Chapter 267: A New Year (Happy New Year to All)

"Qi-ge is awesome!"

When Lin Qi stepped out of the Catastrophic Beast Trial Tower, he was greeted by a crowd of geniuses from the six academies and a chorus of cheers.

"Qi-ge, Huo Hao Wanyang got crushed by you again!" Jiang Tao smiled as he delivered the good news.

"I bet in a few months, Huo Hao Wanyang won't even be a match for you!" Guo Heng also chimed in with a laugh.

But Lin Qi remained calm—he'd heard such words too many times and was now immune to them.

After making plans to meet up for dinner that night, he logged off.

…

Several hours later

Time quietly slipped to eight o'clock in the evening

In the Cangqiong Six Academies, Villa 01.

The spacious living room was filled with the aroma of various dishes—Lin Qi had ordered several hot pot tables from the school cafeteria, along with a large variety of side ingredients.

He had invited some friends from the six academies to gather at the villa for dinner.

Lin Qi sat at the center, glancing around at his classmates and friends:

Jiang Tao, Guanshan, Guo Heng, Wang Wang Qiufeng, Zhou Zhou Xiyin, Li Zhou, Qi Qi Yue Lin, Chen Chen Zichuan…

Just last year, at this same time, he was merely an ordinary member of the elite class at Tianhai No. 2 High School.

In just one year, he had skyrocketed like a rocket, defeating countless geniuses along the way.

At the end of November, he won the national freshman championship and became the strongest in his cohort, gaining fame across all martial arts universities in the nation.

"Qi-ge, say a few words," Jiang Tao said with a grin.

Everyone turned to look. Lin Qi, seeing this, poured himself a glass of cola, stood up, and said:

"In the new year, Cangqiong Six Academies will still be number one—no change."

"And I wish everyone prosperity in martial arts!"

With that, he downed the glass of cola in one gulp.

"Excellent!!"

Jiang Tao led the applause, and everyone followed, the atmosphere growing livelier.

…

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

Only Lin Qi and Jiang Tao remained in the villa; they went out to the balcony.

"Boom!!"

As the clock struck midnight precisely, fireworks erupted across the night sky, forming dazzling patterns.

Colorful fireworks bloomed across the heavens.

"Qi-ge, it's 2047 now—so much has happened without us even noticing."

Jiang Tao, beside him, sighed, then voiced his goal.

"In 2047, I will become an S-class genius—I will enter the top ten among freshmen."

Lin Qi looked at Jiang Tao; his aura had grown stronger—he was now no weaker than Ruan Gu Qian or Ruan Yu.

He already possessed the talent and strength of an academy head, waiting only to return to Tianhai City and sign an S-class contract.

Lin Qi gazed at the brilliant fireworks in the sky; his goal for the new year was equally simple.

Win the global freshman championship, defeat every genius in school who awakened a special ability.

Become the true strongest among his cohort.

Save 50 million Xiaoguo currency to buy Regeneration Water so his father, Lin Zhen, could regrow his severed arm.

Then awaken a special ability and become an SS-class genius.

Just that plain, unadorned goal.

…

Martial Arts Year 2047, January 1st.

The new year had arrived; students of Cangqiong Martial Arts University were about to begin their first holiday.

Cangqiong Six Academies, Cangjing Building, Martial Arts General Studies class.

Jia Hui looked at all the students and said:

"There are only about ten days left until break, and Cangqiong Martial Arts University will hold final exams."

"Our Martial Arts General Studies course will have a written exam—students who fail will face corresponding penalties, such as reduced source energy concentration in dormitories…"

At this, many students' expressions changed slightly.

"In addition, the martial arts assessment consists of three parts: mental strength, blood qi, and martial skill."

"Mental strength will be determined by your level and daily practice time in the Spirit Refining Tower."

"Martial skill will be directly based on your ranking in the Catastrophic Beast Trial Tower."

"Blood qi levels will be uniformly tested."

"Final rankings will be calculated based on these three metrics."

"Of course, the school will award scholarships according to rankings—everyone can look forward to it."

"Class dismissed!" Jia Zhang Laoshi smiled.

At once, the students erupted in excitement.

"I didn't expect final exams would come with scholarships—how much will they be?"

"In high school, my scholarships were only a few ten thousand yuan—nowhere near enough."

At this moment, someone in the crowd spoke up, drawing many eyes:

"Cangqiong Martial Arts University is the strongest academy in Xiaoguo—scholarships won't be small."

"It's said to be similar to the Catastrophic Beast Trial Tower, but the rewards are even greater, since there's only one per semester."

"That's a lot—I got 500,000 yuan last month," someone exclaimed.

Jiang Tao's eyes lit up: "More than the Catastrophic Beast Trial Tower rewards? Then I'll have to work harder."

Lin Qi was also secretly stirred.

"Ding!"

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

【Student Lin Qi, your performance in the Catastrophic Beast Trial Tower in December was outstanding, ranking first among Cangqiong Six Academies. Reward: 3 million Xiaoguo currency.】

【As the top-ranked freshman, you are awarded 5 million Xiaoguo currency. Additionally, as the first freshman to clear Level Four of the trial tower, you are awarded another 5 million Xiaoguo currency!】

…

Lin Qi's expression brightened; now that he had cleared Level Four, all reward amounts had surged dramatically. The three bonuses totaled 13 million Xiaoguo currency.

