Chapter 372 The Two Teams

Amidst nationwide anticipation, the third round of the competition was about to begin. Half an hour before the start, the Xia Country's official livestream already had a huge audience.

On the stands, the Pearwood team's six members sat together.

"Captain," Wang Yi said with a smile, "these days, various programs call you and Fang Yu the two most talented geniuses in Xia Country. Among the top experts in Xia Country, you and Fang Yu are the youngest. You are twenty-nine, and he is twenty."

Heng Fang also said, "Various programs say that whoever wins this match can be called the number one genius in Xia Country."

"He's younger than me," Xu Jingming shook his head. "I also have many years of experience as a professional martial artist, while he's a folk martial artist. Even if I win… it can only prove that my current strength is stronger than his. I'm not qualified to be considered the number one genius."

"But Fang Yu has also been practicing martial arts since he was a child, with a solid foundation," Yang Qingshuo said. "One month of the virtual world is worth several years of professional martial arts training. We can't say he lacks experience."

"There's no need to talk about potential or genius."

Xu Jingming said, "Those are all empty words. I only believe in the strength one displays. Like my master, Liu Hai, he's currently number one in the world! Maybe in half a year, he'll still be number one in the world."

"In terms of strength, I'm still a bit behind my master and Senior Lei Yunfang," Xu Jingming said calmly.

…

On another part of the stands, the Fang Yu team's six members were also present.

"Our team's weakness is the lack of a marksman," a middle-aged man said. "The opponent has Wang Yi, a marksman. We have to find a way to avoid their advantage; otherwise, Yu'er won't have a chance to compete fairly against Xu Jingming."

"With Wang Yi's arrows constantly targeting him, Little Fang Yu can only display seventy percent of his strength when facing Xu Jingming," Liu Jianfeng nodded. "The few of us have to think of a way to eliminate Wang Yi, even if it costs us our lives. The remaining warriors pose no threat to Little Fang Yu."

"Dad, uncle, martial uncle, grandmaster," Fang Yu said, "Don't worry, with my breakthrough in the evolutionary method, I can run faster than Wang Yi even in heavy armor! Killing Wang Yi is not difficult."

"Listen to your grandmaster," Fang Yu's father glared.

"I'll directly challenge Xu Jingming one-on-one later. Let's see if he has the guts to accept," Fang Yu said directly.

"This kid…" Liu Jianfeng smiled, he still liked Fang Yu very much.

Fang Yu's father said, "Yu'er, our lineage is considered the strongest Xingyi lineage in the country. Many people in the circle are watching us, so we have to create conditions for you to at least have a fair fight with Xu Jingming and show the style of our Xingyi."

"What era is it? It's all about embracing everything now! Don't always think about Xingyi," Fang Yu retorted to his father. "Xu Jingming also has Bajiquan, Chuo Jiao, and even learned Tai Chi from Senior Liu Hai."

"You…" Fang Yu's father glared but didn't know how to refute.

"Alright, alright, Little Fang Yu is right. Don't be too concerned about Xingyi or not," Liu Jianfeng said with a smile. "Liu Hai is a good example; he absorbs everything that's useful to him. Little Fang Yu, just fight to your heart's content and give it your all."

"Yes," Fang Yu responded.

He was most convinced by his grandmaster!

******

Yinghuo Star (Mars).

This was a planet where Blue Star humans had discovered a large number of alien relics. Currently, spacecraft were suspended in the sky above Yinghuo Star. Dozens of spacecraft resembled a cosmic fleet, each bearing the Blue Star Alliance flag.

One of the spacecraft also bore the Xia Country flag alongside the Blue Star Alliance flag.

Inside the ship.

A middle-aged man walked through the corridor.

"Professor."

"Professor."

The other researchers who encountered him in the corridor all respected the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man glanced at the display screen in the corridor, which was broadcasting a program from Blue Star.

"Little Wu," the middle-aged man said.

"Professor," a young researcher immediately stepped forward, listening attentively.

"This Xu Jingming and Fang Yu, I've heard their names countless times today. Are they the two most famous geniuses in the country right now?" the middle-aged man asked.

The young researcher nodded. "Yes, they're both very strong and the youngest among the strongest. One is twenty-nine, and the other is only twenty. Their potential is limitless."

"Limitless potential?" the middle-aged man nodded slightly and continued walking.

He walked along the corridor, passing through one area after another.

Soon, he arrived at his private area.

A huge sphere appeared before him. The middle-aged man walked to the floating sphere, which opened a door. The middle-aged man stepped inside, and the door closed.

Inside the sphere.

About ten meters in diameter, the middle-aged man stood in the center. Rays of light floated within the spherical structure.

"Connect," the middle-aged man commanded.

Buzz!

The middle-aged man's consciousness rapidly sank.

He arrived before a massive network structure.

"Enter the Blue Star virtual world," the middle-aged man issued a command.

Buzz—

His consciousness rapidly plunged toward the virtual world representing Blue Star.

"Welcome home, Professor Wang," the virtual world offered no resistance.

After entering the virtual world, Professor Wang easily found the spectator platform and arrived at the Xia Country's official livestream.

On the stands in the livestream.

Professor Wang appeared, looking at the hosts on the stage and the dense crowd of viewers, all of whom were his fellow countrymen.

