Chapter 267: A New Year

Chapter 267: Chapter 267: A New Year

"Brother Qi, you’re a badass!"

When Lin Qi emerged from the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, he was met with the cheers of the assembled geniuses from the Sixth Institute.

"Brother Qi, you put Huo Wanyang in his place again!" Jiangtao announced with a smile.

"I bet in a few more months, Huo Wanyang won’t even be a worthy opponent!" Guo Heng chimed in, also smiling.

Lin Qi’s expression remained calm. He had heard similar praise so many times that he was already immune to it.

After arranging to get together with everyone that evening, he logged off.

...

「A few hours later.」

Before he knew it, eight o’clock in the evening had arrived.

Inside Villa No. 01 of the Azure Sky Sixth Institute.

The spacious living room was filled with all sorts of fragrant aromas. Lin Qi had ordered several hot pot setups from the school cafeteria, along with a massive array of side dishes.

He had invited some of his friends from the Sixth Institute over to his villa for dinner.

Lin Qi sat in the center, looking around at all his classmates and friends:

Jiangtao, Guan Mountain, Guo Heng, Wang Qiufeng, Zhou Xiyin, Li Zhou, Qi Yuelin, Chen Zichuan...

Just last year, at this very same time, he had been nothing more than an ordinary member of the Elite Class at Tianhai No. 2 Middle School.

In just one year, his progress had been meteoric, as if he were riding a rocket, and he had defeated countless geniuses along the way.

Then, at the end of November, he had won the national first-year tournament, becoming the strongest in his grade and earning fame across all the Martial Arts Universities in the country.

"Brother Qi, say a few words," Jiangtao said with a smile.

All eyes turned to him. Seeing this, Lin Qi poured himself a glass of coke, stood up, and said:

"In the new year, the Azure Sky Sixth Institute will remain number one. That will never change."

"I also wish you all great success on your martial path!"

With that, he downed his glass of coke in one go.

"YEAH!!"

Jiangtao led a round of thunderous applause, and the others joined in, livening up the atmosphere.

...

After the dinner party ended, the time was 11:59 p.m.

Only Lin Qi and Jiangtao remained in the villa. The two of them went out onto the balcony.

"BANG!!"

As the clock struck twelve, fireworks erupted in the night sky, bursting into splendid patterns.

Colorful fireworks bloomed across the sky.

"Brother Qi, it’s 2047 now. So much has happened before we even realized it."

Jiangtao sighed beside him, then stated his own goal.

"In 2047, I’m going to become an S-class talent, and I’m going to break into the top ten among first-years."

Lin Qi looked at Jiangtao. His friend’s aura had grown stronger; he was now on par with Ruan Qian and Ruan Language.

He already possessed Dean-level Talent and strength and was just waiting to return to Celestial Sea City to sign an S-level Contract.

Lin Qi watched the brilliant fireworks light up the sky. His own goals for the new year were quite simple.

’Win the global first-year tournament. Defeat all the geniuses in the school who have Awakened Special Abilities. Become the undisputed strongest among the first-years. Save up fifty million Xia Country Coins and buy the Water of Rebirth so Dad’s arm can regenerate. And then, Awaken a Special Ability and become an SS-level talent. Just those simple, humble goals.’

...

Martial Arts Calendar, Year 2047, January 1st.

The new year had arrived, and the students of Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy were about to have their first holiday break.

In the Cangjing Building at the Azure Sky Sixth Institute, during a Martial Arts General Education Course.

Jia Hui looked out at the students and announced:

"There are only about ten days left until the break, and Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy will be holding final exams."

"The Martial Arts General Education Course will have a written exam. Students who fail will face penalties, such as having the Source Energy Concentration in their dormitories lowered..."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of many students soured.

"In addition, the Martial Arts assessment will be divided into three categories: Spiritual Power, Qi and Blood, and Martial Arts proficiency."

"Your Spiritual Power grade will be determined by the floor you’ve reached in the Refining God Tower and your daily endurance time."

