Chapter 1 The Freshly Released List of Top 32 in the National Team Individual Competition – Is Your Favorite on It?

The video footage and specific details of the National Team Selection Competition have not yet been released. Teachers and students are tight-lipped, refusing to accept any interviews.

As expected of traditional powerhouses! All recommended students from the three universities – Capital Star Warrior University, Shanghai Star Warrior University, and Hunan Military Academy – have advanced!

The local Star Warrior Universities are facing a winter of discontent. Did your favorite One-on-One King get surprisingly eliminated?

Lying in his hotel room, Jiang Xiao swiped through the news on his phone. In the standard double room, Zhao Wenlong sat calmly on the sofa, watching the television news.

Zhao Wenlong was an old-fashioned man, his primary channels for receiving external information being television, radio, and newspapers.

Zhao Wenlong was currently drinking tea, with a copy of this morning's *People's Daily* newspaper on the table, which also mentioned the list of the top 32.

Without a doubt, all three students from Capital Star Warrior University were on it.

"Congratulations to Jiu Xing Du Nai, the King of Toxic Milk, for happily entering the Top 32!" The host's broadcasting voice came from the television. In recent years, the news anchors on CCTV have been very talented, unlike the dullness of the past, and occasionally even make jokes and tell stories.

This was the morning news live broadcast, which was not as serious as the evening news.

It was currently broadcasting a special program, watched by many people across the country, as CCTV News had been promoting it through various channels for some time. This morning, they would broadcast exclusive news and release a small portion of the competition videos.

The competition videos were strictly controlled by the organizers. The teachers, students, and staff were also required to refrain from revealing any information to the outside world. Therefore, CCTV's first-hand exclusive information naturally gained high ratings, attracting a large audience.

Jiang Xiao listened to the broadcast on the television, but after the first segment, the host suddenly changed the subject and specifically mentioned Jiang Xiao's name, which surprised him slightly.

"Yes, you didn't see it wrong, and you didn't hear it wrong. Jiang Xiaopi, a student from Capital Star Warrior University, nicknamed the King of Toxic Milk, has forcefully entered the Top 32 amidst a chorus of doubts." The male host, wearing glasses, looked refined, with a smile on his lips, and looked at the female host beside him.

"If he continues to work hard and enters the national team's list, it will be an extraordinary achievement, worthy of great celebration."

The female host nodded and smiled, "Even if Jiang Xiaopi stops at the Top 32 and fails to be selected for the national team, he has already made history. Since our country participated in the World Cup, very few support players have obtained the qualification for their universities to participate.

And after the millennium, due to the characteristics of the World Cup individual competition and the final World Cup results, the warrior and mage dual-type players have monopolized all the recommended places in various universities, and no university has ever recommended a support student again."

The male host looked at the camera, his voice gentle, "Speaking of Jiang Xiaopi, I believe everyone is familiar with him. This player, who has only nine star slots and has been widely questioned, has embarked on a path to the sanctuary since the moment he awakened his Star Map.

Beijiang Province High School League Champion, Beijiang Province Second Wasteland Reclamation Champion, National High School League Champion, and Finals Most Valuable Student.

Doubt, pessimism, and even ridicule and mockery have accompanied Jiang Xiaopi's student life, but he has proven himself with real battles and the highest honors at every stage.

And now, he obviously doesn't want to stop. He wants to step into that supreme hall. As a freshman, as a support, he used his bow and knife to fight his way into the national team's Top 32."

Leaning against the headboard, Jiang Xiao frowned and sat up straight. He could understand that the first segment spent 15 minutes introducing the competition overview and student information.

But why was the second segment singling him out for special attention? Judging from this, Jiang Xiao was afraid that he would occupy at least 5 minutes of broadcasting time?

Beside him, Zhao Wenlong took a sip of tea and said, "Someone is warming you up."

Jiang Xiao nodded solemnly in agreement.

Zhao Wenlong, "Obviously, some people are very optimistic about you. They should have seen your preliminary round performance, or... they have seen your entire journey."

Jiang Xiao also felt this, but this was too optimistic about him.

To what extent?

Jiang Xiao hadn't even been formally selected for the national team, and they were already building momentum for him?

Or rather, this wasn't building momentum, it was conveying some information to the audience?

Jiang Xiao's acquisition of the recommendation qualification from Capital Star Warrior University caused quite a reaction. Not to mention the outside world, there were many students within the school who had quite a few complaints.

But after the school selection competition, these voices were much quieter, especially after Jiang Xiao's heavy rain fell, the pride of Capital Star Warrior University became much more obedient...

In this world, strength still speaks.

If you can't say anything,

Then, uh... cry?

Zhao Wenlong said, "With such information being conveyed, giving people psychological preparation, if you really enter the national team's official list of 10, maybe people can accept it better."

Jiang Xiao said, "I don't think the reason should be such a simple layer. Maybe there are other reasons. Maybe the country wants to see support players not take it for granted to be a 'big master,' being highly regarded by the warrior and mage Star Warriors.

