High-Level Martial Era - Chapter 25

Chapter 24: Chapter 22 Global [4684] Name
 

The ranking battle mode, with consecutive wins, would occasionally match Li Yuan with those masters above 500 points in the Gold Stage,

but those were still the minority—most of the time, he was prioritized to match with players who had nearly the same amount of points.

“After creating ‘Hidden Dragon in the Cleft,’ my Spear Technique has greatly improved. Now, when I face the Martial Arts masters in the lower levels of the Gold Stage, my win rate has increased significantly,” Li Yuan said with a hint of exhaustion but still brimming with fighting spirit.

His points had been soaring up until now.

“Ordinary adults, with insufficient spiritual power, would probably need to rest after six or seven battles, and can fight a maximum of twenty to thirty bouts per day at most; otherwise, they would strain their energy and affect their real-life cultivation,” Li Yuan’s eyes twinkled with light. “But me, I can experience up to two hundred virtual battles in a single day and still maintain my peak condition.”

Why had Li Yuan’s Martial Arts Skills skyrocketed over the past year?

Aside from his innate comprehension in Spear Technique,

it also had an inseparable relationship with his continuously strengthening spiritual power.

The stronger the spiritual power, the more control he has over his body during daily practice, the faster the improvement in his Spear Technique.

Similarly, in the virtual Combat Network battles, he could fight more bouts.

His year of virtual fights was equivalent to the training many others would accumulate over three or even five years.

With such conditions, how could Li Yuan’s Martial Arts Skills not improve rapidly?

“The last battle, I must win,”

“Five thousand bucks, they’re mine,” Li Yuan clicked on the option box—Start Matching.

Beep—Match Successful.

“Entering the ranking match soon, your opponent is in the Gold Stage (499 points)… Countdown 10, 9…”

…

Inside a broadcasting room on the Starry Skies Fighting Network, the live stream title read, ‘Martial Path Champion’s Road, Furiously Rushing to 500 Gold Stage Points.’

In the broadcasting room was a young elf-dressed girl, about seventeen or eighteen years old, and… a middle-aged commentator.

“Brothers,”

“Xiu’er, who is aspiring to be the Martial Path champion of South Bright City, surpassed 360 points in Martial Arts Skills during the last school Martial Path test… today, she attempts to rush to 500 points in the Gold Stage,”

The girl occasionally tossed her head, looking quite adorable as she awaited the match.

But the middle-aged commentator was very excited.

“Reaching 500 points in the Gold Stage, not to mention South Bright City, even in the whole of Jiangbei Province, there are still fewer than 50 people under 18 who can reach this stage… Let’s see if Xiu’er can succeed in her third attempt,” the middle-aged commentator quickly said.

“Oh! Match successful!”

“The opponent’s points are 496, another Martial Arts master aiming for the Gold Stage,”

“In her previous two attempts today, the opponents both had over 600 points. This time, with only 496 points… let’s watch with anticipation… 5, 4…” the middle-aged man said excitedly.

There were plenty of Martial Arts livestreamers in the Gold Stage.

But for underage broadcasters to reach the Gold Stage was quite rare. The additional appeal of battling for the top spot in the college entrance exam, an elven young girl, attractiveness… these gimmicks attracted even more attention.

This broadcaster named “Xiu’er” was quite popular on the Starry Skies Fighting Network.

At the moment, the viewing count had already surpassed two thousand people.

Of course, as a minor, she couldn’t broadcast alone; at least not until over 16 years old, and even then, a guardian must accompany her and there’s a time restriction on weekly broadcasts… all mandated by law.

“This time, I should succeed,”

“The opponent’s 496 points seem much weaker than the last two,”

“Knock out the opponent.”

“Xiu’er has fought over 30 matches today, with a win rate of 56.6%, which is very good. I’ll tip her.”

