On the viewing platform, the Dean and Li You were both filled with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi had no idea what was being said in the Martial Arts Arena. Even if he had known, he would have simply smiled.
Extreme Strength? He had already comprehended it yesterday!
If he waited another year, then with his talent, reaching Minor Accomplishment in Extreme Strength would be a sure thing. He might even be able to make a push for Great Accomplishment!
A year to comprehend Extreme Strength? That was underestimating him far too much.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
On the Martial Arts Arena, as the long saber in Lin Yi's hand flashed and flowed, a series of crisp weapon clashes rang out.
Lin Yi's body moved with his saber. Every move and every stance seemed to come naturally, not only containing boundless power but also brimming with endless beauty.
Under Lin Yi's terrifying saber art, even though the Bronze Automaton was Sixth Rank Early Stage, with speed and strength both extraordinary, it was now easily suppressed by each flash of Lin Yi's saber.
Finally, after more than thirty breaths.
As the long staff clashed with the long saber once more, the saber suddenly twisted slightly. The strike threw the staff—and the Bronze Automaton gripping it—off balance, leaving its middle flank wide open.
"An opening!"
A flash of brilliance lit Lin Yi's eyes. His long saber changed course once more, slashing fiercely into the energy core in the Bronze Automaton's chest.
"Clang!"
A crisp sound rang out across the Martial Arts Arena. The Bronze Automaton's body shuddered, then the red light in its eyes slowly faded. It turned into a statue and fell silent once more.
"Candidate Number Seventy-Four wins! Defeated the Sixth Rank Early Stage automaton in one hundred and eighty-three moves!"
The short, stocky martial arts instructor called out loudly from the Martial Arts Arena, then turned to Lin Yi.
"Candidate Number Seventy-Four, congratulations on defeating the Sixth Rank Early Stage Bronze Automaton. You may now challenge an even stronger Bronze Automaton at the Mid Sixth Rank. Would you like to challenge it?"
"No."
Lin Yi shook his head. He cupped his fist toward the instructor, then left the arena.
"Lin Yi, impressive!"
As soon as Lin Yi stepped off the arena, Wang Kai gave him a thumbs-up and exclaimed, "You couldn't even block one of my moves a while ago. I never thought you'd make such rapid progress in just a few months. Your strength is almost catching up to mine."
"At this rate, you'll probably have no trouble getting into Tianshan Sect next year. You'll have an easy time reaching Fourth Rank someday, too."
As he spoke, Wang Kai's eyes filled with envy.
Fourth Rank and Fifth Rank might seem to be only one rank apart, but the difference was as vast as heaven and earth.
Fifth-Rank Martial Artists were experts in Guangling Prefecture City, to be sure, but they were only experts. There were still quite a few of them throughout the city.
But Fourth Rank was another matter. Those were the true apex figures of Guangling Prefecture City, powerful enough for a single person to support an entire great lineage! Naturally, the gap was enormous.
What was more, with Lin Yi's talent, if he really reached Fourth Rank, he probably wouldn't be an ordinary Fourth-Rank Martial Artist. That would make him even more formidable.
"It all depends on fate."
Lin Yi smiled faintly.
"Who can say what the future holds? I'm not thinking about whether I'll reach Fourth Rank or not. Right now, all I want is to beat you and the others in this Entrance Examination, take first place, and claim those five thousand taels of silver."
"Beat me?"
Wang Kai was taken aback, but then he laughed.
"Haha! Lin Yi, that'll depend on what you can do. After all, I won't go easy on you."
"Heh, don't worry! I don't need you to go easy on me!"
Lin Yi smiled, then waited quietly in the Martial Arts Arena.
Time passed slowly, and batch after batch of Martial Arts Academy disciples finished their matches.
Setting aside the new disciples and those who had only been at the Martial Arts Academy for a year, among the disciples of Lin Yi's own year, no dark horses emerged besides him. Those who made it into the top twenty were all familiar faces.
As for their strength, these disciples had barely improved since the last examination. Most were between Late Seventh Rank and Peak Seventh Rank.
Thus, with their Sixth Rank Early Stage strength, Lin Yi and Wang Kai naturally swept through their opponents in the second round's tournament matches. They quickly defeated one opponent after another and soon reached the final match.
"I hereby announce that the final match for the two hundred and eighty-sixth class of this Entrance Examination begins now!"
The burly man called out from the Martial Arts Arena.
"This match will be between Candidate Number Seventy-Four, Lin Yi, and Candidate Number One Hundred and Eight, Wang Kai!"
"You two, take the field!"
"Roar! Lin Yi! Lin Yi!"
"Wang Kai! You're the strongest!"
