Chapter 25 The Decision

"What are the others' opinions?" Director Zhou's gaze swept over the other deputy directors. "Lao Fang, you've been in charge of martial arts for many years, what do you say?"

The refined middle-aged man, Fang Hong, nodded. "I support choosing Xu Jingming."

Everyone else listened as he explained his reasoning.

"Everyone knows the challenges that Blue Star Civilization will face in the future," Fang Hong said. "The strongest experts of our Xia country can't just be the strongest at the same level. They must constantly break through and become stronger and stronger life forms!"

"The breakthrough in the level of life depends on the realm," Fang Hong said. "Only by breaking through the realm of skill can we reach a new level with the evolutionary method."

"Currently, the two youngest third-tier experts in our Xia country are Fang Yu and Xu Jingming, and neither of them has received any special training," Fang Hong continued. "Comparing the two, Xu Jingming's realm has grown significantly faster since reaching the third tier. As of now, his spear technique has broken through to 56% of the third tier, while Fang Yu's footwork has not yet broken through, and his halberd technique is only at 21% of the third tier."

"Looking at the current third-tier experts in the country, Xu Jingming's skill growth is the fastest! Of course, Liu Hai is the most well-rounded, having reached 99% in all aspects of the third tier. I am most optimistic about these two in terms of skill realm," Fang Hong said. "I think we should focus more on the skill realm. Once the realm breaks through, it's a different level of life. Talking about a 103% compatibility is not very meaningful."

Director Zhou nodded. "Lao Fang's meaning is clear. What about the others?"

"Fang Yu is only twenty years old and has not received any special training, yet he has reached the third tier on his own. He is also very talented in terms of realm," Deputy Director Zhang Tongfang said. "It's just that he hasn't experienced as much tempering as Xu Jingming, and his life experience is not enough. When he is twenty-nine years old, his comprehension may not be inferior to Xu Jingming at all. And you also know... the breakthroughs in the level of life become more and more difficult as you go on. Xu Jingming and Fang Yu will most likely remain at the same height limit. I think it's safer to cultivate Fang Yu."

"I choose Xu Jingming," Deputy Director Liang Qian said. "There's no such thing as safe or unsafe. Our Xia country will cultivate generations of experts. Liu Hai, Xu Jingming, and the others are the first generation after the virtual world opened. In ten years, the teenagers who are only allowed to engage in unarmed combat will also grow up. Their foundation will be more solid, and they will grow faster once they come into contact with weapons. There will be a second generation of geniuses emerging. Second generation, third generation... emerging generation after generation!"

"This time, the first name on our cultivation list is the one we are cultivating with the greatest effort. Do we just want someone who is powerful at the same level?" Deputy Director Liang Qian shook her head. "Many generations of experts will emerge in the future. What we need most now is the most powerful life form! The stronger, the better!"

"The entire Blue Star doesn't dare to hope too far. Our Xia country should be more down-to-earth," Wang Shuqi said.

Zhang Tongfang nodded. "The first choice on this list comes at a great cost. We must be cautious and prudent."

"With Xu Jingming's growth rate, he won't be too weak even if he is weaker, so he is also very safe," Deputy Director Liang Qian said.

"Sometimes, you have to be bolder," Fang Hong said with a smile. "Maybe there will be a miracle?"

The four deputy directors were arguing.

Director Zhou nodded. "The initial cultivation plan was only aimed at those who had achieved success in combat because it was difficult to understand the domestic situation. The cultivation efforts were limited! The second batch... was selected nationwide after the virtual world opened. This time, the top three are being cultivated with great effort, and the first place is being cultivated with unprecedented effort. I can understand everyone's caution. But if we can't come up with a plan, we can only let the highest authorities decide."

The four deputy directors looked at each other, each insisting on their own opinion.

"No matter who I choose, I can't get the approval of all four of you," Director Zhou nodded. "Then the first and second candidates will be tentatively set. All five of us need to write our own opinions and submit them to the highest authorities for a decision."

"Okay," the four deputy directors all nodded.

"The first two will definitely be chosen from Xu Jingming and Fang Yu. What about the third place, Zhao Fan, any objections?" Director Zhou said.

"No objections."

"It's him."

