Chapter 138: Your Goal is Second

Chapter 138: Your Goal is Second



On the battle platform, the 17th Cage Free-for-All ended just a minute later.

Li Yuan killed the last opponent, surviving to the end and earning 31 points.

It wasn't that he didn't try hard in the final stages; his confrontation with Kimura Toshio took too much time, and the remaining opponents... were not enough to boost Li Yuan's score significantly.

However, even so.

The combined score from two rounds brought Li Yuan's total score in the second round to an astonishing 105 points.

This was an impressive score.

On the battle platform, only Li Yuan remained.

"Temporary first in total score?" Li Yuan glanced at the Overall Score Leaderboard.

The significant points advantage from the first round, combined with a good performance in the second round, kept Li Yuan's total score at the top.

Although there were still three more Cage Free-for-Alls left,

top experts like Yuming, Guan Ying, and Galava had already finished their matches in the earlier rounds, and none of them had reached a total score of 100.

So, in a sense, Li Yuan had almost secured the top score in the second round.

"Let's go."

Li Yuan's mind flicked, and he vanished from the battle platform. Instead of returning to the spectator stand, he directly logged out of the virtual network.

...

"Li Yuan!"

"Li Yuan." The entire spectator stand erupted with intense cheers from countless spectators.

However, the first-year students of Kunlun Martial University were searching everywhere on the stand.

"Where is Li Yuan?"

"Where is Senior Brother?" They were all puzzled.

Logically, after exiting the battle platform, one should return directly to their seats on the spectator stand.

...

In Li Yuan's villa at Kunlun Martial University, in the underground martial arts room.

Li Yuan had already walked out of the rest room and picked up a weapon from the nearby rack.

"Twine, continuous." Li Yuan's mind still replayed the battle with Kimura Toshio.

Suddenly, his smart ring watch vibrated continuously.

At this moment, the vibration indicated an important message. Li Yuan looked down.

One message was from Li Yang: "Well done."

The other was from Lin Lan Yue: "First place, keep it up."

Li Yuan couldn't help but smile slightly and replied to both messages.

He turned off the smart ring watch and placed it aside.

Holding the spear, Li Yuan came to the center of the martial arts room, closed his eyes gently, and gripped the spear tightly, assuming the 'spear-holding stance' of the Stellar Gun Technique.

"Stellar like a circle, vast and rolling." Li Yuan murmured to himself.

Through the battle with Kimura Toshio,

that moment of inspiration allowed Li Yuan to re-examine his gun technique from a different perspective.

Kimura Toshio's 'Continuous Spear' seemed similar to Li Yuan's 'Twelve Consecutive Strikes.'

But there was a fundamental difference.

Twelve Consecutive Strikes were about each strike being more powerful than the last, the next strike always more formidable than the previous one, focusing on 'accumulating power.' When it reached its peak, it was like the force of a great river converging, inevitably bursting forth.

If not released, even at the peak of accumulation, it wouldn't last long.

Strength cannot be sustained.

But the Continuous Spear was different. It focused on 'twining' and 'endless continuity.' From the first strike to the last, the power often remained consistent.

The downside was that it wasn't as overwhelming, but the advantage was its stability, preventing the sudden collapse of one's spear momentum.

"Similar gun techniques, like the 'Cloud Controlling Spear Technique' that Teacher Li Yang had me practice, actually contain similar concepts." Li Yuan wasn't the first time encountering such techniques.

When fighting others on the Starfield Combat Network, he had also come across them.

During practical combat training with Teacher Jiang and the two Source Martial Artists, they had also used similar techniques.

However, they hadn't deliberately practiced them systematically.

"The most important thing is that in the past, I was solely focused on comprehending the Starry Five Forms, and where would I have paid attention to this?" Li Yuan couldn't help but smile and shake his head.

It's like many philosophical stories in textbooks. When you're young, you write them down in your books, learn them in class, thinking you understand them... perhaps it takes ten or twenty years to suddenly realize that you never truly understood them.

Gun techniques are the same.

Before comprehending the Starry Five Forms,

even though Li Yuan knew that the core of the Stellar Gun Technique lay in the first form, 'Stellar Dawn,' and understood the core concept of 'Stellar like a circle,'

even though he had seen other experts use similar techniques,

but without reaching the necessary realm, it seemed he knew the principles but had never truly grasped them.

