On the fourth floor of Cosmos Tower, in the silent valley surrounded by mountains, a large number of trees broke apart. The ground was covered in cracks, and dozens of mountain walls in the distance were fractured. Many rocks tumbled down the valley.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A dark-red afterimage collided with a similarly red figure repeatedly. The moment their weapons collided, they collided again.
After three consecutive collisions, the dark-red afterimage flashed back and landed on the wrecked grassland—it was Xu Jingming with his armor caved in. His face was pale, and there was blood trickling down the corner of his mouth. The spear in his hand was also stained with blood.
Across him, the ape king held a staff. Its slightly red fur fluttered in the wind, but its eyes were staring at Xu Jingming angrily. There was a wound on its chest that was dyed red with blood.
What a ferocious ape king. Xu Jingming glanced at the caved-in armor and felt his fractured ribs. Although he could temporarily control his injuries at his level, he only had 70% of his strength left.
Although Beam Transformation Spear is fierce and domineering, and I have fast footwork, pressing forward without giving me a way out doesn't work when facing the ape king, who is equally fierce and fast. The ape king's body is much stronger than mine.
I have a Transcendent 12% body, and the ape king probably has a Transcendent 50% body, Xu Jingming guessed. Moreover, its staff technique is extremely brilliant. Beam Transformation Spear Technique can barely injure it, but to defeat it? It's not enough!
It's a pity that my Astral Spear hasn't broken through to Lv. 4. If I had broken through completely and used the two spear techniques to verify each other, I should've been able to improve quite a bit, Xu Jingming thought.
Now, he could easily finish off the other apes on the Cosmos Tower's fourth floor. There was only the ape king left.
"We'll fight again another time," Xu Jingming said and tapped out.
The ape king's figure flashed, and it instantly arrived where Xu Jingming was. The staff projection stabbed through the spot where Xu Jingming was, but the latter had already disappeared.
Roar!
The ape king looked around and roared furiously.
He actually fled!
In reality, on the bed in a bedroom.
Xu Jingming took off his VR headset and looked at his side—it was empty.
Miaomiao woke up so early? Xu Jingming got up, left the bedroom, and walked down the stairs to the living room downstairs. He stood in the living room and saw his girlfriend cooking breakfast in the kitchen.
"Miaomiao, why are you making breakfast yourself?" Xu Jingming walked over.
"I'm angry." As Li Miaomiao made some flatbread, she said, "I got up at three in the morning in rage. Zhang Qing is the female sword immortal in my heart, the strongest swordswoman in China. As someone who also practices swordsmanship, she's my favorite female gladiator. But last night, the Chinese team she led actually lost to the USA team! The more I think about it, the angrier I feel."
"It's just a match. What's there to be angry about?" Xu Jingming walked forward and tapped his girlfriend's shoulder. "Calm down."
"Don't be a hindrance. I'm making flatbread." Li Miaomiao glared at Xu Jingming. "Be a good boy and wait outside."
"I'll just wait for the feast then."
Xu Jingming sat down at the dining table, turned on the projection, and started watching some videos from Global Crossfire.
Combat video after video.
All the experts in the world are improving. Xu Jingming watched. Of the three kings of the martial arts world back then, Lei Yunfang and Kai Saint Mills should be ranked outside the top ten in the world now. Only Alan Emelianenko remains in the world's top few.
This was very normal. In a battle between billions of people, new generations would naturally appear! It was very difficult to stay in the top five globally.
This Miyagawa Meishin from Japan is really strong as a 17-year-old high school student. He should be the number one person in Japan now. Xu Jingming made a judgment as he watched the video. He's better than Kiyori Toichi.
In Global Crossfire, there were only five experts on the Cosmos Ranking who could maintain a perfect string of victories.
Tiger Fussen won nine out of nine battles!
Alan Emelianenko won five out of five battles!
Tejano Xire: Two wins out of two battles!
Halu Singh: Two wins out of two battles!
Miyagawa Meishin: Six wins out of six battles!
These top experts have only fought a few matches over the past five days of Global Crossfire. Some people don't even fight one match a day. Xu Jingming looked at the data. Most of the time, they don't get matched with each other. A perfect string of victories doesn't mean anything. For example, Riven Gullit from the EU has nine wins and one loss. He only lost to Tiger Fussen, but he's still very strong.
"Breakfast is ready." Li Miaomiao happily came out with a plate and placed the breakfast on the table one by one. "Try my cooking."
"Ooh, it smells good." Xu Jingming took a whiff of the flatbread's fragrance and picked up a piece with his chopsticks. He finished half of it in two mouthfuls, wolfing it down quickly.
Li Miaomiao sat down and ate her porridge and flatbread. "Jingming, did you watch the video of the world's experts?"
"I did. A few of them are quite impressive," Xu Jingming said.
