Chapter 425 - 408: Breakthrough
Star Residence No. 36, a luxurious white villa.
WHIRRR!
In the quiet Martial Arts Room, a brand-new white Virtual Cabin slowly opened.
Lin Qi’s tall figure emerged from within.
"Little Chan, order two Level 5 Nutritional Meals."
"Of course, Master!" The ever-quiet Little Chan nodded obediently and quickly ordered two Level 5 Nutritional Meals.
A few minutes later, while eating in the living room, Lin Qi looked at the green screen projected in front of him.
It displayed 23 names: all the contestants in the top 23 of the Celestial Vault Competition.
Aside from himself, Chu Yu, and Du Shanyan, the rest were all third-year SS-level and SSS-level geniuses, along with the top geniuses from the fourth year.
Furthermore, with the exception of himself, they were all Martial Artists at the Sixth Realm of Marrow Refining.
In the next round, the probability of him facing a top-tier expert was extremely high.
’If I want to secure a higher rank, my current strength isn’t going to cut it.’
After dinner, he glanced at the time. It was 5:40 PM.
The fourth round started at 8:30 AM tomorrow, which left him with just under fifteen hours.
’If I push myself, that’s enough time to raise my strength by another level.’
After quickly drafting a cultivation plan, he returned to the Martial Arts Room.
BEEP! BEEP!
He opened his heavy, silver metal cabinet, revealing rows of various potions.
He took out a potion filled with a purple liquid—Soul Essence.
He downed the Soul Essence in one gulp.
Then he took out a green scroll, opened it, and sat cross-legged to begin cultivating the Spiritual Power Cultivation Method—the *Thousand Calamities Atlas*.
With his eyes shut tight, he began the visualization of a Level 4 Disaster Beast, the Silver Giant Wolf, in his Consciousness Space.
It was the evolved form of the Gray Ridge Giant Wolf, boasting a more massive frame and dazzling silver fur.
His will activated the green scroll, and a thousand Level 4 Disaster Beasts materialized in his Consciousness Space: Bronze Bulls, Blood-Scaled Iron Pigs, Silver Giant Wolves...
ROAR—
Amid the roars, a terrifying life-and-death struggle began.
A cool sensation spread through his mind as the Soul Essence melted, nourishing his Spiritual Power.
Lin Qi, in turn, controlled the Silver Giant Wolf to battle the thousand other beasts.
The *Thousand Calamities Atlas* was divided into nine minor realms.
These corresponded to the Ten-Beast, Hundred-Beast, and Thousand-Beast stages within the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Realms.
A more intense mental shock was required to achieve a breakthrough in Spiritual Power.
AWOOO—
The agile Silver Giant Wolf faced a siege of endless Calamity Beasts. Its body was constantly torn to shreds, only to recover in an instant.
Meanwhile, the number of its opponents steadily decreased.
His mind quaked as his Spiritual Power was continuously honed and strengthened.
「One hour later.」
AWOOO—
After the agile Silver Giant Wolf tore a Bronze Bull’s body apart, its own form dissolved into golden particles and merged into the surrounding space.
BOOM!
Lin Qi shuddered as the gray fog in his Consciousness Space suddenly swelled.
It expanded by a full circle.
He opened his eyes, and his world snapped into focus. It was as if a bright light had been switched on in a dim room; everything around him became sharper and more vivid.
[You have consumed Soul Essence. Your cultivation of the *Thousand Calamities Atlas* has resulted in a breakthrough. Your Spiritual Power has increased significantly. Spiritual Power +16]
[Spiritual Power: 999 → 1015]
...
Whew...
Lin Qi slowly stood. In his Perception, the world had changed. He could sense so much more.
This feeling of having everything under control caused his confidence to swell.
With that thought, he took a moment to acclimate to his surging Spiritual Power, then entered the Virtual Cabin again and logged into the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.
...
WHIRRR!
Outside the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, Lin Qi looked up at the colossal structure soaring into the clouds.
It was now 8:00 PM, and the area outside the Trial Tower was deserted. Everyone else was resting.
