On the next day, the atmosphere in the No. 2 High School training hall was electric. Students, teachers, and examiners alike filled the stands, their eyes fixed on the arena where there will be two geniuses competing for No. 1 position in their school.
Chu Yan, a newly crowned genius at No. 2 High School, stood across from Lin Chen, his eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and excitement. While Chu Yan was not particularly obsessed with combat, he found himself intrigued by individuals who could achieve strength despite limited resources.
Lin Chen's rise to the Martial Artist realm was fueled by a hidden inheritance from his deceased parents, which had drastically boosted his cultivation. In just over two months, he advanced from the Late-stage Martial Student Realm to the Late-stage Third-Layer Martial Artist Realm.
Currently, Lin Chen lacked the resources needed to reach the peak of the Martial Artist realm, which was why he had revealed his strength. Similarly, he was curious about Chu Yan's abilities, given that they were in similar situations. Lin Chen wasn't particularly interested in how Chu Yan had achieved his level of skill; after all, everyone had their secrets.
Before the match began, Elder Zhou stepped forward to address the crowd. His voice boomed through the hall, carrying the weight of authority and excitement. "Ladies and gentlemen, students of No. 2 High School, today we witness the culmination of countless hours of training, dedication, and perseverance. This final match will determine who among these two exceptional students will stand as the champion of the No. 2 High School Martial Art Examination. Prepare yourselves for a battle that will be remembered for years to come!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, their energy surging through the hall as they voiced their support for the fighters. Chu Yan could hear the voices of his friends, Su Ming, Zhang Yu, and Li Fui, cheering him on from the sidelines.
Lin Chen, on the other hand, exuded a quiet confidence. His eyes, once filled with uncertainty, now burned with determination. He knew he was facing a monumental challenge in Chu Yan, but his recent victories had boasted his confidence.
As Elder Zhou raised his hand to signal the start of the match, the hall fell into a hushed silence. The tension was almost unbearable as everyone waited for the match.
"Begin!" Elder Zhou's voice rang out like a gunshot, and in an instant, both Chu Yan and Lin Chen released their auras as they moved instantly.
Chu Yan moved with fluid grace, his sword already unsheathed as he closed the distance in the blink of an eye. His speed was breathtaking, but he deliberately held back just enough to employ the Gale Wind Sword technique. To his surprise, Lin Chen did not flinch. Instead, he met Chu Yan's advance with unwavering resolve, his Crimson Flame Saber igniting in a fierce, blazing glow.
Clang!
The clash of steel echoed through the hall as their swords collided. The collision of wind and flames generated a shockwave that tore through the surrounding area, leaving a charred fissure several meters wide in the floor.
The force of their clash stirred a wave of excitement among the spectators, while the team responsible for maintaining the ring exchanged anxious glances. They knew they would be faced with the daunting task of repairing the damage once the match was over.
Lin Chen pressed forward, his attacks growing fiercer as the flames of his saber roared with each strike. Despite the intensity of his onslaught, Chu Yan countered with equal determination, his Gale Wind Sword conjuring a swirling vortex of wind that neutralized the heat of Lin Chen's flames.
"Gale Wind, Storm Strike!"
With a decisive shout, Chu Yan unleashed a powerful burst of wind, propelling Lin Chen backward several meters. The force of the blow caused Lin Chen to stagger and spit out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing this, the crowd cheers as the referee asked, "Student Lin Chen, do you want to continue?"
"Continue!' replied Lin Chen as he wiped the blood from his mouth. Lin Chen gritted his teeth as he released even more aura from his body, releasing full strength of Crimson Flame Saber. The air around him shimmered with heat, the very ground cracking under the intensity of his flames.
Seeing this, Chu Yan's eyes turned serious. He immediately do the same, release aura causing air around him surged with a fierce wind spiraling around his body. Seeing the situation turned serious, the referee immediately retreat.
Boom!
Chu Yan vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving a crack in the floor where he had stood. His sword moved with an almost supernatural speed and force, the gale it created slicing through the flames and extinguishing them instantly. The relentless wind surged toward Lin Chen with unstoppable momentum.
Lin Chen barely had time to react. The force of Chu Yan's attack slammed into him, causing the floor below him to crash due to Chu Yan's ridiculous output. His saber trembled in his hand, the flames flickering out as he struggled to maintain his stance.
'Damn this monster!' cursed Lin Chen in his heart; fear flickered in his eyes.