Chapter 296
The next day, Jiang Xiao saw Hou Mingming during breakfast. She had her ponytail tied high, exuding an aura of "keep away if you don't know me, don't bother me if you do," making people want to avoid her.

It was clear that she was recovering well. These kind of headstrong people had strong endurance, or perhaps they simply didn't care what others thought.

Thinking of stubbornness, Jiang Xiao couldn't help but think of a certain Lakers legend, who was truly stubborn. The whole world knew that he didn't have a good touch today, but he believed that he would make the next shot.

Regardless of whether you love me or hate me, the five championships are real. Without this stubborn personality, this star wouldn't be so outstanding.

Getting back to the main point, Hou Mingming was currently drinking millet porridge and eating an egg.

Jiang Xiao quietly crept over and sat next to Hou Mingming.

Hou Mingming wasn't surprised. As sharp as she was, she had long noticed a little *du nai* sneaking over, targeting the freshly peeled egg.

The moment Jiang Xiao sat down, Hou Mingming stuffed the egg into her mouth.

Jiang Xiao smiled like a loving father and said softly to Hou Mingming, "You've finally grown up. Only children share."

Hou Mingming: "......"

......

That day, the national team was divided into three groups.

The first group was the eliminated students, who would be thrown into the auditorium to watch the team competition live with professional teachers.

The national team journey wasn't just about winning honors. For example, these eliminated students would return to their old jobs, become students again, and take video analysis classes under the guidance of teachers, which was also a form of teaching and training for them.

The second group consisted of Hou Mingming and Xie Yan, who would analyze the 21-12 losers with the guidance of teachers.

They didn't have time to watch the draw ceremony. The draw results would be notified to them. They had to spend a day studying their opponents thoroughly.

To be honest, both Yu Jin and Xie Yan had the strength to advance a few more rounds.

Unfortunately, two Chinese civil wars caused the Chinese team to lose two key players.

Putting aside Hou Mingming, who had bad luck and was perfectly countered, let's just talk about Yu Jin and Xie Yan. These two should have been figures who would compete with Jiang Xiao for the top five or six.

It's a pity that the elimination round was so cruel, and it was full of variables.

If Yu Jin cried out for injustice, then Zhao Wenlong shouldn't even be alive.

Juliet Moore Rowen shouldn't even be alive...

The third group had only Jiang Xiao, who, under the guidance of Fang Xingyun and two professional analysts, had to study the remaining ten advancing players.

The process of studying opponents was a process that made Jiang Xiao even more humble.

No matter how much others say "be humble and cautious," it's useless. When Jiang Xiao carefully looked through the combat videos and star technique lists of the ten people...

Uh, wait, how did a strange guy get in here?

A kimchi country player seemed to be lost.

This player list was like a group of big, strong men sitting at the same table, drinking heavily and eating big pieces of meat. Suddenly, they found a child drinking milk and eating cake among them. It was indeed too conspicuous...

The Kimchi country's Kim Pyeongchang player had quite good strength, but... well, how should I put it?

He wasn't that good yet, at least not good enough to be in the top ten.

So many players who were guaranteed to enter the top eight and advance to the top four had fallen, but this friend was still moving towards the finals. He was very lucky.

Jiang Xiao hoped that he could also get some luck and draw a bye, lying his way into the top six! Wouldn't that be wonderful!?

But Jiang Xiao knew very well that he was daydreaming...

Poor Jiang Xiao was dragged by the analysts to study his opponents for a whole day. He wasn't even allowed to watch Xiao Jiangxue's match. It wasn't until lunchtime that Jiang Xiao secretly played with his phone and learned that Han Jiangxue's team had advanced.

That day, Jiang Xiao's head was so big with learning that he, who usually didn't have a nicotine addiction, felt like smoking, if only to take a break...

In the evening, Jiang Xiao was finally liberated. After dinner, he video chatted with Han Jiangxue while watching a replay of her match that morning.

This match was really a bit difficult. Song Chunxi even fought the opponent's shield warrior to the point of exhaustion.

The opponent's shield warrior was a *Yu* warrior flow, and the magic system was also an earth and water-based defensive school. Their style of play was extremely... um, steady.

The two sides fought for more than ten minutes. Song Chunxi repeatedly increased her level of pain and finally seized an opportunity, taking the opponent's great shield and crashing out of the arena.

Wu Yao and Han Jiangxue then outputted wildly, breaking the opponent's super-defensive magic system, which allowed them to gain the upper hand in the match.

In the end, when the referee announced China's victory, the players on the field were almost exhausted. It was truly an unimaginable war of attrition.

Compared to the struggling Capital Star Martial team, the Hunan Military Academy's soldiers were as stable as old dogs!

They finished the battle in 12 minutes and directly entered the World Cup's top nine.

There were no tortuous stories, no thrilling accidents, only a clean and neat victory that made people feel comfortable.

Three words: Satisfying!

