Chapter 22 The Pressure Increases

After Xu Jingming appeared, countless viewers cheered for him. Since the opening of the virtual world, Xu Jingming's fame has continued to rise! At this moment, not only the people of Xia Country, but also a huge number of Xu Jingming fans in other countries around the world, are fanatically supporting Xu Jingming. Many even believe that, judging by his growth rate, Xu Jingming should have already surpassed Liu Hai and Tiejiano.

"Xu Jingming," Merritt said solemnly, "I know I'm not your opponent, but I will do my best."

"I look forward to your swordsmanship." Xu Jingming smiled. He treated every Blue Star expert with goodwill, because in the future, when he stepped into the vast starry sky, these would be his companions.

Merritt, holding two swords, rushed forward quickly. As he charged, the footwork beneath his feet changed, and the charging route was a strange curve, instantly closing the distance.

"Clang..."

Xu Jingming held a spear in one hand. With a thrust of the spear, he struck Merritt's sword, and power was transmitted through the weapon, affecting Merritt's movements.

Every time, it was just a light tap! No matter how powerful Merritt's footwork was, he couldn't get close at all, and he was always touched by the tip of the spear.

He tapped nine times in a row, and the suppression became greater and greater.

"My swordsmanship is too slow. Xu Jingming is using the tip of his spear to stab me, instead of blocking or deflecting." Merritt also felt suffocated. "My swordsmanship must be faster, faster, faster!"

The pressure from Xu Jingming was increasing, and every time it was a one-handed spear thrust. The sixteenth spear finally pierced Merritt's chest.

"I lost."

At this moment, Merritt breathed a sigh of relief instead.

He lost convincingly.

"Thank you." Merritt felt as if he had undergone a baptism.

Xu Jingming nodded slightly, and at the same time secretly sighed. He was trying his best to hone his opponent, constantly increasing the pressure on his opponent, but obviously... it was too difficult for his opponent to break through to the fifth level.

"Did you see that?" Male guest Owen pointed to the slow-motion battle scene. "Since Xu Jingming made his move, he has made sixteen consecutive shots, and he hasn't moved a step. He has been standing there! He is standing still, and the attack range of the spear is limited. But strangely... Merritt has never left the attack range of the spear. He could have retreated two steps and got out of there."

"He can't retreat." Male guest Jin Fan shook his head. "Look closely, every time he is stabbed by the spear, Merritt's body trembles slightly. Obviously, there is a force affecting his whole body. He doesn't have time to retreat, and the second shot is coming! Xu Jingming's pressure is too strong... and every shot also affects Merritt's body. It's not that Merritt doesn't want to retreat, but he can't retreat. His body is controlled by the entire battle."

"Controlled?" The female host and the other two guests observed carefully and also discovered this point.

...

"Controlling the opponent's body? Jingming has learned this trick too?" Liu Hai watched this scene with a smile. Of course, he could do this when he was at the limit of the fourth level, and now his realm is even higher.

"The whole process is a one-handed spear thrust, using the spear thrust to control the opponent?" Tiejiano looked at it in surprise. "I can't do this level of power control, but that's not my forte either. Compared with Leivin Guritt... Xu Jingming is much stronger. This is an exciting opponent, and I can't wait!"

...

Xu Jingming's suppressive power and control were not surprising to the 5 billion viewers in the live broadcast room! In the eyes of people all over the world, Xu Jingming, Liu Hai, and Tiejiano should be far ahead of others. It is normal to use some incredible combat moves.

"The seventh match is Haru Singh from India against Fang Yu from Xia Country," the female host introduced.

"Whoosh."

Haru Singh's scimitar brushed past Fang Yu's chest.

The battle is over.

Fang Yu, who was still at the limit of the fourth level, even though his evolutionary method had a high degree of compatibility, was helpless against Haru Singh, who had fully reached the fifth level. Haru Singh made three slashes, and the third slash killed Fang Yu.

"Looking at the world, there are still many people stronger than me." Fang Yu was not discouraged, but felt that there were many goals he needed to surpass. "Compared with Haru Singh, my mental will should be weaker, so I have to continue to increase my training."

