Chapter 77

September 4th, 17:50.

In the personal training arena, Xu Jingming carefully practiced the Heavenly Python Evolution Technique. His entire body seemed like a coiling dragon, rising, crouching, darting, and bursting forth...

After completing this round of the Heavenly Python Evolution Technique, Xu Jingming once again opened his personal combat stats panel and lightly tapped: "Upgrade the Evolution Technique to its limit."

Genetic Evolution Technique: Heavenly Python Evolution Technique (Advanced 18%) (Practice Time 602 days, Cannot Upgrade)

Body: 195

Skills: Spear Technique (3rd Tier 46%), Footwork (3rd Tier 5%), Shield Technique (3rd Tier 32%)

Base Combat Power: 4680

Practical Combat Bonus: 40%

Combat Power: 6552

"I've practiced the Evolution Technique over twenty times today, and it's getting harder to improve," Xu Jingming thought as he looked at his personal combat stats panel. "My physical attributes have improved by five points since early morning. Let's see if I can get through this time."

Whoosh.

Once again, he entered the mission space, the light of the falling star landing at the base of the Star Tower.

"I failed the first four attempts today. Even with my spear technique, I couldn't hold off the Tiger King's attacks. If I use the shield technique, I can last longer in front of the Tiger King, but the shield strikes... with the Tiger King's physique, they're useless," Xu Jingming was also frustrated.

The Tiger King's physique was terrifying, surpassing Xu Jingming in strength, speed, and agility. No matter how fiercely the Eight Extremes Shield Technique was used, it only left a small trace of blood on the Tiger King's nose, with no other injuries.

Using the spear, he could injure the Tiger King! But the Tiger King's claws were too terrifying, and Xu Jingming couldn't defend himself.

"Back then, Master used a combination of shield and saber. One hand with the shield to delay time, and the other hand with the saber to add wounds to the Tiger King. Over time, the Tiger King's injuries worsened, and his strength decreased... Master could then slay the Tiger King."

"But I can't mimic Master; our combat styles are different."

"The only way for me to succeed is with the spear."

Xu Jingming understood this.

The spear, at least, could break through the defenses and threaten the Tiger King!

"No wonder the Star Tower has been open for over a month, and only six experts worldwide have passed it." The closer he got to victory, the more he realized how difficult it was to pass. Xu Jingming once again arrived at the third floor of the Star Tower.

The familiar tropical rainforest environment, dark and humid, with plants growing wildly. Xu Jingming, wearing light armor and holding a spear, looked around.

His ears twitched, hearing a faint sound. Xu Jingming immediately looked in the direction of the noise and saw a pair of dark yellow eyes staring from the shadows.

"You big cat, don't hide anymore." Xu Jingming, familiar with the routine, charged forward with his spear. The hidden tiger, as if offended, also charged out.

The two clashed head-on.

Xu Jingming's feet moved nimbly, and he darted away, thrusting the spear and withdrawing, not lingering in one place.

Pfft!

The tiger's neck was pierced with a fatal wound, and it vanished into nothingness.

After a comprehensive improvement in his body and spear technique, the third floor's ordinary tigers no longer posed a threat to Xu Jingming.

"Roar~" A deep roar echoed, and tigers began to appear from all directions, surrounding him. Among them was the massive Tiger King, whose front leg was taller and thicker than Xu Jingming's entire body, like a furry pillar. Its head was enormous, and its physique was terrifying; heavy attacks were useless against it.

"Little ones, hurry up and finish your shift. Don't waste time; I need to deal with the Tiger King." Xu Jingming, holding his spear, charged forward.

Immediately, six tigers roared and charged.

Pfft, pfft, pfft!

Xu Jingming's footwork changed, and his spear became a blur, quickly impaling three tigers. The remaining three tigers were startled and leaped to avoid him, but more tigers surrounded him.

"Ha... After breaking through in footwork, these ordinary tigers are indeed less threatening." Xu Jingming, being human, was smaller in size. The tigers were too large, and Xu Jingming could weave through them, making it difficult for them to form a perfect encirclement. He usually only had to deal with two or three tigers at a time.

The spear was even faster than swords or knives.

After killing a total of twelve tigers, the Tiger King, who had been observing Xu Jingming, let out a low roar and finally charged, with the other tigers obediently supporting him. Xu Jingming's expression changed slightly.

"Whoosh." Xu Jingming dodged behind other tigers, not engaging the Tiger King.

The Tiger King roared, but Xu Jingming, being smaller and more agile, weaved through the tigers, his spear dancing, continuously harvesting the lives of ordinary tigers. The remaining tigers... were used by Xu Jingming to block the Tiger King.

Xu Jingming's footwork allowed him to harvest tigers. Master Liu Hai needed to get close to deliver a fatal blow! Xu Jingming's spear, with each thrust, was easier than his master's.

In less than five minutes, the number of tigers surrounding him dropped to less than ten, and the Tiger King finally let out a low roar, and the remaining tigers retreated.

