The Wager

Xuan Ziwen pushed open the classroom doors, and the chatter inside immediately fell silent. He nodded, then led Xue Xiao Ran into the classroom.

He neither introduced Xue Xiao Ran nor asked him to introduce himself. In his view, this student had merely developed a slight interest in the Soul Tool Department. Once he finished sitting in on this class and understood the gap between the Soul Tool Department and the Spirit Master Department, he would give up on continuing his studies.

However, the students seated in the classroom were clearly interested in Xue Xiao Ran. Those attending the Soul Tool Department's lessons were obviously all older than him, and even Nana, whom Xue Xiao Ran had fought the other day, was sitting in the classroom.

"Teacher Xuan, is this junior a new student here for class?"

A female student raised her hand and asked curiously.

"He is only here to sit in. If he can handle this kind of course, then he can become my student. Not yet."

Xuan Ziwen spoke in a rigid, matter-of-fact manner, then coughed to signal that class was about to begin.

Xue Xiao Ran swept his gaze around the classroom. Everyone wore neat white research uniforms, and he was looking for an empty seat.

Then he saw Nana Senior Sister, whom he had met only once that day, quietly beckon to him, indicating that there was an open seat beside her. He walked over in steady steps and sat next to Nana.

"Junior, why are you suddenly interested in the Soul Tool Department?"

Nana asked. Xuan Ziwen was currently moving Soul Tools onto the podium one by one, so there was still a little time for casual conversation before class began.

"One of my purposes for entering the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was to learn the crafting and theory of Soul Tools."

Xue Xiao Ran said calmly as he took a notebook from his ring and placed it on the desk.

"Eh, Junior, are you planning to cultivate as both a Spirit Master and a Soul Engineer? That's quite ambitious."

Nana patted Xue Xiao Ran on the shoulder and chuckled.

"Him? Cultivate both paths? Keep dreaming." An ill-timed voice cut in at just the right moment.

Here it came, the words of some insignificant lackey. Xue Xiao Ran mocked inwardly.

The speaker had a head of yellow hair. Seeing Xue Xiao Ran look over, he cast him a contemptuous glance.

"Wang Shaojie, we are all classmates. Was there any need to say that?"

Nana said in a low voice.

"Who's classmates with someone just sitting in on lessons? Talent isn't something everyone has. I'm only advising this junior to give up on the Soul Tool Department."

Wang Shaojie chuckled, his laughter full of disdain.

The followers sitting around him also began to laugh softly. The faint malice mixed into their laughter made Nana raise her brows.

"You..."

In her eyes, Wang Shaojie was bullying a new student again, all to display his tiresome pride.

"Then how about we make a wager?"

Xue Xiao Ran grabbed Nana Senior Sister, who was about to stand up, and turned his Jade Eyes toward Wang Shaojie.

Why were there still people on Douluo Continent who were so eager to court death with their tongues?

Before, there had been Dongfang Yan, whose declaration of "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river" had been slapped back into the inner hall by his father.

Now there was Wang Shaojie, launching a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree barrage of mockery with no blind spots.

Xue Xiao Ran had originally intended to spend each day at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy peacefully, but the appearances of Gu Tian Yuan and Wang Shaojie had ruined his original plans.

"Peasant, how do you want to wager? Or rather, can you afford to wager?"

Seeing Xuan Ziwen enter the Soul Tool storage room, Wang Shaojie stepped forward and leaned close to Xue Xiao Ran, a trace of coldness flashing through his eyes.

Everyone knew he was pursuing Nana, yet this junior had recklessly sat beside her. He would make an example of him.

A hint of amusement flashed through Xue Xiao Ran's eyes. Faced with such extreme provocation, he only found it interesting.

It seemed that, since being born into this world, this was the first time he had ever been provoked. It felt quite novel.

"Junior..." Seeing Xue Xiao Ran remain silent, Nana wondered whether Wang Shaojie had used Soul Power to pressure him into being unable to speak.

"Enough."

