I will eventually become a divine being through accumulating constantly

Watching the results of the draw in the live broadcast, Xue Jing nodded unimpressed.

"As expected, getting matched in the first round of the top eight is likely due to rigged drawing. They didn't have us draw the first time to disguise it a bit, to not be so blatant. So, they set me up against Shady Girl and Dai Zongnian, who are obviously weaker than me to help me advance."

"But in the quarterfinals, everyone's strong, and the uncertainty is too high. They were afraid I'd be eliminated by someone else, so they had to make me face him in the first game..."

Xue Jing smiled and turned off the live stream page.

Miao Miao was squatting beside him, boredly swiping her paw with its fleshy pad across his phone, her fluffy tail swaying leisurely in the air.

"Jing, it seems like the internet is starting to set the rhythm."

She yawned, showing her cute, sharp Tiger Tooth, and said lazily.

"[The most anticipated episode][Definitely rigged][Xue Jing in danger][Officials don't even care about their image anymore]... Comments are moving fast, refreshing brings up hundreds of new ones, the attention on this match is so high."

Xue Jing smiled, "Aren't you clapping back at them?"

Miao Mio snorted, "Pointless... After all, you'll swell the faces of all those who talk nonsense and look down on you, no need to reply to them."

She would never admit that her typing skills were poor and she couldn't out-argue others, so she had to shut up glumly.

"... But now the online public opinion seems to have become friendlier toward you, not as one-sided as before, probably because of the games a few days ago."

Xue Jing waved his hand dismissively, "All that doesn't matter. I don't live off other people's opinions; good or bad reviews are irrelevant to me, hardly a slight frost."

He stood up, walked over to the fridge, and as he opened it and took out a bottle of Coca-Cola, he said:

"Public opinion, such a thing is too easy to turn around... More than 90% of people have their IQ halved when swept along by the crowd, and at the same time, due to the psychological effect of sharing responsibility, they don't think their thoughtless malice is that serious."

"Once I crush Zhou Yinglin, most of those who bad-mouthed me will easily choose to forget their previous malice and even turn to attack Zhou Yinglin, who embarrassed them... Then they become my 'fans' again, since comparing me to him will facilitate their attacks on Zhou Yinglin..."

Xue Jing took a sip of his Coca-Cola and muttered softly, "Really boring."

Miao Miao nodded as if she understood, pouting, "You say it's boring, but why do you understand it so well, as if you've studied it..."

Xue Jing leisurely said, "Read more books, dive deep into dialectical materialism, learn to see the essence through phenomena, Teacher Wan."

"Sorry for my low education!"

Miao Miao, who had to drop out of high school and was brought back to the Dragon Cult to become the Sect Hierarch grumbled through clenched teeth.

...

The next day at noon, the day of the match.

Xue Jing took a ride with Ning Yuantai and arrived at the Super Arena.

"Wow, it's kind of lively today!"

Ning Yuantai, seated in the driver's seat, widened his eyes as he steered and looked through the car window at the plaza in front of the Super Arena's entrance.

Densely packed... it really looked like a true ant nest, crowds of people packed together, barely able to move step by step, the noisy sound almost audible inside the car.

Xue Jing also glanced outside the window but remained silent.

"Xue, looks like your issue with Zhou Yinglin has really blown up; today's situation, the Super Arena is definitely going to be packed, they probably can't fit any more people!"

Ning Yuantai said excitedly.

As Iron-blooded Jing, one of the few who understood Xue Jing's prowess, he had no doubts about Xue Jing's ability to win against Zhou Yinglin and was not worried, only looking forward to the forthcoming spectacle of the match.

"Stop looking, let's go inside," Xue Jing reminded him.

"Eh, alright."

Ning Yuantai replied, turned the steering wheel, and headed for the parking lot.

After parking, the two got out of the car and entered through the staff entrance to the backstage of the Super Arena.

"Then Xue, I'll go find my friend, see you later."

Ning Yuantai greeted, and after seeing Xue Jing nod, he went off alone to the area for the event staff.

Xue Jing walked alone at a leisurely pace along the long corridor, his shoes echoing solidly on the floor.

Just then, a figure with somewhat frivolous behavior approached him.

Xue Jing looked up and recognized someone who was somewhat familiar.

Called Wei... what was his name?

Anyway, he was the one who broke the news that day about Zhou Yinglin planning to accidentally kill him in the ring.

Wei Junwu, from afar, raised his hand with a smile and familiarly greeted, "Old Xue!"

Xue Jing nodded at him, and after pondering due to not remembering his name and unwilling to call him Old Wei, simply said:

"Morning."

Wei Junwu looked at the sun high in the sky outside and didn't mind the greeting, but smiled, came up beside Xue Jing, and familiarly slung an arm over his shoulder, winking and saying:

"Old Xue, how's it going, have you been training hard with Giant Sword... Huh? Wait a second, where's your sword, didn't bring it?"

Seeing Xue Jing empty-handed, he paused.

Xue Jing casually replied, "Brought it, just not at hand right now."

Wei Junwu breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."

"Although you might find it annoying, I have to remind you again, Zhou Yinglin is no joke, don't underestimate him. Competing with him in martial skills is purely suicidal, you have to just bulldoze through with sheer force from the get-go, even if it means sacrificing finesse for power... better than being outmaneuvered by his cleverness..."