148: Thunder creates fire, fist breaks armor (two in one)

In the plaza, all eyes were fixated on the clock tower.

Among the Shenji Academy team, some people’s eyes contracted sharply.

This sudden figure had completely evaded their perception, arriving at this place at an unknown time.

This person was none other than Qin Jin, who had rushed here!

Facing the crowd's gaze, Qin Jin stepped forward, his figure leaving the clock tower and silently descending to the ground.

As he landed, the clock tower behind him seemed to completely buckle under his strength, and in an instant, with a deafening roar, the upper part of the clock tower collapsed, falling in a strangely straight line, crashing onto the ground below and kicking up dust.

Behind him was the collapsed clock tower.

Dust billowed, and Qin Jin stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the Shenji Academy students one by one, finally settling on the tall man who had asked the question.

He had encountered this person before.

During his initial exploration, the opponent had encountered Chi Wenwu, and Qin Jin had found him by hearing the commotion, eliminating him after a battle.

“Shenji Academy.”

His gaze lingered on the opponent as Qin Jin’s voice rang out: “Are you here for me?”

“Since you’ve already lost once, why bother coming back?”

His voice echoed through the plaza.

Upon hearing this.

The tall man’s eyes darkened: “Qin Jin.”

He remembered the name from Chi Wenwu’s shout at the time, and the memory was deeply ingrained after being directly eliminated in a head-on clash.

At this moment, he took a deep breath, a serious look appearing in his eyes: “Martial Abyss truly lives up to its reputation as the most outstanding Martial Arts Department in the galaxy, capable of producing a master like you.”

“However…”

“You defeated me once, but this time I’ve come to find you again precisely because I want you to witness the capabilities of our Shenji Academy.”

Qin Jin raised an eyebrow, deep in thought.

In front.

The man’s voice was frank: “In terms of pure Martial Arts, I am inferior to you, but what is happening now is the Po Xian Cup team competition, not a one-on-one duel in an arena. Qin Jin, at this very moment, I only ask you one thing.”

“Are you…”

“Ready?”

The moment his words fell.

He reached out to touch his spatial equipment.

A flash of light, and under everyone’s gaze, a creation about three to four meters tall appeared beside the man.

It was a… small, modular mech!

In the reflection of Qin Jin’s eyes, this small mech was humanoid. Compared to a true Combat Mech, it was more like an external armor for a Martial Artist, but it still achieved full body coverage, with the cockpit inside the fuselage, fitting snugly against the Martial Artist.

The materials used to build the mech were collected from this civilization's ruins. At the mech's chest, there was a dark, spherical bead embedded within the mechanical core, connecting the entire body. Around the mech, various patterns were carved with special materials. From the bead, a dark, mysterious power flowed into these patterns, adding a sense of mystery to it.

That bead was precisely the Merit Orb obtained from the special battlefield!

It was clear that some members of Shenji Academy had also entered that battlefield.

The Merit Orb absorbed the power of the Contaminator after their destruction. The students of Shenji Academy had developed their abilities to the fullest, transforming the spoils from the civilization's ruins to give them a greater purpose beyond just points.

In some areas of the mech, fragments of unknown energy were still visible, embedded within it.

Qin Jin himself had a very deep understanding of mechs. With a single glance, he could keenly discern that the crafting techniques in different parts of this mech appeared to vary.

Clearly…

This was not built by the man alone, but rather a collaborative effort by the Shenji Academy participants, who divided the work of manufacturing different parts and built it during the elapsed time of the team competition.

Perhaps this was the meaning of the team competition, and what differentiated it from individual competitions.

Currently.

It was being piloted by this third-year student from Shenji Academy.

As Qin Jin watched.

The small mech, with light shimmering above it, suddenly disintegrated. Aided by primordial power, it floated in the air, its various components donning the man’s body, combining in an instant. The Merit Orb on his chest grew even brighter.

In a flash, the man transformed into a small giant nearly four meters tall.

The patterns on the mech glowed.

With an extremely short construction period and limited materials, this small mech was even a modular, wearable type, rather crude, but it possessed a unique kind of beauty.

