High Martial Arts Era

Chapter 165: Transcendent Rank! Number One in the World!

On the aircraft.

"Li Yang, what exactly is going on? Why did Dean Hai want us to head to Jiangcheng immediately to see Li Yuan?" Dean Xu frowned.

She had other important matters to attend to but was suddenly called away.

The key issue was that Dean Hai only explained the situation to Li Yang and then instructed her to follow Li Yang's orders. She was naturally displeased since she didn't know the specifics.

"It's good news."

"But we need to meet Li Yuan to confirm it," Li Yang said with a mysterious smile. "Don't worry, we'll be there in a few hours."

Li Yang was already quite excited.

He couldn't forget the scene when Dean Hai told him about this.

"Li Yuan is suspected to have achieved Unity of Heaven and Man," Dean Hai had said calmly, as if everything was under control. "Go with Dean Xu to Jiangcheng to verify it."

Unity of Heaven and Man.

When Li Yang first heard this news, his shock was indescribable. He even doubted his own ears.

My goodness!

Li Yang had spent decades cultivating, struggling to break through to the fifth stage, and was praised by countless people.

And Li Yuan? How old was he?

"If it's true, advancing from the third stage to the fifth stage in just a year and a half?" Li Yang murmured to himself. "That progress speed is too incredible, even more astonishing than Fang Hai back then."

"But."

"He's my student, my disciple," Li Yang's eyes were bright with anticipation.

...

Li Yuan had no idea that his sudden burst in the Starry Sky Combat Network's "virtual battle" had caused such a huge sensation.

After all, it wasn't a Transcendent Rank promotion match, and he ultimately lost that battle.

Li Yuan had exited the virtual network and returned to the underground martial arts room.

Holding the Black Star Spear.

"The spear is like a dragon," Li Yuan gripped the spear tightly, silently feeling the flow of force within the spear, meticulously detailed, with no obstructions.

It could be said that Li Yuan and his spear were now truly one, far beyond mere "man and weapon as one."

"The virtual network's simulation of fifth-stage skills only reaches 50%, not a full hundred percent," Li Yuan's eyes were bright. "To truly practice the spear, it must be real."

The real world is the foundation.

The vast power of the real world is boundless; the virtual network is merely a simulation.

"Whoosh!"

Li Yuan moved his spear. His spear techniques had fundamentally changed. The spear tip emitted dazzling light, like the brilliance of flowing stars.

Vaguely, it seemed as if starlight intertwined, magnificent and splendid.

At this moment, Li Yuan truly felt a glimpse of the second level of the "Star Intent"—"Stardust," immersing himself fully in the spear technique.

As the spear shadows transformed, Li Yuan could vaguely sense a strange essence of the universe being captured, the intrinsic mysteries of the universe's operations.

The spear technique followed this essence, making the spear's power more terrifying and the spear speed faster.

An all-around enhancement.

Each thrust! When it exploded, it seemed like stars shattering, grand and unstoppable.

Each retraction! When it contracted, it was as vast as the earth, solid and unbreakable.

This was the second level of the "Star Intent"—"Stardust."

It could attack, it could defend, it could be majestic, and it could be minute.

"Unity of Heaven and Man! The Intent of the Stars!" Li Yuan increasingly understood the true meaning of the Unity of Heaven and Man.

Before the fifth stage, martial artists excavated their bodily power, making their bodies explode faster and fiercer.

From the fifth stage onward, it's about pushing the body to the extreme, striving to align every move with the intrinsic trajectories of the universe.

It's like two people with the same physical quality, but the one with higher skills will naturally be much stronger.

And the fifth-stage skill is about aligning the mind and body with the universe.

People exist within the universe.

The mysteries of the universe are the Dao.

"If it weren't for the 'Star Intent,' and the guidance and teaching of Teacher Li Yang and Dean Xu, I couldn't have taken this step so quickly," Li Yuan practiced smoothly.

Comprehension must come from oneself.