“I’ve been watching Xiu’er’s broadcasts for two years,”

“It’s nurturing! Raising a Martial Path champion, I’m just waiting for the day Xiu’er becomes one,”

“She’ll definitely win,” a torrent of text bullet comments, voice bullet comments, image bullet comments flashed by… along with various tips.

Suddenly,

Whoosh! The live broadcast scene shifted, forming a fighting arena, and a young man with a long spear appeared on the other side of the stage.

“A young man?”

“The opponent looks so young; could he also be a minor?”

“Definitely an adult, this is just a virtual image. If he were also a minor, wouldn’t he be vying for the top spot in the college entrance exam too?” the audience discussed among themselves.

…

On the battle stage,

“Hm? So many people?” As soon as Li Yuan stood on the stage, he realized that the previously empty Spectator Platform suddenly filled with a massive crowd, teeming with thousands of viewers.

“A big broadcaster?” Li Yuan glanced around, and his gaze finally rested on the elven girl holding a silver long spear twenty meters away.

Normally in Gold Stage matching, even if you encountered a broadcaster, having a hundred spectators was considered good.

Meeting a big broadcaster with thousands of viewers? It was the first time Li Yuan had encountered such a thing today.

Li Yuan could completely block out the sound from the Spectator Platform and ignore the external audience… but he chose not to.

“A broadcaster?”

“Seems to be an underage girl broadcaster?” Li Yuan heard some of the audience’s voices, “Let’s see how strong she can be.”

In fact, Li Yuan had tried broadcasting before; he had thought about earning money through live streaming to ease his family’s financial pressures… but he soon realized.

This industry was deeply complex.

Unless one was a super-high-level expert in the Sun Eclipse Stage, becoming popular as a broadcaster was very difficult.

Those who did become popular broadcasters had more than just Martial Arts Skills to thank.

Being good at fighting did not guarantee proficiency in broadcasting.

Making money was never simple in any field.

Moreover, Li Yuan was very clear in his understanding that virtual battles were ultimately just an auxiliary means for honing Martial Arts Skills, and real-life cultivation was the core.

The purpose of making money, too, was for cultivating the Martial Path.

One should not lose sight of the essence by focusing on the superficial.

“Xiu’er?” Li Yuan looked at the name of the elf girl, vaguely recalling having scrolled past her live broadcast videos.

But the impression wasn’t deep; she likely wasn’t one of the top broadcasters.

“Hello.”

“May I take a turn with this?” asked the elf girl, holding a silver long spear with a giggly smile, quite adorable.

Li Yuan slightly furrowed his brows.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the elf girl moved with the speed of an 8.0-grade Physical Quality, like lightning as she charged toward Li Yuan.

“Xiu’er starts playing dirty again.”

“Stab him!”

“This guy must have been tricked, probably hasn’t watched Xiu’er’s livestream.” The Spectator Platform erupted with numerous voices.

“Pfft!” The silver long spear thrust straight!

“Straight Thrust?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Yuan gripped the spear with his left hand and supported it with his right, thrusting straight with a midline stance as well.

It was as though both were using a mutually destructive move.

But the long spear Li Yuan had chosen was nearly three meters long, about half a meter longer than his opponent’s… and Li Yuan’s character model was taller with longer arm reach.

It was destined that Li Yuan’s spear would be the first to strike the opponent.

An inch longer, an inch stronger.

“Bang~”

At the moment their spear tips crossed, the elf girl’s Silver Spear suddenly trembled, unleashing terrifying strength in an attempt to knock Li Yuan’s long spear aside… clearly, she had realized her weapon’s disadvantage.

“Bang~”

However, Li Yuan, as if foreseeing her move, similarly shook his long spear with equal hardness.

Then, with a glance from the corner of his eye, he swiftly backpedaled, landing and neutralizing the impact of the force.

“Whoosh!” A violent rush of air from the spear wind.

The elf girl’s follow-up thrust came up empty, the spear tip just an inch from Li Yuan’s head.

