High-Level Martial Era

"I directly enter the second round of the ten-school freshmen battle?" Li Yuan stretched out his hand to tap the light screen.

He began to check the details of the ten-school freshmen battle.

The ten schools are the top ten famous schools within the Asia region.

The five elite schools of Xia Country, the Eastern Martial University of Sakura Country, the three Martial Arts Universities of Tianzhu Country, and the Lion City Martial Arts University of Southeast Asia.

A total of ten elite schools.

In fact, this doesn't cover all the famous martial academies in the Asia region, but rather the geographically closer top ten schools that customarily organize regional competitions.

"A virtual battle? So, it's purely a contest of skills?" Li Yuan mused, and he could understand it.

The major schools are extremely distant from each other, and if a real combat competition were to be held just for freshmen.

The costs would be too high.

However, virtual battles, which are purely skill contests, are much simpler, as long as one could connect to the internet, students could participate on time from their respective schools.

"This year, because the host has moved to our Xia Country, Xia Country will specifically invite three freshmen from outside the top ten schools to participate in the battle?" Li Yuan scanned one of the supplementary rules.

Thoughtful.

In a virtual network battle, which country is hosting is not important at all, it's simply a formality.

That means there would be three wildcard players?

"To play it safe, they'll probably pick students from Starfire University or Starry Sky University," Li Yuan thought to himself.

The most talented geniuses of the ten participating schools' countries actually mostly go to the three top-tier martial schools.

So, whenever the so-called 'host' changes.

They should be able to invite wildcard players.

If one considers the fight for the championship, no matter which country is hosting, they will likely invite a freshman from their country who entered one of the top three schools to compete.

"In a sense."

"This should be considered a catfish effect," Li Yuan pondered to himself: "It makes us students of the ten schools not confine ourselves to what we have but to look higher and farther."

However.

Li Yuan didn't care, regardless of whether these wildcard players were from Xia Country or not.

Regardless of whether there will be students from the top three elite schools.

"First." Li Yuan had only one goal— to defeat all opponents.

If he couldn't take first place even in a ten-school freshmen battle.

What could he aim for in the global college Martial Path competition next February?

Keep in mind.

The global college Martial Path competition is open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, which is truly a gathering of geniuses, with some possessing the extraordinary talent of the Fifth Stage.

To Li Yuan, the ten-school freshmen battle was merely a warm-up.

"First round, ranking by points, with wildcard and seed players from each school exempted," Li Yuan continued to browse the rules of the ten-school freshmen battle: "There are about twenty-four thousand freshmen from the ten schools."

"In the end, only the top 1897 in point rankings will progress to the second round?" Li Yuan thought to himself.

Each school's seed players amount to 10, plus the three wildcard players.

That means.

Only 2000 students will enter the second round.

"To eliminate over 90% of students in the first round is quite ruthless," Li Yuan muttered to himself, and he continued reading.

The second round, a free-for-all cage match.

2000 students, each will randomly participate in two rounds of 'cage battles', earning 1 point for each opponent killed, and the last survivor of each match will earn an additional 10 points.

In the end, the eight contestants with the highest total points from the second round will proceed directly to the fourth round 'sweet sixteen'.

And those ranked ninth to one hundred thirty-sixth in the cage battles will move on to the third round of elimination.

The third round, pairing the ninth with the one hundred thirty-sixth, the tenth with the one hundred thirty-fifth, and so on.

A duel to determine the winner, and the battles will continue in this manner until the remaining eight spots in the sweet sixteen are decided.

Extremely brutal, no room for error.

...

In the fourth round of the sweet sixteen battle, participants will be randomly paired by the system until the top four and ultimately the champion are decided.

...

"Making it to the second round gets you a reward of 500,000 Blue Star Coins."

"Making it to the third round gets you a reward of 2 million Blue Star Coins."

"Making it to the fourth round's 'sweet sixteen' will net a cash reward of 20 million Blue Star Coins."

"The top four will also receive a Heavenly Materials Treasure that suits them?" As Li Yuan looked at the rewards listed, he couldn't help feeling some emotion.

It was exactly as President Li had said before,

Truly generous.

