Chapter 59: First Match Of The League

In the southern preparation area of the arena, which belonged to the home team Red Flag High School, Principal Chen Fei was giving the final pep talk before the match.

“The first match is the individual battle for the main fighter position,” said Principal Chen Fei, his usually playful eyes uncharacteristically serious. “This season is our last chance, and this match is our opening game in Season 251. We must secure a victory, no mistakes allowed, so...”

His eyes shifted between Li Xiaofei and Fang Buyi, weighing his options. The other substitute, Zhuge Long, was completely overlooked. Zhuge Long, however, took it in stride, knowing that he still needed more training to be ready.

“Principal, let me take this one,” Fang Buyi volunteered at the critical moment, stepping forward to shoulder the responsibility. “The first match is indeed crucial and should be handled by someone with experience.”

But Chen Fei hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. “This time, Li Xiaofei will take the first match.”

He made an unexpected decision. Fang Buyi was stunned, and surprise was evident on everyone else’s faces as well. While it was true that Li Xiaofei, known as the Fist King, had defeated Zhou Yiyou, it was still an unusual choice.

“Principal, are you sure?” Fang Buyi asked, still in disbelief.

“Yes, I’m sure,” replied Chen Fei, confirming his decision. “Li Xiaofei, you’re up. Show them what you’ve got.”

Li Xiaofei, who had only reached the seventh stage of the Qi Refining Realm, lacked experience in league battles, and hadn’t even seemed particularly keen on ranking up in the trials recently. His ranking points had not even made it into the top hundred. Could he handle it?

Chen Fei's decision to have him lead seemed questionable to many.

Only Yan Chiyu remained calm. Despite her unexplained animosity towards Li Xiaofei, her instincts told her that this freshman had what it took. The principal’s choice surely had a special reason behind it.

Fang Buyi hesitated for a moment and looked at Li Xiaofei. Finally, he smacked Li Xiaofei on the shoulder and said, “Go for it. The first battle is yours. Show them the spirit of Red Flag High School.”

Since the principal had made his decision, as the interim captain, Fang Buyi knew that the best course of action was to support his teammate rather than question the choice.

“Go for it.”

“Good luck, Brother Xiaofei!” cheered the big-headed loli Ren Dong and the shy Bai Qiqi.

“Hey, don’t let us good-looking people down,” Bai Longfei added with heartfelt seriousness.

The other team members also cheered on Li Xiaofei, filling him with a warm sense of camaraderie.

“Don’t worry,” said the slum king, taking the match key and striding confidently toward the light core mainframe. “I will win this battle.”

His declaration prompted a wave of mocking laughter from the waiting area of Qingye High School.

***

In the livestream room

.

"Dear viewers, the countdown to the first individual match has begun. Both contestants have entered the light core mainframe pods and are undergoing pre-match data scans and adjustments."

"Red Flag High School's first contestant is the newcomer Li Xiaofei. According to what we know, this player is at the seventh stage of the Qi Refining Realm, with outstanding martial techniques in fist fighting, earning him the title of Fist King. On the other hand, Qingye High School's first contestant is their captain and star player, Gao Shen, also known as Swift Blade, at the ninth stage of the Qi Refining Realm. As the countdown progresses, the final betting results are in. 97 percent of viewers believe Gao Shen will win... It seems the outcome of this match is already decided."

"The biggest question now is how many moves Li Xiaofei can withstand against Gao Shen. I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for this Red Flag High School rookie. It seems Red Flag High School is essentially conceding the first match. Oh? Could this be an ancient strategy akin to Tian Ji's Horse Racing?[1]"

Streamer Shen Yan and his assistant were well-prepared, diving right into the match with bold predictions and enthusiastically guiding and stirring the viewers' emotions.

***

A dilapidated modern cityscape unfolded in the light-network world. The wind howled violently, stirring up clouds of dust. Collapsed buildings, abandoned buses, and the rustling of plastic bags and torn newspapers filled the scene...

