After the recommendation list for the China Division's Gods' War League was released, the lists for other divisions were also successively published online. Although Coach Lin didn't have time to accompany Ye Shaoyang abroad for the individual competition, he had been paying close attention to the S10 World Invitational Tournament and even specially compiled a list for Ye Shaoyang.
At 12:00 AM that night, Lin Feng knocked on the door of Dorm 301 and handed the compiled list to Ye Shaoyang: "This is the list of recommended players for this year's World Invitational Tournament from all major divisions. Yangyang, take a look first."
"Coach, come in and sit down." Ye Shaoyang invited the coach inside and took the printed table from his hand to examine carefully. Hearing the noise, Chi Shuo also came out of the bedroom and sat on the sofa to look at the list together.
In the Korean Division, the three players recommended this year included the duo Choi Hyuk and Park Won-seok, and the individual player Kim Min-joon. Ye Shaoyang happened to know these three; he had encountered them in ranked matches on the international server. They were also currently top-tier players with high popularity in Korea.
Ye Shaoyang felt a bit regretful: "Choi Hyuk and Park Won-seok are playing in the duo competition, so I won't be able to meet them."
Coach Lin said, "Since their debut, they have been the strongest Mid-Jungle synergy duo in the Korean Division. They won the S9 Team World Championship. If they can win the Duo Championship in S10, their status as gods will be very stable."
Although these two were very strong, Ye Shaoyang disliked their arrogant attitude. Previously, when Coach Lin approached their team to schedule a practice match, the opposing coach rejected it without hesitation. Although Lin Feng didn't complain, everyone knew the other side looked down on Tianhuan and felt Tianhuan wasn't qualified to play practice matches with them.
During that encounter in the international server ranked match, these two also completely disregarded Ye Shaoyang, Chi Shuo, and the others.
Having won a world championship was indeed remarkable, but looking down on all players from the China Division was very uncomfortable.
Chi Shuo glanced coldly at the list and said icily, "Choi Hyuk and Park Won-seok are hyped by the Korean media as the world's number one Mid-Jungle duo. It doesn't matter if we don't meet them in the individual competition. As long as Tianhuan makes it to the World Championship, we will eventually encounter them."
Ye Shaoyang nodded: "That makes sense. They are a Mid-Jungle synergy, and we are also a Mid-Jungle synergy. It won't be too late to face them then." His gaze moved down, and he was stunned when he saw the recommendation for the North American Division: "Mitchell is participating this year too?"
Lin Feng said, "Mitchell is a player who debuted in the S8 season, the same year as Zhou Jiawen. He hasn't participated in the World Invitational for the past two years, but this year he was recommended for the individual competition."
Ye Shaoyang recalled the fierce Mid Laner who played Mages like Warriors and couldn't help but chuckle: "Great, maybe I can face him this time."
Just as he finished speaking, he received a message on WeChat from Mitchell: "Candle.jpg"
Sean particularly liked [Cracking Up], and Mitchell particularly liked lighting candles for people [Praying/Mourning].
These international friends were learning to use meme stickers badly.
Previously, Captain Zhou had pushed Mitchell's contact information to Ye Shaoyang. The two had added each other as friends long ago but rarely chatted. Sending a message at this time, he had obviously seen the recommendation list.
Ye Shaoyang sent a smiley face back: "You were recommended for the World Invitational?"
Mitchell used an automatic translation software to translate it, and after understanding, replied: "That's right, see you in Seoul!"
This year's World Invitational was hosted by the Korean Division, and the city was set in Seoul. Ye Shaoyang politely replied with a few sentences, then continued looking at the recommendation list.
He scratched his chin thoughtfully: "The European Division recommended an individual player named Vanessa. Is she a female player? I haven't really heard of her."
Lin Feng said, "You usually don't pay attention to the European Division matches. This player is a rookie who just emerged this year, from the powerhouse team AMT. She plays Jungle and has a chance to win the Best Rookie Award in the European region."
Ye Shaoyang thought of Zhao Xinping: "Another Alpha lady?"
Lin Feng said, "Yes. The players recommended for the World Invitational from other divisions are also among the top-tier players who debuted in the last two years. So, the competition this time will be very fierce."
He glanced at Ye Shaoyang, hesitating to speak.
He originally wanted to say, Yangyang, just do your best; it doesn't matter if you win an award or not. But thinking of Ye Shaoyang's "Great Demon King" style, and the fact that he solo-killed Mitchell and was remembered by Mitchell for half a year… he suddenly couldn't say those words. Perhaps he should light candles for the other players participating in the individual competition? Tell them to just do their best?
Ye Shaoyang continued to calmly look at the lists from other divisions: "I found that other divisions all recommend 1 individual player and 2 duo players, as if they agreed on it. Our China Division pushing 3 individual players is really unique in style."
Coach Lin said helplessly, "Each division has 3 recommendation spots, which can be chosen freely. Recommending 1 individual and 2 duo players is more reasonable. Our China Division doesn't have any particularly powerful duo combinations this year, so pushing 3 individual players also complies with the rules."
Chi Shuo and Ye Shaoyang could play as a duo, but Chi Shuo had won a championship and couldn't sign up. Other powerful duos from other teams, like Fang & Yuan or the Zhao siblings, had all won championships. The league was forced to make this decision. Excellent players in the China Division had seen a gap since S9, and the phenomenon of a lack of successors was indeed quite serious.
After reading the recommendation list, Ye Shaoyang calculated carefully and said, "There are 7 major fixed divisions, recommending 9 individual players. The World Invitational will accept the top 32 for the competition, so there are 23 spots for the Wild Card division." He looked at Coach Lin and said, "We want Xiao Xing to sign up too."