This was the ingenuity of individual students. In the future, perhaps well-known mech designers would emerge from among them.

Moreover, just by looking at the light surging along the rune lines, it could be determined that this mech was already capable of amplifying extraordinary power. The specific effect was unknown, but to achieve this much was already the best Combat Weapon for a Martial Artist.

“Qin Jin.”

“My name is Gao Hong, a third-year student from Shenji Academy.”

A somewhat muffled voice emanated from within the mech.

“You should be a senior student from Martial Abyss, right?”

“Since I’ve waited this long, I don’t mind waiting a bit longer. I can give you a chance to contact the other students from Martial Abyss.”

“Right here, our two teams can clash. The loser will only have wasted one exploration opportunity.”

“What do you say?”

As his voice fell, at the other end, Xie Wuhai’s voice, full of surprise, rang out.

“You can do that?”

“Build a mech by hand in the civilization’s ruins?”

Martial Abyss had mech courses, and he could tell at a glance the fresh manufacturing traces of this mech. At this moment, ripples appeared in his eyes.

Beside him.

Su Xiangwan’s eyes darkened slightly. She didn’t speak, but on the mental plane, she was communicating rapidly with Han Miao through the seed.

It was at this moment.

Not far away, a voice rang out.

“No need.”

Qin Jin’s voice was calm, devoid of any ripples. With a slight thought, the long blade in his hand was put away into his spatial equipment.

He extended his hand, making an inviting gesture, without saying more, his meaning self-evident.

“It seems you are very confident.”

There was no amplification device inside the mech, and Gao Hong’s voice grew even deeper: “In that case, I won’t hold back.”

He was not one to hesitate either. The moment his words fell, he stomped his right leg, and primordial power surged out. On the mech’s surface, the rune lines glowed.

The towering, unnamed mech strode forward, approaching Qin Jin.

Not far away.

Seeing this, Su Xiangwan clenched her fist and subtly shifted her feet.

Beside her.

Xie Wuhai keenly noticed this, transmitting a mental message: “What are you doing?”

“Joining the fight.”

Su Xiangwan’s expression was serious, and she replied on the mental plane: “Although crude, that is already a basic extraordinary mech, capable of amplifying a Martial Artist.”

“The opponent is not to be trifled with.”

“If Qin Jin loses, the two of us will be even less of a match. It’s better to strike now, directly instigate a chaotic battle, and make the person piloting the mech somewhat constrained. Perhaps there might even be a chance.”

“Are you so certain that Qin Jin will lose?”

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Wuhai’s reply came.

Su Xiangwan looked at him.

From the academy district all the way here, plus their interactions at the camp, Su Xiangwan had gained some understanding of Xie Wuhai. In her eyes, he was a rather carefree individual who seemed not to care much about many things.

But now, Xie Wuhai’s eyes were unusually serious.

Sensing Su Xiangwan’s gaze, Xie Wuhai turned his head and looked towards the battleground.

His voice resonated on the mental plane.

“Just wait.”

“Since it’s a team competition, then trust our teammates.”

“The opponent was willing to give a chance, but Qin Jin refused, which means he is confident.”

“You have to believe him. He is undoubtedly the number one among our S-rank students this year.”

“Qin Jin…”

A flicker of memory crossed Xie Wuhai’s eyes, and his spirit fluctuated slightly: “He is truly strong, unimaginably strong!”

The mental communication was extremely swift.

On the other side.

Gao Hong piloted the mech, striding forward. As he advanced, his speed continuously increased. The mech, with its massive body, was like a charging bull, primordial power surging out, amplified, its aura spreading around him.

He had fought Qin Jin before and knew how formidable he was.

Precisely because of this, now piloting the mech crafted by the combined efforts of the entire team, he held nothing back. The power he unleashed was even more ferocious than when he last fought Qin Jin, and after amplification, its might was further elevated!

It was at this moment.

Qin Jin moved.

His body surged forward, just like their first meeting. The distance between them rapidly closed. Before contact, Qin Jin leaped, his right hand clenched into a fist, primordial power surging, and lightning flashing forth.

At the other end.

