Chapter 4 The Fourth Level of the Starry Sky Tower

Inside the serene mountain valley on the fourth level of the Starry Sky Tower, surrounded by peaks, countless trees were broken, and the earth was riddled with cracks. In the distance, dozens of fissures scarred the mountain walls, sending large chunks of rock tumbling into the valley.

"Boom." "Boom." "Boom."

A dark red afterimage and a similarly crimson figure collided repeatedly. At the instant their weapons met, they clashed once more.

After three successive collisions, the dark red afterimage flashed backward, landing on the tattered grass. It was Xu Jingming, his armor dented, face pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his long spear also stained with blood.

On the other side, the Ape King, wielding a long staff, its slightly reddish fur swaying in the wind, glared at Xu Jingming with fury in its eyes, a bloody wound marring its chest.

"What a ferocious Ape King." Xu Jingming glanced at his dented armor, feeling the pain of broken ribs and injured organs. Though he could temporarily control his injuries at his level, his strength was reduced to only seventy percent.

"The Rainbow Transformation Spear Technique is fierce and domineering, and the footwork is fast. But it’s a one-way street, leaving no room for retreat," Xu Jingming thought. "Facing the equally fierce and swift Ape King, exchanging blow for blow, the Ape King's body is much stronger than mine."

"My body is at 12% of the Transcendent tier, while the Ape King's is probably around 50%," Xu Jingming guessed. "And its staff techniques are extremely sophisticated. The Rainbow Transformation Spear Technique can barely wound it. But to defeat it? It's not enough!"

"If only the Star Cluster Spear Technique had fully broken through to the fourth tier. If it had, the two spear techniques would complement each other, and I should be able to improve significantly," Xu Jingming mused.

Now, on the fourth level of the Starry Sky Tower, he could easily deal with other apes, leaving only this Ape King.

"I'll fight again next time," Xu Jingming said, directly clicking to exit.

The Ape King moved, instantly rushing to where Xu Jingming had been. The shadow of its staff pierced the spot where Xu Jingming had stood, but Xu Jingming had already vanished.

"Roar~~~" The Ape King roared, looking around.

He actually ran away!

******

Back in reality, in his bedroom.

Xu Jingming removed the virtual helmet and glanced at his side, finding it empty.

"Did Miao Miao get up so early?" Xu Jingming got up, left the bedroom, and walked down the stairs to the living room. Standing in the living room, he immediately saw Li Miao Miao making breakfast in the kitchen.

"Miao Miao, why are you making breakfast yourself?" Xu Jingming walked over.

"I'm angry."

Li Miao Miao said while making pancakes, "I got so angry that I woke up at three in the morning. Zhang Qing is the female sword immortal in my heart, the strongest swordsman in Xia. As someone who also practices swordsmanship, she is my favorite female competitor, but in last night's battle, the Xia team she led actually lost to the White Eagle Federation team! The more I think about it, the more frustrated I get.”

"It's just a match, what's there to be angry about?" Xu Jingming stepped forward and massaged his girlfriend's shoulders, "Calm down."

"Don't get in the way here, I'm making pancakes." Li Miao Miao glared at Xu Jingming, "Wait outside obediently."

"I'll just wait for the feast."

Xu Jingming sat down at the dining table, opened the light screen, and began to watch some videos of the Global Battles.

Match after match.

"The global experts are all improving," Xu Jingming watched, "The Three Kings of the martial arts world, Lei Yunfang and Kui*Sheng*Mills, should now be ranked outside the top ten globally. Only Alan Emelianenko remains in the top few in the world."

This was also normal.

With billions of people competing, new talents would naturally emerge generation after generation! Maintaining a position in the top five globally was an extremely difficult feat.

"This Miyagawa Akari from Sakura is a strong seventeen-year-old high school student. He should be the number one in Sakura now," Xu Jingming judged, watching the video. "Stronger than Kiyosato Fujii."

In the Global Battles, among the experts on the Starry Sky Rankings, there were five who maintained a perfect record.

Tiger Fussen, nine wins and zero losses!

Alan Emelianenko, five wins and zero losses!

Tiano Sierre: two wins and zero losses!

Haru Singh: two wins and zero losses!

Miyagawa Akari: six wins and zero losses!

"These top experts have only fought a few matches in the five days of the Global Battles. Some people don't even have one match a day," Xu Jingming looked at the data. "Most of the time, they don't encounter each other. A perfect record doesn't mean everything. Like the Ice and Snow Behemoth of Roma, Liven Gulit, nine wins and one loss, only losing to Tiger Fussen, his strength is still very strong."

"Breakfast is ready." Li Miao Miao happily carried the dishes out, placing the breakfast on the table one by one, "Taste the skills of this great chef."

"Mm, smells delicious."

Xu Jingming smelled the aroma of the pancakes, picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a pancake, and ate half of it in two bites, eating quickly.

Li Miao Miao sat down, drinking porridge and eating pancakes. "Jingming, have you watched the competition videos of the global experts?"

