“Garava? Li Yuan?” The three students in the meeting room all showed puzzled expressions.
They had never heard of them.
In fact, as freshmen who had just entered university, they were far from the global university Martial Arts competition and few paid attention to students from other schools.
Just like Li Yuan, he would not deliberately pay attention to geniuses from other schools—it wasn’t very meaningful.
“According to the intelligence we’ve collected, both of them have reached the Bright Moon Stage on the Starry Skies Fighting Network,” the elder in a black robe said. “Garava broke through at the beginning of July, and Li Yuan at the beginning of August.”
“Bright Moon Stage?”
“Garava broke through at the beginning of July? Doesn’t that mean he did so earlier than me and Guan Ying?” The tallest youth among them said in a deep voice, “How could such a talent remain within Tianzhu Country?”
“The reason is unclear.”
The elder in the black robe shook his head, “Regional Martial Arts Universities may not have students with overall qualities as great as ours, but with a large number and large base, occasionally super talents will emerge.”
“Like Kunlun Martial University, last year they produced Jin Huguo, who reached the Subtlety of the soul in his sophomore year and entered the top hundred of the virtual combat of the global Martial Arts Universities competition,” the elder in the black robe said. “Many of your senior classmates were defeated by him.
By next February when he competes again, he will be even stronger; it’s possible for him to reach the top twenty or even top ten.”
Subtlety of the soul?
The burly youth and the young woman both showed serious expressions on their faces.
From the high rank of Fourth Level to the Perfection of Fourth Level, even though they were the top elites of Starfire University, they couldn’t say for sure that they would breakthrough by their sophomore year.
“Alright.”
“The documents about those two and the collected combat data, as well as information on other schools’ Fourth Level masters, have all been sent to your personal Virtual Space,” the elder in the black robe said. “Go look at them privately later.”
“You may leave now.”
“Yes.” The three students stood up.
Soon, they all arrived outside the meeting room.
Suddenly.
The extraordinarily handsome young man in black clothes stopped, turned his head towards the burly youth and the young woman, “Yu Ming, Guan Ying, work hard, I don’t want you to fail to even make the top four. That would be too embarrassing for our university.”
“Dantai Feng, you…” The burly youth’s expression changed.
The young woman next to him quickly shot him a warning glance.
“What? Can’t accept it?” The young man in black clothes glanced at the burly youth, “If you’re not convinced, whether it’s actual combat or virtual battle, you pick.”
Flames seemed to spray from the burly youth’s eyes.
“Don’t be arrogant, thinking that just because you were third in the college entrance examination in Xia Country you will always be third,” Dantai Feng said indifferently. “Tian Dazhuang is progressing no slower than you, he’s also at the high rank of Fourth Level.”
“Lin Lanyue from Starry Sky University has awakened high Spiritual Nature and her strength has grown rapidly.”
“As for Li Yuan?”
“I don’t mind telling you.” Dantai Feng glanced at them both, “He might have been late in reaching the high rank of Fourth Level, but his rate of progress is the most terrifying. A year ago, he had just reached the initial rank of Third Stage.”
Yu Ming and Guan Ying’s expressions completely changed.
A year’s time, from the initial rank of Third Stage to the high rank of Fourth Level? That was exaggeration.
Phew!
The young man in black clothes seemed uninterested in them and went straight away, disappearing from their view.
“Damn it, always showing off in front of us.”
Yu Ming’s eyes seemed to spit fire, “If he’s so capable, he should show off in front of Salvatore.”
“Stop it.” Guan Ying shook her head, “It’s normal for Dantai Feng to be proud with such a background and high talent.”
“His warning is correct.”
“This time, we can’t be careless,” Guan Ying said seriously. “We could accept losing to Li Yuan, that would just be an internal competition within Xia Country, stew in our own juice, but losing to Garava would be a true disgrace.”
“Hmph!”
“He’s worried about us losing?” Yu Ming scoffed, “He should be careful not to capsize in the drainage ditch and lose his first place…Guan Ying, I know what’s at stake, I’m heading back first.”
Mid-sentence.
Yu Ming himself felt it was somewhat unrealistic. Dantai Feng lose first place?
The odds were too small!
After all, Dantai Feng was already at the high rank of Fourth Level in swordsmanship, the first in Xia Country, before the college entrance examination.
A few months into Starfire University, he still was absolutely among the top three of the freshmen.
