Chapter 850: Is It That Funny?

"Scout, have you learned it?"

Meiko asked Scout half-seriously, half-teasingly.

Scout snorted disdainfully, not bothering to answer. Easyhoon's Lu Xi An is indeed strong, but Scout thinks he would play even stronger! If one must say there's a difference, it's the jungle gap.

A Bu, however, whispered to Coach Nofe: "Coach, let's study this a bit more..."

Nofe didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Big brother, the group stage has already started, and you're telling me now to study more?

Moreover, Lu Xi An can only be used as a surprise tactic; it's not part of EDG's regular tactical system—meaning EDG basically has no strategy built around Lu Xi An!

Take a look at VG this game: it's obvious Lu Xi An is the tactical core of the whole lineup, even the sole core; the jungler revolved around mid lane Lu Xi An throughout the early and mid game, with two tower dives within five minutes! At that moment, Nofe was left dumbfounded.

Impressive?

Extremely impressive!

But how can EDG learn something like this?

Since he couldn't badmouth his superior, Nofe could only nod sincerely: "Although our system is already fairly mature, it seems Lu Xi An's strength is indeed much greater than we expected, and VG has shown us many new things, which they hadn't displayed in scrims, so it's indeed worth studying further. However…… I suggest we still focus our efforts on the systems and tactics we've practiced the most; Lu Xi An-centric play can only be used as a surprise tactic."

A Bu patted Nofe's shoulder reassuringly, but remained noncommittal.

……

Online, VG's opening match sparked enthusiastic discussion among countless netizens.

【This is the strength of a Top 20 fifth place!】

【Marquis today played like a dying brilliance, no, it's youth returning】

【With Marquis's performance today, you're telling me he can only be fifth? There are two mids stronger than him ahead? I don't believe it!】

【Jiao Shen basically made no sound this game, just a background presence; is VG going to change its tactical core?】

【Very familiar taste; last year G2 played the same way, Jiao Shen hid in the group stage as a support, then exploded in the knockout stage!】

【Nobody's praising my idol Fu Lan Duo? Qiang Ge's few waves of support were also crucial this game! Sima Laozei and Xiao Duan really did seem invisible; the incense burner didn't do anything】

【The incense burner and Ma Ge's Xayah are the safety net; mid lane was smashed through, no need for a bicycle, just push straight】

Less than ten minutes had passed since the opening match ended.

VG's five starters had just returned to the lounge; earlier, each region had pulled them away for interviews—Easyhoon was taken by the LCK region, Liang Yan was snatched by the Europe region…… On the contrary, as the host LPL region, to show its "magnanimity," it acted last, ending up only snagging "interview genius" Sima Laozei for an on-site interview.

Sima Laozei not being snatched for interviews wasn't due to low popularity, but because everyone feared his dual nature…… Interviewing Sima Laozei requires mental preparation; he could make the show explosively entertaining, or blow up the production team.

In this regard, the LPL has the most experience, especially Yu Shuang…… Hmm.

Today, Yu Shuang again interviewed Sima Laozei; nothing major went wrong, the show effect was fine, the live audience laughed heartily, so everyone was satisfied.

"Hahahaha, damn, Ma Ge, you're still so talented~"

Xiao Duan held his phone, watching the fresh Sima Laozei interview clip on some site, curled up on the sofa laughing like a mad dog.

Sima Laozei glanced at him expressionlessly: "Is it really that funny?"

Liang Yan glanced at Xiao Duan's phone, then hearing that, couldn't help but laugh: "There is, Ma Ge, definitely there; you gotta believe in your talent."

Even Liang Yan said that, Sima Laozei became serious, pondering, then suddenly pulled out his phone and started editing something.

Soon, everyone received a Weibo special attention notification: 【The blogger you specially follow, @VGsmlz, has posted a new Weibo; come check it out~~~】

Upon clicking in, everyone burst out laughing.

Sima Laozei posted:

【@Shiquan, make money】

……

Today there were no VG matches; after a brief rest, everyone started packing up to leave, needing to vacate the lounge for the teams coming later.

Although backstage is spacious, it's impossible to give every team in the day's schedule its own lounge—there are twelve teams.

The other match in Group D is already ready.

MSF vs. C9, a Europe-America showdown.

The moment the two teams walked out from the backstage passage, the arena's air tightened a notch. Players' eyes shone, they walked with vigor, exuding an uncontainable killing intent; even the usually calm old veterans showed rare excitement on their faces. Just earlier they had been in the backstage watching the opening match; after watching, their blood boiled.

The Europe-America audience felt the same; the opening match was fast and exhilarating, their emotions ignited, and then came the destined NA vs. EU showdown, with pent-up fury finding an outlet.

Both teams stood side by side before the stage; in the YouTube live chat, countless scrolled across the players' faces, and the barrage language was all over the place.

【Here we come, C9 charge! Let's kill MSF!】

【This is the match I truly wanted to watch today】

【Play well, don't let the Chinese audience look down on you】

【Wow, so many people here, is the group stage always this spectacular?】

【Heh, Chinese people just love big scenes, puffing their faces to look fat】

【Hope our region's teams get an enthusiastic welcome when they take the stage】

【Neon people overthink; you're the least welcome in the LPL region】

【Ahhh, why is the LCK match scheduled so late?! I can't wait to see the oppas crush LPL!】

【I think I heard a dog barking……】

Nobody knows, Shiquan's event planners really racked their brains to work out a schedule that would satisfy most people.

The stands still retained the residual warmth from the previous match; many spectators returned from the restroom with faces still flushed with excitement, sat back down, saw that both sides' ban/pick had already begun, and started pounding their cheer sticks vigorously, even more enthusiastic than the extras hired for TV shows……

Similar scenes occurred worldwide; although the match was held in China, many couldn't attend in person, but each major region had its own offline viewing events, some venues huge, gathering thousands, spectacular.

Even the host China, in major first- and second-tier cities nationwide, organized many offline viewing events……

From this day onward, the world officially entered the S7 carnival period.

……

【Important Notice】

Earlier, a major bug appeared: the group division was wrong, D group's MSF and FNC were placed together; both teams are European, and according to the principle of avoiding same-region matchups, this is unreasonable. My head hurts; I only discovered this today, and no one reminded me earlier……

(So don't read the book by skimming ten lines at a time, you guys! (Going crazy)!)

The good news is that it doesn't affect the plot much.

Now it's been corrected; I'm reposting the revised grouping:

Group A

FW, LMS (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) First Seed

SKT, LCK Second Seed

RNG, LPL Third Seed

FNC, Europe (EU) Third Seed

Group B

LZ, LCK First Seed

TSM, North America (NA) First Seed

GAM, GPL (Southeast Asia) First Seed

CNB, CBLOL (Ba Xi) First Seed

Group C

G2, Europe (EU) First Seed

EDG, LPL First Seed

IMT, North America (NA) Second Seed

SSG, LCK Third Seed

Group D

VG, LPL First Seed

MSF, Europe (EU) Second Seed

AHQ, LMS (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) Second Seed

C9, North America (NA) Third Seed