Chapter 91

"Any other opinions?" Director Zhou's gaze swept over the other deputy directors, "Old Fang, you've been in charge of martial arts for many years, what do you think?"

The refined middle-aged man, Fang Hong, nodded and said, "I support choosing Xu Jingming."

Everyone listened as he explained his reasons.

"Everyone knows the challenges the future Blue Star civilization will face," Fang Hong said. "Our strongest experts in Xia are not just for being the strongest at their level. They must continuously break through, becoming increasingly powerful life forms!"

"Breakthroughs in life levels depend on one's realm," Fang Hong continued. "Only by breaking through in skill realm can one achieve new levels through evolution techniques."

"Among our current third-rank experts in Xia, the two youngest are Fang Yu and Xu Jingming, and neither has received cultivation. Comparing the two, Xu Jingming's realm growth after reaching the third rank has been significantly faster. As of now, his spear technique has already broken through to 56% of the third rank, while Fang Yu's footwork hasn't broken through at all, and his halberd technique is only at 21% of the third rank."

"Looking at the current third-rank experts in the country, Xu Jingming's skill growth is the fastest! Of course, Liu Hai is the most comprehensive, having reached 99% of the third rank in all aspects. These two are the ones I see as the most promising in terms of skill realm." Fang Hong said, "I believe we should place more emphasis on skill realm. Once the realm breaks through, the significance of a 103% compatibility rate is not as important."

Director Zhou nodded, "Old Fang's point is clear. What about the others?"

"Fang Yu is only twenty years old and hasn't received cultivation, yet he has reached the third rank on his own. He is also very skilled in the realm aspect," Deputy Director Zhang Tongfang said. "However, he hasn't experienced as much as Xu Jingming, and his life experience is lacking. By the time he is twenty-nine, his insight might not be inferior to Xu Jingming's. Moreover, you all know... the higher the life level, the harder it is to break through. Xu Jingming and Fang Yu will likely reach the same height. I think cultivating Fang Yu is more prudent."

"I choose Xu Jingming," Deputy Director Liang Qian said. "There's no such thing as more or less prudent. Our Xia will cultivate generation after generation of experts. Liu Hai, Xu Jingming, and others are the first generation after the virtual world opened. In ten years, the young people who are only allowed to fight bare-handed will also grow up. They have a more solid foundation, and once they start using weapons, they will grow even faster, giving rise to the second generation of geniuses. The second, third... generation after generation will emerge!"

"We can't be too ambitious. We should be down-to-earth," Wang Shuqi said.

Zhang Tongfang nodded, "The first choice on this list comes with a great cost. We must be cautious and prudent."

"Given Xu Jingming's growth rate, he won't be weak, and he is also very stable," Deputy Director Liang Qian said.

"Sometimes, we need to be a bit more daring," Fang Hong smiled. "Who knows, maybe a miracle will happen?"

The four deputy directors were in disagreement.

Director Zhou nodded, "The first batch of cultivation plans, due to the difficulty in understanding the domestic situation, only targeted those with achievements in combat. The cultivation efforts were limited! The second batch... after the virtual world opened, was selected nationwide. This time, the cultivation efforts for the top three are significant, and the efforts for the first place are unprecedented. I understand everyone's caution. But if we can't come up with a plan, we will have to let the highest authorities decide."

The four deputy directors looked at each other, each sticking to their own opinion.

"Whichever I choose, I can't get four people to agree," Director Zhou nodded. "So, the first and second choices will be provisional. We all need to write our own opinions and submit them to the highest authorities."

"Alright," the four deputy directors nodded.

"The top two will definitely be chosen from Xu Jingming and Fang Yu. What about the third choice, Zhao Fan? Any objections?" Director Zhou asked.

"No objections."

"Let's go with him."

"He has never touched martial arts before, but he managed to defeat some martial arts masters in just over a month. At only eighteen years old, his talent is truly high."

The four deputy directors agreed.

