Gold-Rank Expert

"Wan Xiao and Zhou Qi are both blabbermouths." Li Yuan felt rather helpless.

On the day he and Lin Lanyue arranged their match, the news had spread throughout the entire Grade 3 before evening self-study was even over.

Lin Lanyue was a celebrity, and Li Yuan had some fame as well.

All kinds of rumors sprang up.

The most important reason was that, in all these years, Lin Lanyue had never arranged a match with any other student. Li Yuan was the first.

At first, Li Yuan had clung to the thought that the pure would prove themselves pure and couldn't be bothered to explain. Later, he realized he had been naive.

Today, more than three hundred people had come to Starry Sky Fighting Net to watch their battle, nearly all of them students.

And the number was steadily closing in on four hundred.

That was already an astonishing figure. After all, this was only a Personal Challenge Match, and no one was streaming it.

"Brother Yuan, am I awesome or what? I dragged the whole class over to cheer for you!" Zhou Qi, with his yellow explosive hair and leather pants, waved and shouted from the stands.

The Virtual Network's seventy-percent realism made the entire arena nearly identical to reality. With hundreds gathered around the ring, the atmosphere was already exceptionally lively.

"Go!"

"Brother Yuan, your big spear must already be hungry and thirsty."

Amid the noisy clamor, many people had even taken out banners and glow sticks, all of them free props provided by the system.

Quite a few supported Li Yuan.

But most of the audience still supported Lin Lanyue. She had good grades and a pretty face, so she was extremely popular... mainly with the boys.

Most boys were very devoted. They only liked pretty eighteen-year-old girls.

Besides, Lin Lanyue was only seventeen.

...On the arena.

"Prepare." Li Yuan's thoughts moved.

The lights around the roughly thirty-meter-wide ring instantly changed from red to green.

Li Yuan and Lin Lanyue's virtual bodies vanished at once.

At the same time, an enormous countdown appeared above the ring: 30, 29, 28...

"Neither challenger has reached Meteor Rank. The system has set combat physical attributes at Level 8.0."

"You have twenty-four seconds remaining. Please select your weapon. If time expires, one will be automatically selected according to your habits."

Within the preparation space, the system's voice echoed beside Li Yuan's ears.

"Level 8.0 physical attributes." Li Yuan felt the changes in his body's strength. He was already used to it.

"Weapon plan Number One," Li Yuan said directly.

As an old hand who had fought over a thousand matches on Starry Sky Fighting Net, he chose different weapon plans for different battle types and different opponents.

Li Yuan had set up a full five weapon plans.

"Selected weapon: Standard No. 9 spear. Length: 2.3 meters. Weight..."

"Protective gear: Standard No. 4 light armor. Weight..." Vast amounts of data flashed before Li Yuan's eyes.

A 2.3-meter spear counted as a relatively short spear. If Li Yuan faced another spear expert, he would be at a considerable disadvantage.

An inch longer, an inch stronger.

Lin Lanyue used a sword, however. If the spear shaft was too long, it would lack flexibility and might not offer an advantage... A slightly longer weapon would do.

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Besides, there are two thousand Blue Star Coins at stake. Li Yuan thought to himself.

Li Yuan never wasted anything.

The area around the ring teemed with people. The spectator count had already passed four hundred. Not all of them were students; there were a handful of outsiders as well.

For example—Teacher Xu Bo and Principal Tan Zhenlong.

"Quite lively."

Principal Tan stood in a corner, wearing a hat. His appearance differed from his real one, so none of the students could recognize him.

"It is." Xu Bo smiled. "Look, it's about to begin."

Principal Tan nodded. Xu Bo had dragged him here mainly because he had nothing else to do.

As Grade 3's number-one seed, Lin Lanyue naturally received some of Principal Tan's attention.

On the arena.

The countdown reached 3, 2, 1... Whoosh! Whoosh!

Li Yuan and Lin Lanyue reappeared on opposite sides of the arena, both clad in battle armor and holding their weapons.

The most eye-catching thing was the golden emblem above their heads.

"Gold Rank?"

"Gold-Rank experts?"

"Both of them are Gold Rank?" In an instant, cries of surprise rose from all around the arena.

"Brother Yuan reached Gold Rank? The last time we played Battle Royale together, he was still Silver Rank." Zhou Qi, Wan Xiao, and the others all widened their eyes.