"Haru."

"Haru."

"Haru."

Countless people in India cheered in unison. For a time, the word 'Haru' swept the entire official live broadcast room. Haru Singh is the only expert from India who has entered the top eight, and the people of India now fanatically worship Haru Singh.

Haru Singh responded to the cheers with a smile. Having fallen into the abyss before, and now standing at the peak again, he can face all the glory calmly.

...

"The eighth match, which is also the last match today, is Tiger Fosen from the White Eagle Federation against Akinlov," the female host said with anticipation.

In a forest map.

Tiger Fosen smiled and let Akinlov attack. Akinlov, who had reached the fifth level, still had not perfected his evolutionary method. His frantic attacks were easily blocked by Tiger Fosen with two large axes.

"I'm going to make a move," Tiger Fosen said before making a move.

Whoosh!

Then came an axe!

This axe was like a flash of lightning, splitting the heavens and the earth, splitting through Akinlov, and Akinlov's entire body directly turned into nothingness.

"This axe?" Xu Jingming's expression changed slightly. He felt a huge threat when he saw that axe.

"Hmm?" Tiejiano's face no longer had a playful expression, and he became more serious. "Tiger Fosen is stronger than I expected."

"Using force to break through skill?" Liu Hai also became serious. This axe was also the first axe since the start of the competition that Liu Hai truly felt a huge threat from.

Yeshalova, who was originally watching the game with a smile, couldn't help but become serious when she saw this axe. "According to the battle order, my next opponent should be Xu Jingming. After defeating Xu Jingming, my opponent may be Tiger Fosen. I can't let him get close. I must maintain a sufficient distance, and then snipe him."

"He is wearing heavy armor. I still have an absolute advantage in terms of speed and agility. I have at least a 60% chance of winning against him." Yeshalova carefully considered various factors and determined that she had a better chance of winning.

...

"The first round of the knockout stage, a total of eight matches, has all ended," the female host announced the results. "The top eight players have been selected, namely Tu Ling, Tiejiano Xilei, Liu Hai, Madeline Logan, Yeshalova, Xu Jingming, Haru Singh, and Tiger Fosen."

Countless viewers in the live broadcast room were cheering and sighing.

For example, the Roman country, one of the three major countries on Blue Star, has a strong martial arts atmosphere and many experts, but this time no one was able to enter the top eight.

Among the top eight players.

Xia Country has three players: Tu Ling, Liu Hai, and Xu Jingming.

The White Eagle Federation has two players: Madeline Logan and Tiger Fosen.

Raksha Country has one player: Yeshalova.

India has one player: Haru Singh.

Bovana has one player: Tiejiano Xilei.

"Based on the rules of the Genesis Cup, the second round of the knockout stage, the quarter-finals, has been determined." The female host turned to look behind her, and the match arrangements appeared in the live broadcast scene—

First match: Tu Ling vs. Tiejiano Xilei

Second match: Liu Hai vs. Madeline Logan

Third match: Yeshalova vs. Xu Jingming

Fourth match: Haru Singh vs. Tiger Fosen

The top eight experts on the stands became serious.

"Jingming, your opponent tomorrow is Yeshalova." Li Miaomiao was a little nervous. "Are you confident in dealing with her?"

"She has fully broken through to the fifth level, and her skills are very mature. She is a formidable opponent," Xu Jingming admitted. "After all, she is the only fifth-level sharpshooter in the entire competition, and I have never faced one before."

Li Miaomiao also nodded, she also felt that the opponent was difficult to deal with.

"Starting tomorrow, every match will become more and more difficult," Xu Jingming said. "We must go all out in every match and not be careless in the slightest!"

If the group stage and the first round of the knockout stage were easy and were appetizers, then starting from the quarter-finals, it would be the real main course, and the difficulty would increase sharply! After all, the next round will determine the top four in the world, and the next round will be the top two in the world. The competition will become more and more intense, and even if he does his best, he may lose the game.

"Let's go back to training." Xu Jingming got up. He couldn't relax every day, and he had to seize every day to make himself stronger.