"Yeah, yeah, I watched your match. It was really too difficult, but that's what makes it rewarding, isn't it?" Jiang Xiao said softly, looking at half of Han Jiangxue's face.

Han Jiangxue was lying on the bed, her head tilted, half of her face buried in the soft pillow, looking at Jiang Xiao on the phone screen. She gave a soft "mm" sound.

"By the way, how is Song Chunxi? I mean, her mental state," Jiang Xiao asked again.

Han Jiangxue said softly, "There are many auxiliary support staff with the team, she'll be fine."

Hearing her slightly tired voice, Jiang Xiao also softened and asked, "Are you tired?"

Han Jiangxue: "Mm."

Jiang Xiao: "Then give me a kiss and go to sleep."

Han Jiangxue: "Okay."

Han Jiangxue seemed to be really tired. After agreeing to Jiang Xiao, she realized that something was wrong, and then glared at Jiang Xiao before hanging up the phone.

Jiang Xiao scratched his head. Because half of Han Jiangxue's face was buried in the pillow, only one eye participated in this "activity" when she glared just now. The picture was a bit strange...

There's nothing to say about the next few days. Jiang Xiao could only stay in the hotel, studying his opponents' information. He couldn't even go out and have fun.

It was like before the college entrance examination, your head teacher showed you ten sets of papers and told you that the college entrance examination would be one of them, with exactly the same questions, without changing a single punctuation mark.

Would you memorize these ten sets of questions or not?

During these few days of Jiang Xiao "memorizing questions," Xie Yan and Hou Mingming's results came out. They won consecutive battles in the losers' group, once again showing the world the strength of China!

Hou Mingming's final ranking was twelfth.

Xie Yan's final ranking was thirteenth. He only lost to Hou Mingming in the last match.

Hou Mingming and Xie Yan's strong performance reduced the wave of criticism against them in China.

Facts have proved that as long as their luck wasn't too bad, they could achieve quite good results.

With the end of all the losers' group matches, Jiang Xiao was once again pushed to the forefront, standing at the center of the storm.

He was the only remaining Chinese player in this World Cup's individual competition.

Whether in China or in the team, Jiang Xiao had become like a giant panda.

Jiang Xiao also felt the pressure of being the "team favorite." For example, on the day of his draw, other players, led by the team leader, accompanied Jiang Xiao to watch the draw ceremony, and then played the match recordings to start learning.

The World Cup's seventh round of matches, because there were only eleven contestants left, and it was a genuine finals, changed the way the draw was conducted.

In Edo City, the capital of Neon, a leader of the Star Martial World Cup Committee personally drew lots in a glass box.

Moreover, he read a long speech before the draw, which made people very angry.

Finally, the draw ceremony came!

In the auditorium, the Chinese national team gathered together. Some of the closer team members surrounded Jiang Xiao in the center, holding their breaths and watching the draw results on the screen.

Especially Xin Ai'an, she looked more nervous than she did during her own matches.

As the signs were drawn out, from people's reactions, it was very clear which players were relatively scary.

For example, when the European Shield was drawn.

For example, when the Lightning Captain of the Northern Kingdom was drawn.

For example, when the Neon Sword God was drawn...

The sound of relief in the small auditorium was particularly real.

The first group battle... the second group battle... the third group battle... the fourth group battle...

"Good heavens, this is amazing! I'm going to get a bye! I'm going to lie my way into the top six!" Jiang Xiao said excitedly.

For a time, the national team staff in the small auditorium also became excited, staring intently at the two sides of the fifth group battle.

As the old man on the screen picked up a ball, unscrewed it, and took out the small piece of paper inside... the number one position was determined!

Kim Pyeongchang of the Kimchi Country!

"Oh yeah!"

"Lie my way into the top six, so good!"

"Who else hasn't come out? Little Pi and the Ice Country Queen?"

"Yes, it's that queen."

"Ice Country Queen! Here she comes, Ice Country Quee... Crap!"

Fifth group, number two position.

The old man's hand gave a close-up of the small piece of paper, a small red star flag appeared, and Jiang Xiao's number was also among them.

And that Ice Country fighter got a bye.

"I hate Jiang Xiaopi so much, so annoying," Wu Xiaojing said unhappily, having been excited for nothing.

Jiang Xiao: ???

Xin Ai'an: "That's right, I hate him the most."

Jiang Xiao: "......"

Beside him, Xing Yan patted Jiang Xiao on the back and said, "Friend, this opponent is a bit weird, be careful."

"Hehe." Yu Jin's smile was a little wanton, looking disdainful, "Drew the easiest one to beat."

Zhao Wenlong said quietly, "It may also be the hardest one to beat."

One sentence made everyone around him quiet.

And because of this, Jiang Xiao's voice was particularly clear.

I only heard Jiang Xiao muttering, "Hey, why is this little brother joining in on the fun with me? He doesn't even have the title of God, how can he fight me?

Someone go and persuade him, tell him to step back a little..."