On the other side, Yu Shao and his group also arrived at the grand hall hosting the Phoenix Cup opening ceremony. The hall was already packed to capacity with countless Go players gathered together.

"The Central Division has already arrived."

Zhuang Weisheng spotted Zhu Huai'an's group in the main hall at first glance and said, "Let's go over."

Soon, Yu Shao's Southern Division Go players walked over to Zhu Huai'an's group and gathered together.

"Teacher Zhuang Weisheng, long time no see."

Upon seeing Zhuang Weisheng arrive, Zhu Huai'an immediately greeted him.

"Long time no see. Haven't the other three divisions arrived yet?" Zhuang Weisheng nodded and asked.

"Not yet. I just messaged them—they should be here soon."

Zhu Huai'an smiled, then looked at Yu Shao and Su Yiming. After a moment's thought, he said with a smile, "National Champion Yu Shao, Grandmaster Su Yiming, I've always wanted to play against you both. But since we're in different divisions and haven't met in tournaments, the opportunity never arose. I hope we get the chance to compete during this World Championship."

"Likewise."

Yu Shao also smiled in response. "Not having had the opportunity to play against Go Sage Zhu Huai'an is truly a great regret."

The Go scenes of China, Japan, and Korea are particularly fiercely competitive, so it's rare for a single player to hold multiple titles simultaneously.

Previously, the only Chinese player holding multiple titles was Zhuang Weisheng, who simultaneously held the 10-dan and Tengen titles. After Zhuang Weisheng lost his titles to Zhu Huai'an, Zhu Huai'an became China's only player holding multiple titles.

However, to this day, neither Yu Shao nor Su Yiming had played a single game against Zhu Huai'an.

The group had only exchanged pleasantries for a short while when they noticed the participating players from the Northern Division, Western Division, and Eastern Division all walking over together, which surprised them somewhat.

"Teacher Kong Zi and the others have all arrived together."

Hearing this, Yu Shao turned to look and immediately spotted several familiar faces.

Though Kong Zi wore a black formal suit, he remained as unshaven and burly as ever, appearing exceptionally rugged as he strode boldly at the front. Li You, Qin Lang, and others followed behind Kong Zi.

Naturally, besides Kong Zi, Western Division's Zhang Dongchen, Li You, Fu Shunan, and Eastern Division's Jiang Changdong, Chang Yan, Chu Jingfeng, and others had all arrived together as well.

It could be said that aside from a few individual players who hadn't registered for this World Championship for various reasons, almost all of China's top Go players had now gathered in this hall.

"You came quite early."

Kong Zi quickly led the way to join Yu Shao's group. Glancing at Zhuang Weisheng, he said, "It's that you arrived too late. What, did you plan to come together?"

"No, we just happened to arrive one after another, so we came in together," Kong Zi shook his head and explained.

The arrival of Kong Zi and the others also drew attention from others in the hall. Many people began whispering among themselves, frequently glancing toward the Chinese team's location with extremely serious expressions, their eyes filled with apprehension.

Within this apprehension... there was even a trace of reverence!

The current Chinese team's lineup exerted absolutely maximum pressure on the vast majority of professional players from other countries.

Although players like Zheng Qin among them weren't particularly famous internationally and weren't widely recognized, the mere words "Chinese team" were enough to make them viewed as formidable opponents, even making people instinctively want to avoid them!

After all, when it came to qualifying for title tournaments, the title tournament qualifiers from certain countries and those from smaller nations could hardly be considered the same thing—the same went for the titles themselves!

This was precisely the value contained in being ranked among the world's top three in comprehensive playing strength!

"Zhuang Weisheng, Kong Zi, Jiang Changdong, Zhu Huai'an..."

In the hall, a young man with chestnut-colored curly hair gazed toward the Chinese team's direction, apparently feeling considerable pressure. "And of course, Yu Shao and Su Yiming, who have made such a splash this year."

Just then, another group of players entered the hall one after another and headed directly toward the Japanese players who had already arrived early.

Seeing this group's arrival, the curly-haired young man immediately became even more tense, taking deep breaths as if trying to alleviate his inner nervousness and pressure.

This group of players didn't appear particularly remarkable at first glance, but between their brows, they unconsciously revealed a sharp edge, as if carrying an inexplicable aura that made people feel intense pressure.

Wherever they passed, everyone couldn't help but look their way. Even when they walked by, several players standing relatively close to them—who weren't actually blocking their path—instinctively stepped back to make way.

