25: Lin Yi and Wang Kai

On the viewing platform, the Dean and Li You were both filled with emotion and anticipation.

On the martial arts arena, Lin Yi was completely unaware of this, but even if he knew, he would only smile.

Extreme Strength? He had already comprehended it yesterday!

If he waited for a year, then given his talent, even reaching Minor Achievement in Extreme Strength would be a certainty; he might even be able to push for Major Achievement!

Comprehending Extreme Strength in a year? That would be severely underestimating him.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

On the martial arts arena, as the long saber in Lin Yi's hand flowed, a series of crisp weapon clashing sounds echoed across the field.

Lin Yi's body moved with the saber, every Move and stance appearing as if naturally formed; it not only contained immense power but was also filled with endless beauty.

Under Lin Yi's terrifying saber technique, even though this bronze mechanical man was at the Sixth Grade Initial Stage with immense speed and strength, it was easily suppressed by Lin Yi's successive flashes of saber light.

Finally, after more than thirty breaths of time.

When the long staff and long saber collided again, the saber suddenly spun slightly. The staff, along with the bronze mechanical man holding it, was pulled off balance by this strike, leaving its central defenses wide open.

"An opening!"

Seeing this, a sharp light flashed in Lin Yi's eyes. His saber changed form again, slashing fiercely into the energy core on the bronze mechanical man's chest.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound rang out across the arena. The bronze mechanical man's body trembled, and the red glow in its eyes slowly faded. It turned into a statue, once again devoid of any sound or life.

"Candidate Number 74 wins! Defeated the Sixth Grade Initial Stage mechanical man in 183 Moves!"

On the arena, the thin martial arts teacher announced loudly, his voice resonant. He then looked at Lin Yi:

"Candidate Number 74, congratulations on defeating the Sixth Grade Initial Stage bronze mechanical man. Next, you may continue to challenge the stronger Sixth Grade Middle Stage bronze mechanical man. Do you wish to challenge?"

"No."

Lin Yi shook his head, cupped his fists toward the martial arts teacher, and stepped down from the examination field.

"Lin Yi, impressive!"

As soon as Lin Yi left the field, Wang Kai gave him a thumbs up and said with emotion:

"You fellow, a while ago you couldn't even take one Move from me. I didn't expect you to make such rapid progress in just a few months; your strength is almost catching up to mine."

"At this rate, it probably won't be hard for you to get into the Heavenly Mountain Sect next year. In the future, even reaching the Fourth Rank will be easy."

Speaking of this, Wang Kai's eyes were full of envy.

Fourth Rank and Fifth Rank might seem like a difference of one rank, but in reality, they are worlds apart.

One must know that although a Fifth-rank Martial Artist is considered an expert in Guangling Prefecture City, they are merely an expert; there are quite a few of them in the entire city.

But the Fourth Rank—that is a truly top-tier existence in Guangling Prefecture City, a powerhouse who can support an entire Great Family alone! This gap is naturally immense!

Furthermore, with Lin Yi's talent, if he truly reaches the Fourth Rank, he likely won't be an ordinary Fourth-Rank Martial Artist, which makes it even more impressive.

"Everything depends on fate!"

Lin Yi smiled faintly:

"Who can say for sure what will happen in the future? I'm not thinking about the Fourth Rank for now. What I want most is to defeat you and everyone else in this Entrance Exam, take first place, and claim those five thousand taels of silver first."

"Defeat me?"

Hearing this, Wang Kai was momentarily stunned, but he soon laughed:

"Haha! Lin Yi, that will depend on your skill, because I won't be showing any mercy."

"Heh, don't worry! I don't need you to go easy on me!"

Lin Yi laughed and then waited silently on the arena... Thus, time slowly passed as batch after batch of martial academy Disciples finished their matches.

Setting aside those who had just entered the academy or had only been there for a year, among Lin Yi's class of Disciples, no other dark horses emerged besides him. Those who could enter the top twenty were all familiar old faces.

As for their strength, these Disciples had barely improved since the last exam, mostly remaining between the Seventh-Rank Late Stage and the Seventh Grade Peak Stage.

Consequently, Lin Yi and Wang Kai, who possessed Sixth Grade Initial Stage strength, naturally swept through their competition. They quickly defeated every opponent in the second round of arena battles and soon reached the final showdown.

"I announce that the final match for the 286th class of Disciples in this Entrance Exam begins now."

On the arena, the burly man shouted loudly:

"This match is between Candidate Number 74, Lin Yi, and Candidate Number 108, Wang Kai!"

"You two, take the stage!"

"Roar! Lin Yi! Lin Yi!"

"Wang Kai! You are the strongest!"

"Senior Brother Lin Yi! Defeat him!"

"Senior Brother Lin Yi! Go! Become number one! Show them the power of us commoner Disciples!"

