Inside the underground Martial Arts Room.
At eight in the morning, Li Yuan had not yet entered the virtual network and was video calling Lin Lanyue.
“So early?” Li Yuan smiled. “You’re not competing, so classes shouldn’t be canceled, right? No general education classes this morning?”
In any Martial Arts University, there will be general education classes that teach various knowledge about history, humanities, the Star Realm’s alien races, science and technology weapons, and other areas.
“Have you been practicing the Spear Technique so much that you’ve forgotten the time? It’s one in the afternoon over here,” Lin Lanyue said with a smile, dressed in a white casual outfit today.
“I forgot,” Li Yuan said with a laugh, shaking his head.
There is a time difference between Lantis Continent and Xia Country.
“How about it? Are you confident about winning against Dantai Feng?” Lin Lanyue asked with a smile.
“The videos you gave me were very helpful,” Li Yuan nodded. “However, according to my teacher’s account of his strength… I have at most a thirty percent chance of winning.”
“Thirty percent?” Lin Lanyue’s eyes sparkled slightly. “A thirty percent chance is already quite high.”
“You should know, when we just started our senior year, you had only recently reached the Third Stage in Skill Realm, and he was already at the Fourth Level.”
“On this year’s Blue Star youth ranking, he has always been way ahead, the absolute number one.”
“In just one year’s time, your skill level has almost caught up with his, which is incredible,” Lin Lanyue said.
“Still, it’s a bit short,” Li Yuan said with a smile.
“Victory or defeat will ultimately be decided by the battle. No one will laugh at you if you lose, and who knows, you might win? On the other hand, Dantai Feng is the one under tremendous pressure,” Lin Lanyue laughed. “Log on. The match is about to start.”
“All right.”
…
After ending the video call with Lin Lanyue, Li Yuan glanced subconsciously at his Divine Palace panel.
[Life Level: 13.9 (First Rank)]
Fist Strength: 7629 kilograms
Speed: 41.3 meters per second
Spiritual Power: Level 23.0
Spiritual Awakening Level: 25% (Current limit 25%, physical quality not strong enough to withstand Spiritual Guidance)
Skill Realm: Spear Technique (Fourth Stage 83%), Movement Technique (Fourth Stage 73%), Fist Technique (Fourth Stage 83%)
…
“Fourth Stage 83% for the Spear Technique.”
“In two days, my Spear Technique has improved by a full 3%,” Li Yuan thought silently. “My mind control over my body has also become more refined, allowing me to stir up the slightest traces of subtle vigor.”
Such a rate of improvement in the Spear Technique was terrifying.
“Stellar Realm, after the battle with Kimura Tatsuo, I have gained some basic understanding. If I had more time, my Spear Technique would certainly become stronger, but, unfortunately, there’s no more time,” Li Yuan pondered silently.
“According to my teacher, he is just a hair’s breadth away from grasping the Flowing Light Imagery; his skill level should be higher than mine.”
“Let’s battle.”
“As long as he hasn’t reached Subtlety with his mind, I still have a chance to hold on,” Li Yuan’s eyes sparkled. “Hold on, and there’s a chance to win.”
He closed his eyes and stood still for a full minute.
To completely calm his spirit.
Then, he directly logged into the virtual network and entered the Starry Skies Fighting Network.
… Combat Space.
Even though there were still twenty minutes before the start of the fourth round of the match, the Spectator Platform was already swarming with people, hundreds of thousands gathering.
“Swoosh!” Li Yuan appeared out of nowhere, and immediately realized he didn’t appear on the Spectator Platform.
Instead, he was in the ‘waiting area’ very close to the combat ring.
Single seats for each person.
“Li Yuan!”
“Li Yuan has arrived.”
“Li Yuan.” Seconds after Li Yuan appeared, bursts of cheers erupted from the spectator seats behind him.
If at the start of the second round, the students of various Martial Arts Universities in Xia Country basically didn’t know who Li Yuan was, then by the start of the fourth round, Li Yuan already had a significant reputation.