"He secretly climbed the rankings behind our backs?" Yan Zhou said. "Next time, we need Brother Yuan to carry us in Battle Royale."

"Gold-Rank expert? Both are Gold Rank?" Li Tianyou stood in a corner, looking at the emblems above the two figures in the ring. "Lanyue reached Gold Rank too?"

Lin Lanyue did not know Li Tianyou.

But that did not stop Li Tianyou from falling in love with Lin Lanyue at first sight—more accurately, being moved by her looks.

There were quite a few Grade 3 boys like him who secretly loved Lin Lanyue, but few dared to genuinely confess.

"Damn, Li Yuan is Gold Rank too?" Gu Qianghan stared at the symbol over Li Yuan's head. "No wonder Teacher Xu praised Li Yuan so highly."

Both combatants being Gold Rank instantly sent the atmosphere soaring.

"Oh? Both Gold Rank?" Principal Tan was also slightly surprised. "I wonder whether they've reached five hundred points. If they have, they both qualify for special admission."

"Old Tan, I told you those two students are extraordinary." Xu Bo smiled. "Why else would I have brought you here?"

Forget Grade 3 students.

Even among Martial Arts University students, many could not reach Gold Rank.

"You reached Gold Rank?" Li Yuan held his spear and stared at the red-haired Lin Lanyue, clearly surprised.

Starry Sky Fighting Net divided ranks into nine tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Meteor, Bright Moon, Sun-Eclipsing, Transcendental, Legendary, and Martial Saint.

For a minor to reach Gold Rank was extremely rare.

Even many major streamers who called themselves martial arts experts were mostly only Bright Moon Rank. Few reached Sun-Eclipsing Rank.

Transcendental Rank and above? Anyone capable of reaching those ranks was already a top martial arts powerhouse in reality. There was no way they would stream.

At least, Li Yuan had never seen a Transcendental Rank expert while watching streams.

At most, he had seen them in a few battle videos.

"You're the only one allowed to break through?" Lin Lanyue looked at Li Yuan, her voice cold and sharp.

Lin Lanyue was not surprised that Li Yuan had reached Gold Rank. She had expected it long ago.

She's hostile toward me? Li Yuan faintly sensed it.

The next instant.

Boom! Lin Lanyue moved.

Her light armor was also fiery red. Her entire body was like a ball of flame as she charged at Li Yuan like lightning.

With Level 8.0 physical attributes, her burst speed was eighteen meters per second, and her standard punching force was eight hundred kilograms.

The arena was only thirty meters in diameter.

From the moment she started until she closed in, Lin Lanyue needed at most 2.2 seconds to reach Li Yuan.

Swoosh— A fiery-red longsword flashed toward Li Yuan like lightning.

Rip—

Li Yuan grinned, tightened his grip on the spear, shifted his body in an instant, and fiercely thrust forward.

Centered Level Stance!

Clang! The fiery-red sword collided with the spear. The spear actually shuddered and was knocked aside, while the sword turned in midair like a venomous serpent twisting back and stabbed forward once more.

This swordsmanship...

It's somewhat strange. Its explosive force is actually so strong—stronger than my spear's direct thrust. Is it a move that comes with an Advanced Cultivation Method? Li Yuan was astonished.

He had long heard that Lin Lanyue cultivated one of the Seven Great Advanced Cultivation Methods, the Blazing Heaven-Burning Cultivation Method.

Every cultivation method was divided into numerous components, including stance practice, breathing techniques, fist arts, and more.

Li Yuan had never encountered an Advanced Cultivation Method.

But he knew this was an advanced version of one of the Seven Great Basic Cultivation Methods, the Blazing Cultivation Method.

The Blazing Cultivation Method excels at offense, and this Advanced Cultivation Method should be the same. Directly trading attacks isn't my strength. Her swordsmanship is also at the Third Stage. Li Yuan's spear technique changed instantly. I need to be careful.

The spear abruptly retracted. Rather than taking the initiative to attack, he shifted to holding the spear across his body to block.

At the same time, Li Yuan began moving, using his footwork to deflect the force.

Clang! Clang! Sword light and spear shadows flickered and collided. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged more than ten moves.

"How are his footwork and foundation so stable?" Lin Lanyue was also shocked. When I used the move Sea of Fire Sinking Boat, he actually redirected its force with a single spear movement.

