Jiang Ke’er could never quite understand the bizarre behavior of the tournament organizers today.
For instance, that host clearly should not have handed the microphone to her, and his face was written with the grievance of someone who absolutely did not want to do so.
Unless…
She seemed to understand.
“Lord, I do not understand,” the host said huffily as he walked backstage after the opening ceremony.
“For lawless, uncivilized demon monstrosities like them, we should have just found any excuse to disqualify them. They do not even deserve to stand here!”
“True,” the pot-bellied program producer nodded, “but just now, our viewership ratings tripled, and advertisement bookings have quintupled. The Advertising Bureau is already researching exactly how many times over we should increase our ad prices.”
The host froze for a moment, then became excited. “Just because a Demon Race team entered the Semi-Finals, the data really rose that drastically?”
The program producer smiled.
“That is right. Because last year was an extraordinary year. Jiang Ke’er’s appearance caused the Demon Race and the Human Clan to begin dropping their pretenses, and the collapse of the Gate of the Immortal Realm has pushed both races into a cold war era…”
“Now, the racial struggle is unavoidable, and it concerns every living being of both races. This is a massive topic that all of Shenzhou is forced to pay attention to! It has elevated the significance of victory in the Shenzhou Cup to a whole new level!”
“I see. Regardless of whether they usually follow the Shenzhou Cup or how old they are, people will care about the outcome of this racial struggle… The more they provoke us, the stronger the public’s anticipation for a resolution becomes. They want to see their faces rubbed into the ground!” the host said, suddenly enlightened.
“Precisely. Besides, they will not get very far anyway. Si Lian’s team… Hahahaha,” the program producer laughed. “She is just walking viewership ratings. That Bagpipe Squad has nothing going for it except for being a hot topic!”
“When they get thrashed like usual, we will have made our money and satisfied the public… Brilliant! Truly brilliant!”
“Let us guess who the lucky ones will be that get to slaughter the Bagpipe Squad.”
The next day, in the Shenzhou Cup Semi-Finals preparation area.
“This is not good,” Si Lian said, glancing at the schedule.
“We have to fight Wasteland Combat Team Eight in our first match. This team already secured a 100-win streak earlier this season and has now reached 198 consecutive victories. They are an opponent that cannot be underestimated.”
“Wasteland Eight?” Jiang Ke’er asked as she carefully groomed her tail fur, trying to remember.
“Is that not Taishu Xuan’s team?”
“Yes, it is that same Taishu Xuan whose memory was washed away by the formation art last time,” Si Lian nodded.
“However, while Taishu Xuan himself is a relatively mediocre Team Coach, his members all have excellent aptitude. It will be difficult to deal with them based on the quality of the members alone.”
“How do they compare to Zhanhuang Sixteen Team?” Jiang Ke’er asked.
“Their strength is about the same. Although Team Sixteen is ranked lower numerically, they are all veterans who have participated in many tournaments,” Si Lian said after a moment of thought.
“Oh,” Jiang Ke’er nodded. “That is great. Then I probably won’t even muss up my tail fur.”
“Do not underestimate the enemy,” Si Lian warned, worried.
“Understood.”
‘I must let the enemy feel a sense of disdain as if they’re being crushed by a different dimension, but my own mindset cannot be frivolous. Watching the other side lose their cool while I earn Villain Points—that is the goal.’
“Arrogant but not reckless, proud but not agitated,” Si Lian whispered softly with a sigh. ‘I’m so lucky to have met such a little girl…’
Jiang Ke’er did not hear her; she was focused on grooming her tail.
The tip of her tail glowed with a faint red hue, showing that those who had tried to make her unhappy recently were not having a very pleasant time themselves.
Jiang Ke’er liked the Villain System more and more.
She felt that such a dashing, cool, and overlord-like lifestyle was what she truly craved…
Who cared if others were happy? Living according to one’s own heart was much more liberating.
Furthermore, she had already guessed that there was an inextricable link between the Power of the Ancient God and the Villain System.
The Power of the Ancient God had helped her through crises before, which increased her favorable impression of the Villain System even further.
Her current dream was to become an existence like an Ancient God, possessing the power to control the creation and destruction of the world with a single thought.
Watching Jiang Ke’er drift further and further down the path of psychological warfare, the Protagonist System was very anxious but could not do much—mainly because she was also enjoying the show.
“Prepare to go up for the match,” Si Lian said.
There were four Arenas in total for the Semi-Finals, and matches on all four were held simultaneously.
The tournament used an elimination format.
The 128 teams would be narrowed down to the final four over five rounds of matches, then down to the final two, until the champion and runner-up were decided on a day filled with ceremony.
“Si Lian, it has been a long time.”
As they stepped out of the preparation area, Taishu Xuan walked over with his head held high.
However, after he spoke, the entire Bagpipe Squad stared at him as if he were a complete idiot.
Taishu Xuan rubbed his nose, feeling as if something was not quite right… Did he put his clothes on backward today?
No. Then what was with those looks?!
“Yes, it has been a long time, a very long time,” Si Lian nodded repeatedly, speaking in a tone used to humor a small child.
“Hmph, you will not survive past today.”
Facing the countless broadcast cameras around them, Taishu Xuan quickly calmed his mind to ensure he did not lose his momentum.
“The only reason you reached the Semi-Finals is because you hadn’t run into me yet. Since you have, you will all die here today.”
“…”
The members of the Bagpipe Squad almost could not hold back their laughter.
“?”
“How pitiful,” Si Lian looked at Taishu Xuan with sympathy.
“Do your best. I have high hopes for you.”
“Hmph,” Taishu Xuan sneered and looked at his members.
“Your chance to shine has arrived. Grasp it well.”
Jiang Ke’er’s mocking words had already spread throughout Shenzhou.
Right now, giving the Bagpipe Squad a brutal beating was the top priority for the Human Cultivators.
As long as they fulfilled the cultivators’ wishes and gained fame and goodwill, would Magic Crystals and Spirit Stones not come rolling in by the handful?
“Rest assured. You can warm a pot of wine; we will definitely trample these little brats before the wine turns cold,” the captain of Wasteland Combat Team Eight said proudly.
A commotion broke out in the surroundings.
The confidence of the captain of Wasteland Combat Team Eight greatly encouraged the audience, who began shouting the team’s name.
“Wasteland! Victory!”
Amidst the mountain-shaking, ocean-tsunami-like cheers, both teams walked onto the Arena.
Jiang Ke’er scanned the surroundings. She did not see any Demon Race faces and felt a little disappointed…
But it did not matter. People other than the Human Clan were definitely watching this battle.
That little fellow named Pei Min, who had consistently provided her with Protagonist Points every single day for an entire year, was probably watching too.
‘I cannot let him down,’ Jiang Ke’er smiled.
“Three seconds!”
Jiang Ke’er held up three fingers.
The opposing side did not understand what she meant.
Jiang Ke’er did not bother to explain; they would find out in three seconds.
“Match begin!”