Chapter 266: Giving the Tenth Institute’s Geniuses a Little Shock

Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Giving the Tenth Institute’s Geniuses a Little Shock

Pei Jiu, an Awakened Spiritual Mind Master, was ranked second. This wasn’t surprising, just as Wan Ming had said.

In the Tenth Academy, Pei Jiu was the eternal runner-up.

Once a Spiritual Mind Master Awakens, they possess Spiritual Power far beyond that of an ordinary person. Spiritual Power relies on consciousness and is intrinsically linked to the brain.

Upon Awakening, their greatest improvement isn’t physical, but rather in their Comprehension.

In Martial Arts Cultivation, this gives them an advantage in everything from the trajectory of a Weapon to the application of physical force and the general use of Power.

Their Comprehension is also widely acknowledged to be high.

Therefore, their Martial Arts Skills would never be weak.

During the national freshmen competition, Tan Pei’er’s Swordsmanship Realm was higher than Han Zhen’s, yet she was ranked dead last at the Martial Arts University of Shanyu Tenth Institute.

Lin Qi could see it too. Tan Pei’er’s strength didn’t match her status as a Spiritual Mind Master at all. It could only mean she was either lazy or just genuinely terrible.

Next, he looked at third place: Xiang Long.

The guy was a Spear Technique genius—a target Lin Qi would need to surpass in the coming months.

He continued reading down the list:

[Sixth Place: Wan Ming, Floor: 5]

[Seventh Place: Xia Lian, Floor: 5]

[Eighth Place: Shen Zhenzhen, Floor: 5]

...

[Tenth Place: Lin Qi, Floor: 5]

...

[Thirteenth Place: Han Zhen, Floor: 5]

...

Wan Ming was ranked sixth, followed by Xia Lian and Shen Zhenzhen. Seeing this, Lin Qi suddenly felt there was no difference between Shen Zhenzhen and Tan Pei’er.

Then came his own name in tenth place.

He was quite surprised. He hadn’t expected to surpass two people right off the bat.

At the same time, he gained a clear understanding of his standing. His current Martial Arts Skills placed him tenth in the Tenth Institute.

As for Han Zhen, he was still in last place.

...

After Lin Qi finished reading, he let out a heavy breath and calmed himself.

Seeing this ranking gave him concrete targets. His next goal was to surpass the geniuses above him on this list, one by one.

Until he once again claimed the top spot!

Then he thought of Huo Wanyang. ’I wonder where he ranked.’

...

「In another trial ground.」

"SCREEE~"

"SQUELCH~"

Huo Wanyang frantically swung his Great Halberd, its fiery crimson Power lashing out as he recklessly slaughtered the charging Iron Spike Wild Boars around him.

The next second, an Iron-Scaled Eagle’s talons pierced his collarbone and hoisted him into the air. Dozens of Iron-Scaled Eagles then completely devoured him, turning him into the Void.

A few seconds later, Huo Wanyang reappeared in the same spot. He clutched his head and shook it.

"The fifth-floor trial is too hard. At my current strength, I’ll need to cultivate for a while longer before I can pass."

"The Tenth Institute rankings?"

His eyes lit up as he looked at the pop-up message, and he immediately clicked it open.

When he saw Yu Zhuoran’s floor number, Huo Wanyang gritted his teeth. ’I’m an SS-level genius too. Sooner or later, I’ll surpass them.’

He continued to scroll down and soon saw Lin Qi in tenth place, and himself in fourteenth.

Huo Wanyang was silent for a moment, then sighed in relief.

’It’s not that I’m too weak, it’s that Lin Qi is a total monster. Even the geniuses of the Tenth Institute can’t hold back his progress.’

’If he Awakened a Special Ability, I wonder who could possibly compete with him.’

Huo Wanyang sighed. He felt his entire body surge with motivation. There were still so many geniuses he needed to surpass.

This drive to fight his way up was a feeling he’d never had before.

...

「Azure Sky Tenth Institute, Luxury Villa District.」

It was New Year’s Eve, so there were no classes. The geniuses of the Tenth Institute were all taking a break.

Wan Ming was no exception. He was currently lounging on his sofa in loose-fitting pajamas, enjoying a massage from a smart robot while browsing the school forums for the latest gossip.

It was his favorite pastime.

