Although Nolan Wei was far more powerful than Lin Rui, his attitude in combat was very serious.
He didn't use his meridians or serum, but in every other aspect, he gave it his all, trying his best to break through Lin Rui's defense.
Perhaps he was too anxious. Just as Nolan Wei kept using secret techniques, aiming to corner Lin Rui in the southeast corner of the arena to trap him completely, he exposed a flaw that Lin Rui seized, leading to his opponent's first counterattack.
When Nolan Wei saw the dark red saber light that sliced towards him, like a ribbon, he actually revealed a smile, his lips curving slightly upward with amusement in his eyes.
He had a nickname in the university martial arts league: 'Abandon-Horse Wei', and his greatest skill was the 'abandon horse' tactic, deliberately exposing flaws to lure his opponent into a trap of his own making.
Nolan Wei felt sure of his victory.
Indeed, Lin Rui's Red Thunder Saber was of Grandmaster class; he used the primarily offensive saber technique to defend his domain without a single leak.
However, if he were to go on the offensive, it might not hold up as well.
But after only the first saber strike, Nolan Wei sensed something was off.
Lin Rui, one after another, launched a series of slashing strikes that were not only faster than lightning but also seamless and flowing like clouds and water.
Nolan Wei had to take a step back after blocking three strikes.
On the one hand, the speed of Lin Rui's saber was so fast that his Instant Shadow Sword could hardly keep up; on the other hand, were the electric currents and flames wrapped around Lin Rui's saber.
The electric currents were numbing Nolan Wei's right hand, while the flames caused his weapon to heat up rapidly, becoming hot to the touch.
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang——"
After defending against eight strikes, Nolan Wei was forced to retreat five steps.
He laughed out of sheer anger. To think that he, someone who never had meridians implanted, was forced into a continuous retreat by a junior. If his former classmates were to find out, wouldn't they laugh their heads off?
Nolan Wei was already looking forward to the end of Lin Rui's ninth strike, the moment he could launch his counterattack.
It would be like a tidal wave, crushing this junior ashore in one fell swoop!
But he quickly realized something was wrong. After Lin Rui's ninth strike, there was no space or opportunity for him to counterattack, the following slashes still raining down like thunder.
The tenth strike! The eleventh! The twelfth! The thirteenth!
"Clang! Clang! Kerrang! Clang!"
The arena was only ten meters wide. Nolan Wei had been cornered by Lin Rui's swordplay.
His eyes showed disbelief; this guy across from him didn't seem to need a moment's rest, unleashing thirteen consecutive slashes, never seeming to stop!
Wang Sen below was equally baffled. Was this the Red Thunder Nine Slashes? Shouldn't there only be nine strikes? How could Lin Rui keep slashing without end?
Fang Ranran's smile widened as she crossed her arms over her chest, "It's a Grandmaster!"
This indeed was the Grandmaster level of the Red Thunder Saber, having surpassed the original framework of the technique.
It was a skill that many elite colonels were able to master, yet Lin Rui had mastered it at the rank of warrant officer.
Without any famous master's guidance, he had enhanced the Red Thunder Saber to the realm of Grandmaster.
The blonde Zhao Yan was also dazzled, issuing a thunderous cheer, "Great saber technique!"
Lin Rui remained unfazed, persistently delivering the fourteenth, fifteenth strikes!
Just as Lin Rui's fifteenth strike landed, Nolan Wei could no longer hold on.
His right arm was completely numbed from the lightning strikes, and the palm of his right hand was scorched from the heat.
With a reluctant look in his eyes, Nolan Wei had no choice but to employ his artificial meridians.
"Clang!"
With that metallic ring, Lin Rui's tiger's mouth burst with blood, and the knife in his hand was sent flying high by his opponent, only to fall after reaching a height of five meters.
Lin Rui was inwardly shocked by the tremendous strength Nolan Wei exhibited at full power!
This Deputy General of the martial arts club must be one of the top-ranking Captain-level Martial Artists!
