Chapter 227: Contention of Geniuses

Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Contention of Geniuses

The crowd nodded in agreement.

These words were comforting; they were already geniuses of a different caliber.

Teacher Wang projected a large, green screen over 100 inches wide, displaying various images and data.

"In the National Freshman Grand Competition, the geniuses from our three major universities possess the greatest strength."

"Therefore, according to the competition rules, the Deans of the Nine Great Academies from each university—the S-class geniuses—are all listed as seeded players."

"There are thirty seeded players in total. You will directly enter the top 512," Teacher Wang announced.

Lin Qi, Huo Wanyang, Ao Feng, and the other Deans all smiled.

They didn’t need to compete with others and would directly enter the later rounds of the National Freshman Grand Competition.

Everyone else looked on with envy. This was the special treatment reserved for S-class geniuses; they didn’t have to advance round by round like the rest.

They had more time to rest and build up their strength, preserving it for the battles to come.

Teacher Wang continued, "Our Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy’s requirement for you geniuses is to at least advance to the top 512."

"Over seventy percent of you must be able to advance to the top 256."

After speaking, she waved her hand again, projecting several new screens displaying the portraits of several dozen people.

"What I’m projecting next are all the talented individuals with considerable strength that our academy has researched."

"This is their data."

"Among them, I’ll be focusing on a few key geniuses!"

The moment Teacher Wang finished speaking, Lin Qi, Huo Wanyang, and the others perked up. The following information was meant for them.

"Shanyu University, one of the three top-level universities."

"This year, they enrolled two of the nation’s top ten and have a total of seven S-class geniuses."

"Liang Yuxin, third place in the national exam, champion of Shanyu’s freshman individual competition. Her Weapon of choice is a Longsword..."

"Zhong Xinyan, 8th in the nation, runner-up in the Shanyu Martial Arts University freshman competition. His Weapon of choice is a Battle Saber..."

"Gong Hui, 11th in the nation..."

Lin Qi watched the projected figures, his gaze locking onto a beautiful face.

That was Liang Yuxin, who had placed third in the national college entrance exams.

She was one of the opponents he needed to watch out for.

Teacher Wang switched the screens again, this time to Nether Sea Martial Academy.

"Nether Sea University enrolled three of the top ten from the national college entrance exams and has a total of ten S-class geniuses."

"Li Hanjiang, from North River Province, ranked seventh in the national exams. In Nether Sea Martial Academy’s freshman competition, he defeated the national champion, Wei Peng, to take first place and make history. His Weapon of choice is a Long Spear..."

"Wei Peng, from Shanghai, was the national champion in the exams but was defeated by Li Hanjiang in the freshman competition..."

"..."

Upon hearing Li Hanjiang’s story, many people quickly looked up, and a buzz of discussion immediately broke out.

"I can’t believe the same thing happened again, this time at Nether Sea Martial Academy."

"Isn’t that just like Lin Qi? This Li Hanjiang’s strength definitely can’t be underestimated. Looks like Lin Qi has a real opponent."

Huo Wanyang also frowned. He hadn’t expected that Wei Peng, the national champion, would also lose.

He and Wei Peng actually shared the same fate.

He had been planning to defeat Wei Peng to reclaim his number one national ranking, but the guy had gone and lost too.

He already had Lin Qi as a rival, and now there was a Li Hanjiang to deal with.

It made him feel quite frustrated, but it also involuntarily sparked a sense of excitement within him.

For the past three months, he had abstained from wine and women, cultivating diligently. He had completely unleashed his potential, and his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.

His confidence had soared. If his cultivation time in the Trial Tower hadn’t run out, he would have been the first to pass the third floor.

In this freshman competition, he was going to take back first place.

...

Duan Chuchu, Ao Feng, and the others also frowned. Now another genius had appeared, adding to the competition. It would be even more difficult to achieve a higher ranking.

"Brother Qi, you’ve got a rival!" Jiangtao leaned over, his expression grave.

Lin Qi listened and replied calmly, "A formidable opponent, but I hope he’s as strong as possible."

"If he’s too weak, it won’t feel like a real competition."

Jiangtao gave him a thumbs-up. "That’s Brother Qi for you! Anyway, I believe you can win the championship!"

"Everyone, quiet down!" After waiting for the noise to subside, Teacher Wang continued:

"Besides the other two top-level universities, there are also the Ten Great Schools and the military academies."

"The geniuses they recruit might not have scored as high as most of you in the college entrance exams."

"But their schools spare no effort in training them, pouring all sorts of resources into them."

"They might even be given resources to improve their physical Talent and Comprehension. Although the quantity is small, it’s not unheard of."

"Therefore, the strength of these geniuses is bound to advance by leaps and bounds. They are all formidable rivals for every one of you."

As Teacher Wang spoke, many showed expressions of envy, but they had all made their own choices, so there was nothing to regret.

Half an hour later, the meeting ended.

Everyone logged off one by one.

Lin Qi also stepped out of the Virtual Cabin. Not far away, Little Blue-robed Xiaochan projected a screen.

It was a file sent by his senior, Luu Wei. He opened it to find a list of geniuses from various universities to watch out for.

Looking at the projected portraits and data, Lin Qi quickly memorized them. He had a good memory and could basically remember everything after one look.

Finally, he began to summarize in his mind, ’The quality of geniuses in this National Freshman Grand Competition far exceeds that of our own individual competition. The rivals are very strong.’

