The Bet Is Off? I Won't Agree!

Teacher Mu Jin stood at the front of the crowd, her hands trembling slightly. Her eyes blazed with unprecedented fervor as she stared fixedly at the golden figure in the arena, swaying on his feet yet still standing tall.

Genius! No, a monster! An unprecedented monster! Mu Jin roared inwardly. A Soul Grandmaster injuring a Soul Emperor! Unheard of! Even more remarkable are his temperament, courage, and tactics!

I have to poach him! Whatever it takes! With him, what does first place in the Freshman Assessment even matter? He could be a core member of the inner court in the future, or even join the Sea God Pavilion...

She had already begun plotting how to report this to the academy's higher-ups, and how to use Zhou Yi's scandal—violating the rules by using her sixth Soul Skill to attack a student, and even losing to one—to transfer Su Chen to her class with a clear conscience.

Meanwhile, the person in the arena who found this reality hardest to accept was undoubtedly Zhou Yi herself.

She looked down at the wounds on her body, felt the searing pain and the chaos in her Soul Power, and went completely blank.

She'd lost?

I... a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, a veteran teacher of Shrek Outer Court, had actually... been injured in full view of everyone by a Soul Grandmaster freshman?

And I'd used my fifth and sixth Soul Skills, only to have them broken head-on by my opponent and end up injured?

This wasn't merely a loss. It was humiliation! Utter disgrace! A stain on her teaching career that she would never be able to wash away!

"No... No way... This can't be..." Zhou Yi muttered, dazed. Her old face twisted like a demon's, consumed by the most extreme shame, pain, and disbelief.

But then, that torrent of negative emotions swiftly transformed into a murderous intent so overwhelming it robbed her of reason!

Apologize? In front of all these people, apologize to the "useless" students in her eyes? Admit she'd lost to a Soul Grandmaster?

No! Never! That would be worse than killing her!

If she apologized, Zhou Yi would become a laughingstock throughout Shrek Academy, with nowhere left to stand!

She had to... She had to destroy him before he could say anything! As long as he was dead or crippled, who would believe that a dead man or a cripple had managed to injure her? Then she could say whatever she wanted! Yes! That was it!

Mad thoughts sprouted like poisonous weeds in Zhou Yi's heart. She suddenly lifted her head, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Su Chen, whose Soul Power was depleted. A vicious smile twisted across her face as blood trickled from her wounds, making her look like a demon.

"You... little... bastard..." She spoke one word at a time, her voice hoarse and venomous, like a demon crawling out of hell. Ignoring the pain of her wounds and the emptiness of her Soul Power, she forced the remnants of her crimson Soul Power to burn at full force. A faint blood-red glow even began to appear!

"I'll... kill you!!!"

With a hysterical roar, Zhou Yi lunged like a ferocious beast returning to life, her gleaming dragon claws in hand. She shot toward Su Chen, who was close at hand, drained of Soul Power, and almost unable to move!

That strike gathered all her hatred, murderous intent, and remaining strength. She moved with blinding speed, determined to tear Su Chen to pieces!

"Su Chen! Watch out!" Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao shrieked, their voices instantly breaking with despair.

Mu Jin's expression also changed drastically. "Zhou Yi, how dare you!" she shouted, rushing forward to intercept her.

But it was too late!

The speed of Zhou Yi's desperate strike far surpassed any of her previous attacks! And she was too close to Su Chen! Mu Jin was dozens of meters away and couldn't possibly reach them in time!

The gleaming dragon claws, bearing the merciless resolve of someone willing to die alongside her target, were about to strike Su Chen, who had no way to defend himself...

The hearts of everyone watching sank to the bottom.

Su Chen watched the vicious dragon claws rapidly enlarging in his pupils and Zhou Yi's crazed, bloodthirsty face. Deep in his golden eyes, a cold glint flashed.

His Soul Power really was almost exhausted, and the strain had left his body trembling with weakness.

But...

He slowly raised his right hand. A tiny, almost imperceptible point of golden light began to quietly gather in his palm.

Zhou Yi... You brought this on yourself.

At that critical moment—

"Stop!!!"

A deep, dignified voice, brimming with unquestionable authority, exploded across the training grounds like thunder!

The voice seemed to carry a peculiar pulse of Soul Power that struck directly at the soul. Zhou Yi's crazed charge abruptly halted, as though she had collided with an invisible wall. Her momentum suddenly slowed, and shock and pain flashed across her vicious face.

