High-Level Martial Era

"How could the power contained in this spear be so much stronger than mine?" Nevsky could hardly believe it.

It should be noted that he is an intermediate-rank, fifth-stage martial artist too.

In theory, even if Li Yuan's skill realm was somewhat higher than his, the pure strength gap shouldn't be this substantial.

When one's skills reach the fourth level, the difference in weapons becomes minimal, and after stepping into the fifth stage, the difference is even smaller, because every high-rank fifth-stage martial artist's skill level is so high it is nearly a path.

They place more emphasis on the harmony of mind, body, and the universe, seeking to harness more of the power of heaven and earth.

Weapons? They are more about fitting with one's own heart and intentions.

Take, for example, the third-rank secret manual "Meaning of the Stellar"; why isn't it called "Stellar Spear"? To achieve this level, whether it's a spear or an axe, it all follows the heart.

Just like Li Yuan.

Ordinary people use spears, naturally excelling at attacking.

But with the skill realm of "Meaning of the Stellar", when using this mindset to control weapons, Li Yuan's spear technique for defense becomes far more powerful than his attacks.

Facing Nevsky, Li Yuan was clear in his mind that winning with ordinary killing moves was very unlikely.

Nevsky's chosen path suited the battle axe extremely well, and he was very adept at attacking.

Therefore, without a moment's hesitation, Li Yuan launched his strongest move—Galaxy Spiral.

"I refuse to believe this." Nevsky roared angrily, his body springing into motion once more. He stepped fiercely across the platform, each step making the platform tremble faintly as if mountains were crumbling and the earth was splitting apart.

Li Yuan, holding his long spear, looked at his opponent impassively, motionless.

Boom! At the moment Nevsky was about to get close, he finally struck down at Li Yuan like a fierce tiger.

Whoosh!

He leaped up, raising the battle axe high, unleashing all his vigor, and with everything he had, he chopped down fiercely with his axe.

This blow, fueled by Nevsky's anger, was unquestionably the most powerful he had ever unleashed in virtual combat.

Nevsky believed that even Yin Man wouldn't dare take on this blow head-on.

Finally.

Li Yuan moved, and indeed, he no longer took the blow head-on; he launched a counter-attack. His speed exploded to its peak within 0.3 seconds, surpassing 110 meters per second.

Immediately after, Li Yuan leaped up too.

Facing a full-force sprint from Nevsky, Li Yuan did not retreat an inch; on the contrary, he chose to clash head-on. At that moment, the two were like two terrifying meteors colliding.

"Swish!" Li Yuan suddenly thrust out his spear, and the spear light bloomed, spreading layer upon layer like a starry river erupting, like a dazzling galaxy with countless stars revolving around its center.

Threads of starlight converged at the center.

At that moment, Li Yuan, with his long spear in hand, seemed to transform into a huge vortex, drawing upon the mysterious powers of heaven and earth, creating a most astonishing twisting and absorbing force.

And his spear met Nevsky's roaring incoming battle axe with a thunderous collision!!

"Rumble~"

The terrifying collision, the dreadful aftermath, the shockwave spread visibly in all directions.

"Bang~"

The horrifying impact force sent Nevsky flying backward, his body tumbling heavily onto the ground.

Then, he rolled over, getting up on one knee.

"Pfft~" A mouthful of fresh blood spewed out of Nevsky's mouth, the boiling sensation in his blood finally easing somewhat.

"I'm injured." Nevsky moved his thoughts and could clearly sense the pulled muscles in his arm.

Throughout his body, countless minute injuries had appeared.

What about Li Yuan then?

In such a head-on clash, Li Yuan merely flew back several meters before stopping in his tracks.

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As if unaffected by any impact at all.

The victor had been decided.

"Li Yuan's strength," Nevsky slowly rose to his feet, fixating his gaze on Li Yuan.

Never understanding why Li Yuan's strength was so terrifying, but Nevsky knew that strong was strong.

Li Yuan's strength indeed far surpassed his own.

"What's the name of that move?" Nevsky's voice was hoarse.

"Galactic Stream Vortex," Li Yuan replied calmly, aware of how formidable this self-created killing move was.

This move was best at defense.

Yet, when used for a head-on collision, its might was still terrifyingly great, surpassing any of the moves in the Stellar Five Styles.

"Good."

"I concede wholly to you, convinced both in heart and word," Nevsky took a deep breath, "Come, defeat me completely."

