Chapter 330: Minjiang
Minjiang was now a land of blood and turmoil. Any slight disturbance would immediately attract overwhelming outside attention. Even so, their team had stubbornly fought their way to this point.
That result alone stunned the public—Minjiang had never reached this stage in previous years.
As their performance improved, so too did the rumors and malicious speculation. The team had become the center of intense public controversy.
Perhaps simply standing on the competition stage had already required them to overcome countless hardships. They wanted strong results in the league—to gain more support and help their city.
And now, they had run into the biggest obstacle of the finals:
Lian City Light Academy.
The political weight attached to the Minjiang team was immense. Even teams facing them had to weigh various implications. When Xu Zhi learned that their next randomly drawn opponent was Minjiang, she frowned slightly.
Was it a coincidence?
Eighty teams in the bracket. Out of seventy-nine possible opponents, they had drawn Minjiang.
That was quite the coincidence.
And Lian City was currently one of the “bullies” stationed in Minjiang, attempting to seize control of the city’s sovereignty.
Of course, among the remaining eighty teams, at least a dozen came from cities playing similar roles. The odds of Minjiang facing one of those occupying powers were high.
But why did it have to be Lian City?
Others from Lian City might not feel much about it. But Xu Zhi knew—Minjiang’s “man-made disaster” was very likely orchestrated by Lian City.
More importantly, she was in Lian City. Anything connected to Lian City and the [Cup]—even the faintest shadow—put her on alert.
Was it really just a random draw?
No matter what, the matchup was set.
She didn’t need to step onto the stage for this match. Perhaps she could observe quietly and see what unfolded.
On match day, Xu Zhi looked no different than usual.
But inwardly, she was on guard.
At first, fragments of information about Minjiang could still be glimpsed in the news. Later, those reports were sealed off by the cities that had moved in. No more valuable information leaked. No one knew what Minjiang looked like internally anymore.
These student competitors had only been allowed to leave after extensive negotiations. It was also thanks to this year’s loosened league policies that they could participate at all.
Logically speaking, these students should have nothing to do with the [Cup]. After all, the outbreak of [Cup]-attribute believers in Minjiang had been a conspiracy.
But so much time had passed.
Now these students were openly appearing before the public.
Xu Zhi didn’t believe this was due to humanitarian principles. That kind of thing simply didn’t exist in this world.
Who knew whether these “students” were still just students?
In the preparation area, Xi Min reiterated key precautions to the players who would take the stage.
This was no longer like earlier rounds. Every match was critical now. One careless mistake could lead to an upset. The coaching staff spoke more than usual.
“Remember—your opponents may harbor negative emotions toward you. Be careful. Their team has a [Heart]-attribute girl who can influence an opponent’s judgment and emotions. Pay attention to your own state and your teammates’.”
“Xiaoyue—don’t hold back.”
This was Chu Xiaoyue’s first appearance. As the main core, she would open the 1v1 stage. Xi Min even added a specific instruction: if anything felt extremely wrong, she could concede immediately.
Xu Zhi glanced at Xi Min, sensing there was more meaning behind those words.
Chu Xiaoyue’s appearance drew significant attention. Xu Zhi, who previously had lounged casually in the preparation area, now watched the stage more intently.
She wanted to activate the [Eye of Secret] to inspect the opposing members directly.
But using extraordinary abilities in the preparation area was a serious violation.
Moreover, players were inspected before entering the arena. Given how vigilant this world was regarding the [Cup], anyone suspicious should not have been allowed in.
Still—
Xu Zhi couldn’t shake her unease.
The 1v1 match began.
Chu Xiaoyue, the long-benched main core, finally stepped onto the stage, drawing public attention. The commentators began making predictions.
“This main core doesn’t need much introduction. Just from her appearance, we can tell she’s a powerful Winter-attribute extraordinary. Although we don’t have her exact data, based on Minjiang’s lineup, they likely don’t have anyone capable of taking the first 1v1 victory.”
A polite way of saying Minjiang had no one stronger than her in a duel.
Another commentator was less reserved:
“I think we can directly guess how many she’ll string together. I’ll say at least three.”
His colleague sighed helplessly. “Let’s not speak in absolutes—we haven’t seen her perform yet.”
The match began.
Minjiang sent out their [Forge]-attribute player.
In 1v1 scenarios, [Forge] was indeed among the stronger attributes.
A sixth-year. Forge attribute. Long-Lived Stage One.
That was already respectable strength.
But against Chu Xiaoyue?
Far too weak.
Xu Zhi watched as the elf-like girl—whom she had once admired beneath the moon—calmly drew her sword. The silver-white blade matched her hair. As it left its sheath, frost scattered into the air.
Even from the preparation room, Xu Zhi felt the cold spreading from the arena.
The Forge player charged forward. Most Forge extraordinaires focused on strength; nine out of ten were melee fighters. This one was no exception.
Chu Xiaoyue stood still and waited.
That composure didn’t relax the Minjiang player. It made him even more cautious.
And then—
Her figure flickered.
He instinctively prepared to defend—only to discover his thoughts and movements had slowed dramatically.
As if frozen.
In the next instant, the sword pierced through his back and emerged from his chest.
Frost erupted from the blade, instantly freezing blood, flesh, meridians—even extraordinary energy.
It was absolute suppression.
His resistance was insufficient. The sword was merely the medium; freezing was the manifested ability.
He was crushed and eliminated in a single strike.
Even Xu Zhi showed surprise.
He had no ability to fight back at all?
This wasn’t what she had expected.
Was Minjiang deliberately hiding their strength in 1v1?
Or were these team members genuinely unproblematic?
No.
Xu Zhi rejected that thought immediately.
Even if the players themselves were clean—
Someone would ensure something went wrong.
Just not now.
At this moment, they were still ordinary competitors.
And against a “monster” like Chu Xiaoyue—who had reached Long-Lived Stage Two in her fifth year—they truly had no counter in a 1v1.
“Team battle?” Xu Zhi murmured inwardly.
There was no concrete evidence that Minjiang’s team was compromised. No proof the draw had been manipulated.
But Xu Zhi trusted her instincts.
Her intuition told her—
There was something far from simple behind this match.
