Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Qinchi set the navigation and drove towards the Fighting Arena.

Zhao Feng rode his motorcycle ahead of the car on the right, ensuring Xu Qiao could see him, and he could also clearly see her when he glanced back.

Xu Qiao sent a message to Lu Yang: "I have to work late again tonight, don't wait for me."

The military academy student didn’t suspect anything.

Xu Qiao lowered her wrist and caught a glimpse of Qinchi’s lower body. He wore black combat pants tucked into matching military boots.

He usually wouldn’t dress like this at home; it was clear he had prepared specifically for this fight.

Xu Qiao couldn’t imagine how someone could defeat a B-level esper without using abilities, but Qinchi’s calmness made her trust him.

Qinchi didn’t pay attention to Zhao Feng on the motorcycle. Sensing his teammate's gaze, he smiled and said, "I started combat training at seven years old, from hand-to-hand combat to using cold weapons, then coordinating with thermal weapons, all the way until I awakened my mental entity at sixteen."

"I had five esper instructors who taught me combat techniques and served as my sparring partners."

"My father believed that even if someone couldn’t awaken a mental entity, they should still become strong through physical prowess, combat skills, and high-tech weaponry."

Xu Qiao: "It seems like there are similar training methods for ordinary people, but mostly for students at the Special Police University."

She enjoyed browsing forums and had seen videos of the rigorous training at the Three-Ring Special Police University. Every semester, many students dropped out due to the extreme physical challenges, with only a few percent graduating. However, those who did graduate were qualified to join the Guard Corps, possessing combat skills comparable to C-level espers or higher.

Xu Qiao knew she couldn’t endure such hardship and lacked the motivation for such intense training. Qinchi had started at seven!

"Your willpower is truly remarkable. How strong were you at sixteen? Could you beat a B-level esper back then?"

Qinchi: "Yes, but it required professional one-on-one training, constant healing by therapists, and weapons of equal level to defeat opponents. This method isn’t applicable to everyone because ordinary people can’t afford it or sustain it, and espers tend to rely on their abilities rather than physical combat."

Xu Qiao fell silent.

Therapists constantly healing him?

How many times must a minor train to defeat an esper, enduring countless injuries in the process?

Even heirs in TV dramas didn’t go through such harsh experiences.

Xu Qiao wasn’t sure whether to admire Qinchi’s perseverance, pity his childhood and youth, or respect his iron-willed father.

Qinchi: "I’m telling you this so you can watch calmly instead of being anxious."

Xu Qiao indeed felt reassured. If sixteen-year-old Qinchi was already that strong, twenty-nine-year-old Qinchi would be even more formidable.

At 5:49 PM, they arrived at the Fighting Arena.

Zhao Feng quickly booked a B-level venue.

This B-level venue was as large as a football field, twenty meters high, with floors, walls, and ceilings made of A-level alloy, capable of withstanding any attack below A-level.

Staff asked if they needed to hire an A-level esper to ensure their safety.

Zhao Feng looked provocatively at Qinchi: "I don’t need one, do you?"

Qinchi: "No."

They entered the venue decisively.

There were no spectator stands inside, but broadcasting equipment projected the match in high definition on the outer wall of the corridor.

Xu Qiao sat in the spectator area opposite, along with some other espers who had come to watch, sipping drinks while staring at the screen.

Xu Qiao sat in the first row. Although she now trusted Qinchi, her heart still raced.

Inside the arena, Zhao Feng watched as Qinchi drew a B-level longsword and frowned, asking, "What does this mean?"

Esper matches rarely involved cold weapons, let alone thermal ones. They usually competed with their abilities.

Qinchi: "It means I can win without using abilities."

Zhao Feng: "..."

Other spectators: "This guy is so arrogant!"

Facing the greatest humiliation of his life, Zhao Feng almost lost control of his bloodthirsty desire to kill Qinchi with his abilities. But with the girl he liked watching, he wanted to win gracefully, not by relying on his powers.

He took out a large knife from his personal space, an A-level blade he had bought purely out of interest, and smiled at Qinchi: "For a fair challenge, if you don’t use your abilities, neither will I. But I only have this A-level knife. Would you switch to one of the same level?"

Qinchi: "To save time, I’ll fight you three times: once with your knife, once with your mental entity, and once with your abilities including your mental entity. If you win any of these, I lose."

He considered Zhao Feng’s psychological state after each loss and offered a way out.

But to Zhao Feng, this offer was even more insulting!

With a sneer, Zhao Feng attacked.

They stood about ten meters apart, and Zhao Feng ran incredibly fast. As an outstanding graduate of the three schools and a professional mercenary, his close combat skills were impressive.

Qinchi stood still, and even as Zhao Feng swung his knife, he remained motionless. Only when the sharp blade was about to touch his waist did Qinchi suddenly crouch, supporting himself with his right hand and kicking Zhao Feng’s calf with his left leg at blinding speed.

Just as Zhao Feng’s blade grazed Qinchi’s head, the impact on his right calf caused him to stumble forward.

Zhao Feng reacted quickly, trying to roll away upon hitting the ground, but before he could push off, a sharp sword pressed against his neck.

He had lost, and so quickly, in front of Xu Qiao!

