In China’s official livestream channel.
“There are so many people.” Xu Jingming, Li Miaomiao, Wang Yi, Heng Fang, Yang Qingshuo, and Liu Chongyuan had all gathered. Even their family and friends had arrived in groups.
“The number of viewers in the livestream has already exceeded 800 million, and it’s still rising. It’s crazy.” Xu Jingming sighed.
“Hello, all viewers. Let me introduce the two people beside me…” The host, Liu Xin, had just started speaking on the commentary platform when all the stands erupted in tsunami-like cheers.
Liu Xin smiled and continued, “I believe these two guests can fully appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm. The person beside me is the world champion on the Cosmos Ranking, Teacher Liu Hai. Today is Teacher Liu Hai’s first participation in a livestream!”
The stocky Liu Hai sat on the commentary platform, but he appeared much more gentle and reserved as he smiled at the audience.
“Hello, everyone,” Liu Hai waved his hand and said.
Another wave of cheers erupted. Liu Hai had countless fans among the common folk and was extremely popular; it was just that Liu Hai never participated in livestreams or any activities. This was the first time he was live-streaming.
“Hahaha…” In the stands, Yang Qingshuo couldn’t help but say, “Master is usually like a lion or a tiger in front of us. He feels like a big fuzzy cat today and even knows to wave his hand obediently.”
“I’ve recorded your words. I’ll let Master listen to them later,” Heng Fang said. “The nerve of you to dare say that Master is like a big fuzzy cat.”
“There’s really some resemblance.” Li Miaomiao stared at Liu Hai on the commentary platform.
Liu Hai had a steadfast expression, framed by his thick facial hair. When he glared, he was like a tiger or a lion with terrifying might! However, he now resembled a big fuzzy cat smiling at the audience.
“Heard that? Even Sister-in-law says so,” Yang Qingshuo immediately said.
“Forget it then. I won’t tell Master.” Heng Fang watched carefully. “To be honest, Master does look like a Lucky Cat while sitting there waving.”
Xu Jingming said, “Master and Senior Lei Yunfang don’t have to participate in the preliminaries, so they can be guests. They will be participating in the main competition later… They won’t be sitting here on the commentary platform when that happens.”
“So it’s very possible that this is the only time they’ll be on the commentary platform during the Firestarter Cup’s events?” Wang Yi said.
“If he’s eliminated early, he might find himself sitting on the commentary platform again,” Li Miaomiao said.
“Eliminated early?” Xu Jingming and the others looked at Li Miaomiao.
“For example, if Liu Hai and Senior Lei Yunfang encounter each other early, won’t one side be eliminated?” Li Miaomiao said.
“You have a point,” Wang Yi said. “But according to the tournament rules, the probability of them meeting each other before the finals is very low. We will probably meet one of them even earlier.”
“Then, we’ll eliminate them!” Li Miaomiao clenched her fists. “As a substitute member, I believe in the strength of our team.”
On the commentary platform, Liu Xin introduced, “As for this person, he’s Teacher Lei Yunfang, ranked fifth on the Cosmos Ranking.”
Lei Yunfang had a scar on his face, and he had a cold expression. He was a little thin, and he usually didn’t smile. But on the commentary platform, he forced a smile and waved his hand at the nine-hundred-million-strong audience.
“Senior Lei Yunfang’s smile is so fake,” Xu Jingming commented.
“It’s not easy to make him smile.” Heng Fang nodded. “But at least he’s trying his best to smile.”
“Remember to take a screenshot of his smile. This is a famous scene,” Yang Qingshuo said.
On the commentary platform, Liu Xin said enthusiastically, “Teachers, it’s rare for you to visit our livestream for the first time. Look, there are already 900 million viewers; how passionate is that? Do you have anything to say to us?”
“I’m looking forward to…” Liu Hai smiled and said, “a team that will defeat my team at the Firestarter Cup.”
Another earth-shattering cheer erupted.
“As for me, I’m looking forward to fighting Brother Liu Hai in the Firestarter Cup,” Lei Yunfang said.
Liu Hai also looked at Lei Yunfang, the fastest saber expert in the world.
“See you in the competition,” Liu Hai said.
“Wow… My blood is pumping even before the Firestarter Cup begins,” Liu Xin said excitedly. “It’s almost midnight of September 1. All the teams registering for the Firestarter Cup are about to head to the preparation area.”
