madnovel Chapter 170 - 122: The Challenged 3
Chapter 170 - 122: The Challenged 3
He was incredibly glad about the decision he had made.
He had bet on the right horse!
He had truly backed a peerless, hidden dragon that had escaped the shallows and was now soaring into the heavens!
Amidst the deafening applause, four other figures finally emerged from the tunnel.
At the same time, four figures appeared once more in the viewing hall’s corridor.
It was the others in the top five, including Xue Wangshu.
The moment the four of them stepped into the venue, they were all stunned by the fanatical scene before them.
’What’s going on?’
’We’re supposed to be the stars of the show today, too. Why is everyone clapping before we’ve even made our entrance?’
This was especially true for Xue Wangshu, who was walking at the very front. An unprecedented look of shock and confusion flashed in his eyes.
This was because, at this moment, someone was already standing in the center of the arena—the very spot he was supposed to occupy.
That spot belonged to Dongjiang’s number one!
The four of them subconsciously looked up at the massive screen in the center of the venue.
The next second, they all froze in unison!
Lin Ye’s series of magical, unbelievable scores were like sharp swords, instantly piercing through all their pride!
Yan Hui’s body trembled, and his mind went completely blank.
’What am I seeing?’
Dongjiang City had an unwritten rule for the mock exam.
Only the person in first place was allowed to stand on the arena platform.
Those ranked second to fifth could only stand below, looking up at the person on the stage.
It was as if to say—beneath the throne, all are equal!
Yan Hui looked up from below, gazing at the figure on the platform.
Not long ago, that was a figure he used to look down on.
But now, their roles had completely reversed.
He had gone from being the one looking down to the one looking up.
His status, too, had changed from the one being challenged to...
The challenger!
"In one month, at the city-wide mock exam."
"I will prove to you that even the barren soil of Dongjiang First Middle School can produce someone who can beat you."
The words Lin Ye had once spoken now exploded in Yan Hui’s ears like a clap of thunder.
Yan Hui sensed that the gaze of the person on the stage didn’t even linger on him for a single second.
He was no longer even in the other’s line of sight.
Two gazes, so intense they seemed tangible, met in mid-air.
One, from above, was as indifferent as water.
The other, from below, burned like fire.
Xue Wangshu stared coldly at Lin Ye on the stage, and Lin Ye calmly met the gaze of Dongjiang’s former number one.
No words were needed.
Everyone could feel the monstrous battle intent that seemed to set the very air ablaze!
On the second floor, Li Kai Nian saw this and chuckled softly. "Alright, let’s just go through the motions for the formalities."
"Since they want to fight, let’s get things ready. Let the boy from the Xue Family go up."
"After this, don’t bother with any other challenges."
"After this fight, we’ll wrap it up. I have to go back to Ninghai this afternoon."
Li Kai Nian’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Ninghai City was the capital of Ninghai Province and shared its name.
He was swamped with official duties and naturally couldn’t linger in a place like this for too long.
The only reason he had stayed this long was entirely because of Lin Ye.
He had seen plenty of geniuses, and quite a few were stronger than Lin Ye.
But for such a talent to appear in a small place like this was still exceedingly rare.
Li Kai Nian beckoned to a Martial Artist in black who had been standing silently by his side from the very beginning.
"Go down to the edge of the arena in a bit. If a life-threatening situation arises for either of them, you are to intervene."
The man in black nodded and quickly departed.
Soon, guided by the staff, Xue Wangshu walked up to the arena platform step by step.
He and Lin Ye were both wearing specialized protective gear.
Xue Wangshu’s weapon was a pair of Steel Bone Fist Armor, also in a dominant crimson hue.
In Lin Ye’s hands, however, was just an ordinary, standard-issue alloy long spear.
Below the arena.
Yan Hui’s expression was somewhat dejected.
They had all just received a notice: after this battle, there would be no more exhibition matches, nor would any more challenges be accepted.
Watching Lin Ye’s figure, a bitter feeling welled up in Yan Hui’s heart.
’I don’t even have the right to challenge him...’
On the arena platform, the two stood facing each other.
The next moment, Lin Ye keenly sensed the energy across the entire platform becoming scorching and frenzied!
To be precise, the Fire Attribute Source Energy within the five elemental source energies had become unusually active!
Lin Ye’s eyes narrowed.
He saw what looked like invisible, raging flames rising from Xue Wangshu’s body!
His striking red hair moved without any wind, each strand standing on end like a burning flame!
At the same time, the fluctuations of his Qi and Blood were skyrocketing at a terrifying speed!
Xue Wangshu clenched his fists, and two crimson flames ignited out of thin air!
A searing heatwave washed over them, causing the very air around the platform to distort!
Lin Ye knew this must be the greatest asset of the genius who had dominated Dongjiang’s number one spot for nearly three years.
This had to be Xue Wangshu’s Martial Arts Spirituality.
In the second-floor viewing area.
"This Martial Arts Spiritual Burning Fist, passed down from the Xue Family’s ancestor, truly ensures a smooth martial path for his descendants for their entire lives."
Li Kai Nian said softly as he watched Xue Wangshu’s aura surge on the platform.
It sounded partly like a commentary, and partly like a sigh of emotion.
The Xue Family of Dongjiang was considered a prominent martial arts family in the entire Ninghai Province.
The family’s ancestor was even a renowned Martial Saint who once shook the region.
Direct descendants of the Xue Family have a chance of awakening the hereditary Martial Arts Spirituality known as "Burning Fist."
After awakening it, a Martial Artist can only absorb Fire Attribute Source Energy, but their absorption and conversion efficiency becomes several times faster than that of an ordinary Martial Artist.
Once this Martial Arts Spirituality is activated, their Qi and Blood will surge like molten lava, granting a massive boost to their strength, speed, and explosive power.
Although it consumes an enormous amount of stamina, their strength will more than double for a short period!
In terms of combat power enhancement, Burning Fist was definitely a top-tier Martial Arts Spirituality.
Li Kai Nian looked at Wang Zhengguo beside him and asked, "This student of yours, he hasn’t awakened a Martial Arts Spirituality?"
Wang Zhengguo’s heart tightened. He could only shake his head with a bitter smile.
"From the looks of it, no, he hasn’t."
Li Kai Nian’s expression didn’t change.
But Wang Zhengguo knew this was definitely a mark against Lin Ye.
He sighed inwardly.
’He’s still lacking in the end.’
Although Lin Ye’s Spirit intensity and life index were terrifyingly high, and his foundation was absurdly solid, on the path of martial arts, the further one went, the more crucial Martial Arts Spirituality became.
A powerful Martial Arts Spirituality was the trump card that created real gaps in combat strength.
He had seen too many geniuses with solid foundations and outstanding comprehension.
Simply because they failed to awaken a Martial Arts Spirituality in their entire lifetime, they ultimately faded into obscurity, stagnated at a certain realm, and lived with regret for the rest of their lives.
Failing to awaken a Martial Arts Spirituality meant you were destined to be a step behind others right from the starting line.
On the arena platform.
Lin Ye watched as the level indicator above his opponent’s head skyrocketed from LV19 to finally stop at LV22 in just a few seconds!
A three-level jump!
The power of Burning Fist was truly heaven-defying.
Although Lin Ye had many skills and abilities, none of them were his Martial Arts Spirituality.
Lin Ye felt a flicker of anticipation.
’When will I awaken my own first, true Martial Arts Spirituality?’
’And how strong will it be?’