The first duel was always the most exciting and the most anticipated.
After all, this was a duel that had gathered everyone's long-held expectations. No matter who the two sides were, the first duel, built up for so long, was enough to make everyone focus completely.
Not to mention, this was also when the audience was at their most alert.
Xiao Shan began examining the profiles of the two students from his seat.
When he saw the disparity between their records, he almost thought he had read them wrong.
Frowning, he had no choice but to turn his aged eyes toward Principal Hua and ask doubtfully, "Principal Hua, are you sure the student information on this roster is correct?"
"You know how seriously the Education Bureau takes the Collegiate League. Otherwise, they would not have asked me to personally oversee this league."
"I hope this student did not get onto the roster through connections."
"Otherwise, High School Nine will definitely be held accountable."
Xiao Shan's tone grew heavier and heavier. His tightly furrowed brow and voice already conveyed his displeasure.
After all, for a tournament as prestigious as the Collegiate League—
—it was a perfect opportunity to scout promising students in advance.
If students could get in through connections, this league would only continue to deteriorate.
That was why he absolutely could not allow such a thing to happen.
Although nothing had been confirmed yet, the absurdity of the profile already made him think that You Chen had most likely gotten onto the roster through connections.
Otherwise, how could a student with a total score of just over four hundred possibly make the roster?
And if he had only made it onto the roster because he had luckily won against a rostered student once, that was not rigorous enough either.
After all, Yu-Gi-Oh! involved an element of luck.
Beside him, Principal Liu of High School Five had already curled his lips into a smile, enjoying the show.
He was already laughing himself silly inside.
After all, if High School Nine had brought in a weakling through connections, High School Five would benefit!
And High School Nine would be the one held accountable!
This was undoubtedly hilarious.
If he were not a professional, he would have been unable to hold back his laughter.
Hearing this, Principal Hua felt a headache coming on. How had she forgotten about this kid's profile? It was too late to say anything now.
She could only force a smile and say, "Elder Xiao, please don't worry."
"You Chen has real ability."
After saying that, she silently prayed.
Kid, don't let me down.
You Chen had no idea that he had somehow become the center of attention.
"The thirty-first Collegiate League begins now!!"
"Please shuffle your decks!"
"Heads means You Chen goes first. Tails means Long Xiaohua goes first!"
"It's tails!"
The host held a microphone and projected his impassioned voice throughout the Duel Hall.
Both sides had finished shuffling and prepared their Duel Disks.
However, You Chen was using Poison Wolf's chained Duel Disk.
Although he had not activated its chain mode—
—its appearance was already distinctly different from an ordinary Duel Disk.
The Life Point display was shaped like a wolf's head.
The Monster Zone was a wolf claw, while the Spell/Trap Zone was a wolf's tail.
The outline of this Duel Disk alone made it look extraordinarily expensive.
There was also an unmistakable Rare Card Hunter emblem on it.
The moment this Duel Disk appeared—
—those who did not recognize it merely thought it looked cool.
But Xiao Shan recognized at a glance that this was a Rare Card Hunter's unique Duel Disk, complete with its emblem.
"How does this kid have a Rare Card Hunter's Duel Disk?"
Xiao Shan frowned. Could he be a Rare Card Hunter?
Probably not. Rare Card Hunters needed at least a three-star qualification.
Could it belong to someone in his family?
You Chen knew nothing about this. He had thought the Duel Disk merely had a different design, so he used it without any concern.
In the preparation room, Hua Ningning covered her forehead.
"Does this guy not know people can recognize that Duel Disk as belonging to a Rare Card Hunter?"
"But if Tyrannosaurus Rex recognizes it, he probably won't dare underestimate You Chen anymore."
However, Tyrannosaurus Rex, standing opposite You Chen, clearly did not recognize it.
"Hmm! That Duel Disk looks awesome."
"Can you send me a link later?"
Tyrannosaurus Rex's eyes flickered as he looked at it. He was tempted.
Hua Ningning: "."
A miscalculation. Both of these guys were idiots.
They completely lacked this kind of knowledge.
It was as if they knew nothing besides playing cards.
"Well... let's talk after I beat you." You Chen did not have a link either, so he could only brush him off.
"I'm going first! Draw!"
Tyrannosaurus Rex placed two fingers above his deck and drew a card.
The collegiate format still used four thousand Life Points, and the first player could draw.
Therefore, going first still held a tremendous advantage.
But in truth, regardless of the format, going first was a huge advantage.
Even in later formats where Hand Traps were everywhere and the first player could not draw, the first-player advantage remained enormous, except for certain decks.
Compared with those formats, You Chen still preferred the pure Yu-Gi-Oh! environment of the present.
"I activate the Magic Card Fossil Dig from my hand."
"I add one 6-star or lower Dinosaur-Type monster from my deck to my hand."
Tyrannosaurus Rex held a card between two fingers at the height of his nose. With the curl of his lips, it was as if he had already completed some kind of combo.
You Chen pondered for a moment. A Dinosaur-Type deck?
It was known as a pseudo-underworld deck.
Its strength could not be underestimated.
Still, there was no need to think too hard. This time, the star was Babycerasaurus.
Whenever Dinosaur-Type decks were mentioned, the tormented Babycerasaurus was never absent.
These monsters that activated when destroyed were just like masochists.
Only constant destruction could make them feel so good.
The same applied to his Warm Worm.
You could say Warm Worm had met one of its own kind.
"First, I activate the Field Spell Card Lost World!"
Tyrannosaurus Rex grinned and swiftly slapped down a Field Spell Card.
The instant the Field Spell Card formed—
—light appeared around the outer edge of the Duel Disk.
The next moment, the Duel Arena transformed into a vast primeval forest, as if they had returned to a prehistoric world from thousands of years ago. Volcanoes erupted, towering ancient trees stood tall, and the sight was magnificent.
"I also Normal Summon Babycerasaurus from my hand!" Tyrannosaurus Rex quickly threw down his next card.
Light blossomed in the Monster Zone.
A Babycerasaurus that had just broken out of its eggshell struggled to fly onto the field. Half an eggshell still covered its head, and its adorable eyes were wide open, as though it were full of curiosity about the world.
Babycerasaurus EARTH Attribute / Level 2 / Dinosaur-Type ATK: 500 / DEF: 500
"At the same time, I activate the effect of the Field Spell Card Lost World."
"Once per turn, when a Dinosaur-Type monster is Normal or Special Summoned: I can Special Summon one 'Jurraegg Token' (Dinosaur-Type / EARTH / Level 1 / ATK 0 / DEF 0) to your field in Defense Position."
"Then I Set two cards and end my turn."
"Your turn, You Chen."
After setting his two cards, Tyrannosaurus Rex crossed his arms, striking an extremely confident pose.
"Alright! Then let's play cards today." Unaffected in the slightest, You Chen drew a card first.
Thanks to Wandering Cat Z, Mad Mirage, wengteng1993, Official Start, and Mu Gong for your recommendation votes!!
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