"The Japanese team has all arrived too."

Zhuang Weisheng watched the assembled Japanese team and frowned slightly as he spoke.

"Tch. I thought there might be some new talents emerging to play against new opponents, but it's almost all familiar faces."

Kong Zi snorted disdainfully. "Aside from that kid Dongshan Xun, it seems Japanese Go doesn't have any noteworthy rising stars worth paying attention to."

Yu Shao glanced at Kong Zi upon hearing this, noticing that despite his words, Kong Zi had crossed his arms and subconsciously adopted a defensive posture.

Or rather, it wasn't just Kong Zi. After the Japanese team fully assembled, the atmosphere throughout the entire hall grew heavier. Everyone became more guarded, showing clear expressions of deep apprehension.

"Looks like it's mostly old friends here?"

Just then, a male voice suddenly sounded from the hall entrance, immediately drawing everyone's attention toward the doorway.

The next moment, a group of Korean players entered the hall together. The one who had spoken was a tall, slender young man with a pleasant smile among the crowd.

He appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old—relatively young among the many players in the hall—yet no one dared to underestimate him even slightly because of this. On the contrary, everyone treated him as if facing a formidable enemy.

Everyone recognized the young man's identity—

Kang Han-eun!

Over the past two years in World Championships, he had created the myth of remaining undefeated in international matches, earning the title "Korean Tiger." Compared to An Hongshi, Kang Han-eun's two-year undefeated record in foreign matches actually made people more apprehensive.

The young man's gaze swept across the hall, passing over countless people before finally settling on the Japanese team's direction. After pausing for a moment, his eyes scanned others before ultimately turning toward the Chinese team, then finally withdrawing his gaze.

"Teacher Zhuang Weisheng, Teacher Honinbo Shinwa, it's been such a long time."

The young man waved with a smile, greeting them both. "The two games I played against you left a deep impression on me. Perhaps we'll have another chance to compete this time."

Many people noticed the young man's gaze and heard his words, their expressions immediately turning unpleasant.

Although players like Zheng Qin among them weren't particularly famous internationally and weren't widely recognized, the mere words "Chinese team" were enough to make them be seen as formidable opponents, even making people instinctively want to avoid them!

Someone complained quietly. "In his view, only China and Japan matter? Doesn't he even consider America?"

"Although America has produced many excellent new players in recent years, their top players still lag behind China and Japan. This was evident during the previous competition matches—even without Yu Shao in the second competition match, they still couldn't have won."

Someone nearby responded solemnly. "And his words are also a warning to both China and Japan. Both Zhuang Weisheng and Honinbo Shinwa lost to him in their previous games."

"At that time, Kang Han-eun hadn't even won any titles yet—he was just a 9-dan. Only now has he finally won the 10-dan title."

"Of course, it's also true that we don't exist in his eyes because he feels we don't even warrant a warning."

Pausing here, he continued, "We'll see the truth on the board. If I meet him, I'll fight desperately to win. I'll use complex established patterns like heavy rain against him—losing wouldn't be a loss, but winning would be a huge gain."

Many people in the hall shared similar thoughts. Kang Han-eun seemed completely unaware of how many enemies his words had created for him—or perhaps he knew perfectly well but simply didn't care.

"Yes, I'm also looking forward to another game with 10-dan Kang Han-eun. I hope 10-dan Kang Han-eun doesn't get eliminated in internal matches before meeting me—that would be disappointing."

Hearing Kang Han-eun's words, Honinbo Shinwa responded with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Zhuang Weisheng looked somewhat surprised at Honinbo Shinwa because he had been about to say the same thing, but Honinbo Shinwa had beaten him to it, leaving him without a line.

Hearing this, the smile on Kang Han-eun's face froze. During the previous two World Championships, he had indeed remained undefeated in international matches, defeating even the strongest opponents he faced, which had truly shaken the Go world.

However, the so-called remaining undefeated in foreign matches yet ultimately failing to win the championship naturally meant he had lost in internal matches.

"Let's not start with such gunpowder-filled tension right away."

At this moment, An Hongshi, standing behind Kang Han-eun, smiled and mediated: "It's been two years without competitions. I'm very happy to finally have the chance to spar with everyone again."

As soon as An Hongshi spoke, everyone's attention immediately turned to him—even Yu Shao was no exception.

In this world, anyone who follows Go cannot avoid the name An Hongshi.