"Master, the Disaster Beast Trial Tower rankings have been updated."

A solid blue metallic sphere next to him spoke, then projected a large green screen displaying a leaderboard.

Wan Ming immediately looked over. He was always the first to know whenever the Disaster Beast Trial Tower rankings changed, and this time was no exception.

’Who broke through this time?’

Puzzled, he looked at the rankings. And there, in tenth place, he saw a new name: Lin Qi.

And Huo Wanyang in fourteenth place.

Wan Ming blinked, puzzled and surprised. ’What’s going on? How did Lin Qi get added to the Tenth Institute rankings?’

’And he actually made it into the top ten?’

’Have his Martial Arts really progressed this quickly?’

After his initial shock, he immediately took a screenshot and sent it to the Tenth Institute’s private group chat, tagging Han Zhen and another genius.

A moment later, the other geniuses of the Tenth Institute, each in their own villas, received the notification.

[Xiang Long: Isn’t Lin Qi just an Ordinary genius? What right does he have to be included in our Tenth Institute’s rankings?]

[Teacher Wang: Lin Qi is a special case. The academy administration discussed it and decided to include him.]

[This will also put a little pressure on all of you.]

[Wan Ming: Lin Qi’s strength is insane. He doesn’t have the resources we have in the Tenth Institute, yet he still ranked tenth. Somebody must be sweating bullets right now.]

[Pei Jiu: I think it’s a good thing.]

[Xia Lian: Haha, I’d better work harder too, or Lin Qi will surpass me.]

...

In one of the villas, Han Zhen was already drenched in sweat.

He stared at the screen in front of him, his expression one of pure shock.

’Just a month ago, at the national freshmen competition, his Martial Arts were clearly inferior to mine.’

’He only defeated me in the end because of that Little Divine Power. I’ve been working hard this past month too, and he still surpassed me!’

Han Zhen’s expression turned grim. The pressure was immense. Not only that, but there was also the SS-level genius, Huo Wanyang, behind him. It was only a matter of time before he surpassed him too.

He began to seriously question whether he had truly been working hard since entering Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy.

He had definitely put in some effort, but he’d slacked off after Awakening his Special Ability in his senior year of high school. He hadn’t worked hard enough, and that’s what led to this situation.

...

The other geniuses of the Tenth Institute suddenly felt the pressure as well.

They enjoyed the best resources. If they let themselves be surpassed by Lin Qi, someone who hadn’t even Awakened a Special Ability, it would be utterly humiliating.

Meanwhile, the top three—Yu Zhuoran, Pei Jiu, and Xiang Long—each reacted differently.

The mild-mannered Pei Jiu frowned upon seeing the news.

’Lin Qi is not to be underestimated. He gives off a different feeling from the other geniuses.’

’He might even Awaken a Special Ability in the future. I need to work harder too.’

’I’m still too weak. I need to push my body’s potential even further.’

’There are too many geniuses in this world. If you don’t work hard, elimination is the only thing that awaits.’

After these thoughts, he stopped resting and resumed his Martial Arts Cultivation.

...

In the living room of a luxurious villa, a burly, broad-shouldered man scoffed:

’Only weaklings like Han Zhen need to be nervous. An Ordinary genius could never surpass me.’

He then pulled out his phone, planning to call a few friends to go out and relax for New Year’s Eve.

Behind him was a huge swimming pool.

...

In the Martial Arts Room of another villa, a strongly-built young man in a white Martial Arts Uniform, his facial features as sharp as if they were carved from stone, opened his eyes.

He glanced at the message on his screen but didn’t reply, simply murmuring flatly:

"Boring."

In the next instant, a wild and tyrannical aura erupted from him as gold and blue patterns surfaced on his skin.

Arcs of gold and blue electricity, like tiny snakes, coiled around his body.

He then resumed his Cultivation.

...

「Azure Sky Sixth Institute, Top-Floor Office of the Cangjing Building」

Dean Liu, dressed in a long robe, looked at the projected rankings before him, a smile spreading across his face.

’I have to say, that kid Lin Qi is something else!’

’The proposal was just approved, and he’s already surpassed two of the geniuses.’

’He really is a special kind of genius; you can’t judge him by normal standards.’

’I can’t wait to see how many of the Tenth Institute’s geniuses he’ll surpass next semester!’

...