Chapter 1

Within Wu Ming's world, a middle-aged man with short gray hair wielded two shields, locked in combat with a panda who also brandished twin shields.

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

"Hoo, hoo." The middle-aged man with gray hair moved with ghostly steps. His twin shield techniques were clearly far more superior. His entire being flickered and dodged, using the shields as if he were a ball.

Clash after clash.

His twin shields defended without leaving any openings. In a constant blur of flickering rotations, 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, *peng peng peng*, delivering three consecutive shield strikes... causing the heavily injured panda to cry out in pain, turning tail to flee.

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

"Five years. Wu Ming's world has been open for five years, and only five star-level lifeforms have previously passed the third level. I actually became the sixth." The gray-haired middle-aged man couldn't believe it.

In the universe's peak battles, his ranking wasn't high. Within the Yuansheng universe region, he couldn't even crack the top thousand. His total universe ranking was in the thirty-thousand range.

"In the universe's peak battles, with a total ranking of over thirty thousand, for the past five years, I've focused wholeheartedly on learning the combat styles of Wu Ming and the others. Now, I've actually successfully passed the third level." The gray-haired middle-aged man was incredibly excited.

"Congratulations, player 'Mokedu,' for passing the third level, receiving a reward of one hundred billion universe coins. Furthermore, you have gained the opportunity to spar with Lord Wu Ming, limited to one challenge per year." A voice rang in his ears. Mokedu smiled.

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

Mokedu immediately flew upward, soaring from the mountain peak, passing through the clouds, and finally reaching the enormous battle platform high above.

"Swoosh." Mokedu landed on the vast sky battle platform. Anyone who passed the third level could come here and battle Xu Jingming. Of course, to attempt a second challenge, one had to wait a year. Otherwise, continuous, non-stop challenges... even Xu Jingming couldn't handle that.

"I've arrived, the sky battle platform." Mokedu felt his entire body trembling. This was the ultimate stage every star-level lifeform yearned for.

At that moment—in Xu Jingming's livestream, countless universe citizens were watching, observing the newcomer on the sky battle platform. The livestream naturally displayed information about him: player "Mokedu," eighth-order star-level lifeform.

"It's actually a star-level lifeform."

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

"Who is he?"

Countless universe citizens stared at Mokedu. Many powers in the universe also noticed Mokedu.

"The challenges set by Lord Wu Ming are different from the universe's peak battles. The universe's peak battles use the exact same eighth-order limit body as in reality. Therefore, everyone's body and universe energy are different. Combat relies not only on weapon skills but also on the application of universe energy. However, within Wu Ming's world... it's the purest weapon combat."

"Without universe energy, everyone has the exact same physical attributes. Victory or defeat depends entirely on weapon skills. This Mokedu has no fame in the universe's peak battles, yet he's able to pass the third level. This shows that he's skilled with weapons, but not adept at using universe energy." Many viewers speculated. "Lord Wu Ming has appeared." "The battle is about to begin." "We get to see Lord Wu Ming again."

Countless universe citizens watched the battle with fervent gazes.

Suspended above the clouds, on the sky battle platform, after Mokedu appeared, Xu Jingming soon emerged from his residence beside the platform.

"Mokedu." Xu Jingming, clad in a fiery red robe, spoke with kindness in his eyes, "Among the six star-level lifeforms who have passed the third level, you are the only one who uses twin shields."

"Lord Wu Ming." Mokedu was quite respectful.

"Your weapon skills are so high, yet you haven't become a source-level lifeform. Is your heart force not strong enough?" Xu Jingming asked. "It's still lacking," Mokedu replied.

Xu Jingming nodded.

After the challenge, he would also give Mokedu a copy of the "Weapon Refinement and Heart Purification" information. He sent the heart purification information to every source-level lifeform in the human race. Very few star-level lifeforms knew about it. However, being able to pass the third level generally meant one was "sincere to their weapons," so Xu Jingming would send him a copy as well. "Begin," Xu Jingming said, extending his hand, a black spear appearing in his grasp.

"Alright." Mokedu didn't waste words. With a stretch of both arms, each holding a shield, he transformed into an afterimage and charged.

Xu Jingming stood on the spot with his spear, allowing the opponent to attack. With a casual parry, thrust, or flick, every move made it incredibly difficult for Mokedu to defend.

"These are clearly very simple moves, but in Lord Wu Ming's hands, they are like shooting stars streaking across the sky, like supernovas exploding in the universe, both natural and awe-inspiring." Seeing such spear techniques, Mokedu was moved, tears welling up in his eyes.