Who?!

Furious, she was about to ignore everything and finish the deadly strike, but then the corner of her eye caught sight of where the voice had come from. Her overwhelming rage was doused like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing most of it and leaving panic... and unwillingness in its place.

Su Chen lowered his right hand and looked toward the voice as well.

The crowd parted on its own, opening a path. A tall, stern-looking middle-aged man walked steadily into the center of the training grounds. He appeared to be about forty, clean-shaven, his face seeming born incapable of a smile. Sternness was practically etched into his bones. The most eye-catching thing about him was the badge on his chest, which clearly bore his name and title—

Outer Court Dean, Du Weilun.

A Soul Douluo, and one of the true upper-level administrators of the outer court.

Du Weilun had been drawn over by the unusually intense fluctuations of Soul Power and the tremendous commotion coming from the training grounds. He had assumed some teacher was conducting a practical lesson. But when he came closer, what he saw was Zhou Yi trying to kill a freshman! Even more shocking were the wings spread behind the student and his bizarre Soul Ring Configuration...

The moment Zhou Yi was stopped, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao raced over to Su Chen and shielded him from either side.

"Su Chen! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Wang Dong asked anxiously, her pinkish-blue eyes filled with fear and concern as she looked him up and down.

Xiao Xiao nodded vigorously too, her blue-green eyes misty with tears. "Su Chen, you're so pale... Did you use up all your Soul Power?"

Su Chen gave them a slight shake of his head to show he was all right. His eyes remained fixed on Du Weilun as he approached.

Du Weilun's gaze first swept over the ruined training grounds—the scorched, cratered earth, the torn-up grass, the scraps of shredded clothing, and the faint smell of blood. The corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. The destruction was so extensive that anyone could believe two Soul Emperors had been fighting.

Then his gaze fell on Su Chen. It lingered for several seconds, especially on his six pure white, sacred angel wings, which shimmered with a pale golden glow, and on his two Soul Rings, one purple and one gold, that defied common sense. Even with the experience and composure of a Soul Douluo, he couldn't stop a deep shock and amazement from flashing in his eyes.

The Six-Winged Angel... had reappeared on the continent? And in a child so young, with such terrifying talent?

He quickly reined in his emotions and resumed his usual impassive, stern expression. He turned toward Zhou Yi, who was still frozen in a lunging position, her expression shifting back and forth. His voice was calm, yet carried undeniable authority.

"That's enough, Zhou Yi."

Du Weilun's voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard it clearly. It carried the oppressive weight of someone in a position of authority.

"As a teacher, challenging a student to a bet was already inappropriate. Now that you've lost, you can't accept it and actually try to kill a student in front of everyone?" He paused, his tone growing more severe. "You're bullying someone weaker than you, and attempting to harm a student. You've seriously violated academy regulations and damaged the academy's reputation."

Zhou Yi's body shuddered. She opened her mouth to explain, but under Du Weilun's icy gaze, the words caught in her throat. Her face turned first red, then white.

Du Weilun didn't look at her again. He turned to Su Chen, his tone softening slightly, though it still held the detachment of official business. "You're Su Chen, correct? I've gotten a general understanding of what happened. Don't worry. The academy will investigate this thoroughly and give you, as well as the students caught up in this, a fair resolution."

Then he changed tack and looked at Su Chen, speaking as if making a suggestion. "However, could you and Teacher Zhou Yi simply call off that bet? After all, she is still a teacher at the academy. Having her honor that kind of bet in public would damage both her dignity and the academy's reputation."

Hearing Du Weilun, quite a few students thought the same thing: This is crazy. Are all the teachers at Shrek Academy a little off their rockers? Zhou Yi was overbearing and had tried to kill someone, and Du Weilun showed up only to smooth things over?

Su Chen looked at Du Weilun. His face showed no relief or gratitude at being saved. Instead, his golden eyes grew even sharper, like a drawn sword.

He gently pushed Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao aside and stepped forward. Though his face was pale from his depleted Soul Power, he still stood straight as a pine. His voice rang out clearly, each word striking like a hammer.

"Dean Du, I'd like to ask you something—"

His gaze swept between Du Weilun and Zhou Yi. His tone was calm, yet carried immense pressure.