Gao Hong’s fist clenched, moving the mech. The rune patterns above glowed even more brilliantly, power surging madly into the fist, which swung forward.

On one side was a flesh fist.

On the other side was a steel fist.

The moment before the fists even collided, with the clash of primordial forces, a deafening roar erupted, resounding in all directions. In the next instant, the two fists violently struck each other!

Boom!

At the moment of contact, an explosive sound occurred. At the point where the two met, ripples of power surged through the air, spreading in all directions. The debris on the plaza ground shattered with a crash as the ripples extended.

The distant spectators’ clothes fluttered, and they instinctively activated their powers to block the ripples.

At the same time.

At the point of impact, the moment power erupted, a figure was directly repelled.

That was…

Qin Jin!

Gao Hong’s mech remained as solid as a mountain, while Qin Jin seemed to have been at a disadvantage in the clash of power, being directly repelled.

Cheers erupted from the Shenji Academy team.

“The plan succeeded.”

“It wasn’t in vain that we worked so hard in the resting area, besides exploring.”

“The senior students of Martial Abyss are absolutely extraordinary. Their strength is among the top tier of all Po Xian Cup participants. If our senior can gain the upper hand while piloting the mech, then we will have an advantage in combat power in this team competition.”

“Next, we’ll make a big splash.”

“Wait, why isn’t Senior Gao pressing his advantage? The opponent hasn’t been eliminated yet?”

A voice rang out.

The cheers abruptly stopped.

Their gazes converged. The unnamed mech, which had not yet been named, stood rooted in place, its hand still maintaining the punching posture. But at this moment, accompanied by cracking sounds, cracks suddenly appeared, starting from where the mech’s fist had collided.

Then…

With an explosive sound, the palm part of the mech’s right arm suddenly burst open.

The mech had sustained damage, but Gao Hong paid no attention. His gaze was fixed intently on the front.

Dozens of meters away.

After the fist-to-fist collision and being repelled, Qin Jin’s body did not lose balance. After retreating a certain distance, his figure suddenly seemed to freeze, landing on the ground. It appeared that the previous impact had no effect on him whatsoever.

It was at this moment.

Qin Jin’s voice rang out.

“What a pity.”

There was a hint of regret in his voice: “You exploited your greatest strength, collaborated to build a mech, and supported your strongest member. Your understanding of the team competition is thorough enough.”

“Unfortunately, the materials limited you.”

“If the materials were stronger, we could have fought to our heart’s content.”

Qin Jin slowly approached.

“Next, don’t hold back. Unleash the full power of your mech.”

“Otherwise…”

“You will lose very quickly.”

As he spoke, he moved forward. At a certain moment, lightning flickered around him, forming armor as the Sky Thunder Body activated.

Qin Jin’s words were serious.

Because he truly thought so.

The participants from Shenji Academy, from conception to execution, were extremely successful. Such flexible thinking and initiative were worthy of respect.

Precisely because of this…

He would also use his hidden power, as a sign of solemnity.

On the armor, lightning flickered.

And at a certain moment, brilliant flames surged forth from within the lightning.

Lightning begets fire.

Sky Fire Body!

The Nine Tribulation True Body, with its nine different True Bodies, involved various elements.

But when a Martial Artist had sufficient mastery of this Combat Method and their body could withstand it, two True Bodies could also be manifested simultaneously, intertwining with each other.

Flames rose from the lightning. These two extremely yang and rigid powers surged around Qin Jin, his aura climbing higher and higher.

Lightning and fire, the two powers Qin Jin had the deepest mastery of, combined within him.

It was at this moment…

Within the Spirit Void, the Fire God stood at one end, opening its eyes at this moment!

The Fire God opened its eyes.

In that instant, the Fire God Scroll was activated. From an angle invisible to outsiders, within the Spirit Void, the Fire God’s phantom ascended, its figure shrinking, appearing behind Qin Jin.

Qin Jin took one step, while the Fire God behind him took two steps.

After this step, the Fire God merged into Qin Jin’s body, integrating with him. The two became one, and Qin Jin’s aura surged. At the corner of his eyes, flame patterns rose.