"Your Martial Arts proficiency will be taken directly from the Disaster Beast Trial Tower rankings."

"As for your Qi and Blood Value, we will conduct a standardized test for everyone."

"Finally, your comprehensive rank will be determined by your performance in these three categories."

"Of course, the university will also be awarding scholarships based on these rankings, so you all have that to look forward to."

"Class dismissed!" Teacher Jia said with a smile.

The moment he said that, the students grew excited.

"I can’t believe the final exams have scholarships too! I wonder how much they’ll be?"

"My scholarships in high school were only a few tens of thousands of coins. It was never enough."

Just then, someone in the crowd spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention:

"Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy is the top university in the Xia Country. The scholarships are bound to be generous."

"I heard it’s similar to the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, but the prize money will be even more substantial since it only happens once a semester."

"That’s a lot! I got 500,000 last month," someone said, pleasantly surprised.

Jiangtao’s eyes lit up. "Even more than the prize money from the Disaster Beast Trial Tower? I’d better give it my all, then."

Lin Qi felt a stir of excitement as well.

"BEEP!"

On the way back to his villa, he received a text message.

[Student Lin Qi: For your outstanding performance in the Disaster Beast Trial Tower during the month of December, ranking first in the Azure Sky Sixth Institute, you have been awarded 3,000,000 Xia Country Coins.]

[For ranking first among all first-years, you are awarded an additional 5,000,000 Xia Country Coins. Furthermore, as the first first-year student to pass the Trial’s 4th Floor, you are awarded another 5,000,000 Xia Country Coins!]

...

Lin Qi’s face lit up. Ever since he had passed the 4th floor, the amounts of his various rewards had increased substantially.

The three rewards totaled a whopping 13,000,000 Xia Country Coins.

It was more than enough to cover his expenses on the two new Secret Manuals.

’The rewards for the final exams are no less than the ones from the Disaster Beast Trial Tower. I might be able to earn another fortune.’

The thought suddenly struck Lin Qi. ’In that case, there’s no way I can let Huo Wanyang take first place.’

With this in mind, he immediately opened the Red Dome House app upon returning to his villa and started buying Cultivation Resources.

Qi and Blood Pills, Skin Tempering Ointment, High-Level Stimulant Potions...

In the ten-odd days remaining, he had enough time to raise his Martial Arts strength by another significant margin.

[Payment of 10,230,000 Xia Country Coins successful!]

Lin Qi exhaled. Money was flowing out like water, but it was a necessary expense for the sake of rapidly increasing his strength.

...

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, eleven days had passed, and the final exam period had arrived for the Thirty-six Martial Arts Universities of the Xia Country.

The ten institutes of Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy also began their final assessments.

January 13th, the day before the final assessment.

In the Martial Arts Room of Villa No. 01, Azure Sky Sixth Institute.

"WHOOSH~"

A breeze swept through the Martial Arts Room, making the curtains sway. Flashes of light seemed to flicker around Lin Qi, who sat cross-legged in the center of the room, accompanied by a swirling wind.

The next moment, he slowly opened his eyes, a golden light flashing madly within his pupils.

A formidable aura radiated outward from him.

Lin Qi’s gaze fell upon his status panel.

[You have completed one Source Energy Cultivation session. Your Qi and Blood Value has increased. Qi and Blood Value +0.3]

[Qi and Blood Value: 89.7 → 90]

...

Lin Qi stood up, stretching his joints.

’The Source Energy Concentration in my Martial Arts Room is still too low,’ he thought. ’Even cultivating after a session in the Gravity Room, I can only increase my Qi and Blood Value by 0.3 at a time.’

’This just goes to show that the higher your Qi and Blood Value gets, the slower your progress becomes.’

’Still, there’s a month and a half until March. That’s enough time to reach 95.’

Lin Qi clenched his fist. The feeling of his strength steadily increasing was deeply reassuring.

