Chapter 85

The personal training ground.

Xu Jingming glanced at his personal combat stats panel and nodded slightly: "It's about what I expected. The intense pressure of battling Senior Lei Yunfang has greatly helped my spear technique and footwork."

His spear technique improved to 48% of the third stage, and his footwork to 9% of the third stage.

"Let's try the Star Tower again." The appearance of the seventh expert to clear the third floor of the Star Tower worldwide had made Xu Jingming's heart burn with enthusiasm, filling him with fighting spirit.

However, a moment later, Xu Jingming returned to the training ground.

"Although my performance was slightly better than last time, I still fall short of defeating the Tiger King." Xu Jingming realized more clearly, "There is still a noticeable gap between me and the experts on the leaderboard."

He lightly tapped to open the video of his semi-final match.

He watched the slow-motion replay of his battle with Lei Yunfang, studying every move and technique, identifying his weaknesses, and striving to improve himself.

...

Time passed. Although he had won the semi-final, Xu Jingming clearly didn't celebrate much, instead immersing himself in training, pursuing higher and stronger combat skills.

Night fell, around eight o'clock in the evening.

Xu Jingming and Li Miaomiao were in the living room, eating fruit and watching a program on the screen, chatting casually. This was their time to enjoy their two-person world.

"Today's programs are all talking about the Star List." Xu Jingming switched to the main page of the program and couldn't help but sigh, "Tonight is the final of the Seed Cup, but the number of programs discussing the Star List is no less than those discussing the final."

Li Miaomiao nodded: "After all, the Star Tower has been open for so long, and only seven people worldwide have cleared the third floor. Each time someone clears it, it's a global event."

"Only those who make it to the Star List are truly known worldwide." Xu Jingming said.

The Seed Cup is just a national competition.

Just as people in other countries don't watch the Seed Cup, he didn't watch their competitions either.

"Riven Gulit, those two large hammers, each bigger than a human head. They're practically two smaller shields." The host of the program explained the video, sighing, "Wearing heavy armor, he only needs to protect his head. With the two hammers working together... no one can threaten him. His hammer techniques are even more ferocious than Xu Jingming's shield techniques."

"Xu Jingming is fierce, but the difference in weapons is significant. Shields are mainly for defense, while hammers are true heavy weapons." The female host added.

The hammer has a sharp tip.

Chopping, smashing, stabbing, and sweeping—all actions are terrifyingly powerful.

"Rome also has a third-stage archer, but Riven Gulit is impenetrable. He even has a flying axe technique, which he used to finish off the archer with one throw." The male host praised, and in the video, Riven Gulit, holding a large hammer in one hand to block arrows, quickly drew an axe from his waist and threw it, the axe spinning and becoming a blur, its speed likely reaching the speed of sound.

"His strength is no less than Fang Yu's." Xu Jingming said to Li Miaomiao, "In terms of combat skills, he is even stronger than Fang Yu."

After all, he is a veteran of the World Martial Arts Competition, only three years older than Xu Jingming, but with far more competition experience.

"Truly worthy of clearing the Star Tower." The male host praised, "It's almost impossible to find a flaw. His dual hammers work together perfectly, and his defense is excellent. If Xu Jingming's defense were as strong, he wouldn't have been so suppressed by Lei Yunfang."

"Xu Jingming did well, at least he held on for so long." The female host said, "Because he held on for so long, the match turned around."

"He lost his spear multiple times, relying on his arm guards as small shields to barely hold on." The male host said, "Xu Jingming's spear technique still needs significant improvement. Otherwise, he won't be able to match these top global experts."

"Of course, he's on the Star List, so he's naturally stronger than Xu Jingming." The female host laughed, "Don't always criticize Xu Jingming; he's already excellent."

"I'm just anxious! Xu Jingming should be the best in our country after Liu Hai and Lei Yunfang. He is the most promising to clear the Star Tower now." The male host said, "Seeing experts from other countries make the list while we have no new talent, it's frustrating."

"Regardless, we have two in the global top five, which is impressive." The female host said.

"Don't rest on past laurels. One of our top-ranked is in his seventies, and the other in his fifties." The male host said, "What about the young ones? Tiano Sire is only twenty, and Riven Gulit is only thirty-two. Where are our young people? Shorter cultivation time can better show potential."

