Chapter 17 Wang Yi is Blind?

"Is Wang Yi blind?"

Sun Li got up somewhat agitated. "Why would she choose Xu Jingming's team? Xu Jingming and his group of four don't even have a single second-tier player! Is it really because she's Li Miaomiao's fan?"

"Being eliminated early from the Spark Cup is a joke. I hope we don't run into them..." Sun Li felt uneasy. He had thought that after he left the team, Xu Jingming and the others wouldn't find a suitable teammate and would just grab a random warrior. They would then be eliminated in the first round of the Spark Cup. That's what he thought would be the end for Xu Jingming's team.

But now they had Wang Yi! Xu Jingming's team now had a powerhouse.

"Compared to our team, they're still far behind." Sun Li disappeared from the stands.

...

"This Xu Jingming's team has a stronger lineup than mine." Cheng Zihao was also in the stands, making judgments as he compared. "The team I built revolves around Zheng Bailong and Teng Ya. But Xu Jingming is no worse than Zheng Bailong, and Wang Yi is the best archer in Xia Country, second only to Zhou Yi... This is a bit bad."

"Forget it, no need to bother with these martial artists." Cheng Zihao smiled again. "My goal isn't to beat Xu Jingming's team, but to promote Bailong and let the streamers under Bailong benefit, gaining more popularity."

Big streamers bring along small streamers.

The old take the new!

Even his own team was participating in the Spark Cup! In just over a month, Cheng Zihao's company had indeed been doing very well. A large group of beautiful women, top experts, professional coaching, and so on, all attracted many fans.

"These martial artists are fighting for first place in strength. I want popularity, the popularity of all the streamers in the entire group. These martial artists and I are not on the same level at all." Cheng Zihao was in a good mood. With the company on the rise, he was naturally full of vigor.

******

Xia Country, Life Evolution Administration.

"Director, the registration for the Spark Cup will open at 12 tonight," the secretary reported.

"How are the top three potential seeds doing now?" Director Zhou asked.

"Potential Seed No. 1, Fang Yu, is the most terrifying talent in our Xia Country and is expected to be comparable to 'Tiano Xire,' who is ranked fourth globally," the secretary said. "His strength is steadily improving, and his great halberd is becoming increasingly terrifying."

"When do you estimate he can pass the third level of the Star Tower?" Director Zhou asked.

"Based on previous experience, he must reach the third tier in all aspects, such as weapon techniques and footwork, have a high-level evolution method, and have sufficient combat experience to have a chance of passing. Potential Seed No. 1 is only twenty years old after all! I estimate that he should be able to pass within a month," the secretary said.

"What about Potential Seed No. 2?" Director Zhou asked.

"Potential Seed No. 2 was just replaced two days ago and is now the twenty-nine-year-old Xu Jingming," the secretary said. "Xu Jingming's spearmanship has now broken through to the third tier, and his evolution method has reached a high level. But after all, it's a new breakthrough... there are still defects in his shield techniques and footwork. I estimate that he will need about a month to pass the third level of the Star Tower."

"Potential Seed No. 3, Zhao Pan, is only eighteen years old this year. His combat skills and footwork have reached the second tier at 99% in all aspects. He only started learning martial arts after the virtual world opened. He reached this level in just over a month in the virtual world. The speed of his progress is indeed amazing, and his talent is also terrifying."

Director Zhou nodded as he listened. "Continue to pay attention to the intelligence of all God-level experts. Xia Country has a large population, so it's normal for a few peerless geniuses to emerge. What we need to cultivate are peerless geniuses!"

"Yes," the secretary responded.

"Also, Liu Hai and Lei Yunfang," Director Zhou said. "After all, they are the two most powerful experts in Xia Country today. A step ahead can easily lead to being ahead in every step."

The secretary nodded. "Coach Liu Hai is a grandmaster-level figure who is very well-rounded in all aspects. Lei Yunfang is the best in the world at footwork. They are both our national treasure-level experts."

Director Zhou nodded. "This Spark Cup competition should carefully collect data. What we need is not only individual strength, but also experts who know how to cooperate and are good at team combat."

"Yes," the secretary said.

"You may leave," Director Zhou said.

The secretary respectfully withdrew.

"As time passes, everyone's strength is constantly changing." Director Zhou looked at the detailed information of each person on the screen. "I hope that the clash of the strong in this Spark Cup competition can stimulate more of their potential."