"One-on-one." Xu Jingming looked at the Tiger King.

There was no other way.

If he was too arrogant and faced the Tiger King and the tigers' encirclement, he wouldn't last ten seconds.

Without any worries, he could engage the Tiger King one-on-one and fight longer.

"Boom." The Tiger King pounced, the wind from its massive paws, each larger than Xu Jingming's shield, rushing towards him.

Xu Jingming's body darted, hiding behind a large tree, and he thrust his spear rapidly.

The massive tiger paw, very agile, hooked and struck Xu Jingming's spear, clanging and deflecting it.

As the Tiger King leaped closer, Xu Jingming's body darted again, his spear thrusting towards the Tiger King's neck. The Tiger King's front leg slightly lifted, deflecting the spear, while its other paw grabbed at Xu Jingming.

"Bang."

Xu Jingming retracted his spear to block, but the impact was so powerful that he was immediately sent flying. In mid-air, he kicked a tree trunk and shot to a distance.

The Tiger King leaped through the air, its speed even more terrifying.

Xu Jingming was in a dire situation.

In terms of speed and agility, he was at a disadvantage, so he had to use the environment. The large trees and vines hindered the Tiger King, even though it could shatter a tree with one paw, it would take time.

One thrust after another.

"Pfft." When the Tiger King, impatient, shattered a tree, a spear instantly burst forth, piercing its left front leg, breaking through the fur, and pulling out, leaving a trail of blood.

"Trying to attack the Tiger King's vital points is impossible. Only by injuring its limbs and reducing its threat can I have a chance to attack its vital points." Xu Jingming understood this through repeated engagements.

The massive Tiger King, enraged, pursued the slippery human expert.

Xu Jingming used the environment to delay time or defend with his spear, but prolonged defense would eventually lead to mistakes.

"Whoosh." A massive paw tore through the air, grabbing Xu Jingming's body, but he vanished into nothingness.

"Another failure." Xu Jingming appeared outside the Star Tower, reflecting on the battle. "This one-on-one battle lasted quite long, and I added seven wounds to the Tiger King, but it's still far from killing it."

"To win, either my spear technique needs to improve, or my footwork needs to improve." Xu Jingming thought, "But I can feel that it's not far off. In a week, I should be able to pass."

Being able to engage the Tiger King one-on-one for so long indicated that his strength was very close, and he could see the hope of passing.

...

At home, after dinner. Xu Jingming and Li Miaomiao sat on the sofa, eating fruit and watching TV.

"Jingming, you've been in the virtual world for too long today, even during the day. You've been in there for almost sixteen hours, right?" Li Miaomiao asked.

"Just half an hour more, and it will be full," Xu Jingming smiled. "I won't go in for now. I'll enter the virtual world when the competition is about to start."

"Why are you so determined?" Li Miaomiao asked. "In the past, we only entered the virtual world after dark. Have you changed your routine?"

Xu Jingming gently hugged his girlfriend and sighed, "On one hand, I feel I'm getting closer to passing the third floor of the Star Tower, and I want to push through. On the other hand, the pressure from Senior Lei Yunfang is too great."

"Have you passed it?" Li Miaomiao asked, then immediately slapped her head, "I'm being silly. If you had passed, the whole internet would have exploded, and the whole world would know."

"The Tiger King is too strong, surpassing the advanced level of the Evolution Technique in every aspect," Xu Jingming said. "Although its combat intelligence is inferior to humans, defeating it is still very difficult. I should be able to pass within a week."

"Within a week?" Li Miaomiao was excited, "There are only six people on the Star Tower ranking now. Within a week, it shouldn't reach ten. So, Jingming, you'll be in the top ten globally."

"Don't get too excited about something that hasn't happened yet," Xu Jingming said. "What we need to face next is Senior Lei Yunfang."

Li Miaomiao lay in Xu Jingming's arms and responded, "Yes, Senior Lei Yunfang's footwork is incredible. Archers can't threaten him from a distance, and when they get close, he can flash and catch up, delivering a fatal blow."

"Archers can't threaten him, and ordinary team members can't either," Xu Jingming said. "As for one-on-one... I must admit, I haven't even passed the third floor of the Star Tower."

The competition was about to start in a few hours.

But he indeed lacked confidence.

"Even if I fail, it will be a valuable experience," Li Miaomiao comforted. "In a competition, there are winners and losers. Don't focus on short-term success or failure. The competition among virtual world experts is a long-term affair, spanning five to ten years, or even longer. We need to have a long-term perspective."

Xu Jingming leaned down and kissed his girlfriend's forehead.

Whenever he was tired, his girlfriend would comfort him, making him feel more relaxed.

"Since we have nothing to do today, why don't we have some fun?" Xu Jingming smiled at Li Miaomiao.

Li Miaomiao blushed and said, "Go take a shower first!"

"Sure thing!" Xu Jingming immediately got up and rushed to the bathroom.