Chapter 568: You are too slow! (Seeking monthly votes)

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire auditorium was in an uproar, restless and filled with anticipation for the clash of the Eighth Realm martial artists.

All 2,706 Eighth Realm martial artists of Blue Star were preparing to begin.

In the White Eagle Federation's section, a group of Ninth Realm martial artists sat in the front row.

In the second row sat a man with a tall, sturdy build, blonde hair, blue eyes, and sharp, handsome features.

His entire body radiated a thunderous and overbearing aura.

"Augustus!"

A man in the front row turned his head; he was a burly man with a buzz cut and an explosive aura.

Every hair and every muscle on his body contained explosive power.

His eyes were deep, as if they could pierce through everything.

He sat in the very center of the crowd; he was the strongest person in the White Eagle Federation and widely recognized as the second strongest person on Blue Star—the God of War!

Gazing into his eyes, one felt as if an infinite fighting spirit surged through their entire being.

"Teacher!"

The God of War crossed his arms and nodded, saying, "Go, Augustus. Let all the martial artists of Blue Star witness your strength!"

Augustus stood up, an intense confidence radiating from him.

"Rest assured, Teacher!"

"The championship belongs to no one but me!"

After saying this, he transformed into a crimson beam of light and vanished from the auditorium.

Similar scenes were playing out in the auditoriums of other nations.

"Andrei, go and claim the spot that belongs to you!"

"Ajay, among the Eighth Realm martial artists, no one will be your match!"

"..."

"Lin Lin Qi Ge, go for it!"

In the Xia Guo's auditorium section, Jiang Tao clenched his fists in support.

Lin Qi nodded and slowly stood up. Standing up with him were Liu Yuanzhang, his teachers Master Master Mu Hong and Xue Zhou, and not far away, Sun Sheng and Li Tianxing.

They simultaneously transformed into crimson beams of light and vanished from their original positions.

At the same time, 2,706 screens were projected into everyone's view, simultaneously broadcasting the preliminary matches of the Eighth Realm martial artists.

"It's started!"

"Little Qi's selection has begun!"

In a corner, Lin Zhen suddenly spoke, his gaze and Fang Huiyi's fixed on the screen before them.

Lin Qi had already begun his preliminary match!

Sitting around them were acquaintances, such as his uncle Fang Zhe, Xu Changfeng, and friends from his usual business dealings, all of whom were not weak.

As for Yue Feng and Wu Lingyun, they were Eighth Realm martial artists and also had to undergo the selection!

In the first row of the auditorium, King Shanhe looked at the empty seats and said with concern:

"Inspector Envoy Tu Lan hasn't logged on. She might think we are destined to lose!"

The Purple-Clad Overlord clenched his fists and said, "It seems she has no confidence in our Blue Star either."

The Red Emperor waved his hand with a calm expression, saying, "No matter. Inspector Envoy Tu Lan is different; she will log on."

"Watch the Eighth Realm selection carefully; this is crucial for our Blue Star."

The others nodded upon hearing this.

In a spacious arena, Lin Qi appeared out of thin air after equipping his combat gear.

It was still the black-gold armor and black-gold great spear, though only the standard version.

He knew the rules well: if he chose enhanced gear, his opponent would also be enhanced.

【Contestant Lin Qi, welcome to the Fire Seed Trial Selection (Eighth Realm)】

【Rules for the first round of preliminaries: Please defeat the opponent before you (20 apertures, Stage Five Blade Technique)】

【Ten-second countdown begins!】

"Hum!"

The next second, as Lin Qi finished reading the panel information,

a tall figure appeared out of thin air 20 meters in front of him.

The figure was clad in crimson armor, radiating a dense killing intent.

Tall and robust, wearing a crimson mask, the figure brandished a sharp crimson battle blade.

An invisible sharpness radiated outward, and a crimson aura enveloped the entire arena.

Lin Qi looked at the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder and felt an unusual sense of familiarity.

In the No. 9 Ruins, inside the Star Fire Tower, he had faced the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder's sieges every day, fighting countless battles.

However, he had now broken through to the Eighth Realm, and his opponent's strength had also significantly increased, possessing the strength of 20 apertures.

An average peak Eighth Realm martial artist was at this level, and their martial arts technique had reached Stage Five.

Even on Blue Star, this was a powerful Eighth Realm existence.

【Countdown:... 3, 2, 1】

【First round of preliminaries officially begins!】

A cold, emotionless intelligent voice reached his ears.

"Boom!"

The next instant, the temperature in the air rose sharply, and a crimson domain spread out from the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder.

