Martial Dao Rank

Martial Dao Rank "All right."

Ren Mian drew the attention of all three of them. "Xinghuo, although you're only an Elementary Esper, your strength already surpasses that of most Advanced Espers. You lack experience, but fortunately, your combat instincts are extremely sharp. Your grasp of timing is very precise, and your overall awareness is excellent."

"You don't have many abilities. Only two, right?" she suddenly asked.

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

Chi Zhonglin and Jiangnan Caiyi looked at each other.

He was already this formidable with only two abilities. If he advanced to Intermediate or Advanced and fused with several more abilities, Ji Xinghuo would have no rivals among those of the same rank! Both of them immediately felt enormous pressure.

"I'm not worried about your perception. It's already been tested. You're fully qualified for the Ranger role." Ren Mian continued, "However, the stronger an Aberrant becomes, the more well-rounded they need to be. Rangers are also a class with strong close-combat ability. How are you in melee?"

Ji Xinghuo hesitated.

To be honest, he didn't know either.

If he relied only on the standard functions of the Myriad Stellar Eye—his powerful visual tracking and insight into details, innate high-speed reflexes, and precise instinct for danger—he probably wouldn't be too bad.

If he activated Myriad Aspects of the Universe, he would be practically invincible.

Of course, that assumed he had enough close-combat lethality to break through an enemy's defenses.

Ren Mian changed the question. "What's your Martial Dao Rank?"

"Amateur Third Rank."

Ji Xinghuo answered somewhat awkwardly.

Martial Dao Rank was the most direct standard for judging a person's martial arts level. It was a ranking system established by the Global Martial Dao Association and had existed for more than a century.

The lowest level was having no rank at all.

People entered the virtual platform of the Martial Dao Association and competed online. Winners gained points, losers lost points, and rankings were determined by points.

Once someone reached 100 points, they advanced to Amateur First Rank.

And so on.

The higher the points, the higher the rank.

First through Third Rank were Amateur Ranks, which were already considered impressive among ordinary people. Fourth through Sixth Rank were Elite Ranks, attainable only by the most gifted ordinary people. After several years of training and accumulating enough matches, most Aberrants could reach Fourth or Fifth Rank. Reaching Sixth Rank depended on abilities and talent. Seventh through Ninth Rank entered the Professional Ranks and counted as martial arts experts.

The core main roster of the Tier-A Professional League usually required at least Seventh Rank. In the Super League, every member had to be at least Seventh Rank.

The point thresholds for advancement in the Professional Ranks were very high. The minimum was 10,000 points, and there were also win-rate requirements.

Every quarter, half-year, and year, the Martial Dao Association held offline promotion tournaments for Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Rank respectively. There were very few promotion slots.

Usually, only a small portion of martial arts experts could pass the promotion tournaments.

Besides online points, win rate, and promotion tournaments, there was a third way to advance: participating in martial arts competitions of various levels. Provincial, national, and world-level—each had officially sanctioned competitions certified by the Martial Dao Association. Winning a championship or placing highly could also earn a promotion.

For example, winning a provincial martial arts competition would promote someone directly to Professional Eighth Rank.

Placing second through fourth in a national martial arts competition would promote someone directly to Ninth Rank.

Above Ninth Rank was Master.

The Martial Dao Association held a Master promotion tournament once every year. In addition, anyone who won a national martial arts competition, regardless of their previous rank, would directly receive the title of Martial Dao Master.

Above Master was Grandmaster.

Passing the Grandmaster promotion tournament, held once every three years, or winning the World Martial Arts Championship would promote someone directly to Grandmaster.

Zhao Manying had won the world championship in one stroke at the age of eighteen, thereby advancing to Grandmaster! Above Grandmaster was the title of "Martial Saint," which was even harder to obtain.

On the true path of martial arts, there were no so-called realms or secret saber and sword techniques—only ranks. Realms were personal insights and understanding, while ranks were solid records earned by stepping on others' heads to climb upward.

A Martial Dao Master represented tens of thousands of combat experiences, one promotion tournament after another, one martial arts competition after another.

As long as you could win, your martial arts level was strong.

If you couldn't win, no amount of martial arts theory was anything but empty words, and nobody wanted to hear it.

Ji Xinghuo's martial arts talent was very high, far stronger than his archery talent. Among people his age, it was top-tier. Although he had not spent much time on martial arts training, devoting most of his time to physical conditioning, and had participated in even fewer online matches, he had still easily attained Amateur Third Rank with an extremely high win rate.