Most students acknowledged that among Xia Country’s top sixteen fighters, Dantai Feng was the strongest, followed by Li Yuan, Yu Ming, Guan Ying, and a few others.
“Big Brother! Take the championship.”
“Li Yuan, go for it.”
“First place!” The students from Kunlun Martial University were the most excited, as their seating area was right behind Li Yuan, not too far away.
With a glance, Li Yuan spotted many familiar faces, such as Qiu Jing, Gu Qianghan, and Dong Haifeng, already sitting among the crowd.
“Li Yuan.”
“Finally, you’re here, Li Yuan,” two voices sounded next to him.
“Yang Hong, Wu Luo? Both of you made it into the top sixteen?” Li Yuan looked at the two acquaintances sitting not far away with some surprise.
So, Kunlun Martial University has three people who’ve broken into the top sixteen this time? That’s a very high ratio.
Yang Hong and Wu Luo were momentarily stunned.
“You can’t be serious, Li Yuan,” Wu Luo couldn’t help but say. “Are we really that forgettable? We’re in the top sixteen, after all.”
“My bad,” Li Yuan explained with a smile. “From the end of the second round the day before yesterday until today, I’ve been practicing the Spear Technique. I really didn’t pay attention to who made it into the top sixteen in yesterday’s matches.”
Li Yuan truly didn’t know.
The top sixteen? Is that strong?
“Oh, I see,” Wu Luo realized Li Yuan wasn’t targeting him and laughed, “Then I’ll introduce you to the other competitors.”
“That one over there is Li Jiao from the East Sea Martial University,” Wu Luo said with a smile. “She specializes in…”
…
While Wu Luo, Li Yuan, and Yang Hong were chatting, the other top sixteen contestants appeared one after another.
At the same time.
In the Spectator Space, various areas saw the arrival of some very quiet and low-profile students.
“Gong Mi, you’re here too?” A burly white youth with a full beard and striking blue eyes laughed. He was quite handsome.
“Salvatore, you’re here as well,” a black-clad young man laughed, his features very ordinary.
Gong Mi!
Born in a small country within ASEAN, but endowed with supreme talent, his skills were almost on par with Dantai Feng.
The three of them were recognized as the three top-grade talents in Starfire University’s current class.
…
“Sister, look, Skarrett has arrived,” Wu Dongdong pointed to an inconspicuous black youth not far away.
“Hmm.”
Lin Lanyue nodded and smiled, “Dantai Feng is participating in the Ten Schools Tournament for newcomers, and with the addition of Li Yuan, Garava, and a few other top-grade experts, it’s almost like a preview of the global Martial Arts competition next February. Naturally, many people are interested in coming to watch.”
…
Higher up in the Spectator Space, here lays the gathering place for the teachers.
“Old iron, you actually came?”
“You didn’t come to the newcomers’ fights of the past few years, did you?”
“This year’s competition is out of the ordinary, so I came to have a look.”
“That’s true, the competition has a much higher value this year.” As the finals day, the number of teachers from various schools who came to watch had far surpassed that of the previous two days.
The number has exceeded four hundred people.
It must be known that each teacher is at least a high-level Martial Artist, and many are even top-grade Martial Artists.
Although many teachers are from different schools, they have excellent private relationships, and it is rare for them to meet given the long distances in their daily lives.
It can be said that today is a rare grand meeting that gathers so many powerful Martial Artists in one place.
…
Time elapsed.
Perhaps due to the fermentation and publicity of the past two days.
As the competition time gradually approached, the number of spectators in the stands rapidly exceeded 600,000, gradually closing in on 700,000. This was already a new high for the number of people watching the Ten Schools Newcomers’ Tournament.
After all, this was just an internal competition, not open to the general public.
Finally, the time came to 8:30.
“After three days of competition, our Ten Schools Newcomers’ Tournament has finally reached the day of the final battle.” The burly host appeared above the dueling stage, his voice excited, “Today, the number of spectators has created a new historical high of the past ten years, reaching an astonishing 640,000 people.”
