At this moment, a middle-aged man with a heroic demeanor stood in front of the microphone and spoke in a firm voice.
"We hope that all the students will get good results in this Nine Academies Joint Examination. Well… Let's invite the student representatives of each campus to come on stage to reveal this year's championship trophy!!"
As soon as the middle-aged man finished speaking, a huge trophy covered with a red cloth immediately rose from the stage.
Through the red cloth, one could vaguely see the profile of the trophy and a trace of golden light. It seemed to be made of pure gold.
Upon seeing the trophy, the spectators around the hall immediately exclaimed and began discussing excitedly.
However, Wu Feng, who was sitting next to Bai Ze, showed a disdainful expression.
"They're going through all this formality again. In the end, the trophy will still end up in the hands of the school. Those with a conscience will only give a little more compensation at most."
"And you still sugarcoat it with such noble terms, telling us to let our honor shine forever in our alma mater," Wu Feng mocked sarcastically with a raised hand.
Looking at Wu Feng by his side, grumbling non-stop like some crosstalk comedian, Bai Ze couldn't help laughing inwardly.
With such a grouchy buddy around, it was hard for him to remain serious.
In the hall, as the middle-aged man left, a white-haired old man slowly stood up from the spectator seat.
He held a list of school representatives in his hand, which he read out loud. "Next up… Let's welcome Maplewood Uno High's representative Bai Ze, Norton Elite's representative Chu li, Galant Elite's representative..."
The old man's voice was not loud, and it was a little hoarse.
However, his voice traveled hundreds of meters and reverberated in Bai Ze's ears.
This amazing phenomenon made Bai Ze even more certain of his thoughts.
The few elders in the spectator seats who were treated so respectfully by the Maplewood City's Magic Education Authority must be advanced mages of the sixth ring or above!
"Brother Bai, what are you waiting for? The organizer has already called your name. Hurry up and go up."
Wu Feng saw that Bai Ze seemed to have lost his focus and immediately pushed his arm.
"Huh?"
"I'm our school's representative?"
By now, Bai Ze finally recovered himself. He thought he was hearing things just now. His ability was not well known in the school, so how did he become the school's representative?
"Good grief! Stop worrying about this question at this point. You won the championship of the entire school's mock battle the last time. Who else can represent the school if not you? Could it be me?"
When Wu Feng saw that the representatives of the other schools had already gone on stage, he immediately dragged Bai Ze up from his seat anxiously.
Bai Ze simply walked from the spectator seat to the stage with a confused look.
The representatives of other schools went on stage with proud and confident steps, but at this moment, Bai Ze's face appeared worried.
He had wanted to keep a low profile in the Nine Academies Joint Examination in order to increase his odds. Yet now, he had suddenly appeared on stage to unveil the trophy on behalf of the school in front of everyone.
If he showed his face like this, he would attract the attention of many people. If more people placed their bets, the odds would naturally drop, and it might even become the same as the other contestants.
If that were the case, the plan he had painstakingly planned would be for naught.
Just as Bai Ze was racking his brain over what to do, a rhythmic chanting suddenly rang out from the spectator area behind him, which made him freeze in his tracks.
"Bai Ze, go for it! Go forth courageously! Do not fear the strong! Be the champion!"
He turned around stiffly and was flabbergasted to find that Wu Feng had changed his seat and was now sitting in the middle of a group of people.
He was waving a yellow banner with Bai Ze's name on it back and forth as if he was sending off the soldiers who were preparing to go to the battlefield.
The slogan, invented by god-knows who was being yelled back and forth several times. Although the situation was a little awkward, their momentum was very strong, and it attracted the attention of most of the audience in the venue.
Bai Ze almost fainted. At this moment, he remembered that when he was eating noodles yesterday, Wu Feng said that he would give him a surprise. He probably knew that Bai Ze would be going on stage as the school's representative.
This… was one hell of a surprise!
After such a ruckus, Bai Ze knew without much thinking that his odds would definitely turn into a straight line.
It looked like his plan to make lots of money was going to be ruined very soon.
Bai Ze forced himself to smile. He could not embarrass the school in front of everyone, so he could only pretend to be confident and walk up to the stage.
Soon, all the nine students representing their schools arrived. Under the media's cameras, they all displayed confident smiles on their faces.
"One… Two!"
The group of students pulled the red cloth off gently, and the next moment, the trophy appeared in everyone's sight.
The entire trophy was shining with a golden light. It was about 120 centimeters tall, and the base was rose gold. Two ribbons were carved on the trophy, intertwining with each other. The surface had been specially treated as if wrapped in a coat of magic power, and there were six magic rings of different colors around it.
Looking at the design of the trophy alone, it could be seen that the organizer attached great importance to this competition. Even the trophy was so exquisitely crafted.
After the trophy was revealed, the old man said some more encouraging words deemed necessary for such occasions to motivate the students.
On the stage, Bai Ze and the rest of the students were being photographed by the nearby reporters, so they could only maintain their forced smiles.
A few minutes later, they were allowed to leave.
The bell for the competition to begin rang immediately.
Bai Ze returned to the audience seat. He felt that the time had passed very slowly just now, making him feel very uneasy.
"Brother Bai, I've found quite a few people to back you up just now. I'm sure they'll be able to give your opponent a taste of their might!"
Wu Feng returned to his seat and said excitedly.
Bai Ze was in no mood to smile. He knew that his buddy, Wu Feng, had good intentions.
Taking out his mobile phone, Bai Ze fired up the website he had browsed yesterday and found that the pool of prize money for the Nine Academies Joint Examination had reached tens of millions, while his odds had fallen to an astonishing 1: 1.7.
He could only cover his forehead in despair as he imagined millions of dollars floating away from him.
"Brother Bai, did I do something wrong?"
Seeing Bai Ze's dejected look, Wu Feng asked tentatively, his expression somewhat embarrassed.
"I originally planned to keep a low profile during the competition so that the opponent would look down on me. This way, my chances of advancing in the competition would be higher… But you gave me so much support publicly... I guess my plan is ruined now."
Bai Ze calmed himself down and said dejectedly.
"Oh… I'm sorry. It seems like I've completely ruined your plan."
Wu Feng scratched his head in embarrassment.
Seeing Wu Feng's self-reproaching look, Bai Ze couldn't bear to rebuke him either. Moreover, he had just reconsidered the matter. The competition had not started yet, so there was still a chance to raise the odds.