Chapter 239
"Yes, that's the situation."
Various discussions also arose in the military academy team's rest area.
The members of the five military academies remained silent.
"I'm speechless. This rule is deliberately targeting our five major military academies."
What constitutes a member of a formal team being incapacitated? Does it have to be killed or maimed to count?
"It's bad enough to revoke the instructors' qualifications, but now they've come up with these targeted rules. This league is clearly making things difficult for the five military academies! How are we supposed to compete like this?"
"As everyone knows, the biggest advantage of our five major military academies is their outstanding teaching staff. The first rule change directly weakens this advantage."
"The second point is even more targeted. The competition among the five major military academies is fierce. In order to conceal their strengths, they usually put their strongest forces and trump cards in the reserve team first, and then release their trump cards when the more important competition begins."
"But with the second rule change, the rotation between the official team and the reserve team is now strictly prohibited. That means the five military academies' hidden trump cards and strongest players on the reserve team might lose their eligibility to play. What's the point of competing then?"
The reactions from the members of the five military academies were all intense.
The players on the bench, in particular, all looked extremely dejected.
Not to mention Chu Er's team.
"Captain, is this league change crazy?" a player couldn't help but ask.
Chu Er's face darkened, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "He's not crazy, he's just targeting us."
With the rapid development of the five military academies, the Federation has long been unable to contain them, so over the years, there have been secret contradictions and conflicts between the two sides.
On the surface, things appear harmonious.
"Squad leader, what does this mean? Are the five of us still able to participate in the game?" Song Tianqi scratched the back of his head, completely bewildered.
Xu Jintang frowned slightly. "They can play, but only if the official team members are unable to compete."
"The criteria for determining whether a member of the official team is incapacitated is crucial." Jiang Shiyi immediately grasped the key point.
Xue Zhongqi pursed his lips, pondered for two seconds, and said, "If we have to be seriously injured or crippled to be considered incapacitated, then our chances of going on the field are extremely slim."
To ensure the safety of the participating military academy members, the referees in official competitions are generally at least at the Eighth Tier, so it is rare for a participant to be seriously injured or maimed.
Under the new rules, the substitute team would have virtually no chance of playing.
"Rule number three has been amended. To ensure fairness and impartiality in the competition, the five military academies' direct qualification for the knockout stage will be disqualified in this year's league."
These words completely exposed the Federation's conflict with the five military academies.
"Huh? The direct qualification for the top five military academies has been cancelled??"
"This rule is a bit redundant. The teams from the top five military academies aren't so weak that they can't even get through the preliminaries. Even if the direct qualification is canceled, they can still earn their way up through their own abilities."
"Ugh, this rule is just designed to annoy the five major military academies."
Chapter 239
No one doubts the strength of the five military academies' teams. Preliminary rounds, as a warm-up event, are naturally no challenge for them. Therefore, in previous leagues, in order to maintain relations with the five military academies, the organizers took the initiative to offer them direct qualification, a privilege that continues to this day.
The sudden cancellation today certainly caught the five military academies off guard.
[The cancellation of direct admission qualifications actually has little impact on the five major military academies; it's just a loss of face for them.]
[The league officials are really going too far. Why are they doing this for no reason? Are they deliberately making things difficult for the five military academies? When did the league officials become enemies with the five military academies?]
[It's quite interesting, though. It's rare to see the top five military academies competing against other smaller military academies; who knows, it might even spark some exciting matches.]
[That's ridiculous. The top five military academies would basically crush them.]
The rest area for the five military academy teams.
Just as Song Tianqi realized what was going on, he jumped up, slammed his fist on the table, and started cursing, "These rules are deliberately targeting our five military academies! What does the league organizers mean by this?!"
Not only was he furious, but the team members from the five military academies were also seething with anger after hearing about the three rule changes, though they didn't show it out of pride.
"Don't be impulsive," Yan Yuting, pressing Song Tianqi down and whispering a warning.
After all, this was at a league match venue, with many spectators and satellite cameras around.
Xue Zhongqi's face was also pale, his hands clenched into fists, with a sense of pent-up frustration that seemed ready to explode at any moment.
Xu Jintang and Jiang Shiyi remained relatively calm.
However, their eyes were noticeably colder than usual.
"The competition hasn't even started yet. Can't we even go for a chat and catch up on some friendly stuff?" Chu Er's impatient voice came from across the room.
The staff member who stopped him was in a dilemma, "This..."
