"Admitting defeat before the fight even starts? You're bolstering their confidence and undermining our own!"
Feng Li berated them with a stony expression. "Why the long faces? It's only the United Kingdom. It's not like we can't fight them!"
"Old Feng, do you even believe that yourself?" Mo Fan asked.
"Shut up. I don't want to beat you up today!"
Feng Li was genuinely furious. He shot Mo Fan a vicious glare, his expression utterly sour.
Drawing the United Kingdom was already infuriating enough, and now that shameless brat Mo Fan was running his mouth. Worse still, he was already under disciplinary action!
The other four mentors looked equally grim, unsure what to do.
"Feng Li, our luck really hasn't been good this year."
A somewhat aged voice reached them. Everyone turned and saw an elderly man with gray hair approaching. His bright, piercing eyes settled on Jiang Yu, who respectfully stepped forward and greeted him as his teacher.
The newcomer was Pang Lai, one of China's leading figures and the chief mage of the Imperial Palace.
He was no stranger to the National Team members, having visited them during the first elimination round.
Zhou Sining glanced behind Pang Lai and immediately spotted a smiling Han Ji.
"What brings you here too?" Zhou Sining walked over happily.
"I came to see you. You look well. How's your injury?" Han Ji asked.
"It's... it's fine. It had healed, but then I ran into some danger, and it cracked open a little again."
Han Ji's expression instantly turned cold. Startled, Zhou Sining hurriedly waved his hands. "It's fine, really! Nothing serious. It's only as wide as a needle, just like before!"
"So there's been no improvement." Han Ji snorted.
"It couldn't be helped."
"I can't be bothered arguing with you. You'd better