“Despite the continuous collisions, she still maintains the stability of her spear for consecutive attacks… This must be some kind of killer move,” Li Yuan dodged the thrust and made a judgment, “I must be cautious.”

In a usual scrimmage, repeated impacts cause recoil that transmits through the spear, affecting the fighter, making many maneuvers difficult and requiring adjustment.

If the opponent can attack consecutively, it indicates that the combination is very special.

Such killer moves are those that perfectly harness Vigor, allowing for defense and attack combinations that ordinary people can’t achieve.

“Such quick reflexes, such strong movement technique,” the elf girl said, equally surprised at her pretty face.

This combination was one of her killer moves, which often took her opponents by surprise and allowed her to resolve fights in just a few moves.

…”Such impressive movement technique.”

“Very steady!”

“The common folk includes a true master.”

“Xiu’er just got outplayed,” laughed many spectators on the Spectator Platform; they weren’t really concerned about winning or losing.

…

“Clang!” “Clang!” “Clang!”

With each collision, both sides proved to be masters of Spear Technique, constantly moving at high speed and probing for opportunities.

Each was trying to find the other’s weakness and seize the chance.

But Li Yuan was very steady, scarcely initiating an attack, preferring not to attempt glory but to avoid fault, his defenses repeatedly blocking the elf girl’s Silver Spear.

“Virtual combat is for honing Spear Technique, fighting one more or one fewer battle makes little difference,” Li Yuan thought calmly, not in a hurry.

But desperation gradually grew in the elf girl.

She could hear the murmurs of the surrounding audience, many making light of her with comments like ‘kind of boring,’ ‘won’t you fight,’ ‘charge in,’ ‘just circling around,’ ‘are these two putting on a play,’ ‘Can you still be called Xiu’er if you can’t put on a show,’ ‘Where’s all that bragging now,’ ‘told you she’s not up for it’…”

While the elf girl wanted victory, the race to 500 Points and the associated rewards, she was also looking for an impact on her livestream.

“This guy, like a turtle.”

“If this keeps up, the fight won’t end in five minutes, probably half the spectators will leave, not waiting any longer,” the elf girl gritted her teeth and took the initiative to attack.

“Clang!” “Bang~”

Mere moments after the spear shaft and tip collided several times, Li Yuan kept retreating while the elf girl advanced with each step.

“Here’s my chance,” the elf girl’s eyes sparkled.

In less than ten exchanges, as Li Yuan was almost backed to the edge of the ring and the elf girl thought she was about to win.

“Whoosh!” The normally defensive Li Yuan suddenly exploded into action, his long spear thrusting swiftly.

“Rip~”

The long spear tore through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound!

“Not good,” ‘Xiu’er,’ the elf girl’s pupils contracted. Just as she thought of retreating, the spearhead pierced through her throat.

It was simply too fast!

The skirmish had lasted nearly two minutes, with her dominating the scene for over ninety percent of that time.

But as she launched a continuous attack at the moment when her old strength was spent and new strength had not yet emerged, Li Yuan seized the opportunity for a decisive blow.

“The Martial Arts livestream is popular with spectators, who will tip with gifts for entertainment, allowing one to profit.”

“Sometimes those spectators can also ignite one’s passion for battle,” Li Yuan silently retrieved his spear, glancing toward the now bustling Spectator Platform nearby: “But acting on momentum can also result in being constrained and troubled by it.”

“Life-and-death battles should be pure.”

“Fighting isn’t for show, it’s about determining life and death.”

“Your Martial Arts Skills are not inferior to mine, but you didn’t focus your heart entirely on the battle,” Li Yuan stared at the spot where the elf girl had vanished: “That is why you lost.”

Life-and-death battles have never been determined solely by Physical Quality or Martial Arts Skills.

It’s also about mentality.

Practicing the Solid Rock Cultivation Technique, Li Yuan had a frighteningly stable mentality.

