"Should we fight out the remaining two matches?" Lian Xin asked.

He Yi nodded affirmatively, "Yes. The more we partic.i.p.ate, the better our win rate, and the higher our chance of obtaining the MVP t.i.tle. Lu Chen and Beiming still have a 2v2 to fight, and I need to get some experience myself, don't I? I've never partic.i.p.ated in national play-offs like this until now…"

Lian Xin chuckled at that. "Okay. Do your best, my dear boss!"

……

He Yi entered the battlefield. Her opponent was the tamer called Superb Ai Jia, a pretty little girl with pretty little b.r.e.a.s.t.s. If I were to describe them in Du Thirteen's words, it would be something like, "If it ain't big enough for me hands to grab, it ain't fit."

However, our impression of Superb Ai Jia changed quickly when she gave her leather whip a wave and let out a bell-like giggle. "Come out, my little fox! Help me take out this older sister!"

Swhoos.h.!.+

A gigantic magic hexagram rotated on the ground, and an equally huge creature leaped out from the center. It was a red fox that was at least two meters tall. It had black eyes, red fur and six huge tails that were swaying gently in the wind.

"Oh my G.o.d! A Six-tailed Demon Fox?" Lin Yixin exclaimed in surprise.

"What's wrong, Yiyi? You know this pet?" I asked her.

Lin Yixin nodded. "I've read about it. The Six-tailed Demon Fox is the divine guardian beast of j.a.pan's main city, so why is it here in our WEL? This makes no sense…"

Beiming Xue said, "Who knows, maybe Superb Ai Jia is so cute that even the Six-tailed Demon Fox fell for her charm? Her hair accessory is so cute! I wonder if it's available for purchase in real life? Big bro, do you think it'd look cute on me? If you do then I'll book it on Taobao immediately!"

I curled my lips and replied, "Honestly… I'm more concerned about Eve's match right now. It doesn't look like it'll be an easy fight…"

Murong Mingyue consoled me, "It doesn't matter even if she loses. We've already advanced to the semi-finals, and Eve isn't gunning for the MVP t.i.tle anyway."

"I know, but still. That Six-tailed Demon Fox looks really powerful."

Lin Yixin agreed with me, "Yes, it does. It can use six types of magic, and it has great Defense and HP. It can stand there and let Sister Eve hit it with everything she got, and it'll still take her three minutes to kill it. A match can only continue for so long, so if Sister Eve doesn't take out the tamer as soon as possible, she'll lose."

"Yeah."

……

He Yi was already attacking Superb Ai Jia while we were conversing with each other. However, not only was the intelligent tamer able to dodge her attacks, she ran around her Six-tailed Demon Fox only. As a result, it almost looked like He Yi was trying to commit suicide as the Six-tailed Demon Fox wagged its many tails and tossed icicles, rocks, fireb.a.l.l.s, light b.a.l.l.s, lightning and windblades at her. Each tail represented one type of magic, and they all chipped away at her HP.

A moment later, our beautiful guild leader dropped to the ground and died. The fight was over in the blink of an eye...

The second round began, and Superb Ai Jia summoned her Six-tailed Demon Fox again. She taunted He Yi, "You're too weak, big sister…"

That hurt He Yi a little, but she kept quiet. The moment the countdown hit zero, she abruptly went berserk and fired Purgatory of Ice and Magma straight at Superb Ai Jia. The five-hit AoE skill actually pierced through the Six-tailed Demon Fox's body and hit Superb Ai Jia square on! Caught completely off-guard, the girl dropped dead and lost the round!

The score turned 1:1, and He Yi successfully drew the match.

When the third round began, Superb Ai Jia was ready for the surprise attack. After she successfully Guarded He Yi's Purgatory of Ice and Magma, she ran rings around her divine beast again like that Taoist from the Legend of Mir 2 a long time ago. In that game, the Taoist would run like a rabbit while the Qilin kept blowing the warrior away from them. It was a completely one-sided battle.

In the end, He Yi wasn't able to turn things around and donated a point to Sword Lord of Jianghu. Her strength wasn't the problem, that Six-tailed Demon Fox's magical attacks were. No one liked having to endure a barrage of slows and confusion skills.

……

The 2v2 match arrived, and Beiming Xue and I stepped out to face Now and Forever and Amber Pupil. When the first battle began, Now and Forever had been overflowing with confidence. Now? It was completely shattered by Beiming Xue, Lian Xin and my own hands. All he had left now was a bellyful of anger.

Few players could perform up to par when they lost their cool, and neither Now and Forever nor Amber Pupil were an exception. As a result, both rounds were a complete one-sided slaughter. I kept the dark swordsman busy while tossing Coiling Dragon Revolution to help Beiming Xue kill the onmyouji. Then, we worked together to destroy the dark swordsman. Amber Pupil was p.i.s.sed beyond imagination because over 70% attacks were parried by yours truly. It must have felt like torture to watch his partner being annihilated by Beiming Xue and me twice, and his own efforts be nullified like a clay ox that had entered the sea.

The overall score turned 4:1, and we were able to defeat Sword Lord of Jianghu with a great victory. Dark horse or not, they were destined to lose the moment they ran into us.

……

After we ended Sword Lord of Jianghu's advance, Zhang Chun, also known as Hot and Sour Noodles, sent me a message: "Well done, Lu Chen! Hahaha! Did you know that these people boasted in the VR department that they'd become the national champion before the compet.i.tion even began, and they even looked down on Candlelight Shadow and Wind Fantasy? I can't begin to tell you how satisfying it was to watch your team slap them in the face with a 4:1 score!"