After flinging Lin Rui's knife away, Nolan Wei made no further movement. He noticed a professional beauty looking at him with a smile tinged with warning in her gaze.
Nolan Wei gave an embarrassed smile and proactively sheathed his longsword, "I have lost this battle. I had to use my Wheel Veins; otherwise, I would have lost my head."
Nolan Wei walked over to Lin Rui and offered a handshake, "Brother, you're awesome! It's my first time seeing someone at the Senior High Stage being able to wield the Red Thunder Saber to such a level, actually managing to elevate the Red Thunder Nine Slashes to a fifteen-strike potential! What if you get the Wheel Veins and blood serums implanted?
I bet not many could withstand you during your university stage.
The club president said she brought you here for a visit, so you must not have agreed to join the martial arts club, right? Take my advice, don't be shy. Just make your demands to her; our club president is loaded. When she came to scout me, she said there's nothing in this world money can't solve. She literally smacked me into submission with cash.
Do you know how much she spent on the renovation and equipment for the four floors of the competition team's exclusive activity area? A whopping 430 million Federal dollars, excluding some sponsored equipment. It's just obscenely lavish!"
He even leaned in and whispered to Lin Rui, "Did you see the notice released by Mingde University's board of directors today? They appointed a new director today."
Lin Rui's expression shifted as he opened up Mingde University's board's public account.
There was an appointment notice—For the strategic development needs of Mingde University's operations, the board of directors has resolved to appoint Ms. Fang Ranran as a member of the school's board.
Lin Rui's lips twitched slightly, and his gaze grew solemn.
The pleasant and genial senior sister who had accompanied him on the tour of the martial arts club—No, not a senior sister, but Little Miss Fang—she was actually a member of the school's board!
While Nolan Wei was whispering, the blond man Zhao Yan watched Lin Rui intently from below the stage.
"What an excellent sword technique, what talent!" He sighed complexly, "What a pity, such a pity!"
Zhao Yan then turned around and walked towards the indoor activity area, and for some reason, his silhouette seemed forlorn.
Fang Ranran was somewhat puzzled by his reaction; she scratched her head and shifted her gaze back to Lin Rui.
Fang Ranran's mouth was practically watering, and her already bright eyes shone with excitement.
The fight just now had given her another pleasant surprise from Lin Rui.
This was clearly an uncut gem.
She had to get her hands on this dazzling gemstone no matter what!
But the smartly dressed beauty on the stage was looking at Zhao Yan, her eyes filled with a mix of sympathy and helplessness.
She understood why Zhao Yan was feeling so downcast.
Fang Ranran had found the future pillar of the martial arts club and would no longer need to spend money and effort on recruiting others.
This meant that for the next two years, the martial arts club wouldn't have any strong reinforcements joining, and Zhao Yan, who was already a third-year, was bound to become a sacrificial piece.
Lin Rui's talent was strong, terrifyingly so!
However, Lin Rui's foundation was too weak, and by the time he truly rose to power and could contend with the main forces of the major school teams, it would be at least two years later.
Earlier in the cafeteria, Fang Ranran had blown her own trumpet, claiming that as long as Lin Rui joined, they could enter the final championship tournament within two years, but the professionally dressed beauty couldn't be as optimistic.
According to the intelligence she had, the martial arts clubs of the major universities on Tianji Star had seen a surge of talents lately, far surpassing those from a few years back.
So, the real time for their martial arts club to exert their strength was two years later, by which time Zhao Yan would have already graduated, and whatever glory they achieved would be irrelevant to him.
"What secrets are you two sharing? Are you talking behind my back?"
Fang Ranran had already leaped onto the stage, forcing Nolan Wei back with a hand chop, and then said to Lin Rui with a beaming smile, "This is the outdoor activity area; let me take you to see our indoor activity area. I guarantee that even the largest mutant companies don't have the facilities our martial arts club does."
Lin Rui raised an eyebrow; he was keen to see just what this competition team's exclusive activity area, which had cost a staggering 430 million Federal dollars, looked like.