Li Hao Sets Off

Early that morning, when the students of Class 9 woke up for school, they also learned about Chu Xiaoran's cold and poor condition from the latest Champions League news.

Even Teacher Xu Jie didn't know about this.

Chu Xiaoran obviously didn't want to make Teacher Xu and his Class 9 classmates worry too much about him.

It was just a common cold. Football players were human too; they got sick, and it was no big deal.

As for his consecutive scoring streak coming to an abrupt halt, Chu Xiaoran didn't mind at all.

His career had just begun, and the road ahead was long.

Before heading to school, the Class 9 students sent messages to their Brother Ran, wishing him a speedy recovery.

In the class group chat, well-wishes flooded the screen.

"Keep it up, Brother Ran."

"Keep it up, Brother Ran."

Arriving at the classroom, the students chatted with each other, unable to help but feel regretful.

"It's such a pity. Brother Ran's consecutive scoring streak was broken just like that."

"It really is a pity, but his scoring streak in the Premier League is still intact."

"It's just the Champions League group stage. As long as they win, it's fine. The knockout stage later is what matters."

"That's true. The knockout stages are much harder. I hope Brother Ran recovers quickly."

"The good news is that after playing Red Bull Salzburg, Brother Ran and his teammates will have a two-week match-free break, so he can get some good rest."

"Oh? Is the gap that long?"

"Yeah, after the Champions League match early this morning, Brother Ran's next game isn't until October 1st in the Premier League."

"October 1st? What a coincidence!"

"Exactly, it's right on National Day."

"That's awesome! We can watch the live broadcast then."

When Teacher Xu Jie learned the news, he called Fernando as soon as it was light.

After confirming it was indeed just a minor cold, he felt relieved.

As long as it wasn't an illness that could affect his career, it was fine.

Teacher Xu Jie didn't want his prized student to end up like he did back then—falling into the abyss before even reaching his peak.

That kind of physical and mental torment still filled Teacher Xu Jie with dread whenever he recalled it today.

An athlete's greatest enemy was undoubtedly illness.

There was no question about it.

With his mind at ease, Teacher Xu Jie once again immersed himself in his busy daily routine.

On September 20th, in Taiwan, Li Hao was ready to set off, traveling with his team to New York City, USA, to participate in the League of Legends World Championship held there.

During the group draw two days prior, J-Team, as the number one seed of the PCS region, was placed in Group D.

In the same group with them were Gen.G from the LCK and 100 Thieves from North America.

As for the remaining team, they would have to wait until the play-in stage concluded to find out.

However, most experts and fans predicted that RNG from the Dragon Nation's LPL region would eventually be slotted into Group D.

On the plane to the United States, Li Hao and his J-Team teammates began discussing their group stage opponents.

"Brother Hao, what do you think of our group stage opponents?"

As Li Hao's support player, Enso had always been someone who listened to Li Hao implicitly.

During the few months Li Hao had been in Taiwan, Enso had shown significant growth in the support position.

Whether it was vision control, initiating team fights, or protecting teammates, he did an excellent job.

Thanks to J-Team's dominant performance in the summer split, he made the PCS All-Pro Support team for the first time in his professional career.

Enso and Li Hao felt like both mentor and friend.

Seeing his teammates all looking at him, Li Hao smiled easily.

"Brothers, making it to Worlds this year was already beyond everyone's expectations."

"Now that we've reached the Worlds stage, every single match is fresh and crucial for us."

"Therefore, we must strive to understand and master every opponent."

"Once the play-ins are over, RNG will highly likely be placed in our group."

"Among them, the smallest threat to us should be 100T from North America's LCS."

"They are a typical team with two Korean imports."

"Top laner Ssumday and support Huhi are both well-known players."

"However, one is a veteran from 2013, and the other is a veteran from 2014."

"By now, their fame and strength no longer go hand in hand."

"As for the other positions like jungle, mid, and ADC, their strength is just average."

"As long as we maintain our form, taking down a team of average strength like 100T shouldn't be a big problem."

Li Hao knew the details like the back of his hand, sharing his analysis with his teammates.

As the art of war says, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles.

Since returning to Taiwan, in addition to his daily practice, Li Hao had been studying their global opponents alongside the coaching staff.

From the individual strength of each team's players to their tactical plays and playstyles.

Even down to where the support liked to place wards, what minute they started roaming, the ADC's last-hitting habits, team fight disengagement details, and so on.

Li Hao analyzed and discussed all of these with his coaching staff.

A professional esports player's career was already short.

The annual World Championship was a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most pro players.

Li Hao not only had to be responsible for himself but also for his teammates who trusted him.

This was his innate sense of responsibility.

Hearing Li Hao's analysis, his teammates nodded repeatedly.

Top laner Driver smiled and said, "Brother Hao, when Ssumday was young, he was a famous top-tier top laner alongside Smeb."

"He once shone brightly on the international stage."

"I'm actually looking forward to facing him."

Throughout the summer split, top laner Driver was the one who improved the fastest.

Under Li Hao's guidance, he had developed formidable strength.

At least in the PCS region, he barely had any rivals left.

Li Hao smiled and said, "If it were Ssumday in his prime, you might still fall short."

"But now?"

"As long as you don't make mistakes, believe me, you can totally crush him!"

Before Li Hao returned to Taiwan, Teacher Xu had told him:

Whether in traditional sports or esports, a player's confidence and mental state are extremely important.

A confident player who dares to fight, take risks, and make plays will sometimes unleash strength on the field that even they themselves couldn't imagine.

Therefore, Teacher Xu told Li Hao, before Worlds begins, you must first boost your teammates' confidence.

Li Hao wanted to do just that, and he did.

There was only one World Champion.

But on the path toward this goal, the growth of himself and his teammates could not be ignored.

Coach Chen Guangwei sat to the side, watching Li Hao and the players talk so openly, feeling a bit emotional.

This year's World Championship was also his first time participating as a coach, and he had zero experience.

Sometimes he felt that he was even more nervous and anxious than Li Hao, despite being nearly thirty years old himself.

Chen Guangwei couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried.

Li Hao was clearly only a sixteen-year-old teenager, so why did he feel more calm and composed than a nearly thirty-year-old man like himself?