Chapter 192: All of Them Are Lingering Shadows

In an instant, the entire arena fell into a deathly silence. Ye Tong was a bit panicked, but she still maintained a final shred of composure, while the Vice Captain at her side had already stopped the staff members who were preparing to release liquid nitrogen. However, everyone's hands and feet were cold; only the last remaining sliver of reason and the willpower of the North Caro match supported them from fleeing.

Because this was the Nine-Headed Dragon!

Boom...

Following an explosive sound, the giant insect's head burst open like a watermelon, brain matter splattering everywhere. The headless body swayed and then crashed down with a thud. A figure covered in dark green liquid walked down slowly, wiped the liquid off their face, tore off their tattered clothes, and their eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Chao Qinglong, unscathed, his entire body radiating explosive light and power.

The gate opened, and all the team members looked at their Team Leader with awe. Chao Qinglong walked out and glanced lightly at the group.

At this moment, everyone's hair stood on end. They knew their Team Leader was super strong, but they never imagined he had become powerful to this extent. This was immediately followed by a fanatical worship; they could win, they could reach the summit, they could defeat everyone!

The era of North Caro's dominance had arrived! "Clean this up."

Chao Qinglong said indifferently, his tone calm, his heartbeat even steady. It wasn't until he had walked away for quite a while that the others recovered, feeling as if their bodies were their own again.

"This damn pressure, the Team Leader is simply the strongest in the universe; the glory of North Caro is about to arrive!"

"To hell with those so-called War Gods and Heavenly Kings, crush them all!"

"My legs are cramping."

"Holy crap, Vice Captain, Ye Tong, you two can still be so calm? Boss has taken off and become a god, an enemy of ten thousand!"

The members of the first team were all very shocked, but a few remained silent. Ye Tong was one of them; they were all former members of the Apocalypse.

They knew to some extent why Chao Qinglong had become so extreme, pursuing the limits of power—because that person had returned. To be an opponent of that person, it was absolutely impossible for a normal human to win.

Ye Tong didn't actually know exactly what had happened back then, as she was only a reserve, but she had witnessed Chao Qinglong's efforts and terrifying focus with her own eyes. Such a Chao Qinglong had the strength to fight anyone in the Solar System. Thinking of Li Hao, who was always slacking off and being so cocky, she wondered if she should remind him.

Suddenly, Ye Tong frowned. She remembered that scene in Tianjing, also a giant insect going berserk...

The EMP forum had already turned into a mess. The battle between the Assassin King Dilacenzo and the Centaur King Pading was like Mars colliding with Earth. Both were extremely skilled at single combat, and their levels were similar. If this had been a few months before the appearance of Puppet, the Earthlings likely wouldn't have had the confidence to argue, but the change now was obvious. Both sides had debated from the heavens to the underground, neither giving an inch.

Dilacenzo was the younger brother of one of the Six Dragons, the Roaring Heavenly Venerable Lomachenko, and also one of the cores of the GRU Military Academy. A T1 team, the peak combat power of Earth. The Centaur King Pading on the other side, although he couldn't participate in S10 due to injury, had always been a famous Single-Combat King on Mars and was also a capable general under the Wolf King Basta. His return from injury this time made the Wolf King's strength even more formidable.

Although Basta led his team to defeat the Earth team and enter the finals in S10, they had given it away to the Heavenly King Fan Liwei's team. To others, it was already very strong and a glory, but to Basta, it was a humiliation. Internal competition on Mars was even more intense than on the Moon or Earth. Unless they won the championship—and even if they did, it would be hard to unify. No one submitted to anyone; everyone wanted to be the boss and wished they could kill the other. This was also the culture of Mars: finding the strongest leader through battle.

The Golden Zone had indeed opened the door to power, and K23 had added wings to it. For S11, a new era, Basta was determined to take it, but that person had actually returned!

A major variable had appeared. Pading was a decent probing pawn. For the Three Wolves, whoever could defeat that person and then take the S-Tournament Champion title, unifying Mars would be a certainty.

Tianjing Martial Arts Academy.

Upon learning the news that the Cougar Team and the Tianxing Team were coming, the students of Tianjing lived in happiness every day. The first to arrive was not the impatient Cougar Team; when it came to "money power," if the Moon People were second, no one dared to be first. Dita led her team to arrive in Tianjing the next evening, and the local equipment center immediately worked overtime to arrange everything.

Tianjing had plenty of space. Once this equipment was installed, the Tianxing Team likely wouldn't be able to take it away.

On the third day, Luo Bi also brought the people from Cougar. The other three teams all knew each other; they were either opponents in exchange matches or opponents in the S Tournament. As top-tier teams, they all had an understanding of one another.

Although Li Hao wasn't very willing, Zhou Naiyi strongly insisted on treating everyone to a meal to fulfill the duties of a host.

Student Li Hao took a step back and decided to eat in the cafeteria. It was Friday night; under normal circumstances, the number of people on campus would be halved, but today the number of people in the school seemed to have increased, with some who usually lived off-campus returning.

At eight o'clock in the evening, the huge cafeteria was packed. This wasn't eating; it was like a fan meeting.

