Merging with Demon Spirits

Chapter 379: Chapter 283: Rookie Challenge Tournament Begins

The appearance of the thirteen teams and the emergence of various rare demon spirits brought a tsunami of cheers that swept through the Glory Sports Center.

After that, the thirteen teams did not leave the stage, but stood quietly in place, still maintaining their demon possession state.

Showing off was only part of it; mostly it was to reward the audience for their patient waiting.

”Thank you to the thirteen teams for their amazing appearance, tonight is truly a star-studded night.”

Amidst the cheers, the host Zhang Yu’s exclamation echoed, and before he finished speaking, his partner Chen Xiaodi continued: ”Indeed, the newcomers this year are astonishing, with ancestral demonization and divine level demon spirits appearing one after another, truly making this the most dazzling year in history.”

As he spoke, the light curtain once again displayed the thrilling scenes of Yun Kai and others’ demon transformation, reigniting the cheers that had just subsided.

After the two hosts praised the thirteen teams, they excitedly announced: ”Now let’s welcome the vice president of the Glory Association, Ms. Zhang Ying, Guardian of Shangjing, Chen Guohui, Guardian Xie Tian..... and thirty professional players to the stage.”

Amidst the applause and cheers from the fans, the big names ascended the high platform one by one.

When the thirty professional players made their entrance, the fans could hardly contain their excitement, and their screams formed a sound wave that seemingly wanted to overturn the sports center.

From the cheers at this moment, it was clear that the professional players were far more popular than the newcomers from the colleges.

”Now let’s invite Ms. Zhang Ying, vice president of the Glory Association, to give the opening speech.”

With applause ringing, the forty-year-old Zhang Ying came to the center of the stage, looking at the enthusiastic audience, and smiled as she said: ”I am pleased to deliver the opening speech for the national college Glory League. Today marks the 67th year since the establishment of the Glory Association, during which we have nurtured many professional players who have achieved great things for the nation. Even after retirement, these professional players continue to be active in.....”

Listening to this somewhat empty rhetoric, Lin Feng’s eyes flashed with a hint of sarcasm.

What Zhang Ying’s words implied was nothing more than a description of the Glory Association’s cultivation of professional players and its contribution to the Glory War.

The development of the Professional Alliance indeed greatly benefits the Glory War; boasting in this way was somewhat awkward, and to speak so grandiosely and selflessly was rather laughable.

Moreover, they say the same thing every year, which is very uncreative.

”Now please allow Guardian of Shangjing, Mr. Chen Guohui, to give a speech.”

After speaking for a full seven or eight minutes, Zhang Ying finally finished. As the host’s words fell, a middle-aged man in a gray military uniform stepped to the center of the stage. Compared to the passionate and enthusiastic audience, his expression was stern and reserved, without a smile.

Looking at the fervent audience, Chen Guohui frowned slightly and said: ”The Glory Alliance has achieved commendable results in its development to date, but this is not a simple competition, nor is it a commercial game. And you...”

At this point, Zhang Guohui’s sharp gaze swept over the thirteen teams and thirty professional players: ”You are not celebrities, do not get lost in this commercial atmosphere, you have a more important mission, you are not stars, I hope you remember this, thank you.”

From the time Chen Guohui stepped out to the end of his speech, it took less than a minute, and compared to Zhang Ying’s long speech, it seemed a bit rushed.

However, his words caused Zhang Ying’s expression to change slightly, though she quickly regained her composure.

Among the members of the thirteen teams and the thirty professional players, some were indifferent, but more were moved, their eyes revealing a hint of complexity, with fists slightly clenched.

These words somewhat affected the atmosphere, but for many, they served as a profound reminder.

This was especially true for professional players.

”Well said!”

Ye Xing applauded as he watched Zhang Guohui’s departing figure.

Entering the Professional Alliance has its benefits, but also its pitfalls.

As long as a professional player has value, the club can provide the soul skills that the player wants, with a professional team of up to a hundred people to design the most suitable development direction and soul skill selection for the player.

The current Professional Alliance is doing well. A good professional player not only earns a decent salary but also has advertising endorsements and commercial events.

But at the same time, an environment too steeped in commercial atmosphere can make some lose their fighting spirit, indulging in the comfort zone surrounded by fans.