Enough to cover his expenses on the two new secret techniques.

"The final exam rewards won't be less than the Catastrophic Beast Trial Tower's—maybe I can earn another big sum."

Lin Qi suddenly realized—he absolutely could not let Huo Hao Wanyang take first place.

Thinking this, after returning to his villa, he immediately opened Chiqiong Home and purchased cultivation resources.

Blood Qi Pills, Skin Tempering Ointment, Advanced Stimulant Serum…

In the final ten days, his martial arts strength could rise dramatically again.

【Payment successful: 10.23 million Xiaoguo currency!】

Lin Qi exhaled. Money flowed like water, but for rapid strength gains, every yuan was necessary.

…

Time flew by; before they knew it, eleven days had passed, and all thirty-six martial arts universities in Xiaoguo entered finals.

!

Cangqiong Martial Arts University's ten academies began their final assessments.

January 13th, the day before final exams.

In the martial arts room of Villa 01, Cangqiong Six Academies.

"Huh~"

A gentle breeze stirred inside the martial arts room, curtains swaying; around Lin Qi, who sat cross-legged at the center, faint glows pulsed as if caught in a gale.

In the next instant, he slowly opened his eyes, golden light flashing wildly in his pupils.

A powerful aura spread outward.

Lin Qi turned his gaze to his panel.

【You completed a source energy cultivation session. Blood qi increased. Blood qi +0.3】

【Blood qi: 89.7 → 90】

…

Lin Qi stood up and stretched his joints.

"The source energy concentration in my martial arts room is still too low—even with the gravity chamber, I can only gain 0.3 blood qi per session."

"This indirectly shows that as blood qi increases, the rate of improvement slows."

"But I still have one and a half months until March—enough time to reach 95."

Lin Qi clenched his fist; the steady, reliable growth of his strength brought him peace.

He glanced at the punch strength tester beside him, a thought crossing his mind.

"Tomorrow is the final exam—time to test how strong my physical condition really is."

'Drip!'

The blood pressure monitor powered on; he moved his body in place, and his frame emitted a series of 'crackling' sounds—tendons and bones resonating together, his blood and qi flowing more smoothly.

The next moment, the air suddenly fell silent; Lin Qi's gaze sharpened, as if before a storm.

His body contracted like a powerful spring, then exploded with even stronger, terrifying force—muscles firing in an instant.

He drove power from his legs, channeling it to his waist; as his torso twisted, his spinal dragon straightened, major tendons tautened, and immense strength coalesced.

The force surged to his arms; Lin Qi gathered his momentum, then unleashed a punch—power erupting like a volcanic blast.

In an instant, it was as if the Level-8 Catastrophic Beast, Jin Gang Tiger, had awakened and charged forward with ferocious force, slamming into the punching target.

'Boom!!'

His fist struck, sending out a violent windstorm; with a deafening crash, the punching target shuddered violently, as if about to fly off at any second.

Instantly, a string of data appeared on the electronic screen—'6025.3kg!'

Lin Qi retracted his fist, saw the number, and his eyes lit up—he'd broken 6000 kilograms of punching power.

The minimum punching power for Realm Four is 5000 kilograms; he'd already surpassed it by over 1000 kilograms. When he broke through to Realm Four, his punching power would be at least 7000 kilograms.

His punching power far exceeded that of ordinary people—he could easily fight Realm Four cultivators without issue. If he unleashed the Jin Gang Transformation, he might even challenge the top Realm Four fighters.

If he reached the second stage, he might even be able to handle Realm Five cultivators, he suddenly thought.

After all, the minimum punching power for a Realm Five cultivator is 10,000 kilograms!

'Test my speed again!'

Two minutes later

Lin Qi's leg muscles exploded with power; he sprinted at full speed, like a black lightning bolt slicing through the sky, stirring up fierce gales.

At the end of the track, the testing device's screen flashed with data—'60.2m/s'

Lin Qi nodded in satisfaction—his speed far exceeded the Realm Four minimum of 54m/s.

His strength and speed were both balanced and far beyond others'; no one could imagine how strong his physical condition had become.

'Huo Hao Wanyang, even if your body undergoes another transformation, your strength won't surpass mine.'

Lin Qi clenched his fist—he now possessed talent stronger than SS-rank; apart from lacking a special ability, everything else was just as good.

…

The next day, January 14th—Final Exam

'Time's up!!'

In a classroom within Cangjing Building, Sky Dome Sixth Academy.

'All candidates, stop writing!'

A voice came over the intercom; everyone put down their pens and filed out of the exam hall.

'I didn't expect the Martial Arts General Knowledge exam to be this hard—I didn't pay much attention in class, hope I pass.'

'Me too—it's extremely difficult!' People murmured among themselves.

'All students, proceed to the first-floor lobby for blood and qi testing!' came the broadcast again.

Lin Qi and Jiang Tao, along with the rest of Class One, left the exam hall and headed downstairs.

The first-floor lobby of Cangjing Building was a vast open space, now filled with over twenty red-and-white Blood and Qi Testing Devices.

Beside them stood proctors who had been waiting for some time.

Now, rows of new students lined up before the testing devices, grouped by class.

'Class One, come over here.'

Lu Wei, her face still round with baby fat, gestured for them to approach.

She was dressed in her proctor uniform.

'I'll call your names—come forward for blood and qi testing!' Lu Wei shouted loudly, waving her hand.

…

(End of Chapter)