Chapter 374: Raising the Upper Limit of SS-Class (Requesting Monthly Votes)

"Ding ding!!"

In an instant, Yu Yu Zhuoran launched another ultra-fast slash, simultaneously unleashing a torrent of lightning energy from within his body.

One after another, slender lightning serpents shattered Lin Qi's golden defense shield.

Lin Qi felt electric shocks coursing through his body, severely impairing his speed.

Facing Yu Yu Zhuoran's relentless assault, he could only activate his movement technique, "Lei Ying Shun Sha Bu," to evade.

Soon, he fell into a disadvantageous position.

In the spectator seats, everyone's reactions differed.

Wan Ming shook his head and said:

"I knew it—Lin Qi just awakened his special ability; this is his greatest weakness, or rather, his liability."

"His awakened ability is 【Jin Feng】."

"It grants an incredibly terrifying boost to strength, but he's just awakened it and can't yet control 【Jin Feng】 properly."

"Yu Zhuoran has seized this flaw and is pressing hard—any misstep could mean instant defeat."

Beside him, Pei Jiu spoke up: "This is exactly the time to spar!"

"In a few more months, once Lin Qi masters his special ability, Yu Zhuoran won't be his match."

Others nodded—they were also deeply tempted, but they had just missed the only chance to defeat Lin Qi.

Xiang Long also frowned at the battle—he too had awakened the special ability 【Jin Feng】.

He understood this ability better than anyone.

At Lin Qi's current level of clumsiness, it could easily compensate for any gap in physical conditioning or martial skill.

He himself might even be able to defeat him.

Nearby, the senior officials had also noticed the pattern.

Vice Principal Xu Wen smiled and said:

"Yu Zhuoran has put in tremendous effort mastering his special ability; his control over lightning is already extremely refined."

"He handles it as easily as extending his own arm—whether in speed or attack release, he's utterly at ease."

"His style is to strike down opponents with lightning speed, using lightning's ferocity to offset his weaknesses."

"Now, his strength and speed are balanced—he has almost no flaws."

Xue Zhou nodded after hearing this:

"Lin Qi awakened too late—he hasn't even trained in the Five Elements Fist; his control is terrible."

"If raw force were like flowing water, control wouldn't be so difficult."

"But a special ability is like a runaway horse—hard to tame."

"Lin Qi can only defend instinctively, and Yu Yu Zhuoran's lightning easily pierced through his defense."

Nearby, Principal Liu Yuanzhang nodded—he had to admit that any other student from the Ten Colleges would have had their defense shattered far more easily.

But this also indirectly revealed Lin Qi's strength—his defense was pierced, yet he suffered only minor injuries.

He endured all the damage through sheer physical resilience; it was astonishing.

So far, Lin Qi was merely at a disadvantage, not seriously injured.

Any other student from the Ten Colleges would have lost long ago!

"If this keeps up, Lin Qi will lose!" someone said.

"But this battle gives him combat experience—he'll better master his special ability," another added.

"Lin Qi won't lose," someone held a different opinion.

Everyone turned—the newcomer wore black, stood tall, exuded a cold aura brimming with killing intent—it was Mu Hong, who had suddenly appeared today.

He continued:

"The gap between Yu Yu Zhuoran and Lin Qi is too vast—not a slight advantage can make up for it."

Others silently nodded—Mu Hong had a point.

Principal Liu Yuanzhang asked in surprise:

"Old Mu, why are you back?"

Mu Hong replied: "The northern Jiang province has calmed down—the ninth-rank disaster beasts are terrified."

"Now only eighth-rank disaster beasts still attack, but their numbers have dropped drastically."

"I came back to settle and reflect."

"And I arrived just in time to see Lin Qi and Yu Yu Zhuoran sparring."

Principal Liu Yuanzhang and Xue Zhou nodded, then turned their gaze back to the arena.

At that moment, the situation in the arena shifted.

"Ding ding ding!!"

Facing Yu Yu Zhuoran's rapid consecutive slashes—each blade strike faster than lightning, one following another—the blade's edge crackled with electricity.

The current pierced his defense like countless arrows, shocking Lin Qi's muscles.

But his vast internal force surged forth, and even his muscles, tendons, and the nearly forged Sha Hu Bone absorbed the lightning.

Though Lin Qi felt pain and numbness, his combat effectiveness remained largely unaffected.

In the heat of battle, he continuously strengthened his control over 【Jin Feng】.

Yu Yu Zhuoran noticed this—and his mood grew grim.

Such formidable strength!

He now felt an invisible pressure; though surrounded by lightning, he sensed sharpness in the air.

It was like a blade slicing across his skin, especially during close combat, amplified by Lin Qi's brutal force.

It felt like a colossal blade descending—his body trembled, the overwhelming force numbed his muscles, and his Snake Emperor Bone, already two-thirds complete, throbbed painfully.

If this continued, he would be the one to lose.

"Crackling!"

Realizing this, he erupted—unleashing all his lightning energy, compressing it onto his battle blade, producing a piercing hum.

His eyes glowed with electricity; his aura surged higher and higher.

He stepped forward, leapt high, and raised his silver battle blade above his head.

The lightning energy on the blade exploded instantly, merging with his force to form a colossal lightning blade.

