Chapter 85: Defeated Foe #1 (Requesting First Subscription, Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Lin Qi exploded with power in both arms, tendons coiling like steel cables around them, blood surging faster.

His eyes glinted with sharp light; he gripped the spear and shook its shaft at an astonishing frequency, revealing incredible arm strength.

The spear tip spawned countless illusions; his figure shot forward like a gale, thrusting countless spears.

Technique—Dripping Water Shadow Strike!

“Swoosh~”

“Swish-swish~”

The battle shifted in an instant; two figures dashed like phantoms, unleashing a sky-full of spear shadows.

Fast, fast, fast!!

Yu Jing frantically thrust his spear, his face twisted into wild madness—he’d win if he could strike more times!

“Clang-clang~~”

The two clashed instantly; amid the sea of illusions, only one real thrust emerged in a single instant.

When to strike depended entirely on the two spear-wielders.

Yu Jing trusted his eyes and, in that fleeting moment, pierced through the countless illusions with his true killing strike.

A flash of cold light—target: Lin Qi’s throat.

In that same instant, Lin Qi’s body suddenly shifted, leaning sharply to the right.

Yu Jing’s face turned pale, his pupils contracting in shock!

No!!

Simultaneously, Lin Qi unleashed power in his arm; the black spear became a black serpent bursting from its den, striking a perfectly straight line.

A flash of cold light—the spearhead sliced through the air, tearing it with a shrill whistle.

Yu Jing could only watch helplessly as the black spear pierced through his neck.

“Puff~”

Blood spurted violently; Yu Jing felt searing pain, his body instantly losing strength, the spear slipping from his grip.

He collapsed helplessly onto the ground.

He tried to speak, but no words came—only blood poured from his mouth, his form dissolving into nothingness, ragged and broken.

【Darting Eagle, unfortunately, you are dead!】

Back in his personal space

Yu Jing clutched his throat, dazed and hollow-eyed, staring blankly.

“How did he do that? Just lucky?”

“I lost so miserably!”

He used the same “Dripping Water Spear Art,” yet he felt his opponent’s technique wasn’t particularly strong.

But his opponent had killed him effortlessly—last dodge, last thrust—still unbelievable now.

Why is everyone targeting me?

Yu Jing gritted his teeth.

……

【Yang Jian, congratulations on your victory!】

【Points +3】

Lin Qi looked at the panel, his face showing no joy.

Defeating Yu Jing alone wasn’t worth boasting about.

Once, Yu Jing was someone he looked up to; from this moment on, he had become one of Lin Qi’s defeated foes.

Many more such defeated foes would come in the future.

He looked down at the spear in his hand—the “Dripping Water Spear Art”—even more effective than he’d imagined.

Using this spear art to defeat Yu Jing felt satisfying.

“During these days leading up to the Bright Moon rank, I’ll also strive to comprehend the third killing technique of the ‘Steadfast Spear Art.’”

“When I master three distinct third killing techniques, even against top-tier experts, I might gain the ability to turn the tables.”

Lin Qi made his decision.

He immediately began another match.

……

Five hours later

“Puff!”

The spear pierced the air, cruelly driving through the chest of a beautiful girl, spraying blood everywhere.

【After battling a strong opponent, your mastery of spear techniques has improved, Spear Technique +1%】

【After battling a strong opponent, your body movement proficiency has increased, Body Movement +1%】

【Spear Technique: Rank 2, 13% → 14%】

【Body Movement: Rank 2, 2% → 3%】

……

In his personal space

【Yang Jian, congratulations on your victory!】

【Points +3】

【Points: 831】

【Win Rate: 93%】

【Rank: 40】

Lin Qi watched the data on both panels update, exhaled slowly, his face weary—he had matched continuously for five hours for the first time.

Looking at his total points, he shook his head.

After breaking 800 points, he clearly felt opponents growing stronger.

Several had already surpassed him in strength.

Two matches ended in draws.

His win rate dropped from 95% to 93%, a 2-point decline.

This was even without facing the professional martial artists.

The difficulty of advancing to Bright Moon rank was now obvious.

“Huh~”

Lin Qi took a deep breath and selected offline.

!

As he exited the virtual pod, dizziness surged—like he’d stayed awake three days and nights, his spirit utterly drained.

“Big Brother Qi, drink this stimulant to perk up.”

Qiu Siying eagerly handed him a stimulant vial; Lin Qi waved it off: “No thanks.”

“I’ve got my own!”

He pulled two vials from his backpack, swallowed them, while Qiu Siying watched him with a pout.

Cool, refreshing energy slowly restored his exhausted spirit.

“Big Brother Qi, it’s winter break—you’re still grinding? Five straight hours of matching?”

Jiang Tao walked over, sipping his milk tea, shaking his head in amazement.

Lin Qi took the milk tea, gulped it down, and replied: “Time is tight—advancing to Bright Moon rank isn’t easy.”

Wu Feng added:

“I matched for three hours and lost several times—just as you said, there are professional martial artists now, incredibly strong.”

“Against them, I lost every single match.”

Lu Xiang and Guo Heng nodded—they felt it too.

All of them sensed heavy pressure; they realized now that earning 3 million yuan wouldn’t be easy.

A few minutes later, after chatting briefly, they dispersed.

Lin Qi returned to his martial arts chamber.

“Xiao Chan, order two staff meals!”

“Yes, Master!”

The projected figure of Xiao Chan, dressed in blue, nodded, summoning a screen to order two nutrient meals via the Chiqiong Martial Arts Gym app.

“Ding!”

Minutes later, the chamber door opened and a cylindrical robot entered.

Its belly opened, retrieving two nutrient meals and placing them on the table.

Lin Qi, now dressed in his martial arts uniform, quickly opened them and devoured the food.

“No wonder these are staff meals—one portion is bigger than school meals.”

“At No. 2 High, I needed four portions to feel 80% full—but here, two are enough.”

“At 200 yuan per meal, it’s acceptable.”

After eating, Lin Qi stretched lightly; once his spirit felt noticeably restored, he began his daily training—standing Zhuang .

“Winter break has over twenty days—no classes—I can devote more time to martial arts.”

"There's also the Moonlight Event!"

Lin Qi remembered the A-class contract he signed today; he had barely over a million left in his account.

"Ding!"

His train of thought was interrupted as Xiao Chan projected a message.

【Your ICBC card ending in xxx received 2 million Xia National Currency on January 7 at 18:12. Balance: 3.0885 million Xia National Currency】

"The A-class contract payment has arrived!"

Lin Qi was surprised—this was unusually fast; the contract signed in the morning had already been paid by evening.

Staring at his balance, Lin Qi fell into thought.

These three million Xia National Currency were for his mother Fang Huiyi’s surgery.

Once the surgery was done, he would have no money left.

Items like energy potions, nutritional meals, and stimulant potions all required money to purchase.

Therefore, the three million Xia National Currency reward from the Moonlight Event was extremely important to him.

He must secure those three million Xia National Currency.

"Huh~"

After clearing his thoughts, Lin Qi exhaled a long, heavy breath, feeling the searing heat throughout his body, the wild surge of blood and qi—he was already accustomed to it.

He fully immersed himself in cultivation.

……

(End of Chapter)