"How could you... how could you know Phantom Tracer?" Zhang Yu's expression kept changing before he finally managed to ask with difficulty.

"Is it that hard to understand that I know Phantom Tracer?"

"Phantom Tracer is a secret technique of the Jin City Star Martial Academy, and you're a student from Suzhou City... Yesterday, Xu Ruo was severely injured, and even the two masters from the Medical Attribute couldn't heal her. But last night, she suddenly recovered. Could it be... could it be that she made a deal with you?"

Wang Lan's brow furrowed slightly. I have to admit, their deal was aboveboard, and Ni Yushu actively sought the exchange. How could it possibly be pinned on me? Seeing the look of utter frustration on Zhang Yu's face, a slight smile tugged at the corners of Wang Lan's lips.

"What era is this that we still keep unshareable secrets? The very existence of academies is to teach Star Martial Skills. If there really are secrets that cannot be passed on, then we might as well not have Star Martial Academies at all. The country has repeatedly emphasized promoting the circulation of Star Martial Skills. Star Martial Skills have no ownership. Talking about undisclosed secrets of the Jin City Star Martial Academy, aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

"And even if I did make a deal last night, could I really demonstrate proficiency second only to yours today? Have you ever considered how much time it took you to practice to your current level?"

Wang Lan's words immediately dispelled Zhang Yu's suspicions. It wasn't that he had much faith in Wang Lan's character; an A-grade Star Martial Skill isn't that easy to master. He vividly remembered all the hardship he had endured to learn Phantom Tracer.

But...

"While that may be true, Star Martial Academies keep certain Star Martial Skills under wraps to maintain their core competitive edge. Otherwise, the Dragon Emperor Form from the Modu City Star Martial Academy would have become commonplace long ago. You're right. I lost, and I am fully convinced by my loss.

I dedicated almost all my time to mastering Phantom Tracer for the past three years. This Star Martial Skill has indeed not disappointed me; I have sparred countless times over these three years and seldom tasted defeat.

It is precisely because I know how difficult it is to master Phantom Tracer that I am convinced by you. You have practiced so many Star Martial Skills to an advanced level and still managed to master Phantom Tracer to this extent.

In terms of talent and effort, I may not compare to you. So, I admit defeat."

"BEEP—"

"Wang Lan is the winner—"

"Congratulations, Host, for completing the fourth round of the provincial martial competition and being the first to enter the top eight. Reward: eight thousand experience points, eight hundred skill points—"

A voice like heavenly music resounded in his mind, and suddenly, a warm current flowed through his body. Just as Wang Lan was about to turn around, his body abruptly paused. Panicked, he sank his mind into his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness.

It had been a long time since he had checked the system. He knew only that he wasn't far from the Star Cloud Stage, but because he had been so busy these past few days, Wang Lan hadn't paid much attention to the specifics.

When the system interface appeared before his eyes, the experience value for Star Shine 9 had already maxed out. Instantly, it was as if a wheel of fireworks rose on the system display.

Both of them, though leaving the ring, instinctively paused. Wang Lan sensed he was about to break through, while Zhang Yu sensed Wang Lan seemed to be breaking through.

"Do you two students still have any doubts?" The refereeing teacher strode over, but just as he neared, the Spirit Power Fluctuations from Wang Lan surged like waves, sweeping over him layer by layer.

Zhang Yu whipped his head around, his expression as horrified as if he had seen a ghost.

"CRAP—" Xu Xiangwen abruptly stood up.

This scene was all too familiar. This wasn't the first time Wang Lan had pulled such a stunt. Even without sensing the Star Energy Fluctuation, Xu Xiangwen had already guessed what Wang Lan was up to.

"Wang Lan, he is..." Jiang Xinyu hesitated slightly. Although she had a guess in her heart, her expression was one of disbelief. "He broke through? Impossible! Didn't he just finish a fight?"

"That damn Lanzi! Breaking through after a battle isn't his first time. Remember the Star Martial Conquest? It was the same thing... Wait, Lanzi is already at the peak of Star Shine, right?"

"You mean... he's about to break through to the Star Cloud Stage?"

More and more people in the stands realized what Wang Lan was doing. Such an absurd event was actually happening? Shouldn't this only be a plotline in TV dramas?

The teachers in charge of observation stood up in unison. Then, under the visible Spirit Power Fluctuations surrounding Wang Lan, many students realized he was breaking through.

"What... what a joke! Breaking through after a battle? How can he ensure that his Star Palace is filled with overflowing Star Power? Don't tell me his Star Power actually increases the more he uses it!"

"I now have reason to suspect this guy secretly popped Soul Beads during the competition."

"Are you stupid? Setting aside whether Zhang Yu would have noticed him popping Soul Beads, even if he wasn't discovered, did you see the intensity of the battle just now? Did he even have a chance to pop Soul Beads?"

"Then explain to me, what is going on here? This definitely defies common sense! The ancestors must be rolling in their graves!"

Compared to the live audience who couldn't accept Wang Lan breaking through after the battle, the online acceptance was much higher. This wasn't the first time, after all; there was nothing surprising about it.

"Same familiar scene, same familiar recipe."

"What do you think the reason for his breakthrough this time is? Excitement from winning?"

