My starting summon is a small skeleton-Chapter 169 - 167 Top eight competition begins

May 27th.

Fucheng First Summoner Training Center.

The quarterfinals of the high school competition had officially begun.

During the preliminaries, the matches were not open to spectators, and aside from the contestants and people like Jiang Beifeng from the admissions office, others could hardly enter the competition area.

But the quarterfinals were different.

The quarterfinals had opened up for live audience viewing.

And so, Lu Wu saw a competition scene that was completely unlike the previous days.

The stands at their first arena venue were packed with people, many of whom carried various types of banners and props for cheering.

Lu Wu glanced over, and those banners were largely inscribed with phrases such as "042, fight on," "Sweep away the visiting teams," and "Display Jiangnan’s divine might" and the like.

The moment their Team One made an appearance on the field, goodness, an ear-splitting roar erupted.

Instantly, the entire stadium was filled with voices cheering for 042.

It was pretty obvious, the entire stadium was on Lu Wu’s side.

However, it wasn’t because Lu Wu and his team had such great charm, but mainly because Jiangnan had been too frustrated in the high school competitions over the past few years.

Each year, the top two had been snatched away by visiting teams, trampling on the students of Jiangnan.

This infuriated the Jiangnan people greatly, but despite their anger, the people on this side had never thought about blocking outsiders from participating in the Jiangnan high school competitions.

In their view, that would be equivalent to bowing their heads to the outsiders completely, proving that Jiangnan was inferior to others.

The people of Jiangnan couldn’t stand this. Rather than doing that, they preferred to see a strong team emerge from Jiangnan, a team that could crush all the visiting teams!

Therefore, this situation was not unique to this year.

For the past few years, it was basically the same, with the Jiangnan people pinning all their hopes on the ace team of the year, much like the fans of a certain soccer team placing their hopes in that team.

And the result, naturally, was the same as the fans of that certain soccer team—only disappointment was achieved.

But the following year, they would still place their hopes on the ace team from Jiangnan, just as they were now placing all their hopes on Lu Wu and his 042.

The entire venue, the whole internet, was cheering and rooting for 042.

This was an encouragement, but also an incomparably huge pressure.

Lu Wu’s situation was somewhat better, as he had relatively strong resistance to pressure, but his two teammates did not have such a strong ability to handle pressure.

Amidst these cheers, Dudu’s chubby hand clutched the corner of Lu Wu’s clothes, once again attempting to hide her plump self behind Lu Wu’s not so broad figure.

On the other hand, Lin Jianying’s forehead broke out in fine beads of sweat, his face pale as a ghost.

This scene before him gave Lu Wu a sense of déjà vu.

Right, there had been a similar occasion during the Quancheng Cup.

This time, just like before, it was up to Lu Wu to reassure his teammates.

Lu Wu took hold of Dudu’s chubby yet fluffy cotton-like hand and rubbed the girl’s head.

"Don’t worry, I’m here for you."

How else to explain why innocent children are happier?

For Dudu, who only had eyes for Lu Wu, nothing could reassure her more than these words from Lu Wu.

Just those few words, just that one affectionate tousle of her hair, and the tense Dudu gradually began to relax.

Lin Jianying, on the other hand, was not so easily comforted.

Although Lu Wu did not act like the hypocrite he’d been when facing Hao Zhijian last time, offering the same reassurance, Lin Jianying’s tension did not subside with Lu Wu’s comfort; it actually intensified.

Lu Wu noticed his condition and was about to help him relax.

At this moment, a staff member came over and told them to get ready.

They were not asked to prepare for the match at this point, but for the pre-match opening ceremony.

As the beginning of the main event, the quarterfinals obviously had to have an opening ceremony.

Like the last time, it would be held at Arena No. 1, which was also where today’s matches were taking place.

Same location, same person hosting the opening ceremony—Jiangnan Province Governor Jiang Yuexing.

What was different was that from the original 84 teams, only 4 remained.

Lu Wu’s Team had also moved up from the second row to the first row, closer to Jiang Yuexing, which allowed Lu Wu to see her more clearly.

Lu Wu had thought that Jiang Yuexing would just go through the same routine and leave.

However, to his surprise, Jiang Yuexing did repeat her previous speech, but she did not leave immediately. Instead, she headed straight for Lu Wu.

Watching the voluptuous and dignified lady approach, Lu Wu, caught off guard, was somewhat flustered.

And while Lu Wu was in disarray, Jiang Yuexing had already arrived in front of him.

