Chapter 19 The Gold Master

"Wan Xiao and Zhou Qi, they all have big mouths." Li Yuan felt quite helpless in his heart.

On the day he and Lin Lanyue arranged their duel, the news spread throughout the entire senior year before night self-study even began.

Lin Lanyue was a celebrity, and Li Yuan also had some reputation.

There were all sorts of rumors.

The most important reason was that Lin Lanyue had never challenged another student to a duel in recent years, and Li Yuan was the first.

At first, Li Yuan held the idea that 'the clean do not need justification,' and couldn't be bothered to pay attention, but later on he realized how naive he was.

Today, over 300 people have come to the Starry Skies Fighting Network to watch their battle, and they were mostly classmates.

And the number was steadily approaching 400.

This was already an astonishing number, considering it was just a personal duel, and no one was live streaming it.

"Brother Yuan, see how awesome I am? I brought the whole class to cheer for you!" Zhou Qi, with his blonde spiky hair and leather pants, waved and shouted from the spectator stands.

The virtual network's 70% realism made the entire ring and its surroundings nearly identical to reality, with hundreds of people gathered around the ring creating a bustling scene.

"Keep it up."

"Brother Yuan, your long spear must be hungry for action by now."

The noisy voices all around, many people also took out banners and glow sticks, all of which were props provided for free by the system.

Quite a few were supporters of Li Yuan.

But most of the audience was still rooting for Lin Lanyue. Good grades, pretty, very popular… mainly among the boys.

The boys were mostly quite loyal, only liking pretty eighteen-year-old girls.

Even more so since Lin Lanyue was only seventeen.

…On the ring.

"Ready." Li Yuan's thought moved.

Suddenly, the lights around the ring about 30 meters in diameter changed from red to green in an instant.

The virtual bodies of Li Yuan and Lin Lanyue disappeared instantly.

At the same time, a huge countdown appeared above the ring: 30, 29, 28…

"Both parties in the duel are below the Fallen Star Stage, so the system has set physical quality at level 8.0 for the battle."

"You have 24 seconds left, please choose your weapon, otherwise it will be automatically selected based on your preference after time runs out."

In the preparation space, the system's voice echoed in Li Yuan's ears.

"Physical quality of level 8.0." Li Yuan felt the change in his body's strength, already quite used to it.

"Weapon plan number one." Li Yuan said directly.

As an 'old bird' who had been through over a thousand battles on the Starry Skies Fighting Network, he chose different weapon plans for different types of battles and different opponents.

Li Yuan had set up five different weapon plans.

"Selected weapon: Standard Long Spear number 9, length 2.3 meters, weight…" A large amount of data flashed before Li Yuan's eyes.

A 2.3 meters long spear was considered a shorter one, and Li Yuan would be at a disadvantage if he faced other long spear experts.

An inch longer, an inch stronger.

Since Lin Lanyue's weapon was a sword, a spear that was too long would not be nimble enough, and thus not necessarily advantageous... it was fine to have a slightly longer weapon.

"Even when hunting a rabbit, the lion uses all its might, not to mention the 2,000 Blue Star Coins at stake," Li Yuan mused.

Li Yuan never wasted.

…

The crowd around the ring was surging, with the number of spectators exceeding 400, and not all were students. There were also a few outsiders.

For example—Teacher Xu Bo, Principal Tan Zhenlong.

"Quite a lively atmosphere."

Principal Tan stood in a corner, wearing a hat that made him look different from his real appearance. No students could recognize him.

"It's lively," Xu Bo said with a smile. "Look, it's about to start."

Principal Tan nodded. He was brought along by Xu Bo, mainly because he had nothing else to do.

As Lin Lanyue was the top seed of the senior year, Principal Tan naturally took some interest in her.

On the ring.

Countdown 3, 2, 1... swoosh! swoosh!

Li Yuan and Lin Lanyue reappeared on either side of the ring, both in combat armor and armed with their weapons.

The most eye-catching was the golden emblem above their heads.

"Gold Stage?"

"Gold experts?"

"Both are at the Gold Stage?" Suddenly, a series of exclamations erupted from around the ring.

"Brother Yuan reached the Gold Stage? He was still at the Silver Stage when we last played the great escape together," Zhou Qi, Wan Xiao, and the others all widened their eyes.