Even Salvatore, recognized as the strongest, couldn’t confidently say he would win in a virtual battle.
When the level of skill is close, the outcome of a battle depends a lot on the state at that moment.
…
After getting explanations from the teacher in the Xuanwu Building about potential ‘Fourth Level masters’ from various schools.
By noon.
Li Yuan returned to his villa, went to the basement Martial Arts Room, turned on the screen projection, and started looking through the ‘information files’ the teacher had just sent over.
“Dantai Feng, Yu Ming, Guan Ying, Garava.” Li Yuan looked at the four names that were specially highlighted in the file.
All four of them were at the Bright Moon Stage.
The file included videos of their combats, but most were from before the college entrance examination and had only referential value.
Li Yuan examined them one by one.
“Hm?”
“This Dantai Feng.” Li Yuan watched the young man in black clothes easily defeat a series of Fallen Star stage masters on the screen and muttered to himself, “This coordination of Sword and Shield Technique, could it be that he’s at the high rank of Fourth Level?”
Already at the high rank of Fourth Level before the college entrance examination?
Li Yuan wasn’t sure.
“With such talent, and another four months passed, how strong must he be now?” Li Yuan felt the pressure, “Has he reached Subtlety already?”
If Dantai Feng had reached Subtlety, then there was a big gap between them.
Despite Li Yuan’s rapid progress, having mastered the five forms of the Stellar Spear Technique, he was still a ways off from reaching the 90% that represents Subtlety in the Fourth Stage.
Suddenly.
“Master, Tian Dazhuang is calling you on V-comm, voice chat,” the intelligent assistant informed.
“Tian Dazhuang?” Li Yuan paused, then said with a smile, “Connect.”
Beep—The voice chat was established.
“Dazhuang.” Li Yuan said with a smile, taking the initiative to speak.
The appellation was quite close.
“Li Yuan.”
From the darkened screen, a deep voice came through, tinged with a hint of a smile, “Thank you for our last battle on the Starry Skies Fighting Network.”
“It’s nothing,” Li Yuan said with a smile. “You were about to break through then. Even if I had interrupted you, you’d have stabilized your realm in two or three days at most.”
“Yeah.” Tian Dazhuang said, “You know about the three wildcard entrants in the ten-school freshman battle, right?”
“Yeah, Dantai Feng… they are all from your Starfire University,” Li Yuan said outright, naming the three people.
He guessed that Tian Dazhuang must have had something urgent to say to call him out of the blue.
“These three people, Yu Ming and Guan Ying are about as strong as I am, and for you, beating them shouldn’t be too hard,” Tian Dazhuang said in a deep voice. “But be careful with Dantai Feng; he was already at the high rank of Fourth Level before the college entrance exam.”
“Now, he must be close to reaching the Subtlety of the soul,” Tian Dazhuang continued.
“Subtlety of the soul?” Li Yuan’s heart stirred, and he couldn’t help asking, “Has he reached it?”
“Not yet.”
“`
Tian Dazhuang confirmed, “I sparred with him just two days ago, and if his psyche had achieved subtlety, I wouldn’t last ten moves against him; he practices the ‘Flowing Light Sword Technique’… You can watch more videos of masters from this style battling.”
“However, I can’t share his specific combat videos with you. I hope you understand,” said Tian Dazhuang.
“I understand,” Li Yuan replied with a smile.
There are clear rules about this, and Li Yuan, too, couldn’t share other students’ combat videos at will.
“I appreciate receiving this information. Thank you,” Li Yuan said with a smile.
“You’ve helped me before, so naturally, I should help you too,” Tian Dazhuang replied with a smile. “Besides, I want you to win.”
“You want me to win?” Li Yuan asked in surprise. “If they lose, wouldn’t Starfire University also lose face?”
“What do I care, it’s not my face being lost, and I even want to fight to win rewards. It’s just a pity the school doesn’t give me the chance,” Tian Dazhuang replied with a laugh. “As for Dantai Feng… I’ve always wanted to beat him up, but sadly, I’m not strong enough.”
“Push yourself and try to beat him up for me.”
…
After ending the communication with Tian Dazhuang.
“This Dantai Feng, he really knows how to make himself hated,” Li Yuan said, shaking his head with a wry smile. “Even someone with Tian Dazhuang’s temperament can’t stand him.”
However, from Tian Dazhuang’s words, Li Yuan sensed how strong the other party was.
