Chapter 128 The Old Men's Team

Xu Jingming and his group of five appeared in the stands.

"Facing a large-scale charge, facing heavily armored warriors in close combat, archers are indeed at a disadvantage." Wang Yi was still recalling that battle. "No wonder Zhou Yi hasn't been able to pass the third level of the Star Tower yet."

"The Star Tower's tiger pack is much more terrifying than the orc legion," Xu Jingming said.

"Although we were a little reckless at the end, the ranking is still pretty good," Yang Qingshuo said with a smile.

Xu Jingming, Heng Fang, Liu Chongyuan, Yang Qingshuo, and Wang Yi all looked at the ranking displayed on the livestream.

First: Zhou Yi Team (Captain Zhou Yi), 1000 kills

Second: Xianzi Team (Captain Zhang Qing), 1000 kills

Third: Yunshan Team (Captain Huo Qingshan), 1000 kills

Fourth: Jinpeng Team (Captain Tie Lianyun), 1000 kills

Fifth: Wuling Team (Captain Fang Yu), 1000 kills

Sixth: Dunfu Team (Captain Xiong Tianshan), 1000 kills

Seventh: Tianyin Team (Captain Zhuang Ziyu), 1000 kills

Eighth: Sanshu Team (Captain Feng Baiyu), 1000 kills

Ninth: Limu Team (Captain Xu Jingming), 1000 kills

Eleventh: Jianchun Team (Captain Qin Ge), 1000 kills

Twelfth: Shuangyu Team (Captain Gu Chong), 1000 kills

…

Twenty-fifth: Bailong Team (Captain Zheng Bailong), 998 kills

…

Eight hundred and twenty-first: Kaixin Team (Captain Pang Yun), 22 kills

"Ninth place is pretty good," Liu Chongyuan said. "We lacked cooperation in the last wave; we were more focused on improving ourselves."

Xu Jingming and his group of five also reunited with their relatives and friends.

"As a substitute member, I'm very happy to be able to enter the main competition." Li Miaomiao took the initiative to greet them, smiling happily. "Five official members, you've worked hard. We've already achieved the goal of the preliminaries, and now we need to prepare for the main competition."

Heng Fang nodded and said, "In the first round of the main competition, Master Liu Hai and Senior Lei Yunfang's teams are Team 1 and Team 2, respectively. The top 30 teams from the preliminaries are Teams 3 to 32. The format is a head-to-tail battle: 1 vs. 32, 2 vs. 31, 3 vs. 30… and so on, with 16 vs. 17."

"Head-to-tail battles are to ensure that strong teams can enter the next round," Xu Jingming nodded. "Otherwise, if Master Liu Hai and Senior Lei Yunfang fought each other at the beginning, the appeal of the entire event in the mid- and late stages would decline!"

"At the very least, more teams have to face Master Liu Hai and Senior Lei Yunfang's teams," Wang Yi said.

"Mom," Xu Jingming walked to where his mother was standing not far away. "Where's Dad?"

"Your dad is being mysterious; I don't know where he is," Xu's mother shook her head and then smiled. "Son, you were really amazing in the competition just now! Mom watched carefully from beginning to end. You used your shield so well that the orc legion couldn't hurt you. Even your Master Liu Hai and Senior Lei Yunfang praised your shield talent highly in the guest seats."

Xu Jingming was surprised. "Praised my shield talent?"

His spearmanship talent was even higher; it had reached Tier 3.

He still needed to practice his shield more.

"Grandson," Grandpa Xu ran over, giving a thumbs up. "You fought well."

After Grandpa Xu approached, he lowered his voice and asked quietly, "Grandson, if I'm not mistaken, have you had some breakthroughs?"

Xu Jingming looked at his grandfather in surprise.

"Your shield defense was really beautiful; no matter how the orc legion charged, they couldn't threaten you. I watched several of the top-ranked teams, and your shield felt like it could rank first," Grandpa Xu said. "Trust Grandpa's judgment; I can see even the slightest difference."

Grandpa Xu was extremely confident.

Xu Jingming sighed inwardly. His grandfather was really amazing. His shield skills were not particularly superior to others. However, after reaching the 'body like fire' realm, even if he deliberately restrained his strength and speed, his body's reaction speed was much faster.

