Xiao Xiao, Why Are You Wasting Your Breath on Him?

Crazy!

Absolutely crazy!!

The moment Jiang Yang finished speaking, everyone present fell silent.

Even Mu Jin was stunned by this so-called prize.

Whatever they wagered, they would have to pay up if they lost. If they beat Jiang Yang, they wouldn't take the prize for themselves, but simply leave it in the class.

That way,

not only could they ensure everyone took this practical training seriously, but they could also awaken the fighting spirit deep within them.

Besides,

if Jiang Yang really proved invincible and won plenty of prizes for the class,

then with all those prizes, Mu Jin could look forward to a dramatic improvement in her teaching from then on!

As the saying went, a generous reward would bring forth brave men.

With cultivation resources right there for the taking, who would slack off in their studies after this?

Everyone who could enter the Outer Court of Shrek Academy had more or less the same level of talent.

There were a few exceptional geniuses, of course, but they wouldn't make much difference.

They had simply gotten one of the earlier spots.

After all,

ordinary geniuses hadn't come here hoping to claim one of those top spots. They just wanted to pass the assessment safely and study in Shrek Academy's Outer Court.

In the end, all they hoped for was to break through to the Four-Ring Soul Ancestor level before turning sixteen and earn an impressive result like that.

Even if they fell a little short, reaching the Four-Ring Soul Ancestor level before twenty would be good enough.

Who would dare hope for first place or a spot in the top ten?

Those were the sorts of things only higher-tier geniuses dared to dream about, not ordinary ones.

That was precisely why Jiang Yang's plan had struck a nerve with everyone.

There were far more ordinary geniuses in the world than top-tier ones.

And the backbone he needed to unify the Douluo Continent was precisely this group of ordinary geniuses.

"Gasp—!"

"Doesn't Senior Brother's proposal mean that every person—or every team—is going to be making a huge wager?!"

"If I put up a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone and beat Senior Brother, wouldn't I get a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone in return?!"

"Wake up! By that logic, why not put up a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone and make Senior Brother pay you back with one?"

"Hahahahaha..."

As they talked, everyone inevitably burst out laughing.

Nobody thought Jiang Yang was a fool.

At first, some of them had doubted his claims that he wouldn't use his Martial Soul or Soul Skills. But when he laid out the rules,

they all started taking him seriously.

Still, however seriously they took it, how many people could resist such temptation?

If they beat Jiang Yang, they would gain more than just the prize they'd wagered.

They would also gain boundless prestige, and might even earn a teacher's favor and the academy's support.

Clearly,

not many people present could turn down Shrek Academy's support.

"Teacher thinks this plan is workable!"

"But remember, friendship comes first and competition second. I'll say this upfront: a bet is a bet, and the loser has to honor it."

"Anyone who doesn't want to compete can come register to withdraw now."

"But—"

"Once you've entered the competition, if you lose and try to go back on your word, the academy will deal with you according to its rules!"

"Is that clear?!"

Seeing that everyone was eager to give it a try but none dared to speak first, Mu Jin immediately called out.

"Clear!"

"Got it!!"

"..."

Everyone shouted their replies.

Soon, they began discussing how to form teams and coordinate once they were together.

Jiang Yang was finally free.

He found a big tree, leaned against it, and closed his eyes to rest, planning to adjust his state and continue meditating while they talked things over for the next hour or two.

But

before he could even begin to regulate his breathing, two figures walked up to him.

Who else could they be but Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao?

"Senior Brother—"

"Jiang Yang!"

When they reached him, Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong called out to him almost at the same time.

Jiang Yang opened his eyes, looking rather helpless.

"Senior Brother, are you angry?"

Xiao Xiao seemed frightened by Jiang Yang's gaze, and her voice carried a hint of apprehension.

"No. You're overthinking it, Xiao Xiao. He's just like that."

"He prefers people to get straight to the point."

"Let's just get down to business."

Wang Dong spoke casually, as if she were an old friend who'd known Jiang Yang for years. Or as if she were Jiang Yang's girlfriend, introducing her boyfriend to someone.

Xiao Xiao felt a little jealous at those words, but she really did hope Wang Dong was right.

"Actually, we came to ask you to spar with us."

Wang Dong was frank and straightforward.

"Isn't that what I'm doing right now?"

Jiang Yang fell silent for a moment before answering.

"Actually... Senior Brother, Wang Dong and I were hoping you'd spar with just the two of us."

Xiao Xiao spoke softly.

She still felt this wasn't quite right. After all, they were asking Jiang Yang to teach them how to deal with Jiang Yang in advance.

And there was a bet involved, too.

That was why she hadn't dared come at first. But after Wang Dong egged her on, she'd reluctantly agreed.

"I'm busy."

Jiang Yang rejected them without a second thought.

He was willing to stay and play along with everyone mainly to lay the groundwork for recruiting people a little later.

He hadn't come here to waste his time.

But

Wang Dong seemed to have expected this. She gave Xiao Xiao a look.

Xiao Xiao struggled for a moment, then said to Jiang Yang, "Senior Brother, I'm sorry for the trouble!"

"Xiao Xiao, why are you wasting your breath on him?"

"First Soul Skill—"

"Wing Blade!"

After saying that, Wang Dong immediately released her Martial Soul and charged at Jiang Yang with her Soul Skill.

"First Soul Skill—"

"Cauldron Suppression!"

Xiao Xiao had reacted a beat slower, but she quickly released her First Soul Skill as well.

The Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron was a control-and-defense type Martial Soul. Although its Soul Skill was only a yellow, hundred-year skill, it still had its merits.

In an instant,

Wang Dong's butterfly wings and the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron came at Jiang Yang from front and back, left and right, instantly cutting off his room to dodge.

Their coordination was a little rushed, but the attack was impressive enough to draw everyone's attention at once.

"What's going on?!"

"Everyone, look—"

"What the hell? Why are Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao going after Senior Brother Jiang?!"

"Wang Dong! Xiao Xiao! What are you doing?!"

As the crowd began to chatter, Mu Jin, who had already been keeping an eye on Jiang Yang, immediately turned and shouted at them.

But

it was clearly too late.

By then, Wang Dong's Wing Blade had already reached Jiang Yang.

Yet

just as it was about to graze the hem of Jiang Yang's clothes, and the Soul Suppressing Cauldron was about to come crashing down, Jiang Yang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. His gaze was calm and unwavering. Without leaving the tree trunk, he made two lightning-fast moves in the blink of an eye.