"I have, there are a few who are quite powerful," Xu Jingming said.

"When are you going to participate in the battles?" Li Miao Miao asked.

"Me?"

Xu Jingming ate a pancake in one bite and picked up another, "Well, I'll go online tonight and participate in the battles."

"Participate tonight?" Li Miao Miao was pleasantly surprised, "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

"What do you mean change my mind?" Xu Jingming wondered.

"Since you came back from Binhai, you've been focused on cultivation and haven't participated in any battles," Li Miao Miao said, "Why did you change your mind today?"

Xu Jingming laughed, "I didn't say I wouldn't participate all the time. After focusing on cultivation for a long time, I feel like I should hone my skills in actual combat. And there are indeed a few suitable opponents."

"Mm-hmm." Li Miao Miao nodded, "I'll inform my friends and relatives that the captain of our Pearwood team... is going to fight again. I'm posting a message on social media, do you mind?"

"Post it!" Xu Jingming didn't care.

The Global Battles would be seen by countless people, so there was nothing to hide.

"Here it comes! I was frustrated watching Zhang Qing's match, I'd rather watch my Jingming's." Li Miao Miao was full of fighting spirit and started posting messages on social media: The captain of our Pearwood team will participate in the Global Battles tonight!

……

Xia's leading host Liu Xin was in the yard, a small tangerine tree growing in a flower pot, with a dozen tangerines growing on it. Liu Xin happily picked a tangerine, peeled it, and ate it.

"Tangerines grown at home are the best." Liu Xin said.

"Why do I think it's sour?" A woman came out.

"Sour and sweet, isn't it delicious?" Liu Xin retorted to his mother.

Suddenly, a message pinged.

Liu Xin lightly touched his watch, and a light screen appeared.

"Liu Xin, go online at 6 pm tonight and be ready for me." A middle-aged man in the light screen said.

"What's wrong?" Liu Xin asked.

"Xu Jingming will participate in the Global Battles for the first time, and this match will definitely be broadcast live," the middle-aged man said.

"Director, how do you know?" Liu Xin asked in surprise.

"All the live broadcast rooms on the viewing platform are spreading the news," the middle-aged man said, "Aren't you and Li Miao Miao friends? Didn't you see the message she posted on social media?"

"I haven't looked at social media." Liu Xin prepared to check.

"You and Li Miao Miao are also close friends, go ask her when Xu Jingming will participate in the battle, so our live broadcast room can warm up in advance," the middle-aged man said, "Don't let the broadcast room just heat up when the battle is over."

"Okay, I'll ask right away." Liu Xin nodded.

……

As always, Xu Jingming practiced the Mind Refining Technique in reality. The more he cultivated, the more he felt the extraordinary nature of this Mind Refining Technique.

In fact, reaching the level of 'Xuan', before the final crucial battle of his life, merely practicing the Longevity Spear Technique and the Mind Refining Technique was enough to understand... that these two methods were extraordinary.

Night fell.

"Eight o'clock tonight, participate on time. Don't be early." Li Miao Miao said, "The Xia official live broadcast room is warming up for you."

"Okay." Xu Jingming nodded with a smile.

The two arrived at the live broadcast room in advance.

Xia's official live broadcast room was already lively. Liu Xin and male guest Jin Fan co-hosted, and the audience was pouring in, now barely breaking the hundred million mark.

"Many people are guessing which battle will be broadcast live today," Liu Xin said with a smile, "Now I'll tell you... in five minutes, Xu Jingming will be making his first Global Battle."

"Xu Jingming?"

"Xu Jingming is going to participate in the battle?"

"Wow, quickly tell my parents!"

"Quickly tell all my classmates, Xu Jingming's first Global Battle."

The number of viewers, which had barely reached one hundred million, immediately began to rise.

Watching Liu Xin and Jin Fan's discussion, watching the increase in the number of viewers, and watching the support and expectations for himself in the countless comments, Xu Jingming also felt a warmth in his heart.

"In Xia, there are still many people who support me," Xu Jingming thought, "I have to give them a more exciting battle, and win beautifully."

"It's eight o'clock." Li Miao Miao reminded.

Xu Jingming immediately clicked on the battle space 'Global Battle' and joined the queue!

At this moment, Xia's official live broadcast room also showed Xu Jingming's queuing screen.

"Xu Jingming has begun to prepare..." Liu Xin watched the live broadcast screen and suddenly her eyes lit up, "Queuing successful! Let me see which country's team it is. Generally, the virtual world will match teams with similar strength."

"Rakshasa country team!"

Liu Xin said, "The number one in Rakshasa, Alan Emelianenko, who currently has a perfect record! Xu Jingming's first battle in the Global Battles is against Alan Emelianenko, one of the former Three Kings of the martial arts world, and also the strongest of the Three Kings recognized in the martial arts world!"

Countless viewers exclaimed.

This opponent was too strong. Could Xu Jingming win?