Chapter 215: Traces of Time (Happy New Year's Eve)
"I heard that this year, Liangzhou University was initially in talks with two SSRs, but apart from Hou Chengwu who changed his mind to join Qingzhou University, there was another SSR named Chen Baiwen who also changed his mind at the last minute and went to Yanzhou University!"
"Do you think they'll send out Chen Baiwen against Liangzhou University to prove himself?"
"It seems a bit uncertain. Our Qingzhou University was beaten by Xiang Beifei, so without knowing Xiang Beifei's strength, Yanzhou University wouldn't recklessly choose the Meridian Opening stage. Let's see who gets to choose first."
The students of Qingzhou University were all buzzing with discussion.
Liangzhou University versus Qingzhou University was a featured match.
Initially, they all considered Yanzhou University, of the same rank, as their real competitor, whereas they never really got serious about N-tiered Liangzhou University.
After all, the number of SSRs and URs at Yanzhou University was the same as at Qingzhou University; last year, Yanzhou University was only slightly behind Qingzhou in terms of points for killing desolate beasts and finished second, it was a close defeat. This year, Yanzhou University was obviously out for revenge against Qingzhou University.
However, the newly prominent Qingzhou University got a shocking start this year when they were defeated embarrassingly by Liangzhou University student Xiang Beifei.
So, Yanzhou University might very well rise this year.
The students of Qingzhou University were vaguely hoping that Yanzhou University would get a beating from Xiang Beifei too; only then would they feel somewhat better.
—We can't beat an N-tier, and neither should you, or else it looks like we're really bad.
So the situation was becoming a bit strange.
N-tiered Liangzhou University, though demolishing Qingzhou University's reputation, was oddly enough receiving support from all the Qingzhou University spectators watching?
One could even faintly hear a few cheers of "Go Liangzhou University!"
—
Ye Changfeng went up to draw lots, still composed and relaxed as the team leader of Liangzhou University, his confidence was evidently solid.
Having Xiang Beifei and Elder Luo, two keen-eyed strategists, deciding what level of competition to choose and who the opponent would be suddenly didn't seem like a problem.
Qi-Controlling stage? Bring it on!
Meridian Opening stage? They couldn't ask for more!
Toss a one, it's a sweep.
Toss a six, it's no quarter given.
Roll the dice any which way, big or small, it didn't matter.
Capricious.
But it was different for the opponents; Yanzhou University's teacher clearly preferred the Qi-Controlling stage, so they were hoping for a high roll.
However, this time, Ye Changfeng got to choose.
The opponent rolled a two, while he rolled a four!
Stable and balanced!
"Meridian Opening stage," Ye Changfeng confidently declared.
The atmosphere among the teachers from Yanzhou University was quite tense; they obviously had anticipated this outcome.
But they didn't shrink back. Despite their wariness of Xiang Beifei, their own SSRs weren't the same as those from Qingzhou University, and who would come out on top was still undecided.
— Experience new stories on empire
"Which of you two will go?"
Professor Yang Chengze, the team leader from Yanzhou University, scanned his two SSRs with a serious expression and asked.
The two SSRs, one named Yu Hongbo and the other the currently controversial Chen Baiwen.
Yu Hongbo glanced at Chen Baiwen. Their relationship wasn't the best. Both being SSRs of the university, each had their own faction within, constantly competing against each other.
Now, during the freshman competition, although the two had temporarily set aside their differences to unite against outsiders, under the current circumstances, Yu Hongbo didn't want to risk going up against Xiang Beifei.
He wasn't confident!
"Chen Baiwen, you can't back down from this, can you? This is your beef with Liangzhou University, handle it yourself," Yu Hongbo said solemnly.
If the opponent had been another SSR, he might have stepped up. Even if he had lost, it wouldn't have mattered. Losing to another SSR Awakener wasn't too embarrassing; it's common to be outplayed among SSRs.
But losing to an N-tiered seemed too shameful.
Yu Hongbo didn't want to risk that; he wanted to play it safe.
Chen Baiwen, a tall, skinny young man in yellow, looked a bit like a bamboo stick, and his eyes were particularly peculiar, as if something was swirling inside them, barely discernible like sand.
He didn't look too happy because he had seen Hou Chengwu once before. Although they hadn't fought, he was very wary of Hou Chengwu. Their aura was evenly matched as SSRs, and they both understood what such mutual aura implied.
Neither could confidently claim to overpower the other.
But Hou Chengwu had lost!
Lost to an N-tiered student they looked down upon.
Chen Baiwen was no longer so sure of himself.
Yang Chengze looked at Chen Baiwen, weighed the pros and cons, and said, "Chen Baiwen, from what I see, you've got to be the one to go this time. Losing a match isn't shameful, but losing morale is. Besides, with your capabilities, you might not even lose; this is also your chance to prove yourself."
As a professor, Yang Chengze was extremely familiar with Chen Baiwen's capabilities. He saw Chen Baiwen's strength as formidable, especially in a competitive setting like this, which greatly favored him!
Chen Baiwen thought of his SSR system abilities and gradually gained confidence!
This was his battle for honor!
If he could defeat Xiang Beifei, not only could he prove that his decision to leave Liangzhou University wasn't wrong, but he could also demonstrate that he was better than Qingzhou University's Hou Chengwu!