Bet Agreement

"Does a single setback leave you hanging your heads in defeat?" Ye Lingling's clear voice rang out.

Ye Lingling held the Nine-Heart Begonia in both hands, and a rain of petals drifted across the Soul Fighting Platform.

White, petal-shaped light merged into her companions' bodies, rapidly healing their exposed wounds.

Before long, Yu Tianheng and the others were once again "fully revived."

Although she could even heal broken bones, she could not restore Soul Power or detoxify poison.

Yu Tianheng, Osler, and the others surrounded Lin Hao once more.

Lin Hao asked with a smile, "Are you sure you want to go again?"

Uh!

Yu Tianheng and the others froze inwardly.

Lin Hao's words were concise and clear.

Going again meant being defeated by Lin Hao again and getting injured again.

The result of the previous soul fight had already been obvious. Even the seven of them together had not been a match for Lin Hao.

Of course, none of them had a Support System Spirit Master capable of providing buffs. Otherwise, whether Lin Hao could win would still have been uncertain.

Unless the seven of them enjoyed being beaten up, only an idiot would keep going.

Yu Tianheng was not someone who refused to admit defeat. He said sincerely, "You won. You've proven with your strength that you're qualified to be captain!"

Lin Hao was not pleased. The outcome had long been within his expectations. He asked calmly, "Do you understand now?"

Yu Tianheng, Osler, and the others shook their heads.

Lin Hao said, "You were wrong from the start. As top students of Heaven Dou, born into nobility, you've been pampered from birth. You think the world should revolve around you, and you look down on everyone else, don't you?"

Yu Tianheng and the others stared blankly.

In truth, they had indeed looked down on Lin Hao earlier.

Lin Hao continued, "A person can be confident, but they must not be arrogant and conceited. Remember this: never underestimate your opponent, or you may very well stumble in a gutter!"

Yu Tianheng and the others fell silent.

Although Lin Hao's words made sense and struck at the heart of the issue, they felt quite uncomfortable because of his age.

"Enough." Meng Shenji walked over to Lin Hao's side and praised him, "Lin Hao has proven with his strength that he is qualified to be captain. Next, I will announce the second matter. Starting today, you will leave the academy for a period of time and head to the Soto City Soul Fighting Arena for training."

"The Great Soul Arena?" Osler asked in confusion. "Heaven Dou City has a Great Soul Arena too. Why travel all the way to Suotuo City?"

"A good question. Because the academy has already agreed to several nobles in Suotuo City that you will participate in ten soul fights at the Soto City Soul Fighting Arena. Don't worry, everyone who participates will receive a reward. For every match you take part in, besides the usual five hundred Gold Soul Coins for the team, the academy will give each of you an additional five hundred Gold Soul Coins." Meng Shenji stroked his beard with a smile.

They had to take part in ten matches in total. That meant each person could receive five thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Among the eight top Heaven Dou students present, seven were descendants of nobility.

Five hundred Gold Soul Coins was neither much nor little. Since it was easy money, why not take it?

Of course, the academy would not make a losing deal.

Lin Hao asked, "Headmaster, just how much benefit did those nobles give the academy?"

Meng Shenji frowned slightly and glanced at Lin Hao unhappily.

Lin Hao had asked something he should not have.

The benefits the nobles had given the academy certainly would not be made public.

However, Meng Shenji still answered, "Quite a lot. Three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

"Three hundred thousand?" Yu Tianheng's heart jolted.

Three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins was enough to cover the annual expenses of a first-rate aristocratic family.

In reality, saving up three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins was no easy task.

"Too little," Lin Hao said.

"You think it's too little?" Meng Shenji looked at Lin Hao in surprise.

"Headmaster, have you heard of a bet agreement?"

"A bet agreement? What is that?"

"An agreement that binds both sides. Headmaster, I suggest you propose this to those nobles: for every match we win, they must add another hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. The first match will be worth one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins."

"Lin Hao, you need to understand, this is one million Gold Soul Coins! They probably won't agree!" Meng Shenji did not think highly of Lin Hao's suggestion.

"Headmaster, do you have confidence in us?"

"Of course I do. That is a given."

"Since you have confidence, then gamble. If we lose, every Gold Soul Coin will be returned, and we will additionally compensate them with one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins!" Lin Hao knew very well that if he did not offer those nobles some benefit, how would they take the bait?

"This..." Meng Shenji hesitated and turned his gaze toward the other two instructors.

They had personally witnessed Lin Hao's strength just now.

Perhaps Yu Tianheng and the others might still suffer an upset, but they still believed in Lin Hao's strength.

At the same level, he had fought seven alone. Although Yu Tianheng and the others had major flaws, it was enough to show Lin Hao's formidable strength.

Bai Baoshan, the second seat, nodded.

"Very well. I will report this matter to His Highness the Prince. It is an important matter, and whether it will be carried out still requires his approval."

As he spoke, Meng Shenji and the other two left the Soul Fighting Platform.

Only Lin Hao, Qin Ming, Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, Osler, Yu Feng, and Ye Lingling remained on the platform.

The current information for Imperial Fighting Team One was as follows.

Lin Hao, captain, Martial Soul: Realm Profound Talisman, level thirty-five Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder.

Yu Tianheng, vice-captain, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, level thirty-nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder.

Dugu Yan, team member, Martial Soul: Jade Phosphorous Serpent, level thirty-eight Control System Battle Soul Elder.

Shi Mo, team member, Martial Soul: Black Tortoise, level thirty-eight Defense System Battle Soul Elder.

Yu Feng, team member, Martial Soul: Wind Bell Bird, level thirty-six Agility Attack System Battle Soul Elder.

Osler, team member, Martial Soul: Ghost Leopard, level thirty-six Agility Attack System Battle Soul Elder.

Ye Lingling, team member, Martial Soul: Nine-Heart Begonia, level thirty-five Support System Tool Soul Elder.

"Set off!"

At Qin Ming's command, Lin Hao and the others followed behind Qin Ming and began leaving Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Dugu Yan stayed close to Yu Tianheng throughout the journey.

Late or not, Dugu Yan had already become Yu Tianheng's girlfriend.

But that did not matter.

Lin Hao had never intended to take Dugu Yan for himself.

Besides Dugu Yan, there was another beauty on the Imperial Fighting Team—Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling looked to be in her early twenties. She was slender and delicate, dressed entirely in black, with a layer of black gauze covering her face. Her waterfall-like blue hair fell loose down her back.

She had an exceptionally beautiful pair of large eyes, the same color as her hair. Her gaze was clear to the depths, without the slightest impurity. Her long lashes curved slightly upward, and every gentle blink made them seem as though they could speak.

As far as Lin Hao knew, Ye Lingling still did not have a boyfriend!

Although she wore a veil, it was clear that she could not possibly be unattractive.

The longer Lin Hao looked at her, the stronger his urge became to lift her black veil and see her true face.