"Okay," Li Yuan nodded. If he hadn't created this move, he might not have been able to defeat Nevsky.

Boom! Li Yuan moved once more, his figure darting forward at a terrifying speed.

"Whoosh!"

The long spear thrust out, with a terrifying screeching sound that echoed through the vast sky, striking at Nevsky.

...

In the higher-level Spectator Space, over a hundred thousand Prime Warriors were stunned by this spectacle.

After their initial shock, over a hundred Flying Heaven Warriors began to express their admiration and amazement.

"A True Intent Killing Move."

"Indeed, it's a True Intent Killing Move."

"If the first move wasn't quite clear, now there's no doubt about it."

"It's certainly a True Intent Killing Move."

"The most difficult hurdle to overcome to reach Fifth Stage Perfection has just been breached by him."

"Truly an exceptional prodigy," the Flying Heaven Warriors chatted among themselves, feeling somewhat emotional.

Just as with the Fourth Level in skills, one gradually penetrates deeper in controlling the body, until at Fourth Level Perfection the spirit reaches subtlety, and one's strength will surge, utterly overwhelming any at the High Rank of the Fourth Level.

The Fifth Stage follows the same principle.

Unity of Heaven and Man at the Fifth Stage, from the Initial Rank, Intermediate Rank, to High Rank, is all about deepening the comprehension of nature, a continual accumulation of quantity without any real qualitative change.

The force of heaven and earth that one draws upon isn't really considerable.

Only by stepping from the High Rank of the Fifth Stage to Perfection, does one achieve a fundamental difference.

Why can one ascend to the Flying Heaven Realm upon reaching Fifth Stage Perfection?

The heart of the matter lies in the two words: 'True Intent.'

The extreme limit of the Fifth Stage High Rank signifies that one's accumulation of quantity has reached its zenith, and one must endeavor to integrate the manifold comprehensions of heaven and earth, truly seeking the essence of the workings of the cosmos— the Mysteries of True Intent.

Upon comprehending even a hint of the Mysteries of True Intent, and being able to manifest that hint through a certain specific killing move, one can significantly enhance the might of the technique.

This is what constitutes a True Intent Killing Move.

Also known as a True Intent Killing Technique.

Once a True Intent Killing Move has been comprehended, as long as one's comprehension of the cosmos reaches an exceedingly high level, one can naturally transition from the High Rank of the Fifth Stage to the Perfection Level.

To put it simply.

Even among Flying Heaven Warriors, many have only comprehended a few True Intent Killing Moves.

And as Flying Heaven Warriors comprehend more True Intent Killing Moves, say five or six similar techniques, their comprehension of True Intent grows deeper.

Until one day, when every move can contain the Mysteries of True Intent, transcending the need for True Intent Killing Moves, that is when one truly ascends to the Sixth Stage of skills—True Intent.

And Li Yuan.

He is still far from that level, and the might of this newly-created True Intent Killing Move is not very strong, but it's enough to astonish the Flying Heaven Warriors.

Because it signifies that, as long as Li Yuan progresses step by step in his cultivation from the Intermediate Rank of the Fifth Stage, to High Rank, and then to Perfection... virtually nothing will stand in his way.

...

"True Intent Killing Move?"

"Li Yuan!" Li Yang and Dean Xu, sitting in the back rows, were both greatly shocked, with speculations arising in their hearts.

"It must be," Dean Xu couldn't help saying, "Otherwise, his spear technique wouldn't possess such power, completely overwhelming Nevsky."

"To grasp a True Intent Killing Move at only Fifth Stage Intermediate Rank?" Li Yang shook his head, "This! This!"

They were indeed shocked.

Normally, one would need to comprehend the mysteries of heaven and earth, reach the limit of Fifth Stage High Rank, and accumulate quantity.

Then, seek a breakthrough in quality.

"His move is still immature, but it has already surpassed us in essence," Dean Xu couldn't help but sigh, "Perhaps, this is what a true genius is."

"A genius that we never dared to imagine."

...

On the stage, the showdown between Li Yuan and Nevsky had reached its final phase.

Clash after clash, lightning-fast.

Even though Li Yuan did not deliberately pursue ending the fight, his spear technique burst forth time and again, its power far surpassing that of Nevsky.

Each clash inflicted considerable damage on Nevsky's body.

After hundreds of consecutive collisions, Nevsky could no longer withstand them, and was grazed across the throat by Li Yuan's long spear.

Defeat!

