Chapter 52 Those in the Life Evolution Department

The members of the Blue Star Alliance Life Evolution Department watched this scene.

"In terms of actual combat strength, Madeline and Liu Hai are on the same level. How could she lose so miserably?" They were also puzzled.

"According to the rules set in the virtual world, basic combat strength is the power, speed, and agility displayed through physical coordination and technique," said a black-haired male member. "Actual combat strength, however, is the strength determined based on real combat situations. For example, if you master certain ultimate techniques from a legacy, or if your set of continuous moves is indeed very powerful, your assessed combat strength will skyrocket. But some things can't be determined in the virtual world."

"The psychological state, aura, and will during combat," the black-haired man said, "as well as the clash of wits between opponents, gathering information about the other party, knowing yourself and your enemy, and formulating a battle plan. These are all things that can't be calculated."

"Combat is about finding your opponent's weaknesses and attacking their shortcomings with your strengths."

"The two sides will scheme against each other. Once you fall into your opponent's trap, you'll be completely defeated."

The black-haired man sighed, "Judging from their exchange, Madeline Logan was able to make Liu Hai cough up blood and get injured. If the battle had fallen under Madeline's control, she could have won. But as it turned out, after Liu Hai sent her flying with one saber strike, Liu Hai pressed his advantage, attacking continuously and not giving Madeline any chance to breathe... After more than ten consecutive moves, he finished her off in one go!"

"Yes," the others present nodded.

"The difference in their psychological states is also quite significant. Madeline was too confident! Liu Hai, on the other hand, never underestimated any opponent. Caution is etched into his bones," one member said.

"To be honest, I think combat intelligence, aura, will, knowing yourself and your enemy, and so on, are all auxiliary factors. If your strength, speed, and agility are high enough... you can completely crush your opponent," one member said. "If your strength and speed exceed their limits of response, you can easily win."

"Madeline's basic combat strength is 30% to 40% higher than Liu Hai's. But Madeline's actual combat bonus is 180%, while Liu Hai's is 280%. Their actual combat strengths are comparable, but the result was that Madeline was crushed."

The members shook their heads.

The two 'catfish' they had chosen, though slightly inferior in terms of actual combat bonuses, had a significant advantage in basic combat strength.

"Let's see the next battle. Yeshalova is a divine archer; she won't engage Xu Jingming in close combat," someone said.

"Yeshalova is also more humble and cautious than Madeline."

"The two experts we chose, at least one of them should make it into the top four. If neither of them makes it, it'll be too embarrassing."

...

"Truly worthy of being the world's number one, Liu Hai!" The female host in the official live broadcast room was excited.

"You can see that Madeline Logan is very strong, her strength and speed have reached terrifying levels," Alan pointed to the slow-motion replay. "But once Liu Hai gets serious, when Madeline strikes the shield, Liu Hai perfectly uses her force against her, borrowing Madeline's power to unleash that saber strike, sending Madeline flying. As long as he gains a little advantage, Liu Hai will snowball and crush his opponent."

"That's right."

Liven Gullit laughed and said, "There used to be an old saying in the martial arts world: as long as Liu Hai gets a slight advantage, he's sure to win."

"Even the elderly Liu Hai never really got injured in competitions," Alan said.

The guests praised and boasted, and they were being sincere.

Countless people around the world were amazed. They didn't quite understand the intricacies, but they could see that the Madeline Logan, who had always been so strong, was completely suppressed.

******

Liu Hai returned to the spectator stand.

"Captain, amazing, amazing," Xu Hong, Dai Tongda, and the others greeted him. Li Miaomiao, Wang Yi, and the others were also full of admiration.

Liu Hai smiled and sat down next to Xu Jingming.

"How was it?" Liu Hai asked.

"That Madeline Logan was too confident and careless," Xu Jingming shook his head slightly. "Facing you, Master, the number one on the Starry Sky Ranking, I'm curious, where did she get the confidence to be so arrogant and conceited? If she had treated you, Master, as the most terrifying enemy, she would have brought concealed weapons! With her speed and strength, combined with concealed weapons... she would have been much more of a threat to you, Master."

"Haha, you brat!" Liu Hai laughed. "I was also wondering why she only brought boxing gloves. If she had brought some throwing knives, and since my speed isn't as good as hers, that battle would have been a lot more troublesome."

"Combat should be about targeting the enemy and utilizing every factor," Xu Jingming said.

Liu Hai looked at his disciple. "If you encountered my moves just now, would you have a way to counter them?"