******

August 29, 2081, 0:00 AM. Registration for the Xia Country Spark Cup began.

Li Miaomiao's personal space.

Now Xu Jingming and the six of them were gathered here. Li Miaomiao sat there and gently clicked on the combat space, and then opened the 'Spark Cup' competition.

"Pearwood Team, Captain: Xu Jingming. Members: Wang Yi, Heng Fang, Yang Qingshuo, Liu Chongyuan. Substitute Member: Li Miaomiao. Team Manager: Li Miaomiao." Li Miaomiao began to enter the team information. "I have also submitted the bonus distribution ratio, and all submissions have been successful. All five of you must also agree to the application before registration can be successful."

"I see it."

Xu Jingming's side popped up with a system prompt asking him to confirm the information.

"Confirm!"

"Agree!" Xu Jingming, Wang Yi, Heng Fang, Yang Qingshuo, and Liu Chongyuan all tapped their fingers lightly and confirmed all the registration information.

Xu Jingming and the others then saw the prompt—"Pearwood Team registration successful. As of this moment, the Spark Cup competition has a total of 159 registered teams."

Heng Fang exclaimed, "We registered as soon as possible, and there are already more than a hundred teams registered? That's too fast."

"Now that Xia Country has nearly five thousand God-level experts, a hundred or so teams isn't much," Xu Jingming said.

"Stop talking about that and look at the detailed competition schedule." Li Miaomiao clicked on the detailed schedule. "The preliminary round will begin at 0:00 on September 1st, and the top 30 will be selected to enter the main competition."

"Master Liu Hai's team and Lei Yunfang's team will be the No. 1 and No. 2 seed teams for the Spark Cup, exempt from the preliminary round and directly enter the main competition." Li Miaomiao said with emotion, "These two seniors are treated extraordinarily."

Wang Yi said, "After all, they are the only two seniors in our Xia Country who are listed on the Star Ranking."

Xu Jingming nodded.

"Captain, with your current strength, you can't even pass the third level of the Star Tower?" Wang Yi said. "Your combat power is twice as high as ours. You can fight all five of us alone."

"I can't get through. I've tried."

Xu Jingming shook his head. "Senior Lei Yunfang's evolution method has reached a high level, and his footwork is so powerful, yet it took him many days to get through. My footwork is still a bit lacking. If I were just facing an ordinary group of tigers, I would still have a chance of winning. But the Tiger King leads the pack of tigers to besiege me... I'm not good enough."

"Next, Captain, you have to focus on practicing footwork," Wang Yi said. "Whether our team can win the championship depends on you. Only you can deal with Senior Lei Yunfang and Senior Liu Hai. We can't stop them at all."

"Yes, I will focus on practicing footwork and shield techniques," Xu Jingming nodded. "Although shield techniques and spearmanship are different ways of exerting force, they have a lot in common. Once I break through, it will also help my spearmanship."

"In the early stages of the Spark Cup, the teams are weak, and I will use shield techniques to meet the enemy and hone my shield techniques," Xu Jingming said. "Only when I encounter a strong enemy will I use the spear I carry."

"Haha, weak opponents don't need Jingming to use his spear," Heng Fang said. "If you have to use your spear, it means we've failed."

"If it's Liu Hai, Lei Yunfang, or Zhou Yi, the three of them, we can't withstand them," Liu Chongyuan said. "Old Xu, you have to go up."

"We have to work hard too, not just rely on the captain," Wang Yi said. "If one of us can also break through to the third tier, we will have more confidence even if we fight with Liu Hai, Lei Yunfang, and their teams."

"Don't underestimate other teams," Xu Jingming said. "I can break through, and maybe there are experts who have reached the third tier among the undisclosed information."

"Yes." Everyone present felt a sense of urgency.

Heng Fang nodded and said, "No one can be sure how many experts there are in our Xia Country. It's even possible to break through just before the battle."

"Just be careful, we're not afraid of any opponent," Xu Jingming said. "Now, let's disband. From now on, 5:00-6:00 AM every morning will be our team's coordination training time. The rest of the time is free."

"Yes, Captain." The other five responded in unison.

...

Time passed, and it was already late at night on August 31st. Registration for the Spark Cup had closed.

The Spark Cup preliminary round was about to begin.