"Can Teacher Zhou Yi's actions just now really be brushed aside with a casual 'bullying someone weaker and attempting to harm them'? If you hadn't shown up in time, I might already be a corpse!"

"Or is it the view of Shrek Academy's leadership that as long as a student 'isn't dead,' a teacher's actions can be tolerated and go unpunished?"

Du Weilun's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He hadn't expected this freshman to be so sharp-tongued, or to speak with such force.

Su Chen didn't give him time to think. He continued:

"Second, Zhou Yi and I made that bet in front of everyone. She lost, so she should honor her promise!"

"What gives you the right to cancel the bet with a single word? Is the greatest academy on the continent, Shrek, also a place where people 'dare to make promises but not keep them' and 'renege when they lose'?!"

His words rang out with force and impeccable logic, completely dismantling Du Weilun's attempt to smooth things over. They also struck a chord with the students watching, and many of them nodded to themselves.

Du Weilun was momentarily at a loss for words. Zhou Yi was undeniably in the wrong, and with the incident this public and so many witnesses, it would be difficult to bury it completely. But according to Su Chen's bet, Zhou Yi would have to apologize publicly... Especially to freshmen like Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao. Zhou Yi would sooner die than comply, and Fan Yu would be a problem too.

He considered it for a few seconds, trying to come up with a compromise. "Su Chen, I understand how you feel. How about this? The academy will severely punish Teacher Zhou Yi and compensate you appropriately. What do you say..."

"Compensate me?" Su Chen interrupted him, the corner of his mouth curling in a cold smile. "Fine. The 'resolution' and 'compensation' I'll accept are—"

He held up two fingers and stated clearly:

"First, dismiss Zhou Yi from Shrek Academy's teaching staff immediately!"

"Second, the academy must compensate me with three Soul Ascension Pills for the distress and unprovoked attack I suffered."

Soul Ascension Pills! They could directly increase a Soul Master's Soul Power Level, and he was asking for three of them right off the bat!

"This..." Du Weilun's brows knitted into a deep frown.

Dismiss Zhou Yi? That was impossible! For one thing, her husband, Fan Yu, was a key figure in the Soul Guidance Department, indispensable to it. And while Zhou Yi had been deeply unpopular during her years at Shrek, she had indeed "cultivated" some promising students and had her own warped logic. Some of the academy's higher-ups even thought there was some merit to her "high-pressure screening." Dismissing her would cause too many complications.

As for three Soul Ascension Pills... They were precious, but compared to the turmoil caused by dismissing a veteran teacher, they were a minor matter.

Du Weilun was silent for quite a while, apparently weighing the pros and cons. Finally, as if he had made a difficult decision, he looked up at Su Chen and spread his hands with a helpless expression.

"Su Chen, look... they're not... dead, are they?"

He paused, trying to make his tone sound more sincere. "I mean, since the worst hasn't happened and Teacher Zhou Yi was stopped in time, could we... avoid making things so unpleasant? After all, we may all have to keep living and working together at the academy."

"..."

Su Chen fell silent.

It wasn't that he had no words. He was simply "shocked" by Du Weilun's logic.

So, in Dean Du's eyes, as long as nobody was dead, even a premeditated attempted murder could be negotiated over? The culprit could be let off lightly? Did it take a death, with a corpse lying right in front of him, before he considered it "a problem"?

Would it take everyone dying for him to be satisfied???

Su Chen's silence made Du Weilun think he was wavering and that he'd found a way in. He immediately pressed his advantage, softening his tone and adding a hint of reassurance and persuasion.

"So, Su Chen, young people shouldn't take things too seriously. You need to know how to be flexible and look at the bigger picture."

He pointed at Zhou Yi, then at Su Chen. "Look, even if she did lose control and try to hurt you, she's still a teacher at Shrek and has served the academy for many years. The academy will handle her according to its rules: punishments will be given, and she'll be made to reflect. At the same time, the academy will certainly provide generous compensation to you and the other students who were affected..."

Du Weilun felt he had put things very well. He had protected the academy's and the teacher's dignity while giving Su Chen a way out and tangible compensation. That ought to put an end to the matter.

And yet—

"Then what if I say..."

Su Chen slowly raised his head. His golden eyes showed no hesitation, only cold resolve. He cut Du Weilun's earnest lecture short without the slightest hesitation. His voice was quiet, but every word landed like a nail driven into wood.

"I—won't—ac—cept!"