“Congratulations, Defender·Yuan, you’ve won this Gold Stage match, Points +10.”

“Congratulations, Defender·Yuan, you’ve reached 500 Points at the Gold Stage, eligible to claim a reward of 50,000 Blue Star Coins.”

“Congratulations, Defender·Yuan, you have entered the ‘Starry Sky Youth Ranking,’ placed at number [4684] globally, number [1224] in the Xia Country District, and number [47] in the Jiangbei Division, detailed rankings can be checked through the following methods…”

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Chapter 25: Chapter 23 Special Admission Qualifications
 

Starry Skies Fighting Network, Personal Space.

Li Yuan’s consciousness had just returned to his body.

Rustle~ Countless lights and shadows converged, coalescing into the figure of a young girl dressed in a green ancient costume.

“Guardian Yuan, congratulations on your entry into the Youth Rankings of Blue Star. Your status within the Starry Skies Fighting Network has been elevated,” the girl in the green costume said with a slight smile. “From today onwards, I will be your dedicated artificial intelligence customer service in the Starry Skies Fighting Network, at your service throughout the entire process. You may name me.”

“Dedicated artificial intelligence customer service?” Li Yuan was slightly taken aback.

AI intelligence in this era was already very advanced.

As far as Li Yuan knew, usually only when a user had charged up a certain amount of money into the ‘Starry Skies Fighting Network’ and purchased many additional services could they get their own dedicated AI customer service.

Unexpectedly, simply being listed on this so-called Youth Rankings of Blue Star also had this benefit.

“Xiaoyu,” Li Yuan said directly. His own AI wristband was named Xiaoyu as well.

One size fits all.

“Xiaoyu is pleased to serve you,” the girl in the green dress said with a small bow, looking very innocent.

“I want to view the Youth Rankings of Blue Star as well as the order of the list,” Li Yuan said directly.

“Understood,” the girl replied with a wave of her delicate green hand, as a light screen projection appeared before Li Yuan.

It contained a great deal of text description, along with various videos and images.

Li Yuan quickly understood.

“The Youth Rankings of Blue Star are compiled by the ‘Starry Skies Fighting Network.’ Anyone who reaches 500 points at the Gold Stage is eligible for entry,” Li Yuan thought to himself. “According to rumors, behind the Starry Skies Fighting Network are the Seven Star Alliance, the three Great Martial Halls, and various powerful nations… It serves not only as a high-intensity method to hone martial artists’ martial arts skills, but also to select martial arts prodigies.”

Now it seemed, the rumors were not unfounded.

“The Youth Rankings of Blue Star purely evaluates martial arts skills,” Li Yuan nodded slightly. “That makes sense; the Starry Skies Fighting Network can easily filter candidates without expending additional resources.”

“If they were to assess both martial arts skills and scrutinize physical quality and talent… that would essentially be a college entrance examination,” Li Yuan couldn’t help laughing.

Whether it’s all of human civilization or just a single country, efforts are made to screen out talents in technology and martial arts… The college entrance exam is the most extensive and comprehensive evaluation method.

The Starry Skies Fighting Network, by contrast, is about selecting for a single criterion: martial arts skills.

“The Youth Rankings of Blue Star cover the entire Blue Star region. The list resets every year on September 1st,” Li Yuan continued to read.

“Any youth who has not reached the age of 18 before the deadline on September 1st is eligible to enter the next year’s Youth Rankings of Blue Star.”

Li Yuan immediately realized that this so-called Youth Rankings of Blue Star did not comprise only minors.

The oldest on the list might be nearly 19 years old.

For example, those born on September 2nd.

However, if they were indeed martial arts prodigies, they could reach the Gold Stage and amass 500 points at the age of 14 or 15, allowing them to be listed on the Youth Rankings of Blue Star for four or five consecutive years.

“So by this calculation, the current list of the Youth Rankings of Blue Star hasn’t even been updated for a month?” Li Yuan thought to himself. “Less than a month, and there are already 4,684 individuals listed?”

