Chapter 38

"Is it really him?"

Xu Jingming looked at the name, "Second in the world, and it's from the boxing world?"

"Li Miaomiao invites you to her personal space." Xu Jingming received the notification and immediately tapped to accept the invitation.

On the beach.

Li Miaomiao sat on a beach chair, sipping a drink, and was reviewing the information about Tiger Forsen.

"Miaomiao." Xu Jingming walked over, listening to the sound of the waves and breathing in the sea air. He then leaned back on the beach chair and picked up a watermelon to eat.

"Jingming, the information about Tiger Mason seems a bit chaotic," Li Miaomiao said, looking at the data, "various championship titles from different boxing events."

"It's normal to be confused. The boxing world and the martial arts world are very different," Xu Jingming said with a smile. "The World Martial Arts Competition doesn't distinguish by age, gender, or weight. Participants wear armor and engage in weapon combat. Therefore, winning first or second place in the world is very prestigious, and the prize money and appearance fees are also very high."

"But boxing is divided into many weight classes, such as heavyweight, cruiserweight, light heavyweight, and so on, with over a dozen weight classes. There are also four major professional boxing organizations. So there are many champions, and many of them are not very famous, with low appearance fees. They often have to do other jobs to support themselves."

"Such low income?" Li Miaomiao asked in confusion.

"Of course, there are also those with high income," Xu Jingming said. "For example, unifying the golden belts of the four major organizations in a weight class and being invincible. Then moving up to the next weight class and being invincible again. The more weight classes you dominate, the more famous you become. It's normal for appearance fees to reach hundreds of millions."

"Tiger Forsen, among the many champions in history, ranks where? There might be a lot of debate. But he is undoubtedly the greatest heavyweight champion," Xu Jingming said.

Li Miaomiao looked at the data and said, "He entered professional boxing at 18, won the heavyweight world championship at 20, and retired at 28. He only lost one fight unexpectedly, and won all the others?"

"At 28, he felt there were no opponents in the boxing world, so he retired to raise his children. Later, he opened a boxing gym to teach, but he failed miserably. His students were not good enough. So, in a fit of anger, he came out of retirement at 43 and fought for another ten years, winning all of them without a single loss. Can you imagine a 53-year-old dominating the heavyweight division? In his career, he had 92 fights, 91 wins, 1 loss, and 86 knockouts. The knockout rate is terrifying. He is known for having the most fearsome fists in heavyweight history. When he retired at 53, the younger generation didn't dare to face him in a direct fight!"

"I've heard of champions with perfect records," Li Miaomiao said.

"There are," Xu Jingming said. "But you have to look at their actual dominance. Some champions have perfect records, but they fought opponents who were not well-known, so the value of their titles is much lower. Like my senior disciple, Tie Lianyun, who has won the world's first place three times, but he still can't match the three kings of the martial arts world. Why? Because the opponents he defeated were not strong enough! The same goes for boxing. Defeating powerful opponents is what proves your worth."

"This old champion, who was invincible in his youth and retired, and then remained undefeated for ten years in his old age, especially in the most brutal heavyweight division. So his status in the boxing world is very high," Xu Jingming said. "I just didn't expect that this old champion, after picking up weapons, could pass the third level of the Star Tower in just seven or eight days and rank second in the world." Xu Jingming said with admiration. "I'm sure the many martial arts schools around the world didn't expect this old champion to be the second-best in the world."

"What about the three kings of the martial arts world? Aren't they very strong?" Li Miaomiao asked.

"Only to say, there are even stronger ones in the world," Xu Jingming said.

...

Time passed.

The task space opened, and the Star Tower was open for 38 minutes when Liu Hai from Xia Country passed the third level.

The Star Tower was open for over five hours when Tiger Mason from the White Eagle Federation passed the third level.

However, after three days...

The Star List still had only these two names!

******

In the virtual world, Liu Hai's personal space.

Five high-ranking officials from Xia Country came to visit Liu Hai, four men and one woman.

"Coach Liu Hai." A refined middle-aged man smiled, "We haven't seen each other for many years."

"Old leaders, please sit down," Liu Hai said politely.

"Ha ha, I'm a few years older than Liu Hai, but now we both look younger," the refined middle-aged man said, and the four companions also nodded with smiles. With the significant increase in human lifespan, reaching 160 to 200 years, people in their 80s and 90s are still considered middle-aged.

