Chapter 207: Generous Tournament Rewards

The next day, the five members of Thunder Squad boarded a private plane bound for Kyoto.

Accompanying them were Huangfu Cheng and Tian Xiong.

Huangfu Cheng represented the entire National Martial Arts University, while Tian Xiong represented the school team's head coach.

Every year, the Newcomer League is held in the capital of Great Xia. Participating universities must arrive at the competition site one day in advance to verify their identities.

When the group arrived at the capital airport, many people wearing volunteer uniforms walked over at the exit.

"Hello, students. We are students from Beijing University and also volunteers for this Newcomer League. May I ask which university's participating team you are? We can arrange a private car to take you to the competition venue."

"National Martial Arts University," Chen Fan replied with a smile.

"National Martial Arts?" The group of volunteers immediately wore expressions of hostility, snorted coldly, and left directly.

Chen Fan and the others were somewhat confused.

Zhao Mingze said from the side, "I recognize the person leading them; he is a collateral descendant of the Jiang Family."

"It seems they hold a deep grudge against our National Martial Arts," the group said, not taking it to heart.

Zhao Mingze said, "My family has arranged a private car; let's take my family's car to the competition venue."

After Zhao Mingze finished speaking, several people dressed in suits hurried over and bowed respectfully upon seeing him.

"Greetings, Young Master!"

"Hahaha, thank you for your hard work," Zhao Mingze said, feeling somewhat proud.

"Brother Fan, once you've arrived in Kyoto, you're on my turf. Young Master Zhao here will cover all expenses."

Zhao Mingze said generously.

The Zhao Family was previously a top-tier noble family in Kyoto, but following the death of the Old Master Zhao on the battlefield, there was no one left to carry the banner, so they had declined significantly.

But a lean camel is still bigger than a horse; the Zhao Family still held considerable influence in Kyoto.

The roads in Kyoto were congested, and it was only after an hour that they arrived at the competition venue—the Star Dome Arena.

This place was specifically used for hosting various competitions; the venue was massive, enough to accommodate 40,000 people.

Although the competition had not yet begun, a large number of spectators had already gathered here.

"I heard that the tickets for this league have been scalped up to 100,000 yuan each," Zhao Mingze said from the side.

"40,000 seats at 100,000 each is only 4 billion. 4 billion for one event isn't even enough to cover the costs of organizing this activity. How much money must the Education General Administration be losing?" Wu Yue remarked from the side.

Chen Fan smiled and said, "4 billion is just the revenue from on-site tickets. Don't forget, there's also advertising revenue, and even online streaming revenue, tips, and even the consumption driven by peripheral products. It will definitely exceed the scale of tens of billions. This time, the Education General Administration is guaranteed to make a profit."

"Is that so?"

As the group spoke, they stepped into the Arena.

There were already many participating teams here.

As soon as they appeared, a sturdy young man blocked their path.

"Which one of you is Chen Fan?" This person was blunt, his eyes filled with anger.

"I am. Is there something you need?" Chen Fan looked at him calmly.

"I am Mu Wudi. I came over just to see if you had obtained your qualification to compete. Very good, since you're here, let's settle who is better on the competition field."

The man snorted coldly and then retreated on his own.

Chen Fan was stunned for a moment; he didn't know this guy at all.

"Mu Wudi, why does this name sound so familiar?"

Soon, Chen Fan remembered who this person was.

This guy was the runner-up in the Shannan Province Martial Examination, and at the time, because he was unwilling to accept it, he had even argued with Chen Fan online.

"The competition at Beijing University is so intense, yet he was still able to qualify; that's somewhat surprising."

Chen Fan couldn't help but be surprised.

The members of Thunder Squad were also a bit confused and began to ask.

"Luda, who is this guy? He dares to provoke even you? Is he that arrogant?"

"Just a clown jumping on a stage."

At this moment, Chen Fan also saw a familiar figure among the Beijing University team: Ye Beichen!

A flash of murderous intent crossed Chen Fan's heart.

