"All right, break time is over. Will all university teams participating in the elimination rounds please return to the center of the arena? I will now announce the rules..."
Xiao Zhigang had kept the Championship Tournament's detailed rules secret, only revealing them when the competition began.
According to the Ministry of Education's public explanation, this was to ensure fairness and prevent anyone from exploiting loopholes. In reality, though, anyone with eyes could tell that Xiao Zhigang was up to something.
Most likely, it was to give Xiao Zhigang, the man who actually controlled the Championship Tournament, some flexibility and room to maneuver.
As for how he intended to maneuver, and whom he intended to target, everyone had their own opinion.
However, just as Qian Wendao was presiding over the elimination rounds and preparing to read out the rules, someone suddenly came up, leaned close to his ear, whispered a few words, then handed him a sheet of paper.
Qian Wendao frowned, looking puzzled. "Hm? You're saying Minister Xiao changed the elimination rules at the last minute?"
Since Qian Wendao had neither activated Conversation Shielding nor turned off his microphone, every spectator and contestant in the arena immediately heard those words.
The crowd erupted.
"What? Xiao Zhigang changed the rules at the last minute? Did something go wrong with the organizers?"
"The organizer is the United Government. How could anything go wrong with them? It must be something else!"
"Then why?"
"No idea. Maybe it's something to do with Xiao Zhigang himself. Let's wait and hear what the host says."
For a moment, everyone's attention turned to Qian Wendao.
The Ministry of Education official who had delivered the message and document to Qian Wendao froze.
His eyes widened, as though he were silently interrogating Qian Wendao.
*Qian Wendao, do you not