"How lively," Professor Wang said with a smile.

"Hm?"

On another part of the stands, Director Zhou was sitting with Pang Yun's father. Director Zhou had extremely high privileges and immediately noticed Professor Wang, who was enveloped in purple light.

"Little Pang, come, I'll introduce you to someone," Director Zhou stood up.

"Oh?" Pang Ze curiously followed him.

The two directly approached Professor Wang.

When Professor Wang saw the newcomers, he immediately stood up. "Director Zhou."

"Let me introduce you. This is Pang Ze," Director Zhou said with a smile. "A hero of our Xia Country. Little Pang, this is Professor Wang Qi, the chief of our Xia Country's operations on Yinghuo Star."

"Professor Wang, I've heard of you. You live on Yinghuo Star year-round. Thank you for your hard work," Pang Ze immediately said. "I've always admired you scientists."

"It's much better now. The living environment and experimental conditions are much better, and we can occasionally contact our families through the virtual world," Professor Wang said, looking at Pang Ze with curiosity. "I've also heard a lot about your name, Pang Ze. Amazing. Although we're on different fronts, we're both contributing to the country."

Pang Ze nodded.

"It's rare that you've come to Blue Star today to watch the Firestarter Cup," Director Zhou said with a smile.

"After all, this is the evolution of life and the future of humanity," Professor Wang said, looking at the commentary booth. "Moreover, I heard that there are two extremely talented young people competing today?"

"Yes, according to virtual world calculations, they are currently the number one and number two in Xia Country in terms of talent and potential," Director Zhou nodded. "Fang Yu is practicing the Violent Tiger evolutionary method, and his compatibility is the only one in the country that exceeds 100%, reaching 103% compatibility!"

"Over 100%?" Professor Wang was shocked. "The compatibility of evolutionary methods usually reaches its limit at 100%. Exceeding 100% means exceeding the evolutionary method itself."

"Xu Jingming, on the other hand, has an extremely fast improvement rate in combat skills," Director Zhou said. "It hasn't been long since he broke through to Tier 3, but his spearmanship has already exceeded 30% of Tier 3."

"One has extremely high physical talent, and the other has extremely high combat skill talent?" Professor Wang said with a smile. "This competition is interesting."

Pang Ze said from the side, "I watched Xu Jingming's real-life competitions in the past, and I thought his spearmanship was very inspired. I even had my son become his disciple and learn spearmanship from him for three years."

"Mr. Pang's vision is indeed extraordinary," Professor Wang asked. "How is your son's strength now?"

"Haha…" Pang Ze laughed. "The captain of the Happy Team, who came in last place in this Firestarter Cup qualifier, is my son."

"Happy Team?" Professor Wang nodded with a smile. "Being able to participate in the Firestarter Cup already means reaching the God-level. He is one of the early God-level experts in our Xia Country, which is not bad. If he continues to grow, I believe he has a chance to break through that layer."

"I hope so, but this path is too difficult," Pang Ze sighed. "Xu Jingming and Fang Yu, the top players, I believe there's no problem for them to break through that layer. But as for my son, I'll be thanking the heavens if he can break through within fifty years."

"Don't underestimate your son," Director Zhou said.

The three chatted and watched the livestream.

The competition began!

…

Countless people were watching the competition, whether they were high-ranking officials, ordinary people, or experts like Xu Jingming and his team, everyone carefully watched the matches. This was a battle between the most elite teams in Xia Country.

The first match was between the Liu Hai Oldies Team and the Tianyin Team.

Although the Tianyin Team had the marksman Zhuang Ziyu, and experts like Yu Cheng, Wu Sai, and Zhang Qian, when they forced the Liu Hai Oldies Team's captain, Liu Hai, to take action, the battle became one-sided.

The Liu Hai Oldies Team won and became the first team to advance to the semi-finals.

The second match was between the Lei Yunfang Team and the Yunshan Team.

Although the Yunshan Team was very good, and Huo Qingshan and Chang Qingpeng coordinated extremely well, they didn't have any experts who had broken through to Tier 3. Facing the Lei Yunfang Team… they were also swept aside by Senior Lei Yunfang's saber.

The Lei Yunfang Team became the second team to advance to the semi-finals.

"There really weren't any surprises. Both seniors' teams won easily," Yang Qingshuo praised.

"Their opponents haven't broken through to Tier 3," Xu Jingming said, watching the matches. "Naturally, they pose no threat to the two seniors' teams."

The third match was between the Xianzi Team and the Shield Axe Team.

Xiong Tianshan of the Shield Axe Team had indeed broken through to Tier 3, but after all, it hadn't been long since his breakthrough, and he hadn't had time to break through to a higher-tier evolutionary method! Therefore, facing the Xianzi Team, it was also one-sided. The Shield Axe Team was swept aside by Zhang Qing's dual swords.

"There's one last match in the third round," Li Miaomiao said, feeling a bit nervous. "Our team versus the Fang Yu Team."

"Let's give it our all," Yang Qingshuo gritted his teeth.

"Let's take them down," Liu Chongyuan also said. Wang Yi was silent, her entire being was already brewing to its peak state, and she was ready to unleash a massacre at any time.

"Prepare to go on stage," Xu Jingming glanced at the system notification and immediately stood up.