Lightning and fire merged, forming a unique aura that spread over his body, continuously rising. Qin Jin took one step, and in the next second, his entire body shot across the air like a streak of light, already reaching the front of the mech. Lightning and fire converged on his fist, and he unleashed a fierce punch.

Gao Hong faced a formidable enemy, raising his arm to intercept. As he intercepted, the inexplicable energy fragments surrounding his mech actively exploded, and energy surged in. The patterns on the mech’s surface operated to their extreme, even faintly showing an unusual color.

A fist slammed into an iron arm.

At the moment of contact, Gao Hong clearly perceived an unparalleled immense force. This nearly four-meter-tall small giant, under the effect of the tremendous force, slid backward, feet scraping the ground.

Along the way,

there were also sounds of parts shattering and hitting the ground.

While repelling the mech, Qin Jin’s speed burst forth, completely exceeding the opponent’s imagination. He arrived later but moved faster, pursuing and kicking the mech’s abdomen from below and to the side.

Lightning and fire were contained within him, not erupting.

But with the added techniques, his strength was astonishing. The nameless mech was kicked up, abdomen facing down, back facing the sky, forming a strange parabola as it rose into the air.

Energy surged, and Gao Hong struggled to maintain balance, sweat beading on his forehead.

He was like a sandbag.

He piloted the mech, yet found himself completely unable to keep up with the opponent’s movements.

He was just a sandbag.

As the mech regained its balance, Qin Jin had already pursued again, his fist carrying lightning and fire, unstoppable. He used one arm to block the mech’s intercepting arm, while his other fist slammed into the mech’s chest.

There, the Combat Merit Orb glowed.

The fist landed, and power erupted!

Brilliant lightning and fire completely erupted at this moment, engulfing the entire mech. The surging power was like a tsunami, starting from the Combat Merit Orb. Violent shattering sounds echoed from every part of the mech, and cracks spread. In the next instant, this combined mech, crafted from the collective strength of Shenji Academy students, exploded with a roar!

It was like a fireworks display in mid-air.

As the mech exploded, a teleportation halo rose in mid-air.

Gao Hong’s figure disappeared.

As the mech shattered, the power of the lightning and fire eruption had already decisively defeated him, directly eliminating him from this exploration.

Thud.

A landing sound echoed.

An aura spread around him. After the battle, the lightning and fire became even more harmonious as Qin Jin landed on the ground.

The moment he landed on the ground,

the mech fragments that had disintegrated in the air fell everywhere on the ground, making continuous, rather harsh clinking sounds.

Qin Jin’s eyes closed for a moment, sensing his own power.

“Heavenly Azure, Martial Arts.”

“Only when both are combined and erupt together do I truly enter my strongest form.”

The flame patterns at the corners of his eyes receded, and his aura retracted. Within two short breaths, his surging momentum stabilized, and everything dissipated, as if the previous scene had never happened.

But…

This precisely demonstrated his ultimate control over these two powers.

Qin Jin turned his head, looking towards the other side.

There,

the students of Shenji Academy were all silent.

They looked at the mech fragments on the ground. Some were in disbelief, some rubbed their eyes, and others looked as if they had lost their souls.

“How can this be?”

“Is this the Seven Great Academies? Is this a student from Wuyuan…”

“While the materials certainly weren’t optimal, still…”

Muttering sounds arose.

Qin Jin stepped forward, walking towards the position where the two groups of people were confronting each other.

Ahead,

before he could even reach them, Xie Wuhai and Su Xiangwan actively came to meet him.

Su Xiangwan hesitated to speak, her expression full of turmoil. The scene just now had also brought her immense shock.

In contrast,

Xie Wuhai was much calmer. Looking at Qin Jin, he grinned and said, “No, Qin Jin, you’re just too strong.”

“How am I supposed to catch up?!”

“Don’t bully the young and poor is definitely out of the question, and late bloomer seems difficult too. Am I going to have to be ‘great in death’?”

He looked at Qin Jin, sighed deeply, and said, “Qin Jin, how about when I die, you leave a message on my tombstone when you sweep it, saying, ‘XX year XX month, fought with Wuya’s departed soul here, and it ended in a draw,’ how’s that?”