"He's been secretly leveling up without us?" Yan Zhou said, "Next time we have to get Brother Yuan to take us for a great escape."

"Gold experts? Both of them?" Li Tianyou stood in a corner, looking at the insignias above the two on the ring, "Lanyue also reached the Gold Stage?"

Lin Lanyue didn't know Li Tianyou.

But that didn't stop Li Tianyou from falling for Lin Lanyue at first sight.

There were quite a few senior year boys who had secret crushes on Lin Lanyue, but very few had the courage to actually confess.

"Damn, Li Yuan is also at the Gold Stage?" Gu Qianghan stared at the emblem above Li Yuan's head, "No wonder Teacher Xu praised Li Yuan so much."

The revelation that both parties to the duel were at the Gold Stage instantly cranked up the atmosphere.

"Oh? Both at the Gold Stage?" Principal Tan was also slightly surprised, "I wonder if they have reached 500 points. If so, they're both qualified for special admission."

"Old Tan, I told you, these two students are extraordinary," Xu Bo said with a smile. "Otherwise, why would I bring you here?"

Let alone senior year students.

Even many students at Martial Arts University didn't reach the Gold Stage.

…

"You've reached the Gold Stage?" Holding his long spear, Li Yuan stared at the red-haired Lin Lanyue, quite surprised.

The Starry Skies Fighting Network classifies into nine stages: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Fallen Star, Bright Moon, Sun Eclipse, Transcendent, Legendary, Martial Sage.

For minors to reach the Gold Stage was extremely rare.

Even many of the self-proclaimed martial arts experts who are big streamers are mostly at the Bright Moon Stage, with very few reaching Sun Eclipse Stage.

Transcendent Stage and above? Those who reached it were already top martial artists in the real world and wouldn't be streaming.

At least, Li Yuan had never seen any Transcendent Stage masters when watching streams.

He had only seen them in some combat videos.

"Just you can break through?" Lin Lanyue asked, looking at Li Yuan with a cold voice.

Lin Lanyue wasn't surprised that Li Yuan had reached the Gold Stage, she had anticipated it.

"You have animosity towards me?" Li Yuan sensed vaguely.

The next instant.

"Boom!" Lin Lanyue made her move.

Her armor was also a fiery red, making her look like a blaze as she charged toward Li Yuan like lightning.

With a physical quality of level 8.0, her burst speed reached 18 meters per second, and her standard fist strength was 800 kilograms.

And the diameter of the arena was only 30 meters.

From initiation to closing in, Lin Lanyue could reach Li Yuan in no more than 2.2 seconds.

"Chi~" A fiery red long sword struck at Li Yuan like lightning.

"Rip~"

Li Yuan cracked a smile and gripped his long spear, his body moving in an instant, fiercely thrusting forward.

Central level thrust!

"Clang!" The fiery red long sword collided with the long spear, and the spear trembled, deviating in direction, while the sword turned in mid-air like a viper striking back.

"This swordsmanship."

"It's a bit bizarre. Its explosive power is so strong. It's even stronger than my spear's straight thrust. Could it be a move associated with the high-rank cultivation methods?" Li Yuan wondered in surprise.

He had heard early on that Lin Lanyue practiced the Blazing Flame Burning Heaven Cultivation Method from among the seven high-rank cultivation methods.

Each method is divided into many parts, such as stance-practice methods, breathing techniques, and fist techniques.

Li Yuan had never come into contact with high-rank cultivation methods.

But he knew it was an advancement of one of the Seven Fundamental Cultivation Methods, the Blazing Flame Cultivation Method.

"The 'Blazing Flame Cultivation Method' excels in attacking, and this high-rank cultivation method should be the same. Head-on attacks are not my strong suit, and her swordsmanship level is also at the third stage." Li Yuan's spear technique changed in his hand: "I must be careful."

The long spear was swiftly retracted, switching from attacking to placing the spear in defense.

At the same time, Li Yuan started to move, using his movement technique to unload force.

"Clang!" "Clang!" Sword light and spear shadow collided rapidly, striking over ten times in the blink of an eye.

