High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

It was already noon when Lin Qi returned to his villa.

"Little Chan, order two Level 4 Nutritional Meals!"

"Yes, Master!"

The blue metal sphere that was always by Lin Qi’s side once again projected the image of the beautiful, black-haired Little Chan.

A few minutes later, sitting in his clean living room, Lin Qi quickly finished the two Level 4 Nutritional Meals.

He only felt about eighty percent full, but the nutritional content was already failing to keep up with his needs.

’As I get stronger, my nutritional requirements increase. Level 4 Nutritional Meals will soon be insufficient for my needs.’

’In other words, if I want to rely on nutritional meals to increase my Qi and Blood Value, I’ll need to start buying Level 5 Nutritional Meals by the time I break through to the Fifth Realm.’

Lin Qi calculated silently. A Level 4 Nutritional Meal cost 1,500 Xia Country Coins per serving, but a Level 5 Nutritional Meal was a staggering 5,000 Xia Country Coins.

For other people, nutritional meals just maintained their body’s balance. For him, however, they not only had to maintain balance but also provide a beneficial effect—they needed to be able to raise his Qi and Blood Value.

To him, nutritional meals were also a form of Cultivation Resources.

...

「After dinner.」

Lin Qi took his black electric car to Cangjing Building alone.

Just like usual, he took the elevator to the top floor.

The office door was open, so he walked straight in.

It was evening now. Through the window, he could see the setting sun, red as blood, its twilight glow illuminating the office floor.

The robed Dean Liu turned his head to look at the entering Lin Qi.

Compared to over a month ago, Lin Qi had undergone a tremendous change.

A powerful sharpness radiated from his entire body, like a Divine Weapon. The very air seemed to turn into a razor-sharp blade in his presence, an aura he was completely unable to contain.

"I’m now completely convinced you’ve Awakened. And it must be the Special Ability, [Jin Feng]."

"Your sharpness is too overwhelming right now!"

"Compared to you, Xiang Long from the Tenth Institute is the difference between a Divine Weapon and an ordinary one. You two are worlds apart."

Lin Qi smiled. "Dean, you flatter me!"

Dean Liu gestured for Lin Qi to sit down, then said, "You Awakened your Special Ability not long ago, so you can’t control it well yet."

"You need to learn the Five Elements Fist!"

Lin Qi nodded. He really did need to learn how to control his Special Ability, [Jin Feng].

Dean Liu handed Lin Qi a cup of hot tea that had already been brewed and took a sip himself before saying lightly:

"Over this period, I negotiated with many of my old friends, and in the end, the Awakening Fruit sold for a good price."

"A normal Awakening Fruit is valued at 500 million Xia Country Coins, but due to its rarity, the price fluctuates."

"I sold it at a price of 800 million, exchanging it for a combination of cash and resources."

"It’s a shame there were two this year, otherwise I would have quoted at least one billion."

"In any case, we have the results now."

Lin Qi nodded. 800 million. That was a huge sum of money. All the resources he had spent since his rise in his third year of high school didn’t even add up to 800 million.

Dean Liu projected a file and began his explanation:

"I helped you exchange 300 million Xia Country Coins’ worth for cash. The remaining 500 million was all converted into other resources."

"These resources are extremely precious. You might not necessarily be able to buy them on Red Dome House."

"For example, the Tiger Bone Pill!"

Lin Qi’s eyes lit up when he heard this. He’d never heard of it, but anything related to a tiger was definitely not simple.

Dean Liu began to explain:

"The Tiger Bone Pill is an extremely rare resource, specifically prepared for Martial Artists who cultivate a Tiger Evolution Technique."

"It’s an Elixir refined from a small portion of the Vajra Tiger Bone of an Eighth Realm Calamity Beast, along with other precious materials."

"You’re currently in the Bone Cultivation Stage. When trying to achieve Bone Casting for the Slaughter Tiger Bone, the final step is the most difficult. It’s a bottleneck for 90% of geniuses."

"Most geniuses buy corresponding elixirs for this final step."

"Because at that final stage, the 399.9 mark, many geniuses get stuck and are unable to succeed in Bone Casting."

"The Tiger Bone Pill is the most suitable Elixir for you. It can increase your probability of successfully casting the Slaughter Tiger Bone."

"I exchanged for three pills for you. They’re valued at 30 million Xia Country Coins each, for a total of 90 million Xia Country Coins."

After listening, Lin Qi put down his teacup and nodded, his heart filled with joy.

Dean Liu placed a silver metal box on the desk and continued:

"The remaining Cultivation Resources aren’t available yet. They were all pre-ordered. There are Potions that ordinary people have a very hard time buying; they can only be obtained through pre-orders."

"After a while, by the time you break through to the Fifth Realm, the Potion Resources should have arrived."

Lin Qi expressed his thanks, "Thank you, Dean!"

Dean Liu smiled. "It’s what I should do."

"There’s one more thing."

"You are now an SS-level genius. Your benefits are different from others."

Lin Qi nodded, waiting to see what his perks would be.

"First is the Source Energy Concentration in your villa, which you’re already enjoying."

"Second, the ranking rewards for the Disaster Beast Trial Tower will be more generous. The same goes for the end-of-semester scholarship."

"Now that you’ve been promoted to an SS-level genius and have also Awakened, you can’t receive double rewards anymore."

Lin Qi nodded. He understood this; he couldn’t keep stacking them forever.

"Also, you’ll get a special-made school uniform. It’s breathable, provides warmth, and enhances your speed when worn."

Lin Qi marveled inwardly. ’I heard a special-made uniform like this costs 100,000 Xia Country Coins.’

It was indeed much better looking than the ordinary uniform. Anyone who saw it would assume he was an Awakened genius from the Tenth Institute.