"Senior Brother Lin Yi! Beat him!"
"Senior Brother Lin Yi! Go! Become number one and show them what Poor Family Disciples can do!"
"Senior Brother Wang Kai! The Martial Arts Academy is invincible! Senior Brother Wang Kai is number one in the academy! Senior Brother Wang Kai, go!"
The moment the burly man finished speaking, the Martial Arts Academy disciples and the many spectators in the surrounding stands roared with excitement. The uproar was far louder than when Wang Kai and Lin Yi had fought under Li You's guidance at Training Ground Number One.
But compared with that time, Lin Yi was far more popular now—he even seemed to have surpassed Wang Kai.
After all, Lin Yi was impressive in his own right. He and Wang Kai were the brightest stars in this examination, far outshining everyone else.
On top of that, after all the matches, the disciples in the Martial Arts Arena and the spectators in the stands had learned about Lin Yi's background as a Poor Family Disciple—some through explanations from those around them, others through investigations by their subordinates.
With every box checked for "strong, beautiful, and tragic," Lin Yi was practically the model of an ordinary person's inspiring comeback. It was only natural that so many people supported and liked him.
"Lin Yi, I never expected you to be so popular."
On the massive arena, Wang Kai rested his greatsword against the ground and smiled.
"Looks like you've even surpassed me in popularity. How do you feel? Happy?"
"There's nothing to be happy about in surpassing you in popularity."
Lin Yi shook his head with a faint smile.
"I'll be happy when I surpass you in strength, defeat you, and take those five thousand taels of silver!"
"Tsk, you sure are confident! Too bad you won't get what you want this time. Take this!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Wang Kai raised his greatsword high with both hands. Like an Ancient God swinging a giant axe, he brought it down on Lin Yi.
Great Mountain Splitting Sword Technique, First Form—One Sword Splits the Mountain!
Boom!
A startling blast of air rang out. Wang Kai's sword split apart the layers of air in front of him.
The shock waves formed by the greatsword's power spread rapidly in every direction from Wang Kai. They were so powerful that the disciples ranked below tenth place in the second round, standing beneath the arena, trembled with fear. They could not help thinking that if they were in Lin Yi's place, they probably wouldn't even be able to block this one strike.
But faced with this terrifying sword strike, Lin Yi remained calm. He simply swung his long saber once.
Whoosh!
Snow-white ribbons of saber light flashed through the air. In the blink of an eye, they formed a sphere of saber light around Lin Yi, enveloping him completely.
Under the protection of this sphere, Wang Kai's strike, though powerful and fierce, was easily blocked. It was clear that Lin Yi had nowhere near reached the limit of his defense.
"Again!"
His first attack had failed. Wang Kai's gaze sharpened as he swung his greatsword, then slammed it down at Lin Yi like an enormous iron hammer.
But...
"Clang!"
A crisp metallic clash rang out as Wang Kai's strike was once again easily blocked.
After that...
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
A continuous series of weapon clashes rang out. On the arena, Wang Kai wielded his greatsword like a humanoid Tyrannosaurus, launching a furious barrage of attacks.
Sword Sweeps Mountains and Rivers!
Mountain Shattering!
Mountain Splitting Sea Dividing!
One Sword Sinks the River!
Rumble!
His ferocious attacks kept crashing down. One move after another from the Great Mountain Splitting Sword Technique burst forth, each unleashing astonishing power.
Against attacks this terrifying, anyone below Peak Seventh Rank would lose in a single move.
Even an ordinary Peak Seventh-Rank expert would struggle to last ten moves.
But Lin Yi's Bright Moon Saber Art had an incredibly powerful defense.
Faced with that terrifying defense, no matter how strong Wang Kai's attacks were or how fierce their power, he was ultimately unable to do a thing to Lin Yi.
In the blink of an eye, Wang Kai unleashed hundreds of attacks, but Lin Yi remained as steady as a mountain on the arena.
Until—
"Clang!"
Another metallic clash rang out. Wang Kai's sword had once again come up empty.
This time, however, Wang Kai didn't continue attacking. He let out a breath and looked at Lin Yi with an approving smile.
"Phew! The ninth form of the Bright Moon Saber Art, Perfect Moon, truly lives up to its reputation as the technique's strongest defensive move!"
"Even when wielded by a Late Seventh-Rank Martial Artist like you, someone at the same rank can't break through your defense—even if their martial cultivation is a minor realm higher."
"Forget it!"
Wang Kai shook his head lightly.
"I hadn't wanted to use my martial cultivation to bully you, but it looks like if I don't unleash my true strength, I really won't be able to beat you."
"In that case, let's unleash it!"
"Qi and blood, open!"
Before you continue