The realm of skill.
Most likely above his own.
“But as to who will win, that only becomes clear after the battle,” Li Yuan said, as he turned and began walking upstairs.
Entering the virtual network, Li Yuan started watching videos of masters using the ‘Flowing Light Sword Technique’ in battle.
…
After familiarizing himself with the necessary knowledge.
Li Yuan returned to the underground Martial Arts Room and resumed spear practice without any impatience in his heart.
“Dantai Feng?”
“Let him be as strong as he is, as long as I do my best, there’s hope for winning,” Li Yuan said calmly in his heart. “If I really lose, then it would mean I wasn’t strong enough.”
“If I’m not strong enough, then I’ll continue to train and become stronger.”
Li Yuan pursued victory, but victory is just a result. The process determines the result, and he wouldn’t be discouraged if he didn’t win in the end.
Doing his best is above all else.
…
In the afternoon, Li Yang also sought Li Yuan, sharing similar information to Tian Dazhuang’s.
…
That evening, someone unexpectedly video-called Li Yuan.
Seeing the flickering name on the screen.
Li Yuan, who was practicing his spear in silence, hesitated.
After three seconds of hesitation.
He answered!
The video call connected, and on the screen projection appeared a short-haired woman dressed in a red Xia martial attire.
Compared to half a year ago, she seemed more mature, her face less childish and three parts more heroic.
It felt like a real transformation.
“Lin Lanyue.” Li Yuan greeted with a smile. “Long time no see. What brings you to contact me all of a sudden?”
“Can’t I contact you?” The Lin Lanyue in the video replied with a smile.
The background of the video showed that she was also in a Martial Arts Room.
“Gu Qiang told me that the ten-school freshman competition starts tomorrow. Do you have confidence in defeating Dantai Feng?” Lin Lanyue got straight to the point.
Clearly, she was well-informed about the ten-school freshman competition.
“Nope,” Li Yuan admitted with a smile. “He should be close to achieving subtlety in spirit. I think I’m still a bit behind in the skill realm, but to say that I have no confidence at all wouldn’t be true. As for winning or losing, we’ll only know after we actually fight.”
“It seems you also have your ways to get information about him,” Lin Lanyue said with a laugh.
“These are the only pieces of information I know,” Li Yuan shrugged and replied with a smile. “To understand his strength further, I’ll have to wait for the actual competition.”
“Right.”
“I’ve collected a combat video for you to take a look at,” Lin Lanyue said coolly. “It might help you some.”
With a *ding*, instantly,
Li Yuan received a notification, and a video file was added.
“Is this Dantai Feng’s video?” Li Yuan asked without accepting it, unable to help himself. “Isn’t that against the rules?”
“It’s not against the rules.”
“You’ll see when you watch it,” Lin Lanyue replied with a smile. “Okay, when you make it to the finals, I’ll come to cheer you on.”
“My real combat teacher is here, I have to hang up now.”
“Alright.”
Li Yuan nodded, and suddenly he said, “My uncle’s situation, thank you for that.”
Lin Lanyue paused for a moment, then said with a smile, “I told you last time, it was just a coincidence, don’t worry about it.”
“Good luck!”
…
After ending the call, Li Yuan stared at the ‘video file’ on the screen, hesitating.
He clicked to open it.
It wasn’t the Dantai Feng combat video he had anticipated.
But it was a duel between two masters.
One wielded a long spear, employing the Stellar Spear Technique.
The other used a sword and shield, displaying the ‘Flowing Light Sword Technique’ and the ‘Vajra Shield Technique’.
Both combatants had skills at the high rank of the Fourth Level.
“What is this?” Li Yuan muttered to himself in surprise.
Soon, Li Yuan realized it wasn’t just a single combat video.
There were nine in total.
The two masters were consistent in their choice of weapons and moves, but their skill levels kept varying, starting from the initial high rank of the Fourth Level and progressing towards the peak, even reaching the subtlety of the Fourth Level.
“These are simulated battles!”
“They’re simulating the different combat scenarios that could occur between Dantai Feng and me,” Li Yuan realized with a surge of emotion.
This seemingly simple collection of combat videos must have taken a lot of effort to compile.
…
Time passed.
On October 4, the first round of the competition had nothing to do with Li Yuan.
He didn’t pay much attention to it, continuing his training as usual.
On the morning of October 5,
Li Yuan was about to face his first cage match battle.
“`