"Coach Liu Hai, the evolution of life is a crucial process for the entire human civilization, and the state takes it very seriously. For this reason, a special Life Evolution Bureau has been established to manage all matters related to the life evolution of the entire country," the refined middle-aged man said. "The virtual world game is also managed by the Life Evolution Bureau."

Liu Hai immediately understood the immense power of this previously undisclosed and mysterious department.

The virtual world has a significant impact on people's lives.

Life evolution is even more important, and all of this is managed by the Life Evolution Bureau.

"Let me introduce you to this gentleman, Mr. Zhou, who is also our bureau chief," the refined middle-aged man introduced the elderly man sitting in the center.

"Director Zhou," Liu Hai felt a bit nervous in front of this leader.

This elderly man held a high position even when Liu Hai was young.

"Ha ha..." Director Zhou said with a chuckle, "I retired long ago, but I encountered the life evolution project. To survive, I was one of the early experimenters and was fortunate to succeed, allowing me to live to this day. Over the years, I have been responsible for various life evolution experiments and virtual world trials."

Liu Hai listened attentively.

"Director Zhou leads the overall effort, and we four assist," the refined middle-aged man said. "This is Deputy Director Wang Shuqi, Deputy Director Liang Qian, and Deputy Director Zhang Tongfang."

The other three deputy directors smiled, and the female deputy director said, "Coach Liu Hai, you have brought great honor to our Xia Country, and all Xia Country citizens feel proud. After you became the world's first, three days have passed, and the world still has only two people who have passed the third level of the Star Tower. The Star Tower is a personal task within the virtual world, but it is a test of your strength. In practice, it proves that you are at the forefront of the life evolution process."

"Very impressive."

"The bureau is also proud of you," another deputy director said, giving a thumbs up.

"It's just that I have practiced for a few more decades," Liu Hai said modestly.

Director Zhou smiled and said, "Coach Liu Hai, we are here today for two reasons. First, we want to ask for your suggestions on our 'Life Evolution Bureau.' Since the bureau is just getting on track, there are many areas where we lack experience. Second, we want to ask what kind of help you need. Since you are the world's first, we naturally want to focus more on cultivating you. Good steel is used on the blade."

"Speak boldly," the refined middle-aged man also said.

"Then I will speak boldly."

Liu Hai thought for a moment and said, "Winning the world's first place, I actually feel a bit ashamed."

The five leaders, though puzzled, listened calmly.

"Being the world's first is partly due to my own experience, but also because I received the state's cultivation on the first day the virtual world opened," Liu Hai said. "With the resources, my growth rate was naturally faster than those who did not receive resources! In seven days, my strength improved significantly compared to the first day of the virtual world. So when the Star Tower opened, I easily passed the third level."

"But I received external help," Liu Hai said. "Only twenty people in the country received cultivation, while over a billion people had to rely on themselves."

"You don't need to feel ashamed."

The refined middle-aged man said, "The country focuses on cultivating twenty people, and all countries cultivate their elites. According to my knowledge, about eighty people worldwide have received cultivation. But since the Star Tower opened, only two people have passed the third level, one is you, and the other is the old champion from the White Eagle Federation."

"Cultivation is just external help, which needs time to show its effects. Your early strength is still due to your strong foundation," the refined middle-aged man said.

Liu Hai nodded, "Among the twenty people cultivated in the country, I chose the resources for the 'Fifth Stage Shield and Blade Technique,' which I need to learn gradually. Over time, I will learn more and become stronger. The same goes for the other cultivated individuals, who will also grow quickly. But what about the others? For example, one of my disciples, Xu Jingming!"

"Xu Jingming was the most outstanding in the first god-level battle on the first day the virtual world opened. In that battle, he was clearly stronger than Gao Chong, Wang Qiao, and Dong Xu. But he did not receive cultivation and had to explore on his own. Gao Chong, Wang Qiao, and Dong Xu are all martial arts masters and received resources, so their progress will be very fast."

"On the first day of the virtual world, Xu Jingming was stronger than them."

"But after a month, they will likely surpass Xu Jingming. By then, the top twenty in Xia Country will probably be mostly those who received cultivation." Liu Hai said, "Is this fair?"

The five leaders listened in silence.

"The game has only been a few days, and we can already see many female athletes and civilian athletes rising," Liu Hai said. "But as the cultivated individuals gradually use their resources and build on their past foundations, they will improve quickly and surpass the female and civilian athletes. Is this fair?"