Chapter 420 - 404: You Haven’t Seen It, So You Don’t Understand

Chapter 420: Chapter 404: You Haven’t Seen It, So You Don’t Understand

The first-round match-ups are out!

Everyone saw their opponents. Some were happy and excited, while others shook their heads with grim expressions.

"It’s over!"

"My opponent is Wang Hailong, a first-year SSS-level genius. How am I supposed to fight him?"

Xia Lian had a miserable look on her face, and the others looked at her with sympathy.

As one of the five SSS-level geniuses, Wang Hailong was only a first-year freshman.

However, he had already demonstrated his top-level Talent. Though he was still two months shy of his 18th birthday, he had already broken through to the Fifth Realm of Refining Inner Organs.

Among the 181 geniuses, his strength was enough to rank in the top 50.

Especially after arriving at the Celestial Vault Institute, his performance was even more dominant than Chu Yu’s had been at the same stage.

Chu Yu, on the other hand, wore an excited smile, as his opponent was a third-year senior.

"Will the contestants for the first match please enter the arena!"

After Xu Wenji finished his announcement, his projection instantly dissipated into the Void.

From the spectator stands, two figures transformed into pillars of red light that shot into the sky, descending upon the spacious arena.

The first match was Xia Lian versus Wang Hailong.

The arena had also changed, transforming into a set of dilapidated ruins.

The two faced each other, standing on the concrete ground.

As the automated voice announced the start of the match, their battle began in an instant.

BOOM!!

The moment the fight started, both were wreathed in terrifying auras.

Blue and green patterns emerged on Wang Hailong’s and Xia Lian’s skin, respectively.

Two completely different powers materialized.

CLANG!!

They clashed in an instant, but the battle didn’t last long.

Xia Lian swung her Sharp Sword, colliding with the blue great spear, only to feel a terrifying force slam into her.

It was pure strength. Bolstered by a raging-torrent-like power, her body flew backward uncontrollably.

The next moment, a cold light flashed before her eyes. The sharp spear tip, coated in blue Flowing Water, instantly pierced through her chest.

[Match 1: Wang Hailong (First Year) is the victor!]

Wang Hailong listened to the automated announcement on the arena floor.

A disdainful smile appeared on his handsome face.

’Too weak!’

’An ordinary second-year S-class Awakened genius is no match for me at all.’

’Maybe Yu Zhuoran, who has mastered a Little Divine Power, could give me a bit of a challenge!’

’Only Lin Qi is worthy of being my opponent!’

...

Xia Lian returned to the spectator stands, saying with a bitter expression, "Wang Hailong... he’s too strong!"

"He and I are not on the same level."

After watching the entire fight, Lin Qi had a rough assessment of Wang Hailong’s strength.

’In terms of Realm, he’s already broken through to the Fifth Realm.’

’His Martial Arts Skills are second only to my own, having also reached Tier Four.’

’He’s very close to me in all aspects.’

’A worthy opponent.’

...

The Celestial Vault Competition continued. With no restrictions, all sorts of Special Abilities were on display.

Red Flame, Flowing Water, Jin Feng, Heavy Earth, Gale, Thunder, Cold Ice...

The clash of these various Special Abilities was a real eye-opener for Lin Qi.

He also noticed that all the Awakened geniuses had extremely strong control over their Special Abilities.

They had all practiced the Five Elements Fist, and were able to achieve at least a 1.5x boost to their Combat Power.

However, he hadn’t seen a single contestant who had reached the Perfection Realm yet.

That included himself.

He had already comprehended Vajra Fist Intent from his Vajra Fist, but he still hadn’t reached Perfection.

He had yet to master the final technique, Unity, and would likely need more time.

...

[Will the contestants for Match 10 please enter the arena!]

The automated voice interrupted Lin Qi’s thoughts. He snapped back to reality and stood up.

He then transformed into a pillar of red light and descended upon the arena.

BOOM!!

As the pillar of light faded, a gentle breeze swept across the dilapidated concrete, and two figures emerged.

Kong Ruoxuan was dressed in a blue form-fitting Combat Suit, brandishing a longsword in one hand that radiated a chilling gleam.

Her body moved as if boneless, and she exuded the gentle aura of water.

Kong Ruoxuan spoke slowly,

"Lin Qi, this is our first time fighting!"

"Please, enlighten me. I want to see just how big the gap is between us."

After speaking, she swung her blue longsword, her aura deepening as she began to gather her power.

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

[Match 10 has officially begun!]

