“Xiao Xi, look quickly, that’s Assam Grove, standing by the railing on the left side of the third floor. He seems to be looking at you.”

Shao Dingding’s restrained voice sounded in her ear.

Mingxi casually glanced over.

The air in the spacious theater was filled with a special fragrance released by a Transcendent creature called Cold Lily of the Valley.

Tonight, Saint Shield City’s most famous theater troupe, the Red House, specifically rehearsed the classical play “Star Dome God of War” for all Starsea Cup contestants and distinguished guests from various countries.

All contestants and their private teams were invited.

Mingxi wasn't very interested in plays, but holding to the principle of not loving but respecting, Mingxi still came.

Accompanying her, besides Shao Dingding and her master, and Shao Dingding and her partner, were Wang Rui, Xie An Yan, and Lu Yun Shen.

That is, apart from Yuan Hongye, most of them were young people.

Yuan Hongye herself was a play enthusiast, while the others, including Shao Dingding, simply came to join the fun.

The curtain had already risen.

The actors were portraying the struggle between heroes and giant beasts, with light and shadow intertwining, grand and magnificent.

Hearing Shao Dingding’s words, Mingxi looked up and met the gaze of a wild man, burly like a giant bear.

Assam Grove, one of the contestants in Group C1 of the group stage, and her opponent for tomorrow's doubles match.

One of Luta Star’s top Beast Tamers, and the current leader of the “Starfall” battle group.

Luta Star is known for its harsh environment and fierce folk customs, and Beast Tamers who reach the top there are invariably battle-hardened monsters.

He had a nickname, “The Bear-like Man.”

It referred not only to his burly, bear-like physique, nearly 2.3 meters tall with bulging muscles, but also to his savage, brutal, and extremely oppressive combat style, like an ancient fierce beast, and his signature main battle pets—the Earth-Rending Bear and the Frost Roar Giant Bear.

He was a three-time champion of Luta Star’s Furnace League, a league known for its no-holds-barred rules and high casualty rate.

He once ventured alone into Luta Star’s ten-star high-risk secret realm, “Howling Fissure,” and killed the Venerable-level Transcendent creature, the Geomantic Winged Worm, that resided there.

At the same time, he was also one of the top eight in the previous Starsea Cup, narrowly losing to the previous runner-up, Ji Lan.

He is also one of the favorites to win this year’s competition.

The Starfall Battle Group he leads is equivalent to a combination of Green Field Star’s exploration teams and marauder groups, known for undertaking ultra-high difficulty and ultra-high-risk missions.

It is said that the mission completion rate is as high as 100%, but the casualty rate is also shockingly high.

Among the information Shen Linhua and his team gathered, there was also an analysis of his personality.

“Outwardly rugged and straightforward, he enjoys hearty laughter, drinking, and reveling in cheers. In reality, he is meticulous and deeply understands psychological warfare, adept at using all means to undermine his opponent’s morale, especially fond of destroying enemies mentally and willfully, and appreciating the expressions of his opponents collapsing.

He believes that “victory is everything” and will stop at nothing.

He gives special attention to opponents he identifies, and this attention often means devastating blows.

He advocates absolute power crushing and violent frontal assaults.

His pets often crush opponents’ defenses and formations with overwhelming force, and the battle scenes are extremely violent and bloody.

His tactics seem simple and direct, but in reality, they contain precise control over timing and strength, like a giant bear’s seemingly clumsy pounce, which is actually fast, accurate, and ruthless.”

In this Starsea Cup, he only signed up for the doubles match, and the combined skill of his two giant bear pets, “Earthquake Starfall,” is even more renowned.

“It seems I’ve been targeted by him.”

Mingxi could feel the burning and sharp gaze of the other party, the look of a hunter catching prey.

Her gaze shifted to the stage.

“How is it? Was he looking at you, and his expression was fierce, a bit scary?”

Shao Dingding Shrink her neck.

Mingxi nodded: “He has a habit of hunting opponents off-stage, but most of the time it’s just some harmless, mind-game tactics to interfere with the players’ mentality. Now that he’s staring at me, he’s probably thinking about how to deal with me, right?”

“What? This person looks like a big, brainless bear, but his methods are actually so despicable?”

Shao Dingding was surprised.

Mingxi chuckled, “It doesn’t matter if it’s despicable or not. In the professional player circle, off-stage interference is also a tactic, testing a player’s temperament and methods.”

“Sigh, indeed, those who play tactics have dirty hearts.”

Mingxi raised an eyebrow, feeling subtly criticized.

“You two little ones, if you’re watching a play, watch the play. Chatting is disrespectful to the actors.”

Yuan Hongye, sitting on Shao Dingding’s other side, naturally heard the two Xiao Guniang's whispers.

The two immediately sat up straight, making a zipping motion over their lips, as if to say they’d be good.

But they didn't stay quiet for long.

Shao Dingding furtively leaned into Mingxi’s ear again, “Xiao Xi, have you noticed that the actress playing Flara God of War up there looks a bit like you?”

Mingxi had also noticed that Flara, and nodded, “She does look a bit similar.”

However, she didn't take it to heart.

People look alike.

Besides, in this day and ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) age, changing one’s appearance is easier than ever.

“Clap, clap, clap!”

“Good!”

Unbeknownst to them, the performance had ended.

The audience began the segment where those with money contributed money, and those without contributed their presence.

The actors lined up in several rows to take their bows.

“Player Lorraine lights 12 flower lanterns for Miss Hua Ruyu.”

“Player Hilina gifts 7 flower lanterns for Lulu Eyebrow Frog.”

“Mysterious guest lights 2 flower lanterns for Shuke Bao.”

“...”

This was the Red House Theater Troupe’s 'lighting flower lanterns' segment, where guests present would send flower lanterns to the actors who had just finished their stage performance. The guest who lit the most flower lanterns (the 'Lantern Master') could designate the actor who received the most flower lanterns (the 'Flower Master') to do one thing for him/her.

Of course, this matter could not violate public order and morals, nor could it be illegal.

Generally, it was either having dinner with the actor or dancing a song; no overly outrageous requests would be made.

Mingxi followed the crowd and lit 6 flower lanterns for a Transcendent creature actor, considering it a visit.

What surprised Mingxi, yet didn't surprise her, was that tonight’s Flower Master was that actress who looked sixty percent like her.

And the Lantern Master was Assam Grove.

What a damn coincidence, wasn't it?

“...Congratulations to Hua Ruyu for becoming tonight’s Best Actress, our Flower Master!”

“And thanks to our Best Audience, Player Assam Grove, you can designate our Hua Ruyu to do one thing for you, of course—”

Assam’s massive body stood up under the spotlight, moving like a mountain, with his characteristic, seemingly hearty but actually chilling, loud laugh on his face.

“Hahahaha! Thank you all for your courtesy!”

Assam’s voice was booming, overpowering the clamor of the entire venue.

His gaze was like a torch, sweeping across the entire audience, finally landing precisely on the corner where Mingxi was.

He grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and pointed at the actress named Hua Ruyu.

“Then I ask this beautiful lady to perform a scene for me and for all the audience present, may she?”

Hua Ruyu bowed, “It is my honor.”