The Wager

Lin Yuan and the chubby Cohen had reached a stalemate.

After Lin Yuan used the Secret Technique Earth Tremor, his defense was too strong for Cohen's blood-red blades to break through. And even after using Single Shadow Step to increase his speed, Lin Yuan still couldn't threaten Cohen, who was protected by his nimble blood blades.

Lin Yuan had no intention of bringing out the Burning Universe Flame Wild Axe. His comprehension of the Law of Fire Origin was far greater than that of the Law of Earth Origin, so he decided to spare the chubby fellow's pride.

"Cohen."

Lin Yuan spoke as he swung his axe against the blood-red blades controlled by Cohen.

"Let's call it here. If we keep fighting, we won't be able to decide a winner anytime soon."

"Call it here? Didn't you comprehend other Origin Laws too? Why don't you use those moves?"

The chubby fellow asked in confusion.

"My main focus is the Law of Earth Origin. I've only just started learning the other lower laws. Even if I used those moves, they wouldn't change the situation, so I might as well not use them."

Lin Yuan told the chubby fellow.

The two of them then lowered their weapons and stopped sparring.

"Brother, with your current strength, you should have no trouble breaking into the top ten."

The chubby fellow smiled at Lin Yuan. He was just about to start chatting with him when he suddenly heard applause from below the platform.

Lin Yuan looked toward the sound and saw that two people had somehow appeared below the platform to watch.

"Well, if it isn't Cohen. You've come to the Arena to spar with someone too? Your strength has improved quite a bit over the past few decades." A bald man below the platform clapped as he spoke to Cohen.

The bald man was two meters tall and wore a purple battle robe. A few scales grew on his face.

Standing beside the bald man was a black-haired, five-meter-tall giant. He was so massive that he looked like a small wall below the platform.

The hulking man spoke, each word slow and deliberate:

"Hmph! Cohen, too weak. I could have crushed you a hundred years ago!"

The bald man turned his gaze to Lin Yuan beside Cohen, looked him over, and said:

"Oh? Is this the newcomer who joined the Holy Land a few years ago? This is my first time seeing you."

"I heard this newcomer entered the Core Layer as soon as he joined the Holy Land, and was immediately given the privileges of a top-ten member. What an extraordinary background. With such a powerful background, his strength must be..."

The bald man spoke in a mocking, sarcastic tone.

"Resk, this newcomer uses a Giant Axe just like you. How strong is he?"

The bald man asked the hulking man.

"Weak! Too weak!"

The hulking man's voice boomed.

Lin Yuan frowned, his impression of the two men already very poor.

"Don't mind them, Lin Yuan. The bald one is Barry, ranked second at Universe Level. The big idiot is Resk, ranked third. They're always like this, looking down on anyone weaker than them."

Cohen explained to Lin Yuan.

"Newcomer, what's your name? Since you're here, why not spar with us too?"

Barry raised his chin, his tone not the least bit polite.

"Sorry, I'm not interested."

After saying that, Lin Yuan gestured to Cohen, intending for them to leave together.

Barry gave Resk a signal, and the man's wall-like body blocked Lin Yuan and Cohen's way.

"Coward! Fight me!"

After saying this, Rex produced a Giant Axe and planted it upright in front of himself.

Lin Yuan looked at the axe and recognized it as the divine weapon combining Metal and Space, the Space-Shattering Gold-Splitting Axe.

"Boring. What would I get out of fighting you?"

Lin Yuan said impatiently.

"Get? We're ranked second and third. The fact that we're willing to fight you is already an honor. You still want something out of it?"

"Since you want something so badly, why not make it a wager? Let's bet one Hunyuan Unit."

"One Hunyuan Unit?"

Lin Yuan was speechless. That was far too little money for him.

Ordinarily, an average Universe Level cultivator couldn't possibly have that much wealth. One Hunyuan Unit was already a tenth of a World Lord's fortune.

But the Holy Land rewarded its top-ranked elite students. The first time someone broke into the top ten, they received a reward of ten Hunyuan Units. If they stayed in the top ten in the next Ranking Tournament, they received another Hunyuan Unit. As a result, the Holy Land Universe Level students ranked in the top ten were generally wealthier than ordinary World Lords.

Lin Yuan considered it for a moment, then replied:

"A wager is fine."

At Lin Yuan's words, Barry's mouth curled into a smile, as if that one Hunyuan Unit were already his.

"But—"

Lin Yuan continued:

"Not now. Let's make the wager on the Ranking Tournament ten years from now. How about it? Ten years isn't that long."

"Besides, betting one Hunyuan Unit is too little. It'd be boring. If we're betting, let's bet ten Hunyuan Units. The two of you can bet against me together. If I lose to both of you, I'll give each of you ten Hunyuan Units."

At Lin Yuan's words, the chubby Cohen beside him grew uneasy and immediately tried to talk him out of it:

"Brother, I know you're not short on money, but there's no need to bet against them. Their strength among the Holy Land's Universe Level students is second only to that freak, Brian. You should think this through."

Lin Yuan merely smiled at the chubby fellow's words, signaling that he needn't worry.

In truth, Lin Yuan didn't think he lacked the strength to fight these two. Even if he really lost, he wouldn't care about that amount of money.

But with how quickly he was growing, he'd be much more certain of victory if he fought them ten years from now. Besides, he was bound to fight them in the Ranking Tournament anyway, so he might as well set the wager for then.

"A wager at the Ranking Tournament? Ten Hunyuan Units?"

Barry folded his arms and weighed it over. It seemed ten Hunyuan Units was no small sum for them either.

But Barry had just watched Lin Yuan and Cohen fight. He thought this newcomer, who had joined the Holy Land only a few years ago, was far weaker than him and Resk. Even if Lin Yuan had a few tricks up his sleeve, Barry wasn't worried.

"Fine. Ten Hunyuan Units it is. Hahaha. I can wait ten years. Resk, what do you think?"

After a brief moment of thought, Barry agreed and turned to ask Resk.

"Bet! Ten years from now, fight!"

Resk's voice rang out like thunder.

"Good. We've both agreed. Newcomer, you seem to have forgotten to tell us your name."

"Lin Yuan."

Lin Yuan answered calmly.

"Lin Yuan. Good, I'll remember that. Don't go back on your word. I'll see you at the Ranking Tournament in ten years. Hahaha."

After speaking, Barry left the Holy Land Arena with Resk.

The chubby Cohen was very worried. He had also thought Lin Yuan was holding back during their fight, but those two were far stronger than him. He had no confidence at all in his "good brother."

Lin Yuan patted the chubby fellow on the back.

"Come on. I'll buy you a drink this time."

Lin Yuan led the chubby fellow toward the tavern, in high spirits. He felt that this wager had added a little fun to his repetitive daily training.