First Battle

The Ernst Institute Elite Tournament officially commenced. The massive central arena was packed with students and instructors watching the matches, the atmosphere electric.

Lin Qin's number was near the front, and his turn for the first round came quickly. His opponent was a fifth-year fire mage named Dell, a level-four mage who held a small reputation within the institute.

The two stepped onto the arena. Dell looked at the calm Lin Qin across from him, sensing the level-six warrior Battle Qi fluctuations radiating from him, and dared not be careless. In a battle between a mage and a warrior, distance was the key.

The referee announced the start.

Dell immediately retreated while chanting rapidly, a scorching fireball coalescing at the tip of his staff. He intended to use Fireball Technique to suppress Lin Qin and prevent him from closing the distance.

Lin Qin moved. He did not explode into full speed, but instead pressed forward with a steady, measured pace, his gaze locked onto Dell.

"Whoosh!" The fireball whistled toward him.

Lin Qin did not dodge or weave. The moment the fireball was about to strike, the ground beneath his feet trembled slightly, and a perfectly arched Earth Wall Technique rose instantly, precisely blocking the fireball's trajectory.

"Boom!" The fireball exploded; the earth wall shook and its surface charred, but it remained intact.

Dell's expression shifted slightly. Such fast casting speed! He immediately prepared his next spell.

But Lin Qin had already used this opportunity to close half the distance. He still did not sprint, maintaining a steady pace that exerted immense psychological pressure on Dell.

Dell finished his chant and swung his staff, sending a scorching Fire Wave Technique covering a wide, fan-shaped area in front of him, making it difficult to dodge.

Lin Qin stopped, plunged his broadsword into the ground before him, and pressed both hands onto the hilt. Channeling his mental energy, he resonated his internal Earth Battle Qi with the earth elements in the environment.

"Hum—"

An arched stone wall, far thicker and wider than a standard Earth Wall Technique, rose from the ground, shielding him completely like a massive shield. The fire wave crashed against the stone wall, flames churning, yet unable to cross it by even an inch.

"Is that... an improved Earth Wall Technique? What incredible defense!" a knowledgeable student in the audience exclaimed.

Sweat beaded on Dell's forehead. Having had two consecutive spells easily blocked, his mana consumption was significant, while his opponent seemed to be barely exerting himself.

Gritting his teeth, he prepared to cast a more powerful single-target attack spell, Flame Slash.

Just then, Lin Qin moved. He pulled his broadsword from the ground and pushed off with his feet, his figure instantly blurring like a cheetah sprinting across the ground; his speed surged! The steady pace from before had merely been to lull his opponent into a false sense of security.

"So fast!" Dell's pupils constricted. His chanting was interrupted, and he hurriedly released an instant-cast Fire Ring Technique, attempting to force Lin Qin back.

The scorching ring of fire expanded from Dell as the center. Instead of retreating, Lin Qin pressed forward, his broadsword glowing with dense, earthy-yellow Battle Qi, and delivered a simple, direct vertical slash!

"Sshhh!"

The fire ring was forcibly split open by the broadsword imbued with level-six Battle Qi! Lin Qin passed through the ring, instantly closing in on Dell, the tip of his broadsword coming to a halt right at his throat.

The entire process took only a few breaths.

Dell froze in place, his face deathly pale, cold sweat streaming down. He had lost, and the loss was without question.

"Lin Qin, winner!" the referee announced loudly.

The crowd was silent for a moment before erupting into discussion. He had won too easily! That Dell hadn't even forced Lin Qin to show his full strength. Lin Qin's grasp of timing, his control of distance, and that display of rapid, sturdy defensive magic had left a deep impression on everyone.

Lin Qin sheathed his sword, nodded at Dell, and walked off the arena.

Aileen was waiting for him below, a smile on her face. "That was a beautiful win."

"The opponent wasn't strong," Lin Qin said truthfully. An opponent of this caliber didn't even compare to some of the dangers he had encountered in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

He looked toward the other arenas, his gaze sweeping over several figures with powerful auras, including Linley, who was on another stage, effortlessly toying with his opponent using wind-style magic.