And that was just within the region of Blue Star.

Looking at the civilization of the Seven Great Planets, how many must be listed?

If one were to wait until next year, how many more would be on the list by August?

Let alone those from Blue Star who emerged as martial arts prodigies within a year.

“Anyone who can surge to 500 points on the Gold Stage won’t have martial arts skills inferior to mine,” Li Yuan shook his head slightly. “My martial arts skills are unmatched in the Guan Mountain District’s First High School.”

“But on a global scale? It’s nothing special,” Li Yuan calmed himself.

He felt the insignificance of his own achievements.

The world was indeed vast.

“But every journey begins with a single step, and at least I’ve made it onto the list,” Li Yuan then chuckled to himself. “In the entire Jiangbei Province, including me, there are only 47 people — probably most of them are sophomores or juniors in high school.”

In Jiangbei Province, there were over a million high school seniors.

In terms of martial arts skills, Li Yuan had already surged to the top echelon of a million high school seniors.

A year ago, Li Yuan would not have dared to imagine achieving such success.

After reading through all the contents,

“Stage rewards?” Li Yuan’s gaze fell on the last page, his eyes lighting up.

——Stage Rewards (Before turning 18):

1. Reach 500 points at the Gold Stage, receive a reward of 50,000 Blue Star Coins.

2. Reach the Fallen Star Stage, receive a reward of 500,000 Blue Star Coins.

3. Reach the Bright Moon Stage, receive a reward of 20 million Blue Star Coins.

——Stage Rewards (Ages 18 to 30):

1. Reach the Fallen Star Stage, receive a reward of 10,000 Blue Star Coins.

2. Reach the Bright Moon Stage, receive a reward of 200,000 Blue Star Coins.

3. Reach the Sun Eclipse Stage: receive a reward of 5 million Blue Star Coins.

…

“It’s so extravagant,” Li Yuan muttered to himself. “A reward of 20 million Blue Star Coins?”

Twenty million! That’s what an average person would hope to earn in a hundred years of work.

But Li Yuan had to admit, the difficulty was indeed high; to reach the Bright Moon Stage before the age of 18.

If they surpassed 18 years of age, even if they reached the Bright Moon Stage, the reward would only be 200,000 Blue Star Coins.

“Never mind the Bright Moon Stage, reaching the Fallen Star Stage before the age of 18 would probably be difficult too,” Li Yuan shook his head, casually asking, “Xiaoyu, how many on the Youth Rankings of Blue Star have achieved the Fallen Star Stage by now?”

“As of today, there are 44,” the girl in the green dress, Xiaoyu, replied, “but the specific list cannot be disclosed.”

Li Yuan nodded.

He had already found when attempting to view the list that he could only see general statistical data.

But the specific names? Who had made it onto the Youth Rankings of Blue Star?

Unable to query.

“Perhaps, this is a form of protection,” Li Yuan thought darkly. “In some sense, those who are on the list are all martial arts powerhouses of the future, though they have not yet matured.”

Though one could find a wealth of information through various countries’ school exam results, college entrance exam scores, and so on…

But the difficulty of gathering information in either case was clearly not on the same level.

“Rewards.” Li Yuan looked at the three-stage rewards listed on the page, deep in thought.

“Bright Moon Stage? That’s too far off, somewhat unrealistic.”

“But Fallen Star Stage?”

“My birthday is on August 29, and I have about eleven months to hone my martial arts skills.”

“Even if I don’t reach it before the college entrance exam, it doesn’t matter, I can continue to work hard after the exam.”

“As long as I reach the Fallen Star Stage, there’s a reward of 500,000 Blue Star Coins,” Li Yuan set his goal in his heart.

He was full of anticipation, brimming with motivation.

Because this was a goal he truly had hopes of achieving.

As long as he reached 1000 points in the Gold Stage and then won the promotion match, he would be in the Fallen Star Stage.

