“What about the others?” Director Zhou’s gaze swept over the other deputy directors. “Lao Fang, you’ve been in charge of martial arts for many years. What do you say?”

The refined middle-aged man, Fang Hong, nodded and said, “I support selecting Xu Jingming.”

Everyone else listened as he explained his reasons.

“As everyone knows, the Blue Star civilization will face incredible challenges in the future,” Fang Hong said. “Our Xia country’s strongest expert shouldn’t just be the strongest at his level. He must constantly break through, break through, and become an increasingly powerful life form!”

“Breakthroughs in the level of life depend on realm,” Fang Hong said. “Only by breaking through in the realm of skill can one reach a new level with the evolutionary method.”

“Currently, the two youngest third-tier experts in our Xia country are Fang Yu and Xu Jingming, and neither of them has received any cultivation. Comparing the two, Xu Jingming’s realm has grown significantly faster after reaching the third tier. As of now, his spearmanship has broken through to 56% of the third tier, while Fang Yu’s footwork has not yet broken through, and his halberd technique is only at 21% of the third tier.”

“Looking at the current third-tier experts in the country, Xu Jingming’s skill growth is the fastest! Of course, Liu Hai is the most comprehensive, having reached 99% of the third tier in all aspects. I am most optimistic about these two in terms of skill realm,” Fang Hong said. “I think we should pay more attention to the skill realm. Once the realm breaks through, it will be a different level of life. Talking about 103% compatibility won’t mean much.”

Director Zhou nodded. “Lao Fang’s meaning is very clear. What about the others?”

“Fang Yu is only twenty years old and has reached the third tier on his own without any cultivation. He is also very good in terms of realm,” Deputy Director Zhang Tongfang said. “It’s just that he hasn’t experienced as much tempering as Xu Jingming, and his life experience is not enough. When he is twenty-nine years old, his comprehension will probably not be inferior to Xu Jingming. And you also know… breakthroughs in the level of life become more and more difficult as you go on. Xu Jingming and Fang Yu will likely stay at the same height limit. I think cultivating Fang Yu is more stable.”

“I choose Xu Jingming,” Deputy Director Liang Qian said. “There’s no such thing as stability. Our Xia country will cultivate generations of experts. Liu Hai, Xu Jingming, and the others are the first generation after the virtual world opened. In ten years, the teenagers who are only allowed to fight with their bare hands will also grow up. Their foundation is more solid, and once they come into contact with weapons, they will grow faster. There will be a second generation of geniuses emerging. Second generation, third generation… generations will emerge!”

“This cultivation of ours, the first name on the list, is the most intensive cultivation. Are we just looking for strength at the same level?” Deputy Director Liang Qian shook her head. “There will be many generations of experts emerging in the future. What we need most now is the most powerful life form! The stronger, the better!”

“The entire Blue Star doesn’t dare to hope too far. Our Xia country should be more down-to-earth,” Wang Shuqi said.

Zhang Tongfang nodded. “The cost for the first choice on this list is very high. We must be cautious and stable.”

“With Xu Jingming’s growth rate, he won’t be weak, and he’s also very stable,” Deputy Director Liang Qian said.

“Sometimes, you have to be a little bolder,” Fang Hong said with a smile. “Maybe there will be a miracle?”

The four deputy directors argued.

Director Zhou nodded and said, “The initial batch of cultivation plans was limited because it was difficult to understand the domestic situation. It was only aimed at those who had achieved success in fighting. The intensity of cultivation was limited! The second batch… was selected nationwide after the virtual world opened. This time, the top three have a lot of cultivation, and the first place has unprecedented cultivation. I can understand that everyone is cautious. But if we can’t give a plan, we can only let the highest authorities decide.”

The four deputy directors looked at each other and insisted on their own opinions.

“No matter who I choose, I can’t get the approval of all four,” Director Zhou nodded and said, “Then the first and second candidates will be tentatively set. The five of us need to write our own opinions. Submit them to the highest authorities for decision.”

“Okay,” the four deputy directors nodded.

“The top two will definitely be chosen from Xu Jingming and Fang Yu. Then the third place, Zhao Fan, does anyone have any objections?” Director Zhou said.

“No objection.”

“It’s him.”