I smiled back. "You praise us too much, Uncle Zhang Chun…"

Meanwhile, Fei'er returned to the stage to make her next announcement. "Thank you to all our players for showing us such exciting matches. Now, the semi-finalists have been confirmed, and the teams that will represent China and partic.i.p.ate in the international finals of the WEL are—Snowy Cathaya, Soul Battle Robes, Candle Dragon and Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls! That being said, a champion hasn't been decided yet, so don't go anywhere, people! The semi-finals will begin right away, and the match-ups are—Snowy Cathaya versus Soul Battle Robes, and Candle Dragon versus Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls! I'm sure everyone is looking forward to the birth of a new king!"

On the big display, the match-ups appeared in flashy borders—

Snowy Cathaya VS Soul Battle Robes

Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls VS Candle Dragon

These semi-finals were going to be battles between kings for sure. One just needed to listen to the cheers of the audiences to know that. Snowy Cathaya, Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls and Candle Dragon had countless supporters in the China server as a matter of course, and even Soul Battle Robes was an old king from Spirit of Grief who was looking to make a comeback. I was sure that there were a lot of old timers who went crazy over the return of the good ol' days. Most importantly, each and every one of the semi-finalists was a powerhouse in their own right, and together they formed the deadliest group of death China had never seen until now. It wouldn't surprise anyone if any one of these teams won the compet.i.tion and became the champion!

……

Still smiling, Fei'er continued, "But first, I would like to thank Eternal Moon Corporation for holding this compet.i.tion, all our sponsors such as Apple, Exxon Mobile, Walmart and more. Now then, players of the first semi-final, please step onto the stage!"

Fei'er raised her hands, and a rainbow bridge appeared above the stage. Then, both Snowy Cathaya and Soul Battle Robes were teleported onto it. Most of the players looked nervous under the limelight, but not Lin Yixin due to various experiences. Beside her, Clear Perfume and Purple Marquis were looking around and commenting on how amazing the setup looked.

After Fei'er walked up the rainbow bridge and reached the partic.i.p.ants, she brought her mic close to Lin Yixin and asked her with a smile, "Beauty Wind Fantasy, you are the leader of your team and the famous Fruit Knife G.o.ddess of Heavenblessed. Do you think your team will be able to beat Soul Battle Robes, a former king of guilds who seems to have mounted a powerful comeback?"

Lin Yixin blinked once before replying smilingly, "Sure. Soul Battle Robes are strong, but Snowy Cathaya isn't weak either. Just qualifying for the WEL internationals isn't enough to satisfy us, we'll win these nationals and become the indisputable champion of China as well!"

Fei'er giggled. "Oh my! It looks like Beauty Wind Fantasy is overflowing with confidence. Let's interview the team leader of Soul Battle Robes now, shall we?"

When the mic was brought to Song of Cloud and Water, the young girl declared, "Soul Battle Robes will give it their all to become the champion. We will beat Snowy Cathaya, and…"

The girl suddenly raised her arm and pumped her fist. "I will s.n.a.t.c.h Lu Chen away from Wind Fantasy! I believe that it's only a matter of time before he becomes mine!"

Whatever cool Lin Yixin had was gone the instant she heard that. She gritted her teeth and uttered, "Is that so? Let's fight already!"

……

Beneath the stage, I blurted in confusion, "This match is between Snowy Cathaya and Soul Battle Robes, right? So how the f.u.c.k did I even get dragged into that? I'm eating a bullet even though I'm not doing anything at all! Is Song of Cloud and Water suffering from a brain aneurysm or something?"

"I wonder." For some reason, He Yi was glaring at me.

Murong Mingyue giggled. "You're just too popular, boy!"

Beiming Xue tried to help me, "I don't think so? Song of Cloud and Water just wants big bro for his power. She's right in thinking that big bro would be able to carry Soul Battle Robes back to the top once more. Unfortunately, she didn't realize that big bro and Sister Eve are in a relations.h.i.+p, or she would've given up on recruiting big bro already."

Murong Mingyue teased her. "Oh really? Pray tell, what kind of relations.h.i.+p do they share exactly?"

Beiming Xue turned red, but she said in a small voice, "Do I even need to say it? In my opinion, big bro has two girlfriends, and they're Sister Lin Yixin and Sister Eve. No other woman is worthy of big bro!"

It was impossible not to turn red at the comment. I fixed my gaze on the stage and pretended that I didn't hear anything.

He Yi was looking down and turning red in the ear as well.

……

On the stage, Lin Yixin and Song of Cloud and Water were finalizing their line-ups. Soon, they appeared on the big display, and it was a battle between the strongest players again—

1v1: Wind Fantasy LV-182 Light Wanderer VS Song of Ice and Fire LV-181 Frozen Berserker

1v1: Shadow Chanel LV-181 Dark Tongue mage VS Song of Cloud and Water LV-180 Magic Knight

1v1: Purple Marquis LV-181 Warrior VS Ringwraith LV-180 Undead Mage

1v1: Clear Perfume LV-180 Archer VS G.o.d Bone LV-180 Iron Knight

2v2: Wind Fantasy LV-182 Light Wanderer & Purple Marquis LV-181 Warrior VS Song of Ice and Fire LV-181 Frozen Berserker & Ringwraith LV-180 Undead Mage

……

As expected, both sides sent out their strongest experts right from the get-go. They clearly intended to kick off the match with a resounding win. I wonder how the Fruit Knife G.o.ddess would fare against the new star, Song of Ice and Fire the Frozen Berserker?

He Yi clenched her fist a little and stared at the screen. "Snowy Cathaya's line-up is… mm, Qingqing's a bit wanting, to be honest. She's the weak link of the team…"

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Snowy Cathaya still lacks at least one super expert who's at the same level as Purple Marquis!"

Lin Yixin overheard our conversation when she reappeared next to us. She shot us a smile and said, "Don't worry, I'll find one as soon as possible!"