Chapter 868: The Killing Technique Shatters the Ultimate Thunder! (Request Monthly Tickets)

Gu Ta'ao felt he had made significant progress, successfully breaking through to the Fourth Cosmic Realm after 300 years.

Stimulated by Lin Qi, Qin Ling, Ti Xi, and Meng Nu—the four top geniuses—he unlocked his potential and advanced rapidly.

He believed that within another two or three hundred years, he could attempt the ninth level of the Original Tower.

But when he looked at Lin Qi, who was younger than him, Lin Qi was already striving to reach Seventh-Rank Artistry.

Good heavens, had the gap between them grown this wide?

In his own estimation, without three or four thousand years, Seventh-Rank Artistry was out of the question.

Yet Lin Qi had already begun his attempt.

Lin Qi smiled: "It's just preliminary exposure—breaking through to Seventh-Rank Artistry is still far off."

With that, he walked into the Original Tower and began his ascent.

Gu Ta'ao watched Lin Qi's back and found his words untrustworthy.

If Lin Qi had come, it meant he was confident enough to reach the tenth level.

"The Spear Demon Lin Qi is attempting the Original Tower!"

"It's been hundreds of years since we last saw him challenge the Original Tower; everyone in the Qualification War is stuck at the ninth level."

"No one has yet reached the tenth level—it'll probably take another few hundred years."

"The tenth level is the dividing line—only those who've achieved Seventh-Rank Artistry can reach it."

"Lin Qi's current ranking is only average within the Fourth Cosmic Realm."

"It doesn't seem like he's at the level to clear the tenth level yet."

Lin Qi's appearance drew the attention of many veteran members.

Even distant new members were drawn to watch.

Someone spoke up:

"The Spear Demon Lin Qi—he's a member from a few generations ago, with extraordinary talent and a powerful awakened bodily trait."

"He defeated star-domain geniuses who had cultivated for over a thousand years after only a few hundred years of cultivation."

"In the Qualification War, he achieved a terrifying 46 consecutive victories."

"But even so, he's still not as strong as Fan Jun."

"After all, Lin Qi only awakened two elemental affinities: Metal and Thunder."

"It's said that someone in his cohort awakened Spatial Talent, with the Bodily Trait known as the Realm-Flow Body."

"In terms of bodily trait, he's inferior to Fan Jun's Earth Emperor Body."

"In time, he'll surpass Lin Qi."

Fan Jun himself, upon hearing this, smiled confidently, thinking to himself:

"My father secured a great opportunity for me, allowing me to awaken Spatial Talent and transform my bodily trait into the Earth Emperor Body."

"I possess four abilities—Ti Xi and Pan Wei's talents are inferior to mine."

"Not to mention Lin Qi—many people, including my father, suspect Lin Qi also awakened four abilities."

"Most likely a configuration of three Metals and one Thunder—such talent is indeed formidable."

"But compared to me, he still falls short."

"After all, Spatial Talent, next to Time Talent, is superior to the other eight abilities."

"With enough time, I will eventually surpass him."

…

【Member Lin Qi, welcome to the Original Tower's Ninth Level.】

【Your realm has been detected as Fourth Cosmic Realm, Star Evolution Sixth Stage.】

【Select your combat equipment!】

…

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

On the endless, ruined wasteland, Lin Qi appeared, now clad in his combat gear.

He still wore the Dark Yao Armor, wielding a purple-gold spear adorned with dual purple-gold patterns.

Across from him, a tall figure clad in golden armor swiftly materialized, his face cold and expressionless—it was the examiner, Ni He.

Seeing Lin Qi, he smiled and said:

"Lin Qi, it's been hundreds of years—you've already broken through to Star Evolution Sixth Stage? Your progress is astonishing."

"Knowing you, you wouldn't come here unless you had absolute confidence."

"Has your martial artistry already reached Seventh Rank?"

Lin Qi shook his head: "Not yet."

Ni He laughed upon hearing this:

"So you're confident you can defeat me with only Sixth-Rank Artistry?"

