Chapter 162 Breakthroughs and Contenders

"Alan broke through." On the platform, Lei Yunfang and Kui *Saint* Mills, with their discerning eyes, could see that Alan had broken through with his final strike. This left them with complex feelings, as they had been rivals for a long time, and to see their old rival break through while they remained at the peak of the fourth tier was quite something.

"Jingming, the commentators have determined that Alan Emelianenko's last strike should have broken through to the fifth tier," Li Miaomiao said. "The commentators aren't wrong, are they?"

"They're not wrong," Xu Jingming nodded.

"The first group was too intense; someone even broke through to the fifth tier, only to be eliminated," Li Miaomiao said.

...

"The first group performed very well." Director Zhou watched with delight. "Tu Ling has limitless potential, and although Alan Emelianenko was eliminated, he also broke through to the fifth tier. Our Blue Star civilization will have another cosmic citizen."

The Blue Star civilization's upper echelons were quite satisfied. They weren't too concerned about the tournament rankings; they were more interested in having as many fifth-tier experts as possible, and in whether there were any exceptional geniuses.

This first group alone had three 'fifth tiers,' so they were naturally pleased.

In the first group, Tu Ling and Riven Gullit advanced, while Alan Emelianenko and Jobola, who lost all three matches, were eliminated.

"Tijano is up," Xu Jingming said with a serious tone, and Li Miaomiao watched carefully.

Tijano Xire, shortly after the virtual world opened, was listed on the Starry Sky Rankings and was recognized as the world's number one genius.

He was younger than Xu Jingming and didn't even have professional martial arts experience. Since the virtual world opened, he had always stood at the pinnacle.

"Come on, show me all your strength." Tijano Xire stood on the ancient battlefield, wearing black light armor and holding a metal staff. He casually twirled the staff. His opponent was Abishek, an expert from India.

Abishek held a long spear and charged forward in a blur. As he charged, he waved his hand, and a series of hidden weapons flew out at super high speed.

Clang, clang, clang.

Tijano stood leisurely, casually swinging the metal short staff in his hand, blocking all the hidden weapons, and simultaneously striking the last one, sending it flying back!

As the last hidden weapon flew back, Abishek had already charged closer. Because the distance was too short, he didn't even have time to react. His eyes widened as the hidden weapon pierced his head.

Abishek's body turned illusory.

"No—"

Countless citizens of India were in disbelief.

India had three experts participating in the main competition this time. The strongest was naturally Haru Singh, but Abishek also had countless fans in India. Many citizens had high expectations for him, but now he had been easily crushed by Tijano.

"That was boring," Tijano said, shaking his head slightly.

"Why is he using a short staff? This is the first time he's used a short staff, right?" On the platform, Xu Jingming was puzzled. Liu Hai, Tiger Fussen, Madeline Logan, Yershalova, Haru Singh, and many other experts were also confused.

The world's top experts all paid close attention to Tijano, as he was undoubtedly one of the most threatening opponents if they wanted to win the tournament.

"What, he changed weapons again?"

In the six matches of the second group, Tijano participated in three. In the first match, he used a short staff; in the second, he used a large axe; and in the third, he used a saber. Each time, the weapon was different, but the common point was...he defeated his opponent very casually.

"They're all so weak." Carrying the saber, Tijano shook his head. The three matches were too easy, too boring.

...

"What weapon is Tijano really good at?" Li Miaomiao asked, puzzled.

"I don't know," Xu Jingming said, shaking his head. "He rarely fights publicly, and in global tournaments, he changes weapons at will. I'm not sure what he's really best at."

The second group's matches eventually ended, with Tijano Xire as the group's first and Mikic from Rome as the group's second.

"Mikic," Xu Jingming said with a smile.

Li Miaomiao was puzzled.

"He's a good friend of mine," Xu Jingming said. "He used to be a professional martial arts player as well. I participated in my first tournament when I was 20, and he also participated for the first time that year. Later, he came to our Xia country and learned the Bagua lineage's saber techniques, as well as the Wing Chun lineage's saber techniques. When he was in Xia, I had a lot of contact with him, but after he returned to his country...we had less contact because we were too far apart."

"He even sent a gift when we got married," Xu Jingming explained. "But there were so many people sending gifts at the time that you didn't notice."