"Isn't that it? It was like that last time. He broke through in his excitement, and it ended with dozens of contestants backstage ganging up on him."

"Could Wang Lan be cheating? Secretly popping pills?"

"To the sourpuss upstairs: Our Wolf King has a history of breaking through like this."

"Not the first time. Get used to it..."

BOOM—

Suddenly, the Spiritual Power surrounding Wang Lan transformed into bright red flames that swept out in all directions. The heatwave turned into a hurricane, causing a surge of wind throughout the entire gymnasium.

In an instant, the system interface update was complete, and new data displayed before Wang Lan's eyes:

Character: Wang Lan

Level: Star Cloud Stage LV1

To the left of the character, the red and blue bars instantly lengthened and widened.

The changes in the data were just numbers, but the changes Wang Lan personally felt were the most real. His strength, neural reflexes, and physical toughness had all been massively enhanced. The most noticeable change was in his Star Power, which had expanded explosively. What had been mere warm currents of Star Power now felt as though it had solidified into substance.

The density of his Star Power had increased by at least five times. If he were to engage in another battle of the same intensity, Wang Lan wouldn't even need to use his stored, sealed Star Power; he could face Zhang Yu head-on.

After the breakthrough was complete, Wang Lan's aura returned to normal.

He walked toward the stands with an arrogant swagger, his every move followed by countless gazes locked on him until he settled quietly back into his seat.

"You broke through?"

"Mm," Wang Lan replied, his voice flat.

"Star Cloud Stage?"

"Yeah."

SLAP—

Xu Xiangwen slapped Wang Lan on the back of the head. Wang Lan looked up and saw Xu Xiangwen's eyes, red as a rabbit's, with veins faintly twitching at his temples.

"Lanzi, this is a breakthrough! Why do you look so dissatisfied? You look like you're at a funeral!"

"A breakthrough is just a breakthrough. It's not the first time, nothing to fuss over."

Xu Xiangwen couldn't stand this response. He shot up, teeth bared, but Gong Feiyu immediately restrained him, advising, "This is just Lanzi's usual act to show off. Don't fall for it. Stay cool."

Clenching his teeth, Xu Xiangwen found Wang Lan's smirk unbearable. I really want to stomp a footprint right on his face!

The next match officially began, and everyone's attention shifted to it. Meanwhile, Wang Lan immersed his mind in his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness. I'm so busy now. Busy with what? So many Star Martial Skills are waiting to be upgraded to Gold-level!

All of his Star Martial Skills, except for Phantom Tracer at Silver 7, were at Silver 9. With such high levels, it would be a waste not to upgrade them all to Gold.

Having just earned eight hundred skill points, the now-wealthy Wang Lan naturally went, Tap, tap, tap.

Star Cloud Sword Dance, add one point. In an instant, the silver-white skill icon turned gold as if by alchemy. At that moment, a tumultuous pain, like a raging river, pierced Wang Lan's mind.

The Gold-level Star Cloud Sword Dance brought a sparkle to Wang Lan's eyes. Previously, I could only create a dozen afterimages. Now that it's Gold-level, the number has instantly increased to a flurry, like that side-stepping technique. Even though I haven't executed it yet, I guarantee it's enough to scare someone to death!

If Star Cloud Sword Dance has become so mighty, what about Flame Sword? Upon activating Flame Sword, Wang Lan's perception changed. The thrill of that moment nearly caused his aura to flare out of control.

"Just now... did I suddenly feel a sense of... danger?" Xu Xiangwen, sitting next to Wang Lan, asked hesitantly, glancing surreptitiously at him.

"That's definitely your imagination," Wang Lan said, lifting his head and offering a harmless smile.

Flame Sword, Gold-level. It's no longer just an enhancement of the flame's temperature, but an improvement in flame control. Previously, though Flame Sword had many variations, like vertical and horizontal slashes, it couldn't be detached from my hands.

Just like a normal Wind Release: Rasengan.

But once upgraded to Gold-level, Flame Sword can be thrown! That's formidable. Flame Sword has no fixed shape and can morph into any form of sharp blade. Could I possibly shape it into flame shuriken?

This idea crossed his mind, and Wang Lan was so excited he wished he could go onto the field and try it immediately.

Now that Star Cloud Sword Dance and Flame Sword are Gold-level, Thunder Snake and Crescent Arrow naturally can't be left behind. However, Crescent Arrow wasn't at Silver 9.99, so upgrading these two to Gold cost me two hundred skill points.

Then, I also upgraded Basic Combat, Basic Body Skill, Basic Sword Skill, Basic Swordsmanship, and the most important Inch Strength Fist, all to Gold-level.

After this massive skill upgrade, Wang Lan didn't know how much stronger he had become. But I'm sure of one thing: I could beat ten of my former selves now!

Anyway, bragging isn't illegal.

"Wang Lan, still daydreaming? It's noon. Let's go eat."

"Oh…"

After Wang Lan upgraded Phantom Tracer to Gold-level, he was left with one hundred skill points. But in the future, skills won't be so easy to upgrade. When a skill reaches Gold-level, each subsequent level will require one thousand skill points, making it ten thousand points to get a single skill from Gold to Platinum. Even focusing on my main Star Martial Skills won't be enough. It's time to give up on the Basic Skills.

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