"Then, when are you participating in the battles?" Li Miaomiao asked.
"Me?" Xu Jingming ate the flatbread in one bite and picked up another piece of flatbread. "Hmm, I'll fight a battle tonight when I go online."
"You're participating tonight?" Li Miaomiao was surprised. "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
"What do you mean by changing my mind?" Xu Jingming was puzzled.
"You've been engrossed in cultivation since you returned from Binhai and haven't participated in any matches," Li Miaomiao said. "Why did you change your mind today?"
Xu Jingming smiled and said, "I didn't say that I wouldn't participate. I've been cultivating for a long time, so I think it's time for me to hone myself in actual combat. Moreover, I do have a few suitable opponents."
"Yes, yes, yes." Li Miaomiao nodded. "I'll inform our relatives and friends now. Our Team Pearwood's captain… will be participating in another battle. I'll post the news on my social media. Do you have any objections?"
"Go ahead!" Xu Jingming didn't mind.
Countless people would be watching him on Global Crossfire. There was nothing to hide.
"Here it comes! It was suffocating watching Zhang Qing's match, so it's time for my Jingming to shine." Li Miaomiao was in high spirits as she started sending messages on her social media: Our Team Pearwood's captain will be participating in Global Crossfire tonight!
...
China's host, Liu Xin, was in the courtyard where she grew a small orange tree in a flower pot. It had grown more than ten oranges.
Liu Xin happily plucked an orange and skinned it to eat.
"Homegrown oranges are still the best," Liu Xin said.
"Why do I find it sour?" A woman walked out.
"Isn't it delicious being a little sour and sweet?" Liu Xin retorted her mother. Suddenly, she received a notification.
Liu Xin tapped her watch gently, and a projection appeared.
"Liu Xin, you're up at 6 p.m. tonight. Get ready at any time," a middle-aged man said on the projection.
"What happened?" Liu Xin asked.
"Xu Jingming is about to participate in his first Global Crossfire. This battle will definitely be live-streamed," the middle-aged man said.
"Director, how did you know?" Liu Xin was surprised.
"News has been spreading across the livestreams on the spectator platform," the middle-aged man said. "Aren't you friends with Li Miaomiao? Didn't you see the news she posted on her social media?"
"I didn't catch up on my social media." Liu Xin prepared to check.
"You and Li Miaomiao are best friends, right? Go and ask when Xu Jingming will participate in the battle. We can also carry out some pre-hype preparations on our livestream," the middle-aged man said. "We don't want the battle to be over just after we hype up the livestream."
"Alright, I'll ask." Liu Xin nodded.
...
As usual, Xu Jingming practiced the Mental Tempering Art in reality. The more he practiced, the more he felt that this mental tempering method was extraordinary.
In fact, for someone at Xuan's level, just by practicing Life-Nourishing Spear Technique and Mental Tempering Art before the final critical battle of his life, one could understand… that these two techniques were extraordinary.
Night fell.
"Participate in the battle punctually at 8 p.m. tonight. Don't do it early," Li Miaomiao said. "China's official livestream channel will pre-hype the battle for you."
"Alright." Xu Jingming smiled and nodded.
The two of them arrived at the livestream channel early.
China's official livestream channel was already bustling with activity. Liu Xin and the male guest, Jin Fan, hosted it together, and the audience was pouring in—it had just exceeded 100 million viewers.
"Many people are guessing which match will be live-streamed today," Liu Xin said with a smile. "Now, I'll tell everyone… Xu Jingming will be participating in his first Global Crossfire match in five minutes."
"Xu Jingming?"
"Xu Jingming is participating?"
"Wow, I have to tell my parents!"
"Tell all your classmates about Xu Jingming's first Global Crossfire match."
The number of viewers—which had barely reached 100 million—immediately began to rise.
Xu Jingming felt warmth in his heart as he watched Liu Xin and Jin Fan's discussion, the increase in the number of viewers, and the countless comments that supported him.
There are still many people in China who support me, Xu Jingming thought. I have to give them an exciting battle and win beautifully.
"It's 8 p.m.," Li Miaomiao reminded.
Xu Jingming immediately tapped lightly at Global Crossfire in the combat space and joined the queue!
At this moment, Xu Jingming's queue appeared in China's official livestream.
"Xu Jingming has already begun preparing…" Liu Xin looked at the livestream, and her eyes suddenly lit up. "A match has been made! Let's see which country's team we are up against. Typically, teams with similar strength will be matched in the virtual world."
"Team Russia!" Liu Xin immediately said, "The number one person in Russia, Alan Emelianenko, who has won every match! Xu Jingming will be up against Alan Emelianenko, one of the three kings of the martial arts world, in his first Global Crossfire battle. He is also recognized as the strongest of the three kings of the martial arts world!"
Countless audience members exclaimed.
This opponent was too strong. Could Xu Jingming win?
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