Li Xiaofei's figure appeared in a beam of light as he was deposited in a derelict parking lot filled with wrecked cars. The light-network system was incredibly powerful, scanning every aspect of the contestants' data to generate the most accurate real-time parameters, creating a virtual environment and avatar that matched the real-life participant perfectly.

Li Xiaofei's appearance, cultivation level, and actual combat strength were indistinguishable from reality. He curiously observed his surroundings. It was just like the ranking trials. Everything felt incredibly real, like a completely authentic world.

Whoosh!

A sudden movement caught his attention. A beam of light descended from the sky, and Gao Shen, with a Yanling long sword at his waist, appeared before him. The two stood thirty meters apart, locking eyes. The scene immediately drew the attention of countless viewers in the livestream.

Streamer Shen Yan seized the opportunity to analyze, saying, "The system randomly selected the Ruined City map this time. This steel jungle environment is very favorable for speed and agility-focused players. As far as I know, Gao Shen from Qingye High School is precisely that type of player."

The sweet assistant in black stockings added, "Conversely, Li Xiaofei from Red Flag High School excels in martial arts techniques with wide, powerful moves. This type of environment is very disadvantageous for him."

Both reached the same conclusion—

Li Xiaofei was in danger.

***

On the battlefield.

"Kid, just surrender," Gao Shen said first, his tone indifferent. "I can give you a dignified exit."

Li Xiaofei shook his head and replied, "Let's let our skills do the talking."

Gao Shen suddenly erupted in inexplicable rage, cursing, "Ungrateful wretch! You really are trash picked from the garbage heap by Chen Fei, completely ungrateful."

"If I remember correctly..." Li Xiaofei tilted his head. "This is the War God League match site, not a place for street brawls. Please watch your mouth. Respecting your opponent is also respecting yourself."

"Respect? Haha, do you deserve it?" Gao Shen threw his head back in a laugh and sneered, "You filthy Red Flag High School trash have shamed all Liuhe Base City high school students. You deserve to be trampled into the ground."

Li Xiaofei was furious. All participants were professional students, and the league should be conducted with professionalism. There should be limits to trash talk. Starting with direct personal attacks was highly unprofessional.

Since that's the case... Then I'll send you on your way early.

Li Xiaofei stopped talking. He channeled his starforce qi and charged toward his opponent. To avoid revealing his Your Grandpa alias too early, Li Xiaofei refrained from using Graceful Step of the Waves.

Opposite him, Gao Shen's face twisted into a mocking sneer.

This seventh stage loser who’s been discarded by Red Flag High School as an inferior choice dares to charge at me? How foolish!

Gao Shen stood his ground, with his long sword at his waist. He channeled his starforce qi, and a dark red glow enveloped his body. The energy of the ninth stage coursed through him, activating the four Inscribed Treasure Bones of the Windwing Sparrow embedded in his shoulders and ribs. This produced a nebula-like phenomenon, and the faint image of a giant red sparrow appeared behind him.

The Windwing Sparrow, a Grade One star beast, was known for its speed. When its Inscribed Treasure Bones were implanted, they not only greatly increased the martial artist's speed but also allowed them to fly for short distances.

Thirty meters... Twenty meters... Fifteen meters...

The distance between them rapidly closed. Gao Shen's smile grew wider. He gripped the hilt of his sword in a reverse hold.

As a recipient of the Windwing Sparrow Inscribed Treasure Bone, Gao Shen had an exceptional mastery of distance and speed. He had already devised his battle plan in his mind. Once Li Xiaofei got within eight meters, Gao Shen would unleash his Swift Blade at maximum speed and decapitate him.

In the face of absolute speed, all martial techniques and maneuvers were meaningless.

Twelve meters... Ten meters... Nine meters...

Gao Shen's eyes turned cold as he prepared to draw his sword. But just then, an unexpected situation occurred.

1. Tian Ji’s Horse Racing is a story in one of the greatest Chinese literatures

Records of the Grand Historian

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