The temperature in the air rose sharply, as if scorched by a raging fire.

"Whoosh~"

Crimson light bloomed from the eyes beneath the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder's mask, and then it lunged forward, rushing out like a wave of fire.

"It really is faster!"

Lin Qi thought to himself; the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder's strength had been improved in every aspect.

It was fast, and it even had its own domain!

After receiving the blessing, the speed of the blade became even faster.

Facing the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder's attack, he also began to exert force. His arms tensed, veins bulged, the spear tip vibrated, and he also lunged forward.

Golden domain power was also released from his body.

"Boom!"

The distance between the two was not far, and soon their domain powers began to collide.

Flames and sharpness confronted each other; the collision of domain powers canceled each other out.

Both the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder and Lin Qi were suppressed by the domains.

Lin Qi felt the crimson flames; his figure was burned by the flames, and the domain's boost continuously weakened.

The Red-Armored Blade-Wielder was the same; its speed slowed, but its moves were already prepared.

"Hoo!!"

Blade energy condensed, like a volcanic eruption, and waves of fire rushed toward his face.

The blade technique was profound; Lin Qi felt as if he had been locked on.

The corners of his mouth curled up, the spear body vibrated, and he exerted force fiercely.

"Shoo!"

"Chirp!"

Golden spear energy covered the spear, accelerating instantly, piercing the air, and a whistling sound of wind-breaking echoed around him.

The Red-Armored Blade-Wielder's domain did not hinder Lin Qi's spear speed!

His spear speed was so fast that people in the auditorium could only see a straight golden thread.

"Puff~"

The next moment, Lin Qi clearly saw his sharp golden spear tip pierce the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder's neck in an instant.

And the opponent's battle blade was just a hair's breadth away from him.

The Red-Armored Blade-Wielder's tall body was instantly pierced by Lin Qi's great spear and hung in the air.

"Too slow!"

Lin Qi slowly spat out these three words!

The next second, the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder's domain dissipated, and it also turned into nothingness and vanished.

【Contestant Lin Qi, congratulations on successfully defeating your opponent!】

Lin Qi looked at the popped-up information with a calm expression.

He could be certain that this Red-Armored Blade-Wielder's strength had also been weakened.

If it were the Star Fire Tower test for Eighth Realm martial artists in the No. 9 Ruins,

at this difficulty, he didn't know how many martial artists would be able to receive rewards and successfully break through to the Ninth Realm.

He was terrifyingly strong now; the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder would never be his match.

At the same time, other Eighth Realm martial artists also began their tests.

As soon as the battles began, most Eighth Realm martial artists felt the strength of their opponents.

In the auditorium, 2706 videos showed Eighth Realm martial artists from various countries on Blue Star displaying formidable strength.

It was an eye-opener for the audience, but the strength of the opponents also gave them a lesson.

One by one, Eighth Realm martial artists were quickly eliminated.

A burly Black Eighth Realm martial artist brandishing a battle blade—

he was an Eighth Realm martial artist from a small country.

He was one of only six such martial artists; in his country, he was a supreme existence.

He possessed top-tier strength and could hunt down Level 8 disaster beasts.

He had originally thought his strength would allow him to easily pass the first round.

As a result, reality gave him a harsh lesson; the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder before him was so strong it made his heart tremble.

It felt as if he were facing the number one person in his own country.

"Puff~"

The next second, he was blasted away and had his head severed by the sharp crimson battle blade.

He instantly turned into nothingness and vanished!

There were many Eighth Realm martial artists like him, being eliminated one by one.

The audience in the auditorium was also shocked, watching a string of data projected on the big screen.

【Eliminated: 325】

The bullet comments were also scrolling frantically.

"Our country's hero, he didn't even pass the first round?"

"Who set these rules? Why are they losing so fast? They are all Eighth Realm martial artists?!"

"I can't accept this. Our country's Eighth Realm martial artists are actually this weak."

"Heavens, this opponent is set too strong; no one will pass."

"Are you guys joking? It's your country's martial artists who are too weak."

"Augustus, Andrei, Ajay, and Xia Guo's Qin Shuang, Lin Qi, Sun Sheng, Li Tianxing—they all easily defeated their opponents!"

The hundreds of millions of martial artists in the auditorium also noticed this.

The gap between Eighth Realm martial artists was too large.

Jiang Tao looked at Liu Yuanzhang next to him, who had suddenly returned.

Liu Yuanzhang shook his head and sighed:

"I lost. The opponent was too strong; I was no match!"