To this point, Li Yuan had consecutively defeated three of the previous top five experts, Harmon, Alicia, and Nevsky, also achieving a three-win streak.

He was just one battle away from his last fight with Yin Man.

...

"He won just like that?"

"Wasn't Nevsky supposed to be strong?" the countless spectators from all over the world murmured in disbelief.

"It's not that Nevsky is weak, it's that Li Yuan is too strong. I even feel Li Yuan might be stronger than Yin Man."

"Terrifying Li Yuan." The numerous voices of discussions filled the air, and perhaps the vast majority of the spectators couldn't recognize the mysteries of a 'True Intent Killing Move,' but they could see that Li Yuan's strength far exceeded that of Nevsky.

"He's won."

"Li Yuan has defeated Nevsky."

"The final battle is coming up next," the innumerable spectators from Xia Country were exceedingly excited.

Because, both Yin Man and Li Yuan, who completed a three-win streak, were from Xia Country.

One could say that even before the final showdown had started, it was already destined that the champion would be from Xia Country.

For the millions of Xia Country spectators, this meant they didn't need to worry about who would win, allowing them to fully enjoy watching the final match.

"Senior brother."

"Li Yuan, you must win." However, tens of thousands of students from Kunlun Martial University were growing even more nervous.

Champion!

Just one last fight remained.

...

Without making all the spectators wait too long, the tenth match quickly erupted.

Li Yuan versus Yin Man.

Both competitors, since the beginning of the free-for-all bouts, had swept through their respective Star Realm battlefields with absolute dominance, brutally making their way into the finals.

Before the finals, there hadn't been a single opponent who could cause them any obstruction.

Both were overwhelmingly strong, cutting their way to the end.

However.

This highly anticipated mightiest showdown was nearly predetermined before it had even started.

Atop the stage.

"I cannot win against you," Yin Man sighed lightly, her eyes filled with complexity.

"Won't you try?" Li Yuan smiled.

"Since your last battle, I've understood that I cannot win." Yin Man spoke slowly, "However, for the sake of honor, I'll still fight with all my might."

Yin Man had an extremely high perspective.

In terms of skill, her level might be even higher, but she had yet to create her own True Intent Killing Move.

Thus, the outcome of this battle was nearly certain.

"Alright," Li Yuan nodded and moved first, taking the initiative to strike.

This was the first time Li Yuan took the initiative to engage in combat in the finals.

This battle.

The fight between them was incredibly fierce, with Yin Man's swordsmanship dazzling—her twin swords in hand truly revealed her terrifying strength—sword light like flowing water, madly pouring onto Li Yuan's long spear.

But.

When Li Yuan executed the move "Galactic Flowing Rotation," all those countless sword lights fell, only to be ceaselessly neutralized by the mysterious power of heaven and earth, and easily blocked by Li Yuan.

Almost standing on invincible ground.

With every clash, Li Yuan could easily deflect the impact, but the horrible force left Yin Man wounded time and again.

Finally, after a thousand exchanges, Yin Man's body could no longer withstand the repeated impacts, injuries reaching their limit, her body completely broke down, and her power and speed sharply declined.

She was struck in the neck by a thrust from Li Yuan's spear.

Victory.

"If I hadn't created 'Galactic Flowing Rotation,' based purely on skill level, I wouldn't be your match," Li Yuan thought to himself.

He had immense respect for Yin Man, whose level of skill was definitely above 40% of the Fifth Stage.

But, the advantage in skill couldn't make up for the disparity in the power of a True Intent Killing Move.

To exhibit a higher realm, one needed sufficiently powerful techniques.

"I've won."

"Virtual battle, first place." Immediately, Li Yuan's mouth also revealed a slight smile.

...

"He's won!"

"First place! Blue Star's first place! Li Yuan!"

"He's made history, the first virtual battle champion not from the top three martial arts schools." The millions of spectators in the Spectator Platform were completely boiling with excitement.

Especially the tens of thousands of students from Kunlun Martial University, who were utterly ecstatic.

They had won!

Virtual battle champion, Li Yuan!!

...

"Thank you, Li Yuan and Yin Man, for bringing us an exciting pinnacle showdown," the host's voice trembled with excitement: "Congratulations to Li Yuan for capturing the championship!"

"This is the first time in history the champion is a first-year student!"

"This is the first time in history the champion is a student from outside the top three martial arts schools."

"I announce."

"This year's Global University Martial Path Tournament, has come to a perfect close!"