Just the Heavenly Materials Treasures alone amounted to giving away four at once.

The total cash rewards for all students come to over a billion Blue Star Coins.

As he pondered,

Li Yuan reached out to tap and open his wealth tab on the smart ring:

Bank Balance: 43.51 million Blue Star Coins

Martial Hall Points: 380,000

Martial Hall Cultivation Points: 9.42 million

...

After achieving the 'Bright Moon Stage' on the Starry Skies Fighting Network, Li Yuan received a reward of 20 million Blue Star Coins.

Li Yuan's cash assets had once peaked at over 56 million Blue Star Coins.

"In August, I spent 5 million Blue Star Coins to buy the High Origin Spirit Spring; in September, I spent 6 million Blue Star Coins," Li Yuan thought to himself: "In October, I'm expected to spend even more."

Training with the most effective High Origin Spirit Spring consumes money like water flowing.

Li Yuan, wishing to maintain such high-speed training, needed massive resources.

"Forty-three million may seem like a lot, but moving forward, it might not even be enough for half a year's training needs," Li Yuan shook his head slightly: "Once I venture into the Star Realm for life-and-death challenges, I'll have to buy a lot of weapons and equipment, which will be even more expensive."

Money is needed everywhere.

"In October."

"The cash and Martial Hall Points from the Starfire Martial Hall A-grade contract will be credited in two weeks," Li Yuan thought to himself.

But that's just 7.2 million cash and 7.2 million Martial Hall Points.

Therefore.

The 20 million cash prize from the ten-school freshmen battle was something Li Yuan was determined to win.

"My goal is to be number one."

"I want it all, the 20 million Blue Star Coins, the Heavenly Materials Treasures," Li Yuan yearned.

Cash is important, and for Li Yuan at his current stage, Heavenly Materials Treasures are indeed priceless.

"The first round will be held on October 4th."

"The second round of matches will take place on October 5th," Li Yuan glanced over the schedule: "Continue training."

Li Yuan always remembered Teacher Xu Bo's words: "Whether it's a competition or an exam, what matters is not how serious you are at the moment of the contest or examination, but the accumulation and effort of every night and day before the event."

What Li Yuan kept in mind was— to focus on training well every single day.

Every day, he practiced diligently.

Surpass the self of the past, and perhaps, when one really encounters an opponent, one might find—there is no longer an opponent.

...

This night, not only Li Yuan received a notification message.

All freshmen from the prestigious schools of Xia Country, whether they were practicing at school or wandering outside during vacation, also received the message.

This was a rare super competition that all freshmen could participate in, naturally causing a frenzy.

Many students were eager to burst forth with their strength, to break into the second or even the third round, and pocket a hefty prize.

Similarly.

The five prestigious schools of the other three countries also received messages from their schools in succession.

...

Today, Li Yuan rarely slacked off, ending his practice at half-past eleven the night before.

He resumed practice at twenty minutes past midnight.

Then, he practiced in one breath until ten in the morning.

After ten, Li Yuan took his time and headed to the Xuanwu Building on a low-flying vehicle.

Today is October 3rd, and the students who went home for the National Day holiday have all returned to school.

As he passed by the Heilong Building, Li Yuan could see from afar hundreds of freshmen from the Sixth Institute being "lectured" by President Li Yang in the plaza.

It was nothing more than the inspiring words of "work hard and strive to break into the second round to win 500,000 Blue Star Coins."

As for the third round? With only 136 spots in total, averaging out to about ten per school, it was unrealistic for the vast majority of students.

One's goals must be realistic.

Before long.

Li Yuan arrived at the Xuanwu Building, which was deserted with few people coming and going, mostly second-year students attending classes.

Li Yuan went straight to a conference room on the sixth floor.

"Li Yuan has arrived."

"Li Yuan."

"Big Brother." The nearly one hundred people in the conference room all turned to look at Li Yuan, with a dozen or so students from the Sixth Institute even standing up involuntarily.

"Li Yuan has arrived?" The young female teacher on the stage also looked towards Li Yuan.

"Teacher, sorry for being late," Li Yuan said with a smile.

"You still have a minute before class starts, not late," the female teacher said with a smile. "Take a seat in the first row."