He watched the number of eliminated people continuously rise; in just two or three minutes, over 500 Eighth Realm martial artists had been killed and eliminated.

Jiang Tao asked with a puzzled expression, "Why are they being eliminated so fast?"

Liu Yuanzhang explained from the side, "The Red-Armored Blade-Wielder's strength is already equivalent to a peak Eighth Realm martial artist."

"Opening 20 apertures is the level most ordinary peak Eighth Realm martial artists are at."

"It is not easy to defeat it, and in the preliminaries, one cannot use secret techniques like 'Blood Burning' or minor divine abilities."

"Even fewer people can pass."

Pei Yiqing sighed, "Lin Qi is so strong. He actually killed his opponent with a single spear strike."

As soon as she finished speaking, Master Master Mu Hong in black armor was also teleported back; he had also been eliminated.

He had only opened 12 apertures and was completely unable to beat the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder.

He sighed, "Among Eighth Realm martial artists, the gap is also very large."

Everyone nodded; some were easily defeated, while others could easily kill the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder.

During the selection, after Lin Qi defeated his opponent, the panel popped up information again.

【Second round of preliminaries content: Please defeat the two opponents before you (24 apertures, Stage Five technique)】

【10-second countdown officially begins!】

"Hum!"

Two figures appeared before Lin Qi: a Red-Armored Blade-Wielder and a Blue-Armored Sword-Wielder!

Two opponents were already equivalent to two peak Eighth Realm martial artists.

Lin Qi could be certain that with Blue Star's current Eighth Realm level, perhaps fewer than 160 people could pass this second round.

The scorching heat of flames and the flow of water—two forces covered the air.

【Countdown:... 3, 2, 1】

【Second round of preliminaries officially begins!】

The moment the intelligent voice announced the start, the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder and the Blue-Armored Sword-Wielder moved simultaneously.

"Boom!"

The Red-Armored Blade-Wielder brandished the battle blade in its hand, condensing several meters of blade energy and slashing down fiercely.

"Whoosh~"

The Blue-Armored Sword-Wielder also shot out instantly like a swordfish.

The blue domain power significantly increased its speed; blue sword energy tore through the air and stabbed toward Lin Qi.

"Hoo!"

"Whoosh~"

Lin Qi's expression tightened; spear energy instantly condensed and covered the black-gold great spear.

"Boom!"

The great spear swept up from bottom to top, and a huge golden blade instantly condensed and slashed out.

He lunged forward instantly, executing the body technique 'Nine Flashes of Thunder Extremity'.

In an instant, seven clones were condensed, all looking as real as the original.

Like a black-gold lightning bolt, it tore through the sky.

"Bang!"

The golden blade collided with the flaming blade energy, erupting with a heaven-shaking loud noise and kicking up a terrifying energy storm.

The flaming blade energy shattered, while the golden blade remained intact and crashed into it head-on.

"Bang!"

The Blue-Armored Sword-Wielder stabbed out its sharp sword, stirring up raging waves that collided with the golden blade.

"Bang!"

In an instant, it felt as if it had been pierced by countless sharp blades!

The golden blade shattered, turning into countless golden raindrops.

But the next instant, a golden light appeared in its eyes.

It was Lin Qi; he had stabbed out with his great spear with lightning speed.

At the same time, the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder also rushed out, meeting the energy storm, brandishing its battle blade and slashing down fiercely with the force of Mount Tai.

If Lin Qi hit the Blue-Armored Sword-Wielder, the Blade-Wielder's blade would sever his head.

"Too slow!"

"Puff~"

Lin Qi's mouth curled up; he pierced the Blue-Armored Sword-Wielder's neck with one spear strike, then instantly retracted the spear, controlling his cells and driving his muscles and internal organs.

He changed direction and stabbed dozens of times at the Red-Armored Blade-Wielder.

Golden Light Thirty-Hit Combo!

"Puff, puff, puff!!"

The Blade-Wielder's battle blade hadn't hit Lin Qi yet before it was struck by Lin Qi thirty times in the same spot, like a straight golden thread.

Blood sprayed wildly, and the head was severed, falling to the ground and splashing everywhere.

In an instant, the onlookers only saw a golden thread, and then blood sprayed out like a fountain.

The next second, the two corpses fell to the ground, turned into nothingness, and vanished into the air.

【Lin Qi, congratulations on successfully passing the second round of preliminaries!】

【You have successfully passed the preliminaries, becoming the third contestant to pass!】

"Hum!"

Lin Qi looked at the information popped up before him and put away his spear.

Too weak. He now possessed Ninth Realm combat power.