He checked the overall rankings:
[1st Place: Shen Heng (Fourth Year), Floor: 16]
[2nd Place: Lei Frost (Fourth Year), Floor: 16]
[3rd Place: Zhang Tianyang (Fourth Year), Floor: 16]
...
[12th Place: Chu Yu, Floor: 14]
...
[32nd Place: Lin Qi (Second Year), Floor: 13]
...
Lin Qi exhaled. His rank had already jumped 10 spots compared to three months ago.
’The only reason it’s so low is that I rarely use the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.’
He spent most of his time cultivating in private.
’The Disaster Beast Trial Tower might simulate a siege, but it’s still just a simulation, not a real fight.’
’I don’t need to enter the Trial Tower every day. I’d rather spend that time in the Gravity Room or the pool, practicing my Spear Technique and Body Technique.’
’It’s better to just surge up the ranks at the end of the month.’
Well, it was the end of the month now. It was time to make his move.
A higher rank meant he could obtain more Level 7 Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood.
With that in mind, he walked straight into the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.
[Student Lin Qi, welcome to the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.]
[Floor 13 Trial: Kill 600 Calamity Beasts within 80 minutes. 200 Level 3 Disaster Beast Gray Ridge Giant Wolves, 200 Level 3 Disaster Beast Blood-Scaled Iron Pigs, 150 Level 3 Iron-Scaled Eagles, and 50 Level 4 Disaster Beast Bronze Bulls!]
[Failure to kill all Calamity Beasts within 80 minutes will result in failure...]
[Countdown: ...3, 2, 1]
[The trial officially begins!!]
Lin Qi was still dressed in his black combat gear. His Qi and Blood Value had increased to 300.
This was higher than when he first entered the Third Realm but still short of the peak.
RUMBLE!
The ground trembled violently, and loose rubble began to dance across its surface.
Far down the dilapidated, ruined road, a grayish-red tsunami appeared on the horizon.
AWOOO—
SNORT! SNORT!
The Level 3 Disaster Beast Gray Ridge Giant Wolves and Blood-Scaled Iron Pigs radiated a suffocating pressure.
MOOO—
Behind them were the even larger Bronze Bulls, charging like armored trucks barreling down a highway.
WHOOSH!
A fierce wind kicked up in the wake of their charge.
In the sky, a black cloud rapidly approached—it was a flock of 150 Iron-Scaled Eagles.
They all locked onto Lin Qi, intent on devouring him whole.
Seeing this, Lin Qi brandished his black Great Spear. His body exploded with power, and he shot forward from his spot like a bolt of lightning streaking across the sky.
Imbued with the Special Ability [Jin Feng], his Power now possessed a piercing quality. It condensed into Mountain and River Power, capable of shifting between hard and soft.
It was the path of combining hardness with softness.
AWOOO—
Facing a pouncing Gray Ridge Giant Wolf, he thrust his Great Spear forward like a flowing river.
In an instant, it slit the wolf’s neck.
SHLICK! SHLICK! SHLICK!
In a flash, the necks of three Gray Ridge Giant Wolves were slit, sending arcs of hot blood spraying into the air.
He followed up with several more rapid thrusts.
*Mountain and River Spear Technique*—Flowing Water Stab!
As he frantically executed Flowing Water Stab, the River Realm seemed to manifest around him.
SNORT! SNORT!
The Blood-Scaled Iron Pigs charged forward. Lin Qi became a blur of lightning, and in the space of a single breath, several Gray Ridge Giant Wolves were dead!
SCREECH—
From the sky, the Iron-Scaled Eagles, with their steel-like wings, dove down like a volley of arrows.
SWOOSH—
Lin Qi’s expression remained calm as he moved like lightning, leaving several afterimages in his wake.
He then unleashed a flurry of thrusts with his black Great Spear, stabbing continuously like a machine gun.
SHLICK! SHLICK!
In a single second, he unleashed two hundred thrusts, instantly skewering more than twenty Iron-Scaled Eagles.
BANG! BANG!
He was like a tiger among sheep; every Calamity Beast was his prey.