"There’s also a monthly subsidy. An S-class Awakened genius gets a subsidy of 10 million Xia Country Coins per month."

"An SS-level genius gets 30 million Xia Country Coins per month."

"As for an SSS-level genius, it’s 50 million Xia Country Coins per month."

Lin Qi let out a breath. He could get over ten million in subsidies every month without doing anything.

By that calculation, it was 120 million a year, not including the rewards from the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.

That was an annual income of several hundred million. And for an SS-level genius, it was 30 million Xia Country Coins a month.

He could receive this money as soon as he entered the university.

He’d only gotten this much money after winning the championships in the comprehensive Disaster Beast Hunting Competition and the freshman tournament.

Compared to the Awakened geniuses, the difference in treatment at the early stages was enormous. It wasn’t just a small gap.

Dean Liu refilled Lin Qi’s empty teacup with hot tea.

"Lastly, your time with the three major Cultivation Resources will each be increased by eight hours."

"With these superior conditions, all you need to do now is focus on your Cultivation!"

"Next, our Global Martial Arts University may undergo reforms, investing even more resources into Awakened geniuses like you."

"You need to be prepared for this push to accelerate the progress of geniuses."

Lin Qi thought to himself, ’Reforms?’

He felt the overwhelming tide of a new era approaching.

Faced with the increasingly severe Calamity Beast invasions, their Xia Country was also constantly reforming.

The significant increase in contract benefits was perhaps just the beginning.

The next step would be focused on this group of Awakened geniuses.

...

「A few minutes later.」

Lin Qi left with the Tiger Bone Pills.

Only Dean Liu remained in the office, sipping his tea leisurely.

’This is an era destined for turmoil. The great tide of the age is rolling in.’

’Our Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy is finally about to enter an era of reform.’

’I wonder, is Lin Qi a true dragon capable of rising with this new tide?’

...

「Azure Sky Sixth Institute, Residential Area, Villa 003.」

This was Jiang Miaoyin’s villa.

Because Lin Qi was so overwhelmingly powerful, the Azure Sky Sixth Institute had been firmly holding the number one spot among the Nine Great Academies.

Therefore, they didn’t have the priority to select a champion this year.

So, Dean Liu directly appointed Jiang Miaoyin as the Dean.

In the spacious living room, Lin Qi and the other two were having a meal together—hot pot.

Jiang Miaoyin swallowed a slice of fatty beef and sighed,

"Now that I’m at Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, I’m only just realizing how incredible Brother Lin Qi really is."

"I’m under so much pressure now."

Jiangtao comforted her, "Don’t feel too much pressure. Everyone’s expectation for you is last place."

"It’ll be great if you can even move up one rank."

Jiang Miaoyin shook her head seriously. "No, one rank isn’t enough. I’m going to lead the Sixth Institute into the top six!"

Lin Qi nodded. With Jiang Miaoyin’s Talent, it was genuinely possible for her to lead the Sixth Institute into the top six after a year.

...

「A few minutes later.」

Lin Qi returned to his own villa.

Inside the Martial Arts Room, he took out his phone to check exactly how much money he had now.

[Phone Balance: 480 million Xia Country Coins]

Lin Qi nodded. His net worth had reached a new peak.

Nearly 500 million Xia Country Coins. It was enough to support his Cultivation for a very long time.

This included the 300 million from the Awakening Fruit and the 100 million from upgrading to an SS-level Contract.

He could say that he was completely set for money for his future Cultivation in the Fifth Realm.

Coupled with the improvement in his cultivation environment, his cultivation speed would only increase rapidly from now on.

At this thought, he calmed his mind, cleared away distracting thoughts, and prepared to begin today’s Cultivation.

In front of him sat a palm-sized silver metal box.

He slowly opened it. Inside was a small, transparent vial containing three round, brown pills.

These were the Tiger Bone Pills, worth thirty million Xia Country Coins each.

This price was even more expensive than Top-Grade Bone Tempering Liquid.

But if you compared it to the Muscle Strengthening Potion or the Molting Potion, it seemed quite normal.

’Time to test its effects!’

Lin Qi took out a Tiger Bone Pill, chewed it, and crushed it. His mouth filled with a bitter taste, accompanied by a nauseating smell.

Yet, he chewed and swallowed it with a stoic expression, then drank a large bottle of mineral water.

He then picked up his Tiger Slaying Spear and began to practice his Spear Technique.

Lin Qi held the 500-kilogram black Tiger Slaying Spear in one hand and glanced at his golden panel.

[Qi and Blood Value: 388]

This was his current Realm. He was only 12 points away from a Qi and Blood Value of 400.

A few months ago, two bottles of Bone Tempering Liquid would have been enough for 12 points of Qi and Blood Value.

But not anymore.

Ever since his Qi and Blood Value broke past 380, the effectiveness of Bone Tempering Liquid had plummeted. One bottle could now only increase his Qi and Blood Value by 1 point.

Top-Grade Bone Tempering Liquid was a bit better, able to increase it by 4 points.

As for Source Energy Cultivation, the effect was better than nothing, but just barely. The Source Energy was being stored away by his body, waiting for an explosive increase after he broke through to the Fifth Realm of Refining Inner Organs.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

He brandished the Tiger Slaying Spear, executing the Rainbow Transformation Spear Technique.

His posture was agile and his footwork was elusive. The big gun moved with an elegant freedom, like a flowing streak of light and shadow shuttling through the Martial Arts Room.

This was a level of agility that even his Body Technique didn’t possess.

As he brandished his Spear Technique with abandon, the Tiger Bone Pill inside his body also began to take effect.

In an instant, he felt his bones grow hot, and waves of a tingling, itching sensation spread from within them.

This was something he had never experienced before.

...