High-Level Martial Era

On the Spectator Platform, the hundreds of thousands of spectators, limited by their vision, couldn't clearly see the split-second burst from Dantai Feng just now.

They could only feel that Dantai Feng was powerful, managing to slay Vikram within ten blows.

However, in the higher-level Spectator Space, the Prime Warrior teachers from various universities were able to analyze the mystery from Dantai Feng's sudden outbreak.

"In the virtual duel, physical quality is the same for everyone, and Vikram is also of the Fourth Level High Rank. It should stand to reason that even if Dantai Feng held an advantage, it wouldn't be such an overwhelming victory."

"There's only one possibility! A mind refined to subtlety! He has tapped into the body's subtle vigor to a great extent."

"It gave him a burst speed and strength comparable to a Level 12 Martial Artist."

"Mind refined to subtlety."

"And his sword, terrifyingly fast, that kind of extreme radiance, is definitely Flowing Light Imagery." The teachers rapidly exchanged ideas and quickly came to a consensus.

"Incredible!"

"It's only his first year, October."

"Xia Country's number one? No! The number one in the whole world." The teachers all sighed in amazement.

A mind refined to subtlety, if observed in someone in their mid-twenties and in their fourth or fifth year, could indeed be called a 'Martial Path prodigy', but there's a large crowd of such individuals globally.

But on a freshman who had just entered university a few months ago? That was extremely rare.

In all Martial Arts Universities across the globe, among the freshmen, there probably was only this one case.

Keep in mind, it's only October now.

It's only been three months since the new students enrolled.

"Just a freshman, his physical quality certainly isn't high, and his spiritual power isn't strong either," said the Dean of East Sea Martial University, unable to help himself, "Yet he can refine his mind to subtlety? Even if he can't have a breakthrough in a short time, by the time he is a third-year and becomes a Prime Warrior, he will definitely be able to step into Fifth Stage Skill."

"Yes, the threshold of the Fifth Stage will definitely not stop him."

"Truly a genius." Many teachers nodded, moved by the thought.

To progress a skill from Fourth Level Perfection to the Fifth Stage is extremely difficult!

Even in Starfire University, Starry Sky University, and Black Stone University, there are very few students at the Fifth Stage Skill.

An ordinary Martial Arts University? It's hard to find even one throughout the whole student body.

But at this moment, nearly all the teachers believed that Dantai Feng would reach the Fifth Stage during his university years.

Why? Foundations!

Weak physical quality, insufficient spiritual power, insufficient experience, etc., all lead to much poorer comprehension.

Spiritual power in particular.

Whether it's a mind refined to subtlety or the higher level 'Fifth Stage Heaven and Man', the requirement for spiritual power is very high.

Normally speaking, if the spiritual power isn't strong enough, it's nearly impossible to break through to the Fifth Stage.

Therefore, for a genius like Dantai Feng who has already refined his mind to subtlety, just ensuring normal cultivation until he becomes a Prime Warrior, his foundation will be much stronger than it is now.

With his comprehension, stepping into the Fifth Stage is almost a sure thing.

"Li Yuan won't win."

"It's not that Li Yuan isn't strong enough, but that Dantai Feng is just too abnormal." Even the teachers who were originally somewhat optimistic about Li Yuan now almost unanimously believed that Dantai Feng would win.

They couldn't imagine how Dantai Feng could lose.

"What should we do?" Dean Xu looked towards Li Yang, a trace of worry flickering in his eyes, "Should we inform Li Yuan?"

"There's no need."

Li Yang gently shook his head, "Let it be a trial for him."

"Ever since he entered the university, he has been advancing by leaps and bounds. Perhaps this is a good opportunity for him to become more vigilant."

"Hmm."

Dean Xu calmed down, "There's little difference between the champion and runner-up rewards, tempering his edge isn't a bad thing."

...

"Vikram was defeated in a single encounter?"

"Dantai Feng has become this strong?" Gong Mi and the white youth 'Salvatore' on the Spectator Platform also changed their expressions.

"To instantly slay Vikram, I can't do it," Salvatore's gaze narrowed.

In terms of strength, he was previously the implied number one among the new freshmen at Starfire University.

But now, it seemed that Dantai Feng was the strongest!

"Li Yuan, he's really in trouble," Tian Dazhuang frowned, having come to watch as well.