The Second Killing Technique of "Thunderclap Blade Art"—Thunder's Wrath!

Where the blade passed, air split apart; lightning serpents writhed wildly around it, terrifying in power.

Lin Qi felt its terrifying might.

He immediately switched from "Hua Hong Spear Technique" to "Han Shan Spear Technique."

His body surged violently, shaking intensely; a torrent of Jin Feng force formed, merging with the Jin Feng energy. His eyes blazed with brilliant light, the Jin Feng energy converging along the spear shaft, metal resonating with a thunderous roar.

He and the spear became one—he spun around his waist as an axis, gathering all the sharp force into a tidal wave, like a blade storm.

After gathering his strength, he unleashed it—muscles bulged, veins stood out, blood surged like the Yellow River.

With all his might, he thrust his black-gold spear upward, as if lifting a mountain and hurling it.

The Killing Technique of "Han Shan Spear Technique"—Lift Mountain, Split Peaks!

A single strike can achieve the miraculous—raw power overcomes ten refined techniques.

Lin Qi unleashed both his special ability 【Jin Feng】 and the Han Shan force together.

Though crude, it was more than enough to handle Yu Yu Zhuoran.

All spectators stared, utterly transfixed—even the sudden appearance of a new figure went unnoticed.

They watched as the two combatants' killing techniques collided—the outcome would be decided in this clash.

In the arena:

"Kill!"

!

Yu Yu Zhuoran descended like a Thunder God, unleashing his killing technique, his blade meeting Lin Qi's black-gold snake spear like divine weapons clashing.

"Boom!!"

Lightning and Jin Feng collided again—the air exploded, energy sprayed outward, air ripped apart.

Space itself churned like a disturbed lake, rippling with agitation as lightning and Jin Feng shattered.

The two crashed violently—Lin Qi felt the wild current slamming into him, scorching and brutal, intense pain surging through him.

But his Sha Hu Bone, like a white-gold demonic tiger, devoured all the lightning.

His skeletal frame stood firm as a pillar holding up the sky—no lightning could shake it.

"Ahh!!"

Yu Yu Zhuoran, by contrast, turned pale and let out a cry of agony.

At the moment of impact, he felt terrifying sharpness and force.

It was like a colossal steel blade rising to cleave the heavens, capable of instantly destroying mountains.

"Boom!!"

The force surged into his body—muscles tore, his throat turned sweet, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, mixed with fragments of internal organs.

"Crack!!"

The liquid within his Snake Emperor Bone shattered—he suffered severe internal injuries.

His silver blade flew from his hand; his body tumbled through the air like a kite with severed strings.

"Bang!"

His entire body slammed into the ground; Yu Yu Zhuoran felt his condition clearly—he had lost.

He lost terribly, crushed in a single strike by Lin Qi.

He smiled bitterly: "I'm no match for you. I've lost!"

After saying this, he dissolved into nothingness.

【Competition Ended: Lin Qi Wins!】

Above the arena, the AI voice announced the final result.

The next instant, Yu Yu Zhuoran reappeared on the arena, all injuries fully healed.

He looked at Lin Qi and shook his head:

"You've become even stronger!"

"Can you tell me your blood value?"

Lin Qi hesitated, then answered: "390."

Yu Yu Zhuoran froze, then said:

"Goodbye. Let's spar again next time!"

Inside, he was stunned—just a month ago, the other's blood value was 310; now, in half a month, it was 390?

Could an S-class even improve this fast?

He couldn't accept it, so he chose to log off.

Lin Qi blinked, then chuckled silently—he'd clearly dealt Yu Yu Zhuoran a heavy blow!

Meanwhile, the audience seats erupted in shock.

Wan Ming stared wide-eyed and said:

"No way—he actually won!"

"Both Yu Zhuoran and Qi-ge unleashed their killing techniques, head-on collision."

"Yet Qi-ge wasn't even scratched, while Yu Zhuoran died outright—one strike, one kill?"

Others were too stunned to speak. Pei Jiu spoke up:

"This outcome can only mean the destructive power of their techniques was on entirely different levels."

"Since both Lightning and Jin Feng enhanced power similarly, the difference must lie in physical quality."

"Yu Zhuoran has grown stronger, but he's still nowhere near Lin Qi."

Others nodded in awe—Yu Yu Zhuoran was already among the top S-class prodigies.

But Lin Qi, suddenly appearing, had raised the upper limit of S-class prodigies.

They'd finally seen it: S-class prodigies could be this strong.

"Truly impressive!"

A voice suddenly sounded beside Wan Ming; he turned and was startled.

"Chu Yu? Why are you here watching the match?"

Everyone turned—someone had appeared beside them without notice.

The newcomer wore a crimson custom robe, tall and powerfully built, with sharply defined features and a touch of Western handsomeness.

He looked young, smiling as he gazed at Lin Qi on the arena.

He was the only SSS-class prodigy in the second year of Cangqiong Martial University.

A true top-tier prodigy—he was even a year younger than them.

Chu Yu looked at the group and said: "Long time no see!"

The powerful, scorching aura radiating from him shone like a blazing sun.

Everyone's presence was instantly suppressed.

……

(End of Chapter)