Ye Beichen was one of the culprits who caused his parents' deaths.

One day, he would kill the other party with his own hands.

At this moment, Ye Beichen also noticed Chen Fan.

He gave Chen Fan a faint smile, his eyes filled with endless mockery.

"Chen Fan, do you know Ye Beichen? He seems to have hostility toward you," Tian Xiong asked from the side, frowning.

Chen Fan roughly explained the conflict between the two, and Tian Xiong patted him on the shoulder and said.

"Ye Beichen broke through to an 8th-level Grandmaster a few days ago, becoming the youngest Grandmaster, which caused quite a stir. It will be very difficult for you, kid, to kill him."

"But when the time comes, your coach can help you," Tian Xiong said righteously.

"Thank you, Coach." Chen Fan was moved inside, though he knew that if he ever really moved against Ye Beichen, he would never involve Tian Xiong.

After the group completed their identity registration and confirmation, they returned to the hotel.

In the evening, the competition schedule was announced.

Tian Xiong called everyone together.

"The Newcomer League is divided into the Team Competition and the Survival Competition."

"The Education General Administration will rank teams based on the total scores of both events! Therefore, every match is crucial."

"The Team Competition lasts for seven and a half days. We will have one match every half day, for a total of 15 matches. The schedule is extremely tight. After every match, you must adjust your state and recover your Otherworldly Ability immediately!"

"Understood!" Everyone nodded one after another.

……

The next day, the Star Dome Arena was packed with crowds.

The spectator stands were filled to capacity.

Many people held banners high in their hands, cheering for their favorite schools or even individual team members.

Furthermore, numerous domestic and foreign media reporters gathered here.

This competition was even equipped with a professional commentator and host, an Eighth-Rank Grandmaster, Tianyou.

As the Great Xia war anthem began to play, the sixteen participating teams entered the arena one by one.

Walking in first was Kyoto University, while National Martial Arts University was the third to enter.

This entry order was based on last year's rankings.

As the war anthem ceased, the sixteen teams stood in perfect formation in the center of the Star Dome Arena, wearing their respective team uniforms.

The surrounding spotlights all shone down upon them.

At this moment, Tianyou, dressed in magnificent attire, flew up and hovered slowly in mid-air.

He raised his microphone, appearing incomparably excited.

"Friends in the audience, I am your old friend, Tianyou."

"The annual Newcomer League is here once again; I imagine everyone present is already impatient to watch the competition, right?"

"However, before the competition begins, allow me to introduce our special invited guests."

"They are, respectively, Deputy Director Li Zhangshou of the Education General Administration, Vice Principal Yuan Wuji of Kyoto University, Vice Principal Zhongli Jin of Shanghai University, Vice Principal Huangfu Cheng of National Martial Arts University..."

He introduced a total of 17 guests; apart from Li Zhangshou, the remaining 16 were the vice principals of the 16 participating universities.

"Friends in the audience, including all the participating contestants, do you want to know what the rewards for this year's Newcomer League are?"

Tianyou began to stir up the atmosphere in the arena.

"We do!" came the shouts from the audience below.

"Then I won't keep you in suspense: each member of the championship team will receive an S-Class Weapon, and they can choose it at will!"

"Wow!" The crowd below instantly erupted.

An S-Class Weapon could already be called a divine weapon; even many Grandmasters did not possess one.

Such weapons could no longer be measured by money, as they were simply priceless and unavailable on the market.

"To think they would let us choose an S-Class Weapon; the rewards this time are actually this huge!"

The group of participating contestants standing in the center of the Arena also felt their heart rates accelerate.

This temptation was truly too great!

Chen Fan's eyes also shone with light; an S-Class weapon was something one could only hope for but never seek!

Tianyou continued, "The runner-up prize is an A+ Class Cultivation Resource per person! The third-place prize is an A-Class Combat Technique per person that is compatible with their own Otherworldly Ability."

Although these two rewards could not compare to an S-Class Combat Weapon, they were still worth a fortune.