The battle with Kimura Toshio, in a sense, was a step forward in Li Yuan's understanding of the Stellar Gun Technique after comprehending the Starry Five Forms.

Re-examining it, he gained new insights.

It wasn't that Kimura Toshio's gun technique was particularly strong, but his appearance was perfectly timed.

Timing is sometimes very important.

"The second form, 'Stellar Downpour,' to the fifth form, 'Stellar Wild Combat,' are all offensive techniques." Li Yuan thought silently: "Among the five killing moves, four are offensive, yet the Stellar Gun Technique is widely recognized as an 'extremely strong defensive gun technique.'"

"Why?"

"The core is the first form, 'Stellar Dawn.'" Li Yuan's spear moved slowly as he began practicing the first form, 'Stellar Dawn' again.

Although it seemed like the same technique, when he practiced it now, Li Yuan had a different feeling.

In the past,

once Li Yuan used the technique, he pursued the ultimate burst and speed, like a star exploding in a brilliant display.

But now, when he practiced it, the movements were slower, and the power was more restrained.

It was like a scorching star that, after billions of years of evolution, transitioned from its initial 'volcanic lava' era to a stable state.

It wasn't that this star no longer contained explosive power.

Rather, it had restrained this immense force, not easily unleashing it.

Practicing repeatedly, Li Yuan sought the special feeling he yearned for, hoping to grasp it.

True enlightenment is never a direct jump from 0 to 1.

It is a qualitative change from 0.99 to 1.

In the past, Li Yuan had practiced the Stellar Gun Technique countless times, dedicating years to it, battling various teachers and coaches.

This allowed him to unconsciously accumulate from 0 to 0.99.

Kimura Toshio's gun technique was the perfect catalyst, leading him to a possible breakthrough to 1.

But it was just a chance.

To truly seize it, he still needed to put in tremendous effort to practice, ponder, and summarize.

This was why he immediately came to practice the gun technique as soon as the battle ended.

"Stellar like a circle, with no beginning and no end."

"The Stellar Path is also a circle."

Li Yuan repeatedly practiced and pondered.

At this moment, Li Yuan no longer deliberately thought about how to use his gun technique to counter Dantai Feng. Instead, he focused on making his gun technique stronger.

...

In the virtual network, within the 'Battle Arena' of the Ten Schools Freshman Battle, the final Cage Free-for-All concluded, and the overall score rankings on the giant screen above were finalized.

"Li Yuan first place!"

"105 points."

"First place!" Thousands of students from Kunlun Martial Arts University who had come to spectate cheered.

The minority of second and third-year students maintained their composure, but most of them also applauded.

"Li Yuan, Yuming, Guan Ying, Galava, Vikram, Dantai Feng, Ruan Wennan, Helian Cheng, and eight other students are ranked in the top eight of the second round's total scores," the towering man announced from above the arena. "They will directly advance to the fourth round."

"Kimura Toshio... and 128 other students are ranked in the top 136 of the second round's total scores and will proceed to the third round tomorrow, where they will compete for the remaining eight spots in the fourth round."

With the host's enthusiastic voice, the second round of the Ten Schools Freshman Battle officially concluded.

...

"Where's Senior Brother?"

"Haven't seen him." The freshmen from the six colleges of Kunlun Martial Arts University couldn't help but search for Li Yuan on the arena.

"Damn."

"Brother Yuan is putting on an act too. Dantai Feng withdrew to get into the top eight," Gu Qianghan couldn't help but complain. "Brother Yuan got the top total score, but he didn't even show up."

"Does one have to put on an act to become stronger?" Gu Qianghan shook his head.

"No."

An Nong pretended to be profound, "It's not about putting on an act to become stronger, but only the experts can put on an act."

"Otherwise, they're just clowns."

...

At 7 PM, night fell.

Hoo! Li Yang arrived by flight, landing at Li Yuan's villa, a smile on his face.

"Teacher," Li Yuan, having received news of Li Yang's arrival, waited in the living room.

"Well done today," Li Yang smiled and sat down on the sofa. "Have a seat."

Li Yuan's victory over Kimura Toshio had made him shine in front of the teachers from various schools, and he was naturally delighted.