The dangerous and terrifying impacts that others felt had become slow motion in his eyes! He was also honing his shield skills, trying to use various techniques, so he naturally appeared much more stable than others.

"The competition is over," Xu's mother said.

Xu Jingming looked up. Yes, the competition was over.

A total of fifty-eight teams successfully passed, with the last few teams fighting until only one member was left. The other teams had all perished under the orc legion.

"The competition is over, but why hasn't your dad come yet?" Xu's mother muttered to the side. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she saw Xu Hong appearing on the stands in the distance, walking towards his family and friends with a smile.

"Dad," Xu Jingming stepped forward.

"You did well," Xu Hong nodded in praise.

"Didn't you say that you and Old Dai formed a middle-aged and elderly team?" Xu's mother asked. "How come I looked through all 821 teams and didn't see your competition? I asked you for the team name before, but you were evasive, saying we'd know when the competition started. But I didn't see you competing today!"

"Look."

Xu Hong raised his head, gesturing towards the commentary booth.

On the livestream commentary platform, the host Liu Xin was saying, "The entire preliminary round is over. Congratulations to these fifty-eight teams for being able to defeat the orc legion. Although the teams after the thirtieth place cannot participate in the main competition, being able to defeat an entire orc legion with five people has already proven your strength. Oh… the top thirty have been determined, and the match schedule for the first round of the Fireseed Cup main competition has been confirmed."

"Please see the match schedule. The first round of the Fireseed Cup main competition will begin at 0:00 on September 2nd, and our official livestream will be broadcasting until 8:00 AM."

"0:00 on September 2nd: The first match, Liu Hai Old Men's Team vs. Changnan Team."

"Liu Hai Old Men's Team member list: Liu Hai, Tian Yiqu, Xu Hong, Dai Tongda, Zhou Fan, substitute member Qiu Yong."

"Changnan Team member list: Liu Bo, Lei Chong…"

"0:30 on September 2nd: The second match…"

…

Detailed match schedule, one match every half hour, sixteen matches lasting eight hours.

"Liu Hai Old Men's Team?" Xu Jingming, Li Miaomiao, Xu's mother, Grandpa Xu, Wang Yi, Yang Qingshuo, Heng Fang, Liu Chongyuan, and many other relatives and friends around them all stared at the list.

"The captain said," Xu Hong said with a helpless expression, sighing, "To avoid causing controversy, he told us to keep it a secret and keep a low profile until the official announcement."

"Dad, how did you form a team with Master?" Xu Jingming couldn't help but ask.

"After sending you to the national team, I naturally had more contact and interaction with your master, and we became familiar," Xu Hong said. "Didn't your master come to Mingyue City before? Old Dai and I also entertained him for several days. This time, he asked Old Dai and me to form a team together, and we both naturally participated."

Above, the host Liu Xin looked at the list and couldn't help but say, "Teacher Liu Hai, why did you name your team the Old Men's Team?"

"Haha, our team members are not young," Liu Hai said with a smile. "The youngest is Tian Yiqu, who is fifty-five years old this year. Oh, let me introduce in more detail. Old Brother Zhou Fan is even older than me; he's Zhou Yi's father! He's eighty-eight years old this year! Xu Hong is Xu Jingming's father, Dai Tongda is Dai Xiaoqing's father, Tian Yiqu is Tian Xiao's father, and the substitute, Qiu Yong, is my relative by marriage."

Liu Hai smiled brightly, introducing the team members.

Lei Yunfang's eyes twitched slightly. "The team members I chose don't have as much clout as Liu Hai's."

"Zhou Yi's father, Xu Jingming's father, Dai Xiaoqing's father, and Tian Xiao's father?" the host Liu Xin exclaimed in surprise. "Zhou Yi, Xu Jingming, Dai Xiaoqing, and Tian Xiao have all entered the main competition this time."

"Like father, like son," Liu Hai said with a smile. "To all the teams that have entered the main competition, let me also say this: if you want to face me, you must first get past these old brothers. These old brothers of mine are not easy to mess with!"