Frozen in a kneeling position with his hands on the ground, Zhao Feng’s eyes twitched, and veins bulged on his forehead.

Qinchi sheathed his sword and stepped back, saying to the man's retreating figure, "Without using your ability, you're not my match. You can release your spirit now."

Beast-type spirits, in addition to launching ability attacks, naturally understand the combat skills of their corresponding animals. Coupled with a physique as strong as that of a beast of the same level, and the characteristic of being able to change size at will, even without using abilities, the combat power of beast-type spirits is formidable. Ordinary ability users cannot withstand it with just their bodies.

When Zhao Feng straightened up again, a four-meter-long Snow Wolf spirit appeared beside him.

At this moment, Zhao Feng no longer showed any anger, and no one knew he was enduring the pain from what seemed like a broken right leg.

Recalling Qinchi's inhuman speed when dodging the greatsword, Zhao Feng dared not underestimate him anymore: "Alright, you're indeed strong. No wonder you dared to propose three matches."

He patted the Snow Wolf's head, turned to the side, as if his gaze could penetrate the A-grade alloy and see Xu Qiao sitting outside. After a moment of silence, he said, "If it weren't for Xu Qiao, I would be willing to admit defeat now. But I've pursued her for five years, and I've decided on her for life. I'd rather win unfairly than give up any of these matches."

Qinchi replied, "I know two ice ability users, and neither of them talks as much as you do."

Zhao Feng smiled, "Don't worry, in the second match, the Snow Wolf won't use its ability or change its size. If it truly loses, in the third match, I'll use only my ability against you."

After saying this, he walked to the side expressionlessly, leaving a large area of space for the man and the beast.

Before the Snow Wolf spirit emerged, it sensed the pain in Zhao Feng's calf and his shame and anger, which made it hate the ability user across from it.

Lowering its wolf head and stepping back, the Snow Wolf's icy blue eyes coldly locked onto Qinchi.

This was actually a sign that the wolf was about to attack; it needed to create distance for a charge.

Qinchi held his sword horizontally.

Suddenly, the Snow Wolf charged forward, leaping into the air from five meters away. Its massive front claws spread wide, with four sharp claws extending like steel hooks.

Qinchi moved this time, running forward with his sword, his figure swift, not a bit slower than the Snow Wolf.

The Snow Wolf landed with a heavy thud after missing its target.

Qinchi seemed to be able to judge the exact moment the Snow Wolf would land. The few ability users watching, including Xu Qiao, saw clearly that two seconds before the Snow Wolf landed, Qinchi changed direction, leaped up, and as the Snow Wolf's entire body was pulled down by inertia, his sword pierced heavily into its forehead.

If Qinchi had used enough force, this strike would have shattered the Snow Wolf spirit.

But his sword tip only slightly penetrated before he stepped on the Snow Wolf's neck, withdrew his sword, and jumped behind it.

The Snow Wolf howled in pain, shaking its head and attempting to bite Qinchi again.

Qinchi looked at Zhao Feng across from him.

Zhao Feng promptly recalled the Snow Wolf, and all its residual pain fell upon him.

The pain in his leg and head did not cause a B-grade ability user to faint, but it made him sweat profusely and turn pale.

Qinchi said, "I'll let Xu Qiao come in."

To heal him?

Zhao Feng roared, "No need! Let's go to the final match!"

He leaned against the wall, enduring the pain while releasing his ability.

Having lost two consecutive matches so humiliatingly, Zhao Feng had neither the patience nor the arrogance to slowly overpower his opponent. He unleashed a powerful move directly.

Four thick ice walls appeared around Qinchi, intending to encase him in ice.

Qinchi punched one of the ice walls, causing it to crack instantly. Zhao Feng controlled his ability to restore it at lightning speed, but Qinchi's fist struck again.

Xu Qiao watched in shock as Qinchi appeared on the screen.

He was far from as robust as Sun Fushan's older brother, Sun Xuan. Even in a suit, he appeared somewhat slim, but at this moment, Qinchi seemed to have a body of steel. Zhao Feng's speed in maintaining the ice walls was still slower than Qinchi's punching speed.

Another ice wall attacked from behind, aiming to crush him into pulp.

Qinchi punched the ice wall in front of him and kicked backward with his right leg, the force surpassing that of his punch, nearly shattering the ice wall he kicked.

The ice walls could not restrain him and suddenly transformed into countless sharp ice blades, shooting towards Qinchi from all directions.

Xu Qiao stood up abruptly, taking several steps forward.

Immediately after, she saw Qinchi spin his sword like a whirlwind, breaking through the ice blades' encirclement faster than they could converge.

The ice blades obediently followed Zhao Feng's thoughts, turning to chase Qinchi.

In the first instant of breaking free, Qinchi threw his long sword at Zhao Feng.

The sword's speed surpassed that of the ice blades and Zhao Feng's evasion, embedding itself with a "zing" next to Zhao Feng's right neck.

The A-grade alloy wall, claimed to resist all B-grade attacks, was penetrated by the sword tip.

Zhao Feng, who had dodged to the right due to inertia, collided with the sword embedded vertically in the wall. Fortunately, he stopped quickly, only getting a superficial cut from the sword tip.