Fantasy Westward Journey: Return to 2005

Currently, Hemudu has been quickly cleared in three rounds by Bianliang City.

Although only one round of the quarterfinals has been played so far, and the other three groups are still undecided.

But they lost too quickly.

Unless Hemudu can win both of his last two matches and defeat his opponent quickly.

Otherwise, their chances of advancing to the semifinals are probably already very slim.

Amidst the complex gazes of countless spectators below the stage.

Fang Yun had already left the computer and led Beast Master and the others off the stage.

As soon as he stepped off the stage, he looked up and met the eyes of the Hemudu people who were also coming off the stage.

"Your Bianliang City is too strong, we can't beat you at all..."

He thought that the Hemudu people, who had been defeated by him in three rounds in front of everyone, were probably thinking of devouring him alive.

What he didn't expect was...

After their eyes met, the silver dragon took the initiative to approach him and start a conversation.

"Sorry, I went a little too far."

Since the other party had taken the initiative to talk to him, Fang Yun couldn't just leave, so he touched his nose and replied.

"It seems our Hemudu team will only make it to the quarterfinals this year, but I think if your Bianliang City team can maintain the level of performance in the opening match, you'll most likely be able to retain your championship title!"

For some reason, perhaps it was truly an epiphany that came after being crushed by Bianliang City.

The silver dragon remained calm and quite frankly stated that Hemudu had no chance of advancing further this year.

not only.

He even publicly stated that he was very optimistic about Bianliang City winning the championship again this year.

Those who know them might think they're old rivals, but those who don't might think they're old friends.

"Then I'll take your kind words."

I wonder what this guy is really up to.

Fang Yun exchanged a few words with the other party and then led everyone back to their own rest room through the players' passage.

"No... was that really a silver dragon? It seemed like it had completely changed."

As soon as he returned to the lounge, Beast Master asked impatiently.

As the Bianliang City player who has been entangled with Hemudu for the longest time.

Beast Master knew the nature of the Hemudu people better than anyone.

While there are no absolutely good or bad people in real life, the same is true in games.

The grudges between the two sides are simply due to differing perspectives; there is no right or wrong between them.

But at least from Beast Master's perspective.

None of the people from Hemudu were easy to deal with, especially the silver dragon, who was practically an immortal cockroach and had a very volatile temper.

Yet this is a top-tier Wuzhuang sect member who is both short-tempered and extremely dedicated.

But after just finishing the opening match of the All-Star quarterfinals against Bianliang City, it suddenly felt completely unfamiliar.

To Beast Master, this was practically like seeing a ghost.

Upon hearing this, Fang Yun remained silent, but Su Jiu pondered for a moment before analyzing, "I guess... this should be his last All-Star event, or even his last server war."

"You mean he's going to retire after this All-Star game?"

Upon hearing Su Jiu's analysis, Beast Master was taken aback at first, then reacted and asked.

"That's probably the case."

Shrugging, Huang He continued, "As the saying goes, a dying man's words are good. The Silver Dragon is a veteran among veterans, but in the first round of this year's quarterfinals, it was defeated by our Bianliang City in three rounds, basically cutting off its chance to advance to the semifinals. If it were me, I probably wouldn't have the will to continue."

"That's a bit of a pity."

It is understood that the Silver Dragons will likely retire after this All-Star Game.

Beast, who had often exchanged barbs with the other party, felt a strange sense of regret.

Although we had accumulated a lot of grudges before.

However, at the same time, they are old rivals who have been entangled with each other since the beginning of the Martial God Altar.

The Silver Dragon is suddenly retiring.

Beast Master was still a little reluctant to part with it.

Seven years in the Martial God Tournament brought Beast Master too many partings.

Even though he's usually thick-skinned, he couldn't withstand the successive exits of his old rivals.

Realizing that what had just happened might have been the last time they faced the Silver Dragon and even the Hemudu team.

Beast Master clicked his tongue and couldn't help but mutter to himself, "If I had known it would be like this, I would have held back a bit, at least dragged it out for ten or so rounds..."

"Oh, you're getting sentimental now, aren't you?"

It was rare to see that Beastmaster was not smug about winning against his old rival, but instead seemed somewhat dejected because the Silver Dragon might retire.

Fang Yun couldn't help but laugh and tease.

With his old rivals retiring one after another, not to mention Beast, even he, who had lived two lives, felt somewhat complicated.

But there's no way around it; nothing in this world is all good and no bad.

He is recognized as a top evergreen in the Martial God Altar.

From the day they first dominated the Martial God Altar.

This destined them to experience countless partings.

