Chapter 357 - 355: Breakthrough—Late-stage of the Fourth Realm
His entire skeleton was as perfectly formed and smooth as jade, yet harder than steel.
Like a perfect work of art.
Even if his bones were taken from his body now, they could be used as weapons to easily shatter giant rocks.
They could even pierce through a human body.
The bones of his torso grew continuously warmer, undergoing a subtle Refinement.
He was now like steel tempered a hundred times, just one step away from having all impurities removed and the forging process completed.
Lin Qi was very patient, practicing his Spear Technique while continuing the Refinement.
The intense exercise caused his bones to vibrate, accelerating the speed of the Refinement.
He was exceptionally talented; others likely couldn’t match his Refinement speed.
That’s why even if the students from the Tenth Institute had more money and resources, they just couldn’t compare to his Cultivation speed.
His body could fully absorb the ingredients of the Potion, maximizing its effects.
Coupled with his diligent Cultivation, his rapid progress was only natural.
...
「An hour later」
SWISH SWISH!!
Lin Qi thrust with the Black Great Spear in his hand, unleashing fifty consecutive stabs in a single second.
Beads of sweat flew from his face, instantly pierced by his Power and shattering into tiny droplets before hitting the ground.
Meanwhile, a dramatic change was occurring within his body.
His entire skeleton emitted a smooth, jade-like radiance, tinged with a faint Golden Light.
Countless shimmering gold Source Energy Particles enveloped his bones. His entire skeleton had been reconstructed, becoming even harder.
Suddenly, Lin Qi shuddered. His body glowed with a golden luster—it was his bones shining through his skin.
In that instant, Lin Qi felt a continuous stream of strength welling up from his skeleton.
An intense confidence seemed to surge from the depths of his heart.
’The Bone Tempering of my torso is complete!’
Lin Qi’s eyes widened as a violent tremor started within his body.
HUMMM!!
His bones vibrated, generating a continuous, immense Power.
Under Lin Qi’s control, this Power converged toward his arms.
Finally, it poured into his Long Spear, causing the shaft to hum.
Lin Qi leaped high, raising the Great Spear. His body bent like a drawn bowstring, gathering power for a fierce downward chop at the ground.
BAM!!
The tip of the spear slammed heavily onto the soft mat.
The terrifying force traveled down the spear shaft and crashed into the ground.
The terrifying force spread outwards, and the black mat that took the hit was instantly torn to shreds.
It revealed the special alloy floor beneath, on which the terrifying force had left shallow cracks.
"Satisfying!"
Lin Qi exhaled. Having vented his power, his mind and body felt completely refreshed.
[You have consumed Top-Grade Bone Tempering Liquid. The Bone Tempering of your torso is complete. You have successfully broken through to the Late-stage of the Fourth Realm. Your Qi and Blood Value has increased significantly. Qi and Blood Value +8]
[Your breakthrough has accelerated the progress of the Slaughter Tiger Bone. Your mastery over Power has increased. Spear Technique +1%]
[You have completed a training session. Template Fusion Degree +0.1%. Special Power Awakening 99%]
[Qi and Blood Value: 299→307]
[Spear Technique: Tier Three 79%→Tier Three 80%]
[Fusion Degree: 24.8%→24.9%]
...
Lin Qi smiled as he looked at the information on the golden panel.
’Good, I’ve finally broken through to the Late-stage of the Fourth Realm!’
Lin Qi nodded to himself, marveling at how his breakthrough speed was becoming more and more outrageous.
He had only broken through to the Fourth Realm in March, yet a mere three months later, he had already reached the Late Stage.
He even suspected that he might be able to break through to the Fifth Realm of Refining Inner Organs in less than half a year.
As for the improvement in his Spear Technique, that was just a side benefit. The stronger his body became, the more Power it generated, and the easier it was to master that Power.
Then, his gaze fell on the Template Fusion Degree.
’This Fusion Degree is getting harder and harder to raise.’
Lin Qi shook his head. It had only increased by 0.2% in over a month.
Fortunately, he was only 0.1% away.
He would be able to Awaken it in less than a month.
’When I return to school next semester, I’ll be a genius who has Awakened a Special Ability.’
’Time to consolidate my gains!’
With that thought, Lin Qi resumed practicing his Spear Technique.
...
「Tenth Academy, inside a luxurious villa」
In the Martial Arts Room, Yu Zhuoran swung his Battle Saber, his body enveloped in electric currents.
A numbing sensation spread through his body as he trained diligently.
WHOOSH WHOOSH!!
CRACKLE! CRACKLE!
The silver Battle Saber was wreathed in electricity. Every swing carried a powerful current, and the domineering Thunder made him look like the Thunder God descending.
BAM!!
CRACKLE! CRACKLE!
The air crackled. He stopped swinging his Battle Saber, feeling the strong, gusting wind around him.
Suddenly, he thought of Lin Qi.
’My Qi and Blood Value has increased significantly. I wonder if I can surpass Lin Qi in the final exams this time?’
At this thought, Yu Zhuoran threw himself back into his Cultivation with his full focus.
...
「Martial Arts Calendar Year 2047, June 3rd」
The various Martial Arts Universities across Xia Country began holding their final exams.
Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, one of the three top academies, was no exception.
「Azure Sky Sixth Institute」
After a morning of Martial Arts General Education Course exams, all the students gathered in the main hall of the Cangjing Building to begin their Qi Blood tests.
The students lined up by class in front of a huge, black and red Qi and Blood Tester.
[Examinee: Jiangtao, Qi and Blood Value: 140]
As the machine’s voice announced the result, a commotion erupted among the surrounding students.
"What was his Qi and Blood Value?"
"Jiangtao is insane! That Qi and Blood Value is way too high. It’s almost double mine."
"He spent a month cultivating in the Otherworld, and his Qi and Blood Value increased this much!"
Everyone was astonished. Guan Mountain, Guo Heng, and Wang Qiufeng were all shocked.
They were all still stuck above 95, but Jiangtao had already opened a gap of more than 40 points on them.
"Haha!!"
Jiangtao walked out of the Qi and Blood Tester, laughing heartily.
"Brother Qi, how was that? I didn’t embarrass you, did I!"
Jiangtao returned to Lin Qi’s side, gloating triumphantly.
"Not bad, but you need to keep working hard!" Lin Qi said with a smile as he bumped fists with Jiangtao.
"Next, Lin Qi!"
Lu Wei, the proctor, called out.
The moment she spoke, the surroundings fell silent. The focus of everyone’s discussion instantly shifted from Jiangtao to Lin Qi, and a large crowd had already gathered.
"It’s finally the Dean’s turn!"
"I’m so curious what Brother Qi’s Qi and Blood Value is now!"
"Last semester, he already had a Qi and Blood Value of 90, far surpassing everyone. A whole semester has passed, I wonder how much it’s increased."
"Even Brother Tao has a Qi and Blood Value of 140. Brother Qi has to be at 200, right?"
*Hiss~*
"Doesn’t that mean he’s broken through to the Mid-stage of the Fourth Realm?"
"I’m not even sure I’ll have the Qi and Blood Value of a Mid-stage Fourth Realm by my senior year!"
The crowd buzzed with discussion, their eyes locked on Lin Qi.
Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Lin Qi slowly walked out from the crowd.
He stepped into the Qi and Blood Tester and grasped the black metal arms with both hands.
A formless aura emanated from his body.
...