The female host nodded slightly: "The most prominent young people in our country are Xu Jingming and Fang Yu."

"I wonder when a young person from our country will make the Star List." The male host looked forward.

Watching the program, Xu Jingming felt the urgency of the people of Xia.

"Three days!" Xu Jingming said, "Within three days, if I improve my spear technique and footwork, I should be able to clear the Star Tower."

Li Miaomiao hugged her boyfriend's arm, comforting him: "Don't worry too much about social pressure. Just follow your own rhythm. You've already worked hard, and you said cultivation is a natural and enjoyable process. Don't let something enjoyable become a source of pressure."

Xu Jingming looked at his girlfriend and smiled, nodding.

He loves martial arts and chose this path because he enjoys it.

...

Late at night, in the Xia official livestream room in the virtual world, viewers kept pouring in.

Xu Jingming and Li Miaomiao also came to the livestream room.

"Captain."

"Old Xu."

The other team members all smiled.

"Did Sister Yi come so early?" Xu Jingming saw Wang Yi, thinking she would be the last to arrive.

"Trained all day, time to relax a bit." Wang Yi smiled, "Finally, I broke through my evolution technique an hour ago, fulfilling everyone's hopes."

"Sister Yi is amazing." Li Miaomiao's eyes lit up.

"Breakthrough in one day after reaching third-stage archery?" Xu Jingming also praised, "Impressive."

He also broke through his evolution technique a day after his spear technique, but he didn't have the pressure of the final, so he was relatively more relaxed.

"Captain's experience was very useful. I tried to mobilize my body more deeply to practice the evolution technique, and finally succeeded." Wang Yi was also happy, "This way, I can work well with Captain to challenge Coach Liu Hai."

"If we win the championship by default..." Heng Fang was delighted.

"Either we win by default, or Uncle's team wins by default." Li Miaomiao smiled.

Xu Jingming laughed.

Indeed.

Dad is on the other team.

"Today, our Xu family will definitely have a champion member." Xu Jingming smiled.

"Son!" Just mentioning his father, Xu Hong and his wife appeared together, Xu Hong grinning widely: "Both my son and I are in the final, I never thought this would happen."

His son's achievements made Xu Hong very happy.

As parents, they most look forward to their children's success.

"Son." Xu's mother immediately said, "When the time comes, don't hesitate to go all out against your father. It's just a virtual world, no harm done."

"Come on." Xu Hong was confident, "If I fall, Coach Liu Hai is still there!"

"You're really winning by default." Xu's mother shook her head.

"Having a good son means winning by default." Xu Hong laughed, "If not for my son, I wouldn't have met Liu Hai."

...

As time passed, various people came to the livestream room.

"Xu Jingming has made it to the final? Since the virtual world opened, my career has soared. How come he's rising faster than me?" Cheng Zihao sat in the stands, feeling quite uncomfortable.

Sun Li also came to the stands alone, not gathering with any friends, silently watching: "Xu Jingming's team is in the final... Could he even win the championship? I'm also part of a team!"

He didn't feel much when other teams won.

But the more victories Li Mu's team had, the more he felt he had "missed out" on fame, prize money, and even future prospects.

...

The Life Evolution Bureau's Director Zhou and four deputy directors were also in the stands, watching the upcoming final.

"Director, our country is lagging behind in the younger generation." The female deputy director said, "The young people we are paying attention to are falling behind those in other countries."

Director Zhou said, "We need to be patient."

"Old Wang, Liang Qian, you two prepare." Director Zhou looked at a message, "The Blue Star Alliance's envoy teams from the 31 member states are arriving, and you two will accompany me to welcome them."

Soon, in a part of the stands.

A Blue Star Alliance envoy team of dozens arrived, coming from the other 31 member states.

"Welcome to Xia." Director Zhou led two deputy directors to welcome them.

This was not a public visit, and Director Zhou was responsible for the reception.

In fact, the Blue Star Alliance's five council states' competitions all have envoy teams in attendance.

"Zhou, hello." The leading white-haired elder smiled, "I heard that one side of your final is the world's top, Liu Hai, and the other side is two young experts from your country. Our envoy team was discussing this, and we are looking forward to the strength of your younger generation."

"The stronger Xia's younger generation, the stronger the entire Blue Star Alliance's younger generation." An envoy from Sakura Country smiled warmly.