25: Chapter 25 Li Wen Takes the Stage

Across from him, the blue-clothed virtual human, having completed its mission, also dissipated into scattered points of light.

"This... is the power of the Blue-Clothed?" In the audience seats, Li Wen watched the brief battle displayed on the big screen—a fight where one side was completely suppressed until being instantly defeated. His pupils constricted, and he subconsciously held his breath, murmuring to himself.

This was the first time he had personally witnessed the blue-clothed virtual human, representing the Perfection Realm of Top Tier techniques, making a move.

That exquisite control over power, the terrifying staff technique that was as swift as a startled swan and as imposing as a mountain, and the massive gulf separating it from the Major Achievement Realm—all of it was deeply imprinted on his mind.

It was truly just one step away from developing its own unique "Secret Technique" and stepping into the legendary "Unity Realm."

This shocking viewing experience made Li Wen deeply recognize a cruel reality.

On the path of martial arts techniques, the barriers between Realms were incredibly rigid. Almost every small gap represented an overwhelming advantage.

Advanced Major Achievement could only hold on briefly against Top Tier Novice. Huang Hao, who was at Top Tier Major Achievement, was destroyed by the Blue-Clothed person at Top Tier Perfection so completely and without suspense.

And the gap between the legendary Unity Realm and Top Tier Perfection was rumored to be even greater!

Li Wen dared not imagine how powerful the purple-clothed entity, representing the Unity Realm, must be.

Despite the shock, there wasn't an ounce of fear in him.

Instead, an unprecedented, blazing desire ignited in Li Wen's heart.

"No matter how large the gap, it is not an insurmountable chasm. I have [One Proof, Eternal Proof], I have [Absolute Focus]... Given enough time, surpassing them is only a matter of time."

His expression quickly shifted from shock to determination and persistence.

To become stronger, and to become stronger faster! The spot in the Flying Star Class, the difficulties at home, his father's illness... All these things urgently required him to show his prowess now.

"The first batch of Martial Arts Technique Assessments is over. Students in the second batch, please proceed immediately to the Virtual Rooms!" The broadcast sounded, breaking the lingering sounds of amazement in the plaza.

Li Wen belonged to the second batch.

He suddenly stood up, ignoring the complex or curious gazes his classmates directed at him, and followed the crowd with steady, swift steps toward the teaching building where the Virtual Rooms were located.

"The Overachiever, go for it! Try to at least meet the Yellow-Clad Person!" Wei Wu, who hadn't taken his turn yet, sat on a stool and vigorously waved his fist toward Li Wen's retreating back, his eyes full of encouragement and trust.

"Mm, I will," Li Wen continued walking without stopping, turning his head to return a confident smile.

The Yellow-Clad Person? That was merely the starting point.

A few minutes later, Li Wen arrived with the crowd at the entrance of Virtual Room Three.

The interior space of the Virtual Room was larger than a regular classroom but not as spacious as a large martial arts classroom.

Inside, sixty streamlined virtual pods, blinking with faint blue indicator lights, were neatly arranged.

Each virtual pod had a corresponding examination number affixed to it.

Li Wen's gaze swept over them, and he quickly found the pod belonging to him. He deftly took off his shoes and lay down inside the cold metal shell according to the operating instructions.

The internal structure of the virtual pod was precise, and a semi-enclosed helmet was suspended from the top of the shell. Li Wen skillfully picked up the helmet and put it on, feeling a faint coolness.

Next, he picked up several sensing clips resembling electrocardiogram electrodes and clamped them onto his wrists and ankles. A slight numbing sensation flowed through his limbs—this was the neural sensory signal connection.

Confirming all equipment connections were correct, Li Wen slowly lay flat, allowing his body to fully conform to the soft cushioning material.

Finally, he took a deep breath, raised his hand, and decisively pressed the activation switch on the inner wall of the virtual pod.

Buzz—

A slight electric current instantly spread throughout his body, like immersing oneself in cool water.

The scene before his eyes abruptly darkened, then countless points of light rapidly converged, spun, and constructed...