"Let me remind you—the gap between Sixth and Seventh Rank is immense; whether you've broken through or not is the difference between heaven and earth."

"You cannot defeat me."

Lin Qi raised his purple-gold spear: "Let's see."

"Hummm!"

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Ni He grinned: "Let me show you true Seventh-Rank Artistry."

"Last time we fought, I didn't even use my full strength."

As he spoke, his aura surged higher and higher.

【Countdown complete. The Original Tower's Tenth Level trial has officially begun!】

…

With the AI's announcement, the atmosphere instantly shifted.

A golden mark on Ni He's forehead caused the Metal Laws to boil in the air.

A dazzling golden domain erupted from his body.

"Hummm!"

The domain's power surged forth, engulfing Lin Qi.

Lin Qi was instantly crushed under immense pressure, endless sharp edges slicing his body.

"Hummm!"

In an instant, his own Golden Gangjin erupted from his body, shielding him.

Simultaneously, he unleashed his own purple-gold domain—the domain formed by two Laws.

Even so, he felt trapped in mud, his entire body suppressed by the overwhelming domain.

"Even with domain power, my overall strength has dropped by a full thirty percent."

"If my martial artistry hadn't reached 86% of Sixth Rank last time, I'd be suppressed by over fifty percent—and Ni He would have killed me effortlessly."

Lin Qi sighed inwardly; his speed and reaction were severely hindered, and speed had a profound impact on combat effectiveness.

It felt as if the entire space had become Ni He's domain.

He was an intruder, heavily suppressed, constantly struck by invisible blade edges that cut into his body without pause.

The same domain power—Ni He had grown immeasurably stronger.

"Hum!"

The next instant, Ni He raised his hand and slashed his battle sword through the air, unleashing a golden blade slash formed from golden Golden Gangjin.

In that instant, the power of the Metal Law surged.

It was a vast, overwhelming force—far stronger than any genius's Law manifestation.

Seeing this, Lin Qi swung his spear, channeling his Golden Gangjin.

But instantly, channeling the Law became excruciatingly difficult.

No longer easy or smooth.

He could only draw power from his Source Core world.

"Hummm!"

A hundred-meter-long purple-gold spear Gang condensed—but far slower than he expected.

Lin Qi felt the Law's amplification weaken—as if a lower-tier Law had encountered a higher one, its power being scattered.

He could no longer summon the Law effortlessly.

The energy cost surged instantly.

"Boom!"

The blade slash and spear Gang collided violently in midair.

In an instant, the purple-gold spiral spear Gang shattered, while the blade slash continued forward.

Lin Qi instantly split into a thousand Thunder illusions.

The blade slash descended upon them.

"Puff! Puff!"

In the space of a breath, countless Thunder illusions shattered.

Lin Qi's true body met the blade slash, swinging his purple-gold spear.

Terrifying physical strength erupted as the Rending Sky Golden Gangjin fused with the Thunder Tribulation Golden Gangjin.

"Bang!"

The great spear thrust out, slamming into the sword aura.

In an instant, the brilliant golden sword aura shattered.

In that moment of collision, Lin Qi felt an unbearably sharp impact.

"Boom!!"

His protective aura of golden energy was violently shaken.

Ni He, clad in golden armor, saw this and was startled:

"No wonder he's a top-tier genius—Lin Qi has indeed grown much stronger."

"He can now directly withstand my attacks. Last time, he was outright wounded."

"Shhh!"

In the next instant, his entire body shot forward like a sword strike, exploding from his spot.

The earth trembled, leaving a deep crater as he pierced through the air in a flash.

All one could see was a dazzling streak of golden light.

Lin Qi's 【Golden Eyes】 spun furiously, trying to track his opponent's combat trajectory.

Ni He's speed now was terrifying!

This was not natural physical ability—he was enhanced by the power of cosmic laws.

It was as if he had been granted some cosmic authority, massively amplifying the law's power and causing his speed to explode.

He was faster than Lin Qi now.

Lin Qi had been weakened, while Ni He had been strengthened—his speed was no longer equal to his opponent's.

"Huff huff!"