「40 minutes later.」
MOOO—
With a heavy thud, the corpse of the last Bronze Bull collapsed to the ground.
Lin Qi exhaled and shook his head.
"It’s not enough. The pressure still isn’t great enough for me to break through!"
"I need more pressure!"
He looked at the message that popped up.
[Student Lin Qi, congratulations on successfully passing the Floor 13 assessment!]
[Year Rank: 3]
[Overall Rank: 32 → 25]
[Proceed to the Floor 14 Calamity Beast trial? (Y/N)]
Lin Qi looked at the message and, without the slightest hesitation, chose to continue to the 14th floor’s trial.
BEEP!
A new message popped up before him.
[Floor 14 Trial: Kill 800 Calamity Beasts within 80 minutes. 300 Level 3 Disaster Beast Gray Ridge Giant Wolves, 200 Level 3 Disaster Beast Blood-Scaled Iron Pigs, 200 Level 3 Disaster Beast Iron-Scaled Eagles, and 100 Level 4 Disaster Beast Bronze Bulls!]
[Failure to kill them all within 80 minutes will result in failure...]
Lin Qi was secretly alarmed after reading the trial’s conditions.
’The time limit is the same, but I have to kill two hundred more Calamity Beasts. The biggest increases are in the numbers of Iron-Scaled Eagles and Bronze Bulls.’
And yet, his own Qi and Blood Value remained the same.
To kill all the Calamity Beasts, he would need a higher Realm of skill—for instance, integrating his Mental Realm into every single one of his techniques to enhance his speed and power.
He was currently at 29% of Tier Four, preparing to master his first Killing Technique and break through to 30%.
A mere 1% difference translated into a massive gap in actual combat.
In reality, the 13th floor trial required one to be at the Tier Four Mid-stage. He only cleared it because his Combat Talent was simply too overwhelming.
But clearing the 14th floor would be exceptionally difficult.
RUMBLE!
The earth trembled, and Lin Qi’s heart began to beat faster in response.
The very air began to shift.
A terrifying tide of Calamity Beasts launched a frenzied assault on him.
It was still the same four types of Calamity Beasts: Gray Ridge Giant Wolves, Blood-Scaled Iron Pigs, Iron-Scaled Eagles, and Bronze Bulls.
He once again shot forward like a bolt of lightning, executing his Body Technique, *Thunder Extreme Nine Flashes*.
His Thunder Shadow Realm had completely evolved into the Thunder Extreme Realm, which now enhanced his body and granted him even greater speed.
SHLICK! SHLICK! SHLICK!
Despite the siege, his speed only increased, and his killing efficiency didn’t drop in the slightest.
He moved like a killing machine, relentlessly slaughtering the Calamity Beasts that swarmed him.
At the same time, he felt immense pressure. With the increased number of beasts, it felt as though every corner around him was sealed off.
The sky above and the ground below were a storm of fangs and claws. Killing them all would be incredibly difficult.
Even Chu Yu had been stuck on the 14th floor for three months, unable to break through.
In the face of this danger, Lin Qi became strangely exhilarated. His blood pumped faster, and the Thunder Extreme Realm fused even deeper into his body.
SWOOSH—
AWOOO—
An agile, cunning-eyed Gray Ridge Giant Wolf swiped its giant claw, only to strike a flickering afterimage of lightning.
This was the second flash of *Thunder Extreme Nine Flashes*, a move so fast it could create an illusory afterimage to confuse opponents.
Lin Qi’s eyes shone. He had been cultivating for a month, letting his power build. Now, under this intense pressure, he felt a breakthrough was imminent.
At this thought, the speed of his spear thrusts increased, tearing through the air with the force of a bursting dam.
AWOOO—
SNORT! SNORT!
SHLICK! SHLICK! SHLICK!
Amidst the frenzied slaughter, accompanied by the roars of the Calamity Beasts, one beast after another fell. The stench of blood filled the air, and Lin Qi gradually approached his limit.
The *Mountain and River Spear Technique* he wielded, its power long-accumulated, finally underwent a qualitative transformation!
...