Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

In Gaodu County of Sanjin Province, the area has become extremely lively as the focus of the national media fell upon it.

Countless vehicles surrounded the entrance to the county government office building, clogging the street so tightly that not even water could seep through—because the Dingbei Army's press conference was taking place in the conference room on the top floor of the office building, where both competing teams would face questions from the media.

The first to attend were naturally the Flying Dragon Battle Team, given that this was Dingbei Army's home turf.

Zhong Ming, Peng Yifan, Ma Dawei, the deputy captain Shen Rui, and the confidently swaggering team captain Cai Qianlong took their seats in order.

Probably facing such a large media crowd for the first time, the four men were somewhat restrained and only Cai Qianlong showed no sign of nervousness; he even had time to use his phone screen as a mirror to adjust his fringe.

The journalists below were somewhat helpless: Although this was the Flying Dragon Battle Team's home field, in reality, they were more eager to interview the Zhenhai Team.

Why? Not because the Zhenhai Team had more beautiful women, but because they had the biggest draw.

After all, despite the fierce disputes outside between the two camps, on one side were the fans of the Zhenhai Team, while the majority on the other side were not fans of the Flying Dragon Battle Team, but the Zhenhai Team's detractors... From this, one can see which team's interviews and reports held more news value.

"Alright, let's start with the questions," the host said.

After a moment, three or four people raised their hands.

The host randomly pointed to one, and the selected person stood up and said:

"Hello, I am a journalist from 'Nanchuan Observation.' I want to ask Captain Cai how he views the Zhenhai Team? Please evaluate the opponent's strength, thank you."

Just as Cai Qianlong was about to speak, the host handed the microphone to deputy captain Shen Rui.

"The Zhenhai Team was established earlier than us, so by convention, they are actually our seniors," Shen Rui replied very smoothly. "We will take the Zhenhai Team as a model, striving to demonstrate our strength, skill, and elegance in this competition and to showcase the demeanor a powerful military team should have to the entire nation."

The journalist did not continue to press, but her expression clearly showed some disappointment—this wasn't the response she was hoping for.

Clearly, despite the external uproar, the Dingbei Army leaders behind the Flying Dragon Battle Team had a very clear stance.

They did not buy into the naysayers' claims that the Flying Dragon Battle Team could rival the Zhenhai Team, and so they had instructed the deputy captain Shen Rui in advance to prepare a steady and safe response to avoid getting caught up in the current public opinion strife.

The host signaled again, and another journalist stood up to ask:

"I am a reporter from Rhino Network, can you predict the outcome of this competition?"

No sooner had Cai Qianlong started to speak than Shen Rui, microphone in hand, said:

"Of course, since we have chosen to join the battle team, we have enough firm confidence and fighting spirit for any battle and believe we will surely secure the final victory."

Here, Shen Rui had played a bit of word trickery, after all "I am confident I will win" indicates a subjective desire, while the journalist was asking for an objective assessment, that is "analyze whether your team can win."

Just as that journalist was about to follow up, the host said:

"One question per media outlet, please pass the microphone to the journalist behind you."

The journalists continued to ask a few more questions, and Shen Rui, indeed, did not let slip any careless remarks, clearly having prepared in advance.

"Any more questions?" The host looked around and nodded silently.

The higher-ups had already instructed that it was better for the Flying Dragon Battle Team's portion to take up as little time as possible, leaving more time for the Zhenhai Team who would follow. Thus, he was about to move on to the conclusion of the Flying Dragon Battle Team's Q&A when suddenly, Cai Qianlong unexpectedly raised his hand and said:

"I have a question."

Everyone present instantly facepalmed: You're not a media journalist, what the hell kind of question could you have!

However, as if oblivious to everyone's gazes, Cai Qianlong continued to address the host:

"The question earlier was directed at me, why did you pass the microphone to Shen Rui?"

It was because they were worried about him making some shocking statement! The host quickly gave a look, and Shen Rui, along with the other team members, rushed over exclaiming "Let's let you talk next time" and "Definitely calling on you next time," as they dragged Cai Qianlong away.

Cai Qianlong was helpless, only managing to leave behind the words, "I'm the captain!" before being carried off by his teammates from the press conference.

The journalists went crazy with their cameras, thinking the Flying Dragon Battle Team had also managed to cause a blunder, ensuring they certainly wouldn't lack for news material this time.

Amid the eager anticipation of the audience, the biggest highlight—the Zhenhai Team—also queued up to enter. It was truly one man and four women, the man handsome and the women beautiful, each with stellar looks that captured attention before they even took their seats, as the cameras began to click furiously.

"Are there any questions?" the host asked, and immediately more than thirty hands shot up—a stark contrast to the sparse raising of hands during the Flying Dragon Battle Team's turn.

Such was the popularity of the Zhenhai Team at the moment!

The host pointed at one female journalist who immediately stood up and asked:
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"Hello, I am a reporter from 'Lu Country New Youth.' I'd like to ask Captain Yan... Um, what are your thoughts on some people claiming that the Zhenhai Team is a 'Harem Team'? If, in selecting members for the team, physical attractiveness is also taken into consideration, wouldn't this be a trampling on the protection of women's rights in Lu Country?"

Yan Yu regarded her steadily, perceiving not anger or distaste in the reporter's eyes but a hint of nervousness and unease.

It seemed it was not a question she herself wanted to ask, but a task assigned by superiors.