But with the experience of predecessors, standing on the shoulders of giants, one can move faster and more steadily.

"Compared to half a month ago."

"My speed and power have increased significantly, and my spear and body techniques have transformed," Li Yuan thought to himself. "If I encounter that second-tier Fish Spirit again, I could hold it off by myself."

Of course.

Li Yuan wasn't arrogant enough to think he could now defeat a second-tier powerhouse... The second-tier Fish Spirit he fought was just a fresh breakthrough without source power armor or weapons, the weakest kind of second-tier alien.

After practicing for a long time.

"[Your spear technique realm has increased from Level 5, 1% to Level 5, 2%]" a notification from the Mind Palace suddenly flashed.

Li Yuan didn't pay much attention, fully immersed in his practice.

After more than an hour, Li Yuan finally stopped, feeling immensely refreshed.

"When practicing the spear, I unconsciously entered the state of Unity of Heaven and Man, with the universe's power nourishing the soul and the source power washing over the body," Li Yuan instantly understood what happened, marveling inwardly. "Making me feel no fatigue."

"It's said that once you achieve Unity of Heaven and Man, you don't need to sleep or rest... It seems to be true."

For martial artists in the Unity of Heaven and Man.

Entering this state during daily practice is a form of rest.

Suddenly.

Li Yuan remembered Dean Hai once saying, "Fishing and enjoying are also forms of practice."

Back then, Li Yuan didn't understand.

Now, Li Yuan somewhat understood. Eating, fishing, walking, birds flying, lake waves rippling... Everything in the universe contains the mysteries of nature.

But ordinary people are too dull to perceive it.

"Living beings are born only able to control themselves," Li Yuan thought. "Gradually controlling oneself, then extending outwards... sensing the universe."

"I'm just beginning the Unity of Heaven and Man."

"I must practice the spear or spend long periods in quiet contemplation to align my mind with the universe," Li Yuan thought.

"Next, I must strive to make my daily life and spear practice as harmonious with the universe's operations as possible... Until one day, I and the universe are one."

Mind merges with the universe!

Body merges with the universe!

I am the universe!

...

Suddenly.

"Hmm?" Li Yuan turned sharply, seeing the figure standing by the stairs.

"Muhua, when did you get here?" Li Yuan smiled.

"I've been here a while." Li Muhua's eyes were bright. "Brother, your spear technique just now was so beautiful. I've never seen such beautiful spear technique before."

"Compared to your spear technique, our teacher's spear technique is just trash."

Li Yuan couldn't help but laugh. Most middle school martial arts teachers only have a skill level of around the third stage.

How could they compare to him?

"Don't aim too high too soon. The spear has no fixed form; my spear technique has no set pattern. You can't learn it now," Li Yuan said with a smile. "First, work hard to master the Rock Fist Technique and then the basic spear techniques."

"When your realm is enough, I'll arrange for a good teacher to teach you," Li Yuan said.

"Okay, brother, I will work hard." Li Muhua nodded heavily, full of determination.

"Brother."

"Mom asked me to bring you breakfast and milk. I'll leave it here," Li Muhua said with a grin. "I won't disturb your practice."

He put down the milk and quickly went upstairs.

"Milk." Li Yuan smiled, taking a sip.

It had no special taste.

But it warmed Li Yuan's heart.

"Muhua's martial talent is indeed much higher than Qianqian's," Li Yuan thought. "And his perseverance is strong."

As they grew older, the differences between his siblings became more apparent.

Perhaps because her martial spirit hadn't awakened, Li Qianqian preferred academic studies.

On the other hand, Li Muhua had high martial talent and trained diligently.

Due to different experiences, Li Muhua lacked the "craziness" Li Yuan had in his early training but had more steadiness and composure, with his own ideas and plans.

Li Yuan was pleased with this.

"People become stronger through hardships, but we shouldn't glorify suffering," Li Yuan thought. "I trained so hard back then to give Qianqian and Muhua more choices and to face everything more calmly as they grew up."

"Whatever they choose in the future, as long as it's positive, I will support them."

