Chapter 1 The Beginning

"Yang Ma TV! Yang Ma TV! Hello everyone, viewers, I am your host, Ye Xunyang." A mature and intellectual urban woman held a microphone, standing in front of a pillar in a hotel courtyard.

This woman was, of course, also Yang Ma's go-to host for the Star Martial World Cup. During the last World Cup, she had even invited Jiang Xiao for an interview, so she could be considered an old friend of Jiang Xiao's.

Ye Xunyang turned to the side, raised her hand to gesture towards the hotel behind her, and said, "This is Bai Lin City, the capital of the Willpower Country. The hotel behind me is where the contestants from various countries participating in the World Cup individual competition will be staying."

Ye Xunyang gave a professional smile and took two steps to the side.

As the camera moved, groups of people waving small flags entered the camera's frame outside the hotel's front yard.

Ye Xunyang said with a smile, "We can see that people from many countries have come here to wait for the arrival of their national team members. The police are also on site to maintain order."

Facts proved that whether or not Europe was a disaster area for the opening of other-dimensional doors, the Earth was still turning.

Those excited faces were presented in the camera, seemingly telling the world that people's enthusiasm for the Star Martial World Cup had not diminished in the slightest.

Ye Xunyang continued, "We have received notification that the Huaxia national team members will arrive here within 10 minutes. At that time, we will selectively interview a national team member."

Saying that, Ye Xunyang smiled playfully and said, "Viewers, which team member are you looking forward to being interviewed?

Friends watching Yang Ma's online broadcast, you can write the name of your favorite contestant on the public screen~ Note that it is the individual competition contestants. Our Huaxia team competition members are not staying at this hotel."

The woman, with a mature and intellectual face, revealed a playful and cute smile, as if she already knew which team member's name would appear on the public screen.

There was no way around it, the popularity and recognition of Jiu Xing Du Nai were simply unmatched by other national team members.

At the same time, on a street in Bai Lin City, Willpower Country, a bus was speeding along.

Jiang Xiao's elbow rested on the car window, his palm supporting his chin, looking at the foreign land outside the window. It should have been a sorrowful, artistic scene, but he seemed to be muttering something in his mouth, which greatly ruined the atmosphere.

Jiang Xiao originally wanted to follow his team and get on the team competition members' bus, but as the captain of the national team's individual competition, Jiang Xiao was forcibly stuffed into this car by the team leaders.

Beside him, the strong Jinmen accent came: "Han bandits, what are you saying?"

Jiang Xiao retracted his gaze, turned his head, and saw Mr. Liu, the Tianjin thug. He couldn't help but grin and said, "Look outside, it's like the whole city is under martial law. There's no one on the streets."

Liu Yang laughed and said, "There aren't many people in this country to begin with. Not to mention this country, there aren't many people in the whole of Europe."

"That makes sense." Jiang Xiao scratched his head. He was used to Huaxia, and suddenly coming to such a deserted place really felt a little uncomfortable.

This desolation was definitely not normal desolation, but rather the kind of desolation that should be associated with a "martial law" state.

The land area of Willpower Country is not large, not even as large as a Cai Nan province in Huaxia. However, the other-dimensional spaces here are very advanced. Under the general situation of the world, this is indeed a disaster area.

But it has also created a group of Star Warriors. Now, aren't these elite college students probably all equipped with star techniques such as "Fall of the Gods"?

The Dark Forest other-dimensional space is only open in Willpower Country.

Liu Yang suddenly leaned forward and looked out the window: "Yo hey! I just said there was no one, but now there are quite a few!"

As the vehicle drove into the hotel, the people on the side of the street cheered.

Ordinary people were unable to enter the hotel. As the gates of the hotel courtyard opened, the bus slowly drove in. Jiang Xiao saw Huaxia faces, and at the same time, he also saw many foreigners making vulgar gestures and heard their jeers.

Jiang Xiao blinked. What did they mean? They didn't welcome him?

That was simply great!

The more you don't welcome me, the more I want to come!

Not only do I want to come, but I also want to take away the trophy you want, so how about that?

As the vehicle came to a stop, Jiang Xiao, as the Huaxia captain, at the invitation of the team teacher, was the first to get off the bus.

In an instant, the crowd outside the iron gate boiled.

Cheers and jeers coexisted, and the scene was very interesting.

Ye Xunyang, with a reporter's badge hanging on her chest, hurriedly walked over with the cameraman. Foreign reporters, who were also stationed in the courtyard, waiting for their national team members to arrive, also gathered around.

"Little Pi! Long time no see!" Ye Xunyang stepped forward and greeted him enthusiastically.

Jiang Xiao also greeted with a smile, saying, "It's an acquaintance. It seems that your hosting skills are very good. I heard that you changed several hosts just during my last participation in the World Cup?"

Ye Xunyang: "..."

Jiang Xiao also felt that the atmosphere was a little awkward, and Ye Xunyang deliberately shifted her position, turning her back to the camera, and mouthed to Jiang Xiao: Live broadcast nationwide!

Jiang Xiao chuckled. In his embarrassment, he grabbed Liu Yang, who was beside him, and said, "This is my teammate and also my college classmate. His nickname is Tianjin Thug, and he's very strong! I have high hopes for him!"

Liu Yang: "..."

Brother! This is a national live broadcast! You're setting me up! If I'm eliminated in the first round, wouldn't I be flamed to death?

Ye Xunyang ignored the foreign reporters who were crowding around and hurriedly asked, "Cheers and jeers coexist. Generally speaking, people have a great affection for the Star Warrior World Cup contestants. What do you think about the current situation?"

Indeed, generally speaking, everyone is willing to offer encouragement.

