Inside the stadium, Ji Siyue and Qin Chengyao led the team members to the lounge while Ji Siyue went to collect the player certificates herself.
"Can you manage it on your own?" Qin Chengyao's eyes were full of worry.
"Don't worry!" Ji Siyue ruffled the hair of the nearest team member casually. "Hurry to the lounge. I'll go for the draw later."
The others were still worried, but it was Qin Chengyao who took the lead and pulled them all away.
Ji Siyue was the team leader. There were certain things she needed to do. If others did them instead, there would be no point in having her as the leader.
The draw rules for today had been announced. For the players ranked from ninth to forty - fourth, the competition rule was that adjacent teams would compete against each other. For the top eight teams, the team leaders or captains had to go onto the stage in person, in front of the national audience and the live - broadcast cameras, and draw balls from the lottery box. Teams that drew balls of the same color would form a pair for the competition.
In the competition among the top eight teams, four pairs would be selected as Group A, and the losing teams would form Group B. Among the remaining thirty - six teams, sixteen would be selected through the competition and then draw lots to enter either Group A or Group B.
In all the subsequent competitions, Group A and Group B would be divided into two camps, using a points - based system. After each round of the competition, besides eliminating two teams from each of Group A and Group B respectively, an additional team with the lowest points would be eliminated. The rules for earning points would be determined by the expert panel, and the whole process would be shown in slow - motion and be under the supervision of the national audience.
Calculated like this, the tournament system was as follows: from forty - four teams, seventeen teams would be selected for Groups A and B; from the seventeen teams, fourteen would advance; from the fourteen, eleven; from the eleven, eight. After both sides had eight teams left, there would be in - team duels.
In the in - team duels of Groups A and B, eight would be reduced to four, then in the quarter - finals, four would be reduced to two. Finally, a total of four teams would be selected to enter the semi - finals.
After the semi - finals, there would be no more distinction between Group A and Group B. Instead, the opponents for the finals would be determined by a draw.
Ji Siyue had just inquired and learned that today's competition mainly involved the teams ranked lower. The winning and losing camps would be determined, waiting for the team leaders of Groups A and B tomorrow. The selection of the top eight teams would be tomorrow. Today, they came to collect the player certificates, draw lots, and there would also be pre - competition interviews and group photos.
That meant all this grandeur today... was for nothing!
Well, it was okay. It was like having one more day for preparation.
After Ji Siyue collected the player certificate, she was led by the stadium staff to the live - broadcast stage for the draw.
The representatives of the top eight teams had all gathered, and Ji Siyue was the last to arrive.
The person next to her was Xiyou.
"Yo! You're really early."
Ji Siyue knew this person was a chatterbox and didn't bother to respond. She stood in her position, and the stadium staff introduced each team one by one.
Ji Siyue was the second - last to be introduced.
"Everyone must know this person. The GH team she leads was the predecessor of the WE team, which won the championship in the first CKM tournament. Now, although our CKM has become AKM after three tournaments, the ideal remains the same. The current GH team not only has four of the starting players of the first - season WE team but also two veteran players from the first season and a promising new support player. I'm sure this team will achieve great success this season. May I ask, Miss Siyue, do you have anything to say?"
Ji Siyue looked at the cameras focused on her and simply said, "Can we start the draw?"
The interviewer, Xiaoyu, felt a bit embarrassed, but her good professional qualities quickly helped her regain her composure. "Okay! Now, please draw a lot, Miss Siyue!"
Ji Siyue walked up to the lottery box, reached in, felt for a ball, and held it in her hand.
The last one was Xiyou from the Junchen team.
"This is Xiyou, the new captain of the Junchen team. Although a newcomer, his record is among the best in the league. As the glory team of the last season, do you have anything to say to your supporters?"
"I won't let you down. Since we, the Junchen team, could win the championship last season, we can do it again this season. Some people, once they've left, shouldn't come back."
As he said this, Xiyou glanced at Ji Siyue. It was obvious who this was aimed at. The competition hadn't even started yet, but there was already such a strong sense of hostility!
In contrast, Ji Siyue remained calm, looking at the ball in her hand.
Xiaoyu then interviewed Ji Siyue again. "May I ask, Miss Siyue, what color ball do you hope to draw? Or, which team do you want to be opponents with?"
Ji Siyue replied, "It's all the same. Any team will do."
Xiaoyu said, "It seems that our GH team is really confident!"
At this time, Xiyou sneered and added, "I actually want to play against GH. I'll knock them into Group B early on."
This time, Ji Siyue finally responded to Xiyou's taunt.
She turned to Xiyou, gave a faint smile, but still said nothing, as if all her emotions were hidden in that smile.
Xiaoyu saw that the tense atmosphere between the two was not good. Afraid that something might happen, she quickly said, "Okay! Now, let's unveil the colors of the balls everyone has drawn! Starting from the eighth - ranked team!"
Ji Siyue opened the ball in her hand. It was a blue ball.
Then, the other teams opened their balls one by one. There were red, yellow, and green balls, but no other blue ball.
Xiaoyu created another suspense. "Everyone, look! Now, there are only the last two balls left to be opened! Once one more ball is opened, the result of this team - pairing will be out!"
The next ball to be opened was from the IK team.
It was green!
So the color of the last ball must be from the Junchen team.
Xiyou opened the ball with a smile on his face - sure enough, it was a blue one!
Xiaoyu said, "Okay! Let's congratulate the eight starting teams on successfully finding their opponents!"
Xiyou sauntered over to Ji Siyue, showing off the ball in front of her. "Miss Siyue, it's really an honor to play against your team in the first match."
Ji Siyue also smiled and said, "Good luck."
"You're the ones who need good luck!" Xiyou shouted loudly.
The faces of everyone present were not looking good. Since this was a live broadcast and the whole nation was watching, Xiyou's behavior would undoubtedly bring negative attention to himself and the Junchen team. The manager of the Junchen team couldn't help covering his forehead in despair.
But no matter how much others taunted, Ji Siyue remained calm from beginning to end. She was about to leave without saying a word.
Seeing that his many taunts had no effect, Xiyou finally got angry. When Ji Siyue passed by him, he deliberately stuck out a foot in front of her.
The foot came so suddenly. Coupled with Ji Siyue's leg pain, she couldn't lift her leg very high and walked with a dragging gait. As a result, she fell hard onto her knees.
"Thud!!"