Chapter 1 The Sixth

Inside the Wu Ming world, a middle-aged man with short gray hair wielded two shields, locked in combat with a panda also wielding twin shields.

The panda stood about three and a half meters tall, both ferocious and agile. When Xu Jingming designed it, the panda's strength was three times that of a human, coupled with master-level double shield techniques, making the challenge extremely difficult.

"Hoo, hoo." The middle-aged man with short gray hair moved with ghostly steps, his double shield techniques clearly far superior. He dodged and weaved, making himself seem like a ball with the help of his shields.

Clash after clash.

His double shield defense left no openings. In his constant swaying and spinning, he finally found a sliver of opportunity.

At the instant their shields collided, the edge of his shield grazed the panda's head. The panda staggered backward, and he naturally surged forward, delivering three consecutive blows with his shield... causing the heavily injured panda to cry out in pain, limp, and turn to flee.

"Won, I won." The gray-haired middle-aged man was overjoyed.

"Five years. The Wu Ming world has been open for five years, and only five star cluster lifeforms have managed to pass the third level before me. I've actually become the sixth." The gray-haired middle-aged man couldn't believe it.

In the Cosmic Professional Player competition, his ranking wasn't high. He couldn't even make it into the top thousand in the Yuán Star cluster. His total ranking in the universe was in the thirty-thousand range.

"In the Cosmic Professional Player competition, ranked in the thirty-thousands, I, for the past five years, have single-mindedly learned Wu Ming's combat techniques. Now, I've actually managed to pass the third level." The gray-haired middle-aged man was incredibly excited.

"Congratulations, player 'Moke Du,' for passing the third level and receiving a reward of one hundred billion universe coins. You have also obtained the opportunity to spar with Wu Ming, limited to one challenge per year." A voice rang in his ears. Moke Du smiled.

One hundred billion universe coins was a huge fortune for him, an eighth-order limit existence. Whoosh.

Moke Du immediately flew upwards, continuing to ascend from the mountain peak, passing through the clouds, finally reaching the enormous battle platform high above.

"Swoosh." Moke Du landed in the center of the enormous sky battle platform. Anyone who passed the third level could come here and battle Xu Jingming. Of course, if one wanted a second challenge, they would have to wait a year. Otherwise, with continuous challenges... even Xu Jingming couldn't handle it.

"Here I am, the sky battle platform." Moke Du felt his entire body trembling. This was the highest stage every star cluster lifeform yearned for.

At this moment—in Xu Jingming's livestream, countless universe citizens were watching, watching the newly appeared figure on the sky battle platform. A data introduction naturally appeared in the livestream: Player "Moke Du," eighth-order star cluster lifeform.

"It's actually a star cluster lifeform."

"This is the sixth star cluster lifeform to pass the third level in five years, right?"

"Who is he?"

Countless universe citizens stared at Moke Du. Many forces in the universe also took note of Moke Du.

"The challenge set by Wu Ming is different from the Cosmic Professional Player competition. The Cosmic Professional Player competition uses the exact same eighth-order limit body as in reality. Therefore, everyone's body and universe energy are different. During battle, in addition to weapons skills, the utilization of universe energy is also very important. But inside the Wu Ming world... it is the purest weapons battle."

"Without universe energy, everyone has the exact same physical qualities. Victory or defeat completely depends on weapon skills. This Moke Du has no fame in the Cosmic Professional Player competition, but he can pass the third level. This shows that he is skilled in weapons, but not good at using universe energy." Many viewers speculated.

"Wu Ming has appeared."

"The battle is about to begin."

"We're seeing Wu Ming again."

Countless universe citizens watched the battle with fervent eyes.

The sky battle platform, suspended above the clouds, saw Xu Jingming emerge from his residence beside it soon after Moke Du appeared.

"Moke Du." Xu Jingming, clad in fiery red robes, had kindness in his eyes. "Among the six star cluster lifeforms who passed the third level, you are the only one who uses double shields."

"Wu Ming," Moke Du said with great respect.

"Weapon skills so superb, yet still not a Source lifeform. Your heart force is not strong enough," Xu Jingming asked.

"Still lacking," Moke Du responded.

Xu Jingming nodded.

After the challenge, he would also give Moke Du a copy of the "Weapon Refinement, Heart Cleansing" data. He sent the Heart Cleansing data to every Source lifeform in the human race. Very few star cluster lifeforms knew about it. However, those who could pass the third level were generally "sincere to their weapons," so Xu Jingming would send a copy.

"Attack," Xu Jingming said, extending a hand to reveal a black spear.

"Alright." Moke Du didn't waste words. He stretched out his hands, each holding a shield, and with a whoosh, he transformed into an afterimage and charged.

Xu Jingming stood in place with his spear, allowing the opponent to attack. A casual lift, stab, or flick made Moke Du struggle to defend.

"Clearly, they are very simple moves, but in Wu Ming's hands, they are like shooting stars streaking across the sky, like supernovas erupting in the universe, so natural and awe-inspiring." Moke Du was moved by the spearmanship, and his eyes naturally filled with tears.

Being one of the six star cluster lifeforms among the 34 universe domains to pass the third level, Moke Du wasn't passionate about universe energy. He pursued the limits of the physical body, the limits of weapons.

