Chapter 23: The Whale-Slaying Tyrant Blade (Please Follow for Updates)

"According to the latest reports, a new typhoon is approaching the coastal areas of Cang Province."

"Citizens are reminded to pay close attention to weather updates and take necessary precautions in advance."

"The military has announced that a tide of marine calamity beasts has broken out in the waters of Cang Province. A large-scale space gate has opened, affecting nearby cities. There is a risk that the calamity beast tide may intensify."

"We are currently in the Bay Island waters of Cang Province. Let's take a look at the situation on the ground..."

On this day, during a break in the elite class of the Second High School, someone turned on a projector, casting the news channel onto the wall and instantly capturing the attention of many.

On the screen, the coastal area was engulfed in a torrential downpour. Beyond the endless sea, massive waves were churning, and countless black shadows were seen surging out from the colossal swells.

They were horrific calamity beasts of immense size, with giant claws, fangs, and blood-red eyes brimming with a murderous aura. They roared toward the sky, charging onto the shore to attack with a reckless, bloodthirsty ferocity, as if they had finally found their prey.

At the edge of the broadcast, a massive black ring radiated a blinding light. Endless waves of calamity beasts poured out from it, plunging into the sea before rushing onto the land.

"That's a space gate. It's enormous. That's how the calamity beasts descend into our Blue Star," someone muttered, even though everyone already knew.

The endless sea of shadows, accompanied by the raging storm, created a scene that felt like the arrival of the apocalypse.

"Boom!"
"Bang!"

The next moment, thunderous roars erupted, sounding like massive explosions. Beams of various colors rained down from the sky like a downpour of arrows.

Towering steel behemoths, stretching for dozens of kilometers like a Great Wall of steel, stood as the war bases designed to fend off the beasts. At the summits of these bases, massive metal heavy cannons, emanating a chilling aura, were aimed at the ocean, firing lethal salvos.

They unleashed their fury with what seemed like an eternal, unceasing fire—laser cannons, railguns, missiles... weapons from science fiction had become a terrifying reality before everyone's eyes.

Calamity beasts hit by the fire were instantly pulverized into gore, and red and yellow mushroom clouds erupted from the ground. Despite the mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, the beasts continued to charge forward in endless waves.

"Roar!"

A colossal, terrifying beast leaped high out of the water—a shark-type calamity beast over forty meters long. It had jet-black skin and rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth that could tear through anything. Its red pupils radiated pure malice.

"That's a Level 7 calamity beast—the Ghost-Toothed Giant Shark!"
"It's too massive!" a student exclaimed.

"Boom! Boom!"
"Rumble!"

Countless laser beams and missiles bombarded the Ghost-Toothed Giant Shark like pouring mercury. Yet, they caused little damage. The shark churned in the sea, whipping up massive waves and hissing, as if mocking the humans.

"Boom!"

Just then, a massive blue blade of light shot from the distance, slicing through the air with lightning speed.

"Roar!"

The blade of light descended with a thunderous roar, blood spraying like a waterfall as a massive gash was carved into the Ghost-Toothed Giant Shark.

In the distant sky, a figure grew larger—a burly man wielding a battle saber. Clad in red combat armor, he hovered in the air, wreathed in blue light like a god of war.

"It's Yue Feng, the Deputy Master of the Red Dome Martial Arts Hall in Tianhai City."
"A Level 7 martial artist!"
"He just used his signature secret technique—the 'Whale-Slaying Tyrant Saber'!"

As his name was called, the students erupted into excited discussion. Lin Qi was no different, watching as Yue Feng unleashed his fierce, overbearing saber technique, decapitating the Ghost-Toothed Giant Shark with three strikes from high above.

"Too cool!"

The news ended with Yue Feng slaying the shark, leaving the classroom in a frenzy.

"I will become a powerhouse like Yue Feng in the future, charging onto the battlefield and becoming invincible."
"Slaying calamity beasts like cutting vegetables."

Some were filled with burning passion.