“I believe that the sixteen Martial Arts geniuses from different schools will also definitely present everyone with a series of superbly brilliant genius battles today.” The voice of the burly man echoed throughout the entire dueling space.
As music began to play, the atmosphere on the scene also rose even more fervently.
“Good!”
“First to start is today’s ‘Round of 16 to 8’ first match.” The voice of the burly man vibrated, “The first one, from the Martial Arts University of the East Sea’s country ‘Ohno Satoshi.’ “
Swish!
A young man from Sakura Country appeared on the stage holding twin blades, 1.7 meters tall with an ordinary-looking face.
“Ohno Satoshi!”
“Ohno Satoshi.” Nearly one hundred thousand cheering students from Sakura Country exclaimed excitedly.
Ohno Satoshi was another top expert that emerged from Sakura Country after Kimura Tatsuo, with strong abilities, having swept through his opponents in the third round yesterday and entered the top sixteen.
“The other one, the Martial Arts genius from Starfire University—Dantai! Feng!” The burly announcer’s voice grew even more stirring, almost excited.
“Dantai Feng!”
“Dantai Feng!”
“Dantai Feng!” The entire Spectator Platform immediately exploded with a tsunami of shouting, the sounds deafening, reverberating around the dueling stage.
It was not only the several hundred thousand spectators from Xia Country shouting Dantai Feng’s name but many from other countries as well.
Can’t help it!
Strength represented everything.
Dantai Feng’s sweeping moves with twin blades through the cage fight in the second round and his decision to abstain showcased strength, confidence, and composure, easily attracting the worship of many students.
Whoosh!
Dantai Feng was also transported onto the stage, holding twin blades in his hands, he gave Ohno Satoshi a sidelong glance and then closed his eyes, as if Ohno Satoshi didn’t matter to him at all.
“Bastard.” Ohno Satoshi cursed silently in his heart, “He doesn’t even bring a shield, he’s underestimating me too much.”
Those who had made it into the top sixteen were Martial Arts geniuses highly valued by their schools, and naturally, they would know about the strengths and intelligence of their opponents.
…Under the stage.
“Such a show-off,” Yang Hong couldn’t help saying, “Li Yuan, Wu Luo, Dantai Feng’s way of looking at people with a slanted eye is kind of cool.”
“It is cool, but also rather annoying. I suggest not copying it,” Li Yuan laughed.
He suddenly understood why Tian Dazhuang had a problem with Dantai Feng.
Watching someone show off and play cool every day, and not being able to beat them.
It would annoy anyone.
…
On the stage, following the end of the final ten-second countdown, Dantai Feng and Ohno Satoshi instantly erupted into battle.
Indeed instantly.
Because!
The moment the fight began, Ohno Satoshi charged at Dantai Feng, both wielding twin blades.
But just after a single exchange.
Dantai Feng’s blades whistled, and after only a few clashes of the blades, a dazzling arc of light suddenly shone and swept past Ohno Satoshi’s head.
Death!
Until defeating his opponent, Dantai Feng stood on the stage, still with a slightly lifted head, a cold look on his face, looking so composed.
“This should be cool enough,” Dantai Feng thought to himself.
…
Seeing the combat scene, the entire Spectator Platform fell silent for a moment. He lost just after an exchange? He was one of the top sixteen, after all.
But the silence lasted only for a moment.
“Dantai Feng!” The next second, the vast Spectator Platform erupted with tsunami-like excited cheers.
Only the tens of thousands of Sakura Country spectators looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
In fact, they knew Ohno Satoshi was likely to lose, but who would’ve thought he would lose so miserably?
…
“So strong!”
“Such a fast blade!” The layman watches the excitement; the expert sees the subtleties.
The faces of the ten or so contestants watching closely below the stage changed.
…
“The second battle.” The burly announcer’s eyes seemingly sparkled, eagerly saying, “Let us welcome from Tianzhu Country, ‘Garava’.”
“And.”
“From Xia Country’s Kunlun Martial Arts University, the Martial Arts genius—Li! Yuan!”