As soon as he finished speaking,

Xie Wuhai glanced at the Shenji Academy students in the distance, lowering his voice: “Qin Jin, can you reveal your progress in the Congenital Realm?”

Qin Jin raised an eyebrow slightly.

He pondered for a moment, then whispered, “Consider it three Shedding.”

“Three metamorphoses?!”

“Everyone had just entered the Congenital Realm when we first arrived at the academy, and you…”

At this, Xie Wuhai didn’t know what else to say, only giving a thumbs-up, nodding in admiration.

Qin Jin’s gaze fell on the Shenji Academy students. Just as he was about to speak, he sensed something, and his gaze shifted, looking towards another direction in the plaza.

Seeing his movement, Xie Wuhai and Su Xiangwan also looked.

There,

it was peaceful, with no one present.

But a moment later, seemingly in the blink of an eye, a figure arrived from somewhere, appearing there and entering the plaza.

That was…

Shi Luoshu!

A third-year student of Wuyuan.

And nominally, the captain of Wuyuan’s team participating in this team competition.

After entering the plaza, his speed slowed, and he walked forward, his gaze sweeping over Qin Jin and the others, and the Shenji Academy students, a flicker of thought in his eyes.

He stopped for a few seconds when passing the battleground of Qin Jin and Gao Hong.

The Shenji Academy students’ dejection was almost palpable.

Shi Luoshu approached, his gaze sweeping over the three Wuyuan members, finally focusing on Qin Jin. He said thoughtfully, “It seems I arrived a step too late.”

“Everything has already been resolved.”

“Mm.”

Qin Jin’s voice was calm: “Thank you for coming, Senior Shi.”

As he finished speaking,

Shi Luoshu had not yet replied.

Not far away,

among the Shenji Academy students, one student caught their conversation. With a change in expression, the girl who had initially spoken with Su Xiangwan stared intently at Qin Jin, her voice somewhat hoarse: “Qin Jin.”

“You…”,

“Are not a third-year student of Wuyuan?!”

Qin Jin looked at her.

Meeting Qin Jin’s gaze, the girl’s voice even held a hint of pleading: “Please tell me, what year are you?”

The other Shenji Academy students also stared over.

“First year.”

Qin Jin replied.

As his voice fell,

the Shenji Academy students fell silent again.

After a few breaths of quiet silence, a sudden, rather harsh laugh rang out from the crowd. The laughter contained a sense of relief.

The questioning girl also showed a bitter smile on her face. She gritted her teeth, looking at Qin Jin: “No need to fight anymore.”

“We will choose to eliminate ourselves and withdraw from this round of exploration.”

“Could you give us some time?”

Qin Jin’s eyes flickered with thought, and he nodded in agreement.

The remaining Shenji Academy students gathered together and began to communicate.

Beside him,

Shi Luoshu, seeing this scene, turned his gaze back to the battleground: “Student Qin Jin, it seems you’ve given them a big lesson.”

Qin Jin smiled peacefully, replying, “It was just a battle of convenience.”

Shi Luoshu nodded: “Since the matter is resolved, I won’t stay long. I’ll continue to collect points.”

“Student Qin Jin,”

“I look forward to seeing your brilliant performance in the individual competition.”

After leaving that last sentence, he quickly departed.

Not far away,

after a brief exchange, under the gaze of Qin Jin and the others, the Shenji Academy students did not hesitate. Since they had lost, and could afford to lose, they directly ended this exploration themselves via their wristbands.

Qin Jin’s eyes flickered.

Shenji Academy truly built mechs within this civilization ruin, but this also meant that a large amount of their previous effort was focused on this. Now that the mech was shattered, all their efforts became futile.

Next, Shenji Academy will face significant pressure regarding their ranking and the promotion of their top students to the individual competition.

Teleportation halos rose, and figures departed one by one.

The girl who had questioned Qin Jin stayed until the end. After raising her wristband, as if remembering something, she looked at Qin Jin.

She carefully examined Qin Jin, sighing softly, “This Po Xian Cup was truly worth it.”

