"Is two years considered slow?"

Hearing Yu Shao's words, Zheng Qin fell into deep contemplation about life.

Going from the title match main event to the world championships in just two years did seem remarkably fast.

How had he suddenly developed this illusion that taking two years to reach the world stage was slow?

"Two years is lightning fast! Don't project your personal standards onto everyone else."

It took Zheng Qin a while to process this before retorting through gritted teeth: "The requirement to participate in the world championships is having reached the title match main event within the past three years. How many players go from professional qualification to the title match main event in just two years?"

"......"

Yu Shao carefully reconsidered and realized he'd been too influenced by his past life experiences.

In his previous life, qualifying for world championships didn't depend on tournament results - you just needed to pass the selection trials. But in this world with so many Go players, the rules were different.

When he heard "two years to reach the world championships," he'd instinctively thought it slow. But in this world, two years was indeed as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

"By the way,"

Yu Shao suddenly thought of something and asked, "Didn't you say players need to have reached the title match main event within three years to qualify? But Kudou Yano hasn't competed in ten years?"

"Teacher Kudou Yano?"

Zheng Qin pondered before explaining: "Teacher Kudou is participating through a wild card - a special exception. Every world championship reserves a few wild card spots. With Teacher Kudou's past achievements, getting a wild card was effortless, wasn't it?"

Hearing "wild card," Yu Shao immediately understood.

In his past life, wild cards existed across many competitive fields - not just Go, but also esports, tennis, billiards, etc.

Wild cards were sometimes awarded to underdeveloped regions, or to players who failed to qualify through normal channels for various reasons - essentially an invitation to compete.

Of course, invitations couldn't be handed out casually. The recipient needed sufficient prestige to avoid controversy, and Kudou Yano certainly qualified.

That said, most players prestigious enough to receive this "tournament-invited" wild card could easily qualify through normal channels anyway.

Players without that prestige wouldn't get wild cards, making such participants exceptionally rare.

Before long, another man in his late twenties pushed open the analysis room door, scanned the room, lingered his gaze on Yu Shao for a few extra seconds, then entered.

"Cui Junzhe, 9-dan, you're here. We were just talking about you," someone greeted with a smile upon seeing the young man.

"You all arrived rather early,"

Cui Junzhe responded with a chuckle.

Yu Shao also regarded Cui Junzhe with curiosity.

Though he'd heard the name from title match discussions, as fellow Southern Go Academy graduates, they'd never met or played before.

He only knew Cui Junzhe had been an unremarkable 4-dan player, but recently shone brightly in the Kisung title matches with consecutive wins that qualified him for this world championship.

At that moment, Cui Junzhe also looked toward Yu Shao. Noticing Yu Shao observing him, he extended his hand and said smilingly: "National Champion Yu Shao, better to meet you in person than hear your reputation a hundred times. A pleasure to finally encounter you today."

"The pleasure is mine."

Yu Shao composed himself and shook Cui Junzhe's hand.

"Normally, title holders and all high-ranked players have faced each other, so there shouldn't be unfamiliar faces,"

Ma Zhengyu joked upon seeing this: "But Yu Shao, you not only haven't met everyone, you've never even played against Zhu Huai'an, Kong Zi, or Zhang Dongchen. This really is a first."

"Not just a first meeting, but two at once. Isn't Su Yiming the same? He's never played against Teacher Zhuang Weisheng either,"

Cui Junzhe withdrew his hand and continued: "It's certainly eye-opening for me. Last year I was 9-dan, this year still 9-dan, yet two young players who just turned pro last year have surpassed me in the blink of an eye. My feelings are... complicated."

"Hahahaha."

Ma Zhengyu laughed before asking: "How complicated? Any reflections? Feeling the pressure?"

"Somewhat."

Cui Junzhe shook his head and looked at Yu Shao with emotion: "But honestly, what I feel most is... fortunate."

These words made Yu Shao pause slightly, while others turned curious eyes toward Cui Junzhe.

"To be frank, I started paying attention to you during the Yingjiao Cup,"

Cui Junzhe said to Yu Shao with a smile. "Though you made waves earlier in the Torch Battle, I didn't take notice until your Yingjiao Cup match against Su Yiming - that game profoundly shocked me."

"A 9-dan player being enthralled by two low-ranked players' game sounds laughable, but that's the truth,"

Cui Junzhe continued with complex emotions: "After watching that game, my first thought was - I could never play like that. Whether as Black or White, I fell far short."

"I turned pro at thirteen, struggled through the ranks, and finally reached 9-dan at twenty-five. To others, this seems impressive, but I knew I'd likely plateau here."

"I've always hovered at the title match main event threshold - sometimes qualifying, sometimes not. The actual title matches remained beyond reach. No matter how hard I tried, advancing further seemed impossible."

"But after the Yingjiao Cup, everything changed."

Cui Junzhe smiled and continued: "After that tournament, I often imagined playing against you. Where would you attack? Where would you reinforce? Where would you sacrifice stones?"

"Back then, I thought about how to defeat you. I studied every one of your games, replaying them repeatedly to find ways to beat you when we eventually met."

"But later, my perspective shifted."

Cui Junzhe paused, then said: "Perhaps... I wanted to lose to you."

Lose?

These words made everyone exchange glances, even Yu Shao showing momentary surprise.