"Mhm," Li Yuan sat down.

"You've boosted the school's reputation by securing the top total score, well done," Li Yang smiled, looking at Li Yuan with increasing satisfaction.

"It's not that much," Li Yuan shook his head. "Dantai Feng withdrew in the second round. Otherwise, with his strength, securing the top total score would have been an easy feat."

Li Yuan had a clear understanding of his abilities.

First place in the second round's total scores? It was just an empty title.

"One should be humble, but not overly so," Li Yang smiled. "Dantai Feng withdrew, but Yuming and Guan Ying didn't. The elite students from other schools didn't withdraw either."

"Why didn't they take first place?" Li Yang smiled. "Isn't it just because their strength is not as great as yours?"

"Being able to surpass Yuming and Guan Ying is enough to prove that you're no less than the elite students from the world's top three martial arts schools."

Li Yuan nodded, not explaining further.

"Still worried about Dantai Feng?" Li Yang asked curiously.

"Yes," Li Yuan didn't hide this. "Teacher, to be honest, when facing others like Galava and Yuming... although I don't have absolute confidence in winning, I believe I have a chance."

"It's only against Dantai Feng that I feel I would lose more than win if he uses his sword and shield," Li Yuan admitted. "My strength is still insufficient."

In cultivation, one should be realistic and not arrogantly overestimate oneself.

If it's difficult to win, then it's difficult.

"Hahaha," Li Yang smiled as he looked at Li Yuan. "To be honest, I didn't expect you to win."

Li Yuan was taken aback.

Didn't expect me to win?

"Do you know who Dantai Feng is? He's just a step away from the Mind's Eye," Li Yang explained. "Even among the freshmen at Starfire University, he could compete for first place."

"First place at Starfire University means competing for first place globally."

"In other words, Dantai Feng is a top contender, at least in the top five, in your batch and even globally," Li Yang emphasized.

Li Yuan was surprised.

So, Dantai Feng is this powerful? He has a chance to compete for the global top spot.

"Normally, in competitions like the Ten University Freshman Battle, Starfire University shouldn't send their strongest students. It has no value for them to gain experience."

"According to convention, they should send the elite from the second tier," Li Yang shook his head. "For example, Yuming and Guan Ying. That's why I initially thought you had a chance to compete for first place."

"This time, I don't know what Starfire University's management was thinking, but they sent him."

Li Yuan listened quietly.

"So, when Dantai Feng joined, I didn't expect you to take first place," Li Yang smiled. "It's not that you're inferior to Dantai Feng. In terms of recent progress, you've been more impressive... I'm sure you'll definitely beat him in the future."

"But right now, you're indeed not as good as him."

Li Yuan lightly nodded; Dantai Feng's strength was formidable.

"The third and fourth round's schedules are out, and you and Dantai Feng won't meet early," Li Yang emphasized. "In other words, even if you two face off, it will be in the final match."

"Upper and lower divisions?" Li Yuan contemplated.

"Yes," Li Yang smiled. "So, my only request for you is to reach the final and secure a spot in the top four."

"Making it to the final is a victory."

"Don't carry a psychological burden."

"If you stop at the top four, well, the rewards are not much different from the champion and runner-up. There are still Heavenly Treasures."

...

After sending Li Yang off, Li Yuan returned to the underground martial arts room alone.

The lights came on, illuminating the room like daylight.

Li Yuan stood there, silently pondering Li Yang's words.

In summary, Li Yang's message was: "Strive for second place."

"Second place?" Li Yuan contemplated silently.

Li Yang's words were not wrong.

Li Yang had come to clarify the situation to Li Yuan so that he wouldn't carry too much psychological pressure.

However...

"Win or lose? Second place?" Li Yuan shook his head, not thinking further, and continued to quietly refine his gun technique.

Pursuing that mysterious and profound special realm.

...

On October 6th, the third round.

Among the participants, there were no top-tier experts, so Li Yuan didn't go to watch. He practiced alone.

On this day, the remaining eight spots in the top sixteen were decided.

...

October 7th, the fourth round.

The sky over Kunlun Martial Arts University was clear.

Today, the top sixteen would battle to determine the ultimate champion of the Ten University Freshman Battle.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end