Chapter 552 - 520: Three Blood Exchanges

Chapter 552: Chapter 520: Three Blood Exchanges

Dean Liu and Mu Hong were calm, exchanging a knowing smile.

It was as if they had predicted this outcome long ago.

They had known how it would end from the moment the battle began.

In stark contrast, King Chi Lie, who was seated in the front row, lost his confident expression the moment he saw Gu City’s defeat. His face immediately turned exceptionally grim.

He glared at Lin Qi in the arena, an inexplicable rage welling up inside him.

A scorching aura emanated from him, making it seem as if he might erupt and charge into the arena at any moment.

CLAP! CLAP!

Among the five, the Sword Emperor—a man with sharp, resolute features and an aura like a finely honed blade—clapped his hands in praise.

"It’s been a long time since a genius like this has appeared in our Xia Country!"

"It’s not that Gu City isn’t outstanding!"

"He’s already among the most elite SSS-level geniuses in our Xia Country."

"Unfortunately for him, today he met Lin Qi!"

"This is a difference in quality."

"It’s like an exam. Some people score a 100 because that’s the absolute limit of their ability."

"But other people score a 100 simply because the test is only graded out of 100!"

With that single analogy, the Sword Emperor summed up the difference between Gu City and Lin Qi.

The charming King of Shuize also spoke up.

"Gu City’s loss was not unjust. Gang Power is a representation of a Martial Artist’s Combat Power!"

"The greater one’s physical strength and the more profound their Cultivation Technique, the stronger the Gang Power they can condense!"

"And Lin Qi is stronger than Gu City in every single aspect!"

"What’s more, Lin Qi has Awakened two Abilities."

"Even if Gu City had activated his Little Divine Power, he wouldn’t have been able to close that gap!"

"As for their Martial Arts Skills, there’s a gap there as well!"

"Lin Qi was always able to find the perfect moment to strike. From the beginning of the fight to the end, he was almost never hit."

A smile even appeared on the North River Sword King’s stern face as he added,

"In short, Lin Qi completely crushed Gu City in every way."

"Lin Qi already has the strength to rank in the top 100 at Black Dragon Base. Xu Qin might be the only one who could give him a real fight!"

As King Chi Lie listened to their analysis, his expression grew even uglier. He snorted coldly.

"I admit Gu City was no match for him!"

"However, this Lin Qi isn’t as amazing as you all are making him out to be!"

"If Gu City had also Awakened two Abilities, perhaps he wouldn’t have lost!"

Finally, the King of Mountains and Rivers shook his head.

"That excuse doesn’t hold water. Gu City is from the Gu Family; he’s had access to the best resources since childhood!"

"Lin Qi only began his rise in his third year of high school. It took him just three years to surpass countless geniuses, including Gu City."

Everyone understood the implication: Gu City was simply a failure.

He had completely wasted his excellent family background.

It was only then that they belatedly realized just how absurd Lin Qi’s rise had been.

To achieve what he had in just three years... his Talent was far greater than they had ever imagined.

...

「In the Virtual Cabin」

[Mr. Lin Qi, congratulations on your victory in the challenge match. You will receive 100,000 Merit Points!]

Lin Qi looked at the pop-up message, exited the Red Realm, and stepped out of the Virtual Cabin.

"Junior Brother, congratulations on your victory!"

A group of people had gathered around the Virtual Cabin, and now they swarmed him.

All four members of the Split Rock Squad were there.

Xiao Yu couldn’t help but exclaim,

"Lin Qi, you’re too strong."

"Gu City was no match for you at all."

"I can just imagine the looks on Gu City’s and Guu Ming’s faces right now."

"Since Gu City lost, he’ll have to personally fulfill the terms of the bet—giving you 100,000 Merit Points and taking a detour whenever he sees you."

"This is a huge loss of face for him. It’ll probably be a topic of gossip for years to come."

His Second Senior Sister, Wang Zixuan, also chimed in.

"I bet they’ll have to leave Black Dragon Base. They’ve lost so much face they can’t possibly stay."

Liang Tai nodded. "I think so too!"

A joyful atmosphere immediately filled the air.

As the group departed, many of the onlookers stared at Lin Qi, their eyes filled with awe and envy.

They knew that in the near future, Black Dragon Base would have another top-level Seventh Realm powerhouse.

He would be the focus of everyone’s discussions.

To be the center of everyone’s attention... who among them didn’t want to be a genius like that?

To be able to crush all other geniuses on the back of your Talent alone, without having to show deference to anyone.

Geniuses existed to break the rules of common sense.

To defeat Lin Qi, one would have to find an even greater genius.

Or, they would have to resort to bullying, using someone from a higher Realm to beat him.

...

Meanwhile, in a corner on the other side of the room, Gu City also stepped out of his Virtual Cabin.

His face was grim as he quickly walked away.

After being killed, he had remained in the Virtual Cabin, continuously reviewing the battle.

’I actually lost?’

He couldn’t understand how he had possibly lost.

He was a Seventh Realm Martial Artist who had undergone Three Blood Exchanges! He was already halfway through the entire Seventh Realm.

Yet he couldn’t even beat Lin Qi, who had just broken through. Moreover, he could feel that he had been completely suppressed in every way.

’I just couldn’t win!’

He had hidden his true strength, but it turned out Lin Qi had been hiding his strength as well.

He couldn’t accept it. His composure shattered instantly.

’Who was he? He was Gu City, an SSS-level genius, the champion of the Global Martial Arts Tournament.’

’And now, he had actually been defeated!’

He saw the stares of the people around him and heard the murmurs of "Lin Qi is incredible."

The feeling in his heart grew even more unbearable.

「A few moments later, inside a luxurious apartment.」

Gu City looked at the system message on his phone and had no choice but to record a video, promising to take a detour whenever he saw Lin Qi in the future.

A moment later, Guu Ming returned.

His expression was also ugly as he said,

"Brother, a lot of people at the base are mocking us."

He clenched his fists. He could ignore the mockery from ordinary people, but the worst part was the ridicule coming from the other geniuses.

They weren’t afraid of the Gu Family’s status and mocked them without restraint, causing Guu Ming’s composure to shatter instantly.

Gu City’s face was ashen. "It seems we can’t stay at Black Dragon Base anymore. We’ll go to another base."