Chi Shuo chimed in, "For him, this is a rare opportunity."
Coach Lin was somewhat surprised, stunned for two seconds before saying, "But there will be many Warrior and Assassin players in the individual competition. Professional players from all countries can sign up, making the Wild Card competition even more fierce. Xiao Xing mainly plays Marksman. Trying to break through the siege in the individual competition is too difficult."
Chi Shuo said, "The results don't matter. It's just to let him practice, communicate with international experts, and accumulate some practical experience."
Coach Lin's original plan was to lead Cheng Xing, Qu Jiang, and Old Qin in tactical practice and analyzing playoff opponents while Chi Shuo and Ye Shaoyang went abroad for the invitational. But if Cheng Xing went to participate in the individual competition, the joint training for the three of them would have to be canceled.
Coach Lin carefully analyzed the pros and cons, and finally gritted his teeth and decided: "Okay, let him try. The weakest point in Tianhuan currently is indeed Xiao Xing; he still has a lot of room for improvement. Let's just wait until you guys come back for the joint training. Training with a full 5-person team will be more effective than just the 3 of them training."
Ye Shaoyang asked, "When does the Wild Card competition start?"
Coach Lin: "It starts the day after tomorrow and only lasts for 3 days. All registered players compete in the international server during scheduled times. It's a best-of-three elimination format. The final 23 people decided in the individual competition will automatically obtain the qualification for the World Invitational and can get team visas with the players recommended by major divisions to go abroad for the live competition."
Ye Shaoyang and Chi Shuo looked at each other. Cheng Xing didn't know this news yet; they would tell the little guy tomorrow. Based on Ye Shaoyang's understanding of him, Xiao Xing should be willing to participate in this competition.
Even if the Wild Card division was full of experts and he might very likely get pummeled by international pros.
But getting pummeled in an individual competition was better than getting pummeled during a team fight against other teams in the final World Championship, right? Being killed in an individual competition only affected oneself; being killed in a team fight would drag down teammates!
He believed Xiao Xing could distinguish the pros and cons.
The next day, when Cheng Xing was eating lunch in the cafeteria, he heard the news from his master: "We want you to sign up for the World Invitational Wild Card division and see if you can fight for a spot to compete abroad."
Cheng Xing was dumbfounded: "Me, a squishy Marksman… going to the individual competition?"
Ye Shaoyang smiled at him: "Xie Weiyu is also a Marksman, and he can go to the individual competition. Why can't you?"
Cheng Xing was stunned, but quickly reacted, nodding excitedly: "Brother Yang is right! I'll go sign up!"
This guy had a simple mind; whatever Ye Shaoyang told him to do, he would do. It was just an individual competition, right? It didn't matter if he was killed; he would only lose his own face.
After lunch, Cheng Xing immediately went to register and filled in his information. The World Gods' War League was very efficient. That evening, they announced the list of participants for the Wild Card division and published the match schedule on the official website.
Cheng Xing looked for himself in the list and finally found TH-Starlight.
Ye Shaoyang looked at this name, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Chi Shuo and Ye Shaoyang's smurf accounts on the international server were called Sunshine and Moonlight. Xiao Xing took an English name called Starlight. Sunlight, Moonlight, and Starlight were all gathered!
Carrying out the family name to the end?
Cheng Xing said excitedly, "My first match is tomorrow morning at 9 AM. I need to set an alarm to wake up. My opponent is from the European Division… Romain? Who is this?"
Hearing this, Coach Lin immediately leaned over to look at the computer screen: "No way?"
Ye Shaoyang looked thoughtful: "Have I seen this name somewhere?"
While quickly checking the match records on the international server, Chi Shuo said, "Back when we played ranked on the international server with Xie Weiyu, we matched against Sean and Zhao Xin'an. The opponents were Korea's Choi Hyuk and Park Won-seok. In the end, they fought individually, while we coordinated and won. Do you remember that match?"
Ye Shaoyang's eyes lit up: "I remember. One of the Bot Lane duo back then was called Romain."
Chi Shuo found the recording of that match and pointed to the post-match panel: "Romain and Kyrian."
Coach Lin looked serious: "This Bot Lane duo, Romain and Kyrian, are from the European team AMT, teammates with Vanessa who was recommended for the individual competition. AMT entered the playoffs winner's bracket ranked first in the regular season and is also the team with the most hope of winning the championship in the European Division this year. Their Jungle, Marksman, and Support are all very strong."
Cheng Xing listened for a long time and finally understood. Scratching his head, he said, "In other words, the one I'm going to crash into in my first match tomorrow is the Marksman of the team most likely to win the championship in the European Division?"
Ye Shaoyang, Chi Shuo, and Coach Lin nodded simultaneously.
Cheng Xing felt a bit guilty: "Then I…"
Chi Shuo said calmly, "Don't worry. Among the materials Master sent us initially, there were match recordings of players who performed outstandingly in major divisions this season. I can pick out Romain's match videos for review and study."
Ye Shaoyang smiled and patted Cheng Xing's shoulder: "I'll be Xiao Xing's sparring partner. I often duo-queue with Xie Weiyu and have learned quite a few Marksman operational techniques from him."
Cheng Xing's heart warmed, and his eyes couldn't help but sting.
Master and Brother Yang were both doing their best to help him; what reason did he have to retreat?
So what if it's the Marksman of the European champion seed team? Marksman 1v1, am I afraid of you?