Chapter 91: A Summoned Spirit of the Sacred Level?!
“Song Qi?”
“The child Old Fu trained?”
“He managed to defeat a level-70 monster? Now that’s truly something.”
At these words, everyone turned to the bronze mirror in surprise.
With a wave of Elder Mu’s hand, the image of Song Qi was instantly magnified.
On the screen, Song Qi stood atop a tree. By this point, a patch of the mountaintop had already been stripped bare. Several craters, gouged out by violent impact, had filled with black, filthy blood. A deep abyssal demon ape, towering nearly ten meters, lay slain on the ground, its torso split diagonally from the right shoulder to the base of the left thigh—undeniably dead.
Looking higher, Song Qi’s two summoned spirits were still locked in a fierce battle with the troop of berserk apes. Or rather, calling it a battle would be generous—for the apes were being slaughtered one-sidedly. Their annihilation was merely a matter of time.
“The slain one is an abyssal demon ape, level seventy-two,” someone remarked. “But it appears there was a fierce fight.”
Elder Mu considered this, then made a backward gesture. “Rewind ten minutes.”
The image in the bronze mirror quickly played in reverse, returning to five minutes earlier. At that point, Song Qi was still searching for monsters and had yet to encounter the ape.
“The battle hadn’t even begun then. So he actually dispatched a level-70 abyssal demon ape within ten minutes?”
“This child’s potential is beyond my expectations,” Elder Mu admitted, somewhat astonished.
The other city lords looked intrigued, while Lord Fu watched on with a knowing, satisfied smile, saying nothing. He truly seemed to savor the moment. As if he didn’t know Song Qi’s strength already? He’d tested him once on the Endless Snowfields—five level-70 professionals bested by Song Qi. What was a single level-70 monster in comparison?
“Advance five minutes,” Elder Mu instructed.
Five minutes prior, Song Qi was still wandering, not having encountered the enemy.
“To defeat a level-70 monster in five minutes?!”
Now, the curiosity in their eyes had turned to genuine astonishment. This level of strength was worthy of being called a first-rate prodigy.
Elder Mu’s brows tightened, his expression growing serious. “Advance another two minutes.”
Three minutes ago...
Song Qi had just come upon the berserk apes, but still had not faced the abyssal demon ape.
“Three minutes in, and still no encounter?”
“Incredible. Does this mean he dispatched a level-70 monster in just three minutes?!”
“Old Fu, what’s your boy’s level now? Don’t tell me he’s already reached level forty in just a month?”
A few turned to Lord Fu with puzzled looks.
He answered with a smile, “Only level thirty—nothing as exaggerated as you’re thinking.”
“Level thirty? So he was fighting forty levels above his own—and finished it in three minutes?”
“Amazing!”
“With this power and talent, he ranks among the very best of the first-tier geniuses!”
“Even in District One, Song Qi would be among the very tip of the pyramid, wouldn’t he?”
At this, the city lords began to sense something was amiss. Could it be that Fu had truly found a rare treasure? The city lords from the top-ranked districts were starting to panic. The Genius Tournament didn’t just affect the resources allocated to the contestants—it determined the yearly distribution of resources from District One to all other districts. This was why every city lord was so invested in their own prodigies.
Before they could recover from their shock, Elder Mu waved his hand again. “Advance another two minutes!”
Time jumped to one minute ago...
A thunderous roar erupted from the bronze mirror.
At that moment, Song Qi’s two summoned spirits finally broke into the heart of the berserk ape troop. The abyssal demon ape was forced from its cave and thrown into a frenzy of battle.
“So the abyssal demon ape only just emerged? That means the fight was over in less than a minute?”
At this, the city lords could no longer sit still.
But before they could process what they’d seen, the footage continued. After only a few dozen seconds of combat, Song Qi’s warrior-like summoned spirit suddenly leapt into the air, a gigantic phantom looming behind him. The massive halberd shadow crashed down, leaving the abyssal demon ape utterly defenseless, sliced cleanly in two.
Then the scene returned to what they had witnessed at the start.
“........”
For a long moment, no one—including Elder Mu—could respond.
Finally...
Boom!
This elite gathering of humanity’s strongest erupted into a clamorous frenzy, like market women caught in the latest gossip.
“Heavens!!!”
“Not a minute—thirty-three seconds!”
“I just counted—it took only thirty-three seconds for his summoned spirit to dispatch the abyssal demon ape!”
“Wait—so not even a minute? Just half a minute?!”
“How is this any different from an instant kill?!”
Killing a level-70 monster at level thirty—they could imagine it.
But to leap forty levels and win within thirty seconds?
Even with honest self-reflection, none of them—not even in their youthful prime—could claim such a feat!
“Where’s Li Zong? How did he do?”
“No need to check—fifty-four seconds. I was watching earlier.”
“He was over twenty seconds slower than Song Qi!”
The Lord of Otaku City shook his head in disbelief.
Boom!
The assembly erupted once more.
“Li Zong... beaten again?!”
“Does this mean this Song Qi’s current performance surpasses even Li Zong?!”
A neighboring city lord couldn’t help shouting.
“Another top-tier prodigy?!”
Some simply couldn’t believe it.
Who was Li Zong, after all?
He was the sole descendant of Emperor Li Er! Born with extraordinary powers, a unique profession, and the privileges reserved for the most gifted of humanity!
Not to mention, under Elder Mu’s strict guidance, he had sparred with countless strong opponents since childhood. Even when he suppressed his own strength to a mere level twenty-five, everyone still expected him to far outpace the rest!
“Perhaps he used some epic artifact, or a powerful burst skill?” someone speculated.
“Equipment and skills are part of one’s strength,” another countered. “That doesn’t diminish his potential.”
“In fact, I watched closely—Song Qi didn’t use any skills or special equipment.”
“Then it must be the summoned spirit’s own power,” Elder Mu shook his head.
He turned to Lord Fu, who was still grinning as the others argued among themselves. Seeing this, Elder Mu seemed to understand.
“All right, enough—quiet down, everyone,” Elder Mu called. “Let Lord Fu explain. He must have seen this coming.”
At these words, all eyes turned to Lord Fu.
He looked momentarily startled, then replied with a half-smile, “Elder Mu, you jest. How could I know this child would outshine Li Zong? I’m as surprised as you.”
“Enough nonsense!” Elder Mu cut him off impatiently. “Just tell us—what’s the quality of this child’s summoned spirits? Epic? Or... Mythic?”
Lord Fu grinned wider. “He’s been lucky, I’ll admit. That warrior who slew the demon ape—he’s a mythic-grade summoned spirit.”
At this, everyone finally understood, and a chorus of awe swept the room.
“So it’s a mythic-grade summoned spirit.”
“No wonder.”
“If it’s mythic-grade, then it makes sense.”
“Mythic, huh?! I never thought it possible for someone to summon a spirit of that caliber!”
“No wonder that profession is said to have the highest theoretical ceiling,” someone sighed.
“Fu, you lucky dog!” another cursed, half-joking, half-envious.
Yet no matter the grumbling, Lord Fu only grinned broader.
Elder Mu’s breathing grew rapid. After a moment’s thought, he pressed further. “Are both mythic-grade?”
“Oh, no, not at all.” Lord Fu waved his hands as if afraid of being misunderstood.
Elder Mu’s face fell, and he gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Of course, having one mythic-grade is already exceptional. How could there possibly be two? I suppose the state of humanity has made me a bit desperate.”
He nodded, then asked, “So what about the other one?”
Lord Fu replied, “Saint Spirit.”
Elder Mu: “?”