In his previous life, Fang Yun loved reading novels about immortality, and what was most poignant about those novels was that the protagonists were repeatedly forced to face the successive departures of their relatives and friends.

I never imagined I would be reborn.

Even someone as addicted to video games as him could fall into such melancholic thoughts.

But as much as it's sad to see...

People should always look forward.

Previously, it was Westbrook from Baihuacun who quit the game.

It's possible that the Silver Dragons will retire after this All-Star game.

This is certainly regrettable, but the thought that a whole host of even more powerful figures will emerge in the future is also a good one.

Fang Yun had to force himself to pull himself together and face the challenges ahead!
that's it.

After the three-round opening match, Fang Yun and his team stayed in the lounge and watched the other three teams' matches on the big screen. Time passed by unnoticed as they watched.

One hour later.

The final match between the Forbidden City and Liuhua Lake ended with the Forbidden City narrowly winning.

The results of the first round of the All-Star quarterfinals, across all four groups, have been released.

"Bianliang City was cleared in three rounds at Hemudu, Xiaomeisha was crushed in twelve rounds in 2008, and Butterfly Spring was easily won in thirteen rounds at Lantingxu. Only the Forbidden City took an hour to barely take Liuhua Lake. This first round was quite exciting."

"The Trident team is likely to continue performing consistently, but I really didn't expect the Forbidden City team to almost suffer a defeat at Liuhua Lake!"

"No one really thinks Liuhua Lake is weak, right? They are the regular season champions after all. When Westbrook quit the game and sold his account, Liuhua Lake bought a lot of hot items. They are definitely a top-tier team."

"Stop bragging. The schedule at Liuhua Lake is very dangerous. They lost to the Forbidden City in the first round. If they face any of the Trident in the next two rounds, their score will likely be 0-2, which is no different from being eliminated directly."

"If that's what you're saying, then I could also say that the Forbidden City will encounter the Trident in the next two rounds."

"Are you assuming that the other five teams are destined to lose when they face the Trident?"

"What else? Can you name a team that can beat them?"

"I believe in Brother Cheng. They cleared Hemudu in three rounds in the first round. They'll definitely pull off some surprises in the next two rounds, otherwise it wouldn't be Bianliang City!"

"Unlikely, unless the Trident trio never meet in the round-robin tournament, Bianliang City will definitely prioritize ensuring its winning percentage..."

The results of the first round of the round-robin tournament have been released.

Looking at the real-time results displayed on the main stage's large screen.

The audience below the stage immediately started discussing and had a heated debate about the results of this round.

Judging from the results alone, the outcome of the first round was not surprising to most people.

The Trident continued its consistent performance, with the longest-running move, Lantingxu, taking only thirteen rounds to finish off its opponent, highlighting its efficiency.

Although the Forbidden City almost suffered a setback at Liuhua Lake.

But they were still very well-prepared, and under the orderly guidance of meditation, they remained strong.

Ultimately, with a stronger team and a more stable mindset, they successfully defeated Liuhua Lake and accumulated one point.

Before the game, everyone assumed that these four teams were the strongest teams in this year's All-Star game based on the pre-game vote.

If you absolutely had to pick a champion, everyone would only choose from these four teams.

Judging from the results of the first round, everyone's predictions were quite accurate, and there were no upsets.

But what happens next is hard to say.

The quarterfinals round-robin tournament uses a purely random matchmaking system.

This results in each team having a highly random opponent in each round.

As mentioned before.

Even Bianliang City, which performed the best in the first round.

If the next two matches are the 2008 Olympics and the Lanting Preface, then...

No one can guarantee that they will win 100%.

However, the Lanting Preface is recognized as the weakest link in the trident.

Once he encounters Bianliang City and 2008 in the next two rounds.

He could very well suffer a losing streak and be eliminated!

So for the current eight teams of players and the audience.

Which of the eight All-Star teams will advance to the semifinals depends on the results of the second round of draws.

Amidst expectant gazes.

After the first round of matches ended...

Azi quickly led the representatives of the eight teams onto the stage to begin the second round of the draw.

"Draw it for me! Draw the Lanting Preface and 2008 together!"

"No... what good would it do you to have these two teams drawn together?"

"There's no benefit to it. Can't I just want to see a head-on confrontation?"

"Wouldn't it be even more exciting if Bianliang City smoked 2008 cigarettes?"

"No, their historical win rate against Bianliang City in 2008 is too low. I feel like they're a bit afraid of Bianliang City. Even if we draw them, we might not be able to play a very exciting game."

"From an purely exciting standpoint, it would certainly be more entertaining to have the winner of the first round face off against the winner of the second round, but these things are too unpredictable; who knows what kind of draw they'll get..."