A purple-haired young man stood up and blocked Wang Shaojie's path. "We're all classmates, and class is about to begin. Don't embarrass our Soul Tool Department."

Here it came, this cliché scene of a hero saving the damsel. He probably wanted to leave a good impression on someone. Xue Xiao Ran mocked inwardly.

"Tch, boring."

Wang Shaojie seemed somewhat wary of the purple-haired youth. Seeing that Xue Xiao Ran did not dare respond, he snorted unhappily, returned to his seat, and dropped into it with a bang.

"Thanks, Zimu." Nana nodded in thanks.

Zimu nodded, flashed a gentlemanly smile, then returned to his seat.

Slap!

A soft sound rang out as Xue Xiao Ran slapped a ring onto the desk, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"This... Senior, of course we should wager on what you just said. I have a Level 5 Soul Tool here, one for storage and combat. This is my stake. What's yours?"

His clear voice spread through the classroom, and a curve lifted at Xue Xiao Ran's lips. Though he was much shorter than Wang Shaojie, everyone felt as though he were looking down on him.

When he did not act, he vanished into the crowd. But once he did, he would draw the gaze of the entire room.

"A Level 5 Soul Tool?" Greed flickered in Wang Shaojie's eyes. Though he possessed royal blood from the Sun Moon Empire, he did not bear the Xu surname and ultimately was not a member of the true royal line.

The funds and materials he received were limited. Level 5 Soul Tools often sold for hundreds of thousands at the Auction House, while a Level 5 Soul Tool with both storage and offensive functions would cost at least ten times as much.

He did not care how Xue Xiao Ran had acquired this Level 5 Soul Tool. Most of the students present had only just begun or had become First-rank or Second-rank Soul Engineers. To them, a Level 5 Soul Tool was simply far too valuable.

"Fine, let's wager." Wang Shaojie spat, then took out a necklace from his ring. It was set with a large pink-blue gemstone and looked extremely valuable.

"A Level 5 Soul Tool. What are we wagering on?"

His heart was bleeding slightly, but his greed was even stronger.

"If, after class, I answer every question Teacher Xuan asks correctly and remain as his student, I win. If I fail to answer the questions correctly, I lose. All the seniors present will serve as witnesses."

Xue Xiao Ran put the Level 5 Soul Tool back into his ring and smiled faintly.

"It's a deal."

Wang Shaojie snickered. Even he could barely understand Teacher Xuan's lessons. Could this brat, attending for the first time, really understand them?

Zimu was speechless. Why had an incident that had just been settled been ignited again?

But the wager had already been made, and there was nothing he could say.

At the front of the classroom, two girls sat together. The senior with long orange hair glanced back, then returned her attention to her notes.

"Junior, why did you do this? Aren't you just making trouble for yourself?"

Nana rolled her eyes at him and earnestly advised, "Wang Shaojie is a member of the royal family. Don't offend him lightly. Junior, you're far too impulsive."

Xue Xiao Ran's gaze returned to calm, and his expression settled as well, as though the pride that had bloomed for an instant earlier had been an illusion.

"Senior Sister is still too timid. Since when does cultivation place importance on status?" Xue Xiao Ran's Jade Eyes shifted to Nana's face as he said lightly, "This world does not let you achieve your goals simply by reasoning. What matters is still your fist."

Nana's gaze went unfocused. She found herself increasingly unable to see through this junior. Those were not words an eleven-year-old freshman who had just enrolled should be able to say.

"Oh, right. Senior Sister, what was your name again? I forgot."

Seeing Nana still lost in thought, Xue Xiao Ran suddenly said this.

"Nana. Remember it."

Nana came back to herself and shot Xue Xiao Ran an annoyed glare.

By then, Xuan Ziwen had already dragged all the equipment out of the storage room. He coughed and looked toward Xue Xiao Ran and Wang Shaojie.

Given his strength, he had naturally heard every word of their conversation without missing a thing.

Xue Xiao Ran, this new Class A student, was quite confident.

Xuan Ziwen smiled faintly.

If he really answered everything correctly, then the Soul Tool Department would have found a treasure this time.