“Let’s try a few more matches,” Li Yuan couldn’t help but click ‘Stage Matching’.

Six minutes later.

“Lost!”

“Lost!”

“Three consecutive losses, all against experts with over 600 points, I lost them all,” Li Yuan returned to his personal space, feeling somewhat helpless.

Not only did he not gain points, but he had dropped back down to 491 points.

Li Yuan calmed down as well.

“It seems that 500 points is indeed a threshold. With my strength, I have a winning rate of over 80% against those under 500 points,” Li Yuan reviewed today’s battles. “Facing experts with 500 points, especially those over 600 points, my chances of victory are less than 30%.”

“This means, to dominate at the Gold Stage with my martial arts skills, I’m still far off.”

To think about reaching the Fallen Star Stage without being nearly unbeatable at the Gold Stage?

It’s practically a fool’s dream.

The gap between each rank in the Starry Skies Fighting Network is vast, almost insurmountable.

“Little Jade, my points fell below 500, that won’t affect my reward, right?” Li Yuan asked.

“It won’t affect it.”

“The Blue Star Coin reward is based on your historical highest score,” the girl in green said with a smile. “The 50,000 Blue Star Coin reward will be issued to your bank account after a unified review on Monday.”

“Good,” Li Yuan nodded his head.

The Starry Skies Fighting Network, as the number one game in the virtual network, is also endorsed by the authorities…trustworthy.

“Log out,” thought Li Yuan.

He left the virtual network.

…

After leaving his room.

“Bro, come and have an apple, I’ve cut it for you,” his sister Li Qianqian called from the sofa.

“Sure,” Li Yuan smiled. “Watching a projection? What’s this show?”

“Bro, it’s not a drama series; it’s a documentary, ‘Exploration of the Rob Sea Star Realm,’ by our country’s first explorer who first entered the Rob Sea…” His brother Li Muhua quickly explained, reciting the details like it was precious knowledge.

“Oh?” Li Yuan nodded, sat down, and watched the documentary with his brother and sister while eating apples.

The interior of the Star Realm is very unique; many technological devices fail to function.

Added to that, numerous Star Realm Creatures roam freely, putting one in constant danger… Over the decades, human civilization has been fighting, but there is not much footage about the depths of the Star Realm.

“These explorers are all martial artists, huh? They leap up cliffs tens of meters high as if it were nothing,” Li Muhua couldn’t help but say.

“Without the strength of a martial artist, who would dare to venture into the Star Realm? Isn’t that suicide?” Li Yuan laughed. “Moreover, they are not ordinary martial artists.”

At the very least, their physical quality must exceed level 20!

…

After watching the documentary for half an hour, their aunt came out of the master bedroom and urged everyone to go to bed.

After washing up, Li Yuan returned to his room.

He was in no rush to tell his aunt about reaching 500 points in the Gold Stage.

“I’ll wait until both sums of money are truly in my account,” Li Yuan stood barefoot in the room.

“I’ve spent the entire day in the virtual network.”

“Can’t neglect the Basic Cultivation Method.”

“Two hours of ‘Solid Rock Cultivation Technique’ first, then the ‘Observing the Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture’,” Li Yuan quickly made a decision.

For Li Yuan, having a snack with his brother and sister and watching a projection show was already a rare relaxation.

Martial Arts Cultivation had no shortcuts.

It’s about daily accumulation.

…

Late at night.

When Li Yuan got up at three in the morning and quietly left home to rush to school.

In Jiangbei Province, at the Martial Arts Hall.

The smart system and the duty personnel had already received an unremarkable file pending review.

“Blue Star Youth List 2042-2043 period, entry number [4684], name ‘Li Yuan,’ place of residence ‘Guan Mountain District, Jiang City, Jiangbei Province’… Please conduct a comprehensive assessment of this individual within 10 days to confirm whether he qualifies for the special recruitment of Martial Artist Students.”