Chapter 427 - 410: Top 10

Chapter 427: Chapter 410: Top 10

「Forty minutes later.」

"ROAR~"

"SPURT~"

Following a roar, the dilapidated ruins fell silent once more.

[Student Lin Qi, we regret to inform you that you have died!]

[Grade Ranking: 1]

[Overall Ranking: 10]

...

Lin Qi reappeared on the concrete road. He shook his head as he read the pop-up message and his new ranking.

"The difficulty is too high!"

It didn’t matter how many Third-Level or Fourth-Level Calamity Beasts there were.

The real danger was the Fifth-Level Calamity Beast, the Split Claw Ape.

When he fought them during the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition, he was in the Fifth Realm and could also use his Special Ability.

But it was different now. He was only in the Fourth Realm and couldn’t use his Special Ability.

Killing a Split Claw Ape under these conditions was next to impossible.

He would need a major breakthrough in his Spear Technique and Body Technique to elevate his combat prowess enough to succeed.

Still, he glanced at the rankings. He had successfully broken into the top ten, even if he was currently in last place.

This meant his Martial Arts Skills were now ranked among the top ten, surpassing the other geniuses.

The only ones ranked ahead of him were two SSS-level geniuses and seven SS-level geniuses.

...

「A few minutes later, in the Martial Arts Room.」

The white Virtual Cabin slowly opened, and Lin Qi walked out of it.

He glanced at the time. It was already nine o’clock.

He had spent a full three hours in the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.

The drain on his Spirit was also immense.

He slowly walked over to the Punch Force Tester.

"BEEP!"

He slowly turned it on. His current Qi and Blood Value was already very close to 1,000, meaning the Sixth Realm wasn’t far off.

He was also very curious about how strong his Fist Power was now.

He took a step back, his aura condensed, and the air pressure in the entire Martial Arts Room instantly dropped. A terrifying aura erupted from his body.

"ROAR~"

"WHOOSH!!"

It was as if a Ninth-Level Calamity Beast, a Platinum Evil Tiger, had awoken. The surrounding airflow changed, forming fierce gales.

Lin Qi clenched his fist and began to gather his strength. A terrifying power started to condense.

Blue veins bulged. Every muscle in his body exerted force simultaneously, and his Great Tendons tightened like powerful springs.

His body was like a precision machine, operating at high speed.

Power channeled through his body, finally converging in his fist as the Slaughter Tiger Bone radiated a golden luster.

Finally, he unleashed his fist with the weight of a mountain, cutting a perfect arc through the air before it slammed into the Punching Target.

"BANG!!"

The round, red Punching Target instantly caved in. The vibrating air formed a white shockwave that rippled outwards.

A strong wind swept through the entire Martial Arts Room.

The Punching Target began to shake violently.

"BEEP!"

The electronic screen refreshed, quickly displaying a string of data: "24,996 kg!"

Lin Qi looked at the Fist Power data on the screen and smiled.

Almost 25,000 kilograms of Fist Power!

The minimum Fist Power for a Sixth Realm Martial Artist is 20,000 kilograms, which is a full 20 tons.

But he already possessed 25 tons of Fist Power.

This was a mid-tier level among Sixth Realm Martial Artists.

Plus, with the Vajra Fist he cultivated, the power amplification could reach 1.8 times, which was close to 45 tons of Fist Power.

It was already very close to the minimum Fist Power for a Seventh Realm Martial Artist, 50 tons.

A Sixth Realm Martial Artist who had not Awakened would be no match for him at all.

As for Seventh Realm Martial Artists, they were already in the High Realm. Defeating one would be an astronomical feat.

’Time to test my speed!’

Thinking of this, he activated the Speed Tester.

"WHOOSH!!"

A few moments later, Lin Qi tested his raw explosive speed without using any Body Technique.

He shot forward like a pouncing Platinum Evil Tiger, covering the 20-meter distance in a flash.

When he reached the end, he kicked up strong gusts of wind.

"BEEP!"

The electronic screen displayed the result: "99.5 m/s."

Nearly 100 m/s. At full burst, he could cover one hundred meters in just about a second.

The minimum speed for a normal Sixth Realm Martial Artist is 90 m/s.

His speed was also mid-tier. With his strength and speed being so balanced, he wouldn’t be considered weak even among Sixth Realm Martial Artists.

Factoring in his Little Divine Power, his strength had unknowingly reached the top ten within the entire Celestial Vault Institute.

Lin Qi clenched his fists.

He looked forward to seeing what rank he would achieve tomorrow.

...

「Martial Arts Calendar, Year 2047, November 28th.」

Celestial Vault Competition, Day Three.

In the Red Realm’s spectator stands, as the match time drew near, all the students and leaders gradually came online.

A group of people gathered together, chatting idly.

"We’re down to the top 23. The final champion will be decided this morning."

"The final champion is 100% Shen Heng. He’s the only fourth-year SSS-level genius, and he’s also mastered a Little Divine Power."

"I suspect even some Seventh Realm Martial Artists might not be able to beat him," someone said.