"I'd like to remind you," the Dingbei Army host said seriously. "Each journalist may only ask one question, and it must relate to the current competition. We can refuse to answer irrelevant questions."

He passed the microphone to Yan Yu, hinting that he could decline to answer the question.

Facing the numerous cameras fixed intently on him, Yan Yu offered a slight smile and handed the microphone to the deputy captain Chen Lingyun.

"Hello, that's an interesting question," Chen Lingyun said sweetly. "I believe that if being an attractive female in a battle team means being suspected or even slandered for gaining position 'through beauty,' it certainly is a trampling on the protection of women's rights in Lu Country."

She didn't answer the question directly, but her clever response was greeted by such a surge in camera shutter sounds that it nearly became deafening.

The female journalist hurriedly explained:

"That's not what I mean, I wanted to ask..."

Before she could even speak, Chen Lingyun completely ignored her and directed the host:

"Next."

"Please pass the microphone to the gentleman in the red back there," the host ordered without explanation.

The female reporter stopped struggling, handing the microphone back. After the next journalist took it, he stood up and asked:

"I'm a reporter from 'International Express'. Captain Yan, uh, my question is for Captain Yan, could Deputy Captain Chen pass the microphone to Captain Yan?"

"Is that your question?" Chen Lingyun smiled. "My answer is yes."

The journalist immediately widened his eyes, displaying a shocked expression as if to say, "Are you kidding me?"

The other media reporters around first froze, then quickly swung their cameras around to capture the colleague who had been dismissed by Chen Lingyun.

Fortunately, after Yan Yu received the microphone, he didn't dismiss the "already done" journalist. The reporter visibly relaxed and continued, saying:

"Captain Yan, how would you evaluate the viewpoint that 'Flying Dragon Battle Team has a good chance of winning against Zhenhai Team'?"

"Haha," Yan Yu laughed. "Humorous, next."

All the reporters: ???

"Next." The host was the first to react and immediately said, "The lady in the yellow on the left row."

She took the microphone, stood up, and asked:

"How does Zhenhai Team evaluate the strength of Flying Dragon Battle Team?"

The surrounding reporters perked up, internally praising: Good question! Captain Yan described the last question as "humorous," implying he doesn't think highly of Flying Dragon Battle Team's strength... This is the direction we should dig into! Make him say more explosive, newsworthy quotes!

Under the eager gazes of everyone, Yan Yu slowly raised the microphone.

Then he passed the microphone to Chen Lingyun beside him.

All the reporters: .........

"Of course, the strength of the Flying Dragon Battle Team is without question," Chen Lingyun said with a smile. "They stood out among so many Cultivators across the country and got the Privy Council's approval to establish a team; they are certainly not weak. Team Captain Cai Qianlong once challenged Liu Longtao of the Dingbei Army one-on-one and lasted over 20 minutes before being defeated.

Considering that Liu Longtao is the number one Cultivator in the Dingbei Army, Cai Qianlong's strength must not be far behind his. In short, I am very much looking forward to our matchup with Flying Dragon Battle Team."

She gave the host a signal, and the host immediately got the hint and said:

"Alright! That concludes today's press conference. Please leave the venue in an orderly manner."

Even though the reporters wanted to dig deeper, the Zhenhai Team members had already stood up, so they could only exchange glances.

After everyone left the stage, Lin Ning finally let out a sigh of relief, saying:

"Phew! I was so nervous, I was holding my breath the whole time! Luckily no one asked me any questions!"

"You're not even qualified," Yan Yu glanced at her disdainfully.

Lin Ning kicked him.

"How about you, Yun Jin?" Chen Lingyun asked with a smile. "Were you nervous?"

"Not at all," Su Yunjin said softly. "There was a reporter in the front row who kept taking photos of me, so I just had to keep smiling the whole time."

"I wasn't the slightest bit nervous," Zhao Yuanzhen laughed. "You guys are just too thin-skinned."

"Nobody asked you," Yan Yu cut her off.

Zhao Yuanzhen clenched her teeth, thinking to herself:

"This scoundrel has made a mockery of me in public again today—unforgettable! And it's not the first or second time; I have to keep track of all of this to settle the score with him in the future!"

As she thought this, a scene appeared in her mind:

She imagined the wedding night scene with four bridesmaids—Chen, Su, Lin, and Xie—standing around, each holding a wine cup, candlestick, washbasin, and a jade hairpin. Yan Yu, the groom, had washed his hands in the basin and was about to lift her bridal veil with the jade hairpin, but she had kicked him to the floor.

This shameless man, still shamelessly crawling towards her while holding onto her leg, begged, "Dear wife, let your husband behold your stunning beauty."

She stood with one foot on his shoulder, coldly saying, "Mr. Yan, you dare to touch me? Let's settle the accounts of all these years!"

Hehehehehehe hahaahahaahaha~

Lost in her fantasy, Zhao Yuanzhen suddenly collided with a piece of equipment, snapping back to reality.

She saw that up ahead, Yan Yu and Chen Lingyun were walking shoulder to shoulder, and Yan Yu asked:

"Did you get the message from Lord Master scolding you?"

"I flew out ahead of time," Chen Lingyun replied cheerfully.

"Trash!" Yan Yu assessed.

Zhao Yuanzhen was silent for a moment, then quickly caught up, inserting herself between them as if nothing had happened, effectively separating them.