Weapons were an extension of the physical body. The limits of the physical body were also the limits of weapons. "I once thought I had already reached the limits of the physical body, the limits of weapons."

"After seeing Wu Ming, I can sense a wider world... but only by truly fighting Wu Ming can I know. It is the power of heart force."

"The Dao of weapons actually has such a strong resonance, such a shocking impact on the heart."

This was hard to experience by watching. Only by facing Xu Jingming could one feel the shock brought by his spearmanship. Moke Du instinctively burned his emotions, wholeheartedly displaying his shield techniques. The two exchanged blows hundreds of times.

"Bang."

Finally, the spear extended and contracted in a strange way, touching Moke Du's chest and shattering his heart. Moke Du was stunned.

"I lost." Moke Du's heart was recovering. After all, it was just ordinary physical fitness. Once a fatal injury occurred, it meant defeat.

"53 seconds." Moke Du also noticed the time. "Wu Ming indeed held back. He actually exchanged hundreds of moves with me. If he wanted to, he could have defeated me with one move."

"Thank you for your guidance, Wu Ming." Moke Du bowed gratefully.

Xu Jingming nodded slightly. "You will be very busy for the next period."

Moke Du was taken aback. Very busy?

Immediately, his figure dissipated and disappeared.

Xu Jingming also sent Moke Du a detailed copy of the "Weapon Refinement, Heart Cleansing" data. Heart Cleansing had no side effects and was very suitable for these peerless geniuses who were sincere to their weapons.

"Every star cluster lifeform who can pass the third level will attract the competition of forces from all sides of the universe." Xu Jingming sighed inwardly. "Moke Du had no fame before and hadn't joined any of the seventeen top forces. This time, he might be able to enter the three strongest forces."

The Wu Ming world's third level challenge was, to a certain extent, a form of screening.

"In five years, only 792 people have passed the third level, including 6 star cluster lifeforms." Xu Jingming sighed inwardly. "Even Source lifeforms must put enough effort into weapons, otherwise they won't be able to pass."

"As time passes, and more Source lifeforms in the human race refine their hearts with weapons, more will be able to pass the level, and they will all be able to help me."

Although he had money, he wasn't stupid. The 100 billion universe coin reward only had a certain amount of sharpening effect. The sparring would be controlled to end within 1 minute. What had a great effect was the 1 trillion universe coin reward, and the sparring would be controlled to end within 10 minutes.

What made Xu Jingming ecstatic were opponents that allowed him to fight for a long time, and Xu Jingming was willing to offer a reward of 100 trillion universe coins.

"In five years, taking many experts as whetstones, encompassing the darkness of the Primordial Star, refining all impurities, condensing my heart force, and finally completing the ninth refinement." Xu Jingming didn't know when he would encounter an opponent who could defeat him. He greatly anticipated a defeat. Being defeated would greatly stimulate his spearmanship.

It had been a long time since he had encountered an opponent with stronger weapon skills.

Vice President Chi Meng sat at his desk, looking at the White Prison Warden in the light screen.

The White Prison Warden had a perfect appearance, difficult to distinguish between male and female. He said with a smile, "Chi Meng, you are proficient in all kinds of skills. Are you confident in defeating your little junior brother?"

"No confidence," Vice President Chi Meng said with a smile. "I've seen his fight with Junior Sister Yuan Yi. If I were purely using weapon skills... it would also take some effort to defeat Junior Sister Yuan Yi. And although my junior brother enjoyed that fight, the entire battle was under his control from beginning to end. His weapon skills have already surpassed me. I won't take action."

"You're honest," the White Prison Warden said.

"Does anyone in your Eternal Academy want to take action?" Vice President Chi Meng asked. "Among the three, your Eternal Academy has the most Source lifeforms and is also known as the most warlike. My junior brother is so arrogant, seeking a defeat with 100 million universe coins, can your Eternal Academy tolerate it?"

"The old guys don't have confidence and are holding back," the White Prison Warden laughed. "Your junior brother is really arrogant, offering 100 million universe coins again, sending personal letters to everyone, and taking the initiative to inform them of the detailed method of 'Weapon Refinement, Heart Cleansing.' Many old guys who are stuck in a bottleneck are holding their breath and trying Weapon Refinement. Once they are confident, they will definitely take action."

Vice President Chi Meng nodded. "Understood. If they don't take action, it means they don't have confidence."

"This kid is already too strong," the White Prison Warden said. "In my opinion, only Sherlin might have the confidence to defeat him."

"Among the seven contemporary universe legends, only he is sincere to weapons," Chi Meng nodded. In fact, at the universe legend level, very few are sincere to weapons.

Because high-dimensional power is full of infinite possibilities, and using weapons to display it is too limited.

Year after year passed after the Wu Ming world opened.

As more and more Source lifeforms refined their hearts with weapons, batches of experts passed the third level, but Xu Jingming was like an unshakable mountain. They all crashed and bled, all defeated. Xu Jingming had been longing for a "defeat," but as time passed, his heart force condensed for the tenth time, and the eleventh time, he still didn't wait for an opponent.