Everyone in the arena was chanting the names of the three favorites to win the championship.
As the chanting died down, the host onstage glanced at the cue cards in his hand and continued:
"First-round matchups have already been drawn. Next, please welcome..."
Just then, Wang Yue raised the Thunder King Megaphone and turned its volume all the way up. Meng Yiyi leaned in, and the two of them shouted together:
"Meng Chuan, Meng Chuan, a genius of our age! I'm second—who dares claim first!"
The megaphone's booming voice filled the entire arena. Everyone from Infinite Martial Arts Hall was stunned for a moment, then joined in the shouts.
In a corner of the arena, Meng Chuan found it a little funny, and a little embarrassing...
But then warmth bloomed in his heart.
He raised an arm and gave a pumping cheer, responding to the few supporters he had.
Seeing someone causing a commotion in the stands, the security guards maintaining order confiscated Wang Yue's megaphone.
Wang Yue and Meng Yiyi then pulled a huge LED sign out from under their chairs and held it high.
The giant screen overhead caught the moment. For the first time, Meng Chuan felt his eyes grow a little misty.
"Brother Chuan, you can do it!"
The little fatty's gut-wrenching shout echoed through the arena.
Seeing this, the host demonstrated his basic crowd-control skills.
"Some of our spectators seem a little worked up, but that's precisely an outward expression of the Martial Dao spirit of Great Chu!"
"Revere martial arts, and strive ceaselessly for self-improvement!"
"All right, now please welcome the competitors for our first match!"
Number One, Meng Chuan, and Number Four, Li Xiaoyue, stepped onto the fighting platform. They took their places on opposite sides and waited for the match to begin.