This time, his opponent was none other than Song Xingâan.
He also noticed Xu Wuyiâs information at the same time and couldnât help but be startled.
[Opponent: Xu Wuyi]
[Affiliation: Star Martial University]
[Life Energy Level: 30.2]
The moment he stepped into the ring, his sharp gaze immediately locked onto Xu Wuyi. His Qi and Blood surged, and his will to fight soared.
As the top scorer of Xingjing, Song Xingâan had his pride. Even knowing his opponent might be powerful, he would never back down before a fight.
However, when he truly felt the steady, mountain-like aura emanating from Xu Wuyi, his heart sank.
"A Martial Master... So itâs true!"
Song Xingâan gritted his teeth. âThe sliver of hope I had when I first heard the reports has now become a heavy reality.â
Xu Wuyi looked at his opponent, his eyes as calm as still water.
He didnât recognize Song Xingâan, but from his opponentâs Energy Level, he could tell this was no ordinary foe.
Moreover, this was the first person who hadnât immediately chosen to surrender under the pressure of his Martial Master aura.
"Song Xingâan of the Starry Sky Martial Arts Academy!"
Song Xingâan gripped his long spear tightly, its tip angled toward the ground, announcing his name and affiliation.
âI want to see for myself just how strong this rumored monster truly is!â
Xu Wuyi merely gave a slight nod. He didnât state his own nameâthe system had already provided that informationâand simply gripped the Meteor Iron Long Spear in his hand.
Since his opponent was eager to fight, he would naturally oblige.
"Watch my spear!"
Song Xingâan wasted no more words. With a low shout, the Qi and Blood in his body erupted.
He took a step forward, the arena floor trembling slightly. His bright silver long spear was like a flood dragon emerging from the sea, carrying a fierce and domineering momentum as it thrust straight for Xu Wuyiâs chest!
This strikeâits speed, power, and momentumâhad all reached the pinnacle for a Martial Artist. The wind from the spear tore through the air with a sharp whistle.
Song Xingâan was confident that even against a level 29.9 Martial Artist, this strike would be enough to send them scrambling.
âHeâs quite skilled.â Xu Wuyiâs eyes lit up slightly.
His opponentâs Spear Technique was sweeping and powerful, incredibly sharp. Compared to himself before his breakthrough... hmm, it was only about thirty or forty percent weaker.
Back then, Xu Wuyi had achieved the Nine Transitions of Heart Fire Perfection. This Song Xingâan before him was already at the level of the Seventh Transition.
However, in Xu Wuyiâs eyes now, this strike was far too slow.
The gap between a Martial Master and a Martial Artist was a difference in their very level of life.
Xu Wuyiâs dynamic vision, Nerve Reaction Speed, and perception of the flow of power all far surpassed his opponentâs.
Just as the spear tip was about to strike him, Xu Wuyi moved.
He didnât use any flashy Spear Technique. With just a flick of his wrist, his dark red Meteor Iron Long Spear struck out, arriving second but landing first. It tapped with unerring precision on a weak point in the shaft of Song Xingâanâs spear.
CLANG!
A crisp ring of metal on metal!
Song Xingâan felt an irresistible force travel up the body of his spear. The web between his thumb and forefinger instantly split open, dripping with blood.
He couldnât hold on to the bright silver long spear he treated as a partner. It flew from his grasp and landed with a CLATTER more than ten meters away.
"What?!"
Song Xingâanâs eyes were filled with horror. He hadnât even seen how Xu Wuyi had struck!
It wasnât like heâd never seen Martial Master-level power before. Normally, even a newly promoted Martial Master, while stronger than him, shouldnât be *this* much stronger!
After knocking his opponentâs weapon away in a single strike, Xu Wuyiâs movements didnât pause for an instant. He followed the momentum and thrust his Meteor Iron Long Spear forward.
PFFT!
The spear tip easily tore through Song Xingâanâs protective Qi and Blood, piercing a vital point in his left chest.
A sharp pain shot through him, and Song Xingâanâs figure instantly blurred.
[Victory! Points +1.]
The system notification sounded.
Xu Wuyi retracted his spear, his expression unchanged.
To him, defeating an opponent who had yet to become a Martial Master was only to be expected, even if that opponent was a genius from the Starry Sky Martial Arts Academy.
...
In the Asura Fieldâs matching area, at an exclusive rest spot for the Starry Sky Martial Arts Academy.
Song Xingxian had just finished an easy fight. His opponent was a level 27 Martial Artist, whom he had defeated in three moves.
After his form solidified, he habitually glanced toward his younger brother Song Xingâanâs spot, only to find that his brother had actually returned even earlier than he had.
"Xingâan? So fast?" Song Xingxian asked with a surprised smile. "Looks like you were matched with a weakling, or did your opponent just give up?"
Given Song Xingâanâs strength, even if he ran into a level 29 opponent, he should have been able to fight for a while. It was impossible for the battle to end this quickly unless the other party surrendered.
Song Xingâanâs face paled and flushed by turns. A phantom pain lingered in his left chest, as if it had just been run through by a spear.
Hearing his brotherâs question, his lips moved, but in the end, he was too embarrassed to admit that he had initiated the attack only to be finished off in two casual moves.
The overwhelming sense of powerlessness was a huge blow to his pride.
He took a deep breath, avoiding his brotherâs probing gaze, and said in a muffled voice, "...I ran into Xu Wuyi."
The smile on Song Xingxianâs face froze instantly.
He immediately understood why his brother had such an expression and why he had returned so quickly.
It wasnât that the opponent had given up at all. Rather, his brother had probably been unable to put up any decent resistance against Xu Wuyi!
As for his brother surrendering proactively, Song Xingxian didnât even consider it. That was impossible.
"Is he... really that strong?" Song Xingxianâs voice grew heavy.
Song Xingâan didnât answer, merely lowering his head in silence.
The casual power that had sent his spear flying and the precise thrust that followed replayed in his mind like a nightmare.
After a long moment, he finally squeezed out two words through gritted teeth: "...Unfathomably strong."
Song Xingxian patted his brotherâs shoulder and didnât ask any more questions.
...
The subsequent matches didnât create many waves for Xu Wuyi, either.
After easily defeating Song Xingâan, he seemed to have been designated a "high-threat target" by the system.
The strength of his matched opponents rose, and occasionally, some peak level 29.8 or 29.9 Martial Artists would appear.
These individuals were more resolute. Unwilling to simply admit defeat, they tried to use their Combat Skills and Qi and Blood, which they had honed to perfection, to contend with Xu Wuyi.
However, the result was always the same.
Whether they tried to fight evasively or launched fierce assaults with their Secret Techniques, it was all futile in the face of an absolute gap in strength.
Xu Wuyi didnât even need to use the Blood Burning Seal. Relying solely on his Martial Master Level physique and his Minor Success Realm Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear, he could easily dismantle their attacks.
His combat style was efficient and concise, often deciding the outcome within three to five moves.
His points grew steadily and rapidly.
Eight wins, ten wins, fifteen wins...
When Xu Wuyi achieved his twentieth consecutive victory, his name leaped into the top five hundred on the massive youth tournament preliminary rankings for the first time, and it continued to climb steadily.
Based on previous years, the number of Martial Masters participating in the youth tournament was around four hundred and fifty.
This meant all Martial Master contestants could advance to the next round. After breaking into the top five hundred, Xu Wuyi finally began to be matched against Martial Master Level opponents.