"He has never been exposed to martial arts before, and he can defeat some martial arts masters in just over a month. He is only eighteen years old, his talent is really high."

The four deputy directors all agreed.

"Next, we will vote to decide on the seventeen people selected from the thirty people screened by the virtual world in big data. Each person chooses seventeen... sorted according to the number of votes," Director Zhou said.

On the same day, the Life Evolution Bureau submitted the detailed information of the twenty-person list to the highest authorities, with only the most important first and second places not yet determined. The candidates were Xu Jingming and Fang Yu.

******

In the morning, Xu Jingming and Li Miaomiao's family gathered together for breakfast, also celebrating the victory of the Fireseed Cup competition.

Although Xu Jingming didn't win the championship, Xu Hong did!

"The final of the Fireseed Cup competition ended in the early hours of this morning. The Liu Hai Oldies team led by Liu Hai won the championship. The Pearwood team led by Xu Jingming won the second place." On the living room screen, the morning news was playing.

"I'm done eating, I'm going into the virtual world first," Xu Jingming said, getting up.

"You kid, you're in such a hurry after the competition," Xu Hong said.

"I have to quickly review the fight with my master," Xu Jingming said, smiling as he looked at his family. "Everyone, eat slowly." He immediately went to the bedroom.

The other family members were not in a hurry.

Li Miaomiao sat on the sofa, watched the news for a while, and then changed the channel.

"This Fireseed Cup competition has produced a batch of young experts. Like Xu Jingming, Wang Yi, Fang Yu, and others, although the championship was still won by Liu Hai's team, it is undeniable that these young people are strong." This was a talk show, with the host and two guests chatting casually.

"Xu Jingming can be considered the leader of the young generation in Xia country today. I regretted it back when he broke his leg in the arena, thinking that his martial arts future was ruined. Who would have thought that he would return to the arena a few years later? Now he is shining brightly and is known throughout the country."

"Xu Jingming is very good domestically, but experts at his level need to look at the world. Compared with the world's top experts, we have to admit that Xu Jingming's strength is still a bit lacking."

"Yes, the fight with Liu Hai and the fight with Lei Yunfang both show that... Xu Jingming was completely suppressed in one-on-one situations."

"The current fourth in the Starry Sky Rankings is only twenty years old. The newly breakthrough seventh in the world is only thirty-two years old. Compared with these top experts in the world, Xu Jingming still needs to work harder."

Li Miaomiao frowned as she watched the program.

"You have to keep a level head," Li Chen'an also sat down next to his daughter and said. "After all, the Starry Sky Rankings are the top experts in the world. Don't always compare yourself with the strongest, it will put too much pressure on you. Compare yourself with yourself, as long as you keep improving and become stronger, that's good enough."

Li Miaomiao nodded. "I understand, Jingming has always been working hard."

……

Personal space training hall.

Xu Jingming carefully watched the combat scene that appeared in front of him. It was the slow-motion replay of the final battle, the fight between himself and his master.

"I attacked with all my strength, but my master blocked it with a single saber," Xu Jingming watched. "Before, Zhang Qing's twin swords attacked wildly, but my master also blocked it with a single saber. If every move had to be thought through, it would be too late. My master's reactions are instinctive."

Xu Jingming's eyes lit up. "That's right, turn all moves into instinct."

"My moves are fast when you look at each individual move," Xu Jingming watched carefully, watching the slow-motion video of his fight with his master. "But now it seems that the common moves have become instinctive, but the connection between some moves is a bit slow. I can't be like my master, with all moves becoming instinctive."

"In my master's eyes, there may be no moves at all. In his eyes, there are only the enemy's flaws! His hands naturally execute the moves to deal with those flaws."

"No moves in the heart, all moves become instinct." Xu Jingming vaguely saw the realm of his master.

It's like walking, you don't think about whether to step with your left leg or your right leg first.

It's like typing, when you think of a word, your hands naturally type out a few characters.

During a fight, you only need to think about attacking the enemy here, and your instincts will execute the most suitable moves, one move after another, frighteningly fast.

"Try it..." Xu Jingming began to simulate opponents and try this kind of fighting style.

After the final, he had been reviewing the fight, watching slow-motion videos, constantly reflecting and improving his skills.

After the review was over, he planned to go and challenge the Starry Sky Tower.