This Time, I Won Again

"What! Extreme Strength!"

"Th-this is Extreme Strength!"

"Oh my god! This Martial Arts Academy prodigy called Lin Yi actually comprehended Extreme Strength at just fourteen?"

"Th-this is way too monstrous!"

While the two Deans on the viewing platform were still reeling in shock, the influential figures seated around the arena also recognized the Extreme Strength Realm contained in Lin Yi's saber strike. One after another, they cried out in astonishment.

Extreme Strength! It was a martial arts realm that only Fifth Grade Martial Artists could comprehend—and even many Fifth Grade Martial Artists had failed to grasp it!

Yet now, this mere fourteen-year-old boy, Lin Yi, had comprehended it. Just how monstrous was that?

Many people had never seen a genius like him, even over the course of their entire lives.

"Extreme Strength?"

On the arena, Wang Kai heard the waves of astonished shouts from around him and finally realized what was happening. He stared at Lin Yi in disbelief, then froze for a moment before a wry smile crept across his face.

"Extreme Strength. Impressive! Truly impressive! I never expected you to comprehend such a profound martial arts realm so quickly, Lin Yi."

"Ever since you opened your apertures, I knew that with your talent, you'd comprehend Extreme Strength sooner or later. But no matter how monstrous you were, I thought you'd only just opened your apertures. I figured you wouldn't reach this stage until next year at the earliest."

"But I still underestimated you! You're even stronger than I imagined!"

"What? Wang Kai, all that talk means you've lost your confidence? Are you thinking of surrendering to me now?"

Lin Yi chuckled and teased him.

"Surrender to you?"

Wang Kai laughed at that.

"Not a chance! Don't underestimate me, Lin Yi. Your strength is indeed terrifying now that you've comprehended Extreme Strength, but I'm no pushover either!"

"I'm at least a mid-stage Sixth Rank Martial Artist. Besides, I've heard that someone who has only just entered Extreme Strength can't unleash it many times if their body isn't strong enough. So whether you can beat me today is still up in the air."

"What's more, you didn't surrender to me earlier. Why would I, Wang Kai, surrender to you now?"

"Come on, Lin Yi! If you want to beat me, bring out everything you've got. I want to see just how powerful you are as a master of Extreme Strength!"

"Fine! If that's what you want, then you'll get it!"

Lin Yi nodded, then stamped his foot.

BOOM!

A thunderous crash rang out. As Lin Yi exerted himself on the bluestone arena, he shot toward Wang Kai with his long saber in hand, swift as a grasshopper.

After his brief rest, Lin Yi was able to unleash another strike infused with Extreme Strength.

His icy blade carried immense force and speed, cutting through layer upon layer of empty air in an instant and leaving behind a dazzling arc of saber light.

At the sight of that terrifying saber light, Wang Kai's breath caught. But his fierce fighting spirit drove him to raise his greatsword and unleash a fearsome sword technique in the blink of an eye.

Great Mountain Splitting Sword Technique, Seventh Form—Sword Sweeps Mountains and Rivers!

BOOM!

A streak of sword light swept across like a great axe slashing down at an angle, crashing into the dazzling saber light.

CLANG!

Blade met sword. Once again, Wang Kai was sent staggering back by Lin Yi's strike, with no suspense at all.

"Again!"

Driven back by the single move, Wang Kai's face flushed and his blood surged. He swung his greatsword again and slashed at Lin Yi.

But this time, Lin Yi couldn't unleash Extreme Strength, so he didn't meet Wang Kai head-on. Instead, he turned his saber and once again used "Perfect Moon," the strongest defensive technique in the Bright Moon Saber Art, to withstand Wang Kai's terrifying attack.

BOOM!

The air exploded. Beneath the force of Wang Kai's mighty sword strike, Lin Yi too was sent flying, with no suspense at all.

But that was all—he had only been sent flying. Though Lin Yi was far weaker than Wang Kai when he couldn't unleash Extreme Strength, he was skilled in defense thanks to the Bright Moon Saber Art and could still withstand a few moves. He wasn't going to be defeated in a single strike.

"Haha! Again!"

"Again!"

On the arena, Wang Kai laughed as he grew more and more excited, pressing his advantage and chasing after Lin Yi.

And so...

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The sounds of weapons colliding and air bursting rang out one after another across the arena as Lin Yi and Wang Kai fought with all their might.

One had explosive power, while the other had greater stamina. The moment they clashed, they were like dragons battling tigers, evenly matched and neither gaining the upper hand. The spectators around them cried out in excitement, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

"Strong! Strong! Strong! So strong! Is this the strength of Guangling Commandery's truly top geniuses? They're incredible!"

"Terrifying! Absolutely terrifying! I can't believe the two people fighting up there are only fourteen-year-old boys. If I hadn't seen their youthful faces, I'd believe anyone who told me they were famous masters of many years! Compared to them, I've lived this long for nothing!"

"Brother Li, ordinary people like us shouldn't compare ourselves to geniuses like these! Forget us—how many of the top experts, influential figures, and high officials here could compare to those two? They'll both enter the Tianshan Sect one day and become great figures!"

"Especially Lin Yi. He's only fourteen and has already comprehended Extreme Strength. In my opinion, as long as nothing goes wrong, he's practically guaranteed to reach the Fourth Rank. He might even become the greatest expert in all of Guangling Commandery!"

"Exactly! Those two are incredible!"

The wealthy merchants and powerful nobles cried out in amazement.

By now, Lin Yi and Wang Kai had fought more than three hundred moves, and the battle had finally reached its most intense stage.

Great Mountain Splitting Sword Technique—Mountain Shattering!

On the arena, Wang Kai once again brought his sword crashing down at Lin Yi, as if he meant to knock him clean off the platform.

But just then, after unleashing himself furiously for more than a thousand moves in total, Wang Kai's greatsword suddenly faltered for an instant.

"Now!"

Lin Yi's eyes flashed. Without hesitation, he unleashed Extreme Strength.

BOOM!

The air split apart in layers. In that instant, the air before Lin Yi's long saber formed a wave of saber energy.

The wave wrapped around Lin Yi, making him seem to transform into an enormous Heavenly Saber as he slashed at Wang Kai.

"Not good!"

Wang Kai's expression changed. He hurriedly turned his greatsword from offense to defense, trying to block Lin Yi's fatal strike.

But that strike was simply too fast and too fierce! Even with Wang Kai defending with all his might, he still fell just a hair short.

WHOOSH!

The two passed each other. The cold blade light skimmed Wang Kai's temple, just as it had the last time they fought during their breakthrough at Training Ground Number One, cutting off a lock of his black hair.

"Sorry, Wang Kai. This time, I won again."

Lin Yi turned to look at Wang Kai, who seemed somewhat dazed, and smiled faintly.