Chapter 477 - 459: The Sword King’s Recognition

Chapter 477: Chapter 459: The Sword King’s Recognition

This was his disciple, after all! The Giant Power God’s composure crumbled in an instant!

As things stood, the White Eagle Federation didn’t even have a single spot in the semifinals of the Global Martial Arts Tournament.

To them, it was an absolute disgrace.

The brawny man beside him was both shocked and furious, feeling utterly ashamed.

Then, inappropriate laughter reached his ears. He turned to see it was coming from the Xia Country spectator section.

"Looks like our Xia Country is a cut above after all. Two spots in the semifinals."

"Barring any surprises, the champion will be from Xia Country."

To the members of the White Eagle Federation, the voices from the discussion were exceptionally grating.

Xue Zhou watched the outcome and remarked with a sigh:

"Lin Qi actually won. It looks like we’ve underestimated him again."

A rare, appreciative smile appeared on the King of Mountains and Rivers’ resolute face as he said:

"Lin Qi’s victory was to be expected."

"Throughout the entire fight, he seemed completely at ease and consistently held the upper hand."

"Strength was Jenos’s forte, but the fact that he couldn’t overpower Lin Qi speaks volumes."

"As for his Martial Arts Skills and Combat Talent, the disparity was even greater."

"In every respect, Lin Qi was bound to win."

The North River Sword King nodded as well. "Lin Qi is a true genius. I haven’t seen one like him in a very long time."

"If we were in the same realm, I would be no match for him."

The others were stunned. To think that even the North River Sword King would say such a thing.

He was an SSS-level genius, a former champion of the Global Martial Arts Tournament.

And he had just admitted with his own mouth that he would be no match for Lin Qi if they were in the same realm.

"That can’t be true. The Sword King is just being modest,"

the stocky man muttered, unconvinced.

Xu Qin just smiled silently upon hearing this. She could practically smell the sour grapes.

Dean Liu and Mu Hong exchanged a look, both seeing the delight in the other’s eyes.

...

「In the spectator stands.」

Lin Qi was teleported back, greeted by the crowd’s shocked gazes.

Jiangtao shook his head in amazement.

"Brother Qi, that was just insane!"

The others were also buzzing with excitement.

Lin Qi laughed. "The semifinals are next. Jenos was just an appetizer."

The confidence simmering beneath Lin Qi’s calm tone stunned everyone. ’Is he really going for the championship?’

"Attention, contestants!"

The roar from the stands subsided, and the King of Mountains and Rivers’ imposing figure was projected once more.

He began to speak slowly.

"Let us congratulate Shen Heng and Lin Qi of Xia Country, Ivan Petrov of the Bear Country, and Niting Reddy of Tianzhu Country."

"These four contestants have successfully advanced to the semifinals."

"Next, we will proceed with the semifinals."

"Of these four contestants, only two will advance to the finals to compete for the championship."

As he finished speaking, mountain peaks materialized behind him.

RUMBLE!!

Of the eight mountain peaks, four shot up from the ground, representing Lin Qi and the other three semifinalists. At the same time, they coalesced into a new bracket.

Tens of millions of pairs of eyes locked onto the new bracket.

The audience from Xia Country erupted the moment they saw the bracket.

[Semifinals Bracket]

[Match 1: Shen Heng (Xia Country) vs. Ivan Petrov (Bear Country)]

[Match 2: Lin Qi (Xia Country) vs. Niting Reddy (Tianzhu Country)]

...

This was the exact bracket the Xia Country audience had hoped for, as it avoided an internal match.

This also guaranteed that at least one of them would make it to the finals.

It would be even better if both of them made it to the finals.

「In the spectator stands.」

Lei Frost said, "Shen Heng, looks like you’re up against Ivan first."

"Whoever wins between you two will likely take the championship."

Shen Heng nodded. A win would virtually guarantee him the championship, but a loss would be a significant blow.

The rewards for losing in the finals were different from losing in the semifinals.

...

In the Bear Country’s spectator section, the powerfully built Ivan Petrov also broke into a smile.

"Looks like I’ll have to reveal my trump card early."

"It makes no difference whether I defeat Shen Heng in the semifinals or the finals."

"Because the championship can only be mine."

...

In the Tianzhu Country’s spectator section, a bald Niting Reddy sighed when he saw his opponent was Lin Qi.

’The semifinals might be my limit,’ he thought. ’They’re all masters... this fight is likely my last.’

Of all his opponents, Lin Qi was the only one he couldn’t figure out.

...

After the semifinal bracket appeared, the King of Mountains and Rivers made his announcement.

"The semifinals will now officially begin! Please welcome our two contestants to the stage!"

"They are Shen Heng of Xia Country and Ivan Petrov of the Bear Country!"

Having introduced both fighters, the King of Mountains and Rivers’ projection turned to nothingness and vanished.

The arena materialized. From the spectator stands, two crimson pillars of light shot toward the sky like meteors, then streaked down to land on the stage.

Shen Heng emerged, clad in a black Combat Suit and holding a Battle Sword.

Opposite him stood Ivan Petrov, dressed in a white Combat Suit and brandishing a Battle Saber.

The moment they appeared, the two began to clash.

"Shen Heng, I will defeat you and take the championship."

Ivan Petrov spoke fluent Xia Country Language.

As an Awakened Spiritual Mind Master, he possessed an exceptionally powerful mind and could speak six languages.

Shen Heng shook his head. "I will be the one to win!"

"In the end, Xia Country will claim the championship!"

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

[Semifinals, Match One, Begins!]

...

With the announcement from the automated voice, the battle ignited.

BZZZT!!

Shen Heng’s body was instantly enveloped in Thunder. Silver patterns danced across his skin like stray currents as he shot forward like a bolt of Lightning.

His Battle Sword tore through the air, cleaving toward Ivan Petrov along with several bolts of Thunder.

WHIRRR!!

Ivan charged forward, brandishing his Battle Saber. Simultaneously, three silver Flying Knives from his waist shot out, carving a perfect arc through the air.

BZZZT!!

The Lightning struck the Flying Knives to little effect, forcing Shen Heng to thrust out with his Battle Sword.

CLANG CLANG!!

The Battle Sword clashed with the Flying Knives, sending a shower of sparks and arcs of electricity flying.

WHOOSH~

Meanwhile, Ivan charged in to launch his own attack.

Ivan and his three Flying Knives attacked in unison.

...

Meanwhile, in the spectator stands, over thirty million people were watching the fight.

"This might as well be the final!"

"Whoever wins this will take the championship!"

someone exclaimed, and many others nodded in agreement. The clash between two Seventh Realm Martial Artists... their power and speed were on a completely different Level from that of Ordinary people.

The pace of the battle was far more intense.

The concept of "battle pace" was really only relevant in a fight between equals, like this one between Shen Heng and Ivan.

Against any other opponent, they would have simply steamrolled them.

Lin Qi watched the fight intently, memorizing both of their styles. At the same time, his eyes instantly transformed, his pupils turning into golden eyes.

For him, the battle instantly slowed to a fraction of its speed. The movement of Energy, including the trajectories of the Flying Knives, became perfectly clear.

’They’re so strong!’

Lin Qi marveled inwardly. In this fight, both combatants were revealing far more of their true strength.

...