But Jiang Xiao was different. As the champion of the previous World Cup individual competition, he had defeated strong opponents from so many countries along the way, most of whom were seeded players. So at this time, Jiang Xiao's popularity was very high in China, but abroad, he was considered a "public enemy."

Jiang Xiao shrugged his shoulders, accompanied by the cheers and jeers outside the gate, and said, "It also represents the coexistence of pressure and motivation. This feeling is quite good."

"Oh?" Ye Xunyang's eyes lit up. In two years, this kid has grown a lot, and he can actually talk so well?

Ye Xunyang hurriedly asked, "What are your goals for this World Cup?"

Jiang Xiao suddenly laughed, looked at Ye Xunyang, and said, "If I said I could defend my title this time, would you believe it?"

For a moment, Ye Xunyang seemed to have returned to two years ago, remembering the fear that was controlled by Jiang Xiao...

Ye Xunyang nodded repeatedly like a chicken pecking at rice and said, "I believe it, I believe it this time!"

As she spoke, another bus drove in, and the sound outside also changed, mostly cheers.

Jiang Xiao turned his head and looked through the crowded foreign reporters. On that bus, he saw a rather familiar national flag sticker.

Yo?

The host team? Willpower Country?

Jiang Xiao was too familiar with this flag. The runner-up of the last World Cup, the "European Shield," came from Willpower Country, and he had also encountered Willpower Country's players in the previous Elite Star Pet Master Invitational Tournament.

Among the welcoming crowd outside, there were more local people from Willpower Country. Amidst the cheers, the bus slowly came to a stop, and the national team members of Willpower Country got off.

But as they got off, the atmosphere in the courtyard changed.

Jiang Xiao only felt that these guys were going to eat people. There was real hatred. Shouldn't their eyes be blue or brown? Did they all get pinkeye?

One by one, the Willpower Country team members looked extremely unkindly at Jiang Xiao, who was surrounded by reporters, and under the leadership of the team leader, they took the lead in entering the hotel.

Although there was no verbal or physical conflict, the scene just now was witnessed by everyone, and everyone knew it well.

Jiang Xiao sighed secretly in his heart.

In Huaxia, he was held up to the altar, and he had a large number of fans supporting him. After all, Jiang Xiao was a person who had won honor for the country.

But abroad, especially for the participating players from these powerful countries, Jiang Xiao was the target, and it would not be an exaggeration to call him a "national public enemy."

In the past two years, it was likely that all the players from all countries had been crazily studying everything about Jiang Xiao under the reprimand of their coaches.

People were not stupid. They all knew that Jiang Xiao would definitely participate in the World Cup again two years later. Naturally, among the research objects of these players, the most important thing was Jiang Xiao.

Everyone was in their twenties, all the proud sons of heaven. Which one didn't have their own pride? Which one wasn't full of vigor? Which one wasn't competitive?

Jiang Xiao could understand their feelings very well, but he couldn't understand their situation.

It seemed that these participating players preparing for the World Cup should all be living in Jiang Xiao's shadow, training day and night...

Ye Xunyang certainly saw this scene as well. Under the questions of a group of foreign reporters, her Chinese was very pleasant, which directly attracted Jiang Xiao's attention: "Little Pi, it seems that your situation is not very good. If nothing else happens, many players from various countries have regarded you as a target."

Jiang Xiao wrapped his arm around the tool man Liu Yang beside him and said, "Everyone is not young anymore. I think it's better for them to find some realistic goals to pursue."

Liu Yang opened his mouth wide. He knew Jiang Xiao's style and had seen him on TV.

But at this time, he was standing next to Jiang Xiao, and under the same frame as Jiang Xiao, this Han bandit actually said such arrogant words, it was simply... simply... too damn handsome!

As he spoke, another bus drove in, with the Stars and Stripes stuck on it.

Ye Xunyang was a little worried and said, "Due to the limited urban area, the number of police, and the current opening situation of the other-dimensional space in Bai Lin City, there will be 5-6 national teams staying in the same hotel. I hope all the team members will remain calm and not have any conflicts before the competition."

Before Ye Xunyang could finish her words, the American team had already squeezed over.

Unlike the Willpower Country players just now, the Willpower Country players lined up, bypassed the surrounding group of reporters, and walked into the hotel gate. But this American team didn't seem to mean to detour, but pushed everyone away and walked towards the main entrance of the hotel.

How could these ordinary reporters be a match for the elite Star Warriors? Under the crowding, the group of reporters retreated repeatedly.

Thump.

An American player, who should have brushed past a few people, bumped Liu Yang's shoulder heavily with his shoulder.

Liu Yang was dumbfounded, and then he understood what was going on, and his face turned black in an instant.

What the heck... you guys have to bump the right person! The national public enemy is over there, why are you bumping me?

Before Liu Yang could finish complaining, the second member of the American team bumped Liu Yang heavily in the same way.

Jiang Xiao frowned slightly. The next moment, his body flickered, and he stood directly in front of the leading American player.

At this moment, the reporters with badges hanging in the courtyard hurriedly raised their cameras, like sharks that smelled blood, frantically rushing forward.

Jiang Xiao's forehead pressed against the forehead of a curly-haired black man and said, "Are you blind when you walk?"

The black youth also pushed back with his forehead and said, "Don't block my way."

When Liu Yang saw that things were not right, he hurriedly looked at the Huaxia camera, grabbed the lens with both hands, and retreated to the side.

The Tianjin thug is a true brother. He used that big face to block the nationwide live broadcast lens and said, "About this World Cup, how should I put it, it's very fun..."

In an instant, a barrage of question marks floated across the online live broadcast...

"?"

"???"

"Han bandits are in trouble, thugs support! Remember this big face, this is the big face that is trying to save the image of Jiu Xing Du Nai! I won't say anymore, I'll withdraw first and go watch the foreign media's live broadcast..."