Chapter 21

When the time approached July 8th, everything that shouldn't have happened didn't happen.

Life seemed to return to normal all at once.

And the Dragon Tomb Society finally became one of the sixteen teams.

This year's Middle School Cup saw a very unusual situation, with three of the top ten seeded clubs already eliminated. Even the Changsheng Club, one of the most favored, was defeated by the Tiantian Club—due to the absence of their president, they now had less than two-thirds of their original strength.

Of course, this didn't mean that the Changsheng Club was completely out of the competition.

In the round of sixteen on July 8th, Zhou Xian and his team would face the deputy team of the Changsheng Club.

The top ten seeded clubs not only participated themselves but also had some sub-teams. On July 8th, which was today, Zhou Xian would be facing the Changsheng Club's puppet team.

"I really don't want to fight against my senpai..."

In the backstage area, Tao Shan poked his head out onto the stage.

When the round of sixteen began, the previous match format had changed. The portable battle platform was no longer used; instead, a professional competition venue was set up.

If they hadn't known in advance that this place was the school gym, Zhou Xian and his team might have thought they had arrived at a large, professional e-sports center.

"Don't be afraid. The only strong member of the Changsheng Club's puppet team is Huang Yingyue. The others are just experimental tactics players. They can't handle us!"

Xu Tianyun, the president, came over to boost everyone's morale.

"What, is this team very strong?" Li Chuyu asked.

Now, in the round of sixteen, each team had their own temporary rest room, and the club managers no longer had to stay in the audience.

"Oh, Chuyu, you don't know. We've faced the puppet team before, but... their tactics are very unconventional," Tao Shan scratched his head.

"Yes, and although we did fight them in the match, Senpai Huang Yingyue didn't participate. She just watched Zhou Xian's three great skills and then conceded," Xu Tianyun added.

"Zhou Xian, you go first."

Just as Xu Tianyun was complaining, Zhang Taihao suddenly spoke up.

"Old Zhang?"

"Take out the first two, then forfeit and let me take over," he said.

"Are you sure?" The one who asked wasn't Zhou Xian, but Lai Yiming, who was responsible for the battle plan. He could clearly see the fighting spirit in Zhang Taihao's eyes.

"But this way, our margin for error will be smaller," Xu Tianyun had to consider the entire Dragon Tomb Society. In battle, Tao Shan, Xu Tianyun, and Lai Yiming's skills were about the same, while Zhou Xian and Zhang Taihao were a step above, almost a guarantee of victory.

"Then let me go first," Lai Yiming stood up. "Their team's tactics are unconventional, but I think I can handle them."

"Strategy against unconventional tactics? Old Lai, you can give it a try."

Zhou Xian nodded.

"Alright, let's go with that."

While the Dragon Tomb Society was making a last-minute plan due to Zhang Taihao's fighting spirit, the first match of the round of sixteen had already started, between the E-Sports Club and the Zero Club. Both were among the top ten seeded clubs, but the former was more favored.

The E-Sports Club's lineup consisted of President Gu Yunsheng, Vice President Su Xiaoyue, and another member named Li Binseng, with two substitutes.

The Zero Club also had a lineup of the president and two vice presidents.

In the middle school, the president and vice presidents usually represented the highest combat power of the club, which was different from university clubs.

However, the Middle School Cup itself was also different from the University Cup and professional competitions.

In professional competitions, the standard lineup was five players, four substitutes, two logistics, and one coach, totaling twelve people.

The Middle School Cup was much simpler, with three main players and two substitutes, fewer than in professional matches.

The first match was almost a no-brainer. Su Xiaoyue's mage took on two opponents, and then Li Binseng went in and decisively defeated the Zero Club.

"Tsk, tsk, Su Xiaoyue is not only beautiful and rich, but also so powerful. She's really amazing..."

Xu Tianyun watched the match end decisively and marveled at the E-Sports Club's strength.

"Su Xiaoyue represents the highest competitive level of the female students in our middle school. How could she not be strong?" Tao Shan sighed.

"Hey, what about Senpai Huang Yingyue?" Lai Yiming shook his head. "Su Xiaoyue is indeed strong, but compared to Senpai Huang Yingyue, who has the powerful Infinite Step skill, she's still a bit lacking. It's a pity that Senpai will graduate next year; otherwise, she would definitely outshine Su Xiaoyue."

"The winner of the first match is the E-Sports Club. The next match is between the Dragon Tomb Society and the Changsheng Club's sub-team. Please prepare, the match will start in ten minutes."

"It's our turn." Lai Yiming stood up and looked at the Changsheng Club members walking over.

