High Martial Arts Era

Chapter 130: The Battle of the Newcomers from Ten Schools

"Ten Schools Newcomers' Battle, and I go straight to the second round?" Li Yuan reached out and clicked on the light screen to check the detailed rules of the Ten Schools Newcomers' Battle.

The Ten Schools refer to the top ten prestigious schools in Asia. They include the five major schools of the China, the Eastern Martial University of the Japan, three martial arts universities of the India, and the Lion City(Singapore) Martial Arts University in Southeast Asia, making up the ten prestigious schools.

Actually, these are not all the martial arts schools in Asia, but geographically closer prestigious schools habitually organize regional competitions.

"Virtual battles? So, it's purely a skills competition?" Li Yuan pondered and understood. The prestigious schools are far apart. Hosting a live competition for newcomers would be too expensive. Virtual battles focusing purely on skills are much simpler. As long as they can connect to the internet, students can participate on time from their own schools.

"This year, since the host is China, will they specifically invite three newcomers from outside the ten prestigious schools?" Li Yuan noted a supplementary rule, pondering. For virtual network battles, the host nation is merely nominal. Does this mean there will be three wild card participants?

"To ensure stability, they might choose students from Starlight University or Starry Sky University," Li Yuan thought. The top talents in the participating countries of the Ten Schools competition mostly enter the three top martial arts schools. Thus, whenever the 'host' changes, they should be able to invite wild card participants. If aiming for the championship, regardless of the host country, they will likely invite freshmen from the three top martial arts schools of that country.

"In a sense, this should be considered the catfish effect," Li Yuan mused. "It ensures that students of the ten prestigious schools do not limit themselves but aim higher and farther."

However, Li Yuan didn't care whether these wild card participants were from China or whether there would be students from the three top martial arts schools. "My goal is only one: to defeat all opponents." If he couldn't win even the Ten Schools Newcomers' Battle, how could he compete in next February's Global University Martial Arts Competition? The global competition is open to first, second, and third-year students, featuring true geniuses, including those with five-segment skills. To Li Yuan, the Ten Schools Newcomers' Battle is just a warm-up.

"In the first round, ranking battle, wild card participants and each school's seed players are exempted from the fight," Li Yuan continued to browse the rules: "The ten prestigious schools have about 24,000 newcomers in total." "In the end, only the top 1897 ranked students can enter the second round?" Li Yuan noted. Each school has 10 seed players, plus three wild card participants, making a total of 2000 students entering the second round.

"The first round eliminates over 90% of the students, quite ruthless," Li Yuan murmured and continued reading. The second round, cage battles: 2000 students will each participate in two random cage battles. Each kill earns 1 point, and the last survivor gets an additional 10 points. The top eight scorers in the second round will directly enter the fourth round, the 'Top Sixteen'. The 9th to 136th places in the cage battle will enter the third elimination round.

In the third round, the 9th place will face the 136th place, the 10th place will face the 135th place, and so on. One battle determines the winner, and the process repeats until the remaining eight spots for the 'Top Sixteen' are decided. It's very brutal, with no margin for error.

The fourth round, the 'Top Sixteen' battle, will be freely matched by the system until the top four and the final champion are decided.

"Entering the second round rewards 500,000 Blue Star Coins."

"Entering the third round rewards 2 million Blue Star Coins."

"Entering the fourth round, the 'Top Sixteen' battle, grants a cash reward of 20 million Blue Star Coins."

"The top four will also receive a rare treasure suitable for themselves?" Li Yuan looked at the rewards and felt quite emotional. It was exactly as Dean Li had said, truly generous. Just the rare treasures alone were four in number, and the total cash rewards for all students amounted to over ten billion Blue Star Coins.

Li Yuan clicked to open his wealth column on his smart wristband:

Bank balance: 43.51 million Blue Star Coins

Martial Hall points: 380,000

Martial Hall practice points: 9.42 million

After achieving the 'Bright Moon Rank' on the Starry Sky Combat Network, Li Yuan received a reward of 20 million Blue Star Coins. At his wealthiest, his cash fortune exceeded 56 million Blue Star Coins.

"In August, I spent 5 million Blue Star Coins on High-Source Spirit Spring, and in September, I spent 6 million Blue Star Coins," Li Yuan thought. "In October, I expect to spend even more." Cultivating with the most effective High-Source Spirit Spring consumes money like water. To maintain such a high-speed cultivation, massive resources are needed. "Over 40 million may seem like a lot, but it might not be enough for half a year of my cultivation," Li Yuan shook his head. "When I venture into the Star Realm, I'll need to buy various weapons and equipment, which will cost even more."

Money is needed everywhere. "In October, the cash and Martial Hall points from the A-level contract with the Starlight Martial Hall will be credited in two weeks," Li Yuan thought. But it will only be 7.2 million in cash and 7.2 million in Martial Hall points. Therefore, Li Yuan is determined to win the 20 million cash prize from the Ten Schools Newcomers' Battle. "My goal is first place. I want both the 20 million Blue Star Coins and the rare treasure," Li Yuan longed. Cash is crucial, and the rare treasure is priceless to him at this stage.

"The first round is on October 4th."

"The second round is on October 5th." Li Yuan glanced at the schedule: "Continue to practice." Li Yuan remembered Mr. Xu Bo's words: "The most important thing in any competition or exam is not how seriously you take it at the moment, but the accumulation and effort of every single day beforehand."

