A Rather Strange Challenge

Ning Tian: "..."

What?

Did they know each other before, or not?

Ignoring Ning Tian's whirlwind of thoughts, Di Qiu'er's gaze remained fixed on Liu Yuan, though she raised a finger and pointed toward the Soul Fighting Platform.

Below them, Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei were locked in a heated battle. Yet she suddenly asked,

"You're strong. Let's fight."

Those words stunned everyone present.

What the hell, sister?!

She had only just met him, and she was already challenging him?

Wasn't that a little strange?

If she really wanted to fight, shouldn't she at least exchange a few pleasantries first?

Yet Liu Yuan did not mind Di Qiu'er's bluntness in the slightest. If she was truly the Three-Eyed Golden Lion in human form, just as he had guessed, then this temperament was perfectly normal.

An intrigued smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Liu Yuan folded his arms across his chest.

"Why should I fight you?"

After pondering it, Di Qiu'er, whose expression remained as cold as ever, seemed to realize something. "You want stakes?"

For a moment, Liu Yuan fell silent.

What was she thinking? How had this somehow turned into him wanting stakes?

Before he could explain...

"Fine."

Di Qiu'er continued on her own, "We'll set stakes. If you win, I'll give you a Soul Bone."

Gasp—

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath.

What?!

How had it suddenly become a Soul Bone?

Did she think Soul Bones were cabbages growing by the roadside?

"Heh—"

Before anyone else could speak, Wang Dong'er let out a cold laugh. She showed Di Qiu'er no courtesy at all, saying bluntly, "If you want to brag, go somewhere else. Why are you acting all high and mighty around us? A Soul Bone, really..."

Di Qiu'er did not indulge her sarcasm either. Her icy gaze swept toward Wang Dong'er at once.

"I wasn't talking to you."

Wang Dong'er was equally proud and refused to back down in the slightest.

"My mouth is on my face. What business is it of yours?"

Their quarrel gradually annoyed the people around them. However, considering that these two New Students were both stunning beauties—and that they were constantly babbling nonsense about using "Soul Bones as stakes"—the student spectators moved away from this section of the stands so they could watch the soul fight without being disturbed.

In the blink of an eye,

only Liu Yuan's group and Ning Tian's group remained.

"Enough!" Before the two could argue even more fiercely, Liu Yuan interrupted them. "Look at the two of you. You've driven everyone away. Now it's just us sitting here. Isn't that awkward!?"

Wang Dong'er knew she was in the wrong.

With a disgruntled hum, she shut up as well.

Di Qiu'er, on the other hand, had no concept of being in the wrong. Instead, she continued staring at Liu Yuan. Though she said nothing, her body language clearly conveyed that she still meant what she had said before.

Noticing her clear, luminous eyes, utterly free of stray thoughts, Liu Yuan saw how persistent she was. After considering it for a moment, he asked once more,

"You really want to fight me that badly?"

"Mm."

There were no extra words, just that single sound.

"Fine!"

Now that he had made up his mind, there was no need to drag things out.

After all that commotion, Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei's soul fight was nearing its end anyway. There was no need to keep watching.

"Then let's register for the next soul fight."

"Alright!"

Di Qiu'er was a decisive person as well.

As soon as she left,

Ning Tian hurriedly followed with Wu Feng.

According to her investigation, Di Qiu'er's talent and Martial Soul quality were the highest in the entire Outer Courtyard. Moreover, even the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's intelligence network had failed to uncover her background. Since they were classmates as well... it was best to seize an advantage while being close to the source.

Of course, she did not forget her manners. Before leaving, she apologized to Liu Yuan's group of four on Di Qiu'er's behalf.

"You're really going to fight that inexplicable person?" Wang Dong'er frowned after they left.

For some reason, she always felt somewhat uncomfortable whenever she faced Di Qiu'er.

Liu Yuan nodded, then rose to his feet.

"I already agreed, so of course I'm going."

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao and the other two hurriedly followed.

Yet while they were on the way, the still-bewildered Huo Yuhao asked another question. "Brother, you and that Di Qiu'er..."

Liu Yuan chuckled, but only replied, "I wouldn't say we know each other. We merely have a certain connection."

Huo Yuhao and the others were speechless. "..."

If they did not know each other, then they did not know each other. What was this nonsense about a connection? Not only did it sound overly literary, it also made him sound like some cryptic riddler.

When they reached the registration area, they happened to run into Bei Bei, whose soul fight had just ended. He greeted them with a smile. "How was that soul fight just now? Was it exciting?"

Hehe... well...

Huo Yuhao and the other two gave awkward laughs, then looked at one another. After all, they had not really watched the fight.

But unlike them...

"It was thrilling!" Liu Yuan did not even blink as praise flowed from his mouth. "Lightning filled the air, dragon claws swept everywhere, and Xu Sanshi's Mystic Turtle was suppressed until it couldn't move. He could only retreat into his shell and defend..."

Huo Yuhao and the others: "..."

What an incredible talent for making things up!

"Hahaha... that's too much, too much." Bei Bei repeatedly waved his hands at the lavish praise.

After that, seeing that Liu Yuan's group seemed to be heading to the registration desk, Bei Bei asked a few simple questions before leading them over himself. At the same time, he placed an exquisite porcelain bottle in Liu Yuan's palm.

"There are three Mystic Water Pills inside."

Liu Yuan's heart leaped with joy.

He had not expected things to progress so quickly.

"Thank you for the trouble, Senior Bei."

"Ah, what trouble is that?"

Bei Bei waved his hand.

But when he saw Liu Yuan trying to take out money, he hurriedly stopped him. "Hey! Brother Liu, there's no need for money! Xu Sanshi and I are on good terms, so I get discounts when I buy things. These three Mystic Water Pills didn't cost much at all. Besides, you saved us in the Star Dou Forest before, and we haven't even thanked you properly yet. If you insist on paying, you'll be looking down on me."

Liu Yuan shook his head.

"No! One thing is one thing. I have to pay!"

Bei Bei refused. "Really, there's no need!"

"..."

After some back-and-forth, Liu Yuan saw that Bei Bei remained resolute and did not force the matter. "Then, Senior Bei, I'll accept them." As he spoke, he tucked the porcelain bottle away.

Only then did Bei Bei nod in satisfaction. "That's more like it. If I give them to you, just accept them."

After all, he had only given Xu Sanshi five thousand Gold Soul Coins. Overall, the loss was not significant to him.

Bei Bei: I really have to thank my brother for the help!

When they registered for the soul fight afterward, Bei Bei's presence as an acquaintance made the process quick and easy. Liu Yuan and Di Qiu'er were officially set as opponents.

However, ticket prices were not cheap, and Liu Yuan and Di Qiu'er were both New Students with no academy promotion.

As a result, few people paid attention to their soul fight.

Furthermore, after Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi's soul fight ended, everyone else had already dispersed. Hardly anyone remained in the entire viewing area.

Perfect.

That suited Liu Yuan just fine.