Being one of the six star-level lifeforms who had passed the third level in the 34 universe regions, Mokedu wasn't passionate about universe energy; he pursued the limits of the body and weapons even more.

Weapons were extensions of the body, and the body's limits were also the weapon's limits. "I once thought I had already reached the limits of the body, the limits of weapons."

"After seeing Lord Wu Ming, I can sense a broader world... But, only when truly facing Lord Wu Ming, do I realize... it's the power of the heart."

"The Dao of weapons actually has such a strong resonance of the heart, such a heart-shaking power."

This was something one couldn't understand from watching; only by facing Xu Jingming directly could one feel the shock brought by his spear techniques. Mokedu instinctively burned his emotions, wholeheartedly pouring himself into executing his shield techniques. The two exchanged hundreds of blows.

"Peng."

Finally, the spear extended and retracted in a bizarre manner, striking Mokedu's chest, shattering his heart. Mokedu froze.

"I lost." Mokedu's heart was recovering. After all, this was a very ordinary physical body. Once a fatal injury occurred, it meant defeat.

"53 seconds." Mokedu also noticed the time. "Lord Wu Ming indeed held back. He actually exchanged hundreds of blows with me. If he wanted to, he could have defeated me with a single move."

"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Wu Ming." Mokedu bowed gratefully.

Xu Jingming nodded slightly. "You will be very busy for the next period." Mokedu was taken aback.

Very busy?

Immediately, his figure dissipated, disappearing without a trace.

Xu Jingming also sent Mokedu a detailed copy of the "Weapon Refinement and Heart Purification" information. Heart purification had no negative consequences and was very suitable for these peerless geniuses who were sincere to their weapons. "Every star-level lifeform who can pass the third level will attract the competition of forces from all over the universe." Xu Jingming sighed inwardly. "Mokedu had no fame before and hadn't joined any of the seventeen top powers. This time, he'll probably be able to enter the top three strongest powers."

The third-level challenge of Wu Ming's world was, to a certain extent, also a kind of selection process.

"In five years, only a total of 792 people have passed the third level, including 6 star-level lifeforms." Xu Jingming sighed inwardly. "Even source-level lifeforms must put enough effort into their weapons, or they won't be able to pass."

"As time goes on, with the numerous source-level lifeforms of the universe's human race refining their hearts with weapons, more and more will be able to pass the levels. They will all be able to assist me."

Although he had money, he wasn't stupid. The 100 billion universe coin reward had a certain training effect. Sparring would be controlled to end within 1 minute. The 1 trillion universe coin reward had a great effect. Sparring would be controlled to end within 10 minutes.

He would be ecstatic over opponents that surprised Xu Jingming, and the battle time would be much longer. Xu Jingming was also willing to offer a reward of 100 trillion universe coins. "For five years, I've used many experts as whetstones, encompassing the dark primordial star, refining all impurities, and condensing my heart force. I've finally completed the ninth refinement. I wonder when I'll encounter an opponent who can defeat me." Xu Jingming looked forward to a defeat. Being defeated would greatly stimulate his spear techniques.

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 Guardian in the light screen.

The White Prison Guardian's appearance was perfect, indistinguishable 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 smiled. "I've seen him spar with Junior Sister Yuan Yi. If I purely use weapon skills... defeating Junior Sister Yuan Yi would also take some effort. And although my junior brother enjoyed that battle, he was in control of the battle from beginning to end. His weapon skills have already surpassed mine, so I won't make a move."

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

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

"The old guys aren't confident one by one, so they're all holding back," the White Prison Guardian laughed. "Your junior brother is really arrogant, offering 100 million billion universe coins again, sending out handwritten letters in bulk, and even proactively disclosing the detailed method of 'Weapon Refinement and Heart Purification.' Many old guys who are stuck in bottlenecks are holding their breath, trying weapon refinement. Once they are confident, they will definitely make a move."

Vice President Chi Meng nodded. "Understood. If they don't make a move, it means they have no confidence."

"That kid is already too strong," the White Prison Guardian said. "In my opinion, only Shelin might have the confidence to defeat him."

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

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

Year after year passed after the opening of Wu Ming's world.

As more and more source-level lifeforms refined their hearts with weapons, batches of experts passed the third level one after another, but Xu Jingming was like an unshakable mountain. They all crashed into him and were defeated. Xu Jingming had been yearning for "a defeat," but as time went on, he refined his heart force for the tenth and eleventh time, and still didn't wait for an opponent.