Since That's the Case, Why Not Raise the Stakes a Little More?

As Dai Huabin spoke those deeply mocking words, Huo Yuhao's right hand inevitably tightened.

[Sky Dream Ice Silkworm: Little Yuhao, don't be downhearted. I've got your back! We're just using him! He'll have a hard time when the moment comes!]

[Huo Yuhao: Brother Sky Dream, I understand! I'll get myself back in the right state!]

[Sky Dream Ice Silkworm: Good, good. Once you get those pills, you'll be able to reach level twenty very quickly. As soon as you do, I guarantee I'll give you an all-around upgrade.]

[Huo Yuhao: Thank you, Brother Sky Dream!]

"What, cat got your tongue? Tsk..."

Dai Huabin shoved Huo Yuhao aside and turned to find somewhere else to go.

However.

Just then, Huo Yuhao's eyes suddenly lit up, and markings like the Succubus Mark covered his forehead.

"It's because I have a spiritual-type Martial Soul!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Yuhao immediately unleashed his first Soul Skill, Spiritual Sharing.

The next moment.

Dai Huabin, who had already started walking away, abruptly faltered and stopped.

"Interesting."

A moment later.

After seeing Jiang Yang make his move through this Soul Skill, Dai Huabin's interest was piqued.

"Tell me, how do we work together?"

As Dai Huabin spoke,

the two girls who had been standing beside him also cast puzzled looks at Huo Yuhao.

One had black hair and a figure much like a civet cat.

The other had long pink hair and a pair of long legs.

"Kid, let Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie try it too."

Dai Huabin folded his arms and sneered, giving Huo Yuhao a look.

That feeling, that tone, reminded Huo Yuhao of the days when he'd lived in the White Tiger Duke Mansion with his mother as a child.

His anger flared up a little more.

But to suppress Jiang Yang and gain more cultivation resources, he endured it.

His ability to endure so much was thanks to his childhood experiences in the White Tiger Duke Mansion.

His mother was, after all, merely an outside woman who didn't even have the status of a concubine, yet she'd insisted on keeping him in the White Tiger Duke Mansion—a place that valued bloodline and status above all else.

The suffering he and his mother had endured was only too easy to imagine.

You couldn't say they'd brought it all upon themselves; you could only say they'd had it coming.

When someone chose to debase themselves, no one could save them.

Still.

Without those experiences, Huo Yuhao might not have been able to grit his teeth and endure it after God King Tang had treated him so abominably, then become his dog.

Most people couldn't have done that.

If he could endure being treated that way by God King Tang, then working with Dai Huabin now was only natural.

"Thirty-first match—"

"The challengers are Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Yajie. The stakes are three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones suited to the winners, and two Level Five Fixed Soul Tools..."

"Wait, Teacher!"

Before Mu Jin could finish, Dai Huabin suddenly smiled and walked over to her.

Anyone could tell that there was something wrong with that smile.

"Teacher, we've decided to add a little more to the stakes—"

"Ten Mystic Water Pills, one Soul Ascension Pill, and one million Gold Soul Coins."

"This..."

As soon as Dai Huabin finished speaking,

even Mu Jin found it a little outrageous.

These stakes clearly exceeded what Jiang Yang had defined as the stakes.

Never mind the boys and girls in the class, most of whom were One-Ring Soul Masters; even she, their teacher, was tempted.

She could naturally see the deeper calculation behind Dai Huabin's move.

If they could beat Jiang Yang, that would be best. They'd immediately claim all these rewards and earn a great reputation, perhaps even attracting the Inner Court's attention.

If they lost, the loss wouldn't be too great, since they could later get back much of it—or even all of it—through their ranking in the Freshman Assessment or other opportunities to distinguish themselves.

But that would go against the very reason she'd invited Jiang Yang to help in the first place.

Mu Jin certainly wouldn't allow that to happen.

"Dai Huabin, I know you're the young master of the White Tiger Duke's family and aren't lacking in cultivation resources, but these stakes clearly go far beyond what was agreed upon."

"Please take them back. Don't use this as an excuse to cause trouble."

"If something really happens, even with the White Tiger Duke himself present, this won't be easy to resolve."

Mu Jin spoke sternly.

Putting personal likes and dislikes aside, as a teacher, she naturally had to protect her students' interests and take responsibility for educating them.

She had to stop stakes like this, which clearly carried an undercurrent of scheming.

"Sorry, Teacher. I didn't think it through."

"If Senior Brother thinks the stakes are too high, then forget it. Just charge us thirty Gold Soul Coins."

Dai Huabin smiled mockingly.

He waved his hand.

As he spoke, he looked around at everyone.

The implication was obvious: wasn't Jiang Yang going back on his word because he couldn't afford to gamble?

Everyone could see that.

Still.

In most people's eyes, the legitimate son of the White Tiger Duke was hardly beneath the Outer Court Senior Brother of Shrek Academy.

At least to them, both stood at heights they could never hope to reach.

Therefore.

Even though they knew Dai Huabin's words were meant to provoke Jiang Yang, and even though they knew Jiang Yang's original intention was to help them perform better in the Freshman Assessment, they still didn't dare speak up for him.

"Hey! Dai Huabin, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"Jiang Yang's willing to spend money and effort to coach all of us without asking for anything in return, and you're pulling this scheming crap?"

"Short on money? Then go beg for it!"

Just then.

Wang Dong couldn't stand it anymore and launched straight into a tirade.

After spending all this time with Jiang Yang, her ability to insult people had improved by leaps and bounds.

She'd even picked up a bit of Jiang Yang's style.

"Exactly, exactly!"

Xiao Xiao chimed in at once.

She couldn't come up with insults that were that sharp.

But she could certainly say, "Same here."

"You—"

"Wang Dong, don't judge a gentleman by the standards of a petty man. I've already withdrawn the offer. What more do you want?"

"How was I supposed to know Senior Brother couldn't even come up with these few cultivation resources?"

Dai Huabin, who'd almost flared up on reflex, quickly caught himself.

He not only shot back at Wang Dong but also raised himself up in the process.

As he spoke, he didn't forget to put Jiang Yang down.

That made Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao even angrier.

"Exactly. Our Young Master Dai has been living in luxury since he was little. It's only a few cultivation resources."

"Who knew you couldn't afford them?"

"Besides, Young Master Dai already said that if you really don't have the money, you can just change it to thirty Gold Soul Coins. Surely the Outer Court Senior Brother wouldn't be afraid to accept a wager of thirty Gold Soul Coins?"

"Wang Dong, everyone knows you and Senior Brother have shared a bed. Of course you'd take his side."

Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie stepped forward at once to speak for Dai Huabin.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense in an instant.

"The White Tiger Duke Mansion really is loaded. Since that's the case, why not raise the stakes a little more?"