To Lin Lanyue, Li Yuan, wholly focused on defense, was like a turtle.

She simply could not break through.

"So fast!"

"In this sort of clash, Lin Lanyue is attacking sword after sword. How is Li Yuan blocking it?"

"That's insane!"

"His footwork is so exquisite."

"Li Yuan's spear technique is so steady." Most of the student spectators watched in astonishment.

Most of them had watched higher-level streamed duels and recorded battles.

But subconsciously, they believed those people were martial arts experts. Their classmates were not supposed to be this strong.

"Do you know what it means to be first in the grade in Martial Arts Technique?"

"I said long ago that Lin Lanyue was no match for Brother Yuan."

"Brother Yuan, hurry up and take her down."

"Brother Yuan's big spear has always had plenty of stamina!"

"Brother Yuan can block several moves even from Xu Ban's attacks. What's Lin Lanyue in comparison?"

The students of Class 2, Grade 3 shouted excitedly.

Their skills were not high, but they understood one simple martial arts principle: the side that attacked for a long time without success usually exhausted more stamina.

"His defense really is good."

"This swordsmanship should have evolved from Sea of Fire Sinking Boat. Its attacks are fierce and powerful." Principal Tan commented as well, somewhat amazed. "Li Yuan actually blocked it. His spear technique truly is steady. He must have comprehended a defensive killing move."

"Xu Bo, you've taught yourself a fine disciple." Principal Tan smiled.

"Old Tan, since you've said so, hurry up and approve his First-Class Financial Aid." Xu Bo smiled.

Principal Tan immediately shut his mouth.

"Hm?" Xu Bo smiled and said nothing more, continuing to watch. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, then he shook his head repeatedly. "Lin Lanyue was careless."

On the arena, Lin Lanyue continuously unleashed her swordsmanship. Her sword was like surging flames, pressing forward step by step.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Li Yuan's spear either swept sideways, hooked and cleaved, retreated with footwork, or occasionally thrust straight ahead to force her back.

Lin Lanyue was never able to get close.

After cultivating the move Bedrock Pillar, when Li Yuan focused wholeheartedly on defense, he had already gained the bearing of being as steady as a rock.

Fifty-seventh sword.

Li Yuan counted silently. She's been attacking the whole time, and her stamina consumption is huge. The momentum of her sword is weakening.

She's getting anxious.

In a life-and-death battle, once someone gets anxious, mistakes become easy. Wait.

On the fifty-ninth sword, Li Yuan keenly caught a subtle change in the force of her swordsmanship.

The sixty-third sword.

Whoosh! The sword light blazed like fire, swift and incomparably fierce.

Lin Lanyue continued her ferocious assault, determined to break Li Yuan's defense. Her swordsmanship was sharp, but without realizing it, she had relaxed her own defense somewhat.

After all, from beginning to end, Li Yuan had never attacked. He had only defended.

Now! Li Yuan's eyes abruptly lit up.

Boom!

Li Yuan completely ignored Lin Lanyue's sword. The spear in his hand suddenly trembled, like a colossal dragon hidden amid ten thousand rocky ravines, erupting in a fierce straight thrust.

Spear technique killing move—Hidden Dragon in the Rocky Ravine!

"Not good!" Lin Lanyue instantly sensed something wrong. Li Yuan's aura had changed in an instant, as though a sleeping beast had bared its fangs.

Its force was terrifying.

There's no time to retreat. Lin Lanyue recognized that, cold light bursting from her eyes as she hesitated not in the slightest.

Instead of retreating, she swung her sword forward in an even fiercer thrust.

Thud!!

The spear was like a dragon. It pierced through her armor and directly penetrated Lin Lanyue's chest. Blood streamed down as her body instantly dissolved into nothingness.

Light armor could not block Li Yuan's big spear at all.

Riiip!

The next instant, the violent longsword also struck Li Yuan's shoulder, spraying blood into the air.

Clang— The longsword fell to the ground.

Only the injured Li Yuan remained on the arena.

"The spear is longer than the sword, so I gained an extra 0.1 seconds to react." Li Yuan shook his head, then a faint smile appeared on his face.

"One minute, and 2,000 Blue Star Coins were in the bag."

"Felt amazing!"

(End of chapter)