Chapter 1 The Start

Monaco, Grimaldi Forum, North Gate.

Blue carpet.

Blue cordon.

Neatly arranged rows of cameras were set up early, like machine guns ready to fire, waiting for the arrival of the star players.

Nearby business building's LED billboards continuously cycled through photos of the key players from 32 clubs.

Völler, old man Toppmöller, and Brandt stepped out of the business van.

The fans on both sides recognized the team emblem on their clothes and let out sporadic cheers.

The media reporters didn't seem too enthusiastic either.

"Damn it, what's with this attitude? We Leverkusen are a top-tier team this year, a seeded team!"

"Don't say that. Atlético Madrid, Dortmund, Arsenal, Manchester City from the second tier... are definitely more popular than us."

"Li!"

Accompanied by Brandt's shout.

A business van slowly approached.

The human wall formed by the security personnel began to loosen.

Fans and reporters went wild for a moment: That's the most dazzling young midfielder in the European Cup! The Golden Boot winner who broke European history!

...

Leverkusen and Arsenal have a great relationship, like a honeymoon.

It's definitely not just because of two hundred million.

Wenger exchanged pleasantries with old man Toppmöller.

Völler and Brandt showered Li Kang with concern.

"Are you still adjusting to the London climate?"

"Li, do I look thinner?"

The group chatted casually as they walked into the conference center.

The crowd behind them instantly erupted with even louder cheers.

"Messi!!!"

"Cristiano!!!"

...

Wenger was still a little nervous.

Not because he feared any particular team.

It's just that the third and fourth tiers of teams in this season's Champions League contained many formidable opponents.

If you're lucky, you'll draw teams like Ludogorets Razgrad and Legia Warsaw...

If you're unlucky, you'll draw teams like Monaco, PSV Eindhoven, Lyon, or Borussia Mönchengladbach... even the cosmic team would lose a layer of skin playing against them.

A dense schedule tests a player's physical strength and willpower.

Next month, Arsenal will start playing in the English League Cup, and then there's the FA Cup later on...

Wenger was overwhelmed with worries.

'Please don't let us be drawn into a group of death, we can't handle it.'

...

Accompanied by UEFA staff.

The group arrived at the main hall.

Völler, Wenger, and old man Toppmöller skillfully made their way to the club representatives' seating area.

Brandt looked at his and Li Kang's nameplates, and said in confusion:

"Why is your seat in a group of women?"

"Why am I so far away from you?"

This year's player representatives' seats were arranged according to the club's Champions League seeding.

Leverkusen was the Bundesliga champion last season, so according to the Bundesliga's European points, they naturally became a top-tier seeded team.

It was different for La Liga.

Real Madrid and Barcelona were both in the first tier.

Li Kang didn't care about these details. He followed the number plate and walked towards the auditorium, quickly finding his seat.

Second row, third column.

Surrounded by women's soccer players.

Some of them were even more muscular than him.

The girl next to him, wearing a purple floral dress, was quite cute. She looked a bit familiar, he seemed to have seen her a few times in Barcelona.

The female soccer stars who can attend the Champions League draw ceremony wouldn't be simps.

They just smiled politely and didn't disturb the European talent.

The lights on the main stage kept changing.

The Champions League theme song played from the speakers in every corner of the hall.

The empty seats were gradually filled.

"Li, long time no see."

Bale smiled and sat next to Li Kang.

He felt that his playing style was very similar to Li Kang's, and unconsciously developed a sense of admiration.

Following closely behind was Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid superstar's expression wasn't as stern as usual, and he smiled at Li Kang.

The three of them ended up sitting next to each other.

The flashbulbs went crazy.

Reporters suddenly realized: "The top three nominees for UEFA's Player of the Year award... are Bale, Ronaldo, and Li Kang!"

....

Ctv live broadcast room.

-【What's going on, why didn't Messi make it into UEFA's Player of the Year?】

-【Messi has won it twice already, plus he played in the Copa América this summer.】

-【This year is different, with the European Cup boost, European players have a natural advantage. Ronaldo and Li Kang were the core players in the European Cup final, and Bale performed explosively in the Champions League final... compare that to their performance throughout the season.】

-【This award was only created in 2011. Messi has won it twice, and Ronaldo, Iniesta, and Ribéry have each won it once.】

-【Griezmann almost made it, ranked fourth! If he hadn't been injured in the European Cup semi-finals...】

....