Li Yuan focused on diligently practicing every day. If he surpassed his past self each day, he might find that when he truly faced opponents, there would be none left to challenge him.

That night, Li Yuan wasn't the only one receiving the notification. All freshmen from the five major schools of China, whether practicing at school or on vacation outside, received the news. This was a rare super competition for all freshmen, naturally causing a stir. Many students were eager to show their strength, aiming to advance to the second or even the third round for the high rewards.

Similarly, the five major schools of the other three countries also received the news from their respective schools.

That day, Li Yuan took a rare break and finished his practice at 11:30 PM the night before. He resumed practice at 12:20 AM, continuing until 10 AM. After that, he leisurely took a low-altitude aircraft to the Black Tortoise Building. It was October 3rd, and students who had taken the National Day holiday had returned to school. As Li Yuan passed by the Black Dragon Building, he saw Dean Li Yang 'lecturing' hundreds of freshmen from the six institutes in the square, encouraging them to strive to advance to the second round and win the 500,000 Blue Star Coins.

As for the third round? With only 136 slots in total, averaging ten per school, it was unrealistic for most students. Goals should be practical. Shortly, Li Yuan arrived at the Black Tortoise Building. It was mostly empty, with few people around, mainly second-year students attending classes. Li Yuan headed straight to a conference room on the sixth floor.

"Li Yuan is here."

"Li Yuan."

"Senior Brother." Nearly a hundred people in the conference room turned to Li Yuan, with over a dozen students from the six institutes standing up involuntarily.

"Li Yuan is here?" The young female teacher on the podium also looked at Li Yuan.

"Sorry for being late, teacher," Li Yuan said with a smile.

"There's still a minute left, so you're not late," the teacher replied with a smile. "Sit in the front row."

Li Yuan nodded and sat down in an empty seat in the first row, next to Wu Luo, who smiled at him.

Li Yuan was the last to arrive.

"Okay, everyone," the female teacher said calmly. "You are the elite selected by our Kunlun Martial University. At least you have perfected the third-segment skills. With your abilities, you have the hope of advancing to the third or even fourth round. We gathered you here to explain the strong opponents you might face." The teacher waved her hand, and the light screen behind her fluctuated. "First, let me introduce the three wild card participants sent by China this time."

"Tantai Feng, Yu Ming, Guan Ying."

"All from Starlight University," the teacher said slowly. "There is very little information about these three, with no recent combat videos available."

"Only some battle videos before their college entrance exams are available, which are of limited reference value."

"However, one thing is certain: they have all reached the Bright Moon Rank on the Starry Sky Combat Network."

Instantly, the classroom was in an uproar. Bright Moon Rank? Among nearly a hundred people in the classroom, less than ten had reached the Meteor Rank.

"Bright Moon Rank?" Li Yuan squinted his eyes. Indeed, Bright Moon Rank indicates at least four-segment high-level skills. With Starlight University's headquarters in China, they produced three super experts.

Li Yuan also understood why all three were from Starlight University. Among the three martial halls, Starlight Martial Hall has the closest relationship with China, followed by Starry Sky Martial Hall, and finally Black Stone Martial Hall, which doesn't even have a branch in China. Therefore, unless contracted by Starry Sky Martial Hall, the top martial arts talents in China tend to enter Starlight University, with fewer going to Black Stone University.

"In direct confrontation, besides Li Yuan, the other students are unlikely to be opponents," the female teacher said directly. "Only Li Yuan has a chance to win."

Many students couldn't help but look at Li Yuan, including Wu Luo and Yang Hong. After the entrance competition and practical assessments, all freshmen knew Li Yuan was strong, but how strong they didn't know. After all, the surveillance videos of Li Yuan's practical assessments would not be leaked.

Facing the teacher's praise, Li Yuan remained calm and indifferent.

"The rest of you, in the cage battle phase, if you encounter these three, try to avoid them as much as possible," the teacher continued. Besides the wild card participants, the teacher introduced elite students from the other nine prestigious schools. Li Yuan listened quietly, taking note of the information. A lion fights a rabbit with all its might; Li Yuan never underestimated his opponents.

In India, at a prestigious martial arts school:

"Gaurav, your talent is no less than the top geniuses in Black Stone University. This time, your goal is to reach the top four and obtain the rare treasure," said a middle-aged teacher.

"Understood," replied the dark-skinned young man with bright eyes.

At the same time, in a small conference room in a building at Starlight University:

"This time, the host is China," said an old man in a black robe, looking at three students. "The school is sending you three as wild card participants."

"Firstly, because you are all from China. Although Salvatore and others are as strong as you, they are from other countries and cannot participate."

"As top students of Starlight University, you represent the university's face."

"Your opponents are just students from ordinary schools."

"Therefore, the goal is clear: all of you must reach the top four and take the final first place," the old man said. "Winning brings not only honor but also great benefits."

The two men and one woman nodded slightly, not worried. As top freshmen at Starlight University, they saw the 20 million Blue Star Coins and rare treasures as almost a given. Besides students from Starry Sky University and Black Stone University, they didn't consider other martial arts university students as threats.

"Don't be complacent. Among the ten schools' newcomers, Gaurav from India and Li Yuan from our country's Kunlun Martial University are your main competitors," the old man said.