Of course, Amateur Third Rank was a little unimpressive now.

When Chi Zhonglin heard that Ji Xinghuo was only Amateur Third Rank, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the pressure in his heart lessened considerably.

His abilities were so strong and his combat talent so high. If his Martial Dao Rank were also high, how would anyone else even play? "Heh heh..."

He grinned smugly. "I'm Professional Ninth Rank. Next year, I'm planning to enter the Master promotion tournament. Xinghuo, if you want to advance, I can spar with you often and teach you some experience in fighting against spears."

"Sure. I'll definitely ask for your guidance then." Ji Xinghuo nodded seriously.

"Xinghuo-jun, I can help you too." Jiangnan Caiyi gripped the hilt of the katana at her waist, then looked at Ji Xinghuo's goose-wing saber. "I use a blade too. I'm Professional Seventh Rank."

Ji Xinghuo smiled. "So Caiyi is this impressive."

"My sister is the impressive one." Jiangnan Caiyi said softly. "Although my sister doesn't practice martial arts much, she's a Master."

Ji Xinghuo was not surprised in the least.

Ren Mian nodded slightly. "Amateur Third Rank is indeed a little low, but with your talent, you should improve quickly. This is also a way to rapidly increase your strength."

"As for Stellar Force cultivation..."

She thought for a moment before saying, "I'll prepare some Ether Tea for you later. Drink a cup before every cultivation session. It can speed up Stellar Force recovery and growth."

Ji Xinghuo's eyes lit up. Ether Tea was good stuff.

It was an oddity that could accelerate Stellar Force cultivation. A single cup cost more than five thousand Asia Yuan, its effects lasted only a few hours, and its advantage only became apparent with long-term use.

"Thank you, Ren-jie."

"I grew the Ether Tea trees myself, so it didn't cost much."

Ren Mian smiled indifferently. "There's no rushing Stellar Force cultivation. Just keep at it. As for abilities, you're a Magnetic Field Maniac, and you don't have Expansion Oddities, so you can't fuse another Ability Seed anytime soon. But I'll keep an eye out for you."

A thoughtful expression appeared on her beautiful face.

"Then the only option left is weapons and equipment." Ren Mian looked Ji Xinghuo over from head to toe. "You don't need to replace your bow for now. It's good enough. Are you used to this kind of Flat-Head Goose-Wing Saber, or do you prefer another blade shape? A sword is fine too."

"I'd prefer a heavier weapon. Saber or sword, either is fine." Ji Xinghuo had no particular preference for weapons. As long as it felt right in his hand, even a hammer would do.

"I understand."

Ren Mian seemed to have already decided on the arrangements. "Continue training. I'm heading out." With that, she left.

Ji Xinghuo looked at Chi Zhonglin, intending to spar with him.

"Next time, for sure."

"I have something to do too. I'm heading out, and I won't be back for dinner today."

Chi Zhonglin had no intention whatsoever of making up for his earlier defeat. He slipped away in a flash. There was no need to guess where he was going to fool around.

Jiangnan Caiyi criticized him tactfully. "Zhonglin-jun's hobbies are a little terrible."

Ji Xinghuo, however, envied him.

That kind of carefree, dissolute life was what most men dreamed of. Unfortunately, it was not yet time for him to enjoy life.

He was envious inside, but his expression remained serious. "Caiyi, how about we train a little?"

"Please instruct me, Xinghuo-jun."

Jiangnan Caiyi was eager to try and immediately drew the katana at her waist.

The sharp blade gleamed coldly. It seemed to hold little power in her hand, yet Ji Xinghuo felt threatened by it.

Professional Seventh Rank was already a Martial Dao Rank that the overwhelming majority of people would never dare dream of attaining in their lifetimes.

Ji Xinghuo drew his goose-wing saber, his gaze focused.

The two faced each other.

Whether online or offline, martial arts sparring did not allow abilities with additional effects, such as flames, mental attacks, transformations, and the like. However, skill-based and physical-enhancement abilities were exempt. Flash Step, High-Frequency Thinking, and Star Force could all be used.

"Xinghuo-jun, I'm attacking."

Jiangnan Caiyi gave him a deliberate warning, then suddenly stepped forward. Raising her katana high above her head, she brought it down in a heavy slash.

