Chapter 28: Demon-Level Genius

"This Dustin Li really defeated Shane with his second-rank martial arts?"

"Are my eyes deceiving me? When did second-rank martial arts become so powerful? Shane's seven-star swordsmanship is no small feat. Even if Dustin's martial arts are perfect, it shouldn't be enough to defeat him."

"What do you know? I just heard from a teacher that Dustin Li's Dragon Tiger Fist and Inch Step have surpassed High-Level Mastery and reached a state of perfection!"

The crowd buzzed with excitement as Dustin Li suddenly became the center of attention.

"Perfecting second-rank martial arts is rare, but if he faces someone from the advanced elite class, I doubt he'll stand a chance. After all, second-rank martial arts still have their limitations," Elder Li said calmly after his initial excitement faded.

"Elder Li's right. Once third-rank martial arts reach their pinnacle, they can easily suppress the perfected second-rank martial arts," another elder added.

"It's just second-rank martial arts perfected. When he faces me, he'll understand that there are always higher peaks to scale," a young man in brocade clothes sneered loudly, drawing everyone's gaze.

Many people turned to look at him, curious about who this audacious individual was. When they saw him, their expressions froze.

"It's Damien, the third-ranked master in the advanced elite class! It's said he's cultivated third-rank swordsmanship to the mastery stage!"

"It's him! The third-rank swordsmanship of the High-Level Mastery realm is indeed formidable, enough to surpass second-rank martial arts in terms of raw power."

The competition continued, and soon only a dozen competitors remained, with the final battle just around the corner. Dustin Li kept his attention on the other contestants and realized that many had strength on par with his own.

After all, Novaridge City was home to hundreds of thousands, and with many small towns and villages surrounding it, fresh talent poured into the Martial Hall every year. Among them were numerous geniuses.

Dustin Li knew that his rise had been swift, but less than half a year was hardly enough to catch up to those with years of experience.

Among them were Damien, who practiced the Thunder Running Sword, and Troy, known for his exceptional marksmanship. Troy had even perfected third-rank marksmanship!

Then there was Hansan, a second-rank genius with divine strength—each of his strikes was as powerful as a third-rank martial artist's, and he had cultivated third-rank defensive martial arts, making him almost impervious to ordinary attacks.

In the final elimination, it was no surprise when Troy, Hansan, and Damien triumphed, their places in the top three essentially secured.

While Dustin Li had made it this far, few had high hopes for him. However, at just fourteen, his progress was impressive and worthy of recognition.

The rules for the final round were simple: the four competitors would face each other, and the ranking would be based on the number of victories.

As Dustin Li was preparing for his turn, Damien walked over, a mocking sneer on his face. "Boy, you're catching a lot of attention. But when we face off, I'll make sure you lose miserably!"

Dustin Li frowned, confused by Damien's hostility. He hadn't done anything to provoke him. However, he understood that some people simply couldn't tolerate others stealing their spotlight, and Damien seemed to be one of them.

"Is your swordsmanship so great? Let's see who'll lose miserably," Dustin Li said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable challenge.

The first battle was between Troy and Hansan—a clash of superb marksmanship against raw, divine power. Hansan wielded a massive machete, his strikes filled with force, but Troy's silver spear moved like a wandering dragon, striking Hansan's vital points one after another. Despite Hansan's strength, he was unable to land a blow, and eventually, he conceded defeat.

As the two left the stage to recover, Damien stepped onto the arena, exuding arrogance. He pointed at Dustin Li from across the stage. "Within three moves, you'll be defeated!"

Many in the audience exchanged glances, awaiting Dustin Li's reaction.

"Three moves to defeat me? You think you're an Energy Gathering martial artist?" Dustin Li replied with a smirk, preparing for the challenge. "I'll show you how far off you are."

Damien's speed was impressive. In an instant, he appeared before Dustin Li, his movement like a ghost, causing murmurs to ripple through the crowd.

"So fast!"

"The third-grade movement technique is leagues ahead of Dustin Li's second-grade Inch Step!"

But Dustin Li simply sneered. Speed alone wasn't enough. In the Eight Wonders Mountains, he had fought a piebald shadow cat—a beast whose speed was beyond the eye's capacity to follow. Compared to that, Damien's speed was almost laughable.

Dustin Li had mastered the Inch Step to perfection and integrated it with his sword technique. It was no longer just a second-rank skill but something comparable to the third-rank martial arts in its subtlety and effectiveness.

Damien slashed at Dustin Li with the scabbard, not even bothering to draw his sword. But Dustin Li effortlessly sidestepped, completely unscathed.

"Is this really a second-grade Inch Step? It feels more powerful than a third-grade movement technique!" the crowd gasped in awe.

The truth was that Dustin Li's movement techniques had far surpassed their original second-rank level. They were now on par with third-rank martial arts, and his swordsmanship, perfected over months, was stronger than Damien's.

Damien, frustrated by his inability to land a hit, began to lose his composure. He swung his sword in a fury, but Dustin Li's movements were faster, his sword strikes more precise.

Eventually, Damien found himself cornered, the tip of Dustin Li's black sword inches from his throat.

"I... I admit defeat!" Damien spat, his voice tinged with humiliation. He had not only lost the fight but his pride as well.

Up in the Martial Hall's observation area, the Lord of the Martial Hall watched intently, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.

"Dustin Li… second-rank martial arts, perfected to the third-rank level? What kind of genius is this? No, he's a monster!"

The Lord of the Martial Hall could barely contain his excitement. This young genius, who had cultivated his martial arts so rapidly, might just be the breakthrough that Novaridge City had been waiting for. If Dustin Li joined Salmoris, it could mean incredible rewards for him—perhaps even a chance to advance to the realm of Spirit Refining.

As the next battle between Troy and Dustin Li began, the competition only grew more intense. Both had won one match, tying for first place, but the final match would decide it all.