Jing Yuanzheng's attention was indeed diverted. He pondered for a moment, "I actually have higher hopes for the Purple Rosy Clouds Pond Flower Team. But this Mask Squad seems to be quite popular lately."
Chapter 126
Yu Wanyao turned her head hesitantly, "You support the Purple Rosy Clouds Pond Flower Team?"
"Hmm, what's wrong?" Jing Yuanzheng was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant. "You like the Mask Squad?"
"It's not that I like it." Yu Wanyao withdrew her gaze, pursed her lips, and remained silent for a long time. "Let's check the tickets first."
Just then, the audience members in front of them had already gone in, and it was their turn to have their tickets checked.
The once bustling and crowded team rest area is now empty except for two teams.
The other two teams that advanced to the semifinals will compete for third and fourth place today.
Xu Jintang and his four companions sat on their private sofa, waiting for their turn.
Next door were Mu Yongshou and his group from the Purple Rosy Clouds Pond Flower Team.
A huge floating light screen was placed in front of them, displaying live footage of the arena and the surrounding audience stands.
At this time, spectators began to gradually enter the stands.
Xu Jintang withdrew his gaze and casually picked up a Thunder Fruit to take a bite.
"Should we play first today, or should Ji Nanqing's team and her two teams play first?" Song Tianqi suddenly asked, as if something had occurred to him.
Yan Yuting replied, " Ji Nanqing and the others will fight first, then we will."
Song Tianqi immediately deflated, "That'll be a long wait."
After saying that, he picked out a good-looking thunder fruit and started eating it.
Shortly after, the Dark Horse Team and the Light and Brightness Team entered the team rest area.
Ji Nanqing was no longer in contention for the championship, seemed much more relaxed than before.
As soon as she entered, she greeted Xu Jintang and Mu Yongshou with a smile, "Congratulations!"
Xu Jintang put down the fruit, raised her hand in a greeting, and said, "Good luck."
Ji Nanqing smiled slightly, withdrew her gaze, and led her team to the rest area at the back to take their seats.
The five members of the Light and Brightness Team all had rather serious expressions.
After all, they still have to compete with the Dark Horse Team for third place.
Only the top three finishers in each year's Ability User Competition receive prize money; the difference between third and fourth place is significant.
About twenty minutes later, the stands were completely full.
Inside the vast venue, the air was filled with a dense murmur of conversation.
"Oh my god, I'm so excited! I spent a lot of money to get these tickets, and I can finally see it live!"
"I heard they've invited quite a few big shots to be judges today, so we're definitely going to make a profit."
"Phew, finally in. When does the match start?"
"It'll be more than an hour before it starts."
At this moment, a semi-transparent light screen floated above the arena.
The screen displayed a countdown to the start of the match: [One hour, twenty-three minutes, and five seconds.]
As the last audience member entered, the lights went out instantly.
In complete darkness, a spotlight shone on the center of the ring.
A familiar figure appeared on the previously empty arena. Li Xiang was wearing a purplish-red suit, the sequins on which shimmered under the lights.
"Hello everyone, both in the studio and online, I'm your host Li Xiang." Li Xiang held up the microphone and smiled at the satellite camera.
The camera feed was immediately synchronized to the live broadcast room and the giant light screen at the venue.
[Oh no! I couldn't get a ticket, so I can only watch it live.]
[It's okay, watching in the live stream is the same, we still have money left.]
I heard the organizers invited many judges to today's competition.
The live stream chat was already refreshing rapidly.
Holding the program card, Li Xiang continued with a smile, "The competition has been running for two months now, and today will be the final day. Therefore, we, the organizers, have specially invited several distinguished guests to witness the final championship match."
"Next, please welcome Mr. Jiang Wenzhuo, a member of the Xihe Alliance Military Academy Council, to the stage to give the opening speech for today's competition."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Wenzhuo, who had been waiting below the ring, straightened his back.
His hair was neatly combed today, and he wore a hand-tailored suit. He looked much more energetic and vibrant than usual.
The spotlight shone on Jiang Wenzhuo.
He smiled and waved to the cameras around him before walking steadily onto the ring.
Jiang Wenzhuo stood firmly in the center of the ring and bowed slightly to the surrounding stands.
"Hello everyone, I am Jiang Wenzhuo from the Xihe Alliance Military Academy. It is a great honor to be invited here today to witness the upcoming championship match. I wish the competition all the best, and I hope the viewers in the live broadcast room and here enjoy the show."
The stands around the stadium immediately erupted in enthusiastic applause.
"Even the Xihe Alliance Military Academy, one of the top five military academies, has sent people. This competition is attracting a lot of attention."
"This is only the first guest; those who appear later will likely be of even higher status."
