High-Level Martial Era

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"Boom! Boom! Boom!" After thirteen lightning-fast exchanges, Dantai Feng could no longer hold his ground. A terrifying slash of light struck his combat saber, sending it flying from his grasp. Following swiftly, another slash crushed him directly.

Dantai Feng, defeated.

"Making it to the top five, forcing me to unleash all my strength," Harmon muttered to himself, "It's time to strive for the first place."

In his heart, he harbored an equally intense desire for that top position.

... "Fifth Stage, Intermediate Rank!"

"Indeed, it is the Fifth Stage, Intermediate Rank," Li Yuan, Yin Man, and Nevsky all revealed a hint of seriousness on their faces.

Harmon, the martial arts prodigy who had shone brightly in last year's competition, had indeed risen to a new level after another year of concealed cultivation.

...

"Interesting."

"In previous years, an Intermediate Rank of Fifth Stage would certainly make it into the top three. This year, even the top three isn't safe."

"Li Yuan, Yin Man, Nevsky, Harmon, the victors of the first four rounds are all at the skill level of Fifth Stage, Intermediate Rank."

"How rare." The Flying Heaven Warriors in the higher spectating layers were chatting casually among themselves, all looking very relaxed.

...

The fifth match, which was also the last match of the second round, unfolded between Alicia and Amos.

This battle.

It was exceptionally fierce, as both sides clashed for a thousand moves before Alicia narrowly secured victory.

"I won!"

"Can I, a student from a non-top-tier martial arts university without an awakened Martial Spirit, really make it into the top five of the Blue Star competition?" Alicia's face was pale on the platform.

She had been perilously close to losing just moments ago.

But in the end, she stood victorious, claiming the last spot in the top five.

...

"Congratulations to them."

"After five intense rounds of competition."

"Li Yuan, Yin Man, Nevsky, Harmon, Alicia—these are the top five masters of this year's Global Martial Arts University Virtual Battle!" the announcer's voice was filled with excitement, "Wow, among these five prodigies, we have the unparalleled genius 'Li Yuan' known throughout the world since his first year."

"We have Alicia from an ordinary Martial Arts University."

"And last year's shining stars Yin Man, Harmon, Nevsky... In short, each of the top five prodigies is extraordinary."

"And they will soon bring us the ten most pinnacle duels!!"

"The final battle—a fight to the death round-robin!"

"Each contestant will face off against every other genius, and the one with the most victories will be the champion of this virtual battle."

"If there are participants with the same number of wins, a tiebreaker will be held."

"Okay!"

"I announce that the final battle is about to begin," announced the man in black excitedly, "The first match, Yin Man versus Harmon."

...

At this moment.

Whether it was the Flying Heaven Warriors seated high above or the millions of spectators, everyone was watching intently.

Everyone knew that the upcoming ten bouts would be the pinnacle of the entire virtual battle.

Each one would determine the final champion.

"Yin Man, Harmon, both are high-level masters of Fifth Stage, Intermediate Rank," Li Yuan's eyes were gleaming, "They are the obstacles in my pursuit of first place."

At the start of the virtual competition, Li Yuan wasn't very confident about securing first place.

Now?

While failing to win wouldn't affect him—he was only a first-year student and had already obtained his spot in the Martial God Inheritance, to have made it to the top five was already a miracle—Li Yuan still harbored longing.

After all, Li Yuan's strongest move hadn't even been revealed yet.

...

On the dueling platform, the bout between Yin Man and Harmon had already begun, with both competitors going all out from the start.

Yin Man finally revealed her greatest strength in this match—dual swords!

Her eruption was sky-shattering, dazzling all around.

"What?" Harmon, who had been full of confidence, was instantly dumbfounded.

Streams of sword light enveloped his entire field of view in an instant, easily blocking all his attacks, and then swiftly counterattacking.

Fast! Fast!

The sword light surged like a tide.

With dual swords in hand, Yin Man's strength had increased more than twofold from before?

She completely overwhelmed Harmon.

"So strong?"

"Is this Yin Man?"

"Harmon is also at Fifth Stage, Intermediate Rank, yet he's being utterly suppressed?" Whether it was the yet-to-fight Nevsky, Alicia, or those who were already watching from the Spectator Platform like Dantai Feng, Jin Huguo, Bai Chuanming, and other prodigies, shock was written all over their faces.

"Such swordsmanship is formidable."

"This Yin Man might genuinely take first place."

"Li Yuan's defense is strong, but he might not be able to withstand Yin Man's outburst."

"In terms of skill level alone, Yin Man should be first," even the group of Flying Heaven Warriors in the higher-level Spectator Space couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

They had all recognized the terror of Yin Man.

Perhaps Yin Man and Harmon were both at Fifth Stage, Intermediate Rank, but as Li Yuan once said, 'Can Fifth Stage at 30%, 40%, and 50% skill levels be the same?'

Clearly, Yin Man had come a long way within Fifth Stage, Intermediate Rank, far surpassing Harmon, who had recently broken through.

"First place."

"In terms of strength, Yin Man is the absolute first of the virtual battle," the 'Vice Principal' from Starfire Martial University privately sighed, "Yin Man has made significant progress this year."

That's why before Li Yuan's rise.

Even with Dantai Feng, the higher-ups at Starfire Martial University had preferred to give the 'Second Class Martial God Inheritance spot' to Yin Man.

It was because Yin Man's strength was indeed strong; she had almost been locked in for first place in the virtual battle long ago.

"Alas."

"She met the even more monstrous Li Yuan," Vice Principal lamented, "Given Yin Man's temperament, she must desire to defeat Li Yuan in her heart."

"Hopefully, she won't take this matter too hard." Vice Principal still valued Yin Man greatly.

After all, Yin Man was his student.

Li Yuan's monstrous talent wasn't much of concern to him.

...

On the platform.

Harmon was completely crushed by Yin Man, and after withstanding over a hundred moves, his body was suddenly bisected.

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