She said softly, "Now that you’re here, the hopes of Jiangnan rest on you this year. Don’t let me down."

"Huh??"

Lu Wu was bewildered. He had never expected Jiang Yuexing to say such a thing.

It didn’t sound like something a leader would say on such an occasion.

Moreover, he always felt that Jiang Yuexing’s gaze towards him was somewhat off. Could she also be attracted by his "ordinary" appearance?

Did she have some improper designs on him?

Before Lu Wu could ponder more on that, Jiang Yuexing had already left the field.

The entire stadium was once again filled with deafening cheers for 042.

This made Team 002, standing not far from Lu Wu, quite annoyed.

Fang Bai particularly wanted to stomp Lu Wu’s face into the ground and tell him not to get cocky just because he lucked out and tamed a Summoned Beast of King-level Quality.

They had already figured out the ins and outs of that little goldfish.

Without its little brothers, the little goldfish’s power was just at the Elite Level; the victor of this match would still be them, Team 002!

But unfortunately, the current situation was clearly not the right time for provocation.

So all Fang Bai could do was glare at Lu Wu.

As he was glaring, he suddenly saw Lu Wu’s chest clothing twist, and a fish head peeked out from the neckline of Lu Wu’s shirt, catching sight of him.

Eyes met between man and fish, and then the little goldfish obviously showed a look of disgust and revulsion as if Fang Bai’s ugliness had offended it. It quickly looked up at its owner, Lu Wu, and seemed to feel a little better, then dove back into Lu Wu’s clothes.

All with a demeanor that said it did not want to see him.

Fang Bai was so angry he felt like he was going to spew blood, firm in the belief that he had lost to the fish on looks.

He swore that given the chance, he would smash Lu Wu’s face to pieces.

…

Soon after, the quarterfinals opening came to an end.

The schedule for today’s matches was also arranged.

Compared to the preliminary rounds, the quarterfinals schedule was much lighter with only one battle for each team today.

In total, there were four battles throughout the day.

First match: 044 vs. 018

Second match: 042 vs. 054

Third match: 002 vs. 073

Fourth match: 003 vs. 066

Hmm, when the draw results came out, Lu Wu seriously suspected that the officials were rigging the game.

All four ace teams had avoided each other.

Lu Wu’s opponent was also an ordinary Seed Team.

Initially, when Lu Wu saw they were from Group B, he got a little excited, wondering if it was the Hengheng Monster.

But it turned out not to be the Hengheng Monster and her team; they were 073, the ones fighting Team 002.

"It seems I am destined not to be the one to make the Hengheng Monster cry again, although it looks like it could be fun to watch her get beaten to tears."

Lu Wu rarely talked about people behind their backs, and on the rare occasions, he did, he somehow always got overheard.

What’s more coincidental is that both times the main character was the same person.

He had just finished his sentence when he heard the familiar cold snort he had heard for over half a month.

Lu Wu didn’t need to look back to know he had been caught red-handed, but he was not the slightest bit embarrassed. He even turned his head to greet the Hengheng Monster, "Yo, isn’t this Hengheng Monster classmate? Long time no see..."

"Don’t call me Hengheng Monster!"

The Hengheng Monster was so mad she stomped her foot.

"I’m telling you, don’t be too smug. I won’t always lose to you, and I will win back one day!"

"Is that so? I look forward to the day. I hope it comes soon and doesn’t clash with my first memorial service!"

"You, you… Hmph!"

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The Hengheng Monster was just asking for trouble, as Lu Wu’s words left her cold snorting, turning around and flipping her ponytail.

Looking at the Hengheng Monster whom he had almost made cry again, the magnanimous Lu Wu’s mouth curved into a slight smirk.

He was utterly unaware that many people were watching this scene.

Among them was Jiang Yuexing, acting as a mascot in the front row of the spectator stand.

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination.

When she saw this scene, her gaze seemed to become a tad more dangerous.

It made Lu Wu, who had just taunted the Hengheng Monster away, suddenly shiver without reason.

"What’s going on? Why does it suddenly feel colder?

Do I even feel like someone is cursing me as a scumbag?

Hmm, it must be my imagination. Besides, even if it’s real, they shouldn’t call me a scumbag, right? I, Lu Wu, am the most devoted one, just like my dad!"

Lu Wu might have been better off not mumbling that, because he felt even colder after saying it.

…

Some readers suggested giving Little Skeleton a name, and Nu Xiao is here to collect suggestions.