As the automated voice echoed above the arena, Lin Qi—clad in a black Combat Suit and holding a Black Great Spear in one hand—spoke slowly,

"You’re about to feel it."

BOOM!!

Both unleashed their Special Abilities at the same time. A terrifying pressure surged skyward as different lights erupted from their bodies.

The battle was joined.

...

In the spectator stands, Wan Ming, dressed in a Blue Robe, watched the two in the arena and let out a breath. "Brother Qi is a real beast now," he remarked.

"Especially after learning Vajra Fist, his control over his Special Ability has improved dramatically."

"How many moves do you think Kong Ruoxuan can last?"

Xia Lian, having recovered from her defeat, said, "I bet it’ll be over in three moves!"

Yu Zhuoran also chimed in, "Two moves!"

Not far away, a student from Nether Sea Martial Academy overheard their conversation and retorted unhappily,

"Aren’t you overestimating Lin Qi a bit?"

"Lin Qi might be strong, but Sister Ruoxuan is no weakling either."

The other students from Nether Sea Martial Academy nodded in agreement.

Wan Ming shook his head. "You haven’t seen Lin Qi in action. You don’t understand."

They had seen the fight between Yu Zhuoran and Lin Qi. In that battle, Yu Zhuoran had been defeated miserably!

The student who had spoken looked toward the arena. He refused to believe Kong Ruoxuan would be defeated in under three moves!

...

FWOOSH~

Inside the dilapidated ruins of the arena, a strong wind suddenly kicked up. The air pressure dropped due to the changes in Kong Ruoxuan and Lin Qi.

An astonishing blue light burst from Kong Ruoxuan’s body as blue patterns appeared on her skin. The surrounding air instantly grew humid, like a street after a rain shower.

SPLASH! SPLASH!!

Kong Ruoxuan lifted her left hand. With an invisible ripple in the air, countless water droplets instantly condensed.

The droplets then gathered into streams of crystal-clear water.

They danced in the air like Spiritual Snakes. With a flick of her hand,

all the streams converged into torrents, shooting out toward Lin Qi from all directions like giant Water Snakes.

The force of the water torrents was immense, enough to erode stone walls, let alone a human body.

SWOOSH~

At the same time, Kong Ruoxuan herself moved like a Water Snake. Her longsword, enveloped in water, shot forward like a blade of water.

BUZZ! BUZZ!!

Simultaneously, Lin Qi instantly unleashed his own Special Ability: [Jin Feng].

His entire body was shrouded in Golden Sharpness. The Sharpness then detached from him, condensing in the air around him like a swarm of sharp Flying Knives.

Using his powerful Spiritual Power, Lin Qi gathered all the Golden Sharpness together, forming a gigantic Golden Blade that he then unleashed.

Vajra Fist—Thousand Shadows!

This was one of the techniques from the Vajra Fist, which was also a method for controlling power.

Thousand Shadows was what allowed him to divide and converge his Golden Edge Power.

BANG!!

In the center of the arena, their Special Abilities collided violently.

The Water Snake and the Golden Blade clashed, and the air cracked with the impact.

The pure Energy shockwave roiled the surrounding Space, like ripples spreading across a calm lake.

A fierce wind raged across the entire arena!

At that same moment, the body of the Water Snake was sliced in two by the blade formed from the Golden Sharpness.

As if having lost their master, all the water currents dispersed into droplets and splattered onto the ground.

The Golden Sharpness then transformed into countless sharp blades that flew toward Kong Ruoxuan!

BANG! BANG! BANG!!

Kong Ruoxuan’s body was covered by blue Flowing Water, forming a thin layer of armor that blocked the impact of the Golden Sharpness.

CLANG! CLANG!!

She swung her longsword, unleashing her Power to clash with the Golden Sharpness.

’So strong!’

Kong Ruoxuan’s expression was grave, and she was horrified.

’I can’t believe my ranged attack was shattered before it could even hold for a single exchange!’

’The gap between our application of Special Abilities and our overall strength is just too wide.’

The might of a Special Ability depends on the user’s control and physical constitution.

In a simple clash, she had been completely crushed.

SWOOSH~

He moved in an instant. With a flicker of his form, he shot forward like a bolt of black Lightning.

The Power within his body flowed like an endless stream. Golden Sharpness enveloped his Black Great Spear, making the shaft buzz.

SHIIING~

The tip of the spear quivered, then tore through the air, carrying the Golden Sharpness with it.

Mountain and River Spear Technique—Flowing Water Stab!

All Kong Ruoxuan saw was a flash of cold light.

PFFT~

In an instant, the spear pierced through her chest.

...