"Senior Brother Wang Kai! Invincible in the academy! Senior Brother Wang Kai! Number one in the academy! Senior Brother Wang Kai! Keep it up!"

...As soon as the burly man finished speaking, the martial academy Disciples on the field and the many spectators in the surrounding stands roared. The momentum was far greater than the last time Wang Kai and Lin Yi fought in the Number One Training Ground under Li You's guidance.

However, compared to that time, Lin Yi's popularity was much higher now, even faintly surpassing Wang Kai's.

After all, Lin Yi was already powerful, and along with Wang Kai, they were the most dazzling figures in this exam, far outstripping the others.

Furthermore, after so much time spent competing, the Disciples and the spectators had learned about Lin Yi's humble background, either through word of mouth or through investigations by their subordinates.

Lin Yi, who fit the archetype of 'talented, strong, yet disadvantaged,' was essentially a model of a commoner's inspirational counterattack, naturally attracting many supporters and admirers.

"Lin Yi, I didn't expect your popularity to be so high."

Seeing this, on the massive stage, Wang Kai leaned on his greatsword and smiled:

"Your popularity seems to have surpassed mine now. How about it? Feeling happy?"

"Surpassing you in popularity is nothing to be happy about."

Hearing this, Lin Yi simply shook his head with a faint smile:

"Surpassing you in strength, defeating you, and then getting those five thousand taels of silver—that's what will make me happy!"

"Tsk tsk, you really have confidence! But unfortunately, you won't get your wish this time! Take this!"

With those words, Wang Kai suddenly raised his two-handed greatsword high, as if an ancient Divine Being were swinging a giant axe, and slashed directly down at Lin Yi.

Great Mountain Opening Sword Technique, First Form — One Sword Opens the Mountain!

"Boom!"

A startling sonic boom rang out. Under Wang Kai's sword, the layers of air in front of him were instantly split apart.

Waves of air formed by the greatsword's power radiated outward from Wang Kai in all directions. It was incredibly powerful, causing the Disciples ranked outside the top ten to tremble with fear, thinking that if they were in Lin Yi's place, they wouldn't even be able to take this one strike.

However, facing this terrifying strike, Lin Yi's expression remained calm as he simply swung his long saber.

"Whoosh!"

Streaks of snow-white saber light instantly sliced through the Void Realm, forming a 'sphere' of saber light that enveloped Lin Yi's entire body in the blink of an eye.

Enclosed within this 'sphere,' although Wang Kai's sword strike was extraordinary in power and momentum, it was easily blocked, clearly far from reaching the limits of Lin Yi's defense.

"Again!"

Failing to land the hit, Wang Kai's gaze narrowed. He swung his greatsword again, which now acted like a massive iron hammer, fiercely 'smashing' toward Lin Yi.

But... "Clang!"

Accompanied by a crisp sound of clashing metal, Wang Kai's strike was once again easily blocked.

After that... "Clang! Clang! Clang!"

A continuous series of weapon collisions rang out. On the stage, Wang Kai brandished his greatsword, attacking frantically like a human-shaped dragon.

"Sword Sweeps Mountains and Rivers!"

"Mountain Peaks Shatter!"

"Opening Mountains and Splitting Seas!"

"One Sword Sinks the River!"

... "Rumble!"

Fierce attacks were launched one after another. Moves from the Great Mountain Opening Sword Technique were executed by Wang Kai in succession, each one erupting with supreme power.

Faced with such terrifying attacks, anyone below the Seventh Grade Peak Stage would definitely be defeated in a single Move.

Even an ordinary Seventh Grade Peak Stage expert would find it difficult to last ten Moves.

But the defensive power of Lin Yi's Bright Moon Saber Technique was simply too great.

Against such formidable defense, no matter how strong Wang Kai's attacks or how fierce his power, he ultimately had no way to deal with Lin Yi.

In the blink of an eye, Wang Kai had attacked hundreds of times, yet Lin Yi remained as steady as Mount Tai on the stage.

Until—

"Clang!"

The sound of metal clashing rang out once more as Wang Kai's sword strike again failed to achieve anything.

But this time, Wang Kai did not continue his attack. Instead, he let out a light breath and looked at Lin Yi, praising him with a smile:

"Whew! The ninth form of the Bright Moon Saber Technique, 'Full Moon Without Flaw,' truly lives up to its reputation as the strongest defensive Move of the technique!"

"Even when used by a Seventh-Rank Late Stage Martial Artist like you, Lin Yi, as long as we are both in the Seventh Rank, I wouldn't be able to break your defense even if my cultivation is a minor stage higher."

"Forget it!"

Speaking to this point, Wang Kai shook his head slightly:

"I didn't really want to use my cultivation level to bully you, but it seems that if I don't unleash my true strength, I really won't be able to win against you."

"In that case, let's erupt!"

"Blood Qi, open!"