His eyes fell on the Punch Force Tester nearby, and an idea struck him.

’The final assessment is tomorrow. I should check just how strong my body has become.’

"BEEP!"

The Punch Force Tester switched on. He warmed up on the spot, his body letting out a series of "KAKA" sounds as his bones and tendons rang in unison. The Qi and Blood in his body began to circulate more smoothly.

In the next moment, the air fell silent. Lin Qi’s eyes narrowed, creating a calm before the storm.

His body coiled like a powerful spring before unleashing a terrifying burst of power, his muscles tensing in an instant.

He drove with his legs, sending a surging force up to his waist. As he twisted, the great dragon of his spine straightened and his Great Tendons pulled taut, condensing immense power.

The force traveled to his arm. After gathering his strength, Lin Qi threw a sudden punch, unleashing a power that erupted like a volcano.

For an instant, it was as if a Level 8 Calamity Beast, the Vajra Tiger, had Awakened and launched a ferocious charge, slamming into the Punching Target.

"BANG!!!"

The punch created a powerful gust of wind. With a deafening boom, the Punching Target trembled violently, looking as if it might be sent flying at any moment.

A string of numbers instantly appeared on the digital screen: "6025.3 kg!"

Lin Qi retracted his fist. His eyes lit up when he saw the number. ’Over 6,000 kilograms of Fist Power.’

The minimum Fist Power for the Fourth Realm was 5,000 kg; he had already surpassed that by over 1,000 kg. By the time he broke through to the Fourth Realm, his Fist Power would be at least 7,000 kg.

His Fist Power was far beyond that of an ordinary person. Fighting a Fourth Realm Martial Artist while being a realm lower would be no problem at all. If he unleashed [Vajra Transformation], he might even be able to dominate other Fourth Realm Martial Artists.

’If I use the Second Layer,’ he suddenly thought, ’I might even be able to take on a Fifth Realm Martial Artist.’

After all, the minimum Fist Power for a Fifth Realm Martial Artist was 10,000 kg!

"Time to test my speed!"

「Two minutes later.」

Lin Qi’s leg muscles exploded with power as he sprinted at full speed, becoming a black streak of lightning that tore through the air and kicked up fierce winds.

The screen on the testing machine at the end of the track flickered and displayed a number: "60.2 m/s."

Lin Qi nodded in satisfaction. His speed also far surpassed the Fourth Realm’s minimum of 54 m/s.

His strength and speed were well-balanced, and both far surpassed anyone else’s. No one could even imagine how powerful his body had become.

’Huo Wanyang, even if your body undergoes another transformation, your strength can’t possibly surpass mine.’

Lin Qi clenched his fist. His Talent was now even greater than an SS-level’s. Aside from not having a Special Ability, he wasn’t inferior in any way.

...

「The next day. January 14th. The final assessment.」

"Time’s up!!"

Inside a classroom in the Cangjing Building, Azure Sky Sixth Institute.

"All examinees, put down your pens!"

A voice announced over the intercom. Everyone put down their pens and began to file out of the exam hall.

"I can’t believe the Martial Arts General Education course was so difficult. I didn’t pay enough attention in class. I just hope I passed."

"Me too! It was incredibly hard!" the students muttered amongst themselves.

"All students, please proceed to the first-floor hall for the Qi and Blood test!" the voice on the intercom announced again.

Lin Qi, Jiangtao, and the other students from Class One left the exam hall and headed for the first floor.

The first floor of the Cangjing Building was a vast, open hall where over twenty large, red-and-white Qi and Blood Testers had been set up.

Proctors, who had been waiting for some time, stood beside the machines.

Rows of first-year students were now lining up in front of the Qi and Blood Testers by class.

"Class One students, come over here."

Teacher Luu Wei, who had a baby face, called them over.

She was wearing a proctor’s uniform.

"When I call your name, come up for your Qi and Blood test!" Luu Wei shouted, waving her hand.

...