"Okay." Li Yuan nodded and unceremoniously sat down in an empty seat in the first row.

Next to him sat Wu Luo, who smiled at Li Yuan.

Li Yuan was the last to arrive.

"Okay, students." The female teacher calmly said, "You are the elite we have chosen from Kunlun Martial University for this competition."

"At least at the Third Stage Perfection in skills."

"With your abilities, there is a chance to break into the third or even the fourth round."

"Gathering you here is to explain the powerful opponents you may encounter." The female teacher waved her hand lightly, and the screen behind her fluttered: "First to introduce are the three wild card contestants sent by our Xia Country."

"Dantai Feng, Yu Ming, and Guan Ying."

"All from Starfire University." The teacher said slowly, "There is little information about these three, and recent combat videos can't be collected."

"Only their pre-college entrance examination battle videos are available, which only have reference value."

"However, one thing is certain, they have all reached the Bright Moon Stage on the Starry Skies Fighting Network."

In an instant, the classroom was abuzz. The Bright Moon Stage?

It should be known that out of the nearly hundred people in the classroom, less than ten had reached the Fallen Star Stage.

"Bright Moon Stage?" Li Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.

As expected!

The Bright Moon Stage signified at least Fourth Level High Rank skills. Starfire University's headquarters were located within Xia Country; their initial play was three superb experts.

At the same time, Li Yuan understood why they were all students from Starfire University.

Out of the three great Martial Halls, the relationship between Starfire Martial Hall and Xia Country was the closest.

Starry Sky Martial Hall came next.

Black Stone Martial Hall was last, not even having a branch in Xia Country.

Therefore, unless signed to Starry Sky Martial Hall, most of the top martial arts talents in Xia Country would tend to enter Starfire University for their studies. Not many went to Black Stone University.

"In direct confrontation."

"Aside from Li Yuan, it's likely the other students are no match," the female teacher said bluntly. "Only Li Yuan has a possibility of winning."

Many students couldn't help but look towards Li Yuan, and so did Wu Luo and Yang Hong.

After the entrance competition and the combat assessment.

All the freshmen knew Li Yuan was strong, but they were unclear on how strong he was now.

After all, the surveillance videos of Li Yuan's combat assessment were not going to be disclosed.

Faced with the teacher's praise, Li Yuan remained impassive and unbothered.

"The rest of you, during the cage battle phase, should avoid those three as much as possible if you encounter them," the teacher continued with the introductions.

Beyond the wild card contestants.

The teacher went on to introduce top students from the other nine prestigious schools. Li Yuan just listened quietly, gradually memorizing the information.

Even when fighting a rabbit, a lion should use all its might. Li Yuan never took anything lightly.

...

In Tianzhu Country, within a martial arts prestigious school.

"Garava, your talent is no less than that of the top geniuses in Black Stone University. This time, your goal is to break into the top four," the middle-aged teacher said. "And to obtain Heavenly Materials Treasures."

"Understood." The dark-skinned young man nodded slightly, his eyes bright.

...

Almost at the same time, in a small conference room within a building at Starfire University.

"This new students' fight between the ten schools."

"Is being hosted by our Xia Country." The black-robed elder looked at the three students: "The school has dispatched the three of you as the wild card participants."

"Firstly, because you are all from Xia Country. The likes of Salvatore also have strength no less than yours, but they come from other countries and don't have the opportunity to compete."

"As the top students of Starfire University, you represent the face of Starfire University."

"Your opponents are students from ordinary schools."

"So, there is only one goal, to all break into the top four and take the final first place," the black-robed elder spoke solemnly. "Winning means not just honor, but also represents significant benefits."

The two male and one female student all nodded slightly, not worried in the least.

As the top new students of Starfire University.

In their view, 20 million Blue Star Coins and Heavenly Materials Treasures were practically giveaways.

Apart from students from Starry Sky University and Black Stone University, students from other Martial Arts Universities were simply not in their league.

"Don't be careless."

"Among the new students of the ten schools, Garava from Tianzhu Country and Li Yuan from our Xia Country's Kunlun Martial University," the black-robed elder said. "Will be your biggest competitors."