"How steady are his steps and foundation?" Lin Lanyue was also surprised: "My use of 'Sea of Fire Sinking Boat' was actually unloaded by him with a single spear stroke."

In Lin Lanyue's view, Li Yuan, who was all about defense, seemed like a tortoise.

She couldn't break through at all.

...

"So fast!"

"How did Li Yuan block Lin Lanyue's continuous sword attacks?"

"Awesome!"

"His stepping technique is so exquisite."

"Li Yuan's spear technique, so stable." Most of the spectators were amazed.

They had mostly seen higher-level live duels and recorded fights.

But subconsciously, they viewed those as martial path masters, not expecting a classmate to be so strong.

"Do you know what it means to be the top martial arts student of the year?"

"I always said Lin Lanyue was no match for Brother Yuan."

"Come on, Brother Yuan, finish her."

"Brother Yuan's spear is always enduring!"

"He can even block several strikes from Teacher Xu's class. How much more so Lin Lanyue?"

The students of class 3 (2) were excited.

They weren't highly skilled, but they understood a simple truth of martial arts: the longer one's attacks are unsuccessful, the greater their energy consumption tends to be.

"His defense is indeed good."

"This sword technique, it should be derived from 'Sea of Fire Sinking Boat', attacking fiercely." Principal Tan also commented, with a touch of surprise: "Li Yuan actually blocked it. His spear technique is really stable. He should have comprehended a defensive move."

"Xu Bo, you've taught a good disciple," Principal Tan said with a smile.

"Old Tan, since you said that, why don't you quick approve his first-rank scholarship." Xu Bo said with a laugh.

Principal Tan immediately shut his mouth.

"Hmm?" Xu Bo smiled and said no more, continuing to watch the fight, when suddenly his eyes lit up, and he shook his head, saying, "Lin Lanyue has been careless."

...

Above the arena, Lin Lanyue continuously unleashed her sword techniques, her attacks like relentless flames, applying constant pressure.

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!"

Li Yuan's long spear, whether it was sweeping, flicking, retreating with footwork, or occasionally thrusting straight to force a retreat.

Lin Lanyue was unable to get close.

After mastering the technique 'Solid Rock Pillar', Li Yuan's focus on defense had the essence of an immoveable mountain.

"The fifty-seventh sword," Li Yuan silently counted in his mind: "She has been on the attack, her energy is depleting, and her sword force weakening."

"She's getting anxious."

"In a fight to the death, once you become hasty, you're prone to making mistakes, just wait."

On the fifty-ninth sword, Li Yuan keenly captured a slight change in the threat of the opponent's sword technique.

The sixty-third sword.

"Whoosh!" The sword light flared like fire, swift and fierce.

Lin Lanyue was still launching fierce attacks, bent on breaking through Li Yuan's defense. Her swordsmanship was sharp, but unbeknownst to her, she had somewhat relaxed her own defense.

After all, from start to finish, Li Yuan had never gone on the offense and had been strictly defending.

"Now is the time!" Li Yuan's eyes suddenly shone brightly,

"Boom!"

Li Yuan completely disregarded Lin Lanyue's strike, his long spear vibrating fiercely as if it were a giant dragon hidden amidst countless rocky cliffs, exploding forward with a piercing thrust.

Spear technique killing move—Dragon Hidden in the Gorge!

"Not good!" Lin Lanyue immediately realized something was amiss, feeling Li Yuan's momentum change in an instant, as if a ferocious beast had bared its fangs.

The force was formidable.

"It's too late to retreat." Realizing this, Lin Lanyue's eyes gleamed with cold light, without any hesitation.

Instead of retreating, she thrust her sword even more fiercely.

"Thump!!"

The long spear pierced through the armor, directly penetrating Lin Lanyue's chest, blood streaming down as her body dissipated into nothingness.

The light armor couldn't block Li Yuan's spear.

"Rip!"

The next instant, the fierce long sword also struck Li Yuan's shoulder, blood splashing.

"Clang~" The long sword fell to the ground.

On the arena, only the injured Li Yuan remained.

"The spear is longer than the sword, so I had an extra 0.1 second of reaction time." Li Yuan shook his head, then revealed a slight smile.

"One minute, two thousand Blue Star Coins in hand."

"What a thrill!"