Immortality Starts From Making Money.-Chapter 371: Anticipation Rising- Hidden Movement

News of the fixtures spread throughout Mingze City like wildfire.

With the widespread circulation of the Game Replay Crystal, almost every household in the city had heard of the game of football.

Whether rich or poor, noble or commoner, everyone seemed to have an opinion about the upcoming match.

"Have you heard? There's going to be another match."

"Yes. Who hasn't heard about it? I can't wait for the day to arrive so I can watch it."

"Not only that—I heard it's between the Chen Team and the Black Spider Team."

"Yes… who do you think will win?"

Beside the roadside, a few young men gathered under the shade of a tree, animatedly discussing the upcoming football game.

Their voices were filled with excitement, their gestures exaggerated as they argued.

Further down the street, in taverns and restaurants, similar scenes unfolded.

Groups of warriors sat around wooden tables, drinking wine while passionately upcoming football game.

Some even replayed moments from the previous match using their Game Replay Crystals, pausing to analyze specific plays as if they were seasoned strategists.

Inside the most luxurious restaurant in the middle district, several young masters and young misses from weaker noble clans gathered in a private room to discuss the same topic.

"Young Master Chen," a girl asked with a teasing smile, swirling her cup lightly, "are you not nervous about the upcoming game?"

The Second Young Master of the Chen Clan raised his head proudly. His chin tilted upward slightly as if the mere thought of fear offended him.

"Why would I be nervous?" he scoffed, clicking his tongue dismissively. "Tch. It is those lowly gangs that should be nervous."

"They have already lost once. Now they are going to lose again...this time to my clan."

His confidence was obvious, almost overwhelming.

The other young masters and young misses exchanged subtle glances before smiling politely. Though they appeared relaxed, none of them took his words at face value.

The game of football was unlike any competition they had ever known.

In cultivation duels, strength determined victory. In business disputes, wealth decided the outcome.

But football… football defied such expectations.

No one could predict what would happen once the match began.

"But I heard," a young man sitting near the window spoke casually, though his eyes were sharp, "that the Black Spider Team has been training seriously for the past week. And besides, they already have match experience, more than any other team except the Blood River Team."

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.

Smiles faded.

Expressions turned solemn.

Although they sat together as friends or at least as polite friend, none of them wanted to lose.

They were already considered the weakest sons and daughter within their respective clans.

Lacking talent in cultivation, they had always stood in the shadows of their more gifted siblings.

And now, a game that did not rely on cultivation talent had appeared.

A game where effort, teamwork, and strategy mattered more than spiritual roots.

How could they accept another defeat?

The pressure they had been trying to ignore slowly multiplied.

Eyes met across the table. Competitive sparks ignited silently between those whose teams would face each other in the coming matches.

"I'm leaving," the Chen Clan's Second Young Master suddenly said, rising to his feet.

Without another word, he strode out of the private room.

The others remained seated for a few moments in silence before they, too, stood one after another and departed.

The gathering ended abruptly.

Their brief attempt at leisure had only reminded them of the burden ahead.

Behind the Chen Clan's football training grounds, the Chen Matriarch stood with her hands clasped behind her back, supervising practice with a solemn expression.

Young men ran back and forth across the field, undergoing various drills designed to sharpen their reflexes and coordination.

Though they were cultivators and possessed physical strength far beyond that of mortals, football required a different kind of endurance, one that tested precision, discipline, and restraint.

"Faster!" an elder barked.

"Control your breathing!"

"Do not look at the ground, watch your teammates!"

After stamina drills, they moved on to shooting practice. Balls flew across the field in rapid succession, striking the goalposts with dull thuds.

Several clan elders had taken on the role of coaches. With their advanced cultivation realms, their perception was incredibly sharp.

They could detect even the smallest flaw in a player's technique.

"You lean too far forward when you shoot."

"Your timing is off, wait half a breath longer."

"Your footwork lacks balance."

Corrections were made immediately, sometimes harshly.

When it came time to practice formation tactics, arguments broke out among the elders.

"This positioning leaves the left flank exposed!"

"Nonsense. It strengthens midfield control!"

"You are thinking too rigidly. Adaptability is key!"

What one elder considered a fatal flaw, another believed to be a strategic risk worth taking.

The tension among the coaches was almost as intense as the players' training.

While the Chen Clan worked tirelessly from morning until late at night, the Black Spider Gang was doing no less.

In fact, their training field was even louder.

The Gang Leader stood at the sidelines, veins bulging on his forehead as he roared at his players.

"If we lose this match, I might as well kill you all"

"This game will decide our future!"

"You idiot! Pass the ball faster!"

"Bastard! Are you blind? Why are you kicking it into the sky?"

"Is that where your ancestor's goalpost is?"

"Come here! I'll teach you a proper lesson!"

The players wore tense expressions as they sprinted across the field.

Sweat soaked their uniforms, and their breathing grew ragged, but none dared to slow down.

And perhaps, in a sense, their lives truly did depend on it.

If they lost again, their reputation would suffer tremendously.

Inside the inner city, beneath a refined pavilion overlooking a tranquil garden, a handsome young master listened calmly to a report.

"So there will be another match in three days?" he asked, his tone even.

"Yes, Young Master," the man before him replied respectfully. "What are your instructions?"

The young master did not respond immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the distant horizon, his expression thoughtful.

"I believe," he said after a pause, "it is time I attend a match personally."

The attendant lowered his head further.

"How are the other noble clans reacting?" the young master asked.

"Young Master, most of them are making moves in the shadows. However, their intentions remain unclear."

"Very well," he replied calmly. "Continue monitoring them. And do not cease the search for the artifact refiner who created the Game Replay Crystal."

"Yes, Young Master."

Elsewhere in the inner city, inside a quiet hall filled with ancient scrolls and dim lantern light, an old man with a long white beard sat in silence.

His brows were furrowed deeply.

"You still cannot find the artifact refiner?" he asked in a hoarse voice, as though he had not spoken for a long time.

"Yes, my lord," a middle-aged man replied, kneeling respectfully. "My men infiltrated the old arena but found no trace of any senior expert capable of refining such an artifact."

The old man's expression did not change.

"What about the creator of this strange game?" he asked slowly. "Have you managed to meet him?"

"No, my lord," the man answered, shaking his head. "However, I have heard there may be an opportunity during the upcoming match."

"An upcoming match?" The old man's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yes, my lord."

The old man remained silent for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping against the armrest of his chair.

"Make arrangements," he finally said. "I wish to meet the creator of this strange game."

The air in the hall grew heavy.

Outside, across Mingze City, anticipation began to rise.