"The 'Whale-Slaying Tyrant Saber' is genuinely cool. I want to learn that technique in the future," another student sighed with longing.

Many looked on with desire; they were the geniuses of the elite class, destined for extraordinary futures. Jiang Tao was equally fired up.

"Brother Qi, Master Yue Feng is too strong. Maybe one day we'll have a chance to join the Red Dome Martial Arts Hall."

Lin Qi nodded. Every time he saw such news, he was struck by the overwhelming power of top-tier martial artists.

"We will have our chance!"

Lin Qi stood up and walked toward the door.

"Brother Qi, where are you going?"
"The teacher needs to see me!"

On the other side, Chen Zichuan also stood up, and he and Lin Qi headed to the office.

"Check the card numbers, and if they're correct, sign here," said Yan Hong, sitting in her ergonomic chair. She got straight to the point, handing each of them a form.

Lin Qi checked his carefully and, upon confirming, signed his name. Chen Zichuan did the same.

Yan Hong took the forms and said, "The money will be in your accounts within an hour. Use this to purchase resources. Your talents are not bad; you deserve a higher ranking."

"It's a pity, though. The school applied for a Second-Tier Genius Loan for you both, but it didn't go through."

"It's fine, I'm satisfied with the third tier," Lin Qi said nonchalantly.
Chen Zichuan added, "Thank you, Teacher!"

"If you can place in the top thirty of the grade in the monthly exams, you might be able to successfully apply for the second-tier loan," Yan Hong suggested.

Lin Qi’s heart stirred. A second-tier loan? The third-tier loan was 200,000 Xia dollars, but the second-tier was 500,000—300,000 more. If he could get that money, it would be a massive boost to his martial arts journey.

Leaving the office, "Buzz, buzz!"

While walking down the corridor, Lin Qi felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He took it out to check. It was a transfer notification.

[The Industrial Bank card ending in xxx received 200,000 yuan on September 16th at 10:05. Balance: 200,432 Xia dollars.]

Lin Qi smiled; the 200,000 yuan loan had arrived. Now he could buy more resources, even the high-level ones he had never been able to afford before.

He looked up and met Chen Zichuan's eyes; the other boy was also looking at his phone. The money had arrived for him as well.

"Chen Zichuan, let's work hard together!"
"Get into the top thirty and secure that second-tier loan!"

Lin Qi offered a word of encouragement before walking back into the classroom. Chen Zichuan was slightly stunned. It was their first real interaction, but Lin Qi's words stirred something within him. While reaching the top thirty was difficult, with these 200,000 yuan, it wasn't impossible.

After lunch, in the martial arts training room:

"Brother Qi, your appetite is getting huge. You can eat two portions of the nutritional meal now."
"And you look like you've bulked up again?"

In the restroom, while changing into his training gear, Jiang Tao looked at Lin Qi’s physique with confusion.

"I'm not even 18 yet, my body is still growing. I was just malnourished before."

Lin Qi looked at himself in the mirror. His height had already crossed the 1.8-meter mark. His arm muscles were more defined, his shoulders broader, and his physique was gradually shaping into a powerful, athletic build. His skeleton was growing, and his appetite increased daily; he looked much stronger than before.

Lin Qi checked his interface.

[Name: Lin Qi (17)]
[Template: Erlang Shen, Yang Jian]
[Fusion Rate: 4%]

On the interface, his fusion rate with the Erlang Shen template had reached 4%. Every day, Lin Qi felt his martial arts improving—the Hunyuan Stance, Tiger-Form Boxing, the Crushing Mountain Spear Technique...

With every 1% increase in fusion, his physical talent and comprehension grew. Of course, this growth came at a price: the need to consume more nutrients. Nutritional meals, blood-qi capsules, blood-qi potions... the daily intake was constantly rising, and all of it cost money.

"The resources I bought last time are almost gone. Thankfully, the 200,000 yuan arrived."

Lin Qi already anticipated the massive expenses ahead; he would need even more money.