"Damn! What a sucker!"
Nearby, Tang Wutong squeezed into the crowd with the others. Watching Ning Tian throw money around like water, she couldn't help grumbling.
On the way here, she'd already gotten the full story. Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei were both fifth-year students, and they were almost Soul Kings.
Even if she went up against Jiang Yi herself, she'd probably get beaten up. How could Jiang Yi possibly win?
"Brother Jiang Yi might not lose, though~"
Huo Yutong blinked, remembering their time in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Back when they were on their way to Shrek, Senior Bei Bei hadn't seemed like he could keep Jiang Yi down.
"I think so too..."
Xiao Xiao nodded in agreement.
Jiang Yi was her first friend at Shrek. She had to support him.
"No way! If he wins, I'll make him my big brother!"
Tang Wutong raised her chin, a hint of displeasure in her voice.
The two of them were her right-hand women. How could they side with someone else? She had to assert her big-sister authority!
So she led the others forward.
"I'm betting on Jiang Yi! One thousand!"
Tang Wutong slapped down a thousand.
Huo Yutong: ???
Xiao Xiao: ???
Seeing the two of them staring at her in confusion, Tang Wutong planted her hands on her hips, the corners of her mouth curling up smugly.
"You don't get it, do you?"
"If Jiang Yi wins, I make money. If he loses, I'm happy!"
Was there anything wrong with that? Not a thing!
You two should learn well and watch closely. This was big sister's wisdom!
On a raised platform in the stands, two slender figures leaned against the railing, with not another soul nearby.
One had blood-red hair, a voluptuous figure, and stunning looks. She radiated youthful energy, though there was a hint of flirtatiousness about her.
The other woman, with her black hair, was much quieter.
Dressed in a plain skirt, she leaned against the railing and gazed gently down below, like a secluded orchid quietly in bloom.
"Big Sister! What are you doing here?"
Ma Xiaotao turned to Zhang Lexuan, surprise showing on her pretty face.
As the Inner Academy's top student, how had Big Sister found the time to come to the Outer Academy and watch two Outer Academy students compete?
Could it be...
She blinked, and a little spark of gossip instantly flared to life in her heart.
"Nothing much. Mu En asked me to come check on Bei Bei. But what about you..."
Zhang Lexuan shook her head, then turned to Ma Xiaotao, her eyes settling on her with a hint of concern.
"Has your Evil Fire flared up again?"
"Not yet, but it's about to. I was planning to take that little turtle back and keep him around for a while..."
At the mention of it, Ma Xiaotao's face clouded over, and she sighed deeply.
"But Xu Sanshi's so weak. A few minutes in my Evil Fire, and he's practically a cooked turtle."
She draped herself over the railing, her gaze melancholy, her two "slimes" pressed tightly against the iron post.
If not for that damn Evil Fire, she would've broken through to Soul Sage long ago, surpassing Mu En to become Shrek's youngest Soul Sage.
But she didn't want to end up like her ancestor, sleeping around everywhere...
"Ugh! Senior Sister, wouldn't it be great if Ultimate Ice fell from the sky—or if I found an Immortal Herb?"
Ma Xiaotao tugged at her hair and groaned, letting her imagination run wild.
If Ultimate Ice really existed, she'd gladly become Sea God Pavilion Master and accept a divine inheritance for it!
"You know, you'd be better off finding yourself a suitable husband."
Zhang Lexuan gave her an amused look.
Ultimate Attributes didn't appear that easily. In Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year history, there had only been three.
And as for Immortal Herbs, the Tang Sect had long since fallen into decline. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye had disappeared ages ago, and no one knew where it was.
"Then forget it."
Ma Xiaotao rolled her eyes.
What kind of mediocrities were in the Inner Academy? She, Ma Xiaotao, would only marry someone with the potential to become a god, like her ancestor.
Zhang Lexuan smiled and said no more. Matters of the heart couldn't be rushed.
The stands were buzzing with excitement. Meanwhile, in the lounge on the other side...
"Sanshi, we can't let our guard down!"
"He left the academy a while ago, probably to get his third Soul Ring. He has at least two thousand-year Soul Beasts now."
Bei Bei looked at Xu Sanshi with a grave expression, his gaze utterly serious.
Just as Ancestor Xuan had said, once he'd made his decision, he had to see it through. He would prove himself.
Even when Jiang Yi had only had two rings, Bei Bei had already found him extremely difficult to deal with. Now he had another thousand-year Soul Beast.
"How do you know?"
Xu Sanshi raised an eyebrow and asked suspiciously.
"Uh... lately, I noticed Xiao Ya wasn't eating much, so I brought her some food. I overheard it by accident."
Bei Bei cleared his throat, looking a little embarrassed.
"Bei Bei, I don't even know what to say to you."
Xu Sanshi sighed, his voice tinged with helplessness and the bitter ache of shared misfortune.
If love could be mutual, who would willingly play the fool?
"We'll win! For Nannan—and for you!"
He raised his fist, eyes resolute. Seeing this, Bei Bei bumped his fist against Xu Sanshi's. This was the League of the Disappointed.
Brothers for life!!!
The instant their knuckles touched, a faint current shot through their palms, bringing a sharp, tingling jolt.
"Bei Bei, why are you still giving off sparks?"
Xu Sanshi sucked in a sharp breath and quickly pulled his hand back.
"Maybe I'm a little worked up?"
Bei Bei scratched his head, puzzled too.
When they'd clasped hands just now, perhaps that shared emotion had stirred a resonance in the blood coursing through his body.
"All right, Bei Bei. This great lord has come up with a brilliant plan. It'll guarantee we win..."
Xu Sanshi straightened his collar and flicked open his folding fan, an insidious smile appearing on his face.
Who didn't have a hidden trump card or two?
In the lounge across from them.
"Big Sis, you can relax now, right?"
Jiang Yi released his Soul Rings: two purple and one black. Their dazzling colors left the two women stunned.
"A ten-thousand-year Soul Ring?!"
Jiang Nannan murmured in disbelief.
Was this really the little brother who used to hide behind her? Half a year ago, Jiang Yi had only had one Yellow Soul Ring!
"Damn! It's black—!"
Tang Ya let out a startled cry, forgetting all about appearances as she rushed over, reaching out to touch the black Soul Ring.
Unfortunately, Soul Rings were illusory, and her hand passed straight through it.
But that deep, dark glow was reflected in her eyes all the same, and she leaped with excitement.
"Hahaha! Jiang Yi, I told you my eye for talent was right!"
Tang Ya laughed.
Even Tang San, their ancestor, hadn't managed to get a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring for his third.
She'd bet right!!!
"I love you so much!"
Tang Ya shrieked with delight, flinging her arms wide as she lunged at him.
"Hold it!"
Jiang Yi twisted aside and held back Tang Ya, who was getting a little too excited.
But Tang Ya clearly had no sense of the situation. She immediately leaned the other way and planted a kiss on the back of his hand.
Her lovestruck expression made Jiang Yi roll his eyes. For a moment, the lounge was filled with laughter.
Jiang Nannan stood to one side, watching the two of them play around. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, but as she smiled, a trace of melancholy gradually rose in her eyes.
Xiao Yi was getting farther and farther away from her.
But as his big sister... perhaps this was as close as she could get.
Before you continue