"I, as their brother, will always have their backs." Li Yuan didn't demand his siblings achieve great things.

...

Logging back into the Starry Sky Combat Network.

"Master, you're back so soon," the fairy-like AI girl said excitedly.

Li Yuan ignored her and checked his rank data:

Ranked Matches: Eclipse Rank.

Points: 982 (1000 points to qualify for a promotion match)

Ranked Win Rate: 75%

...

"Having stabilized my spear technique, with both body and spear techniques at the fifth stage, I should attempt to break into the Transcendent Rank," Li Yuan thought calmly, with a hint of anticipation.

The nine ranks of the Starry Sky Combat Network, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, are primarily for ordinary people and first-tier martial artists.

Meteor, Bright Moon, and Eclipse ranks are for second-tier martial artists, considered experts.

Transcendent Rank requires fifth-stage skills. Globally, those who reach this rank are extremely rare, either exceptional geniuses or top-tier source martial artists.

"Two more ranked matches."

"Then I'll take the promotion match." Li Yuan clicked to start the rank match.

...

This time, the match-making process was exceptionally long, but Li Yuan was patient.

Twelve minutes later, the two ranked matches ended.

Li Yuan won easily. The comprehensive breakthrough in his spear and body techniques allowed him to crush other Eclipse Rank experts.

"Enter the Transcendent Promotion Match." Li Yuan stood on the platform and spoke loudly.

...

Boom!

Li Yuan's consciousness trembled slightly, and then the world changed. He found himself in a vast wilderness.

"Level 20 physical fitness? Source martial artist?" Li Yuan instantly sensed the change in his body.

An unprecedentedly powerful body, with pure source power that he could mobilize.

The source power battle suit covered his entire body, and he held a source power weapon.

This was the standard for human source martial artists.

"Hiss~"

"Hiss~" The opponents he faced finally appeared. Giant serpents with blood-red wings emerged on the wilderness.

Each was nearly twenty meters long, their heads raised four to five meters high, flicking their tongues, all massive creatures.

"Blood-winged Serpents? All second-tier?" Li Yuan was slightly surprised, seeing the few black scales on the serpents.

Back then.

In Kunlun Martial University's practical assessment, he had killed a Blood-winged Serpent, but it was only Level 14.

Compared to second-tier Blood-winged Serpents, it was a world of difference.

"Ha, let's fight." Li Yuan suddenly laughed, activating the source power within him.

Boom!

He darted out like lightning, his spear imbued with source power, sharp and boundless.

"Swish!" "Swish!" "Swish!"

The enormous Blood-winged Serpents charged at Li Yuan.

...

This battle was exceptionally fierce, with Li Yuan fighting against more than ten Blood-winged Serpents.

His spear techniques were sharp, each strike wounding the serpents.

But these serpents were formidable, physically superior to Li Yuan, and outnumbered him.

Often, Li Yuan severely injured one serpent, only to be forced back by others.

After a grueling battle lasting over 20 minutes, Li Yuan, using his superior body techniques, managed to kill all the Blood-winged Serpents before exhausting his source power.

"Congratulations, Defender Yuan. You have passed the Transcendent Promotion Match and reached the Transcendent Rank," the system notification sounded in Li Yuan's ears.

Before Li Yuan could process it.

Whoosh!

The surrounding scene changed. The blood-stained source power battle suit and weapon disappeared, and Li Yuan found himself in a bright space.

"What is this?" Li Yuan was momentarily stunned.

In front of him stood a woman in white.

"Congratulations, Li Yuan, on becoming the first freshman this year on Blue Planet to break through to the Transcendent Rank," the woman in white said with a smile.

"First?" Li Yuan smiled. "Does that mean I'm number one globally?"

"Yes."

"Considered number one for this year," the woman in white emphasized.

"That's enough." Li Yuan's smile grew. "Tantai Feng, I've surpassed you."

"Next time, I'll fulfill my promise to Tian Dazhuang and show off in front of you."