Clang! Ji Xinghuo raised his saber to block. Metal rang out, scattering sparks.

Giant Strength traveled through the goose-wing saber. Although he had already prepared to redirect the force, and the Thousand Spirit Dexterous Hands cushioned the rebounding blade, he still staggered back two steps involuntarily.

Such tremendous strength!

And she's incredibly fast too... Ji Xinghuo marveled inwardly.

Demon Refiner was an extremely powerful Class Template. Its core ability, the Dark Matter Demonic Body, enhanced the body to a degree comparable to a Rotating Magnetic Field. It also sealed a Dark Matter Demon inside the body, granting the power and abilities of a demon.

This was a Demon Refiner who had not even activated Demonization.

Otherwise, Jiangnan Caiyi's strength would only be greater. One slash might have been enough to split him in half.

Even so, Jiangnan Caiyi had already seized the flaw in his footwork and closed in again. Her long blade slid along the body of the goose-wing saber toward his head and hands.

Ji Xinghuo could only knock the blade outward and retreat rapidly.

Jiangnan Caiyi pressed on relentlessly, closing in once more as if she had completely abandoned defense.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Ji Xinghuo retreated three steps in a row. The Thousand Spirit Dexterous Hands were pushed to their limit as his goose-wing saber swung left and right to block three consecutive strikes. He was hard-pressed on every side, barely maintaining his balance. Even though he had already spotted the wide-open flaw in Jiangnan Caiyi's center, he lacked the strength to seize the chance to counterattack and instead fell into a desperate situation.

The storm-like assault suddenly ceased. Jiangnan Caiyi sheathed her blade and stopped.

"Xinghuo-jun is amazing."

"Very few people can withstand my triple slash, but Xinghuo-jun did it. Your Martial Dao Rank is definitely more than Third Rank, at least Fifth Rank." She spoke with complete seriousness.

Ji Xinghuo felt undeserving of the praise. "If you had attacked one more time, I would've lost."

"We're sparring, not competing. There's no winning or losing." Jiangnan Caiyi smiled with great understanding.

Ji Xinghuo nodded. "Again."

The sound of colliding blades constantly rang through the Martial Arts Arena, like iron being forged.

Ji Xinghuo gradually adapted to his condition.

Like a sponge, he absorbed Jiangnan Caiyi's martial arts experience. His mastery of the Myriad Stellar Eye deepened further, and he used it more and more fluidly in battle, as naturally as instinct. His martial arts improved at a rapid pace.

The two trained with blades until noon. By then, Jiangnan Caiyi could no longer suppress Ji Xinghuo so easily.

She went to make a meal, and after eating and resting, they continued sparring.

For an entire twenty-five-hour day, Ji Xinghuo and Jiangnan Caiyi remained in the Martial Arts Arena. Aside from three meal breaks, they fought continuously.

This kind of sparring consumed a great deal of stamina and Stellar Force. Recovery could likewise promote Stellar Force growth, though the efficiency was somewhat lower.

Night fell.

Jiangnan Caiyi's katana was a superpowered weapon and remained completely undamaged.

Ji Xinghuo's goose-wing saber, however, had been chopped full of notches like a saw. Finally, during one clash, it broke into two pieces.

He looked at the broken saber in his hand and immediately felt a pang of heartache.

"I spent eighteen thousand on this saber yesterday. It broke after just one day."

Jiangnan Caiyi was breathing slightly heavily. After training with blades for a full day, even with her physical fitness, she found it somewhat taxing. Ji Xinghuo's progress was too fast. This exaggerated rate of improvement not only forced her to focus more during their sparring, it also put enormous pressure on her mentally.

"Trading one saber for an increase in Martial Dao Rank is very worthwhile. Xinghuo-jun should be happy instead." Jiangnan Caiyi let out a breath and said incredulously, "Xinghuo-jun should be at Sixth Rank now."

"Thank you, Caiyi." Ji Xinghuo thanked her sincerely.

Shyness filled Jiangnan Caiyi's eyes. "We're teammates. Xinghuo-jun is being too polite."

Just then, Ren Mian returned after being gone all day. Behind her was Chi Zhonglin, reeking of alcohol, clearly dragged back from some club or bar.

"Xinghuo, catch."

Smiling, Ren Mian tossed the two pieces of equipment in her hands over to him.