Some people, due to this, fall into decline and cannot break through to the King Realm. Such examples are not uncommon.

Seeing the atmosphere was not quite right, Chen Xiaodi quickly said: ”Now let’s invite the representative from Juxing Club, one of the All-Stars, Berserker Ye Xing to take the stage and deliver a speech.”

Amidst the cheers, Ye Xing composed himself, walked to the center of the stage, and slowly said: ”Guardian Xie’s speech was well said; we professional players are not celebrities. No matter how good the commercial atmosphere is, our goal is to participate in the Glory War and win glory for our country. After retirement, we also have a more important mission. I hope everyone will not waste their talent.”

Ye Xing’s speech was also brief and concluded quickly.

Next was the most anticipated part for the audience—the rookie challenge.

The thirteen teams, with each main team member, qualified to challenge a professional player.

This means there are 65 rookies, each taking on a professional player one-on-one.

”The rookie challenge is officially starting.”

As the host announced, the first rookie was a member of the Shuanghui Team, a young man named Xia Simiao. Xia Simiao had refined the Ninth Grade Demon Spirit, Hundred Fire Fireflies, and his profession was Fire Mage. He challenged the professional player Zhang Yunxing.

Zhang Yunxing’s profession was also Fire Mage.

”Zhang Yunxing is one of my favorite Glory players. I hope to become a strong Fire Mage like him in the future.”

Xia Simiao said to the approaching Zhang Yunxing, with a tone of respect.

Zhang Yunxing was not among the All-Stars, but he was strong, a main Fire Mage of the Changkong Team.

Of course, rookies couldn’t be expected to defeat professional players; this challenge was more of a tribute and a chance to showcase their strength to the Professional Alliance.

Of course, due to the significant gap in strength, professional players would suppress their strength and soul skills.

For example, if a newcomer absorbed five soul skills, then generally a professional player wouldn’t use a sixth soul skill. However, this isn’t absolute; if the newcomer is strong enough, the professional player wouldn’t insist on it just to win.

Of course, such instances are very rare and embarrassing for the professional player.

”Young man, your strength is unknown, but you have good vision, and a promising future. I have high hopes for you.”

Zhang Yunxing, dressed in a black tracksuit and standing over six feet tall, albeit with unremarkable looks, joked jovially with the somewhat nervous Xia Simiao.

For such newcomers who haven’t entered the Professional Alliance, due to differences in strength and age, there generally wouldn’t be a competitive relationship. As long as their attitude is humble and not arrogant, as predecessors, they wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult even if they could easily defeat their opponents, they would usually exchange a few rounds to give the newcomer a chance to showcase their skills.

This challenge match was meant to showcase the newcomers’ abilities, not those of the professional players.

The battle lasted three minutes, and the outcome was unsurprisingly straightforward—Xia Simiao, who had absorbed five soul skills, was overwhelmed by Zhang Yunxing’s superior experience, resulting in a decisive defeat.

Though overpowered, the battle process thrilled the audience, with various flame skills clashing, creating a dazzling visual effect.

After the battle, the two politely shook hands, and Zhang Yunxing patted Xia Simiao’s shoulder in encouragement.

The subsequent rookie challenges were highly entertaining for the audience, with both sides exchanging skills in various combinations, creating intense and fierce competition.

The major clubs’ representatives and some professional scouts watched with keen interest, primarily focusing on the newcomers.

However, for some King Level experts, such battles were a bit boring.

Until Ye Qiu appeared, they finally regained interest.

”I want to challenge Ye Xing.” Ye Qiu said, sparking a wave of screams.

Ye Qiu, at the Peak of Fourth Grade, had refined the 17th ranked Thorny Demon Dragon on the Earth Chart.

Ye Xing, at the Peak of Seventh Grade, had refined the 46th ranked Frenzied Giant Beast on the Earth Chart.

Both had refined combat series demon spirits, with Ye Qiu’s Thorny Demon Dragon being the highest-ranked amongst the nation’s youth.

Thorny Demon Dragon vs. Frenzied Giant Beast, a clash between two top fifty Earth Chart ranked demon spirits, instantly heated the atmosphere of the scene.