"This..."

Xu Jingming completely understood his master's moves. He thought for a moment and said, "Master's moves are indeed very brilliant. There are three ways to counter them! First, an archer or someone with concealed weapons can deal with you, Master, from a distance. Second, be fast enough to immediately follow up with another move if one fails. Be fast enough! Then you, Master, won't have time to borrow force from each move. Third, be strong enough to exceed the limit of force that you, Master, can withstand."

"However, all three methods are very difficult," Xu Jingming looked at his master.

"Master, you use a combination of shield and saber, which is a dual-weapon style. If I'm not mistaken, besides the shield being able to borrow force, your saber... can also borrow force, using the saber for defense to borrow force and the shield for attack," Xu Jingming said. "The shield is yin, the saber is yang. And the saber can also be yin, and the shield can be yang! The shield strike... is even more ferocious and tyrannical."

"Haha..." Liu Hai laughed. "You have a good eye."

"I was taught by you, Master, so I know you better," Xu Jingming said.

Both of them had extremely high actual combat skills on a global scale. Compared to someone like Madeline Logan, who only had high basic combat strength, their judgment was much sharper.

"The third match, you'll be up," Liu Hai said. "Your opponent, Yeshalova, is a fifth-order divine archer. If you can't get close to her, then you'll just be a target. Her threat level might be even greater than Madeline Logan."

"The stronger they are, the more interesting it will be," Xu Jingming was already eager to try.

He hadn't encountered a strong enough opponent in the World Martial Arts Tournament yet!

...

"Okay, after that analysis, I believe everyone can feel Liu Hai's terrifying suppressive power," Alan Emelianenko narrated. "I even believe that if someone fights Liu Hai, even if their combat strength is equal, Liu Hai will still win! Because he doesn't reveal any weaknesses in defense, and as long as he has a slight advantage in offense, he'll crush his opponent! This kind of combat intelligence is simply terrifying."

"That's why he's the world's number one," Liven Gullit said.

"Don't forget Tiano and Xu Jingming. Seven months ago, they cleared the fourth level of the Starry Sky Tower on the same day as Liu Hai," Miyagawa Akari said.

"Yes, Xu Jingming and Yeshalova are about to appear," Alan Emelianenko exclaimed. "If Liu Hai is about controlling the battlefield and terrifying combat intelligence, then Xu Jingming is extreme ferocity! Whether it's his swift spearmanship or his shield's fierce power... he leaves his enemies no room to breathe, completely crushing them."

"I heard that Xu Jingming practiced Bajiquan and Chuojiao when he was young, so his fighting style is also deeply ingrained," Liven Gullit said.

"Who do the three of you favor in the upcoming match?" the female host asked. "Yeshalova, the only fifth-order divine archer in the tournament, or Xu Jingming?"

"Xu Jingming," Miyagawa Akari said.

"Of course, it's Xu Jingming," Alan also said.

"Haha, is there even a question? A few months ago, Xu Jingming used a sword to kill Li Wenxi with one move. That's enough to show that Xu Jingming has long reached an unbelievable realm," Liven Gullit said.

The three professional guests unanimously favored Xu Jingming, and countless people around the world also took it for granted that Xu Jingming would win.

"Although Yeshalova is very beautiful, Xu Jingming is still more powerful when it comes to actual combat."

"Yesha, good luck, just don't lose too badly."

"Yesha, I will always support you. Losing is also an honor."

Countless people, including Yeshalova's fans, almost 99% of them believed that Xu Jingming would win. Only a very few of Yeshalova's die-hard fans believed that Yeshalova would create a miracle.

...

"They really look down on me," Yeshalova sat in the stands, her fighting spirit burning.

"Yesha, don't be pressured. You being the only fifth-order divine archer in the entire World Martial Arts Tournament is already the pride of our Rosha country. Even if you lose this battle, it won't be a disgrace. After all, your opponent is Xu Jingming. No one will pressure you," her husband comforted her. "Relax and enjoy the match."

Yeshalova looked at her husband.

She really wanted to tell her husband some secrets, but confidentiality rules restricted her, so she could only hold back.

"You watch," Yeshalova stood up.

"I will always support you," her husband also stood up. He was already in his forties, but his wife was still as young as a maiden. He had always been grateful for marrying such a wife and had always cherished and doted on her. "Yesha, even if you lose today, I believe you will surpass Xu Jingming in the future."

"You're the one who's going to lose!" Yeshalova pointed her finger and entered the combat preparation area.