"Eat, eat, don't be polite. Why aren't you guys eating?" Li Hao said enthusiastically.

Although Long Danni felt they could eat something better—if it weren't for the Principal stepping in, it would have been a bit too much, and she would have wanted to host them personally—Li Hao felt it was completely unnecessary. The host's family didn't have enough surplus grain for the kids anyway.

The people from Cougar didn't mind and ate happily; South Americans had always been easygoing. Aofei ate very elegantly. The ones who probably weren't used to it were the Tianxing Martial Arts team. At Tianxing Academy, their treatment was ridiculously good, especially compared to Earth's academies. Every day was a training meal, a super nutritional meal tailored to individual physical characteristics, and the privacy was handled to the extreme. Where would they find something like this? Dita was so angry her teeth itched; she always felt Li Hao was doing it on purpose.

"Second Brother, your beef is actually quite good. Bring a few more portions!" Luo Bi was definitely giving face, and the veal here was indeed a specialty.

Li Hao's mouth twitched. Damn it, Tianjing Martial Arts was just this expensive; why didn't they eat their fill before coming? Just as he was about to refuse, Zhou Naiyi stepped on his foot. "This is our specialty. If you like it, eat more. All you can eat."

"Then bring five more portions," Luo Bi said happily.

Li Hao rolled his eyes. This kid was definitely doing it on purpose. If he had known, he should have told them it was sold out.

The atmosphere of the entire cafeteria was exceptionally special. Apart from this table, where was anyone actually eating?

"Am I dreaming? It's really Aofei and Dita. My eyes, I can't take it, I can't take it."

"Luo Bi is too handsome, that silhouette like the War God Ares, that sexy smile, I want to lie in his arms."

"Why is our Team Leader hosting a welcome dinner in the cafeteria? He could have at least chosen a better place."

"Pfft, what's wrong with the cafeteria? The Team Leader is wise; this is a proper benefit."

After all, at Tianjing Martial Arts, they still had basic manners. Although taking photos and gossiping were inevitable, no one rushed up to disturb them.

In order to prepare for the Mid-Season Tournament, it was common for teams with good relationships and no direct competition to have closed-door exchanges, but something like this was very rare, especially with three top-tier teams coming to the territory of a third-rate team.

The only explanation was that the three top-tier teams couldn't agree, so they had to choose a third-rate place to set up camp, which made everyone look good. And Tianjing's geographical location was quite good, right in the center, so this pie just fell into their laps.

Many Tianjing Martial Arts students even thought so; otherwise, it really made no sense.

Some might think that since they were all on the same side, helping each other with training matches wasn't a big deal. However, in reality, high-level teams would not spar with low-level teams. Don't talk about the reason of helping each other; they just wouldn't. This was also why it was hard for lower-level teams to turn things around. High-level newcomers were one aspect, but if these newcomers didn't have enough room for improvement and experience accumulation, how could they explode in major tournaments?

No one had an obligation to help you grow.

Aofei and Dita were too eye-catching; everyone else became a foil. One was as cold as frost, the other had an elegant temperament. They were hailed as the most beautiful scenery of the S Tournament and the strongest users of Yaoying Athena. They had never had a chance to meet, and now they were gathering in Tianjing. Were the two of them going to have an internal confrontation?

"Aofei, are you and Li Hao very close?" Dita said indifferently. The Team Leaders and Vice Captains were at one table, while other members and staff were at their own tables.

Aofei glanced at Dita and said indifferently: "None of your business." Luo Bi was eating heartily; these two women were not to be trifled with. A smart man just looked at his plate.

At this moment, Li Hao was very smart. He quietly took a portion of the beef Luo Bi had added. Luo Bi just wanted to

protest, but was glared back by Li Hao. Luo Bi muttered a few words, and his chewing speed increased significantly.

Greg smiled slightly, his whole body exuding that style only Earth nobles had. Indeed, Greg was from an ancient European family, and this gentlemanly air wasn't something formed in a day or two. "Team Leader Dita, Tianxing is really too proactive this time; it gave us a fright. Are you and Li Hao that close?"

Dita wasn't as unapproachable as Aofei. "I don't have much to do with him; it's my cousin who asked me to take care of him."

Luo Bi put down his fork and widened his eyes. "Wow, Team Leader Dita, you have a cousin? What kind of cousin? Are there any more? A female cousin is fine too!"

"Eat your food, meat can't even block your mouth!" Li Hao glared at Luo Bi.

Luo Bi laughed. "Second Brother, even if you threaten me, I still want to know. Dita, hurry up and tell us, what kind of cousin, what does she look like?"

A smile appeared on the corner of Dita's mouth, and she said half-truthfully: "The two are currently having a spat, so I don't know how it will turn out."

Alzi, who was sitting on the side, was stunned. Could it be? Could it be? No way!!!

Aofei glanced at Dita, her eyes indifferent. "What, you don't believe me?" Dita continued to provoke.

Aofei finished eating elegantly, "A person who knows nothing, wandering about here in a daze—the decline of the NUP war zone begins with you."