Although the two opponents were decent, they were only ordinary peak Eighth Realm martial artists.

If they had opened 48 apertures or awakened two abilities, they might have posed a threat to him.

"Hum!"

In the auditorium, when Lin Qi opened his eyes, he had already been teleported back.

"Lin Lin Qi Ge, congratulations on passing the preliminaries!"

Jiang Tao couldn't help but say excitedly.

"It's been less than three minutes, and Lin Qi has already finished the preliminaries. It's simply too fast!"

Pei Yiqing in red exclaimed.

Xu Qin, Shen Heng, Meng Yuxuan, and others were also surprised. They knew Lin Qi was strong, but they hadn't expected him to be this strong!

Now, by comparing him with other Eighth Realm martial artists, they could clearly feel Lin Qi's strength.

Liu Yuanzhang and Master Master Mu Hong looked at each other; Lin Qi was even stronger than they had imagined.

"Lin Qi, congratulations on taking the preliminaries!"

Lin Qi nodded upon hearing Liu Yuanzhang's words and began chatting with the others.

At the same time, his gaze was fixed on the projected big screen.

【Eliminated: 2205】

Lin Qi was surprised; the number of eliminated people had exceeded 2,200 so quickly.

He glanced at the time; his entire process had only taken three minutes.

Including chatting with others, 10 minutes had already passed.

The speed of elimination was simply too fast!

Looking at the big screen again, only 500 people were still in intense collisions with two opponents.

A moment later, Xue Zhou was teleported back.

He let out a long breath; he had also managed to defeat his opponent with difficulty and successfully pass the preliminaries.

Looking at Lin Qi next to him, who had already returned.

Hearing that Lin Qi had come out in less than three minutes, he was shocked.

"This kid, has his strength already surpassed mine so quickly?"

At this time, in another corner.

"Little Qi is so amazing, passing the preliminaries so quickly!"

Fang Huiyi said excitedly, looking at the screen.

Lin Zhen listened to his friends' praise and immediately revealed a happy smile.

He saw Yue Feng, the mansion owner, who hadn't even passed the first round.

Yet his son had passed the preliminaries with ease; the difference was clear.

"With Little Qi's strength, getting a spot is absolutely no problem."

On the other side, in the first row, King Shanhe looked at Lin Qi's performance and couldn't help but reveal a smile, thinking to himself:

"Lin Qi has become stronger again. It is said he hunted a large number of Level 8 disaster beasts. I wonder where his limit is?"

The Sword Emperor next to him sighed:

"Lin Qi's strength is quite good. To have such strength five months after breaking through to the Eighth Realm—truly gifted."

The other Ninth Realm martial artists couldn't help but nod, acknowledging Lin Qi's strength.

"Sun Sheng and Li Tianxing are also good. The boost brought by three abilities is simply too great."

"Two opponents were completely crushed and defeated!"

"And Augustus, Andrei, Ajay, Qin Shuang, Gu Cheng... they are all top-tier geniuses who awakened two abilities."

"So many talents, how did they all gather at the Eighth Realm?"

"Wanting to get a spot is really not easy."

The Red Emperor, sitting in the center, looked at Lin Qi's performance and couldn't help but reveal an appreciative smile:

"Not bad!"

Then his gaze fell on the empty seat next to him.

The Eighth Realm martial artist selection lasted for half an hour before it all ended.

The result was about what everyone expected; in the end, only 150 people passed the preliminaries, still 10 short.

When it ended, the auditorium was in an uproar.

"The gap between Eighth Realm martial artists is so large; in the end, only 150 people passed the preliminaries!"

"In our country, out of 12 Eighth Realm martial artists, only one passed the preliminaries. How can the gap be so large?"

"Haha, that's because you are too weak. We in the White Eagle Federation have 23 people advancing. The final champion will definitely be Augustus; he was the first person to pass the preliminaries."

"What is there to be proud of in the White Eagle Federation? We in the Xia Guo have 35 people who passed the preliminaries. You guys are nothing."

While the bullet comments were arguing again, above the arena, King Shanhe appeared once more.

His expression was firm, his aura like a heavy mountain, and his appearance caused the auditorium to gradually quiet down.

"Contestants and audience!"

"The Fire Seed Trial selection, the Eighth Realm preliminaries have ended!"

"We will draw 10 contestants from the eliminated ones to enter the main competition along with the other 150!"

After speaking, a big screen was projected before his eyes, showing 160 names.

"Next, we will conduct the main competition to select the 10 strongest Eighth Realm martial artists."

(End of chapter)