After a brief murmur of discussion, Li Xiang smiled again and raised the microphone, " The Federation Star Region has been quite turbulent lately, and the Federation Administration Bureau has been closely monitoring our competition. Today, the organizers have specially invited Deputy Director Wang of the Control Bureau to witness this championship match. Please welcome him!"
Another round of enthusiastic applause erupted.
Jiang Wenzhuo was already standing on the stage, was stunned for a moment and looked down at the audience with a surprised expression.
The spotlight shone on Deputy Director Wang was standing below the ring.
He had a square face, a serious expression, and a hint of menacing air between his brows.
The lights followed Deputy Director Wang's movements.
He stood down next to Jiang Wenzhuo until he reached him.
"Hello everyone, I am Deputy Director Wang, representing the Federation Administration Bureau to witness the exciting moments of the championship."
Upon hearing the words "Federation Administration Bureau," the spectators in the surrounding stands immediately sat up straight, and the murmurs that had been going on just moments before ceased.
Only the viewers in the live stream, despite being separated by a screen, remained actively engaged in the discussion.
[Wow, the guests at this competition are the most high-profile I've ever seen.]
[The leaders of the Federation Administration Bureau are all here; the audience here today is really lucky.]
[This is only the second one; the ones after that are probably even more impressive.]
At this moment, Li Xiang raised the microphone again.
His expression was noticeably more serious than the previous two times. "This last guest's name is legendary; I'm sure everyone has heard of him."
This immediately piqued the curiosity of the entire audience.
"Who is it? Is it a celebrity?"
"A celebrity's status probably isn't high enough to be the final guest."
"Then who else could it be?"
Li Xiang maintained his smile, his gaze sweeping across the entire audience, "Let's give a warm round of applause to welcome our last guest!"
Without any introduction, the spotlight shone directly on the audience.
The audience's attention immediately shifted to that direction.
A man in military uniform appeared below the arena. He was burly, with a straight back, and his menacing aura was impossible to conceal.
The lights illuminated his face, and his strong features were immediately and clearly displayed on the giant broadcast screen.
At that moment, the entire venue fell silent.
An eerie silence descended upon the live stream.
"He is... Jing Hongyi?" Xu Jintang was eating a Pili fruit, stopped chewing and turned to ask.
The other four people around him were also stunned.
Yan Yuting swallowed hard, then nodded blankly, "My god, even Jing Hongyi was invited here."
It really is Jing Hongyi.
Xu Jintang took another big bite of the pita fruit.
Jing Hongyi, the current commander-in-chief of the Federation Command Center, is the top manager at the very top of the Federation pyramid.
In the Federation, they held a position below zero and above ten thousand.
Xue Zhongqi took a deep breath to calm himself down. "Oh no, I'm starting to get nervous. This is Jing Hongyi! The Federation Commander-in-Chief!"
Song Tianqi was completely dumbfounded. "The Commander-in-Chief has been invited here. How are we going to compete in the championship match later?"
A hint of surprise appeared in Jiang Shiyi's eyes.
But she quickly regained her composure, saying, "Just play normally."
Xu Jintang nodded in agreement. "They're just here to watch the game, why are you all so nervous?"
"No, squad leader, that's the Commander-in-Chief! The highest leader of the entire interstellar space!" Yan Yuting was so excited he was almost incoherent. "What if we perform well and catch the Commander's eye, what if...?"
At this point, she began to imagine the wonderful scenes that would follow.
Xu Jintang shattered her illusions, "He's Ninth Tier expert. Do you think our fancy but ineffective skills will catch his eye?"
Yan Yuting instantly snapped out of her daze, a hint of regret on her face, then sighed softly, "That's true."
"The organizers of this Ability User Competition are something else; they even managed to invite someone like the Commander-in-Chief," Xue Zhongqi remarked, stroking his chin.
Jiang Shiyi nodded. "Indeed."
While munching on a pita fruit, Xu Jintang scrutinized Jing Hongyi's features on the broadcast screen.
I must say, Jing Hongyi and Jing Yuanzheng do look alike.
On the stage, Jiang Wenzhuo and Deputy Director Wang immediately stepped aside, giving the center position to Jing Hongyi.
Li Xiang didn't dare to occupy the center position, so he immediately moved a step to the side, then bent down slightly and handed the microphone to Jing Hongyi, "Do you have anything to say to the audience and the contestants?"
Jing Hongyi took the microphone, a kind smile on his face, and looked around. "Hello everyone, I am Jing Hongyi. There have been many things happening in the Federation recently, which have disturbed you, but please rest assured that the Federation Center will always put the interests of its citizens first."
"I've been following this year's Ability User Competition closely, and seeing so many talented contestants emerge is truly gratifying. I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers of the Ability User Competition for selecting so many outstanding individuals for the Federation. I wish the competition continued success."