“Student Qin Jin,”

The girl’s voice grew a little louder: “You must perform well in the individual competition! All of us from Shenji will support you!”

As her voice fell,

a halo enveloped her, and her figure disappeared.

“As expected of Jin Ge.”

Xie Wuhai changed his address and quickly said, “This battle directly subdued them, turned them into fans!”

“A battle for the heart is the most deadly.”

At this point, he paused slightly, and said expectantly, “Now that I know your cultivation progress, I’m even more curious about Sister Bai.”

“I wonder how she’s doing now.”

The Sister Bai he referred to was naturally Bai Huaiyu.

After Bai Huaiyu helped him break through during the selection, he had always called her Sister.

“Bai Huaiyu, huh.”

Qin Jin’s mind flashed with her figure: “I’m quite curious too.”

“Alright.”

Not long after the battle ended, he informed Han Miao through the seed that everything here was over. Now, he scanned the two: “Let’s continue to collect points.”

“Since we’re here, we from Wuyuan will strive for first place.”

“Mm.”

In agreement, Xie Wuhai and Su Xiangwan’s expressions both turned serious.

Qin Jin had become thoroughly familiar with the procedures in the ordinary search areas.

As the search areas gradually approached the city center, Contaminator increased, and the number of mechanical bodies also rose significantly. Both sides engaged in battle within the search areas.

Moreover,

the mechanical bodies in these areas no longer attacked participants, only Contaminator.

At the same time, the cores of the mechanical bodies could no longer be exchanged for points.

It seemed that the mechanical bodies in the outermost areas, being too dilapidated, could no longer distinguish enemies.

But the mechanical bodies here still maintained their original intent and would not attack Pure Ones.

Another exploration ended.

Returning to the lounge, organizing their gains, but after only two hours of rest, a new round of exploration began.

In the courtyard,

Qin Jin’s gaze lingered on the teleportation portal in front of him, his eyes narrowing.

The teleportation portal appeared daily, and he had long been familiar with and remembered its appearance. But now, the portal in the courtyard looked similar to usual, but the swirling light within it was a beautiful twilight color.

“Is it a special exploration area?”

“What were the trigger conditions this time?”

Thoughts flashed through his mind.

Qin Jin stepped into the portal.

In the next instant, noisy sounds filled the surroundings, and everything came into view.

At this moment,

he was in a camp behind a battlefield.

A glance revealed that this battlefield was also located within the city. The camp was full of architectural ruins, but if one looked further back, the buildings in the distance were all intact.

From the battlefield ahead, shouts of killing could be heard.

What especially caught Qin Jin’s attention was…

In the camp where he was, a glance revealed no mechanical bodies, no Contaminator.

Beside him, his teammates were all Pure Ones!

Thoughts flickered in his eyes.

Beside him, a shout arose.

“Qin Jin, stop spacing out and join the battle!”

The one shouting was another Pure One, who, after speaking, had already rushed forward.

Qin Jin’s eyes lowered slightly.

“They all look like vivid [people].”

“They certainly aren’t real people acting.”

“I wonder what technological means created this civilization ruin. Is it a super-large real-time simulated combat sandbox?”

Thoughts flashed through his mind.

Qin Jin moved closer to the battlefield.

The Pure Ones’ battle cries shook the heavens.

Standing at the edge of the battlefield, this urban war came into Qin Jin’s view. What met his eyes was the clash of flesh and blood against steel.

The Pure Ones’ combat targets were mechanical bodies!

The mechanical bodies on the other side were not as old as those in the Industrial Zone battlefield, and their own Pure Ones were utilizing a peculiar power.

“It’s indeed a special exploration area.”

Qin Jin’s thoughts raced, and he instantly understood everything.

“This time, it’s not just a spatial change; from the background of this civilization ruin, a temporal loop has also appeared.”

“So, the twilight color of that teleportation portal meant this.”

The war between Pure Ones and mechanical bodies.

This was information not mentioned in everything the [Saint] said, possibly the unfavorable side he chose to conceal.

Now, the battlefield where Qin Jin was, this special exploration area.

It was clearly the…

[History] of this civilization ruin!