"The next seventeen people will be selected from the thirty candidates screened by the virtual world's big data. We will vote to decide. Each person selects seventeen... and we will rank them by the number of votes," Director Zhou said.

That day, the Life Evolution Bureau submitted the detailed information of the twenty-person list to the highest authorities, with only the most important first and second places undetermined, the candidates being Xu Jingming and Fang Yu.

******

In the morning, Xu Jingming and his large family gathered together, eating breakfast and celebrating the victory in the Fire Seed Cup.

Although Xu Jingming didn't win the championship, Xu Hong did!

"The final of the Fire Seed Cup ended in the early hours of today, with Liu Hai's team winning the championship. Xu Jingming's team, the Pearwood Warriors, won the runner-up," the news on the living room screen was reporting.

"I'm done eating, I'm going into the virtual world," Xu Jingming got up.

"You, just finished the tournament and you're in such a hurry," Xu Hong said.

"I need to review the match with my master," Xu Jingming said, smiling at his family, "Take your time eating." He then went to his bedroom.

The other family members were not in a rush.

Li Miaomiao sat on the sofa, watched the news for a while, and then changed the channel.

"This Fire Seed Cup has seen the emergence of a batch of young experts. Like Xu Jingming, Wang Yi, Fang Yu, and others, although the champion is still Liu Hai's team, the strength of these young people cannot be denied," a talk show host and two guests were chatting casually.

"Xu Jingming is now considered the leader of the young generation in Xia. When he broke his leg on the stage years ago, I was disappointed, thinking his martial arts future was ruined. Who would have thought that a few years later, he would return to the stage. Now he is shining brightly, known throughout the country."

"Xu Jingming is excellent domestically, but at his level, we must look globally. Compared to the world's top experts, we must admit that Xu Jingming still has a gap."

"Yes, in his matches against Liu Hai and Lei Yunfang, it's clear... in one-on-one battles, Xu Jingming is thoroughly suppressed."

"Currently, he is fourth on the Starry Sky List globally, and he is only twenty years old. The seventh place, who just broke through, is only thirty-two years old. Compared to these top global experts, Xu Jingming needs to work harder."

Li Miaomiao watched the show, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Keep a balanced mindset," Li Chen'an sat next to his daughter and said, "The Starry Sky List is for the world's top experts. Don't always compare yourself to the strongest, putting too much pressure on yourself. Compare yourself to yourself, as long as you keep improving and getting stronger, that's great."

Li Miaomiao nodded, "I understand, Jingming has always been very hardworking."

...

In the personal training ground.

Xu Jingming carefully watched the battle scene displayed before him, the slow-motion replay of the final match against his master.

"I attacked with all my strength, but my master blocked with just one sword," Xu Jingming observed, "When Zhang Qing attacked with dual swords, my master also blocked with just one sword. If every move had to be thought through, it would be too slow. My master reacts instinctively."

Xu Jingming's eyes lit up, "Right, make all moves instinctive."

"Each of my moves is already fast," Xu Jingming carefully watched the slow-motion video of his battle with his master, "But now, it seems that while my commonly used moves have become instinctive, some of the transitions between moves are still slow. I can't make all moves instinctive like my master."

"In my master's eyes, there are no moves, only the enemy's weaknesses! His hands naturally execute the moves to exploit those weaknesses."

"Without thinking about moves, they become instinctive." Xu Jingming vaguely understood his master's realm.

It's like walking, you don't think about which leg to move first.

It's like typing, when you think of a word, your hands naturally type out the characters.

In combat, you just think about attacking the enemy's weak point, and your instincts naturally execute the most suitable moves, one after another, incredibly fast.

"Let's try..." Xu Jingming began to simulate an opponent, attempting this combat style.

After the final, he has been reviewing the match, watching the slow-motion videos, constantly reflecting, and improving his skills.

Once the review is complete, he plans to challenge the Starry Sky Tower.