Even blind box hunters don't choose their partners? I got Su Daji from my blind box!

The Bird's Nest Stadium looks like a pressure cooker about to explode.

The combined roar of 100,000 people caused even the steel frame of the dome to tremble slightly.

Add to that the media frenzy surrounding them with their long lenses and microphones, and the sheer pressure would make any naive newbie's legs go weak on the spot.

On the dais, Minister of Education Qin Weiguo is delivering a speech.

It's nothing more than the same old bureaucratic rhetoric: "Friendship first, competition second," and "Compete with style and skill."

It's so soothing it makes you drowsy; it's practically a form of physical hypnosis.

Lin Xiao stood at the very end of the line, yawned without any regard for his image, and even squeezed out two drops of physiological tears from the corners of his eyes.

As the captain of Huayang Wuda, he was forced to stand in a row with the "cabbages" from dozens of other universities, waiting to be chosen by fate.

"Hey, Godman."

A mocking yet greasy voice drifted from the side.

Lin Xiao turned his head.

The speaker was a young man dressed in a custom-made nano-combat suit, his hair so slicked back that even a fly landing on it would have to do the splits.

Captain Zhang Haochen of the Shanghai Martial Arts Team.

Zhang Haochen looked Lin Xiao up and down, his eyes revealing an undisguised sense of superiority, and lowered his voice.

"I heard you've reached level two? But you look unsteady on your feet and your eyes are unfocused. You must have been fed medicine by others, right?"

Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow but didn't reply.

It seems my performance a while ago was very successful; the rumors have already spread.

Seeing that Lin Xiao remained silent, Zhang Haochen thought he had touched a sore spot, and the mocking smile on his lips deepened.

"Captain Lin, we're all sensible people. If you're worried about losing face on stage, we can talk business."

"Shanghai Martial Arts University may not have much else, but it's so rich it's got money all to show for it. If you lead your team to admit defeat, I'll give you this amount."

He held up five fingers and waved them in front of Lin Xiao.

Fifty million.

In Zhang Haochen's view, buying the face of an SSS+ "god-like person" was a worthwhile deal.

Lin Xiao laughed.

He looked at Zhang Haochen with the same gaze he would give a landlord's foolish son.

"Captain Zhang, having money is a good thing, but sometimes... I suggest you see a neurologist, just in case your nerves are being compressed."

"You!" Zhang Haochen's face darkened, and he was about to lash out.

"Hey, Brother Zhang, why get angry?"

A voice, gentle and refined like jade, yet full of the flavor of tea, broke in.

Li Huaijin, the captain of Yanjing Martial Arts University, stepped forward with a smile and subtly separated the two.

He was dressed in a well-tailored white Zhongshan suit, exuding a refined and scholarly air, looking just like a schoolteacher who had stepped out of a Republican-era film crew.

"Although Brother Lin's foundation is... well, a little weak, he is still an SSS+ genius after all, and he should still have the pride of a scholar."

Li Huaijin pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and smiled warmly.

"If we meet in the first round, I'll tell my teammates to go easy on us, after all... everyone needs to maintain their dignity."

These words sound polite, but they are actually extremely malicious.

The text subtly confirms the rumor that Lin Xiao has a "weak foundation," while also establishing the image of Yanjing Martial Arts University as a place of "high moral character."

"Decent my foot!"

A loud shout froze Li Huaijin's fake smile on his face.

Bai Qi strode over, his menacing aura forcing the captains of several elementary schools around him to retreat, almost losing their footing.

He didn't even glance at Zhang Haochen and Li Huaijin, staring intently at Lin Xiao, his eyes practically radiating fighting spirit.

"Lin Xiao, don't listen to these two green tea bitches' nonsense! If you draw me later, don't hold back! Either you kill me, or I kill you!"

Zhang Haochen: "..."

Li Huaijin: "..."

Where did this mad dog come from?!

Lin Xiao sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

Do all graduates of the First Military Academy have nothing but muscles in their brains?

"Alright! Let's begin the draw!"

Qin Weiguo's voice, transmitted through the microphone, resounded throughout the venue, interrupting the undercurrent of emotion in the audience.

The lights in the entire venue suddenly dimmed, leaving only a spotlight shining on the huge transparent lottery box in the center of the stage.

The large screen lit up, and the logos of dozens of universities scrolled wildly on it, stimulating everyone's nerves like a slot machine.

"First group!"

Qin Weiguo reached out, grabbed a gashapon capsule, and twisted it open.

"【Yanjing Martial Arts University】!"

The crowd cheered.

As the defending champion, Yanjing Wuhan University's popularity is beyond doubt.

Li Huaijin straightened his collar and waved elegantly at the camera. He looked so sophisticated that you'd think he was going to receive an Oscar.

"Battle..."

Qin Weiguo pulled out a second gashapon.

"[Nishikawa Martial Arts Academy]!"

In the corner, a boy in a simple team uniform suddenly collapsed to his knees.

Xichuan Martial Arts Academy, a second-rate martial arts university that barely made it into the main competition.

If you encounter a behemoth like Peking University or Wuhan University, you're basically doomed in the first round, and you'll have to buy your ticket home as soon as possible.

"Good luck." Li Huaijin smiled faintly, his eyes revealing a sense of indifference that came as a matter of course.

This is fate.

The drawing of lots then continued.

"Shanghai Martial Arts University vs. Longjiang Martial Arts University!"