Looking at the eight teams of representatives gathered around the lottery box.

The audience below the stage couldn't help but get excited, each one eager for a good showdown, wanting to see a clash of titans.

Amidst shouts and cheers.

This time, the first person to draw lots was no longer Abai, but Sujiu, the representative from Bianliang City who finished the first round the fastest.

With a blank expression, Su Jiu stretched out her right hand, quickly reached into the lottery box, and soon pulled out a white ball.

"This is... number 7?"

"Who is number 7? Who is it? Tell me quickly!"

"Butterfly Spring, didn't we just draw from you last round? What's wrong with your memory?"

"Damn it! How did I end up with a Butterfly Spring...?"

"You really want to see a battle of the tridents?"

"Nonsense, you don't want to watch?"

"I still want to..."

Su Jiu then showed the audience the number he had drawn.

When they learned that their opponent in the second round of the Bianliang City competition would be Butterfly Spring, everyone was greatly disappointed.

Butterfly Spring lost to Orchid Pavilion Preface in the first round, and was defeated after only 13 rounds.

This is evident from the fact that...

Compared to the Trident, Butterfly Spring's skills were still too shallow.

So it's easy to imagine.

After this draw is completed.

At this moment, the Butterfly Spring players felt like the sky was about to fall!

After losing to Lantingxu in the first round, they all thought that if their team had a better draw in the next two rounds, they might be able to come back if they worked hard.

However, they were drawn in the second round of the Bianliang City lottery.

Even the most clueless Butterfly Spring players know that their team is really in deep trouble this time!
Meanwhile.

After the lottery was drawn for the Sujiu wine.

As the second fastest finisher in the first round of the tournament, 2008 representative Abai quickly stepped forward and swiftly pulled a ball out of the box.

"Number 8, it's number 8!"

"I think number 8 was Hemudu, right?"

"It's definitely them. Speaking of which, is Hemudu cursed? In the first round, they ran into King Bianliang City, and in the second round, they ran into Little King 2008?"

"There's definitely something to say about this. They ran into the strongest opponents in two rounds of the round-robin tournament. If I were one of their players, I'd probably be crying from anger."

"Poor Demon Dragon, when I think about how he said in a previous interview that he would try his best to make it to the semifinals of this Hemudu tournament, but then the intensity of the round-robin stage was insanely high for him, I just feel sorry for this guy..."

"Hemudu is probably really gone."

"Are you sure it's only Hemudu? Bianliang City just drew Butterfly Spring. Butterfly Spring already lost to Lantingxu in the last round, and now they're facing Bianliang City again in the second round. They're definitely going to get a 0-2 defeat."

"What's this? After two rounds of draws, we don't know who will advance, but we've already locked in two eliminations?"

"Look at the mess this has made..."

Watching helplessly as Hemudu, who had just been swept by Bianliang City in three rounds last time, was drawn by 2008 again this round.

The Hemudu players at the scene felt everything go black, and they felt like they were going to die!

If drawing Bianliang City in the first round was due to their bad luck...

Then, in the second round, he drew 2008 again.

They felt that their team wasn't just having bad luck, but had been cursed!
Nowadays, everyone knows that facing any one of the three attacking trios in the quarterfinals is practically the same as accepting an early defeat.

As a result, they encountered the Trident team in Hemudu, and they were recognized as the two strongest teams.

This made them forget to curse for a moment, and instead they fell into a state of self-isolation on the spot!
And just like them, the players of Butterfly Spring are also withdrawn.

Just as everyone has said.

The second round of the round-robin tournament has been drawn.

Regardless of who advances, it seems quite clear who will be eliminated...

at the same time.

After the draw in 2008.

Then Pineapple, representing the Lanting Preface, stepped forward, reached into the box, quickly swiped around, and then pulled out a ball.

"Number 2 is Liuhua Lake!"

Fuck! Fuck!

"I'm reporting this! There's something fishy going on! Why didn't we encounter a single Trident in the two rounds at the Forbidden City?!"

"Yeah, Liuhua Lake, Butterfly Spring, and Hemudu are all going to be in a state of panic, but the Forbidden City hasn't encountered a single Trident. Is that reasonable?"

"Although... the draw was done by the contestants themselves, so it has nothing to do with the Forbidden City, right?"

"This is what they call 'fortune telling'! This year's Forbidden City fortune telling is definitely something special..."

It was surprising to see that the pineapple, representing the Lanting Preface, was drawn as the Liuhua Lake.

The thought that the last remaining Forbidden City would automatically match with Xiaomeisha is very exciting.

The audience erupted in cheers! (End of Chapter)