Chapter 202: I Can Last 10 Moves
Lin Qi looked at the virtual figurine in Xu Wenji's palm.
[Bye: Ao Feng (Ninth Institute)]
This time, Ao Feng of the Azure Sky Ninth Institute received the bye. The remaining 12 people were matched with their respective opponents.
[Match 2: Lin Qi (Sixth Institute) VS Ruan Qian (Third Institute)]
Lin Qi glanced toward the Azure Sky Third Institute's seating area. His opponent this time was Ruan Qian, the younger of the twin sisters.
Meanwhile, Ruan Qian clenched her fists, her expression excited. "I can't believe I'm up against Lin Qi!"
Her older sister, Ruan Yu, shook her head with a grave expression. "It looks like this round will be your limit."
"Lin Qi is too strong. There are gaps even between S-class Talents, and he's a top-tier expert destined for the semifinals."
Ruan Qian smiled confidently. "I'm an S-class Talent, too. Growing up, I was always number two in Jiangnan City, second only to you, Sis."
"I've defeated countless opponents and faced every kind of fighter imaginable. Plus, I'm a Talent who cultivates Spiritual Power, so my Perception of my opponents is enhanced."
"He's just Lin Qi. If he wants to beat me, it'll take him at least... ten moves!"
Ruan Yu: ...
...
BOOM!!
In the arena, Li Lei swung his War Axe. He was enormous, over 2.2 meters tall, with an abnormally muscular upper body. His biceps were nearly the size of a grown man's head.
With the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear, he looked like a savage beast. His fighting style was one of pure, unrestrained violence.
His strength was immense; almost no one could block his attacks.
His opponent was Guan Shan, who was currently struggling to fend off the assault with his Battle Saber.
Guan Shan was shorter, a speed-type fighter for whom strength was a weakness.
He normally could have relied on his speed, but Li Lei's offensive was too ferocious. The swinging War Axe actually managed to suppress his Cold Wind Saber Technique.
When Guan Shan tried to counterattack, he couldn't hold his ground and was beaten back again and again.
PFFT—
A minute later, he was torn apart by the War Axe, turning into nothingness and dissipating into the air.
In the Azure Sky Sixth Institute's spectator section, Guan Shan returned with a wry smile. "I did my best. Li Lei is the Dean of the Fourth Institute for a reason. I was completely outmatched."
Lin Qi shook his head. "You already did great!"
"There are no restrictions in the freshman tournament. The combined differences in Qi and Blood Value and Martial Arts have too great an impact on combat strength."
"Very few people can win against Li Lei."
There was one more thing Lin Qi didn't say: unless one possessed a Top Level Combat Talent, winning was nearly impossible.
'Like me, for instance,' he thought. 'With my Top Level Combat Talent, enhanced by my Heart Eye Talent.'
'I can quickly see an opponent's weaknesses and find that sliver of an opportunity to turn a losing battle into a victory.'
'If I were in Guan Shan's place, I might have actually won.'
The others nodded in agreement. Without restrictions, the power gaps were much more obvious. The Deans were on a completely different level from them.
[Will the two contestants for the second match please enter the arena!]
As the automated voice echoed through the arena, Lin Qi slowly stood up, dissolving into a flash of crimson light.
In the arena, two crimson pillars of light descended.
Lin Qi, dressed in a black Combat Suit, emerged slowly, holding a jet-black Great Spear.
Across from him, Ruan Qian wore a pink Combat Suit, twirling a silver Sharp Sword in her hand with a flourish.
Her eyes were fixed on Lin Qi, her expression gradually turning solemn. An invisible pressure emanated from him.
It was as if a giant, golden tiger was staring her down.
"Hidden Tiger!"
She recalled Lin Qi's nickname: Hidden Tiger, signifying a person with great hidden strength.
Now, she was feeling it for real.
He was even stronger than she had imagined. Her breathing involuntarily quickened.
"Let me see just how strong the Dean of the Azure Sky Sixth Institute really is."
Lin Qi replied calmly, "You will."