"I truly don't want to lose, but I also want to witness each move that leaves me in the dust,"

Cui Junzhe said with deep emotion. "To see the utterly unreachable, to have two decades of Go understanding overturned, to experience moves beyond description..."

"Though we've never met or played before today, in my mind, we've already played countless games."

"As I kept studying your game records, analyzing each move, I suddenly realized my own strength was growing daily. Opponents who once seemed formidable now felt manageable upon rematching."

"I found your style suited me exceptionally well - I grasped it far quicker than others. While others still struggled with moves like the 3-3 point, diagonal approach, or shoulder hit, I quickly understood and applied them in actual games."

"Thus, through consecutive wins, I finally broke through to the title match main event again. Now I even have hopes for the Kisung title itself... all thanks to you."

Cui Junzhe smiled: "I've long wanted to thank you. Today, I finally have that opportunity."

"Though I'm nearly a decade older, I can say you've become the second teacher in my Go career."

After Cui Junzhe's speech, the analysis room fell completely silent.

Ma Zhengyu stared at Cui Junzhe in stunned realization.

Some were 9-dan simply because that was the highest rank - the gap between certain 9-dan players could be unimaginably vast.

Cui Junzhe's past few years had indeed been unremarkable - a mediocre 9-dan at best.

But since last year's second half, Cui Junzhe had emerged like a dark horse, defeating numerous strong players in sudden enlightenment, even overwhelming Kong Zi with shocking ease, before storming into the title match main event as an undeniable presence.

While amazed by Cui Junzhe's performance this year, Ma Zhengyu never imagined it connected to Yu Shao.

Thinking carefully, it made sense - Cui Junzhe's recent game records all featured Yu Shao's signature moves, though with many players now adopting these, he hadn't noticed initially.

"Of course, that's not to say,"

Cui Junzhe smiled and continued to Yu Shao: "If we unfortunately meet at the world championships, I'll still fight with everything I have."

Hearing this, Yu Shao finally snapped back to attention. Looking at Cui Junzhe, he committed the name to memory before nodding solemnly: "Likewise."

In his past life, players like Cui Junzhe had existed.

The emergence of Go AI devastated many professionals, yet some previously average players adapted remarkably well to AI strategies.

They quickly learned and understood AI moves - some even experiencing career revivals despite advanced age.

Yu Shao never imagined that in this AI-less world, he'd unknowingly served a similar function as Go AI.

Cui Junzhe fell silent, waiting for the team to assemble. Others in the room also quieted unexpectedly, emotions churning.

Soon after, the door opened again with a creak as Su Yiming entered, drawing all eyes.

Su Yiming scanned the room, quickly spotted Yu Shao, and walked directly to stand beside him.

Everyone's gaze shifted between Su Yiming and Yu Shao, expressions growing more complex.

"Yu Shao, Su Yiming..."

Ma Zhengyu's eyes darted between the two as waves of realization crashed within him.

"This is their first world championship, first time stepping onto this stage that has inspired countless dreams while crushing just as many."

"China, Korea, Japan, America, Europe... the world's strongest players converge upon Phoenix City from every corner of the globe to compete for the championship."

"Though infamous for its brutality - shattering dreams, burying countless strong players' hopes, paved with geniuses' blood and tears..."

"Perhaps this is precisely where they belong."

Ma Zhengyu's gaze locked onto Yu Shao and Su Yiming as if trying to pierce through their futures.

"For this is the unvarnished battle of talent - where only the strongest survive!"

"The cruelest arena becomes their stage!"

As time passed, two or three more players entered the analysis room.

Puzzled by the heavy silence but influenced by the atmosphere, they too remained quiet.

Finally, around 10 AM, Ma Zhengyu collected himself, checked his watch, and announced: "Everyone's here. It's time to depart."

Taking a deep breath, Ma Zhengyu surveyed the room, lingering on Yu Shao, Su Yiming and Zheng Qin before speaking:

"You all know the Phoenix Cup format - single elimination until the final 64, then double elimination to determine the champion."

"Reaching this level means you're all battle-hardened professionals. An outsider like me shouldn't need to say this, but it must be said."

Ma Zhengyu said gravely: "Don't overthink because it's the world championships. Don't compete solely for results. Here, even the strongest can be eliminated in the first round!"

"Nor should you expect to outperform yourself. Losing to stronger opponents is normal - just play each move to your usual standard."

"Whether you win depends on your opponent, not yourself."

Ma Zhengyu paused, then continued: "At world championships, recovering from disadvantage is exceptionally difficult because everyone feels pressure, causing panic when situations turn unfavorable."

"So treat it like any other game. The worse the situation, the calmer you must remain. Go's possibilities are as vast as the universe - hope remains until the final move."

"First-time participants often feel they represent their country, creating immense pressure. This is unnecessary."

"The world championship isn't a team event. Here, you represent neither country nor anyone else - only yourself and your Go."

"This is where you show your Go to the world!"

"This tournament is called the Phoenix Cup. When it begins - that is when the phoenix cries!"

Here, Ma Zhengyu paused before concluding firmly: "Now, let's depart!"

PS: Some scrapped draft content wasn't fully deleted earlier... My writing habit of constant line breaks pushed old drafts so far down I didn't notice them. How embarrassing, lol.