"Oh," Li Miaomiao said, suddenly understanding. "There were so many gifts sent at the time; many fans sent gifts."

"Mikic's dual sabers are becoming more and more formidable," Xu Jingming praised. "It's not easy for a fourth-tier limit expert to advance as the second in his group."

...

In the third group's matches, Liu Hai took the stage.

Liu Hai had been the world's number one since the virtual world opened!

When they were both at the fourth-tier limit, Xu Jingming still lost to his master, Liu Hai, in a battle! Xu Jingming was very confident in 'actual combat,' but it was clear that his master, Liu Hai, was even more terrifying in actual combat.

"Liu Hai is up." Many experts, including Tijano, Xu Jingming, Tiger Fussen, Yershalova, Madeline Logan, and others, watched carefully, wanting to see every move he made.

If they wanted to win first place, Liu Hai would be their greatest opponent!

However...the others in the third group were too weak. Liu Hai's three matches were too easy.

Liu Hai only used his saber techniques, and each time, it took him several strikes to defeat his opponent. The opponents seemed like puppets in front of him, unable to control their bodies.

"Master's control over power is becoming more and more refined," Xu Jingming saw, and his fighting spirit soared even higher. He had lost the last time they fought, but now that both he and his master had entered the fifth tier, it was hard to say who would win or lose without a fight.

The third group's matches ended, with Liu Hai and Alex advancing.

In the fourth group's matches, the most famous player was Hercules 'Japrov.'

"Japrov is the only one who could suppress Fang Yu in terms of strength during the global clash," Li Miaomiao said. "At the time, everyone was at the fourth-tier limit! Fang Yu relied on his invincible body, but half a month ago, Japrov also reached the fourth-tier limit. When he fought Fang Yu, he completely suppressed Fang Yu in terms of strength, forcing Fang Yu to use his halberd techniques and fight for a long time before barely winning."

"Yes, this Hercules' weapon skills are lacking, but his physical talent is very high," Xu Jingming nodded.

Being able to suppress Fang Yu in terms of physique at the fourth-tier limit was truly terrifying.

"Boom."

Japrov wore heavy armor and wielded a pair of large axes.

He was immensely strong and fast, and he won by simply using his physical advantages to suppress his opponents.

"Using strength to overcome all techniques," Xu Jingming paid close attention to this Japrov. "He's at the fourth-tier limit now. If he breaks through to the fifth tier, he'll be a very threatening opponent."

"Bang."

However, in the next match, Japrov encountered Madeline Logan!

Madeline Logan wore form-fitting black light armor and gloves on both hands. When Japrov charged up close and swung his terrifying axe down, she stood still and didn't move, simply reaching out and gently catching the axe blade.

Then, with a burst of strength!

The axe flew backward, slamming into Japrov's face, and Japrov turned into nothingness.

For a moment, countless viewers in the official livestream were dumbfounded.

And in the next battle.

Madeline Logan faced Zhang Qing from Xia country. Zhang Qing's dual-sword swordsmanship was dazzling and dangerous, with her footwork and swordsmanship working together in unpredictable ways.

But facing Zhang Qing's peerless swordsmanship, Madeline Logan was expressionless and stood still, simply reaching out and grabbing.

This grab was as fast as lightning.

She was too fast!

"Not good." Zhang Qing realized something was wrong, but in that instant, both of her swords were caught in her opponent's palm. Madeline Logan held the dual swords with one hand and exerted a little force, and the terrifying power was transmitted, Zhang Qing could no longer hold the swords, and both hands were shaken until they were covered in blood.

At the same time, the dual swords also flew back, passing over Zhang Qing's body, and Zhang Qing became illusory.

In Madeline Logan's three matches, facing three opponents, she only used one hand and easily killed her opponents.

This truly made people around the world feel her terror!

"She's a formidable enemy."

Xu Jingming, Liu Hai, Tijano, and others all realized that this Madeline Logan was definitely not someone to be trifled with.

"My goal is first place," Madeline Logan said secretly. "I've been training in the virtual world for over ten years. It would be a joke if I were defeated by them."

The Blue Star Alliance officially made her and Yershalova the catfish, in order to threaten all opponents. But the two of them... were planning to eat all the small fish! To become number one!