An Hongshi—more than twenty world championships. Those few words say enough. Beyond that, no additional description is needed for An Hongshi.

Two years ago, despite his ailing health, An Hongshi still swept through the Go world, winning two world championships that year. Later, due to health reasons, he remained quiet in the Go world for two years before finally making his comeback now.

Indeed, many people questioned whether An Hongshi, after two years of absence, could continue his past glory and whether he still possessed the same dominating power and control he had two years ago.

This Phoenix Cup World Championship might be An Hongshi's answer.

"Hmph."

Kang Han-eun snorted coldly. Perhaps giving face to An Hongshi, he didn't counter Honinbo Shinwa further, instead following other Korean players to the area reserved for them in the hall to wait for the opening ceremony.

As the time for the opening ceremony drew closer, groups of players continuously entered the hall in succession.

The German team, Hans...

The American team, Ma Dong, Shire...

In almost every group arriving in the hall, there was always one or two players whose names were practically household knowledge, instantly capturing the entire hall's attention and causing considerable commotion.

Perhaps certain countries' overall playing strength wasn't particularly strong, but their strongest players possessed the qualifications to compete for championships against super-top-tier players, each already being legends in their own right!

One, two, three...

Finally, when all participating players had arrived and no more players entered the hall, the previously noisy hall quieted down for some unknown reason.

Some players from smaller countries looked at the countless super-top-tier players packed densely throughout the hall. Standing within the hall, they felt profoundly insignificant.

Here, you could almost randomly reach out and grab a player whose name had appeared in introductory Go books like "Eighteen Lectures on Go."

In recent years, the best-selling Go book was "Dreaming of Divine Skill," which documented those famous games from modern times that made Go players worldwide bow in admiration. Each game was exquisitely crafted with brilliant tesujis and glorious brilliant moves, as if carved by divine axes.

Hence the book's title "Dreaming of Divine Skill"—because only in dreams could one encounter game records so filled with divine strategies.

Yet, of the players who created those famous games in the book, in eight out of ten games, both the winner and loser could actually be found right here in this hall!

"Zhuang Weisheng, An Hongshi, Honinbo Shinwa, Hans, Shire..."

Seeing player after player whose names each represented legendary stories, all appearing together before their eyes, they couldn't help but feel thoughts similar to Zheng Qin's!

So many immortals gathered together!

This made them feel endless pressure while simultaneously fueling ambitions that grew wildly in secret!

Heroes competing for supremacy—this was the Go world's most peak gathering!

Seeing one brilliant name after another, they certainly faced unprecedented pressure. Yet, this was also their opportunity to distinguish themselves and rise from obscurity!

In many smaller countries, even winning titles went unnoticed. The World Championship was their chance to announce their names to the world through their games!

Time passed minute by minute.

The entire hall grew increasingly quiet, everyone appearing preoccupied with their thoughts.

Facing the highest stage of the World Championship, even many title holders showed traces of nervousness that were difficult to conceal.

Finally, after about ten minutes or so, a man in his seventies with graying hair and a robust build slowly walked up to the large platform at the front of the hall under everyone's gaze.

Though Yu Shao was seeing this elder for the first time, he had seen him too many times in news reports and recognized him immediately—

Ma Zhengyu's direct superior, the general president of China's five major Go institutes, chairman of the Northern Go Academy, a player who forty years ago simultaneously held the three major titles of Go Sage, Tengen, and National Champion: Zhao Zhengyang.

Previously, Xu Zijin had mentioned the story of Japanese female player Kojima Ritsuko, 9-dan, competing for the first women's world championship. Kojima Ritsuko, not yielding to men, swept through countless top male players.

At that time, two roadblocks stood firmly in Kojima Ritsuko's path, and one of them was the elder before them now: Zhao Zhengyang.

The other roadblock was Korean player Sun Shangxun.

At that time, Zhao Zhengyang and Sun Shangxun were said to have competed fiercely, with even rumors of them getting into a fight after playing—though no one knew if it was true.

Of course, these were events from many, many years ago. According to Yu Shao's knowledge, the current Zhao Zhengyang probably truly couldn't even defeat Zheng Qin anymore.

Zhao Zhengyang's gaze swept around the hall, lingering particularly on the Chinese team's direction for a moment before finally withdrawing his gaze. In a deep voice, he said, "My name is Zhao Zhengyang. I believe everyone should know me."

"I welcome you all here to Phoenix Ancient Town for this Phoenix Cup World Championship!"