Zhang Haochen whistled, clearly satisfied with the result.

Although the opponent is not weak, it is still no match for the three starter families.

"The First Military Academy versus the Nanling Railway Academy!"

Bai Qi curled his lip, clearly having no interest in this kind of easy win; if it weren't for Lin Xiao, he wouldn't be interested at all.

The three starter families all avoided powerful enemies.

This is clearly some kind of tacit understanding, or perhaps a "mystical" act deliberately orchestrated by the organizers to boost ratings.

As each name was read out, the number of gashapon capsules in the box dwindled.

There aren't many strong teams left.

But the biggest dark horse—Huayang Wuda—has not yet emerged!

The atmosphere at the scene gradually became strange.

The elementary school captains who had been praying not to run into strong teams now had a different look in their eyes.

They stole glances at Lin Xiao, their eyes no longer filled with fear, but with...greed.

Second order.

Qi and blood deficiency.

He relies on women.

These three labels, fueled by the rumors, have become synonymous with Lin Xiao.

If... if I could get Huayang Martial Arts University in the lottery...

How can this be considered an opponent?

This is clearly the perfect ladder to rise to the top by stepping on an SSS+ god-like player!

Whoever can end Lin Xiao's undefeated streak will become famous!

Become famous overnight, today!

"The next team—"

Qin Weiguo stirred the contents of the box a couple of times and took out a red gashapon capsule.

He saw the words clearly, and his smile never stopped. He then read them aloud.

"【Huayang Martial Arts University】!!!"

A tremendous roar suddenly erupted—

At that moment, the Bird's Nest exploded.

The 100,000 spectators seemed to be controlled by some mysterious force, waving glow sticks in unison and shouting out the title that made Lin Xiao's toes dig into the ground.

"A god! A god! A god!"

The sound waves were like a tsunami, making Lin Xiao's scalp tingle.

He stood under the spotlight, a stiff smile on his face, while inwardly he was cursing wildly.

Who came up with this ridiculous title?

Don't let me find out, or I'll hang him on a street lamp to dry!

Behind Lin Xiao, the captains who hadn't been selected yet all had red eyes and were breathing rapidly like hungry wolves who hadn't seen meat in centuries.

Pick me! Pick me!

You absolutely must choose me!

This guy is practically giving away points!

This is practically a walking data pack!

Especially Wang Zichen, the captain of the Huajing Martial Arts Brigade, who was standing on the very edge.

He clasped his hands together and muttered incantations; anyone who didn't know better would think he was performing a ritual.

"It has to be Huajing...it has to be Huajing..."

He was praying.

He desperately needed this opportunity to wash away the shame of being "extorted" and to prove that he was the real genius!

Qin Weiguo seemed to sense this strange resentment.

He reached into the box again and rummaged around inside.

The entire audience held their breath.

Everyone stared at that hand, as if it held the winning lottery number.

Finally, Qin Weiguo pulled out the last gashapon that would determine his fate.

He unscrewed it and glanced at the note.

At this moment, the expression on the face of this Minister of Education, who had seen many storms, was extremely interesting.

It was a mixture of three parts surprise, three parts amusement, and four parts playful mockery, as if "the more the merrier."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Wang Zichen's expectant face, and then looking at Lin Xiao, who looked utterly hopeless.

Then, focus your energy in your lower abdomen and let your voice boom like a bell:

"Huayang Martial Arts University's opponent is—"

"【Huajing Wuhan University】!!!"

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

Immediately following was a scream that ripped the roof off!

"Holy crap! Who wrote this script? This is absolutely outrageous!"

"A fateful arrangement! The extortion scandal wasn't over yet, and now it's all connected?"

"A clash of titans! This was absolutely the most exciting match of the first round!"

Meanwhile, in the players' rest area.

"Nice!!!"

A wildly joyful roar shattered his composure.

Wang Zichen jumped up excitedly and swung his fist hard, looking even more excited than if he had won 50 million in the lottery.

"Heaven is helping me! Heaven is helping me!"

The rest area of ​​Huajing Wuhan University instantly erupted in cheers.

Dean Li Yanfeng was so excited that his face turned red, and he slapped his thigh hard.

"Good! Good! Good! Even God is helping us, Huajing, to avenge our humiliation!"

"What kind of superhuman? What kind of SSS+? In the face of absolute real combat, they're all paper tigers!"

"Wang Zichen! Beat him to death! Show the might of Huajing!"

Looking at the ecstatic Huajing players on the other side, who had even started celebrating their victory with champagne at halftime.

Lin Xiao touched his nose.

He turned around and looked at Ye Chen, Zhang Xuan, and the others behind him, who also had strange expressions.

"They... seem very happy?" Lin Xiao asked.

Zhang Xuan pulled out a handful of melon seeds from his Taoist robe, cracked one open, and grinned like a fox who had stolen a chicken, his eyes full of mockery.

"Perhaps it's because... I feel like I've encountered a gift from nature."

Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes, his fingers gently stroking the hilt of the sword, and uttered two cold words.

"court death."

Bai Ling giggled, the poisonous spider in her hand crawling onto her shoulder, her voice so sweet it sent chills down one's spine.

"Hey, no need to fight over it now, everyone gets some!"

Lin Xiao sighed.

He looked at Wang Zichen, who was still celebrating wildly across from him, with genuine sympathy in his eyes.

"Laugh, laugh some more."

"After all... you might not even be able to cry later."