The prelude to the draw ceremony is always so sleepy.

After Pedro Pinto gave a long, cliché speech, the stirring music started again.

Liverpool legend Ian Rush entered, holding the Big Ears trophy!

This Welsh legend is the ambassador for the 2016-17 Champions League season.

Because the venue for this year's Champions League final is the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales!

Ian Rush didn't like to waste words. He answered the host's questions briefly and forcefully, and couldn't wait to urge the draw ceremony to speed up.

He couldn't hurry it.

Draw guest Clarence Seedorf was backstage, chatting and laughing with the models.

Speaking of the Champions League, this Milan legend is definitely a heavyweight.

He has represented three different clubs and won four Champions League titles!

...

The LED screen began to replay the top ten goals from the previous Champions League season.

Li Kang occupied five of them!

The god of war possessing him at Camp Nou!

His peerless horsemanship in North Rhine!

The divine guidance at Stamford Bridge!

His soaring through the clouds and inverting his body to score at the Bernabéu!

Even though the audience had already seen them many times in online news, they were still amazed.

Finally, the screen froze on a dreamlike goal from Barcelona's MSN trio.

The audience applauded thunderously.

In the coach representatives' seating area, the coaches of each team turned their attention to Barcelona coach Luis Enrique.

One million...

Two hundred million...

'The summer transfer window isn't over yet, I need to pay more attention to the young players from La Masia, they're cheap anyway!'

Enrique's expression was calm.

He didn't care about the outside world's ridicule.

'I need to be patient.

In the new season, I will let the whole world know: The dream four dynasty of peak Barcelona will set sail!'

....

Seedorf finally came on stage.

The draw ceremony still couldn't start quickly.

Pedro Pinto gave another long, cliché speech.

"Mr. Seedorf, you always manage to win the Champions League with different clubs. Is there any secret?"

The Milan legend shifted his gaze from the models and said seriously: "At the right time, go to the most suitable club."

Everyone laughed.

Looking back at Seedorf's career, he always managed to meet the best teammates in the world at every crucial moment.

The glass bowl containing 32 small balls was placed on the stage.

The new UEFA competitions director, Marchetti, silently took the stage.

Where's Infantino's bald head?

He's been promoted to FIFA...

....

After a long time.

The draw ceremony finally began!

Everyone couldn't help but get nervous.

Ian Rush couldn't wait to twist open the first small ball.

Pop!

"Barcelona, Group C!"

All the coaches of the second-tier clubs felt a pang in their hearts.

Barcelona spent 150 million on signings this summer, if Enrique solves the midfield problem, the new season at Camp Nou... will definitely be hell on earth!

Even Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone frowned.

Only Bayern's new coach Carlo Ancelotti was calm and composed, his eager expression... seemed to be expecting something.

All eyes turned to Seedorf's big black hand.

...

In the player representatives' seating area.

Li Kang suddenly sensed that the girl next to him was gradually breathing faster.

Could she be from Barcelona's women's team...?

Probably.

Bale excitedly nudged Li Kang with his elbow.

"Arsenal, Group C!"

The whole place erupted.

Someone started laughing first.

Seedorf shook his head self-deprecatingly.

UEFA officials didn't give the audience time to react.

The third and fourth-tier teams were quickly drawn.

"PSV Eindhoven, Group C!"

"Monaco, Group C!"

...

Ctv5 live broadcast room.

The barrage exploded.

-【Congratulations!】

-【What a black hand, Seedorf!】

-【Li Mingdeng is going to play in the group of death again!】

-【Does he have some kind of unlucky constitution? The European Cup was also in the half of death.】

-【PSV Eindhoven, Eredivisie champions!】

-【Monaco, the Ligue 1 runners-up with Mbappé, Fabinho, and Falcao!】

-【Won't they lose a layer of skin even if they get out of the group stage?】

-【It's better to have a good draw than to play well.】

-【Poor professor, he spent two hundred million, can't he enjoy some good fortune?】