"Zhang Taihao—Victory! Zhang Taihao—Victory!"

As soon as the Dragon Tomb Society came out, the cheering squad organized by Zhang Taihao's maids immediately started shouting.

However, when Huang Yingyue appeared, the cheering for Zhang Taihao was quickly drowned out by the boys' enthusiastic shouts.

"Senpai Huang Yingyue, we support you!"

"Senpai is the best! Senpai is the greatest!"

The students started cheering and screaming as soon as they saw Huang Yingyue, who was also one of the top ten school beauties in the middle school and had many admirers.

"Zhang Taihao, go for it! We support you!"

But before the boys could finish their cheers, the girls were not satisfied. Zhang Taihao's cheering squad also started screaming. Zhou Xian looked around and realized that it wasn't just Zhang Taihao's cheering squad that was screaming.

"Zhou Xian! Go for it! You can definitely win the championship!"

A high-pitched voice suddenly drowned out all the other screams and cheers.

"..."

The entire venue was stunned for a moment.

"..." Zhou Xian immediately recognized the owner of the voice.

Not to mention that the owner of the voice had already attracted the attention of everyone in the venue.

"Beidou, this guy..."

Zhou Xian pretended not to know her and walked onto the stage. But the audience was already in an uproar.

"Oh—what a cute girl!"

"A legendary kawaii girl! This feeling... it's like a girl from a 2D world!"

"So beautiful, who is she?"

"Who is Zhou Xian from the Dragon Tomb Society?" A boy noticed the name.

"The cold-blooded school beauty killer introduced in the gossip magazine a few months ago! The one who made Li Chuyu quit the dance club and is rumored to have a relationship with Senpai Huang Yingyue! Oh, right, someone saw this guy sitting with Senpai Su Xiaoyue a few days ago."

"Damn! So powerful?" The boy immediately looked at Zhou Xian with a burning gaze. Compared to Zhang Taihao, who had a cheering squad, this cold-faced killer who could pass through a sea of flowers without touching any was the real idol for the boys!

"Master Zhang Taihao! Go for it!"

At this moment, another female voice burst out.

Luli, who had been hiding nearby, couldn't sit still anymore.

"Wow, in a maid outfit!"

"Another cute girl!"

"Is this Zhang Taihao's maid? So cool..."

Luli looked at Beidou with a challenging gaze—calling you out for stealing our thunder?

But at that moment, she saw Beidou give her a mischievous smile and then shout to the stage:

"Zhou Xian! If you win the championship, I can be your girlfriend!!"

"Damn!"

The audience erupted.

There was no way around it; the declaration was too bold. However, the principal's voice immediately silenced Beidou's bold declaration: "Classmates, early romance is not a good behavior. Our Zhongzhou Academy has always been known for its excellent conduct, so please respect our school's atmosphere." After the principal spoke, the venue quieted down.

"Cough, cough... Zhou Xian, congratulations on making it to the round of sixteen."

The noise in the audience didn't affect the stage too much. Although Beidou's voice had made Zhou Xian and Zhang Taihao the focus of everyone, the principal's words made them calm down a bit.

"We also congratulate Senpai."

Hearing Zhou Xian's words, Huang Yingyue shook her head. "What are you congratulating me for? Our main team has already been defeated. Now facing you, I'm in a tough spot. But Zhou Xian, I'm looking forward to fighting you."

"Senpai, you're joking. But this time, Zhang Taihao wants to fight you, and we might not have the chance."

"Is that so?" Huang Yingyue looked at Zhang Taihao with a smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. We are about to start the second match of the round of sixteen, between the Dragon Tomb Society and the Changsheng Club's sub-team." The announcer's voice drowned out the audience and stopped the two teams from chatting.

"As everyone knows, the Changsheng Club's president had an accident this year and couldn't participate, leading to their defeat. However, the Changsheng Club's sub-team has made it to the round of sixteen..."

After a bunch of unnecessary words, the announcement of the match start finally came.

Lai Yiming first connected his virtual helmet to the machine, and then his avatar appeared in the virtual arena on the big screen.

This was no longer a preliminary match, so the arena now had terrain settings. Lai Yiming was now in a swampy area.

This terrain in the game was called the Great Swamp, a typical swampy area.

The terrain for the Middle School Cup was as follows: the first match's terrain was random, the second was chosen by the winner, the third by the loser, and then the fourth followed the same pattern.

"Trouble, Lai Yiming's character is a warrior, and this swamp terrain is not favorable for him..." Xu Tianyun immediately noticed this disadvantage.

"Don't worry, it might just be perfect for him..." Zhou Xian trusted Lai Yiming's skills.

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