It wasn't just the three of them; many of the top talents from Starry Sky University and Black Stone University who had come to watch also had their expressions change.

With the level and acumen of these top talents at Fourth Level High Rank,

Even if they couldn't immediately discern the subtleties, they could feel the terror exuding from Dantai Feng.

..."Sis, you're saying he has already grasped the Flowing Light Imagery? His mind has been refined to subtlety?" Dongdong's mouth was agape, in disbelief.

She hadn't seen it at all.

"I can't be entirely certain, but judging from the outcome, Vikram would not be careless against Dantai Feng and still was instantly killed... There's a ninety percent chance," Lanyue gently shook her head.

"Doesn't that mean Li Yuan is bound to lose?" Dongdong couldn't help saying.

"Winning or losing isn't important now," Lanyue said with a smile.

Dongdong was stunned, not important to win or lose? Then what was important?

"What's important is to see how much Li Yuan can gain."

"It's just a virtual battle after all."

...

Dantai Feng had already been transported off the stage.

"A mind refined to subtlety?" But in Li Yuan's mind, the blade that had suddenly exploded forth just now was still echoing.

Li Yuan, who had gone over the video sent by Lanyue dozens of times, clearly remembered the scene where the master exhibited the Flowing Light Imagery.

The sword like flowing light!

Brilliant as a river!

It was strikingly similar to the blade light that Dantai Feng had just displayed.

The opponent's strength, already terrifying to the extreme,

Far surpassed what Li Yuan had anticipated before.

"The likelihood of my winning…" Li Yuan suddenly showed a slight smile, "Good, then it will be a battle without any burden."

Li Yuan's mentality was excellent.

If before he was beset with worries, now that he had recognized the reality, he became even more composed.

...

"What comes next."

"Is the final match of this 'Ten Schools Freshman Battle', which will determine the ultimate champion and runner-up," the burly announcer said with a rousing voice, "Their strength, if placed in any of the previous ten editions of the Ten Schools Freshman Battle, stands a great chance of claiming the championship."

"But today, only one of them is destined to stand on the stage."

"Please welcome—Dantai Feng! Li Yuan!"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Dantai Feng and Li Yuan, having already selected their weapons, immediately followed from the preparation area into the ring, standing fifty meters apart and facing each other.

The ten-second countdown began.

"You're using a sword and shield? Why not continue with dual swords?" Li Yuan looked at the weapons in Dantai Feng's hands.

One hand held a sword, the other a shield.

It should be noted that all previous opponents had been directly taken down by Dantai Feng with dual swords.

This was the first conversation between Li Yuan and Dantai Feng in the current new students' competition among the ten schools.

The conversation could only be heard by the two of them.

"The attack of dual swords is stronger, but the defense is much weaker," Dantai Feng said with a rare smile, "Your defense is strong, and I can see that you are very, very close to achieving subtlety."

"Using dual swords is indeed cooler, but there's a one percent chance I won't break through your defense. Once I can't break through, it becomes troublesome..." Dantai Feng said lightly, "Showing off is only scary when you end up falling flat on your face."

"As the challenger, you lose, it's not shameful."

"If I lose, I lose face big time."

"So I chose the sword and shield."

"You don't have the slightest chance of winning," Dantai Feng said with a laugh. "It might not be as cool, but at least I won't lose face. When I show off, I only do so with absolute certainty."

Li Yuan couldn't help but smile wryly, but he had to admit, Dantai Feng had quite a character.

He seemed to like the spotlight, but deep down was the word 'steady'.

Too cautious.

Despite his skills far surpassing his own, he still chose to take up a shield in the end.

"Alright," Li Yuan said with a nod and a smile, "then let me see just how strong Xia Country's number one of our generation really is."

"Wrong!"

Dantai Feng gently shook his head, lifting it slightly, "I am not the number one in Xia Country for this generation."

"But—the number one in the world for this generation!"

With that said.

Dantai Feng adjusted his stance slightly and quietly watched Li Yuan.

One second, two seconds... The countdown to battle had already ended.

The spectator platform was boiling over, all the spectators were staring at the two competitors on the stage, watching their ultimate showdown.

"Why aren't you attacking?" Dantai Feng finally couldn't resist.

"I'm waiting for you."