"Get out of the way, there's no rule in the league that forbids our teams from visiting each other's rooms." Chu Er irritably pushed aside the staff member and strode into the Leikedasi team rest area.
Seeing Chu Er approach, Xu Jintang immediately stood up and looked at him questioningly, "What's this?"
"Just dropping by to drop by and chat about your opinions on the rule changes for this league." Chu Er walked over casually and found an empty sofa to sit down.
The team members who came with him gave Xu Jintang a restrained smile.
"What else can we say? The rules have already been announced, and the authorities can't change them. Even if we have opinions, we have no way to appeal." Xu Jintang spread his hands.
Song Tianqi and the others didn't know what Chu Er's intentions were in coming to their door, so they didn't say anything and just stood there in silence.
"I didn't mean anything by it, I just really dislike the way the league officials are doing things, so..." Before Chu Er could finish speaking, another series of footsteps approached.
This time, people from the Xihe Alliance Military Academy, Quiet Moon Military Academy, and Imperial Military Academy came to visit.
And so, all the team members from the five military academies gathered in the Leikedasi team's rest area.
The group sat in a circle, and the atmosphere was somewhat silent.
It wasn't until Xu Jintang spoke up, "Come on, whatever your thoughts are, just say it."
Once someone makes a start, things become much easier.
The crowd, who had been holding back, immediately began to chatter amongst themselves:
"The league officials are treating us like this, we should at least give some response. I can't stand being treated like this."
"Exactly! No matter what, we can't tarnish the reputation of our five major military academies. If you ask me, we need to stand up for ourselves and teach the league officials a lesson."
"How can you be so tough?"
This question stumped everyone.
They really couldn't swallow this insult, but they wanted to vent their anger, yet they didn't know how.
Chu Er looked up at Xu Jintang, "What are your thoughts?"
"Well..." Xu Jintang tapped his chin with his finger, pondering for a moment, "We absolutely cannot violate the league rules, but there are quite a few things we can do within those rules."
Chu Er and the others exchanged glances and then leaned closer to listen.
This scene was captured by a passing satellite camera and broadcast live.
Good heavens, are the five major military academies going to launch a joint operation?
[This is the first time I've seen teams from the five major military academies get along so harmoniously, especially at a league match.]
[How strange! With the league rules changed, even the five major military academies have managed to unite.]
The sight of five military academies coming together was so rare that the audience at the scene and in the live broadcast room discussed it for a long time without stopping.
Until the league opening ceremony begins.
The lights went out again, and the entire venue fell silent.
A few seconds later, a wisp of blue flame quietly appeared on the arena.
For some unknown reason, the blue flames gradually split into three clusters, and then from those three clusters into nine clusters.
Gradually, more and more flames appeared on the arena, illuminating the entire arena like sprites.
"Boom--"
A loud bang was heard.
A giant waterfall, shimmering with a deep blue light, cascaded down from the sky and crashed into the arena.
The blue flames were split to both sides, yet they continued to flicker.
The entire audience's attention was drawn to it.
After several breathtaking scenes ended, the scattered blue flames gradually condensed into a line of large characters:
The opening ceremony of the Military Academy League is about to begin.
"Dear viewers, thank you for your support and love for the Military Academy League. This year, our opening ceremony performance will be jointly performed by leaders from various Federation bureaus. The performance is about to begin, please wait patiently." A beautiful host in a floral dress appeared on the stage holding a microphone.
Holding the microphone, a smile graced her face. Her shoulder-length, smooth, black hair and sweet voice immediately attracted the attention of the audience.
"This year's opening ceremony was really something; I don't know how they managed to pull off that last bit."
"It must be the effect of a skill used by a fire-controlling ability user."
"To be able to control fire so precisely, one's proficiency in manipulating supernatural abilities must be extraordinary; they must be at least a Eighth Tier master."
As the audience was buzzing with discussion, the opening ceremony performance officially began.
This time, a thunderclap appeared on the arena, and the phantom of a thunder dragon loomed in mid-air, with crackling arcs of electricity flashing on both sides, bringing a glimmer of light to the darkness.
"Boom--"
A wave of fire, mixed with intense heat, swept over the entire venue in an instant.
Even those sitting far away in the stands could feel the unbearable heat.
The next second, a torrential downpour of snow and ice began.
The raging fire gradually contracted until it was completely covered and melted by ice and snow.
The once intense and heated arena fell silent instantly.
The extremely cold ice and snow soothed the audience's previously agitated hearts.