’Among them, Liang Yuxin, Wei Peng, and Li Hanjiang are the three I need to pay close attention to.’

’If anyone is going to cause me trouble, it will only be those three.’

After some simple thought, Lin Qi sat down cross-legged on the spot and began his Cultivation of the Source Energy Skill.

No matter who his opponent was, any bit of improvement to his current strength would make him that much stronger.

Besides, he still had a lot of room for improvement.

...

Shanghai, Shanyu Martial Arts University, located in Shanghai just like Nether Sea University.

Shanyu Third Institute, which ranked last among the Nine Great Academies last year, had enrolled the nation’s third-ranked student, Liang Yuxin, this year.

Inside a luxurious, Western-style villa.

In the spacious living room, several large green screens were projected in the air.

On a simple, light-green sofa, a slender figure sat cross-legged. She had smooth, silvery-white hair with a few strands of black mixed in.

A white intelligent robot was grooming her hair.

It was a rather peculiar sight. Her facial features were Ordinary, but they combined to create a beautiful whole, and she had a cold temperament.

"Yu Xin, this National Freshman Grand Competition is an opportunity for you."

"Your main opponents are Lin Qi and Huo Wanyang from Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, as well as Li Hanjiang and Wei Peng from Nether Sea Martial Academy."

A middle-aged woman in a long, yellow dress said, pointing at the large screen.

Liang Yuxin looked at the four portraits before her and spoke slowly.

"I was too low-key before. I doubt anyone thinks I can win the championship."

"I was only third in the national college entrance exams, which I wasn’t satisfied with. It’s been nearly four months since school started, and I’ve been cultivating diligently. My strength has advanced by leaps and bounds, far exceeding my expectations."

"I want the championship of this National Freshman Grand Competition too."

The woman in yellow spoke confidently:

"Yu Xin, you are a rare Top-Level genius for our Shanyu Martial Arts University."

"Aside from the geniuses of the Tenth Institute, you are already the strongest."

"In this National Freshman Grand Competition, the championship is yours for the taking."

...

Next door at Nether Sea University, in the Nether Sea Ninth Institute.

In a luxurious dean’s office, the air was filled with the fragrance of tea and a faint scent of incense.

A man dressed in a sharp blue martial uniform took a sip of hot tea and said:

"Hanjiang, this freshman competition is your chance. If you win the championship, our Nether Sea University will finally be able to surpass Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy for once."

Across from him, a handsome man with a tall and straight posture also picked up his teacup and smiled.

"I can’t be too confident yet. I must still show respect for my opponents."

"Liang Yuxin, Lin Qi, and Huo Wanyang are all powerful opponents."

"However..."

He slowly took a sip of hot tea, his entire being exuding intense confidence.

"Unless a genius who has Awakened a Special Ability steps in, I’ll be taking that championship."

"Excellent. As a Martial Artist, you should have the attitude that you’re number one in the world, and heaven itself is a distant second." The middle-aged man in the blue martial uniform also smiled in praise.

...

On the evening of the 24th, in the Tenth Academy of each of the three top-level universities, the geniuses who had Awakened Special Abilities also received emails about the National Freshman Grand Competition.

"The National Freshman Grand Competition? How boring."

"Beating this bunch of Ordinary geniuses? Others would probably laugh me to death."

"A competition for bullying people? I can’t afford to lose face like that!"

"I don’t have time. I’d rather spend it practicing my spear!"

Most of them chose to refuse and not participate, but a few hesitated, contemplating whether or not they should join.

...

「Martial Arts Calendar Year 2046, November 25th. The weather in the Imperial Capital was clear.」

Day one of the National Freshman Grand Competition preliminaries.

Azure Sky Sixth Institute, Villa No. 01, Chinese-style.

BANG! BANG!

A series of explosive sounds echoed from within the spacious, 500-square-meter Martial Arts Room. The air vibrated, and fierce gusts of wind billowed the gray curtains.

Beads of sweat continuously trickled down Lin Qi’s forehead, scattering with the movement of his body.

All of it appeared within his Perception. He struck out with a Tiger Claw, releasing Power from his fingertips that pierced through the beads of sweat, shattering them into countless droplets that splattered on the ground.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

BANG! BANG!

As he threw his punches, power shot out from his fingertips, creating loud blasts of air.

Lin Qi’s gaze was firm as he wholeheartedly immersed himself in his Fist Technique, feeling the movement of his muscles and the circulation of his strength.

He focused all his strength with each movement, gathering it together.

An hour later, Little Blue-robed Xiaochan appeared as a projection and reminded him.

"Master, there are only twenty minutes left until the start of the freshman competition!"

BANG!

Lin Qi retracted his fist, his aura receding as his gaze locked onto his status panel.

[By practicing the Five Elements Fist, your understanding of Fist Technique has increased. Fist Technique +2%.]

[Fist Technique: Tier Three 18% -> Tier Three 20%]

...

Ever since breaking through to Tier Three, Lin Qi could feel that the speed of his Fist Technique improvement had quickened again, and his control over his body was also enhancing.

Ten minutes later, having washed up, Lin Qi, dressed in a clean black Martial Arts Uniform, stepped into the Virtual Cabin.

He logged into the Red Realm, found the link for the National Freshman Grand Competition on the Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy’s official website, and clicked to enter!

...