Li Yuan also got into a defensive spear stance and shook his head, "If I actively attack you, wouldn't that be seeking death?"

Dantai Feng was stunned for a moment, he had met his match.

In Dantai Feng's view, whoever acted first would show weakness.

But he only hesitated for a second.

"If I keep waiting, others will think I'm scared of Li Yuan, which would do even greater damage to my image of a master." Dantai Feng finally made his move.

Boom! His figure shot out tens of meters in an instant, like lightning, charging towards Li Yuan.

"Kill!" Li Yuan gripped his long spear tightly, staring intently at Dantai Feng, and thrust his spear out vigorously.

The decisive battle erupted.

...When they saw the fight finally break out.

"Li Yuan!"

"Dantai Feng!!"

"Go for it!" Nearly 800,000 spectators on the spectator platform were utterly fired up, shouting excitedly, their voices shrill.

Especially the several hundred thousand spectators from Xia Country, to them who won didn't make much difference, what was important was that the duel was thrilling enough.

...

"Whoosh! Whoosh!" Dantai Feng held the sword in one hand, with sharp and relentless blade flashes, striking at Li Yuan time and time again.

"Clang!"

"Pong~ Pong~" Li Yuan maneuvered the shadow of his long spear with all his might, using his entire body's vigor.

While resisting the sword flashes, he side-stepped and retreated quickly, not allowing Dantai Feng to get close.

Normally, in a duel between spear and sword, the long spear would take the absolute advantage with the initiative to attack.

A longer reach equates to greater strength.

However, once the battle truly commenced, Li Yuan found that Dantai Feng's sword light was exceptionally fast, so fast that it sent shivers down his spine.

Most importantly, it seemed as if Dantai Feng anticipated each of Li Yuan's moves, effortlessly blocking all of Li Yuan's counterattacks.

Li Yuan was completely suppressed.

"Subtlety, vigor as delicate as silk." Li Yuan was well aware that it wasn't that Dantai Feng could truly predict the future.

It was purely because his realm was higher, his speed and strength faster, that each of his strikes could preemptively counter.

"Clang~"

After another collision of sword and spear, Li Yuan was forced to retreat once more.

"I can't hold him off! Indeed, I am not his opponent." Li Yuan had completely given up attacking, feeling the dread of the sword light like flowing light.

A single sword was forcing him to defend with all his might.

Even to the extent that from beginning to end, Dantai Feng had not yet made use of the shield in his left hand.

"If Dantai Feng were using dual swords in this battle, I would probably have already lost," Li Yuan thought bitterly, sharply focusing on the terrifying sword lights slicing his way.

Li Yuan understood that the outcome of today's battle was no longer of much significance, the opponent's realm was far superior to his by a wide margin.

If Dantai Feng had simply pursued victory over him, Li Yuan would already have been defeated in the exchanges of the past dozen moves.

Then, let this be a trial by combat.

Boom! Boom!

Boom! The two exchanged blows like lightning, but for some reason, Dantai Feng continued to suppress Li Yuan without going all out.

It was as if he was consciously holding back and honing Li Yuan.

Gradually.

Li Yuan, who had been mere steps away from a breakthrough in comprehension, suddenly found his mind filled with images of two masters fighting in a video Lin Lanyue had shown him.

"The spear tip arcs a halo, its shaft like a straight path."

"Vast as the stars," Li Yuan was completely immersed in the battle, enjoying the fight, and unknowingly, special changes began to appear in the spear technique he executed.

"That's it." Li Yuan, vaguely sensing an opportunity, finally grasped that indescribable state.

At that moment, his mind completely attuned to every corner of his body, he felt the slightest thread of vigor hidden within.

"Boom!" Li Yuan felt the vigor throughout his body being fully excavated, countless subtle threads of force converging into one. His speed and strength continuously increased, surpassing his past limits.

His power erupted stronger and stronger.

The speed of his long spear grew faster and faster.

"Subtlety! The spear as the stars." Li Yuan had a revelation. His spear technique underwent a complete transformation, displaying the Starfire Five Forms with an entirely different charm.

"Clang!"

"Clang!" "Clang!" Li Yuan, who was initially struggling to defend, gradually started to truly fend off Dantai Feng's sword technique.

"A breakthrough during battle? He's actually breaking through?" Dantai Feng's eyes sparkled with interest: "How intriguing!"