Meanwhile, Xu Jingming, Wang Yi, Heng Fang, Yang Qingshuo, and Liu Chongyuan received a notification—”The preliminaries are about to begin. Please proceed to the combat space.”
“Let’s go.” Xu Jingming got up, and the other four got up.
“All the best, son,” Mrs. Xu cheered.
“All the best, Dad.” Yang Qingshuo’s son cheered.
“Hubby, you’re the most handsome!” Heng Fang’s wife shouted.
“All the best, Daddy!” Three girls looked at Liu Chongyuan in admiration.
“Mom, you’re the world champion!” A girl looked at Wang Yi and shouted happily.
“Team Pearwood—invincible!” Li Miaomiao cheered.
Xu Jingming and the others headed to the combat space amidst the cheers of their relatives and friends.
******
Whoosh.
In the combat space, in the preparation area of the Firestarter Cup.
“There are so many people.” Xu Jingming and the others appeared out of thin air and saw a dense crowd.
“A total of 821 teams registered this time, and most Divine experts participated,” Heng Fang said. “I heard that on the last day of the registration, many Divine experts live-streamed to gather teammates! Nobody cared as long as the other party was a Divine and could make do to form a team.”
“It’s easy for us to invite teammates because we are strong enough and know many experts,” Liu Chongyuan said. “Many civilian experts don’t have many friends; it’s even possible that they only broke through to Divine in the last two days! Their strength is also at the bottom of the Divine rankings, so they don’t know many other Divines… If they want to recruit teammates, they can only do so publicly. It’s very normal for five unfamiliar Divines to form a ragtag team and join in on the fun.”
“It’s indeed difficult for civilian contestants in the early stages.” Xu Jingming nodded. “But with a population of more than a billion, their numbers among Divines will keep increasing.”
“There are nearly 5,000 Divine experts now—I’ve done a rough count,” Wang Yi said. “There are less than 2,000 people like you and me who have professional training. The others are all civilian gladiators. In other words… more than half of the Divine gladiators are now civilian gladiators!”
“There were very few professional gladiators in the past,” Xu Jingming said. “In the past 30 years, there were only about 300 men and women on the national team.”
“Master, Master!” A shout suddenly sounded from afar as a handsome youth ran over.
“Huh?” Xu Jingming looked at him carefully. “Fatty, you’ve become thin?”
A handsome youth ran over and said excitedly, “Master, I’ve practiced Shadow Leopard Evolution, and it has especially good weight-loss effects. Look, I’m much more handsome, right? Many of our female classmates from before have taken the initiative to woo me. Haha, they can keep dreaming! Now, I, Pang Yun, have the right to choose.”
“Let me do the introductions.” Xu Jingming smiled at his teammates. “This is a disciple of mine from Binhai. This disciple of mine is a little fat and lazy; he doesn’t want to train his body and only uses a very light spear to learn spearmanship from me. I taught him in private for three years, and he learned 50% to 60% of my spearmanship.”
“He made the right choice,” Wang Yi said. “With the evolutionary method, the body can now naturally evolve to its limits. But for the basics of spearmanship… It’s difficult to get Xu Jingming to teach you spearmanship in a one-on-one manner these days.”
“Yeah, I lucked out! I reached Divine yesterday.” Pang Yun was delighted. “I immediately flaunted it in the high school class chat and thought of ways to recruit some Divine experts to form a team. Regardless, I’m participating in China’s first National Cup.”
“All the best, Pang Yun,” Xu Jingming said.
“Master, I definitely won’t make it through the preliminaries. However, all the best to you, Master.” Pang Yun clenched his fists. “Even if you can’t defeat Liu Hai and Master Lei Yunfang, you have to come in third.”
“Shut up. You call wishing me third place a congratulation?” Xu Jingming kicked his ass, and Pang Yun ran off with a smile.
“Master, when I’m eliminated, I’ll definitely watch your livestream and tip you.” Pang Yun ran into the distance and joined his teammates.
“You taught him in one-on-one private tutoring sessions for three years?” Heng Fang was surprised. “Your time is very precious, right? I remember that you didn’t spend much time teaching your disciples at the combat center.”
“This was personally requested by Senior Brother Fang Xinglong,” Xu Jingming said. “Moreover, the annual private tutoring fee is seven digits.”
The moment he finished speaking, the preparation space began to sound—”The preliminaries are about to begin. Countdown: 10, 9, 8…”
All the teams in the preparation space fell silent. The moment the countdown ended, all the teams disappeared and were sent to the combat area of the preliminaries.