When Li Wen opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in a vast, pure white space under a deep starry sky.

Beneath his feet was solid, smooth flooring that stretched to the horizon.

Rows of weapon racks gleaming with metallic luster were neatly arrayed not far away.

The virtual world!

Li Wen had been here many times, but every entry still brought forth an indescribable sense of emotion and detachment.

He had even absurdly wondered more than once if his current real self was merely existing within a higher-dimensional virtual pod, and if the secret of Transmigration was some kind of program reboot.

Unfortunately, no one could answer this philosophical question.

Nor would he ever verify it by committing suicide.

What did it matter if it was real or fake? Since he was here, this was the entire world he was striving for now.

He shook his head, forcefully suppressing those ethereal thoughts.

All that remained in Li Wen's eyes was determination and focus. He strode toward the weapon rack and reached out with a clear objective—

Clang!

A cold, standard steel quick blade appeared in his hand. The familiar weight and the familiar feel of the hilt instantly gave him a sense of control.

Without pausing for a moment, he held the quick blade, his steps steady yet carrying a pressing sharpness, and walked directly toward the solitary arena standing in the center of the field.

Tapping his toe, he easily flipped onto the stage.

As soon as he stepped onto the surface of the arena, a massive holographic countdown suddenly lit up before him: [10], [9], [8]...

The waiting time was exceptionally short, passing in the blink of an eye.

Buzz!

White light condensed, and a virtual human dressed in black, wielding a heavy staff, appeared expressionlessly ten meters opposite Li Wen.

The countdown hit zero!

"Hah!" The black-clothed virtual human attacked without any fancy moves, roaring as it brought the staff down overhead with brute force.

The imposing momentum was enough to make ordinary students tense up.

However, facing an opponent whose ability was equivalent to the Novice stage of Advanced Staff Technique, Li Wen didn't even bother activating [Absolute Focus]. He simply raised his hand casually, flicking his wrist slightly—

Whoosh!

A streak of dazzling blade light, like a white line tearing through space, shot upward from below, striking first! Precise, swift, and sharp!

The blade light flashed past. The staff swinging toward him and the black-clothed figure holding it were instantly split in two. Like a cut phantom, before even emitting a cry of pain, they dissolved into scattered points of light.

In the external plaza, in the feed showing Li Wen's perspective, the appearance and disappearance of the black-clothed person happened in the blink of an eye.

Next, the white-clothed person appeared—Advanced Technique Minor Achievement.

Looking at this opponent whom he had struggled fiercely to defeat half a semester ago, Li Wen's lips unconsciously curved into a knowing smile.

The memory did not cause him to hesitate; the blade light remained concise.

Without any extraneous movement, he still unleashed a casual slash.

The bright arc of the blade traced a perfect trajectory.

Ssssh—

The white-clothed figure, along with his weapon, followed the fate of the black-clothed person, turning into scattered light points.

It was utterly crushing.

Immediately following that, the red silhouette condensed—a virtual human equivalent to Advanced Technique Major Achievement appeared.

This hurdle, which had stopped over half the students and caused many to fail in defeat, yielded no different result against Li Wen's standard steel quick blade.

Still one slash.

On the large screens in the external plaza, the galaxy composed of several hundred screens was rapidly dimming and extinguishing.

This represented the failure of a large number of students being eliminated at the Black-Clothed, White-Clothed, and especially the Red-Clothed stages.

In just a few short minutes, the number of images on the screens had sharply reduced from several hundred to just over one hundred, the elimination rate being shockingly high.

And during this rapid reduction process, new opponents began to refresh on the surviving screens—figures dressed in orange, holding long staffs.

Representing Perfection of Advanced Technique.

The instant the Orange-Clothed person refreshed and appeared, due to the previous few close-up screens extinguishing, the System immediately randomly supplemented several new screens to maintain the observation scale of the assessment live broadcast.

The small split screen showing Li Wen happened to appear on the largest screen in the center of the plaza.

"Quick, look! It's The Overachiever!" Someone in the Class 21 area immediately pointed at the screen and exclaimed.