After AFK for five years, I returned to be number one in the entire server.

On Sunday morning, a few wisps of cold clouds drifted over Qiyun Hot Spring Resort.

After everyone packed their luggage, they boarded the black minivan one after another.

As the car door closed, the scenery of the manor receded outside the window, and the van smoothly drove onto the winding mountain road back to Ningchuan city.

Around noon, the van stopped at the main gate of Ningchuan University, and Lin Ye's cell phone vibrated in his pocket.

The caller ID showed an unfamiliar landline number. He pressed the answer button, and a mellow, gentle middle-aged male voice came through.

"Hello Lin Ye, I am Han Zhimao, the president of Ningchuan University. Is it convenient for you to come to my office now?"

Half an hour later, Lin also pushed open the door to the spacious principal's office on the top floor of the administration building.

Han Zhimao, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, immediately put down the documents in his hand when he saw Lin Ye walk in. He walked around from behind the large desk, smiled, and invited Lin Ye to sit down on the guest sofa, and personally poured him a cup of hot tea.

"Principal, what brings you here?" Lin didn't touch the cup of tea and got straight to the point.

Han Zhimao sat down on the sofa opposite him, sighed softly, and a hint of helplessness appeared on his face.

"It's a long story. Every year around this time, various universities in Xia Shang organize a player arena tournament. This is not only a competition between schools, but also, to some extent, a representation of each university's expertise in the supernatural field."

"In previous years, with Pei Xiao leading the team, our Ningda team always achieved outstanding results. However, this year is a bit special. Pei Xiao was transferred by Tian Shu to carry out an emergency mission and has not been at school these days."

Han Zhimao paused, his tone becoming somewhat heavy: "More than a month ago, a wanted criminal named 'Bone Erosion' infiltrated Ningchuan and successively hunted down several Moon-level players from our school. Now, there is a serious shortage of high-level combat power in the school, and we can't gather a single Moon-level player who can lead the charge."

"According to the competition rules, each school needs to send three official players. We can only bite the bullet and select two Firefly-level students with slightly more practical experience, plus one Firefly-level substitute. If this lineup is used against other universities, we will probably suffer a crushing defeat in the first round."

Han Zhimao looked at Lin Ye with sincere eyes: "I've looked at Lin Ye's information and know that you may not like participating in such high-profile competitions, but you are the only monthly-level player that our Ningda can currently utilize. I have already communicated with and consulted with Deputy Director Zhou of the Tian Shu Ningchuan branch, and Tian Shu has agreed to issue this competition as your official mission."

After listening, Lin understood the principal's meaning. Since Tian Shu had already taken this as a mission, it didn't matter to him where he carried it out.

"When does it start?" Lin also asked.

Hearing his agreement, Han Zhimao finally felt relieved, and his smile deepened: "Tonight at seven o'clock, our first opponent is the Polytechnic Institute of Bailing City next door. At three o'clock this afternoon, the school's arranged bus will meet us at the south gate and we will depart."

Soon after, the Ningbo University campus forum was already bustling with activity.

The discussion thread about tonight's college player arena tournament was prominently featured on the homepage.

"Did you hear? Senior Pei Xiao isn't playing tonight's game against Bailing University of Technology!"

"We're doomed! Several senior students from our school had accidents recently, and now we only have a few freshmen left. How are we supposed to compete? Bailing Institute of Technology has declared they're going to shut us out."

"Breaking news! Although Senior Pei isn't here, the school has sent Lin, that freshman from this year, to lead the team!"

There is a nicely decorated milk tea shop on the corner of the commercial street outside the south gate of Ningchuan University.

Shen Yi and Fang Cheng sat on the sofa by the window, with Su Nian sitting next to Fang Cheng.

Her right leg was slightly extended forward. Although she had applied cold compresses to the soft tissue contusion she had suffered in the woods at the ski resort the night before, she still felt a slight swelling and pain when she walked.

Fang Cheng was biting on a straw while rapidly swiping across her phone screen with her other hand.

"Look, your school forum is in an uproar!"

Fang Cheng suddenly exclaimed, pushing her phone to the center of the round table and pointing to the pinned post that was highlighted in red and bold at the top of the screen.

Shen Yi leaned closer, her gaze falling on the screen. Su Nian, holding a warm cup of milk tea, also turned her attention to the eye-catching title.

The post was filled with replies discussing tonight's "College Player Arena Tournament".

Around 2:50 PM.

A tour bus was already parked on the side of the road, its engine emitting a deep roar.

Lin was waiting outside the car door. A few steps away stood three unfamiliar boys, who appeared to be upperclassmen and were the Firefly-level contestants who had been forced into the competition to make up the numbers.

The three men would occasionally glance at Lin Ye with awe and even a hint of flattery. After all, in the dog-eat-dog world of players, even though Lin Ye was just a freshman, the huge gap of being at the Moon level was enough to crush all their experience.

The buses are mainly for transporting athletes and support staff. If there are any empty seats, athletes can bring their friends to watch the game for free.

Shen Yi led Su Nian and Fang Cheng toward them, waving to Lin Ye from a distance.

The group boarded the bus one after another.

As the bus drove onto the highway, the tall buildings on both sides of the road were gradually replaced by open fields and distant hills.

The journey of more than an hour passed smoothly. The bus exited the highway and officially entered the urban area of ​​Bailing City.

This place lacks the oppressive modern urban bustle of Ningchuan, but possesses a tranquility and serenity characteristic of small and medium-sized cities.

Finally, the bus stopped in front of a somewhat square and solemn school gate.

Bailing Institute of Technology

A red banner welcoming teams from various universities to the school gate was hanging there. Because it was the weekend, and there was a highly anticipated player tournament that evening, many students were coming and going from the school gate, creating a lively atmosphere.

The teacher leading the group called out to everyone at the front row to take their belongings and get off the bus.

The group crossed the main road, where students gathered in twos and threes to discuss tonight's competition, their words filled with confidence in their school's athletes.

Just as they were about to reach an intersection in front of the stadium, a few people came walking towards them from a small path on the left.

At the front was a tall, thin boy, and next to him was a girl with bangs. The two were chatting and laughing with their classmates.

The girl's gaze, which had been casually sweeping across the crowd, suddenly stopped. She paused, her eyes widening slightly as she recognized the beautiful girl with a cool and aloof demeanor in the crowd.

"Niannian?" Wu Ying called out uncertainly.

Su Nian heard the sound and turned her head.

Matsumori Yoshi also looked over in the direction of Wu Ying's gaze.

They were the two relatives involved in Lin Yao's incident. Su Nian asked, "You study here?"