[Match preparation beginning!]
[Countdown: 3, 2, 1...]
[Match start!]
The automated voice high above announced the start!
In the stands, countless spectators watched the match with curiosity.
This was the first time they had seen a match between two Deans. It was destined to be a clash of titans.
Meanwhile, the people from the Azure Sky Third Institute were filled with anticipation.
'Ruan Qian is an S-class Talent, after all,' they thought. 'The gap can't be that big. Maybe she can actually win?'
In the leadership seats, a middle-aged woman in a sharp black uniform spoke slowly:
"Ruan Qian's strength may not match Lin Qi's, but she should be able to hold out for a while."
"It will be a good chance for her to gain some experience."
She was the vice dean of the Azure Sky Third Institute. Last year, they had finished first, but this year was different; they could only choose from the lower-ranked S-class Talents.
"Of course!" Dean Liu said with a cheerful laugh.
...
In the spacious arena,
WHOOSH—
Ruan Qian pounced like an agile cat, her movements nimble, her Swordsmanship both fierce and elegant.
Before she even arrived, a fierce gust of wind rushed forward. In the next instant, the cold glint of her sword light enveloped him from all directions, threatening to strike at any moment.
Seeing this, Lin Qi also strode forward, swinging the Great Spear in his hands as his muscles tensed.
He didn't immediately launch a fierce assault; instead, he took a defensive stance.
'In the Tournament of Talents, the final opponent I had faced was only Li Zehao,' he recalled. 'I never fought a true S-class Talent, which was quite regrettable. Now, I finally have my chance.'
CLANG! CLANG!!
The distance between them was less than twenty meters. In less than a second, they both launched their attacks, their weapons colliding.
In an instant, Ruan Qian released a formless power from her longsword.
Putting strength into her arms, she attacked Lin Qi from various angles, aiming for all his vital points.
Lin Qi was very familiar with this Swordsmanship. It was the Shadowless Swordsmanship.
Feng Qingyue, whom he had fought before, had used this same Swordsmanship, but she was nothing compared to the Ruan Qian before him now.
Her strikes were like a sudden storm on a dark night. The sound of the blade cutting through the air, as fast as a flash of lightning, echoed in his ears.
At the same time, with each clash of their weapons, waves of needle-like Power enveloped his arms, causing his Qi and Blood to stagnate and his limbs to go numb, even threatening to destroy his muscles and blood vessels.
CLANG! CLANG!~~
Lin Qi swung the shaft of his spear like a shield, blocking the attacks.
Meanwhile, Ruan Qian's spirits soared. Her opponent didn't seem that strong. She even had the illusion that she could actually win.
The Swordsmanship she executed became even faster and fiercer.
As Lin Qi was steadily forced back, in the span of a few breaths, he got a measure of Ruan Qian's strength.
'Her strength isn't bad,' he thought. 'Her Swordsmanship is close to 80% proficiency for Tier Two.'
'At this level, she could beat other opponents, but not me.'
The complete trajectory of her Swordsmanship appeared in his vision, and he instantly predicted Ruan Qian's next move.
At the same time, he unleashed his power in an instant. Pushing off the ground with the balls of his feet, he used the earth's reactive force to swing his spear.
A terrifying force erupted in a flash as the Power within his flesh, blood, and bone began to surge violently.
BANG!!
The moment the spear and longsword collided, Ruan Qian's expression changed drastically.
She felt a terrifying Power instantly wash away her formless power and surge through her arms into her body.
BOOM!
Her body was forced backward uncontrollably.
In the next instant, a cold light flashed before her. The spear struck like a dragon as Lin Qi unleashed three consecutive moves.
A great cleave, a great smash, and a great thrust.
CLANG! CLANG!!
She barely managed to block two of the moves. Her arms were almost numb, and her reaction time had slowed considerably.
In the next moment, the cold glint of the spear tip thrust out, instantly piercing her throat. Blood splattered.
Ruan Qian collapsed, turning into nothingness and dissipating into the air.
The battle was over!
...