In everyone’s eyes, the top three rankings were terrifyingly secure; it was almost impossible for anyone to challenge them.

However, the lower rankings were more interesting to discuss.

Someone glanced at Chu Yu and said:

"Chu Yu’s strength is still formidable. It’s a sure thing he’ll get through the fourth round."

"That would put him in the top 11 for the fifth round."

"Truly amazing!"

"And then there’s Lin Qi, he’s a monster too. You never see an SS-level genius as strong as him."

"But in the next round, all his opponents will be at the Sixth Realm. It won’t be easy for him to win."

The crowd’s discussion also reached the ears of Chu Yu and Lin Qi.

Chu Yu was secretly thrilled, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

Lin Qi, however, remained calm. ’Looks like no one knows I’m ranked 10th in the Disaster Beast Trial Tower yet,’ he thought.

’That must mean I was the only one in the Trial Tower last night.’

He looked up at the sky above the arena. ’It all ends today,’ he mused. ’I wonder how many rounds I’ll get through.’

"Fellow students!"

Vice Principal Xu Wenji’s projection appeared again. He looked around and spoke slowly:

"Welcome, everyone, to the Celestial Vault Competition."

"Today, our Celestial Vault Competition will continue."

"The 23 remaining contestants will now proceed to the fourth round. One of them will receive a bye, and the remaining 22 contestants will fight to determine the final 11 spots."

"Now, let us officially begin!"

After Xu Wenji finished speaking, his Red Robe swelled, and 23 large red suns materialized out of thin air, burning fiercely and radiating intense heat.

"BANG!!"

One of them suddenly exploded, revealing a name.

[Bye: Lei Frost (Fourth-Year)]

"Congratulations to contestant Lei Frost for successfully receiving a bye!"

In the fourth-year spectator area, a tall woman with a broad frame, striking features, and dark skin smiled at the sight.

She rubbed her large palms together and said:

"I knew it. It was about my turn to get a bye."

Among the 181 geniuses, she had always been ranked second. She was the top SS-level genius among the fourth-year students.

She had also won the global freshman tournament championship.

Although Shen Heng had always been number one, she harbored ambitions of challenging for the champion’s title.

...

After Xu Wenji finished, no one raised any major objections. Meanwhile, half of the remaining 22 suns turned blue. They paired off against the red ones, forming the new bracket.

Lin Qi immediately found his opponent, as he was scheduled for the first match.

[Match 1: Lin Qi (Second-Year) VS Wang Rui (Fourth-Year)]

...

The moment he saw his opponent, information about Wang Rui instantly surfaced in Lin Qi’s mind.

Meanwhile, in the fourth-year spectator stands, a tall, handsome young man broke into a smile.

"I didn’t expect to be matched with this junior, Lin Qi."

"I’d better prepare well. It would be embarrassing to lose the match like a certain someone."

Nearby, Sang Yuzhen’s face darkened when she heard this:

"Wang Rui, you’re talking about me, aren’t you?"

"But you’re celebrating too early!"

"I was no match for Lin Qi, and neither are you!"

Wang Rui shook his head. "I’m not like you."

"After all, in the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, I’m ranked 18th!"

"Besides, I broke through to the Sixth Realm quite some time ago. Even with a Little Divine Power, Lin Qi will be no match for me."

"After all, he’s just a—"

...

"The bracket is set! I declare the fourth round of the Celestial Vault Competition officially open!"

Xu Wenji announced in a booming voice, and his entire being dissolved into particles of red light.

"BOOM!!"

The arena began to transform.

[Will the contestants for the first match, Lin Qi and Wang Rui, please enter the arena.]

Above the dilapidated ruins of the arena, the intelligent voice announced.

Lin Qi also stood up, transforming into a crimson pillar of light that descended upon the arena.

Across from him, Wang Rui, clad in a silver Combat Suit, emerged, swinging a heavy Battle Saber with one hand.

He was tall, over 2.2 meters, and the muscles rippling beneath his Combat Suit radiated a terrifying pressure. He exuded a sharp, intimidating aura.

Lin Qi sensed a familiar, tyrannical aura from him—his opponent also cultivated the Platinum Evil Tiger Evolution Method.

Wang Rui, a fourth-year S-class genius from Shanyu Martial Arts University, ranked 18th in the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.

He cultivates the Platinum Evil Tiger Evolution Method, and his Awakened Special Ability is [Jin Feng].

His Weapon is a Battle Saber, and he excels in strength and speed.

You could call him an enhanced version of Xiang Long!

Wang Rui tilted his head and smiled at Lin Qi.

"Lin Qi, you’re no ordinary genius."

"By the time you’re a fourth-year, you might be stronger than me."

"But right now, you’re no match for me. Allow me to teach you a proper lesson."

"I’ll show you how the Special Ability [Jin Feng] is truly used."

Lin Qi’s smile was inscrutable. "Oh? Is that so?"

[Countdown: 3, 2, 1]

[Match One has officially begun!]

High above the arena, the automated, emotionless voice echoed in everyone’s ears.

...