“He has never been exposed to martial arts before, and he can defeat some martial arts masters in just over a month. He’s only eighteen years old. His talent is really high.”

The four deputy directors all agreed.

“Next are the seventeen people, the thirty people selected by the virtual world in the big data. Let’s vote to decide. Each person chooses seventeen… sorted according to the number of votes,” Director Zhou said.

That day, the Life Evolution Bureau submitted the detailed information of the twenty-person list to the highest authorities. Only the most important first and second places were not determined. The candidates were Xu Jingming and Fang Yu.

******

In the morning, Xu Jingming and Li Miaomiao’s family gathered together to have breakfast and celebrate the victory of the Fireseed Cup.

Although Xu Jingming didn’t win the championship, Xu Hong did!

“The final of the Fireseed Cup ended in the early hours of this morning. The Liu Hai Senior Team led by Liu Hai won the championship. The Pearwood Team led by Xu Jingming won the second place.” On the light screen in the living room, the morning news was playing.

“I’m done eating. I’m going to the virtual world first,” Xu Jingming stood up.

“You kid, why are you in such a hurry after the competition?” Xu Hong said.

“I have to quickly review the battle with my master,” Xu Jingming said, smiling at his family. “Everyone, take your time eating.” He immediately went to the bedroom.

The other family members were not in a hurry.

Li Miaomiao sat on the sofa, watched the news for a while, and changed the channel.

“This Fireseed Cup has produced a batch of young experts. Like Xu Jingming, Wang Yi, Fang Yu, and others, although the championship was still won by Liu Hai’s team, it is undeniable that the strength of these young people is there.” This was a talk show, and the host and two guests were chatting casually.

“Xu Jingming can be regarded as the leader of the younger generation in Xia country today. When he broke his leg in the arena that year, I felt sorry for him and thought his martial arts future was ruined. Who would have thought that he would return to the arena a few years later. Now he is shining brightly and is known throughout the country.”

“Xu Jingming is very good domestically, but experts at his level have to look at the world. Compared with the world’s top experts, we have to admit that Xu Jingming’s strength is still a bit lacking.”

“Yes, the fight with Liu Hai, the fight with Lei Yunfang, can all be seen… Xu Jingming was completely suppressed in a one-on-one fight.”

“The current fourth in the Star List is only twenty years old. The newly broken seventh in the world is only thirty-two years old. Compared with these top experts in the world, Xu Jingming still needs to work harder.”

Li Miaomiao frowned as she watched the show.

“You have to keep a calm mind,” Li Chen’an also sat next to his daughter and said, “After all, the Star List is the world’s top experts. Don’t always compare yourself with the strongest. It’s too much pressure. Compare yourself with yourself. As long as you keep improving and becoming stronger, that’s good.”

Li Miaomiao nodded. “I understand. Jingming has always worked hard.”

…

Personal space training field.

Xu Jingming carefully watched the battle scene that appeared in front of him. It was the slow-motion replay of the final battle, the fight between him and his master.

“I attacked with all my strength, but my master blocked it with a single saber,” Xu Jingming watched. “Before, Zhang Qing’s twin swords attacked wildly, but my master blocked it with a single saber. If every move is thought out, it’s too late. My master reacts instinctively.”

Xu Jingming’s eyes lit up. “That’s right, turn all moves into instinct.”

“Each of my moves is already very fast when looked at individually,” Xu Jingming watched carefully, the slow-motion video of the fight between him and his master. “But now it seems that common moves have become instinctive, but the connection of some moves is a bit slow. I can’t be like my master, who has turned all moves into instinct.”

“In my master’s eyes, there may be no moves anymore. In his eyes, there are only the enemy’s flaws! His hand naturally uses moves to deal with that flaw.”

“No moves in the heart, all moves become instinct.” Xu Jingming vaguely saw his master’s realm.

Just like people walking, they don’t think about whether to step with their left leg or right leg first.

Just like typing, when you think of a word, your hands naturally type out a few characters.

When fighting, you only need to think about attacking the enemy here, and instinct will use the most suitable moves, one move after another, terrifyingly fast.

“Let me try…” Xu Jingming began to simulate opponents and try this fighting style.

After the final, he had been reviewing the battle, watching the slow-motion video, constantly reflecting, and improving his skills.

After the review, he planned to go to the Star Tower.