As soon as this statement was made, the stadium was in an uproar.
"Did I hear that right?"
"Is Gangxin taunting the Border Town Wanderer? This is definitely a provocation!"
"Solo, we want to see Gangxin and the Border Town Wanderer solo!"
"Border Town Wanderer, donât back down! Go solo with him!"
Gradually, the cries of "solo" merged into a tidal wave of spring thunder, echoing above the stadium.
The audience was so cooperative, not because Bai Puâs appeal was strong, but because everyone loved the excitement and wanted to see some drama.
The expression on the Border Town Wandererâs face became quite complicated.
If he accepts the challenge, heâll feel a bit anxious.
But with the atmosphere already like this, to not accept would be a huge embarrassment, even if they won the group match in the end, heâd still be criticized.
However, the Border Town Wanderer was quick-witted. Instead of directly accepting the challenge, he sneered and said:
"Gangxin, you want to trick me into being the first to fight, then send in a weakling to trade me off, right? Such clumsy deceit canât fool me. On the field, itâs ultimately strength that matters, no little tricks will work!"
The Border Town Wanderer played by the rules of trash talk in this way.
The trash talk session is just to hype up the atmosphere and give the audience more to enjoy.
Itâs not supposed to devolve into a street shouting match.
Players who have already spoken canât speak again.
The Border Town Wanderer used this detail to make the audience believe that Bai Puâs provocation was a tactical move.
This way, the Border Town Wanderer suddenly transformed from a coward who didnât dare to respond to the challenge into a strategist who saw through the opponentâs tactics! Even if he didnât accept the challenge, he wouldnât be looked down upon.
But, the Border Town Wanderer overlooked one person.
Senior Xuan Pin, who was honest and straightforward, hadnât spoken yet!
He directly picked up on the Border Town Wandererâs words: "To dispel your doubts, letâs sign a Spirit Realm Will notarization. For the upcoming solo match, if Gangxin doesnât enter first, weâll admit defeat."
He paused and scratched his bean-shaped eyebrows: "Wait, youâre not scared, are you..."
"Nonsense, our captain scared?"
"What a joke!"
The other three from Sword Gate University all looked angrily with their eyebrows furrowed.
On the contrary, the Border Town Wanderer and Lan Feng looked quite displeased, yet said nothing.
"Alright, pre-match communication ends here, please both teams proceed through the underground passage to enter the arena!"
The host, Xianyu, quickly cut in, worried that if it went on, it might turn into a live broadcast accident, fearing that the two teams might start fighting on the stage.
As the two teams entered the underground passage, the audience was still discussing.
At this time, their focus was no longer on "who is stronger, Gangxin or the Border Town Wanderer" but on "will Gangxin and the Border Town Wanderer meet first in the clash of kings!"
"I think Xili Institute of Technology is serious, it doesnât seem like a tactic. After all, Senior Xuan Pin said Gangxin would definitely go first, or else theyâd forfeit."
"Exactly, this is declaring their innocence even while the opponent suspects they might cheat. If they pull a trick under such a guarantee, even if they win, it would be a joke and tarnish Xili Institute of Technologyâs reputation."
"Do you think the Border Town Wanderer will take the challenge?"
"Analyzing rationally, the Border Town Wanderer will take the challenge. Even if Xili Institute of Technology disregards their reputation and sends a weakling to trade off the Border Town Wanderer, itâs impossible to decide the outcome in the solo round."
"It would still lead to a group fight in the end, Sword Gate University still has a great chance of winning."
"Youâre right, to win directly in a solo match, Xili Institute of Technology would need to win four straight solo matches, which is nearly impossible."
In the underground passage, the players filed in.
Sword Gate Universityâs team was at the back.
The Border Town Wanderer gloomily stared at Bai Puâs back.
The team teacher asked, "Iâm about to submit the list. Whatâs your plan? Do you want to be the first one to fight?"
"Do I have a choice?" The Border Town Wanderer didnât look well and felt as if he was riding a tiger and couldnât dismount.
He had been cornered by Bai Pu and Xuan Pin in the trash talk session.
"Itâs alright, captain, go teach him a lesson!"
"That kid is too arrogant, give him a shocking blow."
Several teammates urged him on.
The Border Town Wandererâs trip to the Original Sin World, upon returning, he hadnât mentioned it, and neither had Lan Feng; they said nothing about their clash with Bai Pu in the Original Sin World.
After all, both of them wanted to save face.
Now, their reputation was at stake.
Lan Feng spoke in the private chat channel of her and the Border Town Wandererâs small team:
"I think you wonât lose. Although Gangxin has a strong template, he hasnât mastered the Mystical Arts, which is his biggest weakness. At that time, we couldnât defeat him in the Original Sin World because Gangxin had joined the Thorn Church, and their overall strength was too great."
The Border Town Wanderer was silent.
Lan Feng had been kicked out of the Original Sin World in the first wave of encounters, so she wasnât aware of the later eventsâthe Border Town Wanderer and Chen Ge sought revenge on the missionary team later.
In the second encounter, the Border Town Wanderer and Bai Pu had a direct confrontation, and ultimately, he fled in embarrassment.
But regarding this, the Border Town Wanderer didnât go into detail with Lan Feng. After all, it wasnât very honorable, and in front of his girlfriend, the Border Town Wanderer wanted to maintain face.
At this time, the Border Town Wanderer was also silently assessing his situation.
(At that time, after battling the Blood Spider, then fighting Gangxin, I was already in a bad state...)
(And that monstrous Priest shot me with a Confession Control, forcing me to flee in disgrace. In a fair duel, how could Gangxin have a Level 7 Warrior helping him?)
"Alright, Iâll go first and teach him a lesson!"
The Border Town Wandererâs face showed his signature evil smile again.
His teammates were boosted in morale, feeling the familiar captain was back.
...
On the stands, Xianyu was so excited that her hand holding the match list was trembling.
She raised her voice and said: "The first stage, the first solo match...Xicheng University of Technology is sending out Level 5 Enhanced Hero Gangxin! Sword Gate University is sending out Level 6 Hero, the Border Town Wanderer!"
"The participants have entered the Pengliu Island Boundary Land and taken the stageâGolden Ring Island! Itâs an island covering about a hectare, shaped like a doughnut..."
Nobody listened to Xianyuâs further introduction.
The audienceâs emotions ignited as soon as they heard the match announcement, and they spontaneously erupted in applause!
The challenger, Gangxin.
The respondent, the Border Town Wanderer!
The first solo match is a duel between the strongest players of both sides!
If Gangxin wins, heâll rise to the top by stepping over a seasoned expert, with the Border Town Wanderer becoming the backdrop. Given his usual flamboyant style, it could lead to a round of mockery.
If Gangxin loses, the more arrogant he was while taunting, the harsher the ridicule he would face afterward!
This is a duel where neither side can afford to lose!