opponents.

There were 90 matches. Lin Qi quickly found his.

[Match 10: Lin Qi (Sophomore) vs. Kong Ruoxuan (Sophomore)]

...

Lin Qi was rather surprised to see his opponent was Kong Ruoxuan.

’An SS-class genius in the very first round. I have to say, she’s really unlucky.’

Not far away, the smile on Kong Ruoxuan’s face froze. She was a tall girl with a gentle disposition, but seeing Lin Qi’s name next to hers was a shock.

Her friend at her side shook her head and sighed,

"Ruoxuan, you’re toast!"

Kong Ruoxuan’s expression darkened.

’I know I’m no match for Lin Qi. I won’t even make it past the first round of the Celestial Vault Competition.’

’I’ll just have to see for myself what the gap between me and Lin Qi is now.’

Knowing she was outmatched, her mindset began to shift.

’Now that we can use our Special Abilities, maybe I can gain something from fighting him.’

...