Maybe the officials want to change the overall support atmosphere.

Maybe the country wants to see support players take on more responsibilities, not positioning themselves as a support role that needs to be taken care of. At least in times of crisis, they have a certain degree of self-preservation ability, so as not to cause trouble for their teammates.

My offensive star techniques are pitifully few, and I only use knife skills and other techniques to make up for it. Have you noticed that I hardly use bows and arrows, but the host's words included the word 'bow'?"

Zhao Wenlong smiled and said, "Then you're not a very good example. If the new generation of support children follow your example, they're probably going to become warriors."

Jiang Xiao nodded silently, "It's certainly reasonable for the officials to guide in this way, but my example is a bit extreme.

The support's primary job must not be forgotten, that is the magic weapon for support to gain a foothold, but don't overcorrect.... It's over, it's over, I'm going to mislead people..."

I am indeed a Jiu Xing Du Nai,

But I only poison the enemies!

Are you asking me to poison the new generation of Chinese support children?

Nai out of the capital, poison the whole country?

Zhao Wenlong turned to look at Jiang Xiao and said, "You don't need to worry too much. Not many people have your talent in knife skills. Not to mention the weak support players, even agile warriors would probably find it difficult to reach your level of talent."

Jiang Xiao: "......"

Did you go to Hou Mingming's place for further study?

How are you getting better and better at talking?

Zhao Wenlong said, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. The higher-ups are considering things much more deeply than we are, much more wise and rational than you and I.

If it's really as you think, you may just be a loud cannonball, the effect is good, and it happens to be the right time, it can cause a wide range of attention. The officials will definitely have other follow-up actions."

Jiang Xiao scratched his head, so... I'm the first shot?

Zhao Wenlong picked up his tea and said, "Maybe you shouldn't just consider support, you should consider agile warriors and shield warriors more."

Jiang Xiao: "How so?"

Zhao Wenlong took a sip of tea, "The better your results, the more exquisite the skills you show, the greater the impact on melee Star Warriors."

Jiang Xiao's mind raced, and his eyes lit up: "I am a very special example. My results are telling the world that magical star techniques are not the only winning weapon for Star Warriors. Their own skills are also powerful weapons, sometimes even stronger than star techniques."

Zhao Wenlong and Jiang Xiao seemed to be inspiring each other. Hearing this, Zhao Wenlong no longer limited his focus to the melee system.

Zhao Wenlong nodded, speaking in a plastic Mandarin accent, "Perhaps Star Warriors of all professions are too dependent on star techniques. From this point of view, you are indeed a very, very good example."

Jiang Xiao pondered for a long time, and finally nodded lightly.

Zhao Wenlong, however, opened the floodgates, "The significance of you entering the national team's list and stepping onto the World Cup arena is far greater than the competition itself."

Zhao Wenlong sighed deeply, his eyes bright, and looked at Jiang Xiao: "Regardless of ranking, regardless of honor. Your unique support profession, your few star slots and support star techniques, infinitely highlight your combat skills."

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

There was a sudden knock on the door.

The two stopped talking, and Zhao Wenlong got up to open the door.

He found that it was Teacher Fang Xingyun, and two staff members with badges hanging on their chests.

Teacher Fang Xingyun asked softly, "Where's Xiao Pi?"

Zhao Wenlong pointed inside and said, "He's inside."

Fang Xingyun stepped in and saw Jiang Xiao hurriedly covering himself with the quilt, because he hadn't gotten out of bed yet, and was only wearing his underwear...

Fang Xingyun stood in the living room, looked at Jiang Xiao and said, "10 minutes to wash up and get dressed, you have an exclusive interview."

Jiang Xiao looked bewildered.

Huh?

An exclusive interview?

What are you guys doing? I'm going to participate in the Top 32 competition tomorrow, how can there be an exclusive interview?

Also, why are you only telling me now? The organizers don't treat people like people, huh? You have to call ahead to invite someone to dinner, right?

How can you notify someone ten minutes in advance that they have an exclusive interview?

Do you really think I'm staying obediently in the hotel, waiting for you to summon me?

Uh... it seems that's really the case, the organizers don't allow anyone to leave the hotel...

Fang Xingyun obviously sensed Jiang Xiao's emotions, and said helplessly, "It was arranged by the higher-ups, I tried to refuse, and also declined."

Jiang Xiao looked at Fang Xingyun, and knew what she meant.

Teacher Fang said with a serious expression, "Get up quickly, it won't take too long, you are a Wasteland Reclamation apprentice, treat it as a task that must be completed."

Jiang Xiao pursed his lips.

Fang Xingyun's expression became stern: "Get up quickly!"

"Ah." Jiang Xiao grabbed the quilt and said, "Go away, I'm wearing my underwear."

Fang Xingyun's expression froze, she couldn't help but glare at Jiang Xiao, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned around and left...